Fashion and Famine - Ann S. Stephens

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me through years of literary toil, and have nobly supported not only Peterson's Ladies' National Magazine now under my charge, but every periodical with which I have been connected. It would be ungrateful to the press that, without a single respectable exception, has always dealt generously by me, and would betray a weakness of character which I am not willing to acknowledge, for I have lived long enough to tremble at nothing which results from an honest intention, and to fear nothing but deserved disgrace—the death of beloved objects—or change in those affections that no literary fame or misfortune can ever reach.

      But it is not without emotions that I present this book to the public, grateful and sweet emotions that liberal minds must respect more than a thousand insincere apologies. The thoughts of an author are the perfume of her own soul going forth on the winds of heaven to awaken other souls and renew itself in their kindred sympathies. I am more anxious for the effect which these thoughts, so long a portion of my own being, will have upon others, than for the return they may bring to myself. The American people are, in the mass, just and intelligent judges; always generous and perhaps over-indulgent to their authors. In writing this book I have endeavored to deserve their approbation and to cast no discredit upon a profession that I honor more than any other upon the broad earth. If I have succeeded, no human being can be more grateful than I shall be for the public opinion that assures me of it; but, to satisfy even my humble ambition, it must be an opinion honestly earned and frankly given. Popularity won without merit, and lost without blame, would be valueless to me, even while it lasted.

      New York, May 22, 1854.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Strawberry Girl and Market Woman 9
II. The Old Couple in the Back Basement 26
III. The Lone Mansion and its Mistress 43
IV. The Astor House—the Ride—the Attic Room 54
V. Mistress and Servant in Consultation 72
VI. The Tempter and the Tempted—the young heart yields 81
VII. The Old Homestead and Home Memories 89
VIII. The City Cottage and its Strange Inmate 110
IX. Mrs. Gray's Thanksgiving Dinner—Julia and Robert 126
X. The Brother's Return—Questions and Answers 141
XI. The Mother's Letter and the Son's Commentary 158
XII. Strife for an Earl—Mrs. Sykes and Mrs. Nash 163
XIII. The Morning Lesson—Doubt—Sympathy—Misery 179
XIV. A Wedding Foreshadowed—Sunshine of the Heart 187
XV. The Mother's Appeal—the Son's Falsehood 194
XVI. The Bridal Wreath—Roses and Cypress 211
XVII. An Hour before the Ball—Strides of Destiny 222
XVIII. The Forged Check—Uncle and Nephew 228
XIX. Night and Morning—Wild Heart Strife 234
XX. The Last Interview—Parting—Death 251
XXI. The City Prison—Examination for Murder 266
XXII. The Imprisoned Witness in the Female Ward 282
XXIII. The Three Old Women in Fulton Market 299
XXIV. The First Night in Prison—Prayers—Tears—Dreams 311
XXV. Little Georgie—his Mother and Julia Warren 319
XXVI. Mrs. Gray and the Prison Woman 330
XXVII. Struggles and Revels—Unquenched Anguish 338
XXVIII. Ada Leicester and Jacob Strong 344
XXIX. Ada's Solitary Breakfast—Desolation of Heart 350

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