The Royal Picture Alphabet

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 turn
To matters not thought of before.
Descriptions and pictures combined
Are here made attractive and clear;
So suited that children may find
From 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 stream
When they should be at school:
The master’s coming round to see
Who 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 keep
Until he gets away.
Gg.Genius,
Mental Power, Faculty.A little boy with little slate
May sometimes make more clear
The little thoughts that he would state
Than can by words appear.
Hh.Horror,
Terror, Dread.This little harmless speckled frog
Seems 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 wood
If time had been delayed.
Mm.Mimic,
Imitative, Burlesque.The Gentleman, who struts so fine,
Unconscious seems to be
Of Imitation by the boy
Who has the street-door key.
Nn.Negligence,
Heedlessness, Carelessness.The character Tom Slowboy bears
Would much against him tell—
For any work that’s wanted done,
Or even play done well.
Oo.Obstinacy,
Stubbornness, Waywardness.The obstinacy of the pig
Is nature—as you see:
But boys and girls who have a mind
Should never stubborn be.
Pp.Pets,
Favourites, Spoilt Fondlings.Some people say that Aunty Gray
To animals is kind;
We think, instead, they are over fed,
And kept too much confined.
Qq.Quandary,
A Doubt, a Difficulty....