The Coquette - The History of Eliza Wharton

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Coquette, by Hannah Webster FosterThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Coquette The History of Eliza WhartonAuthor: Hannah Webster FosterRelease Date: May 25, 2004 [EBook #12431]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COQUETTE ***Produced by Curtis Weyant, Erin Martin, Leah Moser and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.[Illustration: Eliza Wharton]THE COQUETTE; OR, THE HISTORY OF ELIZA WHARTON.A NOVEL: FOUNDED ON FACT.BY A LADY OF MASSACHUSETTS.HISTORICAL PREFACE, INCLUDING A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.He who waits beside the folded gates of mystery, over which forever float the impurpled vapors of the PAST, shouldstand with girded loins, and white, unshodden feet. So he who attempts to lift the veil that separates the REAL fromthe IDEAL, or to remove the heavy curtain that for a century may have concealed from view the actual personages ofa well-drawn popular fiction, or what may have been received as such, should bring to his task a tender heart and adelicate and gentle hand.Thus, in preparing an introductory chapter for these pages which are to follow, many and various thoughts suggestthemselves, and it is necessary to recognize and pursue them with gentleness and caution ...