INTRODUCTION HE attempt has been made to gather together in this volume the really significant poetry relating to Ameri ΤΗ can holidays and to great Americans, especially such as is suited for recitation. To this has been added a short anthology of the seasons, and some eight or ten lyrics with which every one ought to be familiar, and which did not fall under any of the other headings. It is inevitable that in a collection of this sort, nearly every reader will miss some personal favorites. The question of length has excluded a number of such sterling poems as "Grandmother's Story of Bunker-Hill Battle" and "How Old Brown Took Harper's Ferry," which were put aside regretfully only after it became apparent that their inclusion would stretch the volume beyond the utmost limit allowed for it. Indeed, at the end, it became necessary to sacrifice many well-loved poems; and this, it may be added, the compilers found by far the most trying part of their task. Still it is believed that the collection will be found fairly complete, especially with the use of the cross-references which are given. The genesis of the volume was in the never-ceasing demand at an Ohio library for poetry suited for holiday and special exercises in the schools, and the primary object in undertaking it was to substitute really worthy verse for the rhymes and jingles usually offered children. No pretence is made, of course, that everything included here is good poetry-indeed, in several instances, selections which are not poetry at all absolutely demanded admission because of peculiar appropriateness-but, as a whole, it is hoped that the volume will be found elevating, stimulating, and inspiring. |