City Ballads   By: Will Carleton (1845-1912)

CITY BALLADS

BY WILL CARLETON AUTHOR OF "FARM BALLADS" "FARM LEGENDS" "FARM FESTIVALS" "YOUNG FOLKS' CENTENNIAL RHYMES" ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by

HARPER & BROTHERS,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

All rights reserved.

TO

ADÓRA

FRIEND, COMRADE, LOVER, WIFE

[Illustration]

PREFACE.

When city people go among forests and hills, they drink in the fresh air and weird scenery of rural surroundings, with much more relish, enjoyment, and appreciation, than do the life long residents they find there.

For the same reason, the great drama of metropolitan existence falls most forcibly upon those just from the clear streams and green meadows of the country. Their impressions then are deeper, and their feelings more intense than if they were city born and bred.

With the latter fact in view, this book is an effort to reproduce some of the effects of city scenes and character upon the intellect and imagination of two people from the country:

First, a young student, who has travelled the well beaten roads of a college course, but is just entering real life, and now for the first time walks the paved and palace bordered streets of which he has heard and read so much.

Second, an old farmer, with very little "book learning," but a clear brain, a warm heart, and independent judgment, and a habit of philosophizing upon everything he sees, which habit he brings to the city, and applies to the strange facts he witnesses.

These, with certain incidental thoughts and characters encountered and discussed, constitute the present work. It will be found, as intended, sketchy and suggestive rather than elaborate and complete. Note books and diaries are designed, not so much for the history of a career or an event, as a light to the memory, a stimulus to the imagination, and a help to the heart.

It is the hope of the author that his book may perform those offices for you, his readers, and that it will rouse your pity of pain, your enjoyment of honest mirth, your hatred of sham and wrong, and your love and adoration of the Resolute and the Good, and their winsome child, the Beautiful.

In which case he shakes hands with his large and loved constituency, and continues happy.

W. C.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

WEALTH 15 Including THE LOVELY YOUNG MAN 28 IF I'D A MILLION MILLIONS 35 FARMER STEBBINS ON ROLLERS 40

WANT 46 Including THAT SWAMP OF DEATH 53 A SEWING GIRL'S DIARY 64

FIRE 75 Including WHEN PROMETHEUS STOLE THE FLAME 77 FLASH: THE FIREMAN'S STORY 79 HOW WE FOUGHT THE FIRE 84 "YOU WILL TELL ME WHERE IS CONRAD?" 90

WATER 93 Including THE DEAD STOWAWAY 97 THE WEDDING OF THE TOWNS 102 FARMER STEBBINS AT OCEAN GROVE 107

VICE 113 Including THE BOY CONVICT'S STORY 115 FARMER STEBBINS ON THE BOWERY 119 FARMER STEBBINS AHEAD 124 THE SLUGGING MATCH 130

VIRTUE 132 Including MORE WAYS THAN ONE 136 THE MARCH OF THE CHILDREN 141

TRAVEL 143 Including HER TOUR 144 AT THE SUMMIT OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT 148 THE SILENT WHEEL 155 FARMER AND WHEEL; OR, THE NEW LOCHINVAR 157 ONLY A BOX 166

HOME 170 Including LET THE CLOTH BE WHITE 172