'Originally written for a charitable purpose, and published in the Daily Telegraph in Sydney... the 'Stories Retold' are chiefly gathered from the Press records of the day, and from the word of mouth of old colonial friends who have some recollection of events narrated. The 'Sketches of Country Life' are derived almost wholly from my own experiences. The descriptions of men and scenery are exactly set down as they appeared to me.' (Source: Preface)