D THE SCRAP-BOOK: CONSISTING OF TALES AND ANECDOTES, Biographical, Bistorical, Patriotic, Moral, Religions, and IN PROSE AND POETRY. COMPILED BY WILLIAM FIELDS. FIFTH EDITION-REVISED AND IMPROVED PHILADELPHIA: CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGER, 1879. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE rapid sale of the first edition of the SCRAP-BOOK, and the great demand for the work after that edition was exhausted, has induced the compiler to offer the public another edition, revised, re-arranged, and greatly improved. It is again sent forth, with an earnest desire that it may be deemed to merit, and with some confidence that it will meet, the favourable consideration of the American reader. This confidence arises mainly from the very flattering reception heretofore given the work, and the belief that the improvement in the volume now offered, both as respects reading-matter and mechanical execution, will be apparent to all. Considerable light reading, which appeared in the former edition, has been left out of this one, and many valuable articles, such as were considered likely not only to be read with interest. but calculated to effect the greatest good, have taken its place. The exciting times through which our country has lately passed have been prolific in eloquent appeals in favour of preserving our happy system of government, our glorious UNION; several of these we have preserved and inserted, supposing no more interesting theme could be presented to the real lover of his country. Our pages are also adorned with many poetic pieces of thrilling interest. "My Home is the World," Our Whole Coun 8 try," "— What is that, Mother,"-" Love's Immortal Wreath,"— "To my Mother,"-"The Texas Ranger,"-"California," &c., are gems of unsurpassed beauty. Various notices in commendation of the SCRAP-BOOK, on its first appearance, might be given; but it is not considered necessary, and is, perhaps, not proper. It has been termed "a book of elegant extracts," and such indeed it is, for we have endeavoured to preserve the essence of all the good things we have read for many years of our life. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. THE Voluntary effusions of genius are often marked by a vigour and raciness that do not belong to more formal productions. It would be out of place here, to investigate the cause of this, which indeed is apparent on the slightest reflection. It has been our object, in this publication, to rescue from oblivion, or at least to imbody in a form suitable for preservation, those gems of our occasional literature which it seemed to us desirable should not be forgotten. Many of the pieces contained in these pages will be found to possess an historical interest that entitles them to a better fate than usually awaits the ephemeral channels through which their authors modestly thought fit to communicate them to the public. The great drama of human life is filled with scenes and with characters which, though deemed too unimportant to figure in the grave pages of history, nevertheless possess a most vivid interest in their day, and never cease to command the sympathies of men, however remote in place or time. How many persons and events must be brought upon the theatre by the rude conflict of wars, that history does not, and cannot preserve! Our two contests with Great Britain were as fertile in these as any of the unhappy disputes that have afflicted mankind. These form what is called the romance of history; and, when drawn by the actors themselves, are scarcely less valuable, certainly not less interesting than those affairs which have had appropriated to them the name of History. What can be more moving than to behold how the happiness of individuals and families, to preserve which is the business and end of government, is affected by the fierce collisions of masses? Indeed, nothing serves so well to distinguish an age or a period, as pictures of private life, drawn as it is influenced by public affairs. Many of these are preserved in this volume; and besides, here will be found several accounts of important battles, written by actors in them, or by those to whom |