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Ellie, or, The human comedy. Cooke, John Esten, (1830–1886).
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MISS INCLEDON IS OVERCOME BY HER FEELINGS.

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ELLIE OR THE HUMAN COMEDY.
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BY JOHN ESTEN COOKE Richmond: A. MORRIS, Publisher.
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ELLIE: OR, THE HUMAN COMEDY.

BY

JOHN ESTEN COOKE.

AUTHOR OF "THE VIRGINIA COMEDIANS," "LEATHER STOCKING AND SILK," "THE YOUTH OF JEFFERSON," "PEONY," etc. "Thrice blest whose lives are faithful prayers, Whose loves in higher love endure; What souls possess themselves so pure, Or is there happiness like theirs!" TENNYSON With Illustrations after Designs by Strother.

RICHMOND: PUBLISHED BY A. MORRIS.

1855.
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ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1855, BY A. MORRIS, IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA.

INTRODUCTORY.

PERHAPS a few words upon the threshold of this book will be of advantage to the reader, the author, and the story itself. The peculiar character of the volume, indeed, almost calls for this explanatory introduction, dealing, as it does, in the fortunes of many personages, drawn with the utmost freedom, and made to play their imaginary parts upon a domestic theatre, with which many of its readers—if it have such—are so perfectly familiar. The author wishes, then, to say upon the threshold, and with entire sincerity, that no character in this volume is intended to satirize any real personage, living or dead. He would be sorry to think that any one could believe him capable of anything so unamiable and unjustifiable—and, perhaps, this disclaimer is wholly unnecessary. It will not be attributed, by those who know the writer, to any desire to attract local attention, or excite interest in his work. The book must stand on its own merits, and he would not, if he could, have it otherwise. If there be no truth or value in its pages, it will fall and become extinct, as it should. If on the contrary, it possesses any truth, it will live, and that in spite of everything, and without any assistance.

A few words in relation to the title and character of page: 4-5[View Page 4-5] the book, may be advisable. The word COMEDY signified formerly, a representation of human life—and in the "Human Comedy," the writer's aim has been to paint life as it is—men as they are—human beings as they speak and act when moved by those diverse and conflicting passions and emotions which are the common inheritance of humanity. It has thus happened that the work contains—or was intended to contain—types, so to speak, of human life: representing, each, different classes, and with an underlying philosophy in their careers, which the author trusts is quite pure and genuine in its presentation. In Doctor Fossyl he has tried to depict a character hardened by contact with material dogmas, and driven to scepticism by subjecting spiritual things to tests purely rational;—in Mr. Fantish a young man with a nature originally pure, yielding to vice from the pressure of powerful inducements;—in Miss Incledon, the woman too weak to resist the glittering temptations of the world, and entangling herself in a web dangerous and terrible;—and in Captain Tarnish, the adventurer, without courage as without conscience, a true type of that class of individuals who float on the waves of society, as scum does on the surface of a stream. These characters, it may be said, are not healthful or agreeable companions for the reader, and that is very true; but they exist. They would never had been drawn, had not their antidotes, so to speak, existed too. The writer trusts that Mr. Sansoucy will counteract Mr. Fantish and his friend, the Captain—Mr. Inclement, Doctor Fossyl—Miss Incledon he quite neutralized by Aurelia,—while Monsieur Guillemot may be permitted to stand vis-à-vis to Mr. Heartsease; and Lucia, the poor flower of another clime, to her friend Wide-A wake. To end this summary, which has already extended too far—in the sketch of Ellie, the writer has tried to show how a pure spirit, even though it be in the bosom of a child, will run through the variegated woof of that life which surrounds it, like a thread of pure gold, and that all who come in contact with it will carry away something to elevate and purify them, and make them better. It was in delineating this child—poorly and feebly as it is done—that the writer experienced his greatest pleasure; and he can only regret his want of ability to represent adequately the pure loveliness of the journalist's little friend.

Briefly to sum up everything then for the kind reader, detained already much too long—the chief aim of this book has been to show the beauty and loveliness of kindness—the reward which charity not seldom, even in this world, reaps; the influence of purity and self-sacrifice, even when they are exemplified in the character and actions of a child—finally, the supreme truth which underlies all true philosophy, that human nature in its worst manifestations, and under its most repulsive forms, does never, and can never lose wholly the good impulses given to it by God. By failure or success in these particulars, would the writer have his work judged and tested. If it teaches, however feebly, the sweetness and nobility of love, and the perennial beauty of goodness and charity, the hours dedicated to it will not have been thrown away. Beyond this he has scarcely the right to page: 6-7 (Table of Contents) [View Page 6-7 (Table of Contents) ] ask anything: but as it is the province and voluntary undertaking of Art to search everywhere for these noble lessons and pictures, and to place them as clearly as possible before the eyes of the world—so the right of the artist to pray for a kind consideration of his performance, and due charity for its faults, will not be denied, or called in question. If this book excites simple emotions of pity and kindness in the breasts even of children, the writer will be abundantly satisfied. He has much faith in such a criticism, and is not unwilling to subject his work to such youthful critics, or those who judge with like impartiality—certain if there is anything truthful and sincere in the volume, it will not fail to be justly appreciated.

Richmond, April, 1855.

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

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BOOK II.

BOOK III.

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