The Tar Baby and the Tomahawk: Race and Ethnic Images in American Children's Literature, 1880-1939


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My dear Joel Chandler Harris:

I am trying to grope my way along through work, though all the life has suddenly been taken out of it. For some time past I have been under engagement to furnish the Lippincotts two papers, one on ante-bellum Southern literature and one on post-bellum. The latter I am now working at and I want to make it as worthy of the time as I can. Even if I had no desire to do you justice your work would necessarily have to be included among the few who were the creators of a Southern Literature. As I desire
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to be accurate, I venture to take the liberty accorded to friendship and give you a little trouble. I want to know [?] when and how you began to write for publication, the order in which you wrote your published works and how you came to publish. Knowing well your invincible modesty, I spare you any pain which is not absolutely necessary and demand only the above information.

The earliest things I know of yours are some of your songs Had any one else put the buskin on the negro before you did so?

If you will give me the above information I shall use it without giving you the slightest credit for it, and thus gain
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additional reputation on my own account to the small portion already won which should have been shared by you as the pioneer and master.

I shall steadfastly count on you doing me this favor without unnecessary delay.

Although I can no longer hold out to you the attraction which had you come to see me when I previously invited you would have made you feel glad that you had been in my home, yet I still cherish memories of one who consecrated this house and for whose sake as well as my own I will be glad to see you when you can come, and learn how perfect she was.

God bless you my dear Harris

Your Friend
Thos. N.Page