294 THE ROBIN RED-BREAST. mounted with a bust of Nelson. During This tradition has probably given rise the engagement, a large shot had passed to the poetical idea of the propensity of completely through this part of the mast; the red-breast to strew herbage over the and while it was in the temple, a pair of dead. Thus Collins, in his beautiful robins built their nest in the shot-hole, dirge at the burial of "fair Fidele:" where they reared a brood of young ones. When the red-breast builds in the woods, his nest is frequently near the ground, or among the roots of old trees. It is constructed of moss interwoven with hair, and lined with feathers; and the little architect conceals it by covering it with leaves, leaving only a narrow winding entrance under the heap. In the homely old ballad of The Children in the Wood, where the deserted orphans are left to perish in the dark and lonely forest, are these simple but touching lines: "Their pretty lips with blackberries Were all besmeared and dyed; "No burial these pretty babes Did cover them with leaves." "The red-breast oft at evening hours Shall kindly lend its little aid, Thomson, the poet of the Seasons, gives in his "Winter" a charming little picture of a red-breast, when the ground is covered with snow, seeking relief at the dwelling of a cottager. "The red-breast, sacred to the household gods, Eyes all the smiling family askance, The chief enemy of the red-breast is the cuckoo, which is a very selfish and ferocious bird, though its singular and monotonous cry is heard with pleasure as an indication that "the winter is gone and past." The little song on the next page by an author whose name has escaped my recollection, may not be unacceptable to my youthful readers. In the music a slight imitation of the warbling of the bird recurs at intervals. Children's Books published and for sale by Charles S. Francis and Joseph H. Francis. Boy's Edition of ROBINSON CRUSOE. Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner, with an Account of his Travels round three Quarters of the Globe. Written by himself. With new designs on wood by Anderson. Being the whole complete edition, as written by the author. This is no abridgement of the life of this wonderful man but contains all that was ever written of him. It contains 600 pages, and is the best and cheapest edition ever published, and no mistake. Ask for Munroe & Francis' Edition. Little Child's Book, or Spelling and Reading illustrated by Emblematic Figures. A new edition. "The design of the Little Child's Book is to give young children a series of pictures with short definitions, for the purpose of amusement and instruction until they are capable of more extensive reading. They may thus be led to the knowledge of a great number and diversity of books already published, and urged finally to read the entire stories or particulars, of which they have here but an outline." THE CASKET OF GEMS. The Casket of Gems, or the Gift of an Uncle and Aunt. engravings by Anderson. Illustrated with fine wood This book is principally compiled of those very popular and interesting Letters of Uncle and Aunt Newbury which have appeared in Parley's Magazine for the last year. THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. The Swiss Family Robinson Crusoe; or, Adventures of a Father and Mother and Four Sons in a Desert Island. The genuine progress of the story forming a clear illustration of the first principles of natural history, and many branches of science which most immediately apply to the business of life. To which are added notes of reference, explanatory of the subjects treated of. With ten cuts from new designs, and a map of the island. From seventh London edition. RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY. Munroe & Francis have just published a new and complete edition of this little Book for Mothers and Nurses. It contains all the Rhymes that are to be found in a great number of little books printed under the titles of Nursery Rhymes, Rosebud, Lily, &c., &c., with upwards of 60 cuts, which makes it quite a picture book, as well as an amusing song book for those who have the care of small children. Price 25 cents only. THE EVERGREEN Is a new work, which has been admired so much by children as to demand a second edition in a very short period. It is very interesting and has thirty beautiful cuts in Hartwell's best style. Children's Books published and for sale by Charles S. Francis and Joseph H. Francis. MOTHER GOOSE'S MELODIES. This amusing work for little children, and for which no substitute has yet been found for keeping quiet the ever restless spirit of two-and-three-year-olders, has been often and often acknowl edged the only panacea for cross and sick babies, is now printed on good paper with new and handsome pictures, and sells as rapidly as any book should, which is so useful in a nursery. Parents have their choice now, of either of these two Books, (GOOSE'S MELODIES, or NURSERY RHYMES,) both designed for one purpose, and of the same size and price. THE YOUNG MAN'S EVENING BOOK. This volume is the first of a series of Six Volumes Entitled LIBRARY OF INSTRUCTIVE AMUSEMENT, intended as a reading Book for the Parlour, of matter selected expressly for its usefulness, its interest, and its quality to entertain; enlivened with cuts, upwards of fifty in each volume. It will be found an excellent book for a new year's present for young men. THE WINTER EVENING BOOK. This is the Second volume of the same series, "LIBRARY OF INSTRUCTIVE AMUSEMENT," and contains a collection of choice reading for winter evenings and all other times of leisure. These volumes are all intended to be sold separately-there being no connection between them. Other Volumes of the same series in press. THE STORY WITHOUT AN END. A most beautifully written relation of the adventures of a little Child who lived in a hut, and went out every day into the woods and fields and talked with the little animals and flowers and insects, and heard their stories of the wonders they knew, and how they lived, &c. Translated from the German, by SARAH AUSTIN. THE CHILD'S OWN BOOK. It must be evident to all who reflect much upon the subject of early education, that many little books have been written, which contain stories, anecdotes, tales of light romance, legends, &c., well calculated to engage the infant mind; and to lead it gradually, by the flowery paths of amusement, and pleasing moral instruction, towards those higher branches of literature, which must at a later period occupy the attention of the well-educated; but owing to the mixture of im moral sentiment, and lax princip.e, in some of our most popular tales, the careful instrtructor of youth is frequently compelled to withhold real sources of pleasure and improvement from the minds and hearts of their pupils, rather than run the risk of contaminating them. It is dificult to make a selection, besides which, many excellent compositions for childhood, by writers of high celebrity, are not to be procured in a detached state. To extract, therefore, every thing detrimental to the moral growth of the youthful reader, and to condense in one volume a complete juvenile library, has been the task (modest in its pretensions, but far from unimportant in its results) with which the editor has charged herself. Many of the pieces have been given entire, others again reduced and simplified to the comprehension of childhood. This plan has enabled the editor to combine great variety with the utmost economy. CONTENTS. Aladdin-Forty Thieves-Beauty and the Beast--Blanch and Rosalinda-Blue Beard-Children in the Wood-Cinderella-The Discreet Princess-Diamonds and Toads-Fatal and FortuneFortunatus-Fortunio-Fisherman and the Genii-Fair One with Golden Locks-Goody TwoShoes-Griselda-Graciosa-Gulliver's Travels--Hop-o'-my-Thumb-History of Little JackHistory of King Pippin-Jack the Giant Killer-Jack and the Bean-Stalk-Invisible PrinceLittle Hunch-back-Little Red Riding Hood--La Perouse-Miranda and the Royal Ram-Nourjahad-Puss in Boots-Philip Quarll-Perone.la-Prince Lee Boo-Riquet with the Tuft-Robin Hood-Robinson Crusoe-Seven Champions -Three Wishes-Tom Thumb-Valentine and Orson-White Cat-Whittington and his Cat-Yellow Dwarf. |