## The Project Gutenberg eBook of Food for the Mind: Or, A New Riddle-book

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Food for the Mind: Or, A New Riddle-book

Author: John-the-Giant-Killer

Release date: November 12, 2014 [eBook #47335]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Chris Curnow, David Maranhao and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOOD FOR THE MIND: OR, A NEW RIDDLE-BOOK ***

i

# FOOD for the MIND:
OR, A NEW
RIDDLE-BOOK.

Compiled for the Use of
The Great and the Little
GOOD BOYS and GIRLS
In England, Scotland, and Ireland.

By John-the-Giant-Killer, Esq;

Who Riddles tells, and merry Tale,
O'er nut-brown Cakes and Mugs of Ale.
Homer.
Come riddle me riddle me riddle me Ree,
None are so blind as they that wont see.
Puffendorf.

LONDON:

Printed for the Booksellers of Europe, Asia,
Africa, and America; and sold by T. Carnan
and F. Newbery, Jun. at Number 65, St.
Paul's Church Yard. 1778.

ii

The Public are desired to observe, that F. Newbery, at the Corner of St. Paul's Church-Yard and Ludgate Street, has not the least Concern in any of the late Mr. John Newbery's Entertaining Books for Children; and, to prevent having paltry Compilation obtruded on them instead of Mr. John Newbery's useful Publications, they are desired to be particularly careful to apply for them to T. Carnan and F. Newbery, Jun. (Successors to the late Mr. John Newbery) at Number 65, near the Bar in St. Paul's Church-Yard.

iii

## PREFACE.

The art of making riddles is so antique, that it bears date almost with our earliest accounts of time, and is a diversion with which Sampson, the strongest of all mankind, amused himself. Nor has it been confined to common people, as a certain author supposes; for Kings, and even some of the wisest of them, are said to have been adepts in the science;iv for such was the ever-to-be-remembered King Solomon, and such was his friend Hiram the King of Tyre.

Riddling, if I am not mistaken, is the art of both dissembling and undissembling, and, if what a great Politician has asserted to be true, that he who knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign, this art must be eminently useful to Princes, and their Ministers, and not to them only, but to all those who are any ways connected with courts, or concerned in political transactions; for as people in high life do not always speak as they mean, nor promise what they intend to perform; or, in other words, as dissembling is held in such high estimation among the Great, and practised with applause every day, thev art of undissembling, should, I think, be called in to the aid of those whose heads may render them subject to imposition.—A squeeze by the hand is a dumb riddle, which may induce any one unskilled in this art to dance attendance for years; while an adept takes the unmeaning sign to pieces, and, like a Free-mason, returns the compliment by another squeeze, to let the Ænigmatist know that he is in the secret. All Cyphers used by Politicians are Riddles; and were Ambassadors, and those to whom Cyphers are sent, but skilled in this science, few blunders would be made from that mystical manner of conveyance; for the meaning, without a key, would be as obvious to them,vi as to the most profound decypherer of them all.

Not that I would have this science confined to political affairs;—No, its utility is unbounded, and may be extended with propriety and benefit to every part of life, and every branch of learning. It is a kind of natural Logic, which I should be glad to see adopted by our Universities in the room of that jargon they at present make us of; for as it consists in discovering truth under borrowed appearances, it may prove of wonderful advantage to the Scholar in the pursuit of his studies, by habituating the mind to separate all foreign ideas, and consequently preserving it from that grand source of error, the being deceived by false connections. And in common lifevii how necessary is it for a man to carry this sort of knowledge about him?—Every knave is an Ænigma that you must unriddle before you can safely deal with him, and every fool may be fathomed. What is making love but making riddles? And what else are some of our treaties, and indeed some of our laws? Even our gravestones can't tell the naked truth: tombs you see are sort of riddles! a Politician is a walking Riddle; and so is a Physician and his prescription a professed Ænigma, intended only to be solved by the Apothecary.———This being the truth, then will any man tell me, that the art of riddling is not of the utmost consequence to society?

I shall conclude this preface in theviii words of a great author: As this science contains the sum of all human policy, and as there is no passage thro' the world without sometimes mixing with fools and knaves; who would not chuse to be master of the ænigmatical art, in order, on proper occasions, to be able to lead aside craft and impertinence from their aim, by the convenient artifice of a prudent disguise?

1

## A
New RIDDLE BOOK.

While young I'm as gay as the maidens in May,
And when dress'd in my holiday cloaths,
2
Am the joy of the swains, and the pride of the plains,
And may vie with the belles and the beaux.
But my time's of short date, and so hard is my fate,
That when to full stature I'm grown,
I'm cut down by the lout, toss'd and tumbled about,
Till no signs of life can be shown.

3

Four wings I have,
Which swiftly mount on high
On sturdy pinions,
Yet I never fly;
And tho' my body often moves around,
Upon the self-same spot
I'm always found;
And, like a nurse who chews the infants meat,
I chew for man before that he can eat.

4

With words unnumber'd I a-bound,
In me mankind take much delight,
In me great store of learning's found,
Yet I can neither read nor write.

5

The world I view in little space
I'm restless, ever changing place
Nothing I eat, but by my pow'r,
Procure what all mankind devour.

6

My body is both plump and round,
With comely neck and breast,
No brighter creature would be found
Were I but oftner dress'd:
But daily I am wearied so
And my employment such,
Black as any negro go,
Nor scarce am fit to touch:
7
Upon my mistress morn and eve,
I constantly attend;
Yet many a blow and nick-name have,
Tho' I did ne'er offend.

8

When mortals are involv'd in ills,
I sing with mournful voice;
If mirth their hearts in gladness fills,
I celebrate their joys.
And as the lark with warbling throat,
Ascends upon the wing;
So I lift up my chearful note,
And as I mount I sing.

9

A tall and slender shape I bear,
Nor lady's skin's more white or fair:
My life is short, and doth decay
So soon it seldom lasts a day.
If in the evening brought to light,
I make my exit in the night;
10
Yet to mankind I'm useful ever,
And many hidden things discover;
Which makes all those who round me tend,
Oft with a sigh lament my end.

11

I'm of the same materials made as you,
Have native ignorance and beauty too;
But when I fly for safety to your arms,
You to a foreigner resign my charms;
He, to defile me thinks it no offence;
And rudely robs me of my innocence;
With inward rage I burn—but hug the foe,
And breathe out vengeance wherefo'er I go.
12
Nay, while thus lovingly we seem to agree,
I serve him just as Jove did Semele,
For e'er from me the thoughtless sot retires,
By my embrace consum'd he soon expires.

13

The HIGHWAY.

When Cæsar did this Isle invade,
I first experienc'd royal aid:
Nay, now to Majesty belong,
Tho' subject to the vulgar throng;
Who with uncivil usage treat,
And trample me beneath their feet;
With heavy burdens me oppress,
And money gain by my distress;
14
Yet all their insults I endure,
While they my given bruises cure:
I am in every country found,
And traverse all the kingdom round:
Say what's my name, that's so well known,
I am a common proverb grown.

15

I can money procure,
For the rich and the poor,
If I open my mouth pretty wide;
So that there's not a house,
Worth the skip of a louse,
But will for me a lodging provide;
Tho' with Tom, Will, or Bob,
I am licens'd to rob,
And plunder my country all over;
16
Yet, however unjust,
I keep true to my trust,
And ne'er will my patron discover:
When engag'd for the great,
Or the minions of state,
You'd be shock'd at the havock I make;
For I hack, cut, and slay,
Whate'er falls in my way,
And send it to hell for their sake.

17

The EYE-LIDS.

In courts or cottages we may be found;
Our skirts with fringe of various dyes are bound;
And as we were by providence design'd,
A guard from harm t' a fav'rite applejoin'd.
We ne'er rove long, nor far asunder stray,
18
But meet and part a thousand times a day:
When dark, like loving couples, we unite,
And cuddle close together every night.

19

TIME.

I was before the world began,
And shall for ever last;
Ere father Adam was a man,
Or out of Eden cast.
Your mirthful moments I attend,
And mitigate your grief;
Th' industrious peasant I befriend;
To pris'ners give relief.
20
Make much of me if you are wise,
And use me while you may;
For you will lose me in a trice,
As I for no man stay.

21

Tho' a cook, I'm so lean,
That my ribs may be seen,
Yet I care not a farthing for that;
For when victuals I dress,
All about me confess,
They are cover'd all over with fat.

22

No twins could e'er with us compare,
So like in shape and size;
Our bodies are like ermin fair
As black as jet our eyes:
But tho' so like in ev'ry feature,
We rival brothers be;
Yet so obdurate is our nature,
We often disagree.
23
Sometimes we play the friendly part,
And sometimes act the foe;
Now transient happiness impart,
Then cause a future woe:
Thousands by us have curs'd their fate,
Plung'd in the gulph of sin;
Happy the youth who shuns the bait,
And dreads the fatal gin.

24

A DOLL.

Like Lady Patch, in diff'rent dress,
I either sex can ape;
And like her, all mankind confess,
Have comeliness and shape:
Had she the innocence of me,
And I her air and parts,
She would a perfect goddess be,
And I should gain more hearts.

25

What though I have a hundred eyes,
Which my beholders may surprise,
Yet I could never see:
What if I fine and gay appear,
And sometimes gold and silver wear,
I'm slav'd by industry.
Both male and female me admire,
Or for my service or attire;
26
And I while young am priz'd.
But when I into years am grown,
And with hard labour quite worn down,
I am by both despis'd.

27

There was a thing a full month old,
When Adam was no more;
But 'ere that thing was five weeks old,
Adam was years five score.

28

Tho' you seem of me fond—for my safety provide,
And when you walk out take me close by your side;
Yet you oft use me ill, which I take in good part,
Nor e'er murmur or sigh though I'm stabb'd to the heart.

29

What being's most despis'd by man,
And does him all the good he can;
Who bore the greatest Prince on earth,
That gave to righteousness new birth;
Who does sometimes o'er death prevail,
And health restore when doctors fail.

30

We dwell in cottages of straw,
And labour much for little gains;
Sweet meat from us our masters draw,
And then with death reward our pains.

31

Great virtues have I,
There's none can deny,
And to this I shall mention an odd one;
When apply'd to the tail,
'Tis seldom I fail
To make a good boy of a bad one.

32

Two twins we are, and let it not surprise,
Alike in ev'ry feature, shape and size;
We're square or round, of brass or iron made,
Sometimes of wood, yet useful found in trade:
But to conclude, for all our daily pains,
We by the neck are often hung in chains.

33

A head and body large I have,
Stomach and bowels too;
One winding gut of mighty length,
Where all my food goes through;
But what's more strange, my food I take
In at the lower end;
And all, just like a drunken rake,
Out at my mouth I send.

34

What force and strength could not get through,
I with a gentle touch can do;
And many in the streets would stand,
Were I not as a friend at hand.

35

Homer of old, as stories tell,
His Iliad put in a nut-shell;
But did you know what I conceal,—
Suppose a kingdom, common weal,
At stake,—Here all the springs are found,
Which set the wheel a whirling round.
In me a thousand mischiefs lie,
A thousand pleasures I supply;
36
In me are bid affairs of state.
In me the secrets of the great;
In me the merchant lays his dust,
In me the tradesman puts his trust;
But hold—my being to explore,
Know I'm inanimate—no more.

37

Tho' light my body is and small,
Tho' I have wings to fly withal,
And thro' the air may rove;
Yet was I not by nature press'd
In ease and indolence I'd rest;
And never choose to move.
'Tis beating makes me diligent;
When beat and on an errand sent,
38
I hurry to and fro;
And like an idle boy in school,
Whom nothing but the rod can rule,
Improve at every blow.

39

With a badge on my back,
Of red, orange, and black,
I travel the nation all over,
And however abus'd,
Without violence us'd,
Will never my bus'ness discover;
I'm of service to state,
To the poor and the great,
To the tradesman, mechanic and beau;
40
Some of whom I attend
Ev'ry day as a friend,
But to others bring sorrow and woe:
All kindly receive me,
And you may believe me,
Scarce ever refuse me my pay;
For whoever does this,
Take it well or amiss,
With him not a moment I stay.

41

It foams without anger,
It flies without wings,
It cuts without edge,
And without tongue it sings.

42

In spring I look gay,
Deck'd in comely array,
In summer more cloathing I wear:
When colder it grows,
I fling off my cloaths,
And in winter quite naked appear.

43

Midst numbers round I spy'd a beauty fair,
More charming than her circling sisters were:
With blushing cheek she tempting of me stood,
At last I cropt her bloom and suck'd her blood;
Sweet meat she was, but neither flesh nor bone,
Yet in her tender heart she had a stone.

44

1.
I'm captain of a party small,
Whose number is but five;
But yet do great exploits, for all,
And ev'ry man alive.
2.
With Adam I was seen to live,
Ere he knew what was evil;
But no connexion have with Eve,
The serpent or the devil.

45

3.
I on our Saviour's Laws attend,
And fly deceit and vice;
Patriot and Protestant befriend,
But Infidels despise.
4.
Matthew and Mark both me have got;
But to prevent vexation,
St. Luke and John possess me not,
Tho' found in ev'ry nation.

46

My form is aukward, let me tell ye,
Long my legs and large my belly,
Webb'd my feet and short my waist,
My head with orb of glory grac'd;
My neck indented makes the show
Of breast protuberant below;
And what your wonder more commands
I use my feet instead of hands;
Tho' such my shape, my station's warm,
And many I preserve from harm;
47
So that the belles oft me caress,
And beaux sometimes my aid confess:
Hence learn that all things have their use,
That art or nature does produce.

48

Two bodies have I,
Tho' both join'd in one:
The stiller I stand,
The faster I run.

49

Why should I my features sham,
Why ugly to a proverb am,
Fierce, obdurate, cruel, strong,
Frightful to the old and young;
Yet, by early education,
Hit the taste of ev'ry nation,
Dance and exercise my staff;
But to make spectators laugh;
Often ride before the great,
Oft with ministers of state;
50
And tho' aukward is my mein,
I often on the stage am seen:
But to raise your wonder higher,
I to greater heights aspire;
At table I my Lord attend,
Please him and gratify his friend.

51

For vigilance and courage true
I've no superior, equals few;
Which makes me by th' industrious priz'd,
But by the indolent despis'd;
Bold and alert I meet the foe,
In all engagements valour show;
And if he proves too proud to yield,
One falls before we quit the field:
52
But tho' with these perfections great
I am endu'd—such is my fate;
They seize and to a stake me tie,
And bastinade me till I die.

53

I know my owner, serve my feeder,
But have no notion of my breeder;
Who sought the means to change my nature,
And from a fierce unruly creature,
Made me as useful to the nation,
As some who move in higher station;
For I, with gratitude abundant,
My owner's praise set forth redundant;
54
And fraught with virtues deem'd inherent,
May well be call'd the King's vicegerent;
As I his subjects render stronger,
And die that they may live the longer.

55

To king and subject I assistance lend;
In war a firm ally, in peace a friend;
To their diversions am a perfect slave,
At home submissive, but in battle brave;
When the shrill trumpet sounds I take the field,
Laugh at the pointed spear and glitt'ring shield;
56
Bold and intrepid meet the daring foe;
Willing and able to repeat the blow;
To peer or prelate I give health and ease;
The lady, merchant, and the peasant please:
Nay,—of such gen'ral use is my employment,
Without me life would scarce be worth enjoyment.

57

I from abroad a pris'ner brought,
Was soon the English language taught,
And pleas'd my lord so well,
He introduc'd me to his spouse,
Where I in comfort dwell;
For when the sky's serene and clear,
I walk abroad to take the air,
And to observe what passes;
58
Where learning half the tricks in town,
I make remarks on ev'ry clown,
And laugh at lads and lasses:
When tired with that I call a coach,
(Bold and regardless of reproach)
Then whistle, sing, and cough;
And having teaz'd the man awhile,
With the imposture pleas'd I smile,
And bid the knave walk off.

59

My patron is wisdom—If wisdom you prize,
In me put your confidence, borrow my eyes;
Who into a millstone can see full as far,
As the best of you all, by the light of a star;
Cou'd the Royal Society purchase my skill,
Or the wise men of Gresham like me have their will;
60
They ne'er had admitted pretenders to science,
And for learned members bid Europe defiance.
In short—had some wise ones but my penetration,
It had long ago much better far'd with the nation.

61

In me behold the height of human art,
Hear what the elements to me impart;
My origin I owe to mother Earth,
Fire was the midwife forwarded my birth;
Air gave me wings, and added to my voice,
And Neptune made me his peculiar choice,
62
To me committed his dominions vast:
Jove wav'd his sceptre, and the fiat pass'd;
I took possession without more delay,
And hold the liquid empire to this day.

63

I am short, let me tell ye,
But have a big belly,
Which a boddice lac'd round me restrains;
I have also a head,
But may truly be said,
To carry no guts in my brains:
My skull is so soft,
That when taken aloft,
64
You would swear I should soon shake asunder;
For which I am beat,
Till set down on my feet,
And roar all the time loud as thunder,
But the great ones of late,
Who all pity'd my fate,
Resolving to alter my station,
Made me known to the fair,
Who can now with an air,
Call upon me for their recreation.

65

I in gold and silver dress'd,
Am by belles and beaux caress'd;
Who on each day attend,
As their counsellor and friend,
Here they practice harmless guiles,
Artful glances, killing smiles:
Here they all their beauty show,
Here they string the bended bow:
66
Here the quiver's fraught with darts,
Which they aim at lovers hearts;
And never make a visit twice,
Without asking my advice.

67

I am white at the neck as Susannah the fair,
Tho' my body sometimes is all cover'd with hair;
As a flounder am flat, as a beetle am blind,
Yet good services do to the race of mankind:
The copses and coverts I traverse each day,
68
To drive from their holds and destroy beasts of prey;
Having two rows of teeth for engagement design'd,
They all fly before me like chaff before wind;
Now tell but my name, ye mammas or misses,
And those who stand by shall reward you with kisses.

69

One winter's evening very dark,
As I cross'd o'er St. James's Park,
I got an odd but civil friend
To light me to my journey's end;
His cap to me did plain appear
Like that of the fierce grenadier;
Black was the cloak which wrapp'd him round,
And his feet never touch'd the ground;
He seem'd of the infernal race,
With flaming fire about his face;
70
While from his nostrils issu'd smoke,
Yet all the way he never spoke:
Thus guarded I was carry'd home;
But soon as to the door I come,
An opake body interpos'd,
And the surprizing scene was clos'd.

71

When our master or mistress my service befriends,
I keep moving all day to make them amends;
I inform them when breakfast and dinner is ready,
And am in my duty surprisingly steady;
I speak when I'm bid, and if not hold my tongue,
72
Thus accomplish'd, I'm welcome to old and to young;
Ev'n for their devotion instructions I give,
And can teach the extravagant heir how to live;
But with them to the playhouse when I take a trip,
If not narrowly watch'd I oft give them the slip;
But tho' when well us'd I'm to all very civil,
When slighted I'm sullen and false as the devil.

73

Tho' good fellows we are,
We can't hope to be sav'd;
From our very first day,
To our last we're enslav'd,
Our office is hardest,
And food sure the worst,
Being cramm'd with raw flesh,
Till we're ready to burst;
74
Tho' low in our state,
Ev'n Kings we support;
And at balls have
The principal share of the sport.

75

My Lords and Gentlemen advance,
Come with a chearful countenance,
And tell abroad my praise,
Whether you in the senate sit,
Or at the bar display your wit,
'Tis I your spirits raise;
I from the hero banish fear,
I whisper in the poet's ear,
And teach him how to sing;
76
At my approach care steals away,
And all the troubles of the day,
Immediately take wing:
'Tis I th' afflicted souls relieve,
To the desponding comfort give,
And make the statesman bold;
The balm I yield, if well apply'd,
Extends its friendly influence wide,
And aids both young and old.

77

While tears fall down, behold how gay,
How beautiful my dress;
Not Flora in the month of May
Does greater joy express,
And as on her the short-liv'd pride,
Sol's friendly beams bestow,
So I my charms, extended wide,
To the same patron owe;
78
The elements are all combin'd
To form my transient beauty,
And I as God himself design'd,
Do my appointed duty:
Thus plac'd aloft to catch the eye,
Like Beacon on a hill,
I tell not who comes to destroy,
Yet obviate future ill.

79

Tho' big my belly, long my nose,
And with one arm I strut;
I make the fair their foes expose,
And keep my own mouth shut:
Before me they their secrets tell,
The news of all the day;
And for my silence I'm fed well,
But empty sent away:
80
Yet tho they love my company,
And seem to me so civil;
Sometimes you'd swear they thought that I
Had dealings with the devil.

81

Emblem of youth and innocence,
With walls enclos'd for my defence,
And with no care oppress'd,
I boldly spread my charms around,
Till some rude lover breaks the mound,
And takes me to his breast;
Here soon I sicken and decay,
My beauty lost, I'm turn'd away,
And thrown upon the street;
82
Where I despis'd and rolling lie,
See no Samaritan pass by,
But num'rous insults meet:—
Ladies, contemplate well my fate,
Reflect upon my wretched state;
Implore th' Almighty's aid,
Lest you (which Heav'n avert) like me
Shou'd come to want and misery,
Be ruin'd and betray'd.

83

Look at the rainbow in the sky,
See summer morning clouds pass by;
Go search the gardens and the fields,
Observe what bounteous nature yields;
You'll scarcely find a flower or plant,
Whose beauty I or colour want:
Thus furnish'd, I oblige the fair,
And change my colour ev'ry year;
Attend the Gen'ral—grace the Lord,
And to both sexes joy afford:
84
But hold, methinks too far I go,
Being oft the messenger of woe:
Consult the glass with decent air,
My nature, use, and name declare.

85

Who was he, that by a kiss
Lost a more substantial bliss;
Sold his crown for paltry pelf,
Sneak'd away and hang'd himself?
Beware, ye mercenaries all,
Lest the same fate should you befall.

86

If old stories say true,
I could once talk like you;
But for fear of becoming a slave,
I was instantly mute,
And grew cunning to boot,
Determin'd my freedom to save;
Now to the fop and the fool,
And the rude boy at school,
All endeavour to practice my art;
87
But their efforts are vain,
They pretenders remain,
And must—till the world they depart;
To observe how I grin,
With snub nose, lips, and chin,
Would the laughter excite of a lord;
And for mimicry too,
I my betters out-do,
And more innocent pleasure afford.

88

I, a busy active creature,
Fashion'd for the sport of nature,
Nimbly skip from tree to tree,
Under a well-wrought canopy;
And, for cleanliness and air,
Am a pattern to the fair,
I, to arms and blood a stranger,
Apprehensive of no danger,
Like the ant for winter store,
Searching treasure to explore,
89
On a sudden hear the foe,
Cause and object of my woe;
By whom I'm soon a prisoner made,
Chain'd and in a dungeon laid;
Bid Chloe then and Mira tell
What's my name, and where I dwell.

90

Of all the arts in which we shine,
Or sciences acquir'd,
There's none so difficult as mine,
Less practis'd, more admir'd;
Behold my whimsical attire,
How aukward my address;
The trade which I take up for hire,
Millions unknown profess.
91
I fiddle, sing, prate, laugh and cry,
To draw the thoughtless in;
And num'rous other antics try,
To bait the subtle grin:
But when surrounded with a crowd,
To shew myself more funny,
I tell my master's fame aloud,
And ease them of their money.

92

I am chief of a clan, which by God was appointed
To establish his throne, and preserve his anointed;
The grandeur observe of my house and attire,
And tell me what mortal can raise his head higher;
My servants are num'rous, their wages well paid,
Who for constant attendance insure future aid;
93
To all ranks and degrees of mankind I am civil,
And do all that I can to deter them from evil.
Nay,—Those suppliant all who my levee attend,
In me find a servant, a father, a friend:
And some, who my service and sov'reign deny'd,
Have liv'd to repent of that crime ere they dy'd.

94

When you the fortune hunter meet,
Upon a gaudy day,
Compleatly rigg'd from head to feet,
In Monmouth Street array;
Then turn your wand'ring eye to me,
My vanity admire;
Observe, here the like fallacy
Lurks under my attire;
95
For all the fin'ry round me thrown,
I'm forc'd to beg or borrow;
And shou'd my neighbours claim their own,
Must naked go to-morrow.

96

How many millions for my sake have dy'd,
What frauds and villanies have not been try'd!
And all the grandeur which my race adorns
Is like the rose beset around with thorns;
Nay, when possess'd, such your enjoyments are,
I to my owners trouble bring and care.
97
Ev'n they, by whom I am so highly priz'd,
If good are hated, and if bad despis'd.
Thus 'twixt the plague of getting me and losing,
By some I'm thought not worth a wise man's chusing.

98

Come hear and see a taudry thing,
Fluttering with expanded wing;
Like the lark that upward tends,
And like her too, when she descends
Toss'd by the owner to and fro,
Her beauty and its own to show;
Suff'ring much at ball and play
And working ev'ry holiday;
99
But what is still more strange to tell,
When by Belinda manag'd well,
Its pow'r th' admiring youth perplexes,
For her it cools, but burns Alexes.

100

I ne'er offend thee,
Yet thou dost me whip,
Which don't amend me,
Tho' I dance and skip:
When I'm upright, me you always like best,
And barb'rously whip me when I want rest

101

My proper title I forsake,
And often that of others take;
Sometimes a king in stately pride,
With lofty majesty I stride;
Sometimes with sprightly nymphs and swains,
I trip it o'er the flow'ry plains;
Sometimes I fleet aloft in air,
And oftentimes quite disappear:
In various shapes I'm known to be,
And children often start at me.

102

My nose is long, my back is broad and round,
And in my belly oft two holes are found;
No load I carry, yet I puff and blow,
As much as heavy loaded porters do.

103

When in my youth, I was my mother's pride;
We always went together, side by side;
No harm I wrought, by either word or deed;
For to be plain, I could not write or read;
But soon as man seiz'd on my tender frame,
Depriv'd of life, his pupil I became,
104
And tho' of late so innocent and mild,
With blackest deeds my virtues now defil'd;
My tongue he slits, and I begin to prate
Of friends and foes, of politics and state.

105

Legs I have got, yet seldom do I walk;
I backbite many, yet I never talk:
In secret places most I seek to hide me,
For he who feeds me never can abide me

106

While young and gay, and deck'd with utmost pride,
I long'd and thought it heav'n to be a bride:
At length a wealthy merchant view'd my charms,
Tall and genteel, I took him to my arms;
107
But he, in spite of all the med'cines try'd,
That very night light headed grew and dy'd:
Instructed by this merchant's fortune go,
Nor dream of lasting happiness below.

108

'Tis true I have both face and hands,
And move before your eye;
Yet when I go my body stands,
And when I stand I lie.

109

Of all dame nature's progeny,
There's scarce one being more than me
Alive despis'd and hated;
But tho' I am a filthy creature,
Without one amiable feature,
It strongly is debated,
Whether I don't excel the man,
Who thro' the paths of vice has ran,
And does no good while living;
110
But left a torn estate behind,
To put his family in mind,
He'd nothing worth the giving;
While I, whene'er impartial death
Pierces my heart or stops my breath,
My income ne'er destroy;
But for all favours done,
Return the living three for one,
And give the houshold joy.

111

Behold yon powder'd beau, how fine and fair:
Great Britain's glory, but his father's care;
Observe his equipage, how grand, how neat,
In ev'ry article alike compleat;
See him look down with scorn upon his fire,
While gaping passengers his pride admire.
112
Would you his residence or haunts explore,
Accept his key and open wide the door.
When bus'ness in the senate calls you there,
You'll soon behold this noble upstart near;
Or if for pleasure you to Vauxhall stray,
'Tis ten to one you pass him on the way;
But thro' the city should you chance to range,
You'll never find the booby upon change.
Like those fine gentlemen whom courts inclose,
He trade despises, though from trade he rose.

The END.

113

## Illustrated Shilling Series
OF
Forgotten Children's Books.

PUBLISHERS' NOTE.

The little books printed about a hundred years ago "for the amusement of little masters and misses" must now be looked for in the cabinets of the curious. The type is quaint, the illustrations quainter and the grayish tinted paper abounds in obtrusive specks of embedded dirt. For the covers, gaudy Dutch gilt paper was used, or paper with patchy blobs of startlingly contrasted colours laid on with a brush by young people. The text, always amusing, is of course redolent of earlier days.

1899-1900.
LONDON: PUBLISHED BY
The Leadenhall Press, Ltd: 50, Leadenhall Street, E.C.
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd:

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 153-157 Fifth Avenue.

114

1. THE DAISY; or, Cautionary Stories in Verse, adapted to Ideas of Children from Four to Eight Years Old. 1807.

Re-prints of this laughter-laden little book, written by Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, followed each other right up to about 1850: in the illustrated edition before the reader, nothing is omitted and nothing is added.

With a view to greater profit, the publisher discarded the pretty copperplates which adorned the first edition (now a thing of price) substituting roughly cut wooden blocks.

2. THE COWSLIP; or, More Cautionary Stories in Verse. By the author of that much-admired little work, entitled The Daisy. 1811.

Under this title in 1811 Mrs. Turner wrote some more Cautionary Stories which became almost as popular as The Daisy. She also wrote other books of poetry for children, including The Crocus, The Pink, and Short Poems; but none had the charm or vogue of The Daisy and The Cowslip.

115

3. NEW RIDDLE-BOOK. By John-the-Giant-Killer, Esquire. 1778.

This covetable little book, published by F(rancis) Newbery, Jun. and T(homas) Carnan, the son and step-son of John Newbery, had been issued by their father at least twenty years earlier than the date on the title-page. The opening note concerning Francis, the nephew of John Newbery, relates to family differences which need not here be referred to. There would seem to be no copyright in riddles, at any rate one finds the same hoary-heads in other collections.

The destructive fingers of little riddle-readers have been the means of causing thousands of copies of this amusing book to disappear, and to obtain an original copy is now almost impossible. The quaintness of the wood-cut pictorial answers should appeal to the modern reader.

It is intended to continue this Illustrated Shilling Series of
Forgotten Children's Books.
OTHER VOLUMES ARE IN PREPARATION.

116

SMILES AND LAUGHTER IN EVERY PAGE.

PAGES AND PICTURES FROM FORGOTTEN CHILDREN'S BOOKS. Brought together and introduced to the Reader by Andrew W. Tuer, F.S.A. Four hundred illustrations; five hundred pages, handsomely bound, top edge gilt, silk book-marker. LONDON: The Leadenhall Press, Ltd: 50, Leadenhall-street, E.C. [Six Shillings.

One hundred large paper copies at a Guinea, net.

SMILES AND LAUGHTER IN EVERY PAGE.

STORIES FROM OLD-FASHIONED CHILDREN'S BOOKS brought together and introduced to the Reader by Andrew W. Tuer, F.S.A. Adorned with 250 amusing cuts. Nearly 500 pages: handsomely and attractively bound. LONDON: The Leadenhall Press, Ltd: 50, Leadenhall-street, E.C. [Six Shillings.

THESE ARE QUITE INDEPENDENT VOLUMES.

Transcriber's Note:

Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.

Capitalization of opening verses were made consistent; e.g. "I Am" changed to "I am".

- Page 6: "oftn er" changed to oftner
- Page 58: "teaz d" changed to teaz'd
- Page 59: RoyalSociety changed to "Royal Society"
- Page 65: "caress d" changed to carres'd
- Page 76: Tis changed to 'Tis
- Page 86: "Determin d" changed to Determin'd
- Page 96: "dy d" changed to dy'd

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOOD FOR THE MIND: OR, A NEW RIDDLE-BOOK ***
Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.
Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.
START: FULL LICENSE

## THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

> This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”
- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.
- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.
- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™
Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.
The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.
This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.