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Title: Heroes of the Middle West
The French

Author: Mary Hartwell Catherwood

Release Date: May 22, 2008 [EBook #25556]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEROES OF THE MIDDLE WEST ***

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[Illustration: Front Cover.]

[Illustration: COUNT FRONTENAC.
From a Statue at Quebec.]

HEROES OF THE MIDDLE WEST

The French

BY

MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD

GINN AND COMPANY

BOSTON . NEW YORK . CHICAGO . LONDON
ATLANTA . DALLAS . COLUMBUS . SAN FRANCISCO

Copyright, 1898
By MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
317.8

The Athenaeum Press
GINN AND COMPANY . PROPRIETORS . BOSTON . U. S. A.

PREFACE.

Let any one who thinks it an easy task attempt to cover the French
discovery and occupation of the middle west, from Marquette and Jolliet
to the pulling down of the French flag on Fort Chartres, vivifying men,
and while condensing events, putting a moving picture before the eye.
Let him prepare this picture for young minds accustomed only to the
modern aspect of things and demanding a light, sure touch. Let him
gather his material--as I have done--from Parkman, Shea, Joutel,
Hennepin, St. Cosme, Monette, Winsor, Roosevelt--from state records,
and local traditions richer and oftener more reliable than history;
and let him hang over his theme with brooding affection, moulding and
remoulding its forms. He will find the task he so lightly set himself
a terribly hard and exhausting one, and will appreciate as he never
before appreciated the labors of those who work in historic fields.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. The Discoverers of the Upper Mississippi 1

II. Bearers of the Calumet 19

III. The Man with the Copper Hand 44

IV. The Undespairing Norman 71