WILL CARLETON
[Pg 9]
PREFACE.
When city people go among forests and hills, they drink in the fresh air and weird scenery of rural surroundings, with much more relish, enjoyment, and appreciation, than do the life-long residents they find there.
For the same reason, the great drama of metropolitan existence falls most forcibly upon those just from the clear streams and green meadows of the country. Their impressions then are deeper, and their feelings more intense than if they were city born and bred.
With the latter fact in view, this book is an effort to reproduce some of the effects of city scenes and character upon the intellect and imagination of two people from the country:
First, a young student, who has travelled the well-beaten roads of a college course, but is just entering real life, and now for the first time walks the paved and palace-bordered streets of which he has heard and read so much.
Second, an old farmer, with very little "book-learning," but a clear brain, a warm heart, and independent judgment, and a habit of philosophizing upon everything he sees, which habit he brings to the city, and applies to the strange facts he witnesses.
These, with certain incidental thoughts and characters encountered and discussed, constitute the present work. It will be found, as intended, sketchy and suggestive rather than elaborate and complete. Note-books and diaries are designed, not so much for the history of a career or an event, as a light to the memory, a stimulus to the imagination, and a help to the heart.[Pg 10]
It is the hope of the author that his book may perform those offices for you, his readers, and that it will rouse your pity of pain, your enjoyment of honest mirth, your hatred of sham and wrong, and your love and adoration of the Resolute and the Good, and their winsome child, the Beautiful.
In which case he shakes hands with his large and loved constituency, and continues happy.
W. C.
[Pg 11]
CONTENTS.
[Pg 12]
[Pg 13]
ILLUSTRATIONS.
[Pg 14]
[Pg 15]
WEALTH.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
September 20, 18—.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
"I SAW TALL DERRICKS BY THE HUNDRED RISE."
[Pg 22]
[Pg 23]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
September 25, 18—.
THE LOVELY YOUNG MAN.
"I REACHED MY HAND DOWN FOR IT AND IT STOPPED."
[Pg 30]
[Pg 31]
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[Pg 34][1] As is well known, the weird, inimitable poem, "Over the River," was written by a factory girl.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
November 1, 18—.
IF I'D A MILLION MILLIONS.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
December 25, 18—.
January 5, 18—.
[FARMER STEBBINS ON ROLLERS.]
Rochester, January 4.
Dear Cousin John:
"...WHEN ALL TO ONCE THE WHEELS DEPARTED SUDDENLY ABOVE, AN' TOOK ALONG MY HEELS."
[Pg 44]
[Pg 45]
[Pg 46]
FARMER STEBBINS ON ROLLERS.
WANT.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
February 5, 18—.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
February 12, 18—.
[Pg 51]
[Pg 52]
[THAT SWAMP OF DEATH.]
"CHOKED AND STRANGLED BY THE FOUL BREATH OF THE CHIMNEYS OVER THERE."
"OH, THE AIR IS PURE AND WHOLESOME WHERE SOME BABIES COO AND REST, AND THEY TRIM THEM OUT WITH RIBBONS, AND THEY FEED THEM WITH THE BEST."
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[Pg 59]
[Pg 60]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
February 28, 18—.
A SEWING-GIRL'S DIARY.
February 1, 18—.
"IS'T THE SAME GIRL THAT STOOD, ONE NIGHT, THERE IN THE WIDE HALL'S THRILLING LIGHT?"
[Pg 66]
[Pg 67]
February 5, 18—.
February 20, 18—.
[Pg 69]
[Pg 70]
February 22, 18—.
February 23, 1885.
February 24, 1885.
February 26, 1885.
March 10, 18—.
FIRE.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
March 15, 18—.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
WHEN PROMETHEUS STOLE THE FLAME.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
March 20, 18—.
"FLASH:" THE FIREMAN'S STORY.
March 20, 18—.
HOW WE FOUGHT THE FIRE.
I.
II.
III.
[Pg 87]
[Pg 88]
IV.
V.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
["YOU WILL TELL ME WHERE IS CONRAD?"]
[Pg 92]
WATER.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
April 25, 18—.
11 o'clock P.M.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[THE DEAD STOWAWAY.]
"BATTERED AND BRUISED, FOREVER ABUSED, HE LAY BY THE MOANING SEA."
[Pg 100]
[Pg 101]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
May 24, 18—.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[THE WEDDING OF THE TOWNS.][5]
[Pg 103]
[5] Written on the occasion of the opening of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
July 2, 18—.
[FARMER STEBBINS AT OCEAN GROVE.]
Ocean Grove, June 30, 18—.
Dear Cousin John:
[Pg 111]
VICE.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
September 10, 18—.
[THE BOY CONVICT'S STORY.]
September 15, 18—.
[FARMER STEBBINS ON THE BOWERY.]
Dear Cousin John:
[Pg 121]
"TO MAKE FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS CLEAR, AN' HELP THE CHILDREN TOO."
[Pg 122]
"WE COME 'THIN PART OF ONE OF IT."
A. S.
[FARMER STEBBINS AHEAD.]
Dear Cousin John:
[Pg 127]
[Pg 128]
"HE MAKES HIMSELF A BIGGER FOOL THAN ALL THE FOOLS HE MAKES."
[Pg 130]
A. S.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[THE "SLUGGING"-MATCH.]
VIRTUE.
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
October 1, 18—.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[From Farmer Harrington's Calendar.]
October 5, 18—.
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[MORE WAYS THAN ONE.]
[Pg 141]
[From Arthur Selwyn's Note-book.]
[THE MARCH OF THE CHILDREN.]
[Pg 142]
[Pg 143]
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