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Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1839,
BY CHARLES S. FRANCIS,

In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.

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PRE FАСЕ.

I AM glad to be told by those who live in the world, that it has lately become fashionable to read prefaces. I wished to say a few words, by way of introduction, to a work which may be deemed too slight to need a preface, but which will doubtless be acknowledged to require some recommendation.

I claim for these straggling and cloudy crayon-sketches of life and manners in the remoter parts of Michigan, the merit of general truth of outline. Beyond this I venture not to aspire. I felt somewhat tempted to set forth my little book as being entirely, what it is very nearly-a veritable history; an unimpeachable transcript of reality; a rough picture, in detached parts, but pentagraphed from the life; a sort of "Emigrant's Guide: "-considering with myself that these my adventurous journeyings and tarryings beyond the conVfines of civilization, might fairly be held to confer the traveller's privilege. But conscience prevailed, and I must honestly confess, that there be glosses, and colourings, and lights, if not shadows, for which the author is alone accountable. Journals published entire and unaltered, should be Parthian darts, sent abroad only when one's back is turned. To throw them in the teeth of one's every-day associates might diminish one's popularity rather inconveniently. I would desire the courteous reader to bear in mind, however,

that whatever is quite unnatural, or absolutely incredible, in the few incidents which diversify the following pages, is to be received as literally true. It is only in the most commonplace parts (if there be comparisons) that I have any leasing-making to answer for.

It will of course be observed that Miss Mitford's charming sketches of village life must have suggested the form of my rude attempt. I dare not flatter myself that any one will be led to accuse me of further imitation of a deservedly popular writer. And with such brief salvo, I make my humble curtsey.

M. C.

W

A NEW HOME.

CHAPTER I.

Here are seen

No traces of man's pomp and pride; no silks
Rustle, nor jewels shine, nor envious eyes

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One of earth's charms; upon her bosom yet
After the flight of untold centuries

The freshness of her far beginning lies.

BRYANT.

OUR friends in the "settlements" have expressed so much interest in such of our letters to them, as hap. pened to convey any account of the peculiar features of western life, and have asked so many questions, touching particulars which we had not thought worthy of mention, that I have been for some time past contemplating the possibility of something like a detailed account of our experiences. And I have determined to give them to the world, in a form not very different from that in which they were originally recorded for our private delectation; nothing doubting, that a veracious history of actual occurrences, an unvarnished

transcript of real characters, and an impartial record of every-day forms of speech (taken down in many cases from the lips of the speaker) will be pronounced "graphic," by at least a fair proportion of the journalists of the day.

'Tis true there are but meagre materials for anything which might be called a story. I have never seen a cougar-nor been bitten by a rattlesnake. The reader who has patience to go with me to the close of my de. sultory sketches, must expect nothing beyond a meandering recital of common-place occurrences-mere gossip about every-day people, little enhanced in value by any fancy or ingenuity of the writer; in short, a very ordinary pen-drawing; which, deriving no interest from colouring, can be valuable only for its truth.

A home on the outskirts of civilization-habits of society which allow the maid and her mistress to do the honours in complete equality, and to make the social tea visit in loving conjunction-such a distribution of the duties of life as compels all, without distinction, to rise with the sun or before him-to breakfast with the chickens-then,

"Count the slow clock and dine exact at noon”—

to be ready for tea at four, and for bed at eight-may certainly be expected to furnish some curious particulars for the consideration of those whose daily course almost reverses this primitive arrangement-who “cal! night day and day night," and who are apt occasionally to forget, when speaking of a particular class, that

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