Australian Fairy Tales

"The Stories in this little book have been set down almost in the same words in which they were told. How the telling of them came about is a very simple matter. Having three children, each of whom loved a Fairy Tale, it somehow became the fashion, on Sunday evenings, to tell them a story.
On one occasion, when the youngest member was just about to be taken to bed, his sister said; “None of the books about Fairies ever say a word about Australia! Are there any Australian Fairies, Father?”
Somewhat hastily, perhaps, I answered: “Why, yes, of course! Whole tribes of them!”
Instantly the order went forth: “Then you will please tell us about them the very next time you tell us a story!" - Summary by the author