Preface.
There is no place like home! It may be a rude, rough home, at the foot of some stern, snow-clad mountain; but wherever we wander, we look back to it with the utmost interest. The object of this book is to awaken the memories of home—to remind us of the old scenes and old times, and kindle on old hearthstones the old fires. It will assist us in living over past days, and we shall murmur,—
"Give me my old seat, mother,
With my head upon thy knee;
Ive passed through many a changing scene
Since thus I sat by thee:
O, let me look into thine eyes;
Their meek, soft, loving light
Falls like a gleam of holiness
Upon my heart to-night."
It is well often to go home, that the free innocence of childhood may be reflected from the hallowed scenes of early days upon our souls, which have been checkered with the joys and sorrows of life.
