[ Transcriber's notes: 1. Only one conventional “thought break” (white space between paragraphs) exists in the book (on p. 318, after “in the sand, as she seems to be doing.”). Elsewhere, the author uses lines of nine asterisks as thought breaks or to indicate omission. He also uses these asterisks within dialog to indicate omission. These are all duplicated. 2. Footnotes originally appeared at the bottom of each page; they are now placed at the end of each chapter. 3. The transcriber's descriptions of the book's six music-related illustrations are placed in {curly braces}. 4. Italic text is marked _like this_. ] THE STORY OF DON MIFF, AS TOLD BY HIS FRIEND JOHN BOUCHE WHACKER. A SYMPHONY OF LIFE. EDITED BY VIRGINIUS DABNEY. τέκνον, τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος; ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω. Iliad, i. 362-63. Child, why dost thou weep? What grief hath come upon thy spirit? Speak—conceal it not—so that we both may know. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 1886. Copyright, 1886, by Virginius Dabney. PREFACE. It is pretty well understood, I presume, that while books are written for the entertainment of the public, a preface has fulfilled its mission if it prove a solace to the author and an edification to the proof-reader thereof. Yet (however it may be with an author) an editor must, it seems, write one. Most mysteriously, then, and I knew not whence or from whom, the manuscript of this work found itself in my study, some time since, accompanied by the request that I should stand sponsor for it. I shall do nothing of the kind. True, the grammar of it will pass muster, I think; and its morals are above reproach; but the way our author has of sailing into everything and everybody quite takes my breath away. Lawyers, military men, professors and students, parsons, agnostics, statesmen, billiard-players, novelists, poetesses, saints and sinners—he girds at them all. I should not have a friend left in the world were it to go abroad that this Mr. J. B. Whacker’s opinions were also mine. If but to enter this disclaimer, therefore, I must needs write a preface. This author of ours, then, is, as you shall find, an actor in the scenes he describes, and is quite welcome to any sentiments he may see fit to put into his own mouth. He entertains, I am free to admit, an unusual number of opinions; more than one man’s share, perhaps; but not one of them is either reader or editor called upon to adopt.