PEEFACE 



The sketches herewith presented to the public first ap- 

 peared in the columns of the " American Field," in twcBty- 

 five consecutive numbers, beginning April 26, 1890, and end- 

 ing October 11 of the same year. They were written out 

 from my note book, at Amherst, Mass., in the Spring of 1886. 

 It is now intended to put them into permanent form, to sup- 

 ply the demands which have been made for them in such con- 

 dition. The writer has not deemed it necessary to submit 

 them to any other editorial hands than his own, and the 

 reader will, therefore, have the opportunity of judging for 

 himself somewhat of the writer's own style. 



WiNFKiD A. Stearns. 



