DOWN THE RIVER;
OR,
BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.
BY
OLIVER OPTIC,
AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,""THE WOODVILLE STORIES,"
"THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES,""THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.
BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of theDistrict of Massachusetts.
Copyright, 1896, by William T. Adams.
All rights reserved.
DOWN THE RIVER.
THE SETTLEMENT.—Page 52.
TO
My Young Friend
WILLIAM H. LOW
This Book
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
PREFACE.[5]
"Down the River" is the sixth of the continued storiespublished in "Our Boys and Girls," and the last of "TheStarry Flag Series." It is the personal narrative of Buck Bradford,who, with his deformed sister, made an eventful voyage down theWisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, to New Orleans. The writer's firstbook—not a juvenile, and long since out of print—was planned during along and tedious passage up the Father of Waters; and it seems likegoing back to an old friend to voyage again, even in imagination, uponits turbid tide.
Buck Bradford tells his story to suit himself; and the author hopes itwill also suit the young reader. Whatever moral it may contain will befound in the reading; and the writer trusts it will impart a lesson ofself-reliance, honesty, and truth, and do something towards convincingthe young reader that it is best always to do right, whatever theconsequences may be, leaving results, in the choice between good andevil, to take care of themselves.[6]
However often the author may be called upon to thank the juvenile publicfor the generous favor bestowed upon his books, he feels that theagreeable duty cannot be so frequently repeated as ever to become a mereformality; for with each additional volume he finds his sense ofobligation to them for their kindness renewed and deepened.
William T. Adams.
Harrison Square, Mass.,
October 28, 1868.