Truths and Fables (Cover: Truths, Fables, and Pictuers [sic])

Abstract

"Here is a curious melange that starts with a misspelling on the front cover! Next, after one endpaper, follows a title-page "Truths and Fables" with the words framed by eight medallions of typical family scenes. At the bottom of the title page is a signature "Devereux sc." There follow five pages of pictures in various formats. The first has a mother and child framed by an arch that seems to say "The Child's Gem. 1844." The second is an enclosed circle of a young woman drawing and a young man reading. Then we have an unframed illustration of a peacock and swan in an outdoor setting with a child. Fourth is a rectangular meeting of two males with a female carrying a basket. The last page of sheer illustrations combines a father pointing to deer, lake, and mountain. A second scene below shows two children reading outdoors. Then comes an illustrated title-page again proclaiming "Truths and Fables," this time with the place and publisher and even his address. A heading "Truths and Fables" stands over then an account of "The Sheep" and its services to humans, including an account of a girl and her pet sheep. Next is a history of Joppa, especially from the New Testament to Napoleon. Then comes an account of the horse, followed (at last!) by the fable of the horse wanting revenge on the stag (22). In "The Boy and the Robin" (28), a robin admonishes a boy for not minding his mother and going to bed on time. Next follow "The History of a Pin" for 15 pages and "The Battle of Blenheim." What a curious mixture! After a description of the ass, there is the fable of the ass and two sheep. This story uses a traditional fable about the many hard kinds of employment an ass may have to perform. He admonishes the sheep to be content with what they have. In a last short story, a boy tries to teach a dog to read. I gather that a publisher could put together whatever he had and sell it!"