BY IK. MARVEL AUTHOR OF pseud. REVERIES OF A BACHELOR, ETC. Donald braut Mitchele NEW YORK 142 AND 144 WORTH STREET DEDICATION. MY DEAR SIR: I Do not know to whom I could more appropriately dedicate this little book than to one who has been so long my teacher; and who has seemed to be, so long, my friend. It is true, that until six months ago, I had never the honor of meeting with you: but, there are thousands, Sir, who have never seen you who yet know you, and esteem you, as fully as myself. And If I have attained to any facility in the use of language, or have gained any fitness of expression, in which to dress my thoughts,-I know not to what writer of the English language I am more indebted than to you. if I have shown-as I have tried to show-a truthfulness of feeling that is not lighted by any counterfeit of passion, but rather by a close watchfulness of nature, and a`cordial sympathy with human suffering-I know not to what man's heart that truthfulness will come home sooner than to yours. Believe me, Dear Sir, it is from no wish to associate my name with the names of the great, that I ask your acceptance of this little token of respect. My aims are humbler than this: I would simply pay homage to the Author, who has wrought our language into the most exquisite forms of beauty; and to the man who has touched our hearts with the tenderness of a friend. And if I might hope that this simple mark of my admiration, and of my esteem, would commend me to your charity-to say nothing of your regard-it is all that I would ask. DONALD G. MITCHELL. |