Index:Letters to Squire Pedant in the East.pdf
| CONTENTS. LETTER I. ALTISONANT acknowledges his obligation to write to the 'squire;— the cause of his leaving the East, namely, density of population , want of labor, and high prices of produce – how the disclosure of his intention to go to the West affected his enemies and friends his farewell address to his parents and friends, and how it affected them. LETTER II. A description of the morning when he left home – set out alone, with the exception of a companionable dog, whose qualities are described – his endurance of noon-day heat – and the close of his first day's travel. LETTER III. Altisonant tarries over night at a tavern – his contract with the Landlord to waken him early – pays his bill and sets off – travels until noon – rests under a tree – takes a nap – a thunder-storm comes on which produces a flood – its effects upon Altisonant. LETTER IV. Altisonant arrives at a tavern as preparations are making for a feast – learns it is to be a marriage-feast – discovers that the landlord and he are first cousins – is invited to stay and partake of the festivity – Landlord's daughter is married – a description of the wedding guests and the parson – their amusements interrupted by a general sneezing. LETTER V The evil effects of excessive feasting – a description of the diseases induced – medical prescriptions – quackery – deaths – high medical bills. LETTER VI. Altisonant describes a rabble attending on a fortuneteller – his abilities – the effects of his announcements upon the multitude – describes a prairie – his preparation to cross it — a snake bites Indagator, his dog – he cures him. LETTER VII. Altisonant stops in a town – goes to meeting – describes the preacher – his manner and subjec this address to his followers — a collection raised for the benefit of the heathen – ceases traveling during the winter, and hires himself to a Western farmer. LETTER VIII. Altisonant describes his situation with the farmer – names of the farmer and his wife – Altisonant falls out with the farmer, and leaves him – Indagator perishes in a fight with a bear – Altisonant buys a horse – describes him – sets out on an exploration of the West — his deprivations and sickness in consequence of them – his recovery and gratitude. LETTER IX. Altisonant returns to the neighborhood of Misanthropos, his former employer, who accuses him of theft – Altisonant is summoned to appear at Court – his predicament – obtains bail, and the voluntary aid of a lawyer – describes him and his qualifications – describes also the State's attorney, and his inability — the issue of the trial in favor of Altisonant – the notoriety it gave him LETTER X. Altisonant attends a political meeting, or rather hears an old stump orator – describes him as a pure democrat – gives the outlines of his speech, and the whole of the peroration, in which he inveighs against whiggism. LETTER XI. Altisonant goes to a Millerite Camp-meeting – describes the preacher, and his errors – describes the different departments for the audience – the rabble in the outer ones – the effects of his preaching – his exhortation given in full – its effects on the congregation — the confusion and noise drive Altisonant off – afterward dines with the preacher. LETTER XII. Altisonant describes the West, as to its natural aspects and resources – describes the population, and its peculiarities — describes groceries – and finally, informs the 'squire that he is married and happily located in life. LETTER XIII. Altisonant informs the 'squire how he obtained his wife – his first letter to her, in which he puts the question. LETTER XIV. Miss Amenity's reply to his letter — the consummation of the marriage. LETTER XV. Rhymic versification, addressed to Lorenzo Altisonant, by “Dick Tation," in which the character and one of the designs of Altisonant's production, are described – the versicular nature of words in tion, is also denoted, and their origin adverted to. |
