He who learns his letters fair,
Shall have a coach and take the air.
_Royal Primer_, Newbery, 1762

Our king the good
No man of blood.
_The New England Primer_, 1762




CHAPTER II

1747-1767

_The Play-Book in England_


The vast horde of story-books so constantly poured into modern nurseries
makes it difficult to realize that the library of the early colonial
child consisted of such books as have been already described. The
juvenile books to-day are multiform. The quantities displayed upon
shop-counters or ranged upon play-room shelves include a variety of
subjects bewildering to all but those whose business necessitates a
knowledge of this kind of literature. For the little child there is no
lack of gayly colored pictures and short tales in large print; for the
older boys and girls there lies a generous choice, ranging from Bunny
stories to Jungle Books, or they

"May see how all things are,