they have been collected by friends who believe that in these stories is
displayed better workmanship than I have since done. For myself, I can
claim for them only an unusual degree of that unliterary and unpopular
quality called truthfulness. Although at present mildly tolerated in the
East, I was "brought up" in the West, and have written largely from
recollection of "some folks" I have known, veritable men and women,
scenes and incidents, and otherwise through 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