THE OPAL: A PURE GIFT FOR THE HOLY DAYS. MDCCCXLVIII. EDITED BY MRS. SARAH J. HALE. NEW YORK: J. C. RIKER, 129 FULTON STREET. PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR, LENOX AND 1899. ENTERED, ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, BY J. C. RIKER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. KNEELANDS' STEAM PRESS, TROY. PREFACE. A VERY pleasant thing it is for friends to meet, after a short separation. Two years have passed since the present Editor had the gratification of introducing the delightful pages of the OPAL to its host of readers; she therefore trusts to receive a most cordial welcome. In the meantime, the liberal and enterprising Publisher has spared no pains or expense in his efforts to perfect this popular Annual; the unrivaled beauty of this present volume attests his suc cess. Nor must we omit to mention the Editor of the last two seasons,* whose fine taste was visible in the literary improvement; but the duties of business have withdrawn him from the Opal. We have, however, had the good fortune to retain the old contributors and, also, have added to the list some of the best writers and most honored names in our country's literature. The plan of the Opal has, from the first, been distinct, and of a far more elevated tone than that of any other popular Gift Book, either American or European. To give a work of pure moral sen * MR. JOHN KEESE. |