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A scan of a copy of Kenneth published
as Volume 1 in the Tauchnitz "Series for the Young" Leipzig
1860.
Bookplate "Francis Weld Peabody His Book"
and a Harvard College Library label. Later, under a Harvard stamp of
June 2 1937, the following handwritten "From the library of Francis
W Peabody"
The Stones of Plouhinec
From of by Andrew Lang
Perhaps some of you may have read a book called 'Kenneth;
or the Rear-Guard of the Grand Army' of Napoleon. If so, you will remember
how the two Scotch children found in Russia were taken care of by the
French soldiers and prevented as far as possible from suffering from the
horrors of the terrible Retreat. One of the soldiers, a Breton, often
tried to make them forget how cold and hungry they were by telling them
tales of his native country, Brittany, which is full of wonderful things.
The best and warmest place round the camp fire was always given to the
children, but even so the bitter frost would cause them to shiver. It
was then that the Breton would begin: 'Plouhinec is a small town near
Hennebonne by the sea,' and would continue until Kenneth or Effie would
interrupt him with an eager question. Then he forgot how his mother had
told him the tale, and was obliged to begin all over again, so the story
lasted a long while, and by the time it was ended the children were ready
to be rolled up in what ever coverings could be found, and go to sleep.
It is this story that I am going to tell to you ...
For the rest
of The Stones of Plouhinec,
follow the link above to The Lilac
Fairy Book
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