PREFACE

In my search for the old-world foundation of the folk-tales of South America, I have explored ancient Spanish folk-lore. These old Spanish tales have been kept alive in South America, and one finds traces of them in all South American countries. They have disappeared entirely from the North, however, although we North Americans too have our inheritance, through the intrepid explorers of early days who set out from old Spain. The stories which thrilled the childhood of these bold adventurers should belong to us too as well as to the South Americans.

Tales of young adventurers who surmounted the difficulties of magic enchantments are these which I have collected from the great mass of folk-tales of old Spain. They have played their part in inspiring Spanish children of long ago to a life of bold daring which made Spain famous throughout the world for her discoveries and explorations. Christopher Columbus was of Spanish descent, and who knows but the story of the Magician Palermo, the last one of this collection, may have been the story at his mother's knee which set the lad to dreaming of the exciting possibilities which might lie beyond the sea?

From the book