RAMBLES AMONG WORDS: Their Poetry, History, and Wisdom. BY WILLIAM SWINTON, M. A., CAMPAIGNS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,” DECISIVE BATTLES AUTHOR OF OF THE WAR,' NEW YORK AND CHICAGO: IVISON, BLAKEMAN, TAYLOR, AND COMPANY. 1872. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by IVISON, BLAKEMAN, TAYLOR, & CO., in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. PREFACE. THE material of this little book originally appeared in the form of articles contributed to PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE (dear old Maga, with its dress of pea-green and its corn-stalk emblem!) during the years 1853 and 1854. Afterwards the papers were put together in book form, and published in 1858. Since that time the "Rambles" has passed through several editions, and has been reproduced in London with emendations by an English editor. As there is still a certain demand for it, and the book has for some time been out of print, a new edition is now issued by Messrs. Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor, & Co. It would be strange indeed if, after the score of years that have elapsed since the book was composed, more than half of the score spent in active journalism (than which no schooling is more admirably fitted to take the nonsense out of a man),—it would be strange indeed, if the author had not outgrown his work. When it was written the writer was yet in his teens; and if this be not sufficient excuse for its youthful vices of style, he has none other to offer. Still, it seems that the very enthusiasm and verve of the book have had their attractions for students at the age of poetry and faith; and perhaps this may be taken in partial mitigation of its faults. Such as it is, "with all its imperfections on its head," the RAMBLES is now again given to the public. It is in no wise a book of erudition, but merely a slight contribution to the popular study of our native philology. NEW YORK, 1872. W. S. |