"When Tommy has a mind to ride, he pulls a little bridle out of his pocket, whips it upon honest Jowler, and away he gallops tantwivy. As he rides through the town he frequently stops at the doors to know how the good children do within, and if they are good and learn their books, he then leaves an apple, an orange or a plumb-cake at the door, and away he gallops again tantwivy tantwivy." As a specimen of Tommy's literary skill he gives the lines beginning:-- "Three children sliding on the ice Upon a summer's day," etc. The description of animals are such as would be expected from the author of _Animated Nature_, an amusing medley of truth and tradition. [Illustration: A NEW LOTTERY BOOK, ON _A Plan Entirely New_; Designed to allure _Little Ones_ into a Knowledge of their Letters, &c. by way of Diversion. BY TOMMY TRIP, _A Lover of Children_. _EDINBURGH_ _Printed and Sold Wholesale_, BY CAW AND ELDER, HIGH STREET. 1819 _Price Twopence._ Title-page of _A New Lottery Book_] The name Tommy Trip seems to have been deemed a taking one in juvenile literature, and is found in many books for children, both in the titles and as the name of ascribed author. It was used until this century. The title-page of _A New Lottery Book by Tommy Trip_ is here shown. The manner of using this little _Lottery Book_ is thus explained:-- "As soon as the child can speak let him stick a pin through the page by the side of the letter you wish to teach him. Turn the page every time and explain the letter by which means the child's mind will be so fixed upon the letter that he will get a perfect idea of it, and will not be liable to mistake it for any other. Then show him the picture opposite the letter and make him read the name of." The antique mind seems to have found even in Biblical days a vast satisfaction in riddles. Quintilian said the making and study of riddles strengthened the reflective faculties. Old-time jest-books called _Guess Books_ were deemed proper reading for children, such as _Joe Miller's_ and _Merry Tales of the Wise Men of Gotham_; very stale and dull were the jests. The _Puzzling Cap_ was a popular one; also _The Sphinx or Allegorical Lozenges_. Others were _Guess Again_, and one entitled _Food for the Mind_, which bore these lines on the title-page:-- "Who Riddles Tells and Many Tales, O'er Nutbrown Cakes and Mugs of Ale." --HOMER.