The hearthstone; or, Life at home

Fuss and Miss Feathers — An untimely visit — Self-protection — A compliment worth having — To make friends is to be friendly — The voice a tremendous force — Casting pearls before swine — When company is oppressive — Home should not be a tavern or a club — The old proverb—A home where pleasant people gather 314 "I remember" — The earliest scenes — Covvper's description of his mother's picture — The Madonna — The dearest of all memories — " Dear kindly faces " — The nurse's arms — Her influence in the home — Familiar objects — The preserve- CONTENTS. XVn closet and the smacking of lips — The garden and garden-gate — Memories of sisters and brothers — Carlo's bark and Dobbins' trot — In the twilight hour — The mysteries of the fire — An element the Persians worshipped — Wliat fire suggests — Fireside musings— The "Dies Irse" — The Yule log when the fire is out — The wanderer's return — Stories around the fireside^ — Grandma's reminiscences — " Burn brightly, winter fire " — " Home, Sweet Home," by John Howard Payne, a world-famous song — The poet's own fireside (see frontispiece) — Where he first heard the air — The song written for an opera — Where written — Facts about Payne's life — His return to New York — His words at a banquet — An orphan and exile — "A name to live " — A story in this connection — His song a magic " sesame " which opens all hearts 326 • " Poor relations" — The dog and the horse familiar family friends — The reasoning powers of some dogs — De Long's mistake in killing the dogs with his party — Power of dogs to find food through scent — Brute instinct like supernatural revelation— Seven little kittens — Family conference — Six cats to die — Remarkable instinct of the deserted animals — Ishmaels without Hagar — The miseries of the feline Arabs — A ghastly travelling party of three — Eight miles over a strange road — A dog's affection — No magnanimity in cats — The biography of dogs — The cat likened unto Jacob as a supplanter — Tray and Tahitha — Kittens and parrots — Canary birds — Rabbits — Guinea-pigs and ravens — The hand that feeds ' the animals — Two pets enough — The dog first in rank — Faithful and affectionate — The vacant kennel — The ancient Athenians and dogs — The grief of dogs — The dog " one of us" — The training and education of dogs — The first thing to be taught— The canine gourmand — Mercy and manners — Care of canaries, parrots and mocking-birds — How to feed and care for them — Some diseases to which they succumb 3^7 THE MOTHER IN THE HOME. A typical mother — Test of character — Self-denial and tact — A pen-picture of an ideal woman — How she met poverty, change and rebellion — Occupation for her children — Friend and counsellor — Fortunate children — Hard work and happiness— Mending and painting a fence — Out-door improvements — Helping hands — The spirit of improvement — Plans and surprises — Making home beauti''ul — An eye-sore — Amateur workers — A rockery — Planting an arbor and hiding a poultry-yard — Pecuniary independence — A beautiful home — A mother's reward — Her life-work and influence-^A gracious boon — Such a mother the rarest possession J4y XVI 11 CONTENTS.