The chapman or peddler we may well believe did not stand silently looking on as he disposed of his stock.  He had at the tip of his tongue such a fair-sounding advertisement for every book that everybody, young and old, came under the spell of his words and bought of his wares.

After he had departed with his traveling library, we can picture the children taking themselves off to quiet places with their new chapbooks.  Perhaps you are wondering why it was that they were so eager to read them.  If so, you may like to look into a few of these rare old story books.  As you read, notice how quaint the wording seems when compared with that of the stories of to-day.

(Extract from The History of Tom Long the Carrier.)

As Tom Long the Carrier was travelling between Dover and Westchester, he fortuned to pass something near a House, where was kept a great Mastiff Dog, who, as soon as he espied Tom, came running open-mouthed at him, and so furiously assaulted him, as if he meant to devour him at a bite.  But Tom, having in his Hand a good Pikestaff, most valiantly defended himself like a Man, and to withstand the danger he thrust the Pike-end of his Staff into his Throat and so killed him.  Whereupon the Owner thereof, seeing the Dog lost, comes earnestly unto Tom, and between threatening and chiding, asking him why he struck him not with the great End of the staff.  ‘Marry,’ quoth he, ’because your Dog runs not at me with his tail.’

(Extract from The Kentish Miracle, or, A Seasonable Warning to all Sinners.) Shewn in the Wonderful Relation of one Mary Moore whose Husband died some time ago, and left her with two children, and who was reduced to great want.  How she wandered about the Country asking relief and went two Days without any Food—­How the Devil appeared to her and the many great offers he made her to deny Christ and enter into his service, and how she confounded Satan by powerful Argument.  How she came to a well of water when she fell down on her knees to pray to God that He would give that Vertue to the Water that it might refresh and satisfy her Children’s Hunger, with an Account how an Angel appeared to her, and relieved her, also declared many Things that shall happen in the Month of March next.  Shewing likewise what strange and surprising Accidents shall happen by means of the present War, and concerning a dreadful Earthquake, etc.

(Extract from A Timely Warning to Rash and Disobedient Children.)

  As this Child went to School one Day
  Through the Churchyard she took her Way
  When lo, the Devil came and said
  Where are you going to, my pretty Maid
  To School I am going Sir, said she
  Pish, Child, don’t mind the same saith he,
  But haste to your Companions dear
  And learn to lie and curse and swear. 
  They bravely spend their Time in Play
  God they don’t value—­no, not they. 
  It is a Fable, Child, he cry’d