University of Virginia Library

PREFACE.

It ought to be matter of surprise how men live in
the midst of marvels, without taking heed of their
existence. The slightest derangement of their accustomed
walks in political or social life shall excite
all their wonder, and furnish themes for their discussions,
for months; while the prodigies that come
from above are presented daily to their eyes, and are
received without surprise, as things of course. In a
certain sense, this may be well enough, inasmuch
as all which comes directly from the hands of the
Creator may be said so far to exceed the power of
human comprehension, as to be beyond comment;
but the truth would show us that the cause of this
neglect is rather a propensity to dwell on such interests
as those over which we have a fancied control,
than on those which confessedly transcend our understanding.
Thus is it ever with men. The wonders
of creation meet them at every turn, without
awakening reflection, while their minds labour on
subjects that are not only ephemeral and illusory,

but which never attain an elevation higher than that
the most sordid interests can bestow.

For ourselves, we firmly believe that the finger of
Providence is pointing the way to all races, and
colours, and nations, along the path that is to lead
the east and the west alike, to the great goal of
human wants. Demons infest that path, and numerous
and unhappy are the wanderings of millions
who stray from its course; sometimes in reluctance
to proceed; sometimes in an indiscreet haste to move
faster than their fellows, and always in a forgetfulness
of the great rules of conduct that have been
handed down from above. Nevertheless, the main
course is onward; and the day, in the sense of time,
is not distant, when the whole earth is to be filled
with the knowledge of the Lord, “as the waters
cover the sea.”

One of the great stumbling-blocks with a large
class of well-meaning, but narrow-judging moralists,
are the seeming wrongs that are permitted by Providence,
in its control of human events. Such persons
take a one-sided view of things, and reduce all
principles to the level of their own understandings.
If we could comprehend the relations which the
Deity bears to us, as well as we can comprehend the
relations we bear to Him, there might be a little
seeming reason in these doubts; but when one of the
parties in this mighty scheme of action is a profound
mystery to the other, it is worse than idle, it is profane,
to attempt to explain those things which our
minds are not yet sufficiently cleared from the dross
of earth to understand. Look at Italy, at this very

moment. The darkness and depression from which
that glorious peninsula is about to emerge, are the
fruits of long-continued dissensions and an iron despotism,
which is at length broken by the impulses
left behind him by a ruthless conqueror, who, under
the appearance and with the phrases of Liberty,
contended only for himself. A more concentrated
egotism than that of Napoleon probably never existed;
yet, has it left behind it seeds of personal
rights that have sprung up by the way-side, and
which are likely to take root with a force that will
bid defiance to eradication. Thus is it, ever, with
the progress of society. Good appears to arise out
of evil, and the inscrutable ways of Providence are
vindicated by general results, rather than by instances
of particular care. We leave the application
of these remarks to the intelligence of such of our
readers as may have patience to peruse the work that
will be found in the succeeding pages.

We have a few words of explanation to say, in
connection with the machinery of our tale. In the
first place, we would remark, that the spelling of
“burr-oak,” as given in this book, is less our own
than an office spelling. We think it should be “buroak,”
and this for the simple reason, that the name is
derived from the fact that the acorn borne by this
tree is partially covered with a bur. Old Sam Johnson,
however, says that “burr” means the lobe, or
lap of the ear; and those who can fancy such a resemblance
between this and the covering of our
acorn, are at liberty to use the two final consonants.
Having commenced stereotyping with this supernumerary,

for the sake of uniformity that mode of
spelling, wrong as we think it, has been continued
throughout the book.

There is nothing imaginary in the fertility of the
west. Personal observation has satisfied us that it
much surpasses anything that exists in the Atlantic
states, unless in exceptions, through the agency of
great care and high manuring, or in instances of
peculiar natural soil. In these times, men almost
fly. We have passed over a thousand miles of territory
within the last few days, and have brought the pictures at the two extremes of this journey in close
proximity in our mind's eye. Time may lessen that
wonderful fertility, and bring the whole country more
on a level; but there it now is, a glorious gift from
God, which it is devoutly to be wished may be accepted
with due gratitude, and with a constant recollection
of His unwavering rules of right and
wrong, by those who have been selected to enjoy it.

June, 1848.