------------------------------------------------------------------------ JOSEPH AND HIS FRIEND: _A Story of Pennsylvania._ BY BAYARD TAYLOR. The better angel is a man right fair; The worser spirit a woman colour'd ill. SHAKSPEARE: _Sonnets_. NEW YORK: G. P. PUTNAM & SONS, FOURTH AVENUE AND TWENTY-THIRD STREET. LONDON: S. LOW, SON & MARSTON. 1870. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by BAYARD TAYLOR, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. THE NEW YORK PRINTING COMPANY, _81, 83, and 85 Centre St._, NEW YORK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⁂ To those who prefer quiet pictures of life to startling incidents, the attempt to illustrate the development of character to the mysteries of an elaborate plot, and the presentation of men and women in their mixed strength and weakness to the painting of wholly virtuous ideals and wholly evil examples: who are as interested in seeing moral and intellectual forces at work in a simple country community as on a more conspicuous plane of human action: who believe in the truth and tenderness of man's love for man, as of man's love for woman: who recognize the trouble which confused ideas of life and the lack of high and intelligent culture bring upon a great portion of our country population,—to all such, no explanation of this volume is necessary. Others will not read it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. -------------- I. Joseph II. Miss Blessing III. The Place and People IV. Miss Blessing calls on Rachel Miller V. Elwood's Evening, and Joseph's VI. In the Garden VII. The Blessing Family VIII. A Consultation IX. Joseph and his Friend X. Approaching Fate XI. A City Wedding XII. Clouds XIII. Presentiments XIV. The Amaranth XV. A Dinner Party XVI. Joseph's Trouble, and Philip's XVII. A Storm XVIII. On the Railroad Track XIX. The "Wharf-rat" XX. A Crisis XXI. Under the Water