THE FIRE-PLACE. WE often hear of Love, sent "to the little circle round the fire," but unless it be to a circle round a bonfire, assembled on some occasion of frolic and rejoicing; around a gipsy-fire on the waste; or, it may be, in some rushy or green sward lane; we know of none where such circle is found, or can be found; and, consequently, none to whom this errand of love can be properly delivered-and yet, how frequently is the summons given which cannot be answered, "come, let us sit around the fire!" Would it could be done! for, how delightful on a Christmas night, even in idea, to sit round a brilliant pile of good cord wood, or a substantial old dry block, its roots fantastically formed, and the whole well backed with coal slack and cinders; cracking and eating a hoard of nice walnuts, accompanied by their natural ally, a bottle of old and home made raisin wine, whereof fine perry, not water, should form the basis!-scene laid in an old oaken wainscoted room, in a weather-stained country mansion; what time the snows are falling, and the winds heard blowing in porch or hall, or corridor, if you will, but by no means visiting, either roughly or smoothly, the snug, comfortable circle around the fire in the wainscoted room! Around the fire! did I say around the fire? no, no, not soranged, I mean, in a sort of half horse shoe segment of a circle, in front of a fire, placed and burning in a hole of the wall, as if to set fire to the house, rather than to warm and cheer the family and their guests, not one of whom can either get behind it, or fairly to one side of it; and who are just in the predicament of the bear or boar hunter's pack, when either the one or the other of the wild beasts has placed his stern against the massive trunk of a large tree, and compels his assailants to engage him in front, or not to engage him at all. Our children, their children, or, at furthest, the third generation, may haply throw a look of wonder, and of ridicule at the situation of their ancestors' fireplaces, if any vestiges of them remain in those days, while they themselves are in deed seated around their hospitable winter blaze, where the entire circle is partaking equally of its warmth, its cheering, and its comfort. Where, Mr. Architect? not as they are meted from a contracted focus or hole in a wall, in partial and penurious charity, to a fortunately stationed few, leaving the rest with chattering jaws, crudling, rubbing their hands, and shivering in a temperature hardly above the freezing point; but as they are spread aroundwarmth, cheering, and comfort, I mean -from a good fire, placed in the centre of the room, encircled at proper distance-as is Jupiter by his belt-by a well-adapted, duly narrowed, and circumscribed table; to which the fire presents every where a smiling countenance, and secures for each individual an abundant approximation to all the advantages which a good fire can bestow. By this is not meant a shut up, invisible stove fire, but fire conspicuously burning in open grates, while the smoke thence arising, is carried off by iron chimney, or funnel, as from ordinary stoves. This may be easily effected, and without concealing the fire, as it does in close stoves; by, in the first instance, erecting a circular |