HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY JULY 10, 1940 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, BY L. W. BRODHEAD, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. THE frequent demand for a book descriptive of the scenery and the places of interest about the Water Gap, has induced the preparation of this little volume. The addition of some historical account of the place, historical notes, &c., to the object first contemplated, it is thought, will afford interest to a portion, at least, of its readers. The story of Lover's Leap is given to supply the numerous calls from the younger and more romantic portion of the visitors at the Water Gap for a recital of the legend connected with that place, and which could not always be satisfactorily rendered. It does not aspire to the dignity of an independent romance, and the introduction of more than the leading actors in the story was purposely avoided, that too much space might not be occupied in illustrating certain historical incidents, for which there is little. authentic data; but which are believed, however, to contain some elements of truth. The beautiful Legend, written by Mrs. E. S. Swift, will be read with interest and pleasure: In granting permission for its publication in this connection, that lady says: "I love every foot of ground at the Water Gap; to me it is full of pleasing memories. I suppose I shall find the place very much altered, improved, people tell me; but Nature has been so lavish in her loveliness there, I do not think it could bear improvement. I shall be glad to see your book published: it has long been wanted; the Water Gap being, of late, as familiar as household words." The hurried preparation of these pages has led to the contemplation of a larger volume, which may ere long appear, giving a more complete topographical and historical account of the Water Gap, together with a History of the Upper Valley of the Delaware. It will be difficult for those who read what is here given, to divest their minds of the opin |