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Sheppard Lee

Bird, Robert Montgomery (1806-1854)
  
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CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
 1. 
BOOK I. CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO SPEND AND HOW TO RETRIEVE A FORTUNE.
 2. 
BOOK II. CONTAINING SUNDEY ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ADVANTAGES OF GOOD LIVING, WITH A FEW CHAPTERS ON DOMESTIC FELICITY.
 3. 
BOOK III. CONTAINING MUCH THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO YOUNG GENTLEMEN IN DEBT, AND TO FATHERS OF FAMILIES WHO DESIRE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN RISE IN THE WORLD.
 4. 
BOOK IV. CONTAINING ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOLLY OF BRINGING UP CHILDREN IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO, AND THE WISDOM OF MAKING A FORTUNE.

collapse section1. 
BOOK I. CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO SPEND AND HOW TO RETRIEVE A FORTUNE.
 1. 
CHAPTER I. The Author's Preface,—which the reader, if in a great hurry, or if it be his practice to read against time, can skip.
 2. 
CHAPTER II. The birth and family of Sheppard Lee, with some account of his temper and complexion of mind.
 3. 
CHAPTER III. The pleasures of having nothing to do.—Some thoughts on Matrimony.
 4. 
CHAPTER IV. How to conduct a farm to the best advantage, and steer clear of the lawyers.
 5. 
CHAPTER V. The Author finds himself in trouble.—Some account of his Servant, honest James Jumble.
 6. 
CHAPTER VI. Sheppard Lee experiences his share of the respect that is accorded to “honest poverty.”—His ingenious and highly original devices to amend his fortune.
 7. 
CHAPTER VII. The Author becomes a Politician, and seeks for an office.—The result of that project.
 8. 
CHAPTER VIII. A description of the Owl-roost, with Mr. Jumble's ideas in relation to Captain Kid's money.
 9. 
CHAPTER IX. Sheppard Lee stumbles upon a happy man, and quarrels with him.
 10. 
CHAPTER X. Sheppard Lee has an extraordinary dream, which promises to be more advantageous than any of his previous ones.
 11. 
CHAPTER XI. In which the reader is introduced to a personage who may claim his acquaintance hereafter.
 12. 
CHAPTER XII. Sheppard Lee visits the village, makes a patriotic speech, and leaves the fence.
 13. 
CHAPTER XIII. What befell the author on his way to the Owl-roost.
 14. 
CHAPTER XIV. Sheppard Lee digs for the buried treasure, but makes a blow with the mattock in the wrong place.
 15. 
CHAPTER XV. In which Sheppard Lee finds himself in a quandary which the reader will allow to be the most wonderful and lamentable ever known to a human being.
 16. 
CHAPTER XVI. Sheppard Lee finds comfort when he least expects it. The extraordinary close of the catastrophe.
 17. 
CHAPTER XVII. A natural mistake, which, although it procures the Author a rough reception at his own house, has yet the good effect to teach him the propriety of adapting his manners to his condition.
collapse section2. 
BOOK II. CONTAINING SUNDRY ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ADVANTAGES OF GOOD LIVING, WITH A FEW CHAPTERS ON DOMESTIC FELICITY.
 1. 
CHAPTER I. Some passages in the life of John H. Higginson, Esq., the happy sportsman; with a surprising affliction that befell the Author.
 2. 
CHAPTER II. The Author, being in prison, makes a confidant of a deputy Attorney-General.—The inconvenience of telling a truth which happens to be somewhat incredible.
 3. 
CHAPTER III. Sheppard Lee is visited by new friends, released from prison, and carried to his new place of abode.
 4. 
CHAPTER IV. Containing illustrations of the advantages of dying an unusual death, in times of high political excitement.
 5. 
CHAPTER V. The true meaning of the word Podagra.
 6. 
CHAPTER VI. Sheppard Lee's introduction to his wife, and his suspicion that all is not gold that glistens.
 7. 
CHAPTER VII. A comparison between dunning and scolding, with some thoughts on suicide.
 8. 
CHAPTER VIII. Sheppard Lee forms sundry acquaintances, some of which are genteel.
 9. 
CHAPTER IX. The Author grows weary of his wife, and mistakes the Schuylkill for the river Lethe.—The tragical adventure that befell a young gentleman in that romantic tide, with its effects upon the destinies of Sheppard Lee.
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BOOK III. CONTAINING MUCH THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO YOUNG GENTLEMEN IN DEBT, AND TO FATHERS OF FAMILIES WHO DESIRE TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN RISE IN SOCIETY.
 1. 
CHAPTER I. The inconveniences of being drowned.—The first chapter of the history of I. D. Dawkins, Esq.
 2. 
CHAPTER II. A conversation betwixt the Author and his bosom friend, John Tickle, Esq.
 3. 
CHAPTER III. In which Sheppard Lee is prepared for the brilliant destiny that awaits him.
 4. 
CHAPTER IV. In which Sheppard Lee has an interview with a lady, who tells him a secret.
 5. 
CHAPTER V. An inventory of a young gentleman's effects, with some account of Mr. Sniggles, his landlord.
 6. 
CHAPTER VI. Sheppard Lee hears news of his uncle, and Mr. Sniggles is brought to his senses.
 7. 
CHAPTER VII. In which Sheppard Lee is told his history.
 8. 
CHAPTER VIII. A conversation with a tailor. Sheppard Lee finds himself in a situation truly appalling.
 9. 
CHAPTER IX. The Author receives a visit from his uncle, Samuel Wilkins, Esq., and is relieved from his tormentors.
 10. 
CHAPTER X. Some account of Sheppard Lee's country kinsmen.
 11. 
CHAPTER XI. Containing a morsel of metaphysics, with a short account of the Author's experience in good society.
 12. 
CHAPTER XII. Sheppard Lee makes the acquaintance of his cousin, Miss Pattie Wilkins.
 13. 
CHAPTER XIII. A further account of Miss Pattie Wilkins.
 14. 
CHAPTER XIV. A short chapter, containing an account of the Author's cousin, Samuel Wilkins, Jr.
 15. 
CHAPTER XV. In which Sheppard Lee visits Mr. Periwinkle Smith and his fair daughter, and is intrusted with a secret which both astonishes and afflicts him.
 16. 
CHAPTER XVI. Containing much instructive matter in relation to good society, whereby the ambitious reader can determine what are his prospects of entering it.
 17. 
CHAPTER XVII. In which Sheppard Lee relates the passion he conceived for his fair cousin, and his engagement to elope with her.
 18. 
CHAPTER XVIII. In which Sheppard Lee recounts an engagement of a similar nature which he formed with the fair Alicia.
 19. 
CHAPTER XIX. The ingenious devices with which Sheppard Lee prepared the way for the elopement.
 20. 
CHAPTER XX. The guests that Sheppard Lee invited to his wedding.
 21. 
CHAPTER XXI. Containing a scialogue, or curious conversation with nothing; with a discovery extremely astonishing to several persons.
 22. 
CHAPTER XXII. In which Sheppard Lee finds that he has made the fortune of his friends, without having greatly advantaged his own.
 23. 
CHAPTER XXIII. A crisis. Sheppard Lee is reduced to great extremities, and takes refuge in the house of mourning.
 24. 
CHAPTER XXIV. What happened in the dead-chamber.—The dirge of a wealthy parent.
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BOOK IV. CONTAINING ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOLLY OF BRINGING UP CHILDREN IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO, AND THE WISDOM OF MAKING A FORTUNE.
 1. 
CHAPTER I. The private history of Abram Skinner, the Shaver.
 2. 
CHAPTER II. Sheppard Lee's first hit at money-making.
 3. 
CHAPTER III. Reflections on stock-jobbing and other matters.

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BOOK I.
CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO SPEND AND HOW TO RETRIEVE
A FORTUNE.

  • The Author's Preface—which the reader, if in a hurry, or if it be
    his practice to read against time, can omit...Page 5

  • The birth and family of Sheppard Lee, with some account of his
    temper and complexion of mind... 7

  • The pleasures of having nothing to do.—Some thoughts on
    matrimony...12

  • How to conduct a farm to the best advantage, and steer clear of
    the lawyers... 18

  • The Author finds himself in trouble.—Some account of his servant,
    honest James Jumble... 21

  • Sheppard Lee experiences his share of the respect that is accorded
    to “honest poverty.”—His ingenious and highly original
    devices to amend his fortune... 26

  • The Author becomes a Politician, and seeks for an office.—The
    result of that project... 30

    iv

    Page iv

  • A description of the Owl-roost, with Mr. Jumble's ideas in relation
    to Captain Kid's money... Page 32

  • Sheppard Lee stumbles upon a happy man, and quarrels with
    him... 38

  • Sheppard Lee has an extraordinary dream, which promises to be
    more advantageous than any of his previous ones. 42

  • In which the reader is introduced to a personage who may claim
    his acquaintance hereafter... 47

  • Sheppard Lee visits the village, makes a patriotic speech, and
    leaves the fence... 50

  • What befell the Author on his way to the Owl-roost. 55

  • Sheppard Lee digs for the buried treasure, and makes a blow with
    the mattock in the wrong place... 58

  • In which Sheppard Lee finds himself in a quandary, which the
    reader will allow to be the most wonderful and lamentable ever
    known to a human being... 60

  • Sheppard Lee finds comfort when he least expects it.—The extraordinary
    close of the catastrophe... 65

  • A natural mistake, which, although it procures the Author a rough
    reception at his own house, has yet the good, effect to teach
    him the propriety of adapting his manners to his condition 69

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