The Puddleford Papers; Or, Humors of the West Read online

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  IKE TURTLE AND AUNT GRAVES.

  "Marry? _Me_ marry--marry a man--a great, awful man!"--Page 160.]

  THE PUDDLEFORD PAPERS;

  OR,

  HUMORS OF THE WEST.

  BY H. H. RILEY.

  _WITH ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS._

  BOSTON:LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.

  NEW YORK:LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

  1875.

  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874,

  BY LEE AND SHEPARD,

  In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

  Stereotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry,No. 19 Spring Lane.

  PREFACE.

  Everybody who writes a book, is expected to introduce it with a preface; tohang out a sign, the more captivating the better, informing the public whatkind of entertainment may be expected within. I am very sorry that I amobliged to say that many a one has been wofully deceived by these outsideproclamations, and some one may be again.

  I am unable to apologize to the public for inflicting this work upon it. Itwas not through "the entreaty of friends" that it was written. It is notthe "outpourings of a delicate constitution." (I weigh one hundred andsixty pounds.) I was not driven into it "by a predestination to write,which was beyond my control." It is not "offered for the benefit of a fewnear relatives, who have insisted upon seeing it in print;" nor do I expectthe public will tolerate it simply out of regard to my feelings, if theirown feelings are not enlisted in its favor.

  The book is filled with portraits of Puddleford and the Puddlefordians.The reader may never have seen the portrait of a genuine Puddlefordian.Bless me, how much that man has lost! If the reader does not like thepainting after he _has_ seen it, I cannot help it; it may be the fault ofthe original, or it may be from a want of skill in the painter.

  Like the carrier-pigeon, let it go, to return with glad tidings, or none atall.

  PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

  Many years have passed since Puddleford was first published. In themeanwhile the world has turned round and round, and so has Puddleford. Thebook, too, has been growing in size, from time to time, and some new"matter" has been now introduced.

  The object of the book was not merely humor. It was hoped by the authorthat the reader would discover an undercurrent, showing strong points ofhuman nature in the rough, and how at last the rugged rock becomes roundedand polished into the smooth stone--the iron cleaver turned into thetempered sword. How stern, honest men, who are driven to grapple andstruggle with the hardships of a new country, meet and dispose of them inan irregular and home-made way, by striking at the root of the question,disregarding mere form. How the foundation of law, religion, and order islaid in strength, if not in beauty. How other generations build thereon thetemple with its pillars and spire.

  I cannot attempt to describe the Puddleford of to-day. Ike Turtle is oldand gray, but his children hold high positions in society and state. Someof them have Ike's thorny, sharp genius, but toned down by education andcultivation into method and power. Squire Longbow totters around on hisstaff, tries over his old cases with anybody who will listen to him,repeats his decisions of fifteen years ago, quotes Ike's jokes, and sums upall the testimony for the fortieth time to his weary listeners. Aunt Sonorahas gone to her reward. Other courts are held in Puddleford now.Technicalities are observed. Law is law. How much more justice isadministered, it is not for me to say.

  The book is once more before the public. The public have received it in thepast quite as well as it deserved, perhaps. Its future is now committed tothe public again.

  H. H. R.

  SEPTEMBER 8, 1874.