Few of the themes are original. Two by Adelaide O’Keefe, “The Boys and the Apple Tree” and “The Vine”, are verse readings of stories in The Looking Glass for the Mind. So also is “The Two Gardens” by Ann Taylor.
Poetry for Children was praised in the Monthly Review for Jan., 1811, but soon went out of print. The original edition was lost sight of until 1877, when it was sent from Australia “a courteous and most welcome gift from the Hon. William Sandover” to Mr. R. H. Shepherd. (See the Introduction to Mr. Shepherd’s reprint.—Chatto & Windus, 1878.)
In the meantime, twenty-two of the pieces had been preserved in a First Book of Poetry printed by W. F. Mylius, a master at Christ’s Hospital, “For the Use of Schools. Intended as Reading Lessons for the Younger Classes.” This was mentioned in the Monthly Review for April, 1811.
The following poems were reprinted in the 1818 edition of Lamb’s Works:—
“To a River in which a Child was Drowned”; “The Three Friends”; “Queen Oriana’s Dream”.
Lamb says that Martin Burney read Clarissa in snatches at a book-stall, until discouraged by the stall-keeper. He adds: “A quaint poetess of our day has moralised upon this subject in two very touching but homely stanzas”.