It is, of course, possible to name but a few titles typical of the various kinds of instruction offered as amusement. “To present to the young Reader a Little Miscellany of Natural History, Moral Precept, Sentiment, and Narrative,” Dr. Kendall wrote “Keeper’s Travels in Search of his Master,” “The Canary Bird,” and “The Sparrow.” “The Prize for Youthful Obedience” endeavored to instill a love for animals, and to promote obedient habits. Its story runs in this way:
“A kind and good father had a little lively son, named Francis; but, although that little boy was six years old, he had not yet learned to read.
“His mama said to him, one day, ‘if Francis will learn to read well, he shall have a pretty little chaise.’
“The little boy was vastly pleased with this; he presently spelt five or six words and then kissed his mama.
“‘Mama,’ said Francis, ‘I am delighted with the thoughts of this chaise, but I should like to have a horse to draw it.’
“‘Francis shall have a little dog, which will do instead of a horse,’ replied his mama, ‘but he must take care to give him some victuals, and not do him any harm.’”
The dog was purchased, and named Chloe. “She was as brisk as a bee, prettily spotted, and as gentle as a lamb.” We are now prepared for trouble, for the lesson of the story is surely not hidden. Chloe was fastened to the chaise, a cat secured to serve as a passenger, and “Francis drove his little chaise along the walk.” But “when he had been long enough among the gooseberry trees, his mama took him in the garden and told him the names of the flowers.” We are thus led to suppose that Francis had never been in the garden before! The mother is called away. We feel sure that the trouble anticipated is at hand. “As soon as she was gone Francis began whipping the dog,” and of course when the dog dashed forward the cat tumbled out, and “poor Chloe was terrified by the chaise which banged on all sides. Francis now heartily repented of his cruel behaviour and went into the house crying, and looking like a very simple boy.”
“I see very plainly the cause of this misfortune,” said the father, who, however, soon forgave his repentant son. Thereafter every day Francis learned his lesson, and was rewarded by facts and pictures about animals, by table-talks, or by walks about the country.