PREFACE.

THE author of this volume does not consider himself alone responsible for its existence. He had long thought, however, that such a work if judiciously compiled would fill a vacant place in our general literature, and had collected some materials with that object remotely in view. But his thought might never, and certainly would not so soon, have ripened, had not his enterprising publishers, several months ago, put in his hands a volume of "Gathered Treasures". a book long since out of print, and although containing many beautiful gems, yet somewhat ancient in its general contents-and urged him to make it the basis of a new compilation which should be comprehensive in subject, just in sentiment, beautiful in expression, and while not ignoring the claims of antiquity, duly respectful of the interests of the present. They argued that while books of every sort were already numerous and rapidly increasing, many of them were costly, and some very excellent ones so rare, as to be found only in the great libraries; that many persons, as the young, the busy, and the aged, who have neither the time nor the patience necessary for the perusal of continuous or bulky volumes, would read short stories and elegant

extracts with eagerness; that these would gladly improve the opportunity such a compilation affords, for obtaining some acquaintance with works not in their possession, and thus entertain themselves in a way beneficial to head and heart.

The author, yielding to the solicitation thus earnestly stated, has prepared this volume to meet the wants that seemed important and pressing, and in so doing has contented himself with simply binding under these green bands the selected products of some of the most eminent writers.

And now if "Golden Sheaves" shall carry one happier feeling, or purer thought, or higher aspiration, into a home dark with care, and to a heart weary with toil, or sad with loneliness, the desire of the gleaner will have been answered, while the kindness of those who have permitted him to wander through their richly laden fields and reap what they had sown, will be as nobly rewarded as it is hereby gratefully acknowledged.

H. A. C.

Philadelphia,

February 20th, 1869.

GOLDEN SHEAVES.

MORAL TALES AND SKETCHES.

YOUTH, BOOKS, LABOR, AGE.

FOR the most part, we studious men do not very clearly comprehend people who are simply practical; when called upon to classify them, we always start from our own individuality; we imagine that every one ought to resemble ourselves; we estimate the intelligence of our cook by his style of penmanship.

It is very rare that men are able to escape from the thraldom of their individual predilections, so as to throw themselves into the midst of the world of realities, and estimate individuals according to their aptitude for satisfying those realities. We all resemble M. Vestris more or less, who was astonished to hear that one of his old pupils, whom he could never teach to dance the gavotte, had become a great statesman. It seems as if each of us were inclined to set up his own habits and occupations as the standard measure of human capacity; hence the indignation which we see manifested when one of your vulgar practical men acquires fortune or influence. With what profound contempt we point the finger at such upstarts of action! what protestations there are against the state of society, when the grocer at the corner grows wealthy more surely and more rapidly than the artist, the professor, or the author! As if society lived only upon books, problems, or statues, and had not above all things need of the journeymen of life!-as if the most favored by nature ought also to be the most favored by man, and to find themselves fortunate here below, as kings are powerful "by the grace of God!"