SPENCER D. C. KERALIS

D I R E C T O R F O R D I G I T A L S C H O L A R S H I P | R E S E A R C H A S S O C I A T E P R O F E S S O R

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O R T H T E X A SD I G I T A L S C H O L A R S H I P C O - O P E R A T I V E

S P E N C E R . K E R A L I S @ U N T . E D U@ H A U N T O L O G I S T

The Squirrel on a Golden Chain: Pet Making, Self-Mastery, and

Enlightenment Boyhood

Boy with a Squirrel (Henry Pelham)

John Singleton Copley, 1765

Rebecca Orne(Mrs. Joseph Cabot)

Joseph Badger, 1757

Sanders’ Pictorial Primer: or An Introduction to “Sanders’ First Reader.”

W. & J. C. Sanders. (New York: Ivison & Phinney, 178 Fulton Street, 1846).

Reward of Merit, 1833

American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1, no. 17782

The infant’s progress, from the valley of destruction, to everlasting glory.

Mrs Sherwood (Mary Martha). (Boston: Published by Samuel T. Armstrong, and Crocker & Brewster, no 50, Cornhill., 1821)

Now as nuts and almonds are hidden under rough shells, and as honey is concealed in the bells and cups of flowers; so there is a hidden meaning in every part of my allegory, which I hope you will be enabled to draw forth for your profit.

Nuts for Boys to Crack

John Todd. (New York: American Tract Society, 1866)

“The Cat doth playand after slay”

The New-England Primer (1727)

Lessons for Children, From Two to Four Years Old

Anna LaetitiaBarbauld, 1779

Where is puss?

Puss is got under the table.

You cannot catch puss.

Do not pull her by the tail, you hurt her.

Stroke poor puss. You stroke her the wrong way. This is the right way.

But puss, why did you kill the rabbit?

You must catch mice, you must not kill rabbits.

Well, what do you say, did you kill the rabbit?

Why do you not speak, puss?

Puss cannot speak.

Lessons for Children, From Two to Four Years Old

Anna Laetitia Barbauld, 1779

Do you know why you are better than Puss? Puss can play as well as you; and Puss can drink milk, and lie upon the carpet; and she can run as fast as you, and faster too, a great deal; and she can climb trees better; and she can catch mice, which you cannot do. But can Puss talk? No. Can Puss read? No. Then that is the reason why you are better than Puss — because you can talk and read. Can Pompey, your dog, read? No. Will you teach him? Take the pin and point out to the words. No — he will not learn. I never saw a dog or cat learn to read. But little boys can learn. If you do not learn, Charles, you are not good for half as much as a Puss. You had better be drowned.

Some Thoughts Concerning Education

John Locke, 1693

I cannot but commend … a mother I knew, who was wont always to indulge her daughters when any of them desired dogs, squirrels, birds, or any such things, as young girls use to be delighted with; but then when they had them, they must be sure to keep them well and look diligently after them, that they wanted nothing, or were not ill used.

The Stages of Cruelty

William Hogarth. The Works of William Hogarth. (London: William Hogarth, 1735)

While various Scenes of sportive Woe,The Infant Race employ,And tortur'd Victims bleeding shew,The Tyrant in the Boy.

Behold! a Youth of gentler Heart,To spare the Creature's pain,O take, he cries—take all my Tart,But Tears and Tart are vain.

Learn from this fair Example—YouWhom savage Sports delight,How Cruelty disgusts the view,While Pity charms the sight.

Daniel CrommelinVerplanck

John Singleton Copley, 1771.