Wright American Fiction

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, BY JAMES O'KANE, In the Clerk's Office, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of the State of New-York.

CONTENTS.

• INTRODUCTION, 5
• BOOK OF GOAKS, 9
• COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE, 12
• A GENIUS FOR SILVER SPOONS, 21
• A NEW-YEARS' GIFT, 28
• FORREST IN OTHELLO, 31
• THE SORROWS AND TRIALS OF MARRIAGE, 33
• THE TRIAL, 38
• EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL, 40
• THE NIGGER MEETING, 45
• PHARMACY EXTRAORDINARY, 52
• THE DUEL, 58
• VISIT TO NEW-YORK CITY, 65
• THE CANDIDATE, 71
• SPIRITUAL SIANCE, 75
• A FAMILY SQUABBLE, 81
• THE SAILING PARTY, 83
• THE BAD BILL, 87
• THE VOLUNTEER, 91
• AUTHORSHIP, 95
• THE HIGHER LAW, 99
• THE BEGGAR, 103
• THE MARTYR, 105
• MRS. WARD AS A POET, 111
• A NEW MOVEMENT, 114
• THE FUNERAL, 117
• THE HUNGARIAN PATRIOT, 121
• RETRIBUTION, 123
• ASTRONOMY, 125
• A CITY GIRL, 128
• AN ENTHUSIASTIC FRIEND, 131
• THE ACTRESS, 137
• THE DOCTOR, 140
• THE APPARITION, 146
• THE VILLAGE BELLE, 149
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• ARISTOCRACY, 155
• CAUSE FOR JEALOUSY, 164
• HOSPITALITY, 168
• FREE SUFFRAGE, 174
• THE TRAVELLING SHOW, 176
• THE ITINERANT LECTURER, 184
• THE INCOME TAX, 190
• VISIT TO BOSTON, 192
• THE WIT OF BETSEY JANE, 199
• CONFIRMATION STRONG, 200
• MATERNAL COUNSEL, 209
• THE THUNDER STORM, 215
• THE ALBUM, 217
• THE AFFECTIONATE COUPLE, 219
• VIEWS OF TRAVEL, 223
• SHOCKING ACCIDENT, 225
• A WANDERING MINSTREL, 230
• THE PHRENOLOGIST, 236
• THE ACTOR, 240
• A REMARKABLE INCIDENT, 244
• A DOUBLE LOSS, 249
• ACCOUNT OF STOCK, 254
• THE MYSTERIOUS COUPLE, 257
• A LETTER, 258
• A TRAVELLING MERCHANT, 265
• THE PERPETUAL MOTION, 275
• MARVELOUS DEVELOPEMENT, 276
• CONSPIRACY DETECTED, 279
• AN ASTOUNDING EVENT, 289
• CONJUGAL ANXIETY, 294
• ULYSSEAN ARTIFICE, 296
• UNCLE OBED, 299
• HIRING A HOUSE, 309

INTRODUCTION.

THERE'S a smart chance of people in the world that's of very little account, who can't speak to a human without a introduction, & I write this peece in the biggining of my book to tell 'em what I intend to do, though I think a introduction is of no more use than horns on a horse's head.

Everybody has heard of my Arteemass, & sum has heard a gray deal too much of him, & espeshully of the way he speaks of his own wife, his better haff which he is bound to cherish & purtect her more'n all other fair secks be they black or be they white. At first I was advised to git out a conjunction agin his book & hev the publication contradicted by the law which ought 2 be done or what's the use of the mariage vow, because why? She is his better haff as he says hisself, "the partner of his goys & the sharer of his sorrers." Yes, indeed, there's no miss take abeout the sorrers; he's allwise let me share them, & a perticklar big share 2.

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Finally, I thought I'd git out a histerry my-self, & that would be better than goin' inter the law which is kunsidurd pocarious. Having done Somethin at lektring & having been a membur of the Women's rites for 9 yeers past, and having got my edecation at the same collidge as Arteemass, I bleeved I could write in jest as good style as him, though he were allways noted for being a smart skollar.

If there's any truth in the wife being the better 1-2, my book ought 2 be jest 1-2 as good agin as his'n.

There's a Sosiety in our villidge which I am a membur that have jest been put in opperation 2 make another ammendment in the constitution, that is very much needed, particularly in our parts, & it is 2 the effect that all books got out, hereafter, by the male speshiz shall bee inspectted by hiz wife B4 the printer shall hev a rite to put a single tipe 2 the paper; & there's half a duzzen more amendments consarning married life & the duty of husbands that our Sosiety intends to petition congress for.

It's not jinerally known that I am a orphan, which gives me a greater claim on the Patronage of the public than arteemas whose parients are most all of them alive; only 1 of them is dead, & the diseased left him a good Patrimoney consistin' of a dress kote, 2 pair of britches, & a unfinished perpetual motion masheen; arteemas has only 2 finish it, & he could make his fortune by it.

Insted of that, he is running a round with his wacks figgurs whitch is a sort of heathen idollarty, making of grave imidges & settin them up B4 the people. He had better finish off the perpetual motion masheen which only wants 3 more wheels 2 be kompleet, though some thinks there must be a great many ammendments made in it B4 it's all rite & will go a loan. Other some says that the more ammendments is made in it the wuss it will be; but it's a very valuable piece of property wether it goes or not.

Arteemass is perptual motion enuff hisself, & had better stay at home & kumfort up his better 1-2, or, it runs into my head that he will git sitch a blessin in this book that he'll be glad to cry P. K. V.