The country life of our part of Pennsylvania retains more elements of its English origin than that of New England or Virginia. Until within a few years, the conservative influence of the Quakers was so powerful that it continued to shape the habits even of communities whose religious sentiment it failed to reach. Hence, whatever might be selected as incorrect of American life, in its broader sense, in these pages, is nevertheless locally true; and to this, at least, all of you, my Friends and Neighbors, can testify. In these days, when Fiction prefers to deal with abnormal characters and psychological problems more or less exceptional or morbid, the attempt to represent the elements of life in a simple, healthy, pastoral community, has been to me a source of uninterrupted enjoyment. May you read it with half the interest I have felt in writing it! BAYARD TAYLOR. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE CHASE CHAPTER II. WHO SHALL HAVE THE BRUSH? CHAPTER III. MARY POTTER AND HER SON CHAPTER IV. FORTUNE AND MISFORTUNE CHAPTER V. GUESTS AT FAIRTHORN'S CHAPTER VI. THE NEW GILBERT CHAPTER VII. OLD KENNETT MEETING CHAPTER VIII. AT DR. DEANE'S CHAPTER IX. THE RAISING CHAPTER X. THE RIVALS CHAPTER XI. GUESTS AT POTTER'S CHAPTER XII. THE EVENTS OF AN EVENING CHAPTER XIII. TWO OLD MEN CHAPTER XIV. DOUBTS AND SURMISES CHAPTER XV. ALFRED BARTON BETWEEN TWO FIRES CHAPTER XVI. MARTHA DEANE CHAPTER XVII. CONSULTATIONS CHAPTER XVIII. SANDY FLASH REAPPEARS CHAPTER XIX. THE HUSKING FROLIC CHAPTER XX. GILBERT ON THE ROAD TO CHESTER CHAPTER XXI. ROGER REPAYS HIS MASTER CHAPTER XXII. MARTHA DEANE TAKES A RESOLUTION CHAPTER XXIII. A CROSS-EXAMINATION CHAPTER XXIV. DEB. SMITH TAKES A RESOLUTION CHAPTER XXV. TWO ATTEMPTS CHAPTER XXVI. THE LAST OF SANDY FLASH CHAPTER XXVII. GILBERT INDEPENDENT CHAPTER XXVIII. MISS LAVENDER MAKES A GUESS CHAPTER XXIX. MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS CHAPTER XXX. THE FUNERAL CHAPTER XXXI. THE WILL CHAPTER XXXII. THE LOVERS CHAPTER XXXIII. HUSBAND AND WIFE CHAPTER XXXIV. THE WEDDING CHAPTER I. THE CHASE.