"Mäzli" may be pronounced the most natural and one of the most entertaining of Madame Spyri's creations. The atmosphere is created by an old Swiss castle and by the romantic associations of the noble family who lived there. Plot interest is supplied in abundance by the children of the Bergmann family with varying characters and interests. A more charming group of young people and a more wise and affectionate mother would be hard to find. Every figure is individual and true to life, with his or her special and foibles, so that any grown person who picks up the volume will find it a world in miniature and will watch eagerly for the special characteristics of each child to reappear. Naturalness, , and forbearance are shown throughout not by but by example. The story is at once entertaining, healthy, and, in the best sense of a word often , sweet. books do no one any good, but few readers of whatever age they may be will fail to enjoy and be the better for Mäzli.

It may save trouble to give here a summary of the Bergmann household. The mother is sometimes called Mrs. Rector, on account of her being the widow of a former rector of the parish, and sometimes Mrs. Maxa, to avoid confusion with the wife of the present rector. It is as if there were two Mrs. John Smiths, one of whom is called Mrs. Helen; Maxa being, of course, a feminine name. Of the five children the is the high-spirited, Bruno, who is just of an age to go away to a city school. Next comes his sister Mea, whose fault is that she is too submissive and . Kurt, the second boy, is the most enterprising and humorous of the family; whereas, Lippo, another boy, is the soul of and formality. Most original of all is Mäzli, probably not over six, as she is too young to go to school.

The writer of this preface knows of one family—not his own, either—which is waiting eagerly for another book by the author of "Heidi" and "Cornelli." To this and all families desirous of a story full of genuine fun and genuine feeling the present volume may be recommended without qualification.