Produced by Louise Hope, David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) [Transcriber's Note: The variation between "wasn't" and "wan't" appears to be intentional, and has not been changed. Other typographical errors are noted at the end of the e-text. A single row of asterisks * * * * * represents a decorative line in the original. A few lines were added by the transcriber at a page break when there was no intervening illustration.] The Only True MOTHER GOOSE MELODIES, Without Addition Or Abridgement. Embracing, Also, A Reliable LIFE OF THE GOOSE FAMILY, Never Before Published. NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by MUNROE & FRANCIS, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Massachusetts. BOSTON: MUNROE & FRANCIS. [Illustration] HEAR WHAT MA'AM GOOSE SAYS! My dear little Blossoms, there are now in this world, and always will be, a great many grannies besides myself, both in petticoats and pantaloons, some a deal younger to be sure; but all monstrous wise, and of my own family name. These old women, who never had chick nor child of their own, but who always know how to bring up other people's children, will tell you with very long faces, that my enchanting, quieting, soothing volume, my all-sufficient anodyne for cross, peevish, won't-be-comforted little bairns, ought to be laid aside for more learned books, such as _they_ could select and publish. Fudge! I tell you that all their batterings can't deface my beauties, nor their wise pratings equal my wiser prattlings; and all imitators of my refreshing songs might as well write a new Billy Shakespeare as another Mother Goose--we two great poets were born together, and we shall go out of the world together. No, no, my Melodies will never die, While nurses sing, or babies cry. [_Copyright secured._] HISTORY OF THE GOOSE FAMILY. [_From the Boston Transcript._] COTTON MATHER AND MOTHER GOOSE. _Mr. Editor_:--Your correspondent, N.B.S., has so decisively given a _quietus_ to the question as to the birthplace of Cotton Mather, that there is no danger of its ever being revived again. But there is another question of equal importance to many, to the literary world in particular, which should in like manner be put to rest. _Who was Mother Goose?_ and _when_ were her melodies first given to the world? These are questions which have been often asked, but have never been satisfactorily answered. The recent publication of a book called "Mother Goose for Old Folks" has again revived these questions, which serves to show that the subject has not yet lost its interest.