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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by ROBERT BARRY COFFIN, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.

To
MRS. ELIJAH WARD,
THESE
"CASTLES IN THE AIR, AND OTHER PHANTASIES,"
AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF HIS ESTEEM FOR HER,
ARE RESPECTFULLY
INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR.

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A WORD OR TWO TO THE READER.

THIS volume of sketches—for it claims to be nothing more—is composed of gleanings from sources to which the author contributed during the past fifteen years. It represents his writings in "Harper's Monthly Magazine" and "Harper's Bazar," in the New York "Home Journal" and the "Eastern State Journal" of White Plains, in the "Weekly Leader," when Clancy edited it, and the old "Saturday Press," under Clapp and Aldrich and O'Brien.

Some of the sketches, particularly those in the latter part of the book, refer to incidents, events, and even personages that have passed either into history or forgetfulness; but in the estimation of the writer these are not the least readable portions of this volume. Without further preface he now submits it to his readers.

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CONTENTS.

CASTLES IN THE AIR.

• CASTLE I. FLYING CLOUDS. 3
• CASTLE II. MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S ARM-CHAIR. 9
• CASTLE III. THE PEERLESS MUSIDORA. 16
• CASTLE IV. THE FAIR AZELIA. 22
• CASTLE V. MY CHILDREN'S UTOPIA. 26
• CASTLE VI. UNCLE JOHN. 32
• CASTLE VII. MY LOST ALICE. 37
• CASTLE VIII. UTOPIA FOUND. 42

BROKEN SHEAVES AND BITTER ALMONDS.

• CHAPTER I. MY COUSIN KATE. 49
• CHAPTER II. OLD TOPAZ. 59
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• CHAPTER III. MAGDALENE. 65
• CHAPTER IV. THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET. 72
• CHAPTER V. MY WIFE AND I. 80

WILD OATS AND APPLE-BLOSSOMS.

• CHAPTER I. FRANCIS ATWOOD, ESQUIRE. 89
• CHAPTER II. REVEREND BENJAMIN BACON. 96
• CHAPTER III. ALCIBIADES SOWS A FEW OATS. 101
• CHAPTER IV. A LIGHT DESSERT, WITH TARTS. 106
• CHAPTER V. ALCIBIADES FALLS IN LOVE. 112
• CHAPTER VI. THE PROFESSOR. 117
• CHAPTER VII. ALL HANDS AROUND THE MAHOGANY. 121
• CHAPTER VIII. GHOSTS AT THE PARSONAGE. 127
• CHAPTER IX. I LISTEN TO MYSTERIOUS MUSIC. 132
• CHAPTER X. I LOOK FOR A GHOST AND FIND A TARTAR. 138
• CHAPTER XI. HOW THE TABLES WERE TURNED. 143
• CHAPTER XII. THE GARRET IN MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE. 148
• CHAPTER XIII. I MAKE A DISCOVERY. 153
• CHAPTER XIV. MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S LEGACY. 157
• CHAPTER XV. A WORD ABOUT CHIMNEYS AND CHIMNEY-SWEEPS. 161
• CHAPTER XVI. THE PROFESSOR'S INSANE FRIENDS. 166
• CHAPTER XVII. DR. FAUSTUS SPEAKS. 171
• CHAPTER XVIII. THE PROFESSOR HAS THE FLOOR. 176
• CHAPTER XIX. THE PARSON'S SPANISH SERMON. 180
• CHAPTER XX. THE PARSON CONTINUETH HIS SERMON. 186
• CHAPTER XXI. THE PARSON IN THE MIDST OF HIS SERMON. 190
• CHAPTER XXII. THE PARSON PREACHES AS USUAL. 195
• CHAPTER XXIII. THE PARSON GROWETH TEDIOUS. 199
• CHAPTER XXIV. THE PARSON CONCLUDETH HIS DISCOURSE. 205
• CHAPTER XXV. THE PROFESSOR'S STRANGE STORY. 209
• CHAPTER XXVI. THE PROFESSOR ENDS HIS STORY. 213
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• CHAPTER XXVII. CHRISTMAS TIMES. 218
• CHAPTER XXVIII. A DOUBLE WEDDING. 221
• CHAPTER XXIX. THE CURTAIN FALLS. 225

AROUND THE MAHOGANY.

• PEACHES AND CREAM FOR TWO. 231
• APPLE-DUMBLINGS, WITH SAUCE. 240
• A BASKET OF STRAWBERRIES. 249
• A REGAL DESSERT. 261
• OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER. 275
• OVER A MUG OF ALE. 286

MUSIDORA AND MY SOUTHERN MAID.

• UP AND DOWN BROADWAY. 299
• MUSIDORA. 302
• ROSES AND ORANGE-BUDS. 305
• NEW AND OLD LOVE. 310
• MY FIRST LOVE. 314
• THE COMING OF SUMMER. 319
• FLITTING NORTHWARD. 322
• TOWN AND COUNTRY. 325
• MUSIDORA'S RETURN. 329
• MUSIDORA AND MY SOUTHERN LOVE. 332

MODEL YOUNG LADIES.

• THE UNION YOUNG LADY. 339
• FIFTH AVENUE BEAUTY. 342
• THE SECESSION FEMALE. 346
• THE BROADWAY BELLE. 349