This second part of “Märchen und Erzählungen” is intended to continue the work begun in the first, and to bridge over the remaining space between German for Americans and German for Germans. The stories are carefully graded so as to enlarge the pupils’ vocabulary and to familiarize them with many new idioms, while introducing most of the terms used in the first part.

It is provided with a complete vocabulary, and can hence be used either as an independent reader, or in the manner indicated in Part I; but the questions have been omitted, as at this stage teachers prefer to frame their own questions, which they can best adapt to the age and needs of their pupils.

None of the tales in this little collection are original, but all have been completely rewritten and modified to suit the purpose for which they are intended. “Der Weihnachtsabend,” “Rosa von Tannenburg,” “Das hölzerne Kreuz,” and “Die Taube,” can be found, related at great length, in Christoph Schmidt’s collection of mediæval tales. “In sicherer Hut” and “Das Neujahrslied” are two of the popular stories of Johanna Spyri, a writer who in German literature holds about the same place as Miss Alcott does here.

“Barbarossa” and “Anekdoten” are semi-historical folk tales of Germany, “Der Bauer und der Advokat” is a proverb-story, and “Die zehn Feeen,” “Tisch, Sack und Pack,” “Der Lange, der Breite und der Scharfäugige,” and “Rübezahl” are genuine northern fairy-tales from various sources.

In the last tale only--which is by Hoffmann--have I retained a few sentences of the original, but it has been greatly shortened to sustain the interest of young readers, who weary of long descriptions. All these stories can be used to advantage with more advanced pupils for rapid sight-reading and for reproduction.

The collection of poems at the end of this little volume represents the most famous poets of Germany; and while the most usual pieces are not given here, care has been exercised to select such as can be easily memorized and are suitable for pupils of all ages.