Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

INTRODUCTION
cities he had never seen, and of the lives of the people
therein. He had come into the composition class week after
week with sketches of society folk and kindred subjects.
They were, naturally, unconvincing and poor, but the master's interest in them did not flag. Meanwhile, he assiduously gathered from the fellow accounts of his life in the
north woods, of breaking snow-roads, of gathering maplesap, of log-driving, of corn-husking. It began to dawn
upon the Vermonter that his own life at home, the incidents
of 'his own north country, which he knew and loved, were
interesting. His pictures gained in vitality and importance.
He had found himself.
I doubt if Howard Pyle ever had a student who did not
at some time or other experience some such awakening as
this while under his direction.
I can recall many instances of his generous interest and
boyish enthusiasm which have made us all the richer. We
spent days with him rummaging around old furniture shops,
hunting for seasoned mahogany for panels to paint upon,
and we spent very much more time with him roaming the
gorgeous hills and woods of the Brandywine valley at
Chadds Ford.
It was the time spent with him in this remote Pennsylvania village that brings the fondest memories to most of
us. I have the keenest and most enjoyable remembrances
of him, surrounded by his wife and family of six children,
in a large, roomy house that nestled in the trees beneath
a great hill,' within a stone's throw of General Lafayette's
Headquarters. Many jolly evenings did we spend before
his crackling log fires, eating nuts, telling stories, or, best
of all, listening to his reminiscences, or stories from his
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