Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. First Edition. Seven stories, copiously illustrated by Barnes (1840-1895), who was the first illustrator of Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge. Houfe calls him 'at his best in rural subjects', and here he is definitely at that best, whether depicting a lad handing a baby over a stile to her sister, hen and chicks in a farmyard, or a child lying on the grass observing a beetle. Thirty-two colour illustrations, most full page plates. Pictorial cover of girl on window seat looking out window, surrounded by wreath of forget-me-nots, daisies and ferns, the whole on a black background. Brown cloth spine with gilt lettering. protective cover...with inscription 1887  & 1926