PREFACE.
The following pages are intended to embody and
illustrate a portion of the more romantic incidents
which actually occurred in the early settlements of
Vermont, with the use of but little more of fiction
than was deemed sufficient to weave them together,
and impart to the tissue a connected interest. In
doing this, the author has ventured, for the sake of
more unity of design, upon one or two anachronisms;
or, in other words, he has brought together, or nearly
so, some incidents, connected with the portions of
the two different periods embraced in the work, viz.
the New York controversy and the revolution—which
occurred at intervals. Other than this, he is sensible
of no violations of historical truth. Without consulting,
as perhaps he should, the models to be found
in the works of approved writers in this department
of literature, he has endeavored to give a true delincation
of the manners and feelings of those among
whom the scene is laid, together with the deeds and
characters of some of the leading actors in the events
he has attempted to describe, as gathered from the
imperfect published histories of the times, from the
private papers to which he has had access, and more
particularly from the lips of the few aged relics of
that period who actively participated in the wild and
stirring scenes which peculiarly marked the settlement
of this part of the country. How far he has
succeeded in the attempt it is for the public, not for
him, to decide.
THE AUTHOR.
Montpelier, March, 1839.
