GOLDEN STEPS: LECTURES TO YOUTH OF BOTH SEXES

Derby, 1850. AUSTIN, John Mather. GOLDEN STEPS TO RESPECTABILITY, USEFULNESS, AND HAPPINESS BEING A SERIES OF LECTURES TO YOUTH OF BOTH SEXES; OR CHARACTERS, PRINCIPLES, ASSOCIATES, AMUSEMENTS, RELIGION, AND MARRIAGE. Auburn, [NY]: Derby, Miller, And Company, 1850. 12mo., embossed red cloth, gilt-tooled spine; 243 pages plus ads. First Edition. Lectures written for the pulpit, by a direct descendent of famous New England cleric Increase Mather. Austin's father, Benjamin Mather Austin, converted from Baptist to Universalism while John was in his teens and John became pastor in Auburn, New York in 1844. He eventually became editor of the weekly Universalist newspaper "Christian Ambassador" and was later appointed by Pres. Abraham Lincoln as Paymaster for the Union Army. After the Civil War, he moved back to Auburn, earning a living in secular occupations but he continued preaching part-time. Signed presentation from Austin, to his son, on the front endpaper: "Clement L. Austin, From his affectionate father, The Author. Auburn, Sept. 6, 1850." An amazing presentation from this important and early Universalist preacher to his son! Very Good (1/4-portion of a rear blank page has been clipped away & a very tiny paper label is tipped to the rear pastedown, reading "C.L. Austin, but tipped-in upside-down). Austin's autograph is uncommon! $350.00.