A Little pretty pocket-book, intended for the instruction and amusement of little Master Tommy, and pretty Miss Polly. : With two letters from Jack the Giant-Killer; as also a ball and pincushion; the use of which will infallibly make Tommy a good boy, and Polly a good girl. : To which is added, a little song-book, being a new attempt to teach children the use of the English alphabet, by way of diversion.

About this Item

Title
A Little pretty pocket-book, intended for the instruction and amusement of little Master Tommy, and pretty Miss Polly. : With two letters from Jack the Giant-Killer; as also a ball and pincushion; the use of which will infallibly make Tommy a good boy, and Polly a good girl. : To which is added, a little song-book, being a new attempt to teach children the use of the English alphabet, by way of diversion.
Publication
Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts. :: By Isaiah Thomas, and sold, wholesale and retail, at his bookstore.,
MDCCLXXXVII. [1787]
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Subject terms
Children's songs.
Juvenile literature -- 1787.
Alphabets (Primers) -- 1787.
Booksellers' advertisements -- Massachusetts -- Worcester.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/N15984.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A Little pretty pocket-book, intended for the instruction and amusement of little Master Tommy, and pretty Miss Polly. : With two letters from Jack the Giant-Killer; as also a ball and pincushion; the use of which will infallibly make Tommy a good boy, and Polly a good girl. : To which is added, a little song-book, being a new attempt to teach children the use of the English alphabet, by way of diversion." In the digital collection Evans Early American Imprint Collection. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/N15984.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 15, 2024.

Pages

Page 15

A LETTER FROM JACK THE GIANT-KILLER, TO LITTLE MASTER TOMMY.

My dear Tommy,

YOUR Nurse called upon me To|day, and told me that you was a good Boy; that you was dutiful to your Father and Mother, and that, when you have said your Prayers in the Morning and the Evening, you asked their Blessing, and in the Day-time

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did every Thing they bid you. She says, you are obedient to your Master, loving and kind to your Play-fellows, obliging to every Body; that you rise early in the Morning, keep yourself clean, and learn your Book; that when you have done a Fault you confess it, and are sorry for it. And though you are sometimes naughty, she says you are very honest and good-humoured; that you do not swear, tell Lies; nor say indecent Words, and are always thankful when any Body gives you good Advice: that you never quarrel, nor do wicked Things, as some other Boys do.

This Character, my Dear, has made every Body love you; and, while you continue so good, you may depend on my obliging you with every Thing I can. I have here sent you a Little Pretty Pocket-Book, which will teach you to play at all those innocent Games

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that good Boys and Girls divert them|selves with: And, while you behave so well, you shall never want Play, I assure you. But my dear Tommy, in order that you may be as good as pos|sible, I have also sent you a Ball, the one Side of which is Red, the other Black, and with it ten Pins; and I must insist upon making this Bargain, that your Nurse may hang up the Ball by the String to it, and for every good Action you do, a Pin shall be stuck on the Red Side, and for every bad Action a Pin shall be stuck on the Black Side. And when by doing good and pretty Things you have got all the ten Pins on the Red Side, then I will send you a Penny, and so I will as often as all the Pins shall be fairly got on that Side. But if ever the Pins be all found on the Black Side of the Ball▪ then I will send a Rod, and you shall

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be whipt, as often as they are found there. But this my Dear, I hope you will prevent by continuing a good Boy, that every Body may still love you, as well as

Your Friend, JACK the GIANT-KILLER.

P. S. When you are tired with play|ing, I have added, for your further Amusement, a Collection of pretty Songs, which your Nurse will take Care to teach you; and I must in|sist on your getting them perfectly, because the Knowledge of these Songs will recommend you to the Favour of all the Gentlemen and Ladies of America who sing in that Manner.

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