Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN BY E. P. ROE THIS VOLUME IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO "JOHNNIE" PREFACE Months since, with much doubt and diffidence, I began this simple story. I had never before written expressly for young people, and I knew that the honest little critics could not be beguiled with words which did not tell an interesting story. How far I have succeeded, the readers of this volume, and of the "St. Nicholas" magazine, wherein the tale appeared as a serial, alone can answer. I have portrayed no actual experience, but have sought to present one which might be verified in real life. I have tried to avoid all that would be impossible or even improbable. The labors performed by the children in the story were not unknown to my own hands, in childhood, nor would they form tasks too severe for many little hands now idle in the cities. The characters are all imaginary; the scenes, in the main, are real: and I would gladly lure other families from tenement flats into green pastures. E. P. R. CORNWALL-ON-THE-HUDSON, August 10, 1885. CONTENTS CHAPTER I A PROBLEM CHAPTER II I STATE THE CASE CHAPTER III NEW PROSPECTS CHAPTER IV A MOMENTOUS EXPEDITION CHAPTER V A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT CHAPTER VI A BLUFF FRIEND CHAPTER VII MR. JONES SHOWS ME THE PLACE CHAPTER VIII TELLING ABOUT EDEN CHAPTER IX "BREAKING CAMP" CHAPTER X SCENES ON THE WHARF CHAPTER XI A VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON CHAPTER XII A MARCH EVENING IN EDEN CHAPTER XIII RESCUED AND AT HOME CHAPTER XIV SELF-DENIAL AND ITS REWARD CHAPTER XV OUR SUNNY KITCHEN CHAPTER XVI MAKING A PLACE FOR CHICKENS CHAPTER XVII GOOD BARGAINS IN MAPLE SUGAR CHAPTER XVIII BUTTERNUTS AND BOBSEY'S PERIL CHAPTER XIX JOHN JONES, JUN CHAPTER XX RASPBERRY LESSONS CHAPTER XXI THE "VANDOO" CHAPTER XXII EARLY APRIL GARDENING CHAPTER XXIII A BONFIRE AND A FEAST CHAPTER XXIV "NO BLIND DRIFTING" CHAPTER XXV OWLS AND ANTWERPS CHAPTER XXVI A COUNTRY SUNDAY CHAPTER XXVII STRAWBERRY VISIONS AND "PERTATERS" CHAPTER XXVIII CORN, COLOR, AND MUSIC CHAPTER XXIX WE GO A-FISHING CHAPTER XXX WEEDS AND WORKING FOR DEAR LIFE CHAPTER XXXI NATURE SMILES AND HELPS CHAPTER XXXII CHERRIES, BERRIES, AND BERRY-THIEVES CHAPTER XXXIII GIVEN HIS CHOICE CHAPTER XXXIV GIVEN A CHANCE CHAPTER XXXV "WE SHALL ALL EARN OUR SALT" CHAPTER XXXVI A THUNDERBOLT CHAPTER XXXVII RALLYING FROM THE BLOW CHAPTER XXXVIII AUGUST WORK AND PLAY CHAPTER XXXIX A TRIP TO THE SEASHORE CHAPTER XL A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM CHAPTER XLI HOARDING FOR WINTER CHAPTER XLII AUTUMN WORK AND SPORT CHAPTER XLIII THANKSGIVING DAY CHAPTER XLIV WE CAN MAKE A LIVING IN EDEN DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN CHAPTER I A PROBLEM "Where are the children?"