Many and curious, and rare and costly are the books which from time to time have been exhibited and learnedly discoursed upon by my brother "Odd Volumes," and when I look at the very small and insignificant collection of dirty, dogs-eared and well-thumbed little books on the table before me, I almost hesitate to ask you to listen to the few words which I have to say about them; but on the other hand when I reflect that they represent the first forward step made in the great work of providing suitable literature for young people, - when I reflect that they have delighted and instructed thousands of little folk who have long since grown old and gone to join the "choir invisible," - when I reflect that they may have aided in moulding the characters of princes, prelates and statesmen, it may be of a Stephenson or a Brunel, a Wordsworth or a Byron, a Mulready or a Bewick, or perhaps our good Queen herself, - I say when I reflect on these things I think we may gain some profit, and it maybe some pleasure and a little amusement from a closer examination of these little volumes.