_ IN presenting this work to the public, we are fully conscious of the grave charges of misrepresenting society, and misconstruing facts, which will be made by our friends of the South, and its very peculiar institution; but earnestly do we enjoin all such champions of "things as they are," to read and well digest what is here set before them, believing that they will find the TRUTH even "stranger than fiction." And, as an incentive to the noble exertions of those, either North or South, who would rid our country of its "darkest, foulest blot," we would say, that our attempt has been to give a true picture of Southern society in its various aspects, and that, in our judgment, the institution of Slavery is directly chargeable with the various moral, social and political evils detailed in OUR WORLD.
       THE AUTHOR. _

Preface
Chapter 1. Marston's Plantation
Chapter 2. How A Night Was Spent On Marston's Plantation
Chapter 3. Things Are Not So Bright As They Seem
Chapter 4. An Unexpected Confession
Chapter 5. The Marooning Party
Chapter 6. Another Scene In Southern Life
Chapter 7. "Buckra-Man Very Uncertain"
Chapter 8. A Cloud Of Misfortune Hangs Over The Plantation
Chapter 9. Who Is Safe Against The Power?
Chapter 10. Another Shade Of The Picture
Chapter 11. Mrs. Rosebrook's Project
Chapter 12. Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy Changes His Business
Chapter 13. A Father Tries To Be A Father
Chapter 14. In Which The Extremes Are Presented
Chapter 15. A Scene Of Many Lights
Chapter 16. Another Phase Of The Picture
Chapter 17. Pleasant Dealings With Human Property
Chapter 18. A Not Uncommon Scene Slightly Changed
Chapter 19. They Are All Going To Be Sold
Chapter 20. Let Us Follow Poor Human Nature To The Man Shambles
Chapter 21. A Father's Trials
Chapter 22. We Change With Fortune
Chapter 23. The Vicissitudes Of A Preacher
Chapter 24. How We Manufacture Political Faith
Chapter 25. Mr. M'fadden Sees Shadows In The Future
Chapter 26. How They Stole The Preacher
Chapter 27. Competition In Human Things
Chapter 28. The Pretty Children Are To Be Sold
Chapter 29. Nature Shames Itself
Chapter 30. The Vision Of Death Has Past
Chapter 31. A Friend Is Woman
Chapter 32. Marston In Prison
Chapter 33. Venders Of Human Property Are Not Responsible For Its Mental Caprices
Chapter 34. A Common Incident Shortly Told
Chapter 35. The Children Are Improving
Chapter 36. Workings Of The Slave System
Chapter 37. An Item In The Common Calendar
Chapter 38. In Which Regrets Are Shown Of Little Worth
Chapter 39. How We Should All Be Forgiving
Chapter 40. Containing Various Matters
Chapter 41. Nicholas's Simple Story
Chapter 42. He Would Deliver Her From Bondage
Chapter 43. Other Phases Of The Subject
Chapter 44. How Daddy Bob Departed
Chapter 45. How Slaveholders Fear Each Other
Chapter 46. Southern Administration Of Justice
Chapter 47. Prosperity The Result Of Justice
Chapter 48. In Which The Fate Of Franconia Is Seen
Chapter 49. In Which Is A Sad Recognition
Chapter 50. In Which A Dangerous Principle Is Illustrated
Chapter 51. A Continuation Of The Last Chapter
Chapter 52. In Which Are Pleasures And Disappointments
Chapter 53. A Familiar Scene, In Which Pringle Blowers Has Business
Chapter 54. In Which Are Discoveries And Pleasant Scenes
Chapter 55. In Which Is A Happy Meeting, Some Curious Facts Developed, And Clotilda's History Disclosed
Chapter 56. In Which A Plot Is Disclosed, And The Man-Seller Made To Pay The Penalty Of His Crimes