Pictures from English History: A Fireside Amusement

A Fireside Amusement
WITH ENGRAVINGS.
BATH: BINNS AND GOODWIN. LONDON: WHITTAKER & CO., AVE MARIA LANE. EDINBURGH: JOHNSTONE. DUBLIN: CURRY. 1846.
BATH: PRINTED BY BINNS AND GOODWIN.
While there are so many pleasant ways of instructing the youth of the present day, it may perhaps appear presumption to add this work to the number. But those who have watched the expansion of a child's mind may have seen, that the idea of improvement is too frequently combined with that of a task; and where instruction can be conveyed in a lighter form, it is more pleasantly and permanently impressed. With a little attention from their elders, many branches of education may be made attractive to children; and it is hoped, that this small volume, if it should not succeed in imprinting some few incidents of English History on the memory of the children, may suggest to the parents the possibility of lessening the weariness of study.

PICTURES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY.
A Fireside Amusement.
Little boys and girls—aye, and their elders also—often feel the hours very long and heavy. The latter have many causes for this feeling; but the former had better take my advice, and directly seek for some employment, which will, I promise, cure their complaint. They may have a kind mama or friend to assist them; and there are many more ways of amusing themselves than they think of. Let them listen to me, and I will tell them of a game which often entertained some young friends of mine, and was one of their plans for passing idle moments.
It was early in January that Mrs. Macdonald was quietly sitting with her sister, who had not long arrived from India. It was very cold; the shutters had been shut, the curtains drawn earlier than usual, and the ladies had made a cheerful fire to greet Mr. Macdonald on his return from his daily occupation. After so long a separation they had much to talk of, and preferred the bright blaze to the light of the lamp.
At the top of the house a very different scene was passing. Mrs. Macdonald's children and their four cousins had romped until they were tired, and were now silly enough to complain of being obliged to stop, and did not know what to do next; the elder children had good-naturedly joined in their games, and were too weary to tell stories, or continue their exertions in their behalf. The nurse had insisted on their not crowding too close to the fire, to which she maintained the baby and the tea-kettle had the best right. Little Alfred had asserted he was tired of his life, and his little cousins began crying with cold to which they were so unaccustomed, when the former started to his feet, expressing his determination that he would go to mama, who he was sure had candles, and would shew them the new puzzles papa gave them at Christmas. It was in vain to try and stop him, or to remind him that it was some time before the usual hour of going into the drawing room: the nursery was quite out of favour, and little feet hurrying down stairs, soon interrupted the ladies' conversation.