Surely a word so potent has a deeper significance than any other in our language. To have a home in the fullest sense is to be blessed ; to, be in heaven while yet on earth. From out of happy homes come all the true men and women the world possesses. The noblest and best of the race have been and can only be the products of happy homes. The fetters that bind us to home are the cords that connect us with all true progress and right development. The hap- piness of a well-organized home is reflected in the lives of all men and women who come in contact with its inmates. We cannot, do not live unto ourselves alone : the world is the better or otherwise for our being in it. Home is the cen- tral point of all happiness ; the pivot upon which depends the weal or the woe of families and communities. What then so important as the right building of our earthly homes in all spiritual and practical ways ? What subject so fraught with great consequences as the Hearthstone? Verily, if we have ideals, let them be in this direction; and PREFACE. let them be so developed that when we have passed from the earthly home, it may be to find the spiritual one a facsimile of that which we have wrought in fancy here, and loved and lonofed to attain ; a veritable Hearthstone, about which will be gathered the friends of old, the memories of the past, the essence of every aspiration and anticipation. ILLUSTRATIONS. hearthstone, baby's welcome, playing tennis, . ARCHERY, .... game of croquet, game of chess, floral window, . grandfather's home, mother's knee, . house design, no. I, house design, no. 2, house design, no. 3, house design, no. 4, house design, no. 5, church and parsonage, no. 6, plan of design, no. i, plan of design, no. 2, . Frontispiece. 58 . 90 91 . 94 116 . 264 326 . 350 J from 376 to 389 390 . 392 (vii) CONTENTS. HOMES, ANCIENT AND MODERN. PACE The idea of home and how associated — The original idea of the ancients — David and his palace — A habitation in Israel — Its minarets and towers homes for the birds — Row}and Taylor's remark — " Lead, kindly Light " — Loneliness of the homeless — " The night is dark, and I am far from home " — Howard Payne's world-famous song — The secret of its popularity — The melody of every human heart — The prodigal son — Like Joseph in his inquiries — The voice of the good angel — To the "diggings" in Australia — Charles Lamb's sonnet — Some old proverbs — The test of duty — The dying soldier — Humble earnings — " The old folks at home " A Pauline phrase — Cross-grained creatures — A touch of nature — Two kinds of sons — The brand of Cain — The effect of home-training — William Wilberforce's sons — A right ambition — Alien proprietorship — A condition of things not lasting — German and English peoples — Home and its central fires — Two kinds of citi- zenship— The sacred heritage of family life — An old English proverb — Man's and woman's part in home-building — The destruction of a perfect ideal — Oscar Wilde — The old log-fire — Musings of memory — The days of unleavened bread — Pictures in the fire — The lid of a tin kettle — James Watts' inspiration — " On the past they stream " — The altar-hearth of home 25 HOME-MAKING AND HOME-MANAGEMENT.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Surely a word so potent has a deeper significance than any other in our language. To have a home in the fullest sense is to be blessed ; to, be in heaven while yet on earth. From out of happy homes come all the true men and women the world possesses. The noblest and best of the race have been and can only be the products of happy homes. The fetters that bind us to home are the cords that connect us with all true progress and right development. The happiness of a well-organized home is reflected in the lives of all men and women who come in contact with its inmates. We cannot, do not live unto ourselves alone : the world is the better or otherwise for our being in it. Home is the central point of all happiness ; the pivot upon which depends the weal or the woe of families and communities. What then so important as the right building of our earthly homes in all spiritual and practical ways ? What subject so fraught with great consequences as the Hearthstone? Verily, if we have ideals, let them be in this direction; and PREFACE. let them be so developed that when we have passed from the earthly home, it may be to find the spiritual one a facsimile of that which we have wrought in fancy here, and loved and longed to attain ; a veritable Hearthstone, about which will be gathered the friends of old, the memories of the past, the essence of every aspiration and anticipation. ILLUSTRATIONS. hearthstone, baby's welcome, playing tennis, . ARCHERY, .... game of croquet, game of chess, floral window, . grandfather's home, mother's knee, . house design, no. I, house design, no. 2, house design, no. 3, house design, no. 4, house design, no. 5, church and parsonage, no. 6, plan of design, no. i, plan of design, no. 2, . Frontispiece. . 90 . 94 . 264 . 350 J from 376 to 389 . 392 (vii) CONTENTS. HOMES, ANCIENT AND MODERN. PACE The idea of home and how associated — The original idea of the ancients — David and his palace — A habitation in Israel — Its minarets and towers homes for the birds — Row}and Taylor's remark — " Lead, kindly Light " — Loneliness of the homeless — " The night is dark, and I am far from home " — Howard Payne's world-famous song — The secret of its popularity — The melody of every human heart — The prodigal son — Like Joseph in his inquiries — The voice of the good angel — To the "diggings" in Australia — Charles Lamb's sonnet — Some old proverbs — The test of duty — The dying soldier — Humble earnings — " The old folks at home " A Pauline phrase — Cross-grained creatures — A touch of nature — Two kinds of sons — The brand of Cain — The effect of home-training — William Wilberforce's sons — A right ambition — Alien proprietorship — A condition of things not lasting — German and English peoples — Home and its central fires — Two kinds of citizenship— The sacred heritage of family life — An old English proverb — Man's and woman's part in home-building — The destruction of a perfect ideal — Oscar Wilde — The old log-fire — Musings of memory — The days of unleavened bread — Pictures in the fire — The lid of a tin kettle — James Watts' inspiration — " On the past they stream " — The altar-hearth of home 25

The hearthstone; or, Life at home