PREFACE. 



I HAVE all the more pleasure in calling my book 

 after the title of the first chapter, " Pepacton," be- 

 cause this is the Indian name of my native stream. 

 In its water-shed I was born and passed my youth, 

 and here on its banks my kindred sleep. Here, also, 

 I have gathered much of the harvest, poor though it 

 be, that I have put in this and in previous volumes 

 of my writings. 



The term " Pepacton " is said to mean " marriage 

 of the waters ; " and with this significance it suits my 

 purpose well, as this book is also a union of many 

 currents. 



The Pepacton rises in a deep cleft or gorge in the 

 mountains, the scenery of which is of the wildest and 

 ruggedest character. For a mile or more there is 

 barely room for the road and the creek at the bottom 

 of the chasm. On either hand the mountains, inter- 

 rupted by shelving, overhanging precipices, rise ab- 

 ruptly to a great height. About half a century ago 

 a pious Scotch family, just arrived in this country, 

 came through this gorge. One of the little boys, 

 gazing upon the terrible desolation of the scene, so 



