Mary Mapes Dodge

Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates Mary Mapes Dodge Unabridged edition

Hans Brinker, or of any boy born and bred in Holland, cannot be fitly told without including something of the story of Holland itself, of its history, its oddities, and the leading characteristics of its heroic and thrifty people. All these must be borne in mind, for some of the traits peculiar to his race are ingrained in every Hollander, young or old, and Holland is as different from Elsewhere as can be imagined. Therefore, necessary and careful descriptions of Dutch life and customs have been given in the narrative, and many of the incidents are drawn directly from life. Even the wonderful experiences of Raff Brinker are founded strictly upon fact. While acknowledging my obligations to many well-known writers on Dutch history, literature and art, I turn with especial gratitude to two kind friends, natives of Holland, who, after their marriage, had taken up their abode in this country. With generous zeal, they patiently answered questions, and took many a backward glance at their country for my sake, seeing it as it looked, years ago, when the humble home of the Brinkers crouched by the sheltering dike in sunlight and shadow. It was my tardy good fortune to visit Holland not long after this book was written, and see with my own eyes the land I had tried to picture for my readers. The Brinker cottage was empty, and many things in Holland had changed since the days when Hans and his little sister skated on the frozen Y.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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