Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
DRIVEN BACK TO EDEN
BY
E. P. ROE
THIS VOLUME
IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO
"JOHNNIE"
PREFACE
Months since, with much doubt and diffidence, I began this simplestory. I had never before written expressly for young people, and Iknew that the honest little critics could not be beguiled with wordswhich did not tell an interesting story. How far I have succeeded, thereaders of this volume, and of the "St. Nicholas" magazine, wherein thetale appeared as a serial, alone can answer.
I have portrayed no actual experience, but have sought to present onewhich might be verified in real life. I have tried to avoid all thatwould be impossible or even improbable. The labors performed by thechildren in the story were not unknown to my own hands, in childhood,nor would they form tasks too severe for many little hands now idle inthe cities.
The characters are all imaginary; the scenes, in the main, are real:and I would gladly lure other families from tenement flats into greenpastures.
E. P. R.
CORNWALL-ON-THE-HUDSON,
August 10, 1885.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I A PROBLEM
CHAPTER II I STATE THE CASE
CHAPTER III NEW PROSPECTS
CHAPTER IV A MOMENTOUS EXPEDITION
CHAPTER V A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT
CHAPTER VI A BLUFF FRIEND
CHAPTER VII MR. JONES SHOWS ME THE PLACE
CHAPTER VIII TELLING ABOUT EDEN
CHAPTER IX "BREAKING CAMP"
CHAPTER X SCENES ON THE WHARF
CHAPTER XI A VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON
CHAPTER XII A MARCH EVENING IN EDEN
CHAPTER XIII RESCUED AND AT HOME
CHAPTER XIV SELF-DENIAL AND ITS REWARD
CHAPTER XV OUR SUNNY KITCHEN
CHAPTER XVI MAKING A PLACE FOR CHICKENS
CHAPTER XVII GOOD BARGAINS IN MAPLE SUGAR
CHAPTER XVIII BUTTERNUTS AND BOBSEY'S PERIL
CHAPTER XIX JOHN JONES, JUN
CHAPTER XX RASPBERRY LESSONS
CHAPTER XXI THE "VANDOO"
CHAPTER XXII EARLY APRIL GARDENING
CHAPTER XXIII A BONFIRE AND A FEAST
CHAPTER XXIV "NO BLIND DRIFTING"
CHAPTER XXV OWLS AND ANTWERPS
CHAPTER XXVI A COUNTRY SUNDAY
CHAPTER XXVII STRAWBERRY VISIONS AND "PERTATERS"
CHAPTER XXVIII CORN, COLOR, AND MUSIC
CHAPTER XXIX WE GO A-FISHING
CHAPTER XXX WEEDS AND WORKING FOR DEAR LIFE
CHAPTER XXXI NATURE SMILES AND HELPS
CHAPTER XXXII CHERRIES, BERRIES, AND BERRY-THIEVES