Produced by Andrew Sly






My

First Picture Book.

With

Thirty-six pages of pictures

Printed in colours by Kronheim.


London & New York:
George Routledge and Sons.


Transcriber's note:
The grouping of letters in the alphabet section and a few paragraph
breaks have been adjusted to accomodate image placement. There were
no illustrations for the letters J and X in the original.


Contents

  My First Alphabet
  The Little Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe
  The Babes in the Wood
  Little Bo-Peep
  The History of Five Little Pigs
  The History of Old Mother Goose and her Son Jack



MY FIRST ALPHABET


  A a   B b
  Ark   Baby
  C c   D d
  Cat   Dog

[Illustrations: A B C D]

  E e   F f
  Ear   Fan
  G g   H h
  Gate  House

[Illustrations: E F G H]

  I i   K k
  Inn   Key
  L l   M m
  Loaf  Man

[Illustrations: I K L M]

  N n   O o
  Nut   Owl
  P p   Q q
  Pan   Queen

[Illustrations: N O P Q]

  R r   S s
  Rat   Sea
  T t   U u
  Tart  Urn

[Illustrations: R S T U]

  V v   W w
  Vine  Wall
  Y y   Z z
  Yew   Zebra

[Illustrations: V W Y Z]



THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE.


Once on a time there was a Little Old Woman who lived in a Shoe. This
shoe stood near a great forest, and was so large that it served as a
house for the Old Lady and all her children, of which she had so many
that she did not know what to do with them.

[Illustration: Old Woman with children and Shoe.]

But the Little Old Woman was very fond of her children, and they only
thought of the best way to please her. Strong-arm, the eldest, cut
down trees for firewood. Peter made baskets of wicker-work. Mark was
chief gardener. Lizzie milked the cow, and Jenny taught the younger
children to read.

Now this Little Old Woman had not always lived in a Shoe. She and
her family had once dwelt in a nice house covered with ivy, and her
husband was a wood-cutter, like Strong-arm. But there lived in a huge
castle beyond the forest, a fierce giant, who one day came and laid
their house in ruins with his club; after which he carried off the
poor wood-cutter to his castle beyond the forest. When the Little Old
Woman came home, her house was in ruins and her husband was no where
to be seen.

[Illustration: Giant holding Wood-cutter.]

Night came on, and as the father did not return, the Old Lady and her
family went to search for him. When they came to that part of the
wood where the Giant had met their father, they saw an immense shoe.
They spent a long time weeping and calling out for their father, but
met with no reply. Then the Old Lady thought that they had better
take shelter in the shoe until they could build a new house. So Peter
and Strong-arm put a roof to it, and cut a door, and turned it into a
dwelling. Here they all lived happily for many years, but the Little
Old Lady never forgot her husband and his sad fate. Strong-arm, who
saw how wretched his mother often was about it, proposed to the next
eleven brothers that they should go with him and set their father
free from the Giant. Their mother knew the Giant's strength, and
would not hear of the attempt, as she feared they would be killed.
But Strong-arm was not afraid. He bought a dozen sharp swords, and
Peter made as many strong shields and helmets, as well as cross-bows
and iron-headed arrows. They were now quite ready; Strong-arm gave
the order to march, and they started for the forest. The next day
they came in sight of the Giant's Castle. Strong-arm, leaving his
brothers in a wood close by, strode boldly up to the entrance, and
seized the knocker. The door was opened by a funny little boy with a
large head, who kept grinning and laughing.

[Illustration: Strong-arm and Boy with Large Head.]

Strong-arm then walked boldly across the court-yard, and presently
met a page, who took off his hat and asked him what he wanted.
Strong-arm said he had come to liberate his father, who was kept a
prisoner by the Giant; on this the little man said he was sorry for
him, because the part of the castle in which his father was kept was
guarded by a large dragon. Strong-arm, nothing daunted, soon found
the monster, who was fast asleep, so he made short work of him by
sending his sword right through his heart; at which he jumped up,
uttering a loud scream, and made as if he would spring forward and
seize Strong-arm; but the good sword had done its work, and the
monster fell heavily on the ground, dead.

[Illustration: Strong-arm killing Dragon.]

Now the Giant, who had been drinking much wine, was fast asleep in a
remote part of the castle. Strong-arm had no sooner finished the
Dragon, than up started the funny little boy who had opened the door.
He led Strong-arm round to another part of the court-yard, where he
saw his poor father, who at once sprung to his feet, and embraced
him. Then Strong-arm called up his brothers, and when they had
embraced their father, they soon broke his chain and set him
free.

We must now return to the Little Old Woman. After her sons had
started she gave way to the most bitter grief. While she was in this
state, an old witch came up to her, and said she would help her, as
she hated the Giant, and wished to kill him. The Old Witch then took
the little Old Lady on her broom, and they sailed off through the
air, straight to the Giant's castle.

[Illustration: Witch and Lady on broom.]

Now this old Witch had great power, and at once afflicted the Giant
with corns and tender feet. When he awoke from his sleep he was in
such pain that he could bear it no longer, so he thought he would go
in search of his missing shoe, which, like the other one he had in
his castle, was easy and large for his foot. When he came to the
spot where the Old Lady and her children lived, he saw his old shoe,
and with a laugh that shook the trees, he thrust his foot into it,
breaking through the roof that Strong-arm and Peter had put to it.
The children, in great alarm, rushed about inside the shoe, and
frightened and trembling, scrambled through the door and the slits
which the Giant had formerly made for his corns. By this time the
witch and the Little Old Lady, as also Strong-arm, his eleven
brother and his father, were come up to the spot. Strong-arm and his
brothers shot their arrows at him till at last he fell wounded, when
Strong-arm went up to him and cut off his head. Then the father and
the Little Old Woman and all their children built a new house, and
lived happily ever afterwards.

[Illustration: Strong-arm cutting off Giant's head.]



THE BABES IN THE WOOD.


A gentleman of good account
  In Norfolk dwelt of late,
Whose wealth and riches did surmount
  Most men of his estate.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,
  No help his life could save;
His wife by him as sick did lie,
  And both were near the grave.

No love between these two was lost:
  Each to the other kind;
In love they lived, in love they died,
  And left two babes behind.

Now if the children chanced to die,
  Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth:
  For so the will did run.

"Now brother," said the dying man,
  "Look to my children dear;
Be good unto my boy and girl,
  No friend else have they here."

[Illustration: Babes and Uncle at death-bed.]

Their parents being dead and gone,
  The children home he takes,
And brings them both unto his house,
  Where much of them he makes.

He had not kept these pretty babes
  A twelvemonth and a day,
When, for their wealth, he did devise
  To make them both away.

He bargain'd with two ruffians bold,
  Who were of savage mood,
That they should take the children twain,
  And slay them in a wood.

They prate and prattle pleasantly
  While riding on the way,
To those their wicked uncle hired,
  These lovely babes to slay:

[Illustration: Babes and Ruffians on horse-back.]

So that the pretty speech they had,
  Made the ruffians' heart relent;
And they that took the deed to do,
  Full sorely did repent.

Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
  Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch that hired him
  Had paid him very large.

The other would not agree thereto,
  So here they fell at strife;
With one another they did fight,
  About the children's life:

And he that was of milder mood,
  Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood;
  The babes did quake for fear!

[Illustration: Ruffian being killed.]

He took the children by the hand,
  While they for bread complain:
"Stay here," said he, "I'll bring ye bread,
  When I do come again."

These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
  Went wandering up and down;
But never more they saw the man,
  Approaching from the town:

[Illustration: Babes wandering.]

Thus wander'd these two pretty dears,
  Till death did end their grief;
In one another's arms they died,
  Poor babes, past all relief:

No burial these innocents
  Of any man receives,
But robin red-breast lovingly
  Did cover them with leaves.

[Illustration: Robin covering Babes with leaves.]

The fellow that did take in hand
  These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judged to die,
  As was God's blessed will:

And did confess the very truth,
  The which is here express'd;
Their uncle died while he for debt
  Did long in prison rest.

[Illustration: Uncle in prison.]



LITTLE BO-PEEP.


  "Little Bo-Peep she lost her sheep
    And didn't know where to find them.
  Let them alone, and they'll come home,
    And bring their tails behind them!"

[Illustration: Bo-peep searching.]

So runs the Nursery Rhyme. Little Bo-Peep was a very nice little
girl. Her cheeks had a bloom on them like a lovely peach, and her
voice sounded like a sweet silver bell.

But though Little Bo-Peep was as good as she was beautiful, she
sometimes met with misfortunes that made her very sad. Once, when she
lost her sheep, she was very doleful indeed. And this is how it
happened.

One summer evening, when the sun was setting, Little Bo-Peep, who had
to rise very early in the morning, felt tired, and sat down on a bank
covered with daisies. Being very weary she soon fell fast asleep. Now
the Bell-wether of Bo-Peep's flock was a most stupid and stubborn
fellow. I dare say you know that all the sheep in a flock will follow
the Bell-wether, and that he always wears a bell round his neck. It
was a great pity, but the Bell-wether of Bo-Peep's flock was very
wild, and was much given to wander far away into the wood, where of
course the rest of the sheep would follow him.

Finding Little Bo-Peep asleep, the tiresome fellow began by standing
on his hind legs and making a great bow to his shadow before him on
the grass. After this he whirled himself round like a top, shaking
his head all the time, and ringing his bell.

[Illustration: Bo-Peep asleep; Bell-wether capering.]

Very soon the rest of the flock began to dance and caper too. And
when they had wheeled round their leader for a time, they ran off
after him with a bound into the wood. Away they went, till they were
quite tired out; and then they came to a stand-still, staring at their
leader with very blank faces. But the Bell-wether looked foolish
enough now, and did nothing but shake his head slowly and ring his
bell, which seemed to say quite clearly, "You are lost, you are
lost!"

When Little Bo-Peep awoke she found her sheep gone, and hardly
knowing what she did, she walked on and on, far into the wood. She
met some people with hoes and rakes in their hands, and asked them if
they had seen her sheep. But they only laughed at her, and said, No.
One man was very cross, and threatened to beat her. At last she came
to a stile, on which an old Raven was perched. He looked so wise that
Little Bo-Peep asked him whether he had seen a flock of sheep. But he
only cried "Caw, caw, caw;" so Bo-Peep ran on again across the
fields.

[Illustration: Bo-peep and Raven.]

She wandered on till night-fall, and being faint with hunger, was
very glad to see a light just before her. As she went on, she saw
that it shone from a cottage window. But when she came to the door,
it looked so dark and dismal that she was afraid to go in, and was
just going to run away, when a cross-looking old woman came out, and
dragged her into the cottage. She made her sit by the side of her
son, who was a very ugly youth with a great red face and red
hair.

[Illustration: Bo-peep and ugly Youth.]

The old woman told him that she had brought Bo-Peep to be his wife,
so Bo-Peep, who did not like him at all, ran away while they were
asleep. But she did not know where to go, and gave herself up for
lost, when she heard something cry, "tu-whit--tu-whoo," in the
tree above her. It was a great owl, which began flapping its wings
with joy. Bo-Peep was frightened at first, but as the owl seemed very
kind, she followed it. It took her to a cottage were there was plenty
to eat and drink, and then, to Bo-Peep's great surprise, it began to
speak, and told her this story:--

"Know, dear Maiden," said the owl, "that I am the daughter of a King,
and was a lovely Princess; but I was changed into an owl by the old
woman at the cottage, because I would not marry her ugly son. But I
have heard the fairies say that one day a lovely maiden, who would
come into this wood to find her lost sheep, should be the means of my
gaining my own form again. You are that pretty maid, and I will take
you to a spot where you will find your sheep, but without their
tails. The elves will play with them for this night, but in the
morning every sheep will have its tail again, except the stupid
Bell-wether. You must then wave his tail three times over my head,
and I shall resume my shape again."

The owl flew off, and led Bo-Peep into the wood, and said, "Sleep,
maiden, I will watch." How long she was asleep she could not tell,
but the charmed spot was suddenly lighted up, and she saw the Queen
of the Fairies seated on a bank. The Queen said the sheep should be
punished for running away. She then saw all her sheep come trooping
into the place, and on every sheep there was an Elf, who held in his
hand a sheep's tail.

[Illustration: Sheep and Elves.]

After riding them about for some time, and having great fun with
them, the mad sport ceased, and each Elf restored the tail to his
sheep--all but the Bell-wether's, which their leader hid in a
tree. When Bo-Peep awoke, she saw the owl flapping its wings as if
to remind her of her promise; so she fetched the tail, and waved it
three times over its head, when up started the most charming Princess
that ever was seen. The princess gave Bo-Peep a beautiful cottage,
and her sheep never ran away from their kind mistress again.

[Illustration: Bo-peep and Owl.]



THE HISTORY OF FIVE LITTLE PIGS.


[Illustration: Little Pig going to market.]

The Little Pig who Went to Market.

There was once a family of Five Little Pigs, and Mrs. Pig, their
mother, loved them all very dearly. Some of these little pigs were
very good, and took a great deal of trouble to please her. The eldest
pig was so active and useful that he was called Mr. Pig. One day he
went to market with his cart full of vegetables, but Rusty, the
donkey, began to show his bad temper before he had gone very far on
the road. All the coaxing and whipping would not make him move. So
Mr. Pig took him out of the shafts, and being very strong, drew the
cart to market himself. When he got there, all the other pigs began
to laugh. But they did not laugh so loudly when Mr. Pig told them
all his struggles on the road. Mr. Pig lost no time in selling
his vegetables, and very soon after Rusty came trotting into the
market-place, and as he now seemed willing to take his place in the
cart, Mr. Pig started for home without delay. When he got there, he
told Mrs. Pig his story, and she called him her best and most worthy
son.

[Illustration: Little Pig with mother.]

The Little Pig who Stayed at Home.

This little pig very much wanted to go with his brother, but as he
was so mischievous that he could not be trusted far away, his mother
made him stay at home, and told him to keep a good fire while she
went out to the miller's to buy some flour. But as soon as he was
alone, instead of learning his lessons, he began to tease the poor
cat. Then he got the bellows, and cut the leather with a knife, so as
to see where the wind came from: and when he could not find this out,
he began to cry. After this he broke all his brother's toys; he
forced the drum-stick through the drum, he tore off the tail from the
kite, and then pulled off the horse's head. And then he went to the
cupboard and ate the jam. When Mrs. Pig came home, she sat down by
the fire, and being very tired, she soon fell asleep. No sooner had
she done so, than this bad little pig got a long handkerchief and
tied her in her chair. But soon she awoke and found out all the
mischief that he had been doing. She saw at once the damage that he
had done to his brother's playthings. So she quickly brought out her
thickest and heaviest birch, and gave this naughty little pig such a
beating as he did not forget for a long time.

[Illustration: Little Pig tying mother to chair.]

[Illustration: Little Pig in Dunce cap.]

The Little Pig who had Roast Beef.

This little pig was a very good and careful fellow. He gave his
mother scarcely any trouble, and always took a pleasure in doing all
she bade him. Here you see him sitting down with clean hands and
face, to some nice roast beef, while his brother, the idle pig, who
is standing on a stool in the corner, with the dunce's cap on, has
none. He sat down and quietly learned his lesson, and asked his
mother to hear him repeat it. And this he did so well that Mrs. Pig
stroked him on the ears and forehead, and called him a good little
pig. After this he asked her to allow him to help her make tea.
He brought everything she wanted, and lifted off the kettle from
the fire, without spilling a drop either on his toes or the carpet.
By-and-bye he went out, after asking his mother's leave, to play with
his hoop. He had not gone far when he saw an old blind pig, who, with
his hat in his hand was crying at the loss of his dog; so he put his
hand in his pocket and found a halfpenny which he gave to the poor
old pig. It was for such thoughtful conduct as this that his mother
often gave this little pig roast beef. We now come to the little pig
who had none.

[Illustration: Little Pig eating roast beef.]

The Little Pig who had None.

This was a most obstinate and wilful little pig. His mother had set
him to learn his lesson, but no sooner had she gone out into the
garden, than he tore his book into pieces. When his mother came back
he ran off into the streets to play with other idle little pigs like
himself. After this he quarrelled with one of the pigs and got a
sound thrashing. Being afraid to go home, he stayed out till it was
quite dark and caught a severe cold. So he was taken home and put to
bed, and had to take a lot of nasty physic.

[Illustration: Little Pig running home.]

The Little Pig who Cried "Wee, wee," all the Way Home.

This little pig went fishing. Now he had been told not to go into
Farmer Grumpey's grounds, who did not allow any one to fish in his
part of the river. But in spite of what he had been told, this
foolish little pig went there. He soon caught a very large fish, and
while he was trying to carry it home, Farmer Grumpey came running
along with his great whip. He quickly dropped the fish, but the
farmer caught him, and as he laid his whip over his back for some
time, the little pig ran off, crying, "Wee, wee, wee," all the way
home.



THE HISTORY OF OLD MOTHER GOOSE AND HER SON JACK.


[Illustration: Mother Goose and family.]

Old Mother Goose lived in a cottage with her son Jack. Jack was a
very good lad, and although he was not handsome, he was good-tempered
and industrious, and this made him better-looking than half the other
boys. Old Mother Goose carried a long stick, she wore a high-crowned
hat, and high-heeled shoes, and her kerchief was as white as snow.
Then there was the Gander that swam in the pond, and the Owl that sat
on the wall. So you see they formed a very happy family. But what a
fine strong fellow the Gander was! Whenever Old Mother Goose wanted
to take a journey, she would mount upon his broad strong back, and
away he would fly and carry her swiftly to any distance.

[Illustration: Mother Goose and Gander flying.]

Now Old Mother Goose thought her Gander often looked sad and lonely;
so one day she sent Jack to market to buy the finest Goose he could
find. It was early in the morning when he started, and his way lay
through a wood. He was not afraid of robbers; so on he went, with his
Mother's great clothes-prop over his shoulder. The fresh morning air
caused Jack's spirits to rise. He left the road, and plunged into the
thick of the wood, where he amused himself by leaping with his
clothes-prop till he found he had lost himself. After he had made
many attempts to find the path again, he heard a scream. He jumped up
and ran boldly towards the spot from which the sound came. Through an
opening in the trees he saw a young lady trying to get away from a
ruffian who wanted to steal her mantle. With one heavy blow of his
staff Jack sent the thief howling away, and then went back to the
young lady, who was lying on the ground, crying.

[Illustration: Jack and young lady.]

She soon dried her tears when she found that the robber had made off,
and thanked Jack for his help. The young lady told Jack that she was
the daughter of the Squire, who lived in the great white house on the
hill-top. She knew the path out of the wood quite well, and when they
reached the border, she said that Jack must come soon to her father's
house, so that he might thank him for his noble conduct.

When Jack was left alone, he made the best of his way to the
market-place. He found little trouble in picking out the best Goose,
for when he got there he was very late, and there was but one left.
But as it was a prime one, Jack bought it at once, and keeping to the
road, made straight for home. At first the Goose objected to be
carried; and then, when she had walked along slowly and gravely for a
short time, she tried to fly away; so Jack seized her in his arms and
kept her there till he reached home.

[Illustration: Jack carrying Goose.]

Old Mother Goose was greatly pleased when she saw what a fine bird
Jack had bought; and the Gander showed more joy than I can describe.
And then they all lived very happily for a long time. But Jack would
often leave off work to dream of the lovely young lady whom he had
rescued in the forest, and soon began to sigh all day long. He
neglected the garden, cared no more for the Gander, and scarcely even
noticed the beautiful Goose. But one morning, as he was walking by
the pond, he saw both the Goose and the Gander making a great noise,
as though they were in the utmost glee. He went up to them and was
surprised to find on the bank a large golden egg. He ran with it to
his mother, who said, "Go to market, my son; sell your egg, and you
will soon be rich enough to pay a visit to the Squire." So to market
Jack went, and sold his golden egg; but the rogue who bought it of
him cheated him out of half his due. Then he dressed himself in his
finest clothes, and went up to the Squire's house. Two footmen stood
at the door, one looking very stout and saucy, and the other sleepy
and stupid.

[Illustration: Jack and Footmen.]

When Jack asked to see the Squire, they laughed at him, and made
sport of his fine clothes; but Jack had wit enough to offer them each
a guinea, when they at once showed him to the Squire's room.

Now the Squire, who was very rich, was also very proud and fat, and
scarcely turned his head to notice Jack; but when he showed him his
bag of gold, and asked for his daughter to be his bride, the Squire
flew into a rage, and ordered his servants to throw him into the
horse-pond. But this was not so easy to do, for Jack was strong and
active; and then the young lady come out and begged her father to
release him. This made Jack more deeply in love with her than ever,
and he went home determined to win her in spite of all. And well did
his wonderful Goose aid him in his design. Almost every morning she
would lay him a golden egg, and Jack, grown wiser, would no longer
sell them at half their value to the rogue who had before cheated
him. So Jack soon grew to be a richer man than the Squire himself.
His wealth became known to all the country round, and the Squire at
length consented to accept Jack as his son-in-law. Then Old Mother
Goose flew away into the woods on the back of her strong Gander,
leaving the cottage and the Goose to Jack and his bride, who lived
happily ever afterwards.

[Illustration: Jack and Squire.]








End of Project Gutenberg's My First Picture Book, by Joseph Martin Kronheim