A. W. Callcott. R.A.

The Robin Red-breast

The Nursery

Story of Sally Sulkey

The good Children’s Feast

The Careless Children

The Pretty Sport

Fire-works and Crackers

Sports of Harlequin

The Robin Red-breast is a very pretty and social bird, and particularly fond of mankind. See here he is! Pretty creature, he will come into our houses, and pick up whatever he can find. And it will be[6] wrong to put him into a cage, as he makes himself so good a companion without such confinement. The little Robin Red-breasts covered the dead children in the wood; and every body ought to love them.

Yet there was a naughty boy once who tried to catch a poor Robin, as he was hopping about, picking up the crumbs. The bird escaped, and got upon a rail; but the boy in pursuing him, fell down, and hurt himself so much, that he kept his bed for a fortnight; a just punishment for his want of hospitality.

There is nothing more tender than the love of a mother to her child. Here is the nursery. Do but observe with what care the fond parent tends her child, though it often cries, and is peevish. Whatever be the trouble it gives.

[8]

How many sports are sought for, to divert the mother’s darling!

You were such a little creature in arms once; and no doubt you were nursed with care; therefore you ought to make amends for it, by being good and dutiful, for those who are otherwise come to no good; an example of which you will find in the next page.

Sally was a little girl of whom her parents were too fond, and even her nurse, when she was in arms, let her have all she cried for, and so she cried for almost every thing; thus she was early spoiled, chiefly because she was pretty.

[10]

As she grew up she proved more and more obstinate, she behaved sullen, and would pout for hours, nay, sometimes for a whole day, about some trifle, while not any body could tell what was the matter. In short, she grew so very naughty, that her parents were obliged often to correct her severely. She was only more sullen for it. At last she was so wicked to run away from her father and mother; but in going through a meadow, she was pursued by a mischievous bull, and though she escaped from him, and got home again, yet she was so much[11] frightened, that she was subject to fits ever after.

There were a number of children, who were all school-fellows, got together to play, when the squire of the parish coming that way, gave them some money for fruit and cakes, and desired they would[12] divide what they bought with all their companions. Now Master and Miss Fairchild, who belonged to the party, happening then to be absent, these greedy children would not share what they had got with them when they returned. While they were complaining how hard this was, the squire happening again to come by, reproved them for their behaviour, and said he would report them to their school-master; but he invited Master Fairchild and his sister to his own house, where he feasted them with puddings, pies, and all sorts of niceties; but not one of[13] the greedy children was admitted.

Exercise is good for health, and therefore sports which keep the limbs in motion are proper for children; but they should be careful to use such as are safe. Charley Careless and Sukey Hairbrain suffered[14] for want of minding this maxim. They were fond of swinging on a rope, and their parents thought the exercise did them good; but having once neglected to fasten it properly, down they came, and were much hurt, and still more frightened. This was very heedless, and as pretty as the sport had seemed, it hindered them from using it for the future.

Tommy Trueby was a good and sensible boy, who never played the truant, nor kept company with naughty children. He did not like tossing up, nor chuck-farthing, because he thought it might lead him to love gaming when he[16] was grown up. But he liked very well to play at ball, and top, and more particularly at marbles; at which he was very clever; never cheated, and played so well, that he used to teach the neighbouring children.

And here you see him instructing Master Manly, a Baronet’s son in the place, as he did in matters of more consequence; and behaved so well toward him, that he was his friend all his life time.

Fire-works are things that look very pretty when they are properly managed by those who understand them. But children ought to take care how they meddle with gunpowder, lest they should hurt themselves or other people.

[18]

Tom Hazard (for example) was always fond of playing with serpents, crackers, &c. At one time he was near doing damage, by his fire-works falling into a cellar; and at another, as you see in the cut, he so much frightened one of his schoolfellows, that he fell down and put his ancle out; for which Tom was severely corrected, and you must own he richly deserved it.

When children are good and dutiful, their parents sometimes indulge them, by taking them to see plays or shows. Among these there are few so diverting as the humours of harlequin and the clown; the one diverting you with his[20] wonderful leaps and changes, and skipping about, as the other does with his odd blunders and grimaces; so that nobody can help laughing at them. Here they are both, and as pretty a pair as you could wish. If you behave well, no doubt but you will see them often, if you are not already acquainted with them. In the mean time, I hope you have been pleased with the Curiosity Book, which was designed as a pretty plaything on purpose for you.

THE END.

NEW BOOKS

FOR

Sold Wholesale and Retail,

BY

G. Thompson, No. 43,

Long Lane, West-Smithfield,

LONDON.