Front matter
Reading edition · Edition 2
BY
MRS. MARY J. HOLMES
AUTHOR OF THE "ENGLISH ORPHAN," "THE HOMESTEAD ON THE HILL SIDE," "LENA RIVERS," "TEMPEST AND SUNSHINE," ETC.
NEW YORK THE FEDERAL BOOK COMPANY PUBLISHERS
TO MY MOTHER, Who, more than any one else, will be interested in a story which has in it so much of my childhood and early home, THIS WORK is affectionately dedicated by her Daughter MARY.
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.
ROCKPORT, N. Y., 1857.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER.
I. Childhood II. Thanksgiving III. Cousin Will IV. The Schoolmistress V. Pine Hill VI. Doctor Clayton's Visit VII. Dell Thompson's Party VIII. Close of School in Pine District IX. Pro and Con X. Mrs. Dr. Clayton XI. Boston XII. Ada Montrose XIII. The Flight XIV. Ten Thousand Dollars XV. The Old Homestead XVI. "Out West," XVII. The Dark Man XVIII. The Death of the Drunkard XIX. The Death of the Righteous XX. Going South XXI. Uncle Dick XXII. Ada XXIII. Dr. Clayton XXIV. The Crisis XXV. The Angel of the Pines XXVI. Return XXVII. Light XXVIII. The Chase XXIV. Human Nature XXX. "The Southern Planter's Northern Bride" XXXI. Sunny Bank XXXII. November 25th
The Criminal Witness
MEADOW BROOK.