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Child Life in Colonial Days

<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> <h3>STORY AND PICTURE BOOKS</h3> <blockquote> If we are to consider that the condition of the human mind at any particular juncture is worth studying, it is certainly of importance to know on what food its infancy is fed.           —<cite>The Book Hunter. John Hill Burton, 1863.</cite> </blockquote> Locke says in his <cite>Thoughts on Education</cite> that "the only book I know of fit for children is Æsop's 'Fables' and 'Reynard the Fox.'" By this he means the only story-books. A chap-book, a cheap, ill-printed edition of Æsop's <cite>Fables</cite>, was read in New England, but I have found nothing to indicate that these fables were specially printed or bought for children, or that children were familiar with them. There seem to have been absolutely no books for the special delight of young men and maids in the first years in the new world, no romances or tales of adventure; nor were there any in England. One Richard Codrington, a Puritan, and a tiresome old bore, wrote a book "For the Instructing of the Younger Sort of Maids and Boarders at Schools."[265] It is about as void of instruction as a book well could be; and this is his pleasant notion of a "girl's own book":— <blockquote> "To entertain young Gentlewomen in their hours of Recreation we shall commend unto them God's Revenge against Murther and Artemidorous his Interpretation of Dreams." </blockquote> It isn't hard to guess which one of these two was "taken out" most frequently from the school library. Speculation about dreams was one of the few existing outlets to youthful imagination, and many happy hours were spent in elaborate interpretations. Thus tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy Sleep, supplied the element of romance which the dull waking hours denied, and made life worth living. Though no great books were written for children during all these years, three of the great books of the world, written with deep purpose, for grown readers, were calmly appropriated by children with a promptness that would seem to prove the truth of the assertion that children are the most unerring critics of a story. These books were <cite>Pilgrim's Progress</cite>, first published in 1688; <cite>Robinson Crusoe</cite>, in 1714; and <cite>Gulliver's Travels</cite>, in 1726. The religious, political, and satirical purposes of these[266] books have been wholly obscured by their warm adoption as stories. They have been loved by hundreds of thousands of English-reading children, and translated into many other languages. Hundreds of other books, chiefly for children, have been written, that have been inspired by or modelled on these books—thus the debt of children to them is multiplied. <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i083.jpg" width-obs="350" height-obs="341" alt="Merry" /> <div class="caption">MERRY TALES. OF THE Wiſe Men of Gotham. Printed and Sold in London. Title-page of Merry Tales </div> </div> The history of children's story-books in both England and America begins with the life of John Newbery, the English publisher, who settled in London in 1744. His life and his work have been told at length by Mr. Charles Welsh in the book entitled <cite>A Book Seller of the Last Century</cite>. Newbery was the first English bookseller who made any extended attempt to publish books especially[267] for children's reading. The text of these books was written by himself, and by various English authors, among them no less a genius than Oliver Goldsmith. His books were promptly exported to America, where they were doubtless as eagerly welcomed as in England. The meagre advertisements of colonial newspapers contain his lists. During Newbery's active career as a publisher—and activity was his distinguishing characteristic—he published over two hundred books for children. One of the earliest was announced in 1744 as "a pretty little pocket book." It contained the story of Jack the Giant Killer. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 350px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i084.jpg" width-obs="350" height-obs="505" alt="cuckoo" /> <div class="caption">TALE III. On a time the men of Gotham fain would have pinned the cuckoo, that ſhe might ſing all the year, all in the midſt of the town they had a hedge made in a round compaſs, and got a cuckoo, and put her into it, and ſaid, Sing here and you ſhall lack neither meat nor drink all the year. The Cuckoo when ſhe ſee herſelf encompaſſed within the hedge, flew away. A vengeance on her ſaid the Wiſe Men, we made not the hedge high enough. Page of <cite>Merry Tales of Wise Men of Gotham</cite> </div> </div> An amusing, albeit thrifty, intermezzo of all children's books was the publisher's persistent advertisement of his other juvenile literary wares. If a[268] generous godfather is introduced, he is at once importuned to buy another of good Mr. Newbery the printer's books. When Tommy Truelove is to have his reward of virtue and industry, he implores that it may be a little book sold at the Book Shop over against Aldermary Churchyard, Bow Lane. If a kind mamma sets out to "learn Jenny June to read," she does it with one of Marshall's "Universal Battledores, so beloved of young masters and misses." The old-time reader was never permitted to forget for over a page that the good, kind, thoughtful gentleman who printed this book had plenty of others to sell. Newbery was the most ingenious of these advertisers. This is an example of one of his newspaper eye-catchers printed in 1755:— <blockquote> "This day was published Nurse Truelove's New Years Gift or the book of books for children, adorned with cuts, and designed as a present for every little boy who would become a great man, and ride upon a fine horse; and to every little girl who would become a great woman and ride in a lord-mayor's gilt coach. Printed for the author who has ordered these books to be given gratis to all boys and girls, at the Bible and Sun in St. Paul's Churchyard, they paying for the binding which is only twopence for each book." </blockquote> Other books were sold "with a Ball and Pincushion, the use of which will infallibly make[269] Tommy a good boy, and Polly a good girl." The juvenile characters in the books are always turning aside to read or buy some one of Mr. Newbery's little books; or pulling one of Mr. Newbery's "nice gilded library" out of their pockets, or taking Dr. James' Fever Powder, which was also one of Mr. Newbery's popular specialities. The Revolutionary patriot and printer, Isaiah Thomas, was said to be very "ingenious in spirit." I do not know the exact significance of this term unless it means that he was a wide-awake publisher, which he certainly was. He was a bright, stirring man of quick wit and active intelligence in all things. He brought out just after the Revolution many little books for children. Few of them have any pretence of originality, even in a single page. Nearly all are wholesale reprints of various English books for children, chiefly those of John Newbery. I don't know what made Thomas so ready to catch up the reprinting of these children's books in advance of other American printers. Perhaps his attention was led to it by the fact that his "Prentice's Token," or specimen of his work when he was a printer's 'prentice, was one of those little books. It was issued in 1761 by A. Barclay in Cornhill, Boston, and a copy now in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester,[270] Massachusetts, is indorsed in Thomas' own handwriting as being by his 'prentice hand. The book is entitled, <cite>Tom Thumbs Play Book. To Teach Children their letters as soon as they can speak</cite>. It contains the old rhyme, "A, Apple pye, B, bit it, C, cut it," etc. Then came the rhymes beginning, "A, was an Archer and shot at a frog;" also a short catechism. Isaiah Thomas lived in Worcester, printed these books there, and founded there the American Antiquarian Society; in the library of that society now in that city may be seen copies of nearly all these children's books which he reprinted; and a collection of pretty, quaint little volumes they are. It is the universal decision of the special students of juvenile literature, that Goldsmith wrote <cite>Goody Two Shoes</cite>. Washington Irving thought the title-page plainly "bore the stamp of the sly and playful humour" of the author of the <cite>Vicar of Wakefield</cite>. It reads thus:— <blockquote> "The History of Little Goody Two Shoes, otherwise called Mrs. Margery Two Shoes, with the means by which she acquired her Learning and Wisdom, and in consequence thereof, her Estate; set forth at large for the Benefit of those <div class="poem"> "Who from a state of Rags and Care And having Shoes but half a pair, Their fortune and their fame would fix And gallop in a Coach and Six. </div> </blockquote> <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 600px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i085.jpg" width-obs="600" height-obs="422" alt="goody" /> <div class="caption"><cite>The Renowned history of GOODY TWOSHOES."</cite> your rooks do. You ſee they are going to reſt already. Do you so likewiſe, and get up with them in the morning; earn, as they do, every day what you eat, and eat and drink no more than you earn, and you'll get health and keep it. What ſhould induce the rooks to frequent gentlemen's houſes only, but to tell them how to lead a prudent life? They never build over cottages or farm houſes, becauſe they ſee, that theſe people know how to live without their admonition. <div class="poem"> Thus health and wit you may improve, Taught by the tenants of the grove. </div> The gentleman laughing gave Margery ſixpence, and told her ſhe was a ſensible huſſey. CHAP. VI. How the whole Pariſh was frightened. Who does not know Lady Ducklington, or who does not know that ſhe was buried at this pariſh church? Well, <cite>The Renowned History of Goody Two Shoes</cite> </div> </div> [271] <blockquote> "See the original manuscript in the Vatican at Rome, and the Cuts by Michael Angelo. Illustrated by the Comments of our great modern Critics. Price Sixpence." </blockquote> Copies of <cite>Goody Two Shoes</cite> are seldom seen for sale to-day, and many copies are expurgated. The following quaint chapter is the one chosen for excision, because our children must never hear the word ghost. <blockquote> "HOW THE WHOLE PARISH WAS FRIGHTENED "Who does not know Lady Ducklington, or who does not know that she was buried at this parish church? "Well, I never saw so grand a funeral in all my life; but the money they squandered away would have been better laid out in little books for children, or in meat, drink, and clothes for the poor. This is a fine hearse indeed, and the nodding plumes on the horses look very grand; but what end does that answer, otherwise than to display the pride of the living, or the vanity of the dead. Fie upon such folly, say I, and heaven grant that those who want more sense may have it. "But all the country round came to see the burying, and it was late before the corpse was interred. After which, in the night, or rather about four o'clock in the morning, the bells were heard to jingle in the steeple, which frightened the people prodigiously, who all thought it was Lady Ducklington's ghost dancing among the bell ropes. The[272] people flocked to Will Dobbins, the Clerk, and wanted him to go and see what it was; but William said he was sure it was a ghost, and that he would not offer to open the door. At length Mr. Long, the rector, hearing such an uproar in the village, went to the clerk to know why he did not go into the church and see who was there. I go, says William, why the ghost would frighten me out of my wits. Mrs. Dobbins, too, cried, and laying hold on her husband said he should not be eat up by the ghost. A ghost, you blockheads, says Mr. Long in a pet, did either of you ever see a ghost, or know anybody that did? Yes, says the clerk, my father did once in the shape of a windmill, and it walked all round the church in a white sheet, with jack boots on, and had a gun by its side instead of a sword. A fine picture of a ghost truly, says Mr. Long, give me the key of the church, you monkey; for I tell you there is no such thing now, whatever may have been formerly. Then taking the key he went to the church, all the people following him. As soon as he opened the door what sort of a ghost do you think appeared? Why little Twoshoes, who being weary, had fallen asleep in one of the pews during the funeral service and was shut in all night. She immediately asked Mr. Long's pardon for the trouble she had given him, told him she had been locked into the church, and said she should not have rung the bells, but that she was very cold, and hearing Farmer Boult's man go whistling by with his horses, she was in hopes he would have went to the Clerk for the key to let her out." </blockquote> [273] It would seem that even an advanced pedagogist and child culturist might forgive this delightful ghost—like a windmill with jack-boots and a gun, just as a modern grammarian must forgive the verb "would have went" from little Two Shoes, who, as Mr. Charles Welsh says, "really ought to have known better." The first Worcester edition of <cite>Goody Two Shoes</cite> was printed in 1787, with some alterations suited to time and place. Margery sings "the Cuzzes Chorus which may be found in the Pretty Little Pocket Book of Mr. Thomas," etc., and when she grows up she is made a teacher in Mrs. Williams' "College," which is described in Nurse Truelove's American books. It will doubtless be a surprise to many that <cite>Tommy Trip's History of Beasts and Birds</cite>, etc., was written by Goldsmith. This little book opens with an account of Tommy and his dog Jowler, who serves Tommy for a horse. <blockquote> "When Tommy has a mind to ride, he pulls a little bridle out of his pocket, whips it upon honest Jowler, and away he gallops tantwivy. As he rides through the town he frequently stops at the doors to know how the good children do within, and if they are good and learn their books, he then leaves an apple, an orange or a plumb-cake at the door, and away he gallops again tantwivy tantwivy." </blockquote> [274] As a specimen of Tommy's literary skill he gives the lines beginning:— <div class="poem"> "Three children sliding on the ice Upon a summer's day," etc. </div> The description of animals are such as would be expected from the author of <cite>Animated Nature</cite>, an amusing medley of truth and tradition. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 250px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i086.jpg" width-obs="250" height-obs="367" alt="lottery" /> <div class="caption">A NEW LOTTERY BOOK, ON A Plan Entirely New; Designed to allure Little Ones into a Knowledge of their Letters, &c. by way of Diversion. BY TOMMY TRIP, A Lover of Children. EDINBURGH Printed and Sold Wholesale, BY CAW AND ELDER, HIGH STREET. 1819 Price Twopence. Title-page of <cite>A New Lottery Book</cite> </div> </div> The name Tommy Trip seems to have been deemed a taking one in juvenile literature, and is found in many books for children, both in the titles and as the name of ascribed author. It was used until this century. The title-page of <cite>A New Lottery Book by Tommy Trip</cite> is here shown. The manner of using this little <cite>Lottery Book</cite> is thus explained:— <blockquote> "As soon as the child can speak let him stick a pin through the page by the side of the letter you wish to teach him. Turn the page every time and explain the letter by[275] which means the child's mind will be so fixed upon the letter that he will get a perfect idea of it, and will not be liable to mistake it for any other. Then show him the picture opposite the letter and make him read the name of." </blockquote> The antique mind seems to have found even in Biblical days a vast satisfaction in riddles. Quintilian said the making and study of riddles strengthened the reflective faculties. Old-time jest-books called <cite>Guess Books</cite> were deemed proper reading for children, such as <cite>Joe Miller's</cite> and <cite>Merry Tales of the Wise Men of Gotham</cite>; very stale and dull were the jests. The <cite>Puzzling Cap</cite> was a popular one; also <cite>The Sphinx or Allegorical Lozenges</cite>. Others were <cite>Guess Again</cite>, and one entitled <cite>Food for the Mind</cite>, which bore these lines on the title-page:— <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "Who Riddles Tells and Many Tales, O'er Nutbrown Cakes and Mugs of Ale." </div> <div class="stanza"> —Homer. </div> </div> Nurse Truelove was a popular character in these books, and a popular story was Nurse True Love's New Year Gift, designed as a present to every little Boy who would become a great Man, and ride upon a fine Horse, and to every little Girl who would become a fine Woman and ride in a Governour's Coach; But Turn over the Leaf and see More of the Matter. This was originally an English[276] book, one of Newbery's, as shown by his advertisement already quoted. Thomas Americanized the Lord Mayor's coach into a Governor's coach, but he carried out to the fullest extent the English publishers' mode of advertising. The sub-title of the book was History of Mistress Williams, and her Plumb Cake; With a Word or Two Concerning Precedency and Trade. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 450px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i087.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="357" alt="new lottery" /> <div class="caption"> 24 <cite>A New Lottery Book.</cite> Ii Ii Jj Jj IX Jay. 9 Kk Kk X Key. 10 25 J Was a Jay, that prattles and toys, K Was a Key, that lock'd up bad boys. Two Pages of <cite>A New Lottery Book</cite> </div> </div> <blockquote> "Mrs. Williams when I first became acquainted with her was a Widow Gentlewoman who kept a little College in a Country Town for the Instruction of Young Gentlemen[277] and Ladies in the Science of A, B, C. The Books she put into the hands of her Pupils were, 1st, The Christmas Box. 2nd, The Father's Gift. 3rd, Mr. Perry's Excellent Spelling Book. 4th, The Brother's Gift. 5th, The Sister's Gift. 6th, The Infant Tutor. 7th, The Pretty Little Pocket Book. 8th, The Pretty Plaything. 9th, Tommy Trip's History of Birds and Beasts. And when their minds were so enlarged as to be capable of other entertainments she recommended to Them the Lilliputian Magazine and other Books that are sold by Mr. Isaiah Thomas at his Book Store near the Court House in Worcester, &c., &c." </blockquote> It will be noted that the word college is employed in its old-time meaning of school; but I am not sure that Thomas used it innocently. For in the following pages the text compares Mrs. Williams to "any other old Lady in the European Universities." <cite>The Christmas Box</cite> referred to has a decided American flavor. It was printed in 1789 and is entitled <cite>Nurse True Love's Christmas Box or a Golden Plaything for Children</cite>. It gives the history of one Master Friendly, and is specially forced in style. Here are two sentences:— <blockquote> "He learned so fast, Dear me! it did my heart good to hear him talk and read. Why! he got all the little books by rote that are sold by Mr. Thomas in Worcester, when he was but a very little boy. Then he never missed church. Ah! he was a charming boy. [278] "He is chosen Congressman already and yet he is not puffed up. Well, I saw him seated in a Chair when he was chosen Congressman, and he looked—he looked—I do not know what he looked like, but everybody was in love with him." </blockquote> <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 350px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i088.jpg" width-obs="350" height-obs="494" alt="Merry" /> <div class="caption"> He! He! He! Two Pages of _A New Lottery Book_ </div> </div> This latter sentence is accompanied by a cut of Congressman Friendly, imbecile in countenance,[279] seated in a chair fixed on two handles, and borne aloft by four footmen in full livery. This picture had evidently seen service as "a chairing" in some English book. When we think what the Congressmen of that day were,—earnest, simple-hearted patriots, and that Thomas knew them well,—it seems strange that he could have given such stuff to American children. On the inside of the cover are printed these lines:— <div class="poem"> "Come hither, little Lady fair, And you shall ride & take the Air. But first of all pray let me know If you can say your criss-cross row. For none should e'er in coaches be, Unless they know their A, B, C." </div> It may interest children to read a short story from one of these little volumes to see the sort of thing children had to amuse them a hundred years ago. This is from a book called <cite>The Father's Gift, or How to be Wise and Happy</cite>. <blockquote> "There were two little Boys and Girls, the Children of a fine Lady and Gentleman who loved them dearly. They were all so good and loved one another so well that every Body who saw them talked of them with Admiration far and near. They would part with any Thing to each other, loved the Poor, spoke kindly to Servants, did every Thing they were bid to do, were not proud, knew no Strife, but[280] who should learn their Books best, and be the prettiest Scholar. The Servants loved them, and would do any Thing they desired. They were not proud of fine Clothes, their Heads never ran on their Playthings when they should mind their Books. They said Grace before they ate, and Prayer before going to bed and as soon as they rose. They were always clean and neat, would not tell a Fib for the World, and were above doing any Thing that required one. God blessed them more and more, and their Papa, Mama, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins for their Sakes. They were a happy Family, no one idle; all prettily employed, the little Masters at their Books, the little Misses at their Needles. At their Play hours they were never noisy, mischievous or quarrelsome. No such word was ever heard from their Mouths as "Why mayn't I have this or that as well as Betty or Bobby." Or "Why should Sally have this or that any more than I;" but it was always "as Mama pleases, she knows best," with a Bow and a Smile, without Surliness to be seen on their Brow. They grew up, the Masters became fine Scholars and fine Gentlemen and were honoured; the Misses fine Ladies and fine Housewives. This Gentleman sought to Marry one of the Misses, and that Gentleman the Other. Happy was he that could be admitted into their Company. They had nothing to do but to pick and choose the best Matches in the Country, while the greatest Ladies for Birth and most remarkable for Virtue thought themselves honoured by the Addresses of the two Brothers. They all married and made good Papas and Mamas, and so the blessing goes round." </blockquote> [281] <cite>The Brother's Gift, or the Naughty Girl Reformed</cite>, of which the third Worcester edition was printed in 1791, bore these lines as a motto:— <div class="poem"> "Ye Misses, Shun the Coxcomb of the Mall, The Masquerade, the Rout, the Midnight Ball; In lieu of these more useful arts pursue, And as you're fair, be wise and virtuous too." </div> Though useful arts were inculcated by this book, the reward of virtue to the reformed girl was a fine new pair of stays, which are duly pictured. Another of Newbery's beloved books was <cite>The History of Tommy Careless, or the Misfortunes of a Week</cite>. On Monday Tommy fell in the water, spoiled his coat, and was sent to bed. On Tuesday he lost his kite and ended the day in bed. On Wednesday he fell from the apple tree, and again was put in bed. Thursday the maid gave him two old pewter spoons; he made some dump-moulds, and in casting his dumps scalded his fingers, and as ever was put in retirement. On Friday he killed the canary bird—and to bed again. On Saturday he managed to incite Dobbin to kick the house dog and kill him; then he caught his own fingers in a trap, and ended the week in bed as he began it. [282] <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 400px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i089.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="544" alt="title page" /> <div class="caption"> Be Merry and Wise; OR, THE CREAM of the JESTS AND THE MARROW of MAXIMS For the Conduct of LIFE. Publiſhed for the Uſe of all good Little BOYS and GIRLS. By Tommy Trapwit, Eſq. ADORNED with CUTS. Would you be agreeable in Company, and uſeful to Society; carry ſome merry Jeſts in your Mind, and honeſt Maxims in your Heart. Grotius. The First WORCESTER EDITION. WORCESTER, (MASSACHUSETTS) Printed by ISAIAH THOMAS, AND SOLD AT HIS BOOK STORE. MDCCLXXXVI. Title-page of <cite>Be Merry and Wise</cite> </div> </div> When we think of the vast number of these books, it seems strange that so few have survived. The penny books were too valueless to be saved. Sometimes we find one among abandoned or discarded piles or bundles of books. It has been the fate, however, of most children's books to be destroyed by children. With coarse, time-browned paper, poor type, and torn, worn leaves, they are not very attractive. Open one at random. Ten to one you have before you the page upon which centres the[283] interest of the book, its climax, its adventure, or its high wit. That page was a favorite. Many times you will find crude attempts at amateur coloring of the prints. In these books is found an entirely different code from that inculcated by modern books or taught by earlier books. The first books for children simply exhorted goodness, giving no reasons, but commanding obedience and virtue. The books of the Puritan epoch taught children to be good for fear of hell. This succeeding school instructed them to be good because it was profitable. All the advice is frankly politic; much is of mercenary mould. Children are instructed to do aright, not because they should, but because they will benefit thereby—and profit is given the most worldly guise, such as riding in a coach, having a purse full of gold, wearing silks and satins, becoming Lord Mayor, or most exalted station of all, "a proud Sheriff." As chief officer of the Crown, the old-time sheriff of each English county was superior in rank to every nobleman in the county. The diarist Evelyn tells that his father when sheriff had a hundred and fifty servants in livery, and many gentleman attendants. Punishment, the abhorrence of parents, and evil results fall upon children not so fiercely for lying, stealing, treachery, or cruelty as they do for soiling[284] their clothes, falling into the water, tumbling off walls, breaking windows or china, and a score of other actions which are the result of carelessness, clumsiness, or indifference, rather than of viciousness. These books would educate (had they been forcible enough to be of profound influence) generations of trucklers, time servers, and money lovers. The natural inclination and the diversity of inclination of children made them rise above these instructions. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 250px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i090.jpg" width-obs="250" height-obs="317" alt="cobwebs" /> <div class="caption"> COBWEBS TO CATCH FLIES 52 In another part of the fair the boys ſaw ſome children toſſed about thus. They were ſinging merrily the old nurſe's ditty. <div class="poem"> "Now we go up, up, up, "Now we go down, down, down; "Now we go backward and forward, "Now we go round, round, round." </div> Page from <cite>Cobwebs to Catch Flies</cite> </div> </div> It was the constant effort of the artists, authors, and teachers of olden times to imbue youth with the notion that no harm could possibly come to the[285] good—unless early death could be counted an evil. Children were taught that virtue and each good action was ever, immediately, and conspicuously rewarded. The pictures repeated and emphasized the didactic teachings; and morality, industry, and good intentions were made to triumph over things animate and inanimate. That the old illustrations were a delight to children cannot be doubted; they were so easily comprehended. The bad boys of the story always bore a miserable countenance and figure, and the good boys were smugly prosperous. The prim girls are shown the beloved of all, and the tomboys equally the misery and embarrassment. All this is lacking in modern picture books, which so truly represent real life and things that the naughty boy is not blazoned at first glance as a different being from the pious delight. I am inclined to believe that the old-time grotesqueness was more amusing and impressive to children than modern realism; that there was a stronger association of ideas with the emphasis of disproportion; the absurdities and anachronisms of scenery and costume were unnoted by the juvenile reader because he knew no better. In the children's books which I have examined, the colored illustrations are all of dates later than 1800 (when dated at all). Mr. Andrew W. Tuer,[286] in the preface to his most interesting collection entitled <cite>Pages and Pictures from Forgotten Children's Books</cite>, says that the coloring was done by children in their teens who worked with great celerity. Each child had a single pan of water-color, a brush, a properly colored guide, and a pile of printed sheets. One child painted in all the red required by the copy, another the green, another the blue, and so on till the coloring was finished. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 450px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i091.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="321" alt="Amelia" /> <div class="caption">"William and Amelia," from <cite>The Looking Glass for the Mind</cite> </div> </div> There was one book which children loved, that every little child loves to-day—<cite>Mother Goose's Melodies</cite>. Attempts have been made to show that[287] the name and collection were both American; that the former referred to one Mrs. Goose or Vergoose, a Boston goodwife. The name Mother Goose is believed by most folk to be of French, not of English or American origin. A collection of nursery rhymes was printed for John Newbery about 1760, under the popular name <cite>Mother Goose's Melodies</cite>; about 1785 Isaiah Thomas issued at Worcester, Massachusetts, an edition of <cite>Mother Goose's Melodies</cite> with the songs from Shakespeare, and certainly this must have been an oasis in the desert of dull books for New England children. There is no pretence in this edition of Thomas' that the book had any American origin; it is said to be a collection of rhymes by "old British nurses"; and such it really was. Halliwell says many of these nursery rhymes are fragments of old ballads. Mr. Whitmore deems the great popularity of "Mother Goose" due to the Boston editions issued in large numbers from 1824 to 1860. The preface to the Worcester edition of 1785 circa is said to be written by a very great writer of very little books. Could this have been Oliver Goldsmith? Irving, in his <cite>Life of Goldsmith</cite>, refers to the poet's love of catches and simple melodies, and tells of his singing "his favorite[288] song about An old woman tossed in a blanket seventeen times as high as the moon." A Miss Hawkins boasted late in life that Goldsmith taught her to play Jack and Jill with bits of paper on his fingers just as we show the trick to children to-day. Included in these melodies are the verses "Three children sliding on the ice," which we know were written by Goldsmith. Here is an example of one of the melodies and its note:— <blockquote> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "Trip upon Trenchers Dance upon Dishes My mother sent me for some Barm, some Barm. She bade me tread Lightly And leave again Quickly, For fear the Young Men should do me some Harm. Yet! don't you see? What naughty tricks they put upon me! They broke my Pitcher And spilt my Water And huffed my Mother And chid her Daughter, And kiss'd my Sister instead of me. </div> </div> "What a Succession of Misfortunes befell this poor Girl? But the last Circumstance was the most affecting and might have proved fatal." —Winslow's <cite>View of Britain</cite>. </blockquote> According to the notion of humor of the day, [289]the notion of Goldsmith, or some other book-hack-wag, these notes were all ascribed as quotations from some profound author, just as the cuts in <cite>Goody Two Shoes</cite> were said to be by Michael Angelo, and the text from the Vatican. Thus after the rhymes, "See-saw, Margery Daw," etc., is the sober comment, "It is a mean and Scandalous Practice in an author to put Notes to a Thing that deserves no Notice. Grotius." After the "Three Wise Men of Gotham," which ends with the lines— <div class="poem"> "If the bowl had been stronger My tale had been longer," </div> [290]is the sententious note "It's long enough. Never lament the Loss of what is not worth having. Boyle." Puffendorf, Coke on Littleton, Pliny, Bentley on the <cite>Sublime and Beautiful</cite>, Mapes' <cite>Geography of the Mind</cite>, are other authors and books that are soberly cited. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 450px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i092.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="325" alt="Vanity" /> <div class="caption">"Caroline, or a Lesson to Cure Vanity," from <cite>The Looking Glass for the Mind</cite> </div> </div> A very priggish little book was entitled <cite>Cobwebs to Catch Flies</cite>. The tone of its text may be shown in the dialogue about "The Toss About." The brothers who attended a country fair had been forbidden by their mother to ride in the Merry-go-round. Dear Ned wished to try the fun. Dear James said with propriety, "Dear Ned, I am sure our mamma would object to our riding in this Toss-about." Ned answered, "Dear James, did you ever hear her name the Toss-about?" "No, dear Ned, but I am certain that if she had known of it she would have given us the same caution as she did about the Merry-go-round." Ned paused a moment, then said, "How happy am I to have an elder brother who is so prudent." Whereupon James replied, "I am no less happy that you are so willing to be advised," etc. A distinctly American book for children was printed in Philadelphia in 1793, a <cite>History of the Revolution</cite>. It was in Biblical phraseology. This [291]sort of writing had been made popular by Franklin in his famous <cite>Parable against Persecution</cite> which he wrote, committed to memory, and pretended to read as the last chapter in Genesis. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 450px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i093.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="353" alt="Denham" /> <div class="caption">"Sir John Denham and his Worthy Tenant," from <cite>The Looking Glass for the Mind</cite> </div> </div> Exceeding plainness and even coarseness of speech was presented in the pages of these old-time story-books. It was simply the speech of the times shown in the plays, tales, and essays of the day, and reflected to some degree even in the literature for children. As an example of what was deemed wit [292]may be given a portion of the prologue to "Who Killed Cock Robin." The book is entitled <cite>Death and Burial of Cock Robin</cite>. <blockquote> "We were all enjoying ourselves very agreeably after dinner, when on a sudden, Sir Peter's Lady gave so loud a sneeze as threw the whole company into disorder. Master Danvers instead of cracking a nut gave his fingers a tolerable squeeze in the nut-crackers. Miss Friendly who had carried with intent to put a fine cherry in her mouth missed the mark and bit her finger. Sir Peter himself, who was filling a glass of wine, spilled the bottle on the table. Miss Comely and Miss Danvers who were talking with each other with their heads very close to each other very politely knocked them together to see which was the hardest. I myself had twelve of my ten toes handsomely trod on by one of the young ladies jumping off a chair in a fright. But this is not all, no nor half what I was an eye witness of; for just at the time her Ladyship sneezed, I was busy contemplating the beauty and song of Miss Prudence's Cock Robin that was singing and as noisy as a grig when my Lady sneezed which so frightened him he fell to the bottom of the Cage as dead as a Stone." </blockquote> A widely read little book was somewhat pompously entitled <cite>The Looking Glass for the Mind</cite>. It was chiefly translated from that much-admired work, <cite>L'Ami des Enfans</cite>. Those terse and entertaining tales of Berquin had perennial youth in [293]their English form and were reprinted till our own day. The illustrations of Bewick have a distinct value as showing the dress of children. A few are here shown. The first is from <cite>William and Amelia</cite>; both children are not eight years old. The long trained gowns, bare necks, elbow sleeves, and tall feathered hats are precisely the dress of grown women of that day, as William's coat and knee-breeches are the garb of a man. The two "ladies" were "walking arm in arm humming a pretty song then fashionable in the village collection of Ballads." When they glanced at the apples in the tree William, "the politest and prettiest little fellow in the village," dropped his shepherd's pipe, climbed the tree, and threw down apples in the ladies' aprons. As Charlotte got more and bigger apples Amelia abandoned her "usual pleasing prattle," sulked and at last ordered William to fall down "on his knees on this instant" to apologize. As he refused Amelia pouted at dinner, would not touch her wine nor say "Your good health, William," and at last was ordered by her mother from the table. William, after many attempts, sneaked out with some peaches for her, and thus an affectionate and generous friendship was restored. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 450px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i094.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="335" alt="Orphan" /> <div class="caption">"Clarissa, or the Grateful Orphan," from <cite>The Looking Glass for the Mind</cite> </div> </div> Another illustration is for the tale, <cite>Caroline, or a Lesson to Cure Vanity</cite>. Caroline's dress is further [294]described in the text as of pea-green taffety with fine pink trimmings, elegantly worked shoes, hair a clod of powder and pomatum. Her "fine silk slip was nicely soused in the rain"; her hoop and flounces and train caught in the furzes, her gauze hat blew in a pond of filthy water, etc.; all these made her glad to return to a more modest dress. The illustration for the <cite>Worthy Tenant</cite> shows Farmer Harris speaking to polite Sophia, while "Robert was so shamefully impertinent as to walk round the farmer, holding his nose, and [295]asking his brother if he did not perceive something of the smell of a dung heap. He then lighted some paper at the fire, and carried it around the room in order to disperse, as he said, the unpleasant smell," etc. <cite>Clarissa, or the Grateful Orphan</cite>, who was so good that the king relinquished a large fortune to her, complete the quartette of illustrations. A group of books was published just after the end of the colonial period, which had a vast influence on the children of our young Republic. These books were English; the most important of them were: <cite>The History of the Fairchild Family</cite>, 1788 circa, by Mrs. Sherwood; <cite>Sanford and Merton</cite>, 1783, by Thomas Day; <cite>The Parents' Assistant</cite>, 1796, by Maria Edgeworth; <cite>Evenings at Home</cite>, 1792, by Dr. Aikin and Mrs. Barbauld. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 400px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i095.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="520" alt="biographer" /> <div class="caption"><cite>The Juvenile Biographer 83</cite> When Miſs Fiddle Faddle is in the Company of little Females of her Acquaintance, her whole Diſcourſe turns on the prevailing Faſhion of Head-dreſs; what an elegant Taſte one little Miſs has, and how terribly impolite is another. Page from <cite>The Juvenile Biographer</cite> </div> </div> The painfully religious tales of James Janeway were not the only ones to familiarize death to the reading child. <cite>The Fairchild Family</cite> was once deemed a most charming, as it was certainly a most earnest book, and it has ever had popularity, for within a few years it has been reprinted in a large edition. I wonder how many death-bed scenes and references there are in that book! Nor are ordinary death-beds the saddest or most grewsome scenes. The little Fairchilds having lost their [296]little tempers and pommelled each other somewhat, their father takes them as a shocking object-lesson to see the body of a man hung in chains on a gibbet. The horror of the progress through the gloomy wood to this revolting sight, the father's unsparing comments, the hideous account of the [297]thing, rattling, swinging, turning its horrible countenance while Mr. Fairchild described and explained and gloated over it, and finally kneeled and prayed,—all this through several pages no carefully reared child to-day would be permitted to read. Mr. Fairchild's reason for taking them to this gibbeted corpse should not be omitted from this account; it was "to show them something which I think they will remember as long as they live, that they may love each other with perfect and heavenly love." A painful and ever present lesson found on every page is the sinfulness of the world. The children recite verses and quote Bible texts to prove that all mankind have bad hearts, and Lucy commits to memory a prayer, a portion of which runs thus:— <blockquote>"My heart is so exceedingly wicked, so vile, so full of sin, that even when I appear to be tolerably good, even then I am sinning. When I am praying, or reading the Bible, or hearing other people read the Bible, even then I sin. When I speak, I sin; when I am silent, I sin." </blockquote> <cite>Sandford and Merton</cite> is most insincerely recommended by many folk to children to-day. I cannot believe any one who has recently read the book would ever expect a modern child to care for it. It is haloed in the memory of people who read [298]it in their youth and fancy they still like it, but won't take the trouble to read it and see that they don't. Jane and Ann Taylor should be added to this class of authors. The poem, <cite>My Mother</cite>, by Ann Taylor, was published in book form, and had many imitations. <cite>My Father, My Sister, My Brother, My Grandmother, My Playmate, My Pony, My Fido</cite>, and lastly, <cite>My Governess</cite>,—all, says the advertisement, "in the same stile,"—a style so easily imitated as to seem almost like parody:— <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "Who learnt me how to read and Spell, And with my Needle work as well, And called me her good little Girl? My Governess. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Who made the Scholar proud to show The Sampler work'd to friend and foe, And with Instruction fonder grow? My Governess." </div> </div> We have the contemporary opinion of Charles Lamb of this new school of juvenile literature. In 1802 he wrote thus to Coleridge:— <blockquote>"Goody Two Shoes is almost out of print. Mrs. Barbauld's stuff has banished all the old classics of the nursery, and the shopman at Newbery's hardly deigned to reach them off an old exploded corner of a shelf, when Mary asked for them. Mrs. Barbauld's and Mrs. Trimmer's nonsense lay in piles about. Knowledge as insignificant and [299]vapid, as Mrs. Barbauld's books convey, it seems must come to a child in the shape of knowledge; his empty noddle must be turned with the conceit of his own powers when he has learned that a horse is an animal, and Billy is better than a horse, and such-like, instead of the beautiful interest in mild tales which made the child a man, while all the time he suspected himself to be no bigger than a child.... Hang them!—I mean the cursed Barbauld crew, those blights and blasts of all that is human in man and child." </blockquote> <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 600px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i096.jpg" width-obs="600" height-obs="407" alt="Juvenile" /> <div class="caption">40 The Juvenile Biographer. One Day, ſome one of Miſs Polly's little Acquaintances, coming along the Road near Miſs Charity's Houſe, found her ſtanding and crying over a little Beggar, who ſat by the Side of the Road. This is a juſt Repreſentation of this pitiful Scene. Her Acquaintance aſked her what ſhe The Juvenile Biographer. 41 was crying for. "My dear, (ſaid Polly) this poor little Creature is ſtarving, and I have not a Penny to give her; but if you will lend me Two-pence, if you have ſo much about you, I will certainly pay you again very ſoon. What a terrible Thing it is to think, that while we live upon Dainties, this poor little Girl ſhall be ſtarving!" "My dear, (ſaid Miss Polly's Acquaintance) I am happy that I have Two-pence about me, which is all I am worth in the World, and thoſe were juſt now given me by a Gentleman for my pretty Behaviour to him. Here they are, and you ſhall be indebted to me only One Penny, for I will give her the other myſelf." They eagerly embraced each other, The Juvenile Biographer </div> </div> In the <cite>Boston Gazette and Country Journal</cite>, January 20, 1772, the Boston booksellers, Cox and Berry, have this notice of their wares:— "The following Little Books for the Instruction and Amusement of all good Boys and Girls:— The Brother Gift or the Naughty Girl Reformed. The Sister Gift or the Naughty Boy Reformed. Hobby Horse or Christian Companion. Robin Good-Fellow, a Fairy Tale. Puzzling Cap, a Collection of Riddles. The Cries of London as exhibited in the Streets. Royal Guide or Early Instruction in Reading English. Mr. Winlove's Collection of Moral Tales. History of Tom Jones, abridg'd.   "         "   Joseph Andrews "   "         "   Pamela               "   "         "   Grandison          "   "         "   Clarissa               "      " [300] It may be seen by the last-named books on this list that another series of books for children were abridgments of <cite>Tom Jones</cite>, <cite>Joseph Andrews</cite>, <cite>Pamela</cite>, and other great novels of the day. Rabelais said no abridgment of a book could be a good abridgment; these are worse than none. The childish reader is notified that if he likes the little books, his good friend, Mr. Thomas, has the larger books for sale. The engraving of the great Mr. Richardson sitting in his grotto, in 1751, in turban, banyan, and slippers, reading <cite>Sir Charles Grandison</cite> to a group of friends, chiefly admiring young ladies in great hats and padusoy sacques, is typical of his life. He lived in a flower garden of girls, one intimate circle around his feet, and swelling circles extending even to America,—all facing inward and worshipping him and his works. They wept and smiled in a vast chorus at the dull pages of <cite>Pamela</cite>, at the surprising ones of <cite>Clarissa</cite>, and the thousands of interesting ones of <cite>Sir Charles Grandison</cite>. These seven volumes of letters exchanged between sixteen women, twenty men, all lovers, and fourteen Italians who are enumerated as of another sex, and are likewise chiefly lovers, are too prolix to be read to-day, but were a record of love-making which touched every girl's heart a century and more ago. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 600px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i097.jpg" width-obs="600" height-obs="415" alt="father" /> <div class="caption"> <blockquote> 14 The FATHER'S GIFT. Father. Now my Dear, as I find you have learned to ſpell and read eaſy words, let me adviſe you to purchaſe the Ladder to Learning, which is printed in three Parts, or Steps; the firſt Part is a Collection of pretty Fables, Conſiſting of Words of only one Syllable; the ſecond Part, of Words not exceeding two Syllables; and the third Part of few Words more than three Syllables. When you have reached the third Step, Attention and Application will ſoon enable you to read with Pleaſure to yourſelf and Satisfaction to your Friends, all the little Books publiſhed for good Maſters and Miſſes, by your Friend in Worcester, near the Court-House; a View of whoſe Shop I here give you. The FATHER'S GIFT. 15 By an attentive Peruſal of thoſe little Publications, you will attain the eſteem of all who know you; you will learn to be dutiful to your Papa and Mama, obedient to your Superiours, loving and kind to your Equals and Inferiours; and, above all, you will learn to fear God, and to call upon him often, that you may, through his Grace, become wiſe and happy. </blockquote> Two Pages of <cite>The Father's Gift</cite> </div> </div> Little Anna Green Winslow speaks occasionally [301]in her diary of story-books. She had for a New Year's gift the "History of Joseph Andrews abbreviated in guilt and flowered covers." She read the <cite>Pilgrim's Progress</cite>, the <cite>Mother's Gift</cite>, <cite>Gulliver's Travels</cite>, <cite>The Puzzling Cap</cite>, <cite>The French Orators</cite>, and <cite>Gaffer Two Shoes</cite>—this may have been our own Goody, not Gaffer. The "flowery and gilt" binding of these books, so often spoken of in the notices, is wholly a thing of the past. It was made in Holland and Germany; but recent inquiry about it discovered that the stamps and presses used in its manufacture had all been destroyed. An enthusiastic lover of these little books wrote:— <div class="poem"> "Talk of your vellum, gold embossed morocco, roan, and calf, The blue and yellow wraps of old were prettier by half." </div> They were cheap enough, but a penny apiece, some of them, others sixpence. It is doubtful whether they were ever sold in America in vast numbers. Children lent them to each other. Anna Green Winslow borrowed them, and letters of her day show other children doing likewise. It was a day of book-lending; for circulating libraries were slow of formation. The minister's library was often the largest one in each town, and he lent his precious books to his flock. In the sparse[302] advertisements of colonial newspapers are many advertisements of book owners who have lent books, forgotten to whom, and wish them returned. The only way country children had of reading many books was by borrowing. <div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 440px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/i098.jpg" width-obs="440" height-obs="600" alt="vice" /> <div class="caption"> Vice in its proper Shape 39 he had lived to years of maturity, kind death was pleaſed to diſpatch him in the twelfth year of his age, by the help of a dozen penny cuſtards, which he greedily conveyed down his throat at one meal, and thereby gorged his stomach, and threw himſelf into a mortal fever. After his Page of <cite>Vice in its proper Shape.</cite> </div> </div> American boys and girls felt till our own day both bewilderment and impatience at forever reading[303] stories whose local color was wholly strange to them. Dr. Holmes thus expresses this condition of things:— <blockquote> "Books where James was called Jem not Jim as we heard it; where naughty schoolboys got through a gap in the hedge to steal Farmer Giles's red-streaks, instead of shinning over the fence to hook old Daddy Jones's baldwins; where Hodge used to go to the ale-house for his mug of beer, while we used to see old Joe steering for the grocery to get his glass of rum; where there were larks and nightingales instead of yellow-birds and bobolinks; where the robin was a little domestic bird that fed at table instead of a great, fidgety, jerky, whooping thrush." </blockquote> The debt of amusement which American children owed to Newbery was paid in this century by the supply to English children of a vast number of little books of profit and pleasure, all written by a single author, "Peter Parley," or Samuel G. Goodrich. In the middle of the century this gentleman stated that he had written one hundred and twenty books that were professedly juvenile. Of these and his books for older minds about seven million copies had been sold, and about three hundred thousand were still sold annually. They were sent to England in vast numbers, and were reprinted there both with and without the author's permission. And when the original books were not pirated, the[304] name Peter Parley was calmly attached to the compositions of English authors, as a vastly salable trade-mark. Scores of American authors, by the middle of this century, were writing little books for children. These were a class by themselves—Sunday-school books. They do not come within the very elastic time limit set for this chapter. They are not old enough in years, though they are rapidly becoming as obsolete as any children's books of the last century. Books written avowedly for Sunday-schools are in decreasing demand. Those with sectarian teachings, especially, find fewer and fewer purchasers. <hr class="chap" /> [305] <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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