Child Life in Colonial DaysAt the end of the 19th century, after Americans had endured thirty years of tremendous change due to rapid industrial growth, social upheavals, and the excesses of the Gilded Age, they began to look back with increasing fondness to their own past. The Colonial Revival in architecture was one fruit of this nostalgia; another was the insightful chronicles of social history in earlier days written by Alice Morse Earle. Following the success of her book "Home Life in Colonial Days," Alice Morse Earle wrote a detailed and fascinating account of American children and their lives from the very earliest settlers to the first decades of the new republic. Covering everything from dress to toys, schools to play, discipline and religion, she described in highly readable prose a child's life in the days before the railroad and telegraph. Her book has endured for a century, enthralling readers and inspiring scholars to new research into the field. |
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Page 43
... pretty ribbon knots . This sleeve was known as the virago sleeve , and John Quincy's are darker colored than his frock . All three wear loosely tied rather shapeless hoods , such as are seen on the women in the prints of the coronation ...
... pretty ribbon knots . This sleeve was known as the virago sleeve , and John Quincy's are darker colored than his frock . All three wear loosely tied rather shapeless hoods , such as are seen on the women in the prints of the coronation ...
Page 52
... pretty satin . sleeves have white under - sleeves and wrist ruffles , but the neck is cut very low and round . The child holds two pigeons by a leash , and a feathered hat is by his side . This portrait was much loved by its late owner ...
... pretty satin . sleeves have white under - sleeves and wrist ruffles , but the neck is cut very low and round . The child holds two pigeons by a leash , and a feathered hat is by his side . This portrait was much loved by its late owner ...
Page 93
... pretty often to the girls . I would also have the girls keep what they have learnt of the Grammar , and get by heart as far as Jonathan hath learnt ; he can keep them as far as he had learnt . And would have both him and them keep their ...
... pretty often to the girls . I would also have the girls keep what they have learnt of the Grammar , and get by heart as far as Jonathan hath learnt ; he can keep them as far as he had learnt . And would have both him and them keep their ...
Page 95
... pretty fast . " The Catechism of Health , an old - time child's book , thus summarily and definitely sets girls in their proper places : - Query : Ought female children to receive the same . education as boys and have the same scope for ...
... pretty fast . " The Catechism of Health , an old - time child's book , thus summarily and definitely sets girls in their proper places : - Query : Ought female children to receive the same . education as boys and have the same scope for ...
Page 105
... pretty Gang broke open a Trunk in my Absence and stole several Things of which the Silk makes a part . So imagine Betsey will petition you for some . I am much obliged for the care you have taken to get all my Duds together , I cannot ...
... pretty Gang broke open a Trunk in my Absence and stole several Things of which the Silk makes a part . So imagine Betsey will petition you for some . I am much obliged for the care you have taken to get all my Duds together , I cannot ...
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ALICE MORSE EARLE American Anna Green Anna Green Winslow baby beautiful Bible Billey born Boston boys called Catechism century chil child childish church colonial days color Connecticut Cotton Mather cradle dancing daugh daughter delightful diary dolls dren dress Dutch early Elizabeth England English Essex Institute facing father flowers given Goody Two Shoes Governor hand hath hornbook Isaiah Thomas James Janeway John John Quincy Adams Judge Sewall juvenile Lady lesson letters little books little girl lived maid married Massachusetts master mind minister Miss mother never Noah Webster old-time painted parents picture play portrait pretty primer printed Puritan Quincy religious rhyme Robert Gibbs Salem Sampler says scholars seen Shoes silk sister spelling taught teacher teaching tell things Thomas tion to-day told town toys verses whipped William words writing written wrote young youth
Popular passages
Page 257 - A crime it is, therefore in bliss you may not hope to dwell; But unto you I shall allow the easiest room in hell.
Page 113 - They braced my aunt against a board, To make her straight and tall ; They laced her up, they starved her down, To make her light and small; They pinched her feet, they singed her hair, They screwed it up with pins; — Oh, never mortal suffered more In penance for her sins.
Page 111 - Who the painter was none may tell,— One whose best was not over well; Hard and dry, it must be confessed, Flat as a rose that has long been pressed; Yet in her cheek the hues are bright, Dainty colors of red and white, And in her slender shape are seen Hint and promise of stately mien. Look not on her with eyes of scorn,— Dorothy Q. was a lady born! Ay! since the galloping Normans came, England's annals have known her name; And still to...
Page 367 - Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw: Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight, A little louder, but as empty quite...
Page 20 - And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty : why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me...
Page 181 - Puerilis,' got by heart almost the entire vocabulary of Latin and French primitives and words, could make congruous syntax, turn English into Latin, and vice versa, construe and prove what he read, and did the government and use of relatives, verbs, substantives, ellipses, and many figures and tropes, and made a considerable progress in Comenius's Janua; began himself to write legibly, and had a strong passion for Greek.
Page 409 - Yon rising Moon that looks for us again — How oft hereafter will she wax and wane; How oft hereafter rising look for us Through this same Garden — and for one in vain!
Page 254 - Or, Some Examples of Children, in whom the Fear of God was Remarkably Budding before they Died; in several Parts of New England.
Page 234 - ... thought it better to dislodge betimes to some place of better advantage and less danger, if any such could be found. Thirdly; as necessitie was a taskmaster over them, so they were forced to be such, not only to their servants, but in a sorte, to their dearest children...
Page 380 - Though mangled, hack'd, and hew'd, not yet destroy'd ; The little ones, unbutton'd, glowing hot, Playing our games, and on the very spot, As happy as we once, to kneel and draw The chalky ring, and knuckle down at taw...