JUVENILE BUDGET REOPENED: BEING FURTHER SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF WITH COPIOUS NOTES. "HE, BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH." BOSTON: THOMAS H. WEBB & CO HARVARD 4172 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1840, by MARSH, CAPEN, Lyon, and Webb, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. EDUCATION PRESS. PREFACE OUR young readers are indebted, for most of the Contents of this little Volume, to DR. JOHN Aikin, an English gentleman, who, during a long life, devoted much of his time and talents to benefiting his fellow-beings, by inculcating sound principles of morality, and enlarging the sphere of their knowledge. He wrote much, wrote carefully, and wrote well; for all classes, and all ages; but, such was his regard for the young, and his desire for their welfare, that no kind of occupation gave him more pleasure, than that of writing for the amusement and instruction of children; and we believe his little works for little folks have exerted the widest and happiest influence, and should be the most highly cherished, of all his productions. For, at the time that he wrote, few thought it worth their while to turn their attention to the wants of the young, supposing they would gain more credit, by addressing themselves to grown people. To the very last, he felt attached to childhood, was pleased at the sight, and delighted with the frolicksome gambols of the young. Even when on his deathbed, as his affectionate daughter tells us, "the love of children, which had always been an amiable feature in his character, remained; and the sight of his young grandchildren, sporting around him, and courting his attention by their affectionate caresses, had often the happy effect of rousing him from a state of melancholy languor, and carrying at least a transient emotion of pleasure to his heart." This Volume consists of selections from his contributions to Evenings at Home,' his 'Letters from a Father to his Son,' and his miscellaneous pieces. A former Volume of the Juvenile Series of 'THE SCHOOL LIBRARY,' for which this was also prepared, was, as its compiler tells us, selected from the pages of the first named of these works; and, that it might not be mistaken for that, which also contains some pieces by Mrs. Barbauld, it was called by the second name, which Doctor Aikin gave the original; that is, The Juvenile Budget Opened.' Considering the attractive character of Dr. Aikin's writings for the young, and that many interesting and instructive pieces remained on hand, the Publishers were induced to open the book, anew, and again cull from its contents. As this Volume was, in great part, the result of the reopening, it was thought no more appropriate or expressive name could be given it, than that, of The Juvenile Budget Reopened.' Historical, biographical, and explanatory, notes have been inserted, wherever it was supposed they might add to the interest or value of the subject treated of; and, with the help of these, we believe there is nothing in the Volume, which our young readers cannot easily understand. Boston May, 1840. T. H. W. |