"Three children sliding on the ice
Upon a summer's day," etc.
The description of animals are such as would be expected from the author of Animated Nature, an amusing medley of truth and tradition.
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 A New Lottery Book
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 A New Lottery Book by Tommy Trip is here shown. The manner of using this little Lottery Book is thus explained:—
"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 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."
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 Guess Books were deemed proper reading for children, such as Joe Miller's and Merry Tales of the Wise Men of Gotham; very stale and dull were the jests. The Puzzling Cap was a popular one; also The Sphinx or Allegorical Lozenges. Others were Guess Again, and one entitled Food for the Mind, which bore these lines on the title-page:—