PREFACE. ΤΗ HE primary object of this book is to furnish our children with material for becoming acquainted with the development of American life and history as found in Southern writers and their works. It may serve as a reader supple. mentary to American history and literature, or it may be made the ground-work for serious study of Southern life and letters; and between these extremes there are varying degrees of usefulness. To state its origin will best explain its existence. This may furthermore be of some help to teachers in using the book, though each teacher will use it as best suits his classes and methods. The study of History is rising every day in importance. Sir Walter Raleigh in his "Historie of the World" well said, “It hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over." It is the still living word of the vanished ages. The best way of teaching history has of late years received much attention. One excellent method is to read, in connection with the text-book, good works of fiction, dramas, poetry, and historical novels, bearing upon the different epochs, and also to read the works of the authors them |