It is the inclination of the average reader to skip prefaces. For
this I do not in the least blame him. Skipping the preface is one
of my favorite literary pursuits. To catch me napping a preface
must creep up quietly and take me, as it were, unawares. But in
this case sundry prefatory remarks became necessary. It was
essential that they should be inserted into this volume in order
that certain things might be made plain. The questions were: How
and where? After giving the matter considerable thought I decided
to slip them in right here, included, as they are, with the body of
the text and further disguised by masquerading themselves under a
chapter heading, with a view in mind of hoodwinking you into
pursuing the course of what briefly I have to say touching on the
circumstances attending the production of the main contents. Let me
explain: Chapter II, coming immediately after this one, was written
first of all; written as an independent contribution to American
letters. At the time of writing it I had no thought that out of it,
subsequently, would grow material for additional and supplementary
offerings upon the same general theme and inter-related themes. It
had a basis of verity, as all things in this life properly should
have, but I shall not attempt to deny that largely it deals with
what more or less is figurative and fanciful. The incident of the
finding of the missing will in the ruins of the old mill is a pure
figment of the imagination; so, too, the passage relating to the
search for the lost heir (Page 55) and the startling outcome of
that search. Three years later, actual events in the meantime
having sufficiently justified the taking of such steps, I prepared
the matter which here is presented in Chapters III, IV and V,
inclusive. Intervened then a break of approximately two years more,
when the tale was completed substantially in its present form. In
all of these latter installments I adhered closely to facts, merely
adding here and there sprinklings of fancy, like dashes of paprika
on a stew, in order to give, as I fondly hoped, spice to my
recital. One of the prime desires now, in consolidating the entire
narrative within these covers, is to round out, from inception to
finish, the record of our strange adventures in connection with our
quest for an abandoned farm and on our becoming abandoned farmers,
trusting that others, following our examples, may perhaps profit in
some small degree by our mistakes as here set forth and perhaps
ultimately when their dreams have come true, too, share in that
proud joy of possession which is ours. Another object, largely
altruistic in its nature, is to afford opportunity for the reader,
by comparison of the chronological sub-divisions into which the
story falls, to decide whether with the passage of time, my style
of writing shows a tendency toward improvement or an increasing and
enhanced faultiness. Those who feel inclined to write me upon the
subject are notified that the author is most sensible in this
regard, being ever ready to welcome criticism, provided only the
criticism be favorable in tone. Finally there is herewith confessed
a third motive, namely, an ambition that a considerable number of
persons may see their way clear to buy this book.
General
Imprint: |
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
May 2014 |
First published: |
May 2014 |
Editors: |
Damian C. Andre
|
Authors: |
Irvin S. Cobb
|
Dimensions: |
279 x 216 x 5mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
96 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4996-7626-6 |
Categories: |
Books >
Sport & Leisure >
Humour >
General
|
LSN: |
1-4996-7626-3 |
Barcode: |
9781499676266 |
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