Camp fires of the red men; or, A hundred years ago

Front matter

“ Paul shall he the son of the Wild Cat ” said he, “ and the White Eagle must go back as he came. He can not'fly swift enough to save his young one from the rocks.’’ P. 149.

CAMP FIRES

THE RED MEN:

Preface

The writer of tliis history is aware that the critics are prone to smile at all attempts at confi¬ dences between an author and the public. Still, in the present instance, he is disposed for a very brief period to take his stand at the confessional. He is frank to say that his work is not what he would endeavor to make it, were plot and detail now for the first to be determined. A consider¬ able time has elapsed since it was written—in truth, it has been held in reserve much more than the period prescribed by the discreet Horace: but notwithstanding the space allotted to ripening, and a very thorough revision, the broad features of the original cast were found too deeply set to admit of material change. He would now, were it practicable, modify some of the incidents—^render them less vivid in color as well as more sober in character—and he would also, in soine cases, am¬ plify and extend them, even at the risk of win-

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nowing some favorite portions quite away; for it may be charged, with a show of reason, that the events occasionally crowd very closely on each other’s heels. In short, were he to write again, with an equal freedom of choice as to subject and action, he would select a different field, and court invention and adventure less, and quiet more; for the storm of passion and the blast of the trumpet are not so much to his taste now as they were once.

But, after all, he is by no means certain that the public would be well pleased with the change. The book contains his early fresh thoughts, fan¬ cies, and feelings, frankly spoken; and will ap¬ peal strongly to the buoyant and more honest side of life; and so, consoling himself with the belief that it is defaced by no unworthy sentiment, and that it presents in the main a fair picture of the times as they existed among us a century ago, when the Georges of England were our kings, and the Confederacy of the Six Nations of Bed Men our allies, he is content to submit it into the hands of the publishers as it is.

BROOKIiYN, August, 1856.

. CONTENTS.

'OHAPTBB PAOa

I.-A HTTNDRED YEARS AGO...-.. 9

n.-THE READER IS TTNEXPEGTEDLY INTRODUCED TO THE

HERO OE THE STORY... 14

in.-THE YOUTH SO OPPORTUNELY DISCOVERED, APPROVES

HIMSELF A LAD OF PARTS, WITH SOMETHING OF THE FEELINGS OF A MAN. 20

rV.-OUR HERO IS RAPIDLY LED ON INTO THE REALITIES OF

LIFE AND MANHOOD. 25

V.-THE BARNEGAT HOTEL. A LANDSCAPE BY THE SEA_ 31

VI.—handiwork: of the ocean, a shipwreck throws SOME noble foreigners INTO THE READER’S SO¬ CIETY, THE LADY VIOLA.. 36

VH.-THE WRECKERS. A NIGHT FIRE UPON THE DEEP. 47

VIH.—THE SPANIARDS IN NEW YORK.. 53

EX.-WARWICK FINDING HIMSELF IN LOVE, SEEKS RELIEF IN

POETRY. 67

X.—THE BALL AT GOVERNOR CLINTON’s .. 64

XI.—A NIGHT ADVENTURE ON THE BATTERY. CHARACTER¬ ISTIC PASSAGE WITH AN EDITOR. 74

Xn.—MICHAEL JOHNSON. LOVE-MAKING IN HIGH LIFE. A

FRIENDLY WARNING. 79

Xm.—MAJOR VAN quirk’s PROSPECTIVE DUEL. 88

VI