Produced by Daniel Fromont
[Transcriber's note: Susan Warner (1819-1885) & Anna Warner(1824-1915), Say and seal(1860), Tauchnitz edition 1860 volume 1]
"If any man make religion as twelve, and the world as thirteen, such aone hath not the spirit of a true New England man."
It is a melancholy fact, that this book is somewhat larger than themould into which most of the fluid fiction material is poured in thisdegenerate age. You perceive, good reader, that it has run over—in thelatest volume.
Doubtless the Procrustean critic would say, "Cut it off,"—which pointwe waive.
The book is really of very moderate limits—considering that two womenhad to have their say in it.
It is pleasant to wear a glove when one shakes hands with the Public;therefore we still use our ancestors' names instead of our own,—but itis fair to state, that in this case there are a pair of gloves!—Whichis the right glove, and which the left, the Public will never know.
A word to that "dear delightful" class of readers who believeeverything that is written, and do not look at the number of the lastpage till they come to it—nor perhaps even then. Well they and theauthor know, that if the heroine cries—or laughs—too much, it isnobody's fault but her own! Gently they quarrel with him for notpermitting them to see every Jenny happily married and every Tom withsettled good habits. Most lenient readers!—when you turn publishers,then will such books doubtless be written! Meantime, hear this.
In a shady, sunshiny town, lying within certain bounds—geographical orimaginary,—these events (really or in imagination) occurred. Preciselywhen, the chroniclers do not say. Scene opens with the breezes whichJune, and the coming of a new school teacher, naturally create. Afterthe fashion of the place, his lodgings are arranged for him beforehand,by the School Committee. But where, or in what circumstances, the scenemay close,—having told at the end of the book, we do not incline totell at the beginning.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 1860.
1860.
The street was broad, with sidewalks, and wide grass-grown borders, anda spacious track of wheels and horses' feet in the centre. Great elms,which the early settlers planted, waved their pendant branches over thepeaceful highway,