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Harte, Bret, 1836-1902

"Drift from Two Shores"

, etc.

CHAPTER I

It was a quiet New England village. Nowhere in the valley of the
Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral,
manufacturing community. The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening
on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were
gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the
hardy American artisan. The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly
gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when
intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing
substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe. An
almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed. Doemville was only seven
miles from Hartford, and the surrounding landscape smiled with the
conviction of being fully insured.
Few would have thought that this peaceful village was the home of
the three young heroes whose exploits would hereafter--but we
anticipate.
Doemville Academy was the principal seat of learning in the county.
Under the grave and gentle administration of the venerable Doctor
Context, it had attained just popularity.


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