Children's books and reading

by Montrose Jonas Moses

[20] The notice ran as follows: “Advertisement: There is now in the Press, and will suddenly be extant, a Second Impression of The New England Primer, enlarged, to which is added, more Directions for Spelling; the Prayer of K. Edward the 6th, and Verses made by Mr. Rogers, the Martyr, left as a Legacy to his Children. Sold by Benjamin Harris, at the London Coffee-House in Boston.”

[21] Three typical examples of later reprints are: The N. E. Primer, Walpole, N. H., I. Thomas & Co., 1814; The N. E. Primer Improved for the More Easy Attaining the True Reading of English. To which is added The Assembly of Divines and Episcopal Catechisms. N. Y., 1815; The N. E. Primer, or an Easy and Pleasant Guide to the Art of Reading, Mass. Sabbath School Soc., 1841.

[22] Another writer of Contes des fées was Mme. Jeanne Marie Le Prince de Beaumont (1711–1780), author of “Magasins des Enfans, des Adolescens et des Dames.”

[23] The Original Mother Goose’s Melody, as first issued by John Newbery, of London, about A.D. 1760. Reproduced in facsimile from the edition as reprinted by Isaiah Thomas, of Worcester, Mass., about A.D. 1785. With Introductory Notes by William H. Whitmore. Albany, Munsell, 1889. [Vide N. E. Hist. and Geneal. Regist., 1873, pp. 144, 311; Proceed. Am. Antiq. Soc., Oct., 1888, p. 406.]

[24] Lang says the term Mother Goose appears in Loret’s “La Muse Historique” (Lettre v., 11 Juin, 1650). Vide also Deulin, Charles—Les Contes de Ma Mère L’Oye, avant Perrault. Paris, 1878; and Halliwell, J. O.—Percy Society.

[25] He was the author also of a “History of Animated Nature.”

[26] A list of his publications is owned by the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

[27] Vide Notes and Queries, June, 1875, 5th series, iii, 441. Prof. Edward F. Rimbault.

[28] Gentleman’s Magazine, 1826, Pt. ii, 467–69.

[29] Nurse Truelove’s New Year’s Gift; or, the Book of Books for Children. Adorned with Cuts; and designed for 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 great Woman, and ride in a Governour’s Gilt Coach.