Description

A Wreath of Indian Stories

97 pages 

If her little “Indian Stories” be acceptable in her dear native land, she will be thankful;
but the object which she chiefly aims at is to write in a way to amuse, and through
amusement to instruct, the people of the country of her adoption.
As stories placed in the hands of Oriental readers would be comparatively useless unless
written in an Oriental style, and describing scenes and customs familiar to natives, A. L. O.
E. has tried to adopt such a style, and depict such scenes. When she reviewed her work,
with the mental question, “What would be thought of this in England?” she felt how fanciful
and affected her writings might appear to European readers, and almost gave up all idea of
sending them home. And yet, as quaint and often grotesque ornaments brought from the
East are not despised in Britain because they are unlike our own manufactures, but are
sometimes even prized for their very quaintness, it is possible that a few of A. L. O. E.’s
Oriental stories may not be unacceptable in her native land. They may even serve to
awaken a little interest in a vast country like India, where a Native Church is struggling
against surrounding evil influences,—a Church as yet small compared with the myriads of
its opponents, yet gaining strength year by year. That infant Church needs tender care and
indulgence from those who have been brought up in a land bathed in the light of
Christianity,—a land where children are taught almost from the cradle the value of honesty
and truth, and where little is known of the fearful difficulties and trials which beset
converts to the pure faith of the gospel.