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the memories of Western friends of good eyesight and hearing powers.
Should any one accuse me of having imitated Bret Harte's style, I shall accept the accusation as a compliment, for I know of no other American story writer so worthy to be taken as a teacher by men who acceptably tell the stories of new countries. For occasionally introducing characters and motives that would not be considered disgraceful in virtuous communities, I can only plead in excuse the fact that, even in the New West, some folks will occasionally be uniformly thoughtful, respectable and honest, just as individuals sometimes are in the East.
JOHN HABBERTON.
NEW YORK, July 1st, 1877.
To FRANK LESLIE,
Who, while other publishers were advising the writer of these sketches to write, supplied the author with encouragement in the shape of a publishing medium and the lucre which all literary men despise but long for, this volume is respectfully dedicated by
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
THE SCHOOLTEACHER AT BOTTLE FLAT
JIM HOCKSON'S REVENGE
MAKING HIS MARK
CODAGO
THE LAST PIKE AT JAGGER'S BEND
FIRST PRAYER AT HANNEY'S
THE NEW SHERIFF OF BUNKER COUNTY
MAJOR MARTT'S FRIEND
BUFFLE
MATALETTE'S SECTION
A STORY OF TEN MILE GULCH
CAPTAIN SAM'S CHANGE
MISS FEWNE'S LAST CONQUEST
MARKSON'S HOUSE
GRUMP'S PET
WARDELOW'S BOY
TOM CHAFFLIN'S LUCK
OLD TWITCHETT'S TREASURE
BLIZZER'S WIFE
A BOARDING-HOUSE ROMANCE
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS
THE HARDHACK MISTAKE
THE CARMI CHUMS
LITTLE GUZZY
A ROMANCE OF HAPPY REST
TWO POWERFUL ARGUMENTS
MR. PUTCHETT'S LOVE
THE MEANEST MAN AT BLUGSEY'S
DEACON BARKER'S CONVERSION
JOE GATTER'S LIFE INSURANCE
THE TEMPERANCE MEETING AT BACKLEY
JUDE
A LOVE OF A COTTAGE
THE BLEIGHTON RIVALS
BUDGE AND TODDIE AT AUNT ALICE'S
SAILING UP STREAM