Wright American Fiction

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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by MASON BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. STEREOTYPED BY THOMAS B. SMITH & SON, 82 & 84 Beekman St. PRINTED BY C. A. ALVORD. 15 Vandewater St.

PREFACE.

THERE is little to be said of the purpose and object of this book. It is not addressed to any distinct, individual end, that I know of. It does not aim to demolish any particular institution, to correct any special social evil, to aid any great reform, or to discuss any of the leading questions of the times. These are legitimate and proper objects for a story, but neither of them has been the aim of this one. My simple purpose has been to narrate one of those episodes of individual life which not unfrequently occur under the complex social relations of the present time, and in which, an unusual combination of circumstances very simple and natural in themselves, exhibits the play of human thought and feeling in a striking manner. My hope is chiefly that this narrative will give the reader wholesome recreation, but also that in a subordinate way it may do him good by introducing him to personages page: iv-v (Table of Contents) [View Page iv-v (Table of Contents) ]Switch to Image ModeCLOSE Page iv-v (Table of Contents) from whose imaginary conduct he may derive some example or warning.

But I am well aware that if these purposes are not to some extent accomplished as one reads the book, no expression of my desire in a preface can retrieve the failure.

CONTENTS.

• THE SEPARATION—A PROLOGUE. 9
• CHAPTER I. SUDDEN WINDS BRING BAD WEATHER. 15
• CHAPTER II. WHEN THE BANK BREAKS THE BANKER MAKES 27
• CHAPTER III. HARDLY BRED IS NOT ALWAYS ILL BRED. 39
• CHAPTER IV. EASY KINDLED, HARDLY QUENCHED. 58
• CHAPTER V. THE LADDER OF LABOR IS EASIER THAN THE LEAP OF LUCK. 88
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• CHAPTER VI. JEWELS FOR THE RICH, FLOWERS FOR THE POOR, BUT BEAUTY FOR THE EYES OF ALL. 109
• CHAPTER VII. YOUR TRAP MUST BE LARGER THAN YOUR GAME. 129
• CHAPTER VIII. IT IS HARD FOR ROGUES TO UNDERSTAND HONEST MEN. 153
• CHAPTER IX. DARKNESS SOMETIMES COSTS MORE THAN LIGHT. 169
• CHAPTER X. THE FIRST TIME IS THE BEST TIME. 181
• CHAPTER XI. WE SELDOM KNOW A BLESSING WHEN WE SEE IT. 195
• CHAPTER XII. WHEN A ROGUE SHARPENS HIS KNIFE ON THE LAW'S GRINDSTONE—BEWARE. 205
• CHAPTER XIII. EARNESTNESS OF PURPOSE IS AN EARNEST OF SUCCESS. 215
• CHAPTER XIV. 'TIS HARD KNOWING WHAT TO SAY WHEN A KNAVE ASKS YOU TO TELL THE TRUTH. 235
• CHAPTER XV. BETTER DO JUSTICE AND SUFFER INJUSTICE, THAN DO INJUSTICE AND SUFFER JUSTICE. 253
• CHAPTER XVI. WHEN JUSTICE IS EXPENSIVE, MERCY IS MADE MERCHANDISE. 271
• SATURDAY NIGHT—A VISION. 285
• CHAPTER XVII. BETTER TO TRUST TOO MUCH THAN SUSPECT TOO MUCH. 289
• CHAPTER XVIII. TRUST YOUR KINDRED, WHOMSOEVER YOU DOUBT. 303
• CHAPTER XIX. UNCERTAINTY IS THE WEIGHTIEST OF CARES. 319
• CHAPTER XX. PLEASURE IN THE POCKET DOES N'T HELP PAIN IN THE HEART. 331
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• CHAPTER XXI. SHAME IS THE SHARPEST OF SORROWS. 343
• CHAPTER XXII. TOO SHARP FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR IS TOO SHARP FOR YOURSELF. 361
• CHAPTER XXIII. A PRISONER'S GUESTS ARE WELCOME. 375
• CHAPTER XXIV. IT IS HARD TO READ MEN'S MOTIVES IN THEIR CONDUCT. 383
• CHAPTER XXV. THEY WILL HELP YOU BEST WHO AT THE SAME TIME HELP THEMSELVES. 395
• CHAPTER XXVI. A PAIR OF RED SPECTACLES WILL SET THE WORLD ON FIRE. 415
• CHAPTER XXVII. 'TIS A FAIR DAY WHEN THE SUN BREAKS THE CLOUDS IN GOOD SEASON. 429
• CHAPTER XXVIII. BETTER A BAD BEGINNING AND A GOOD ENDING, THAN A GOOD BEGINNING AND A BAD ENDING. 457
• THE RELIC—AN EPILOGUE. 473