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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.

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.

[Pg 3]

PREFACE.

These thoughts are published for the same reason that led the author fromtime to time to put them upon paper,—a wish to meet a want in the sphereof 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 akindly spirit above the reach of sect and party. He is not ashamed to havehis style show something of the habit of his profession, and to use, inpart, ideas that he has expressed in the lyceum and the pulpit in adifferent form.

It will be seen that the several subjects connect themselves more or lessclosely with a year’s life in the household, and that the light whichcheers the whole twelvemonth is kindled on the hearth-stone at Christmasand New Year.

[Pg 4]The state of things in our American cities is now so peculiar, so markedby privilege and peril, that no earnest plea for home affections andvirtues can be wholly thrown away. To dedicate books to conspicuous namesis a custom now almost obsolete, and if the Author were to venture uponany 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.

[Pg 5]

CONTENTS.