The rugged hillscapes of Pennsylvania have for centuries been fertile ground for legends and folk tales; this collection features many of the finest stories of the region. Some of the yarns date back to a time before white European settlers arrived in the area; repeated and shared over many generations, their narratives often employ nature and natural phenomena as both setting and plot device; mountain ranges, ponds and lakes, dense woodlands. The appearance of ghosts or spirits is melded with the reality of life; living in the lap of nature was no easy business, with Native Americans and settlers alike fending with the weather and wilderness dangers. The author casts himself as a mere compiler of various legends that have circulated in Pennsylvania for countless years. Pursuing accuracy and honesty rather than literary convention, the stories are transcribed as closely as possible to versions passed down in the oral tradition. Writing in the early 20th century, Henry Shoemaker's personal view is that the tales defy convention; many lack the traditional happy conclusions and end on a gloomy or spooky note. Nevertheless, their value - both as historic recollection of a Pennsylvania long-departed, and as folk literature - stands undoubted.

Henry Shoemaker compiled these legendary tales set in the Endless Mountains of western and central Pennsylvania. This collection has been modernized for 21st-century audiences but maintains the charm, wit, and suspense of the originals.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from Susquehanna Legends: Collected in Central Pennsylvania By collecting in book form most of the ones which seemed best to him, he has hoped to carry out the responsibility in satisfactory manner. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Folklore, legends, and ghost stories are at the core of Pennsylvania's culture and history. Various legends abound from all parts of the state, though none are as rich or full of charismatic characters as those along the Susquehanna River. From the myths and legends of the indigenous tribes, to the heroes and villains of the frontier, to the ghostly tales of those who still walk the banks of the muddy river; this is a book of their stories.