PREFACE.

Aunt LOUISA has the pleasure of offering to the charming Little Public who are learning to read, Four Alphabets, taught by the loveliest and most amusing things in Town and Country. Here are beautiful Fruits and rosy Children; Cows, Horses, Trees, and other delights of the Country; London Wonders, and all sorts of Games and Sports. When the four Alphabets have been learned by heart, her little people will find that other Books, equally pretty, are waiting for them at the place from which Aunt Louisa sends them her Alphabet Book.

I
IVY-BERRIES, both purple and blue;
You may not think them fruit, but
I'm sure the birds do.

J
for the sweet russet JARGONELLE
PEAR,
Which on shelves in the store-room is
laid up with care.

K
for the KERNEL that pays us so
well
For the trouble we've taken to open
the shell.

L
is the fragrant and pale-coloured
LIME,
Growing ripe in the sun of a tropical
clime.

Q for the QUINCE, growing down in
the glade,
Of which Sarah the cook will make
nice Marmalade.

R for the RASPBERRIES, gathered at
dawn,
For the school-children's tea by-and-
by on the lawn.

S is for STRAWBERRY, brilliant and red,
Which we look for amongst the green
leaves of its bed.

T for the TAMARINDS brought from
the West,
With Ginger and Guava, in Mariner's
chest.

ACORNS.

ACORNS that grow on the great oak tree
Make nice little cups for Grace and me;
We fill them with dew at early morn,
And make tiny rolls of seeds of corn.

BARN.

The BARN's a capital place for play,
When we are warm on a Summer's day;
The pigeons sit on the roof and coo,
While cows are breathing a drowsy "M-o-o!"

COWS.

Cows are delightful creatures, I think;
They give us such fresh, sweet milk to drink,
When the buttercups are golden bright,
And Summer meadows with daisies white.

DUCKS.

DUCKS sail all day on the shining pond;
Of water they must be very fond;
But though their feathers upon it rest,
It does not wet their beautiful breast.

EGGS.

To seek in the nests EGGS clean and white,
Is Sister Grace's and my delight;
The basket is full of those we found,
And three besides we laid on the ground.

FARM.

Grandmamma's FARM is a charming place,
And very happy am I and Grace,
When we go to see her with Mamma,
And walk in the fields with dear Papa.

GATE.

There is John looking over the GATE;
For Granny always thinks we are late,
And waits in the porch for our return,
And says, "To be punctual we must learn."

HORSES.

Here are the HORSES, Dobbin and Joe,
Who backwards and forwards meekly go,
Dragging the plough o'er the stubborn soil,
Winning us bread by their patient toil.

INN.

At the village INN the stage-coach waits,
For here his horses the coachman baits,
And while they drink and get a short rest,
Calls for "a glass of the landlord's best."

IDLERS.

These IDLERS, who loiter about all day,
Are quite a disgrace to the Queen's highway;
For laziness only has made them poor,
And reduced them to beg from door to door.

JAIL.

The JAIL too often becomes the last home
Of beggars, who through the streets idly roam:
For that "idle hands find mischief to do,"
Is a proverb found to be always true.

KING WILLIAM'S STATUE.

KING WILLIAM'S STATUE looks calmly down
On the busiest street of this great town,
Where all is hurry, and bustle, and noise,
Of men and women, carts, horses, and boys.

LAMPLIGHTER.

The LAMPLIGHTER hastens the gas to light,
That streets may be cheerful and safe at night;
How prettily in a long twinkling line—
Growing smaller and smaller—the bright lamps shine!

## MONUMENT.

The MONUMENT stands on the very spot
Where the Great Fire (never to be forgot)
Broke out, in the days when gay Charles was King,
And burnt and destroyed almost everything.

## NEWS-BOY.

The NEWS-BOY, though little, does a good trade;
Morning and evening his pennies are made;
"The Times" and the "Standard" you hear him cry,
Or "Daily Telegraph,"—which will you buy?

## OMNIBUS.

"OMNIBUS, Ma'am?—just a going to the Zoo':
There's room inside for the children and you;
Step in, if you please, Miss; we cannot wait;
We will set you down quite close to the gate."

## PUNCH.

Our friends "PUNCH" and Toby display their feats
At the corner of many London streets;
The tricks of the puppets all of us know,
Yet we always laugh at the funny show.

### QUEEN.

QUEEN VICTORIA now sits on the throne,
A better QUEEN England never has known;
Though the nation owed much, we must confess,
To the brave wise rule of our good QUEEN BESS.

### RIVER.

The RIVER! the River sparkles and plays,
As if it rejoiced in the sun's bright rays.
"Mamma, if you love your little daughter,
Please let me go on the shining water."

### STEAMER.

The STEAMER puffs out a long cloud of steam,
As it cuts its way through the rippling stream.
"Mamma, dear, I wonder how I should feel
If I were the man who stands by the wheel?"

### TOWER.

The TOWER of London is dark, grey, and old,
Sad tales of its dismal towers are told;
The two little Princes in it were slain,
That cruel King Richard the Third might reign.

ICE.

It is winter now, and the ICE is thick enough for the boys to slide on it. It is George who has fallen down this time, not Tom. Sliding on the ice is great fun, and keeps little people warm; but if it broke they would fall into the water. They should never slide on it without first asking leave to do so, for if it were to break, and they fell in, they might be drowned.

JUMP, LITTLE NAG-TAIL.

JUMP, LITTLE NAG-TAIL, and take care not to fall off. Tommy is little Nag-tail. He is nearly as small as a fairy, and he jumps very easily. John is the "Post;" that is, the boy who stands against the wall. These leaping games make boys active and strong; but elder brothers must take care that the little ones are not hurt while playing at them.

KITE.

The KITE is a very nice plaything. It is quite pleasant to see it floating up in the air. "I wonder," said Milly to Cousin John, "if the birds think it is a new creature come to live with them?" "No," replied John, "they are too cunning to be so deceived. Besides, they have seen boys fly kites for hundreds of years, Milly, and they must know them quite well by this time." But Milly did not feel sure that John was right.

LEAP-FROG, MARBLES.

LEAP-FROG is a good game for tall boys, but the little ones like MARBLES better. Milly has made Tom a smart red bag to keep his marbles in, so that he should not lose them. He is quite proud of it.

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