Royal Guide or Early Instruction in Reading English. Mr. Winlove's Collection of Moral Tales. History of Tom Jones, abridg'd. " " Joseph Andrews " " " Pamela " " " Grandison " " " Clarissa " " It may be seen by the last-named books on this list that another series of books for children were abridgments of _Tom Jones_, _Joseph Andrews_, _Pamela_, and other great novels of the day. Rabelais said no abridgment of a book could be a good abridgment; these are worse than none. The childish reader is notified that if he likes the little books, his good friend, Mr. Thomas, has the larger books for sale. The engraving of the great Mr. Richardson sitting in his grotto, in 1751, in turban, banyan, and slippers, reading _Sir Charles Grandison_ to a group of friends, chiefly admiring young ladies in great hats and padusoy sacques, is typical of his life. He lived in a flower garden of girls, one intimate circle around his feet, and swelling circles extending even to America,--all facing inward and worshipping him and his works. They wept and smiled in a vast chorus at the dull pages of _Pamela_, at the surprising ones of _Clarissa_, and the thousands of interesting ones of _Sir Charles Grandison_. These seven volumes of letters exchanged between sixteen women, twenty men, all lovers, and fourteen Italians who are enumerated as of another sex, and are likewise chiefly lovers, are too prolix to be read to-day, but were a record of love-making which touched every girl's heart a century and more ago. [Illustration: 14 _The_ FATHER'S GIFT. _Father._ Now my Dear, as I find you have learned to [f.]pell and read ea[f.]y words, let me advi[f.]e you to purcha[f.]e the Ladder to Learning, which is printed in three Parts, or Steps; the fir[f.]t Part is a Collection of pretty Fables, Con[f.]i[f.]ting of Words of only one Syllable; the [f.]econd Part, of Words not exceeding two Syllables; and the third Part of few Words more than three Syllables. When you have reached the third Step, Attention and Application will [f.]oon enable you to read with Plea[f.]ure to your[f.]elf and Satisfaction to your Friends, all the little Books publi[f.]hed for good Ma[f.]ters and Mi[f.][f.]es, by your Friend in WORCESTER, near the COURT-HOUSE; a View of who[f.]e Shop I here give you. _The_ FATHER'S GIFT. 15 Illustration By an attentive Peru[f.]al of tho[f.]e little Publications, you will attain the e[f.]teem of all who know you; you will learn to be dutiful to your Papa and Mama, obedient to your Superiours, loving and kind to your Equals and Inferiours; and, above all, you will learn to fear God, and to call upon him often, that you may, through his Grace, become wi[f.]e and happy. Two Pages of _The Father's Gift_]