who was my playmate then is the generous man who has relieved me of many
burdens while I wrote this story, do I feel impelled to dedicate it to
GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON, a manly man and a brotherly brother.



CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.--In Love with a Dutchman.
CHAPTER II.--An Explosion.
CHAPTER III.--A Farewell.
CHAPTER IV.--A Counter-Irritant.
CHAPTER V.--At the Castle.
CHAPTER VI.--The Backwoods Philosopher.
CHAPTER VII.--Within and Without.
CHAPTER VIII.--Figgers won't Lie.
CHAPTER IX.--The New Singing-Master.
CHAPTER X.--An Offer of Help.
CHAPTER XI.--The Coon-dog Argument.
CHAPTER XII.--Two Mistakes.
CHAPTER XIII.--The Spider Spins.
CHAPTER XIV.--The Spider's Web.
CHAPTER XV.--The Web Broken.
CHAPTER XVI.--Jonas Expounds the Subject.
CHAPTER XVII.--The Wrong Pew.
CHAPTER XVIII.--The Encounter.
CHAPTER XIX.--The Mother.
CHAPTER XX.--The Steam-Doctor.
CHAPTER XXI.--The Hawk in a New Part.
CHAPTER XXII.--Jonas Expresses his Opinion on Dutchmen.