University of Virginia Library

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PREFACE.

PREFACE.

IN sending this, my fourth venture, out upon the
uncertain waters of public opinion, I shall say
but few words of preface. In the past I have received
considerable well-deserved criticism from the
gentlemen of the caustic pen, but so far from having
any hard feeling towards them, I have rather
wondered that they found so much to say that was
favorable. How they will judge this simple October
story (if they think it worth while to judge
it at all) I leave to the future, and turn to those for
whom the book was really written.

In fancy, I see them around the glowing hearth
of quiet homes, such as I have tried to describe in the
following pages, and hope that this new comer will
be welcomed for the sake of those that preceded it.
Possibly it may make friends of its own.

From widely separated parts of the country, and
from almost every class, I have received many and
cordial assurances that my former books were not
only sources of pleasure, but also of help and benefit,
and I am deeply grateful for the privilege of
unobtrusively entering so many households, and
saying words on that subject which is inseparable
from happiness in both worlds.

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8

I think the purpose of the book will become
apparent to the reader. The incidents and characters
are mainly imaginary.

Observation has shown me that there are many
in the world, like my hero, whose condition can be
illustrated by the following lines:

Must there not be something fatally wrong in
that scheme of life which finds an heir of eternity
weary, listless, discouraged, while yet in the dawning
of existence? It is not in perishing things,
merely, to give back the lost zest. But a glad zest
and hopefulness might be inspired even in the most
jaded and ennui-cursed, were there in our homes
such simple, truthful natures, as that of my heroine;
and in the sphere of quiet homes—not elsewhere—
I believe that woman can best rule and save the
world.