JANUARY. I) 



Now stir the fire and close the shutters fast, 

 Let fall the curtain, wheel the sofa round, 

 And while the bubbling and loud -hissing urn 

 Throws up a steamy column, and the cups 

 Which cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, 

 So let us welcome peaceful evening in. 



Such is the British fire-side ! and we love 

 to hear our writers speaking of its pleasures in 

 strains of enthusiasm. But we may expand 

 the picture. We may add to the zest of its 

 personal, and almost too selfish enjoyments, 

 touches of generous and philanthropic sentiment 

 which will signally heighten its pleasures, and 

 enlarge its power of improving the heart. How- 

 delightful, while sitting in the midst of our 

 family, or friendly group, in actual possession 

 of the pleasures just enumerated, not only to 

 contemplate our own happiness, but to send 

 our thoughts abroad over the whole land ! To 

 think what thousands of families in this noble 

 country, are at the same moment thus blessedly 

 collected round the social flame. What hearths 

 are lit up with all the charms of kindred affec- 

 tion ; of mature wisdom and parental pride ; of 

 youthful gladness, gaiety and beauty ! How 

 many rural halls and city homes are shining, 

 like stars in their own places, in unabated 

 warmth and splendour, though hid beneath the 



