"The following pages were first suggested by the real wants of the author in the education of his own children. He could not find such a book as he had in his mind; a book, at once moral in its influence, instructive in character; teching common things; simple in language, and sufficiently lively in style, to gain and keep a child's attention. As was the want of the book a reality--so were the circumstances that struck out the subjects and the manner of treating them. ... He learned that a child lives in the concrete, and that there is no time so good to teach it, as when the object is right before it"--Preface, pages [iii]-iv, signed "A father," and dated August 2d, 1850.

Pennsylvania copyright 1850 by George S. Appleton.

Some wood-engraved plates signed by William Croome.

Publisher's catalogue, 2 pages at end.

Reproduction of the original from the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida.