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.

Samuel Osgood's "The Hearth-Stone" is an everlasting collection of writings that brings to mind heat climate, understanding, and a deep know-how of domestic existence. Samuel Osgood turned into an American minister, poet, and early supporter of ladies' rights. His book, published in the middle of the 1800s, is a tapestry of reflections that honor the fire as a key image of family comfort and peace. In this collection, Osgood appears at how critical the fire is as an area in which families can get collectively to share tales, laugh, and enjoy the easy matters in existence. In his writings about the house, he makes use of the fireplace as a metaphor for the heart of the house, a place wherein humans can locate consolation and connection. Osgood's writing indicates that he has a deep know-how of the subtleties of human interactions. In "The Hearth-Stone," Osgood writes approximately own family, faith, and the strong bonds among people who live together. His writing shows that he's eagerly sensitive to the demanding situations and pleasures of regular existence. It offers readers a comfy and insightful examine how human beings enjoy being near domestic.