PREFACE



THE Region where the Grays and Carys lived
lies too far from the centres of modern prog-
ress to be laid down on any map that will be
accessible. And, as "he who maps an undis-
covered country may place what boundaries
he will, " it need only be said, that it lies in the
South, somewhere in that vague region partly
in one of the old Southern States and partly
in the yet vaguer land of Memory. It will be
spoken of in this story, as Dr. Cary, General
Legaie, and the other people who used to live
there in old times, spoke of it, in warm affec-
tion, as, "the old County," or, "the Red Rock
section," or just, "My country, sir."
  It was a goodly land in those old times-a
rolling country, lying at the foot of the blue
mountain-spurs, with forests and fields; rich
meadows filled with fat cattle; watered by
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