[figure description] Preface.[end figure description]

In 1849, I resided for a few months in Jackson, Louisiana. During my
sojourn in that place, two meritorious young men, who had established a
Press in the village, earnestly solicited me to write for it. I agreed to do
so; and us a College and a number of admirable schools graced the village.
I framed the story of Master Mitten, to induce the youth of the place, to
improve the opportunities which these institutions afforded them of becoming
useful and distinguished men. Master Mitten and his mother, are both
imaginary characters; but who that has had much to do with the instruction
of youth, has not seen both, at least in their leading traits?

I laid the scene of the story in Georgia, and took the liberty of introducing
into it, the names of several of my Georgian friends, giving a very
slight touch of their characters in the conduct and language which I ascribe
to them. This I did, to increase the interest of the story to them at least,
should it ever reach the State of Georgia. I deem it proper to mention
these things, for the story having been broken off at the fifth chapter, by
my departure from Louisiana, when it was resumed in Georgia, for the
Field & Fireside. Many finding these names in it, with some of the characteristies
of those who bore them, supposed it to be a veritable history,
which it is not. Master Mitten is introduced to Doctor Waddel's celebrated
School in Willington, Abbeville District, South Carolina, just as it was, from
1806 to 1809, inclusive. Sprague has given us a brief sketch of the Doctor's
biography, in which his merits as a Teacher and a Divine are gravely portrayed.
Mitten shows the reader the man at the head of his school in its
palmiest days.