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 PREFACE.

of the stories collected in this volume were written some years ago and printed in various magazines,—as "Harper's Monthly," "The Atlantic Monthly," the late lamented "Putnam's Monthly," and others, to each of which thanks for the privilege of republication are hereby tendered.

At the period when some of them—notably "The Love Life of William Bradford" and "Barbara Standish"—were written, the author was in the first flush of delight and surprise at discovering the wealth of romance imbedded in that "Forefathers' Rock" which to many observers still appears a mere mass of granite, stern, cold, and sad.

Perhaps the joy of this discovery, working upon a youthful imagination and untried powers, may have induced a certain fermentation of fancy, suggesting rather what "might have been," than what is known to have been.

Certainly, the author recalls with rather rueful mirth the reproof received from an aged relative