The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-11-28
ABOUT MOTHER GOOSE.
TIE AUTHOR OF THE OLD RHYMES
Z STILL A MATTER OF DOUBT.

ono Authority Places Her IN Boston, but
Documentary Evidence Coos to Show
That Goldsmith Wrote the JingIes for
Jhiidron--A rsit Of History.
The question, Who was Mother
Gooser arises periodically in various
journalistic query departments, and in
recent years has generally been answered
IN one way. In fact, the tradition of this
venerable characters Boston origin is
now 80 ingrained, as It were, into cur
rent belief that very few dispute it. The
story Is that Mrs Elizabeth Goose,
widow Of one Isaac Goose Tor Vergoose),
was tho mother-in-law Of Mr.. Thomas
Fieet a printer in the early part Of the
Eighteenth century in Boston.
She seemed to have been a troublesome
mother-in-law, too, for her multiplied
inprovised songs to her little grandson
greatly annoyed the printer, Fleet. He,
however, found his account and revenge
By finally collecting them and making
the book known as Mother C}oose's Mel
odies." This accords substantially with
the ereply the New York Ledger gives as
10 the authorship Of the Mother Goose
jingleR
But 80 Is probably one Of the cherished
myths, dattering as it Is to local pride,
when, like that of the William Tell leg
end and many others equally dear, the
solid verdict Of history does not, in my
opinion, serve to sustain. There never
.fas, / think, any just foundation for it.
While it IS possible that Mr., Fleet, of
ancient Boston fame, may have Issued
''Nfother Goose book, no copy Of such
an issue Gun be found, nor can its
former existence be proved. II he did
print such book he merely reprinted
one that was imported in his time,
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE.
According TO the best accounts that
we have on this subject the first book
bearing the Mother Goose name was by
PerTault a french author. This was
titled, "Contes du TENS Pasee de Ma
Mere LOyen The first English trans
lation Of this was by Robert Samber,
Very soon, as Mr.. Welsh's catalogue
shows, it appeared in Mr.. Newburys
list Of publications in London. He says
the seventh edition was printed May 16,
17g7. Thomas Carlnan entered for copy
right mother Goose's Melody or Son
nets for the Cradle" and was brought
out in Worcester, Mass, by Isaac Thorn
as. Carman was Newbury's stepson,
VINO formed a copartnership as his sue
cessor in business with Francis New
bury, the original Newbury's nephew.
It was from Mr.. Newburys efforts,
therefore, that "Mother Goose" got its
circulation in English-the Newbury
who made famous the now forgotten but
once celebrated story Of ''Goody Two
Shoes" Both these books appeared with
out recognized authorship, but there is
very strong evidence for believing that
the 'Goody Two Shoes" was written by
no less a parsonage than Oliver Gold
smith. The facts supporting this as
sumption 1t would take too much space
to relate here, but they seem, in addition
to internal evidence, to make out very
plausible case.
It Is believed also by Mr.. William H.
Whttmore, noted Boston historical
scholar, that Mr.. Goldsmith had hand
in the "Mother Goose" book likewise
The stories of this fable, like Topsy, have
grown in number from time to time,
and some Of those from the Newbury
press were no doubt additions, and pos
sibly additions from Goldsmith's own
muse. A curious piece Of evidence on
this point is furnished by Mr.. Whit
more, who says; "Forster, in his famous
Life of Goldsmith gives proof that
Goldsmith was very fond Of the chill
dren and was familiar with nursery
rhymes and games. He writes that Mrs.
Hawkins says, i little thought what l
should have to boast when Goldsmith
told me to play Jack and Jill by two
pieces Of paper on his fingers"
INTERESTING HISTORY.
MIR. Whitmore also adds the following
scrap of history;
Jan. go, 9-Goldsmiths play of
The Good Natured Man was produced.
He went to dine with his friends after
it. Nay, to impress his friends still more
forcibly with an idea Of his msgnauim-
ity he even sung his favorite song, An
Old Woman Tossed in a Blanket Seven
teen Times as High as the Moon, and
was altogether very noisy and loud. Our
readers will find this identical favorite
song in the preface to Mother Goose's
Melody, page Z, dragged in without any
excuse, but evidently because it was ia
(udhar to thewriter."
Mr.. Whtmore has lately brought out
an edition Of the Newbury 'Mothel
Goose" to which he adds twenty-eight
pages of historical and biographical
notes. He has undoubtedly settled the
whole history of this vexed question Of
authorship so far as it can now be settled
and with no little pains to himself, and
has certainly exploded the alleged Bostor
origin of "Mistress Goose"
Forty years ago "Mother Goose" wa
much more current than it has been o.
recent years. but within ten years past {
variety of editions have been on themar
ket-eome full and padded with latei
rhymes and few containing only thost
that are the Oldest and best known. T,
thosewho are greatly interested in tina
form of literature, "Halliwelrs Englisl
Nursery Rhymes" edited with minut
notes, as becomes great Shakespeareai
commentator, Is a book that will richl,
repay perusal. 1t seems to contain tn
whole Of ''Mother Goose" and nearl,
all Of note that has been written by he
inntators, but It lacks the amusing ant
almost necessary adjunct Of pictoria
illustration York Home Journal