PREFACE 



SI 



-i I I 



F 



I HAVE all the more pleasure in calling my book 

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

 because this is the Indian name of my native 

 stream. In its watershed 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 bot- 

 tom of the chasm. On either hand the mountains, 

 interrupted by shelving, overhanging precipices, rise 

 abruptly 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 unlike in its savage and inhuman 



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