Chapter I: Preface

In this story of MEADOW BROOK there is, I am aware, nothing very startling or wonderful; but it has the merit, at least, of containing more truth than books of the same character usually possess. From this, however, the reader is not to infer that I have made myself the heroine; for though the early home, the childhood, and childish experience of “Rosa Lee” are mostly my own—while more than one whiskered young man will recognize the little girl of thirteen, at whom he once made faces from behind his desk as the “schoolma’am”—the similarity extends no further.

The fickle Mr. Clayton and his haughty bride, the unfortunate Herbert, the disappointed Ada, the proud Southern planter, and the gentle, bright-haired Jessie, are intended to represent different varieties of American character, and are such as many of us have met in our intercourse with the world. For my portrayals of Georgia life, I am indebted to a friend, who recently spent two years in that State, and whose graphic descriptions of what she there saw have been to me of much service.

Believing that the world loves better to read of the probable than of the improbable, I have tried to be _natural_; and if, by this means, but one friend is added to the number I now possess, I shall feel that my labor has not been in vain.

M. J. H.

BOCKPORT, N. Y., 1857.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Childhood, 9
II. Thanksgiving, 22
III. Cousin Will, 39
IV. The Schoolmistress, 52
V. Pine Hill, 60
VI. Doctor Clayton’s Visit, 80
VII. Dell Thompson’s Party, 88
VIII. Close of School in Pine District, 100
IX. Pro and Con, 105
X. Mrs. Dr. Clayton, 111
XI. Boston, 116
XII. Ada Montrose, 135
XIII. The Flight, 149
XIV. Ten Thousand Dollars, 156
XV. The Old Homestead, 174
XVI. “Out West,” 179
XVII. The Dark Man, 192
XVIII. The Death of the Drunkard, 200
XIX. The Death of the Righteous, 214
XX. Going South, 218
XXI. Uncle Dick, 236
XXII. Ada, 255
XXIII. Dr. Clayton, 278
XXIV. The Crisis, 296
XXV. The Angel of the Pines, 307
XXVI. Return, 318
XXVII. Light, 325
XXVIII. The Chase, 335
XXIX. Human Nature, 350
XXX. “The Southern Planter’s Northern Bride,” 354
XXXI. Sunny Bank, 358
XXXII. November 25th, 378

MEADOW BROOK.