Page 11 - Stepping_Stones_1942
P. 11
refcice
HIS series of stories is compiled from some of my various
experiences, covering a period of over thirty-eight years,
that I have, from time to time, jotted down in my note
book. These notes were collected for the purpose of recalling
certain circumstances which, at their time, seemed to absorb
my whole life— for I lived with these people and in these places;
I have been an intricate part of their lives, and they of mine.
Before our travels to distant parts of the world, we studied
at length the geography, history, and legendary lore of each
country; we felt it a blessed privilege to travel; we wanted to
live with the people we were to visit; and so it was quite natural
then to add my own observations to the material already studied.
At no time did I anticipate writing a book. My sole desire
during our travels was to bring home to my family and friends
some idea of the pleasures we were enjoying, and some of the
understanding we had acquired. The other incidents were just
jotted down so that I could accurately recall them in the future.
From time to time, I have been requested to put these stories
together, but I always felt that, being based on true experiences,
they were too personal to be of much import to others; and
few people, I thot, would care what impressed me or what may
have seemed to me to be anything unusual. However, last winter
when B.J. and Dave wanted me to write out these notes, as cer
tain places covered were now in the limelight, it was necessary
to type them—my own unreadable shorthand being sort of hiero-
glyphical in character.
During the long winter evenings, friends dropping in to call
would find me working away at my typewriter. I tried to tuck
the material out of sight, but they would say, “ So at last you are
really putting some of your stories together!” And so per
suasive were they that soon I would find myself reading those
at hand. They, in turn, urged me to have them printed for them.
As you will note, some of these experiences were on sea,
some in far distant lands, while others are just homey observa
tions in my daily life.
[9]
HIS series of stories is compiled from some of my various
experiences, covering a period of over thirty-eight years,
that I have, from time to time, jotted down in my note
book. These notes were collected for the purpose of recalling
certain circumstances which, at their time, seemed to absorb
my whole life— for I lived with these people and in these places;
I have been an intricate part of their lives, and they of mine.
Before our travels to distant parts of the world, we studied
at length the geography, history, and legendary lore of each
country; we felt it a blessed privilege to travel; we wanted to
live with the people we were to visit; and so it was quite natural
then to add my own observations to the material already studied.
At no time did I anticipate writing a book. My sole desire
during our travels was to bring home to my family and friends
some idea of the pleasures we were enjoying, and some of the
understanding we had acquired. The other incidents were just
jotted down so that I could accurately recall them in the future.
From time to time, I have been requested to put these stories
together, but I always felt that, being based on true experiences,
they were too personal to be of much import to others; and
few people, I thot, would care what impressed me or what may
have seemed to me to be anything unusual. However, last winter
when B.J. and Dave wanted me to write out these notes, as cer
tain places covered were now in the limelight, it was necessary
to type them—my own unreadable shorthand being sort of hiero-
glyphical in character.
During the long winter evenings, friends dropping in to call
would find me working away at my typewriter. I tried to tuck
the material out of sight, but they would say, “ So at last you are
really putting some of your stories together!” And so per
suasive were they that soon I would find myself reading those
at hand. They, in turn, urged me to have them printed for them.
As you will note, some of these experiences were on sea,
some in far distant lands, while others are just homey observa
tions in my daily life.
[9]
