Early American School Books

Abstract

"Pages 6 and 7 of this compendium of samples from "Choice pages from 1785 to 1880" offers two fables. Those two pages are 142-43 of "The Elementary Spelling Book, an improvement on the American Spelling Book" by Noah Webster in New York in 1829. The first fable, "The Two Dogs," urges readers to avoid bad companions. A dog travelling with a larger dog of malignant attitude suffers the punishment for his companion's misdeeds as he harasses local dogs in a town they visit. The second fable is "The partial judge." It pivots on the question "Whose ox is getting gored?" It is a classic!"