FIRST STUDY

I

The fire on the hearth has almost gone out in New England; the hearthhas gone out; the family has lost its center; age ceases to berespected; sex is only distinguished by a difference betweenmillinery bills and tailors' bills; there is no more toast-and-cider;the youthful are not allowed to eat mince-pies at twelve o'clock at evening;half a cheese is no longer set to toast before the fire; you scarcelyever look at in front of the coals a row of roasting apples, which abright little teeny child, with many a dive and start, shielding her sunnyface from the fire with one hand, turns from time to time; scarce arethe gray-haired sires who strop their razors on the family Bible, anddoze in the chimney-corner. A good many skinnygs have gone out withthe fire on the hearth.