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Copyright, 1895, By The American Folk-Lore SooBrr,

All rights reserved.

PREFACE.

It is with pleasure that the writer presents to folk-lorists his " Louisiana Folk-Tales." He has devoted several years to collecting } his material and preparing it for publication, and he hopes that his

book will be considered a useful contribution to the science of Folk-Lore, No attempt was'made to make a comparative study of the tales, and they are presented to folk-lorists as material for compari-som Andrew Lang said that the collector should himself eliminate the personal equation while writing his tales and not leave this task to his reader. Such has been the constant aim of the writer and of the persons who kindly assisted him in his work, and this collection is the result of honest and conscientious efforts to give to the public genuine folk-tales.

The tales are given first in the Creole dialect, then in a faithful but not literal translation, as it is desirable to preserve the interest of the story. The study of the Creole dialect is of importance and interest, and the tales have been carefully written in Louisiana dialect, in order that the material may be of use to the philologist.

In the Appendix are reproduced fourteen^tories already published in 1888 in the " Transactions of the Modern Language Association of America," and in the " Journal of American Folk-Lore," to the end that the reader may have in one volume a complete collection of Louisiana Folk-Tales.

The writer wishes to acknowledge his obligations and present his thanks to his nieces, Misses Désirée and Marguerite Roman, and to Mr. Zenon De Moruelle, who have assisted him in his collection. One of his most valued assistants has been Mrs. Widow V. Chop-pin, of St. James Parish, recently deceased. Thanks are also due to the Secretary of The American Folk-Lore Society, for suggestions r in the preparation of this work.

^ Alcèe Fortier.

New Orleans, August n, 1894.

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