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BROOK FARM.
BROOK FARM: THE AMUSING AND MEMORABLE OF American Country Life.
NEW YORK:
ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS,
No. 530 BROADWAY.
1860.TO
CHARLES P. WAINWRIGHT, ESQ.,
OF THE MEADOWS, RHINEBECK, NEW YORK.
These Reminiscences
OF A BOYHOOOD, OF WHICH HE WAS
THE GENIAL COMPANION,
ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
BY THE AUTHOR.
Preface.
AS much for his own recreation, as for that of his immediate circle, the Author has whiled leisure hours in reproducing the scenes which were traced on his memory during the most impressible years of life.—So vivid is his recollection of them, that the transcript has been a pure pleasure. He ventures to give them a wider circulation, in the belief that they will at least entertain many who have kindly listened to him when he has addressed them more seriously.
He begs that they may be taken for what they profess to be—mere sketches of the page: vi-vii (Table of Contents) [View Page vi-vii (Table of Contents) ] salient points of American farm life—the "bits of Nature" which fastened themselves on a youthful imagination.
For obvious reasons some of the names are fictitious, but the narratives are truthful, both in their sunshine and their shadows.
May they carry sunshine, and help to clear away shadows, wherever they go.
Contents.
- I.—THE FARM. 9
- II.—OLD GRANDPAP. 14
- III.—THE ORCHARD. 20
- IV.—"WOLF! WOLF!" 27
- V.—PLEASANT SUNDAYS. 33
- VI.—MY PARTICULAR FRIENDS. 42
- VII.—TUB NAVIGATION. 51
- VIII.—THE VORACIOUS SOW. 57
- IX.—HAYING. 63
- X.—THAT RENOWNED HORSE. 69
- XI.—"SQUATTER SOVEREIGNTY." 77
- XII.—THE SHANTY FIGHT. 81
- XIII.—NOISY NIGHTS. 91
- XIV.—FOURTH OF JULY. 97
- XV.—THE MIRED OX. 106
- XVI.—INDIAN CORN. 113
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- XVII.—DEATH IN THE WOODS. 120
- XVIII.—THE ILL-STARRED COW. 126
- XIX.—THE REBEL PEACOCK. 130
- XX.—THANKSGIVING DAY. 138
- XXI.—"YOUR POLISH EXILE." 143
- XXII.—AMATEUR MARKETING. 153
- XXIII.—OUR PACK. 162
- XXIV.—THE CONFLAGRATION. 171
- XXV.—RED-MEN'S GRAVES. 177
- XXVI.—THE DONKEY AND THE DEER. 183
- XXVII.—DUCK-SHOOTING. 191
- XXVIII.—THE MIDNIGHT TRAMP. 201
