Chestnut Wood is a country-seat, near Sleepy Hollow, owned and occupied by Mr. Atherton, a man of stern but not unkind disposition. The better feelings of his heart are brought into action, by the circumstances of his young grand-daughter, Sybil, the heroine of the tale, who is thrown, by the death of her mother at a farm-house in the vicinity, where she has been rescued from exposure on the road, upon his protection. The father of Sybil, as may be inferred from the fate of her mother, is a worthless scoundrel, who endeavors, with the help of associates as worthless as himself, to get possession of the child. They succeed in carrying her off, and concealing her in New York, where they employ her as an unconscious agent in the circulation of counterfeit money. She escapes from the wardship of an old misshapen hag, Moll, and is brought back to her home at Chestnut Wood; where, however, she is still subject to occasional manifestations from the same source.
Opinions of the Press.
“One of the pleasantest characters in the book is Jerry Goldsmith, a Yankee Caleb Quotem, ready to turn his hand to any thing, and more profuse in promise than performance.”—Churchman.
“One who has read it from preface to finis, pronounces it delightful; and hence our praise. She says there are spots that those who have tears can cry over, but never so sad that the tears need scald much.”—N. Y. Daily Times.
“We commend to men, women, and even children, a perusal of ‘Chestnut Wood.’ ”—Lawrence Sentinel.
“This work will be read. It has all the elements of a successful book, viz.: originality, interest, power, and strong characterization.”—Berks County Press.
“It will please from its truthfulness to nature, and from the effect it will leave on the mind of the reader.”—Hartford Courant.
“Its plot is well developed, is ingenious, but not too intricate, and is managed throughout with the skill of a master.”—Palladium.
“The characters are very well and forcibly drawn, particularly the ‘cute Yankee,’ Jerry Goldsmith.”—Mobile Adv. [[330]]