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<h1> THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW. </h1>
<p><br/></p>
<h2> by Jerome K. Jerome </h2>
<p><br/>
TO<br/>
<br/>
THE VERY DEAR AND WELL-BELOVED<br/>
<br/>
FRIEND<br/>
<br/>
OF MY PROSPEROUS AND EVIL DAYS—<br/>
<br/>
TO THE FRIEND<br/>
WHO, THOUGH IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR ACQUAINTANCESHIP<br/>
DID OFTTIMES DISAGREE WITH ME, HAS SINCE<br/>
BECOME TO BE MY VERY WARMEST COMRADE—<br/>
<br/>
TO THE FRIEND<br/>
WHO, HOWEVER OFTEN I MAY PUT HIM OUT, NEVER (NOW)<br/>
UPSETS ME IN REVENGE—<br/>
<br/>
TO THE FRIEND<br/>
WHO, TREATED WITH MARKED COOLNESS BY ALL THE FEMALE<br/>
MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD, AND REGARDED WITH SUSPICION<br/>
BY MY VERY DOG, NEVERTHELESS SEEMS DAY BY<br/>
DAY TO BE MORE DRAWN BY ME, AND IN RETURN<br/>
TO MORE AND MORE IMPREGNATE ME WITH<br/>
THE ODOR OF HIS FRIENDSHIP—<br/>
<br/>
TO THE FRIEND<br/>
WHO NEVER TELLS ME OF MY FAULTS, NEVER WANTS TO<br/>
BORROW MONEY, AND NEVER TALKS ABOUT HIMSELF—<br/>
<br/>
TO THE COMPANION<br/>
OF MY IDLE HOURS, THE SOOTHER OF MY SORROWS,<br/>
THE CONFIDANT OF MY JOYS AND HOPES—<br/>
<br/>
MY OLDEST AND STRONGEST<br/>
<br/>
PIPE,<br/>
<br/>
THIS LITTLE VOLUME<br/>
<br/>
IS<br/>
<br/>
GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY<br/>
<br/>
DEDICATED.<br/>
<br/></p>
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<h2> PREFACE </h2>
<p>One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS. having observed
that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to
buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay
its issue. But for this, as one may say, public demand, I perhaps should
not have ventured to offer these mere "idle thoughts" of mine as mental
food for the English-speaking peoples of the earth. What readers ask
nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate. This
book wouldn't elevate a cow. I cannot conscientiously recommend it for any
useful purposes whatever. All I can suggest is that when you get tired of
reading "the best hundred books," you may take this up for half an hour.
It will be a change.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<hr />
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<h1> THE IDLE THOUGHTS OF AN IDLE FELLOW. </h1>
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