OR,

OUR HEARTH AND HOMESTEAD.

BY

JOHN MILLS,

66

AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN," THE STAGE COACH,

OR THE ROAD OF LIFE," "THE ENGLISH FIRESIDE,"

66 THE SPORTSMAN'S LIBRARY," &c. &c.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

T. C. NEWBY, MORTIMER STREET,

1845.

PR E F A CЕ.

No one can set less store than the writer on the slender thread by which the desultory scenes contained in these volumes are strung together. In justice to himself, however, and his gentle readers, he is desirous of not being accused of failing in that which, in fact, he never contemplated accomplishing. His object has not been to attempt the part of a monitor, by searching the annals of crime and vice, or the long list of the victims of passion and immorality, and thereby developing characters perhaps more baneful in being held up as examples, than if they had been permitted to sink into forgetfulness. The aim has been simply to depicture, with the faithfulness which a long experience may have rendered capable, those invigorating scenes connected with our

national sports, universally indulged in by all classes of society in some way or other.

Health, manly strength, buoyancy of spirits, courage, generosity, hospitality, and, indeed, most of the best feelings and impulses of our nature, attend these recreations; and so long as they continue to be springs and sources productive of good, so long may the gentlemen of England render them the distinguishing feature of their country.

If, however, the writer has not " pointed a moral to adorn his tale," he thinks he may safely claim this negative virtue-that should no one close the book a wiser or a better man, still no one can close it and be the worse.

J. M.

October 28th, 1845.