THE SCHOOL BOOK OF POETRY. EDITED BY WC. BENNETT, LL.D., Author of "Baby May," "Songs by a Song-writer," etc., etc. THOMAS MURBY, 32, BOUVERIE STREET, FLEET STREET E.C. 2505. f 31. PREFACE. SCHOOL Books of Poetry are seldom distinguished by much variety, as they are generally mere reproductions of certain favourite pieces, which from being so frequently used, have come to be regarded as the only ones fit for such compilations. In the present work I have ventured to break through a rule which has hitherto restricted the choice of the compiler to a number of extracts, which, beautiful as they may be, have become hackneyed from constant repetition. While retaining some old favourites, I have introduced many poems never before used in the same class of book, but which I feel assured will be welcomed not less for their novelty than for their intrinsic merit. Care has been taken to secure a due proportion of examples of every kind of subject and mode of treatment, so that dramatic, descriptive, narrative, moral, and religious poetry are all well represented. Preference has been given to extracts which fill the mind with pictures of natural scenery and historic incident, or inspire the heart with noble and patriotic feeling. It is in connection with such subjects that poetry |