earth. It
may often be found in fullest beauty matting a granite lodge, with
scarcely any perceptible soil for its support.

What better emblem of that faith, and hope, and piety, by which our
fathers were supported in dreary and barren enterprises, and which drew
their life and fragrance from heaven more than earth?

The May Flower was, therefore, many years since selected by the author
as the title of a series of New England sketches. That work had
comparatively a limited circulation, and is now entirely out of print.
Its articles are republished in the present volume, with other
miscellaneous writings, which have from time to time appeared in
different periodicals. They have been written in all moods, from the
gayest to the gravest--they are connected, in many cases, with the
memory of friends and scenes most dear.

There are those now scattered through the world who will remember the
social literary parties of Cincinnati, for whose genial meetings many of
these articles were prepared. With most affectionate remembrances, the
author dedicates the book to the yet surviving members of The Semicolon.

Andover, _April, 1855_.

CONTENTS.

UNCLE LOT

LOVE _versus_ LAW

THE TEA ROSE

TRIALS OF A HOUSEKEEPER

LITTLE EDWARD

AUNT MARY

FRANKNESS

THE SABBATH.--SKETCHES FROM A NOTE BOOK OF AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN

LET EVERY MAN MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS

COUSIN WILLIAM

THE MINISTRATION OF OUR DEPARTED FRIENDS.--A NEW YEAR'S REVERY

MRS. A. AND MRS. B.; OR, WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT IT

CHRISTMAS; OR, THE GOOD FAIRY

EARTHLY CARE A HEAVENLY DISCIPLINE

CONVERSATION ON CONVERSATION

HOW DO WE KNOW?

WHICH IS THE LIBERAL MAN?

THE ELDER'S FEAST.--A TRADITION OF LAODICEA

LITTLE FRED, THE CANAL BOY

THE CANAL BOAT

FEELING

THE SEAMSTRESS

OLD FATHER MORRIS.--A SKETCH FROM NATURE

THE TWO ALTARS, OR TWO PICTURES IN ONE

A SCHOLAR'S ADVENTURES IN THE COUNTRY

"WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!"

THE CORAL RING

ART AND NATURE

CHILDREN

HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH MAMMON

A SCENE IN JERUSALEM

THE OLD MEETING HOUSE.--SKETCH FROM THE NOTE BOOK OF AN OLD GENTLEMAN

THE NEW-YEAR'S GIFT

THE OLD OAK OF ANDOVER.--A REVERY

OUR WOOD LOT IN WINTER

POEMS:--

THE CHARMER

PILGRIM'S SONG IN THE DESERT

MARY AT THE CROSS

CHRISTIAN PEACE

ABIDE IN ME AND I IN YOU.--THE SOUL'S ANSWER

WHEN I AWAKE I AM STILL WITH THEE

CHRIST'S VOICE IN THE SOUL

THE MAY FLOWER.

UNCLE