Chapter II: Preface: To the Fifteenth London Edition

The thirteenth edition of “Evenings at Home,” a work which has not been superseded in general estimation by any later publication for the instruction and amusement of youth, appeared in 1823, enriched with the addition of some new pieces, and carefully revised and corrected throughout by Mr. Arthur Aikin. Since that time, its venerable author, and his distinguished sister and coadjutor, have both paid the debt of nature; and it appears proper to introduce this posthumous republication, by an account of their respective shares in its production. The plan, then, of the work originated solely with Dr. Aikin; the Introduction and Epilogue are both his, and about eleven parts in twelve of the whole. The pieces written by Mrs. Barbauld, including one found among her papers, and now first printed, are, the Young Mouse; the Wasp and Bee; Alfred, a Drama; Animals and their Countries; Canute’s Reproof to his Courtiers; the Mask of Nature; Things by their Right Names; the Goose and Horse; On Manufactures; the Flying-Fish; a Lesson on the Art of Distinguishing; the Phenix and Dove; the Manufacture of Paper; the Four Sisters; and Live Dolls;—amounting to fifteen out of one hundred and one.

A new arrangement of the matter has been followed in this edition, for which the editor is answerable. Her father was precluded from attending to this point in the first instance, by the manner in which the work grew under his hand. The volumes came out one or two at a time, with an interval of several years between the earliest and the latest. He did not at first contemplate so extensive a work; but his invention flowed freely—the applause of parents and the delight of children invited him to proceed; the slight thread by which he had connected the pieces was capable of being drawn out indefinitely, and the plan was confessedly that of a miscellany. Under these circumstances, it appeared allowable on a view of the whole work, to change the order, so as to conduct the young reader, in a gentle progress, from the easier pieces to the more difficult; or rather, to adapt the different volumes to different ages, by which the inconvenience might be avoided of either putting the whole set into the hands of a child, while one portion of its contents would not be intelligible to him, or withholding the whole until another portion should have ceased to be interesting. This idea the editor has, to the best of her ability, put in execution. Should she thus be the humble means of extending, in any degree, the influence of her father’s wisdom and genius—of his extensive knowledge, his manly principles, and his genuine benevolence and tenderness of heart—her pains will be amply rewarded.

CONTENTS.

Introduction page 9
The Young Mouse 11
The Wasp and Bee 12
The Goose and Horse 12
The Flying-Fish 13
The Little Dog 14
Travellers’ Wonders 15
The Discontented Squirrel 19
On the Marten 22
Mouse, Lapdog, and Monkey 24
Animals and their Countries 25
The Mask of Nature 25
The Farmyard Journal 27
The Price of Pleasure 30
The Rat with a Bell 32
The Dog balked of his Dinner 33
The Kid 36
How to make the Best of it 39
Order and Disorder 40
Live Dolls 43
The Hog and other Animals 46
The Bullies 49
The Travelled Ant 50
The Colonists 56
The Dog and his Relations 60
The History and Adventures of a Cat 62
Canute’s Reproof to his Courtiers 67
On Things to be Learned 68
On the Oak 74
Alfred 80
On the Pine and Fir Tribe 85
On Different Stations in Life 90
The Rookery 94
The Ship 97
Things by their Right Names 103
The Transmigrations of Indur 105
The Swallow and Tortoise 117
The Grass-Tribe 119
A Tea-Lecture 122
The Kidnappers 126
On Manufactures 129
On the Art of Distinguishing 138
The Phenix and Dove 144
The Manufacture of Paper 145
The Two Robbers 148
The Council of Quadrupeds 150
Tit for Tat 158
On Wines and Spirits 160
The Boy without a Genius 166
Half a Crown’s Worth 170
Trial 172
The Leguminous Plants 179
On Man 183
Walking the Streets 187
The Compound-Flowered Plants 189
Presence of Mind 192
Phaeton Junior 198
Why an Apple falls 203
Nature and Education 206
Aversion subdued 207
The Little Philosopher 213
What Animals are made for 216
True Heroism 219
On Metals 222
Flying and Swimming 230
The Female Choice 232
On Metals 234
Eyes and No Eyes 242
Why the Earth moves round the Sun 249
The Umbelliferous Plants 252
Humble Life, or the Cottagers 256
The Birthday Gift 261
On Earths and Stones 263
Show and Use, or the Two Presents 275
The Cruciform-Flowered Plants 277
The Native Village 281
Perseverance against Fortune 287
The Goldfinch and Linnet 297
The Price of a Victory 300
Good Company 304
The Wanderer’s Return 306
Difference and Agreement, or Sunday Morning 312
The Landlord’s Visit 314
On Emblems 320
Ledyard’s Praise of Women 325
Generous Revenge 327
The Power of Habit 330
The Cost of a War 333
Great Men 337
The Four Sisters 341
The Gain of a Loss 344
Wise Men 346
A Friend in Need 349
Earth and her Children 357
A Secret Character Unveiled 359
A Globe-Lecture 367
Envy and Emulation 375
Providence, or the Shipwreck 377
Epilogue 382