Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1849-11-28
Little Jack EEOrner.

But few persons, probably, are aware Of the fact
that many Of rhymes which they heard in the
days of their childhood were written very many
years ago yet this is the case They are found in
manuscripts in the British Museum, as early as the
reign of Charles the FIRST, Elizabeth and even Hen
ryNl 1t would seem that the rhyme of Jack Ilor-
Ter must have been written us long ago as the time
OF James l., If We may Judge by the quaintness of
te irie, which is as follows 1.-The Pleasant His
igfsof Jack llorner, containing the witty tricks the
I%rlf which he played from his youth to his ripper
1TniI tg.H pleasant aud delightful for winter and
,sunnier's recreation" There are few persons who
have not heard Of Jack llorner, and remember the
first few lines, nnmey:
Little Jack Homer sat in the corners
Eating his Christmas pie" &c.
But further than that, little seems TO he thought
or known about him; and the return Of Christmas
shall be my apology for Introducing to your readers
this noble-hearted child, of whom, according TO the
best of my recollection it may he stated, that when
he six or seven years old, his mother one
ming had baked pie purposey for him, and Just as
he was going TO school, she said TO him, 81 will put
your pie on the shelf and you shall have it rs
soon as you get home" The little happy, rosy
checked cherub set off TO school with his books and
lessons but on his way was met by poor woman
who asked him for little money TO buy some bread.
lie pitied the woman, and like good scholar set
his mind TO work to find remedy for he had no
money, which often times saves great deal of men
tai labor. All at he remembered wlint his
mother had SAID as lie leit nome; ana MS cOun-
tenance bealned with JOY as he directed the woman
to 90 to his mother, and ask for the pie which she
had laid up for him on the shelf The poor woman
thanked him. and went accordingly, and our little
hero walked on to school. 1t was not long before
lis mother heard knocking at the door. The poor
woman had called. She delivered her message, and
the pie most cheerfully given her. His mother,
affected by this act of generosity was determined
to reward him, and before his school was dismissed,
inc nj skad apntherpie. and put in the place of
c,,,ired ifIhc woman had called.
y Yes. said his mother: "and | have baked
rb6ther pie for you" And there is scarcely per-
son in Old or New England who has not heard OF
that pie. The name OF Jack Horner is handed
down from generation to generation, while the names
of many of the greatest military heroes forgot
ten and he will be remembered, and his deed OF
henevolence be spoken of when the memory OF the
greatest military achievements shall have passed
away. Notwithstanding the lapse of more than two
hundred years, how pleasantly in this little story,
he and his mother pass before us Now the poor
are still with us, and there is many woman aspoor
as she was, who called forth the benevolence OF
Jack Homer; and there are among the young rea-
doris of the Traveller doubt not many boys as de-
serving and as generous as little Jack For then
sakes, this is written: and if erira pies are baked
and put on the shelf for them it will be matter OIL
real Thanksgiving Boston Traveller.