[figure description] Preface.[end figure description]

The following story; one of my earliest productions, was written a
number of years since, and was originally published in a daily paper.
The space then allowed for it, not being sufficient to carry out my design
in full, the story appeared in a rather abbreviated form. Its popularity
then, even as it was, and the continual call that has been made for it
almost daily ever since, has induced its present publisher to re-issue it in
its present shape, and have the missing portion supplied. In consequence
of this, it appears enlarged to double its former length. In revising it, I
am sorry to say I have found many of the sentences very faulty. As
far as I could, conveniently, I have corrected them; but still they are by
no means perfect, nor altogether such as I should construct were I to
write the tale anew. Such as it is, however, I give it to the public, with
the additional remark, that many of its scenes are founded on real
occurrences.