This is cue of the few fictions constructed to stand the shocks of time." And of the other tales we find the following from the pen of the celebrated Mr.St.John, when he was editor of the _Sunday Times_.

He speaks of the three tales together:-- "In every page of this work there is something which a reader would wish to bear in his memory for ever.

For power of animated description, for eloquent reflections upon the events of everyday life, and for soft, touching, pathetic appeals to the best feelings of the heart, these tales are worthy of a place on every library table in the kingdom.

They are well calculated to add to the author's already established reputation." Of this trilogy of tales, undoubtedly the best is the "Crock of Gold:" "The Twins," though written from living models, is very inferior, as the hero is too goody-goody and the villain too hopelessly wicked: "Heart" has more merit, and has been much praised by a celebrated authoress for its touching chapter on Old Maids.

Much of it also is autobiographical, as with "The Twins.".