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About the Book of Days
The Book of Days was designed to consist of:
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Matters connected with the Church Calendar, including the Popular
Festivals, Saints' Days, and other Holidays, with illustrations of Christian
Antiquities in general;
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Phenomena connected with the Seasonal Changes;
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Folk-Lore of the United Kingdom�namely, Popular Notions and
Observances connected with Times and Seasons;
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Notable Events, Biographies, and Anecdotes connected with the Days of
the Year;
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Articles of Popular Archeology, of an entertaining character, tending
to illustrate the progress of Civilization, Manners, Literature, and Ideas
in these kingdoms;
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Curious, Fugitive, and Inedited Pieces.
It was stated to be the desire of the Editor�while not discouraging the
progressive spirit of the age, to temper it with affectionate feelings
towards what is poetical and elevated, honest and of good report, in the old national life ; while
in no way discountenancing great material interests, to evoke an equal activity in
those feelings beyond self, on which depend remoter but infinitely greater interests; to kindle and
sustain a spirit of patriotism, tending to unity, peace, and prosperity in our own
state, while not exclusive of feelings of benevolence, as well as justice, towards others. It was
desired that these volumes should be a repertory of old fireside ideas in general,
as well as a means of improving the fireside wisdom of the present day.
The day of profession has now merged into the day of performance, the
half of the work being completed. It is given to few to feel assured that every
particular of a favourite object has been duly accomplished; and the individual who has
super-intended the birth of these pages is certainly not of that happy minority. He would say,
nevertheless, that he has done his best, with the means and opportunities at his disposal, to
produce a work answering to his plan, and calculated to improve, while it entertains,
and mingling the agreeable with the instructive. It will also be his hope to produce a second
volume, if possible to him, excelling the first ; and in this he meanwhile rests,
THE GENTLE READER'S HUMBLE SERVANT.
1869
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