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Dear, dear sister" said he, "you will not go away and leave me. Page 10.
Croome del. Wagner & McGuigan, Lith. Phila. M. H. Traubel.
WAY-MARKS IN THE LIFE OF A WANDERER. THE INCIDENTS TAKEN FROM REAL LIFE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF ROBERT MORTON, THE DEW-DROP OF THE SUNNY SOUTH, ETC. ETC.PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY CRISSY & MARKLEY, GOLDSMITH'S HALL, LIBRARY STREET.
CRISSY & MARKLEY, PRINTERS.
TO
MY BELOVED AND DEARLY CHERISHED FRIEND
Mrs. A. B. Kitchen,
I DEDICATE THIS LITTLE VOLUME
AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF ESTEEM,
AND TRUST SHE WILL EVER HOLD IN KIND REMEMBRANCE, ITS
AUTHOR
PREFACE.
A FEW years ago I visited some friends in Georgia, and there gleaned the incidents upon which I based the contents of this little volume. If I have sometimes mingled the experiences of my own life with the Wanderings of the fair Marcia, the reader will please forgive me, and admit that a certain degree of fiction must be allowed in names of persons and places.
Of the religious tendency of my work I would only say, to read it will be to convince you that I have written, praying as I wrote, that God's Spirit might descend upon me, and teach me how to benefit my fellow creatures.
Not quite two years have elapsed since, left in destitute circumstances, with two small children entirely page: vi-vii[View Page vi-vii] dependent upon my exertions for their support and education, I embarked in a literary career, and in the fullness of a grateful heart must I say, that God has bounteously strewn my way with blessings. In New York, Boston and Philadelphia; in the noble cities of the Far West, and in the genial cities of the Sunny South, troops of friends have surrounded me; and every where I have met with the encouragement and sympathy which have made my sorrowful lot supportable.
I think I should acknowledge that the first element of my success has been the favor and kindness I have received from the editors. From the hurry of business, the discussion of politics, the perusal of foreign intelligence, they have come to see me, listened to my simple story, read my book, and announced to the public my design in such glowing terms, that the whole public heart seemed to beat with sympathy, and the entire number of the rich and favored would come forward with words of encouragement to subscribe for my book. I can never hope to thank them sufficiently for all they have done, but I feel confident God will bless and reward those who have scattered upon the Wanderer's way, the flowers of life and hope.
To the kindly attention of the noble-hearted and the good, I submit this little volume, feeling that though it has many faults, it has more to recommend it than any thing hitherto laid before them by its grateful
AUTHOR.
