Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky. A biography

Preface

The author has designed the present series of Biographies more particularly for the young. And in pursuing his original plan along to its termination, he has set before himself the following objects, to which he invites the reader's attention :

To furnish from the pages of the world's history a few examples of true manhood, lofty purpose, and persevering effort, such as may be safely held up either for the admiration or emulation of the youth of the present day;

To clear away, in his treatment of these subjects, whatever mistiness and mustiness may have accumulated with time about them, presenting to the mental vision fresh and living pictures, that shall seem to be clothed with naturalness, and energy, and vitality ;

To offer no less instruction to the minds, than pleasure to the imaginations of the many for whom he has taken it in hand to write ;

And, more especially, perhaps, to familiarize the youth 1-

VI PREFACE.

of our day with those striking and manly characters, that have long ago made their mark, deep and lasting, on the history and fortunes of the American Continent.

The deeds of these men, it is true, are to be found abundantly recorded in Histories ; but they lie so scattered along their ten thousand pages, and are so intermixed with the voluminous records of other matters, as to be practically out of the reach of the younger portion of readers, and so of the very ones for whom this series has been undertaken. These want only pictures of actual life ; and, if the author shall, in any due degree, succeed even in sketching interesting outlinesy he will feel that he is answering the very purpose that has long lain unperformed within his heart.