s were gathered from various sources: some
are purely imaginative, some authentic, not a few jotted down from
oral narrative, or derived from the vague remembrance of some old play
or adventure; but the form at least is my own, and that is about all
that a professional story-teller, gleaning his matter at random, can
generally lay claim to.

Some of these sketches were originally published in the Boston "Olive
Branch," and many in Mr. Gleason's popular papers, the "Flag of Our
Union," and the "Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion." Others have
appeared in the "New York Mirror," the "American Monthly Magazine,"
the New York "Spirit of the Times," the "Symbol," and other magazines
and papers.

Should their perusal serve to beguile some hours of weariness and
illness, as their composition has done, I shall feel that my labor has
not been altogether vain; while the moderate success of this venture
will stimulate me to attempt something more worthy the attention of
the public.

FRANCIS A. DURIVAGE.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

THE GOLDSMITH'S DAUGHTER.

PHILETUS POTTS.

THE GONDOLIER.

THE SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS.

THE THREE BRIDES.

CALIFORNIA SPECULATION.

THE FRENCH GUARDSMAN.

PERSONAL SATISFACTION.

THE CASTLE ON THE RHINE.

LOVE IN A COTTAGE.

THE CAREER OF AN ARTIST.

SOUVENIRS OF A RETIRED OYSTERMAN IN ILL HEALTH.

THE NEW YEAR'S STOCKINGS.

THE OBLIGING YOUNG MAN.

EULALIE LASALLE.

THE OLD CITY PUMP.

THE TWO PORTRAITS.

UNCLE OBED.

THE CASKET OF JEWELS.

ACTING CHARADES.

THE GREEN CHAMBER.

HE WASN'T A HORSE JOCKEY.

FUNERAL SHADOWS.

THE LATE ELIAS MUGGS.

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE.

A KISS ON DEMAND.

THE RIFLE SHOT.

THE WATER CURE.

THE COSSACK.

MARRIED FOR MONEY.

THE EMIGRANT SHIP.

THE LAST OF THE STAGE COACHES.

THE SEXTON OF ST. HUBERT'S.

JACK WITHERS.

THE SILVER HAMMER.

THE CHRIST CHURCH CHIMES.

THE POLISH SLAVE.

OBEYING ORDERS.

THE DEACON'S HORSE.

THE CONTRABANDISTA.

THE STAGE-STRUCK GENTLEMAN.

THE DIAMOND STAR.

THE GAME OF CHANCE.

THE SOLDIER'S SON.

TAKING CHARGE OF A LADY.

THE NEW YEAR'S BELLS.

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.

THE GOLDSMITH'S DAUGHTER.

A LEGEND OF MADRID.

Many, many years ago, in those "good old times" so much bepraised by
antiquaries and the _laudatores temporis acti_,--the good old times,
that is to say, of the holy office, of those magnificent _autos_ when
the smell of roasted heretics