However virtuous the present age, there may be still growing employment BOSTON: CROCKER & BREWSTER, 47 WASHINGTON STREET. 1855. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by CROCKER & BREWSTER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. STEREOTYPRD BY New England Type and Stereotypo Foundry, BOSTON. 9-29-42 46062 ADVERTISEMENT. COURTEOUS READER: This book is an offer to present some of the manifestations of common New England life and character, truly. Of course, its foundation is fact. Perhaps the work has other objects also, which, I trust, you will find it not difficult to discover. In certain of its extraordinary aspects; in many of its lower developments; and, occasionally, through a highly romantic medium, we have seen whatever is striking in our generally somewhat homely character, admirably portrayed. We may doubt, however, if much correct notion of the homelife of New England, at least that of another day, can be derived from many of these excellent productions. Of one thing be certain, there is no humbug in the whole course of these pages. Whatever is valuable (if anything) about the book, I trust, is intrinsically such. At all events, I am content to leave this entirely to your taste and judgment. Nor, as I believe, does the book contain, or countenance, a solitary "ism," to beguile the easily-deluded public; or any of those morbid extravagances, which often leave behind them the bitter fruits of disgust and contempt, and reflect their mischievous consequences upon whatever is really sound and wholesome in literature. |