Hemans.
NINETEENTH THOUSAND.
NEW YORK:
J. C. DERBY, 119 NASSAU STREET.
BOSTON: PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO.
CINCINNATI: H. W. DERBY.
1856.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by
A. MORRIS,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, forthe Eastern District of Virginia.
It is meet that those whose sympathy has been dew and sunshine to thenursery plant, should watch over its transplantation into the public garden.And as this Dedication is the only portion of the book which is new to you,you do not require that it should remind you of the welcome stormy evenings,when I laid down my pen, to read to you the chapters written since our last"select party;" how the fictitious names of my real characters were householdwords to our trio: and your flattering interest—grateful because sincere—stimulatedmy flagging spirits in the performance of my task. You know,too, what many may not believe—with what misgivings it was entered upon,and prosecuted; what fears of the licensed critic's ban, and the unlicensedpublic's sneer;—above all, you comprehend the motive that held me to thework—an earnest desire to contribute my mite for the promotion of thehappiness and usefulness of my kind. Coming as it does from my heart—pennedunder the shadow of our home-altar, I cannot but feel that the mission of myoffering is to the hearts of others,—ask for it no higher place than the firesidecircle. Readers and judges like yourselves, I may not, do not hope to find;but I trust there are those who will pardon the lack of artistic skill in theplot, or the deficiency of stirring incident, in consideration of the fact, thatmy story is what it purports to be, a simple tale of life—common joy andsorrow, whose merits, if it has any, consist in its truthfulness to Nature,and the fervent spirit which animated its narration.
MARION HARLAND.
Richmond, 1854.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
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