E-text prepared by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/) Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://www.archive.org/details/hearthstonethoug00osgoiala THE HEARTH-STONE: Thoughts upon Home-Life in Our Cities. by SAMUEL OSGOOD, Author of "Studies in Christian Biography," "God with Men, or Footprints of Providential Leaders," &C. "This is the famous stone That turneth all to gold: For that which God doth touch and own Cannot for less be told." GEORGE HERBERT. New-York: D. Appleton and Company, 200 Broadway. London: 10 Little Britain. 1854. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858 by D. Appleton And Company, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. PREFACE. These thoughts are published for the same reason that led the author from time to time to put them upon paper,--a wish to meet a want in the sphere of the affections rather than to claim any honor in the kingdom of ideas. Wherever important questions have been at issue he has not avoided them, however conspicuous or controverted; but the volume aims to breathe a kindly spirit above the reach of sect and party. He is not ashamed to have his style show something of the habit of his profession, and to use, in part, ideas that he has expressed in the lyceum and the pulpit in a different form. It will be seen that the several subjects connect themselves more or less closely with a year's life in the household, and that the light which cheers the whole twelvemonth is kindled on the hearth-stone at Christmas and New Year. The state of things in our American cities is now so peculiar, so marked by privilege and peril, that no earnest plea for home affections and virtues can be wholly thrown away. To dedicate books to conspicuous names is a custom now almost obsolete, and if the Author were to venture upon any dedication of this little volume it would read somewhat thus:-- TO THOSE WHO HAVE EVER LOVED HOME, AND WHO WISH TO LOVE IT ALWAYS. NEW-YORK, _Oct. 22, 1853_. CONTENTS. Page HOME VIEWS OF AMERICAN LIFE 7 THE IDEAL OF WOMANHOOD 27 THE HOPE OF CHILDHOOD 45 NEW THINGS 63 SOLICITUDE OF PARENTS 79 REVERENCE IN CHILDREN 91 BROTHERS AND SISTERS 105 MARRIAGE 119 OUR FRIENDS 135 MASTER AND SERVANT 151 THE DIVINE GUEST 167 THE ORPHAN 183 THE YOUNG PRODIGAL 199 EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS 213 BUSINESS AND THE HEART 233 SUMMER IN THE COUNTRY 249