Excerpt
With learning may laughter be found,“’Tis good to be merry and wise;”To gaily get over the ground,As higher and higher we rise. Some children their letters may learn,While others will surely do more,As the subjects suggestively turnTo matters not thought of before. Descriptions and pictures combinedAre here made attractive and clear;So suited that children may findFrom error the truth to appear. Aa. Ablution,The Act of Cleansing. The little sweep has washed his face,But not as we advise:For black as soot he’s made the soap,And rubbed it in his eyes. Bb. Barter,Exchange. Here’s Master Mack presenting fruit,Of which he makes display;He knows he’ll soon have Lucy’s rope,And with it skip away. Cc. Catastrophe, a Final Event(generally unhappy). “Oh here’s a sad catastrophe!”Was Mrs. Blossom’s cry—Then—“Water! water! bring to me—Or all my fish will die.” Dd. DELIGHTFUL,Pleasant, Charming. These boys are bathing in the streamWhen they should be at school:The master’s coming round to seeWho disregards his rule. Ee. Eccentricity,Irregularity, Strangeness. We often see things seeming strange;But scarce so strange as this:—Here everything is mis-applied,Here every change amiss. Ff. Fraud,Deceit, Trick, Artifice, Cheat. Here is Pat Murphy, fast asleep.And there is Neddy Bray:The thief a watchful eye doth keepUntil he gets away. Gg. Genius,Mental Power, Faculty. A little boy with little slateMay sometimes make more clearThe little thoughts that he would stateThan can by words appear. Hh. Horror,Terror, Dread. This little harmless speckled frogSeems Lady Townsend’s dread:I fear she’ll run away and cry,And hide her silly head. Ii. Jj. ICHABOD AT THE JAM.Ichabod, a Christian Name.Jam, a Conserve of Fruits. Enough is good, excess is bad:Yet Ichabod you see,Will with the jam his stomach cram,Until they disagree. Kk. Knowing,Conscious, Intelligent. Tho’ horses know both beans and corn,And snuff them in the wind;They also all know Jemmy Small,And what he holds behind. Ll. Lucky,Fortunate, Happy by Chance. We must admire, in Lovebook’s case.The prompt decision made:As he could not have gained the woodIf time had been delayed. Mm. Mimic,Imitative, Burlesque. The Gentleman, who struts so fine,Unconscious seems to beOf Imitation by the boyWho has the street-door key. Nn. Negligence,Heedlessness, Carelessness. The character Tom Slowboy bearsWould much against him tell—For any work that’s wanted done,Or even play done well. Oo. Obstinacy,Stubbornness, Waywardness. The obstinacy of the pigIs nature—as you see:But boys and girls who have a mindShould never stubborn be. Pp. Pets,Favourites, Spoilt Fondlings. Some people say that Aunty GrayTo animals is kind;We think, instead, they are over fed,And kept too much confined. Qq. Quandary,A Doubt, a Difficulty....