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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

Preface

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Preface.

It is probable that some who may read this little book may very properly wish to know, why these two Papers were not published in the annual Volume of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute for 1879? seeing they were written purposely for and read to the Members of the Hawke's Bay branch of the Institute at their ordinary meetings in 1878. This question can be briefly and truly answered.

The two Papers were duly forwarded to Wellington to the Manager of the New Zealand Institute; who, some time after, informed the Hawke's Bay Society, that the Board would only publish an abstract of them. This, however, could not be agreed to by myself as well as by the Society; and the Manager was officially informed, that the Hawke's Bay members of the N.Z. Institute greatly wished to have them published in their entirety; and, that if it were a matter of money (the cost of printing the whole), the surplus expense would be readily met by them: this overture was also refused by the Board. And, after some further delay, the two Papers were obtained from Wellington.

In their original state they were not so long as they are now; most of the copious Notes, and a few of the poetical extracts have been added; at the same time nothing has been omitted. The Poetry has been mainly taken from my favourite modern poet, Longfellow, (whose bust has lately been placed in Poet's Corner,) in the hope of their beautiful and expressive thoughts and language striking a latent and sympathetic chord in the hearts of some of our young Colonists; and possibly inciting them to seek to know more of the beauty of Poetry, and in particular of that of our National British poets. And it is still further hoped, that the Notes (particularly those in the Appendix,) will be especially appreciated by the Settlers of Hawke's Bay.—

In my longer journeys I always carried a few choice books with me, and among them a pocket edition of one of our Poets:—Ossian, Milton, Dryden, Pope, Thomson, Gray, Goldsmith, Burns, Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Byron, Walter Scott, Longfellow, Tennyson, &c.

In my originally writing these two Papers, and in preparing them for the Press, it has again been my aim, to stir up the younger folks among us to the page break study of Nature's works, with which we are profusely surrounded, and wherein is a rich mine of intellectual wealth! of these studies it may be truly said in the impressive words of Cicero, (as I myself have proved and Am now Daily Proving,)—" Hœc studia adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant" = These studies invigorate youth and solace old age.

"Ye who love the haunts of Nature,—
Love the shadow of the forest,
Love the wind among the branches.—

* * * *

Ye whose hearts are fresh and simple,
Who have faith in GOD and Nature;
Who believe, that in all ages
Every human heart is human,—
That in even savage bosoms
There are longings, yearnings, strivings
For the good they comprehend not;
That the feeble hands and helpless,
Groping blindly in the darkness,
Touch God's right hand in that darkness
And are lifted up and strengthened;—
Listen to this simple story."—

Longfellow.