The fireside story book: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The fireside story book: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The fireside story book is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Edgeworth, Maria (1768–1849).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Fireside Story Book" by Maria Edgeworth is a collection of children's stories written in the mid-19th century. It features moral tales aimed at imparting lessons and values through engaging narratives centered around young characters. The stories include "Waste Not, Want Not," "The Bracelets," and "Lazy Lawrence," each touching on themes of economy, friendship, and personal responsibility. The opening of "Waste Not, Want Not" introduces Mr. Gresham, a merchant who adopts two nephews, Hal and Benjamin, after retiring to a new house. The boys are raised in differing environments, with Hal exhibiting extravagant behaviors learned from his father, while Benjamin practices thriftiness instilled by his own. Mr. Gresham introduces them to his motto, “Waste Not, Want Not,” highlighting contrasting values that set the stage for their character development. Their interactions—with incidents involving a parcel and string, as well as their experiences with a sprained ankle of a younger cousin—begin to illustrate the lessons of generosity and the consequences of wastefulness.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The fireside story book
- Author credits: Edgeworth, Maria (1768–1849)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Children's stories, English
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Short Stories
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


