So far the only attractions to induce children to read have been through the pictures in the Primer of New England, and by the gilding of the horn-book.  From further south comes the first note of amusement in reading, as well as the first expression of pleasure from the children themselves in regard to a book.  In 1741, in Virginia, two letters were written and received by R.H.  Lee and George Washington.  These letters, which afford the first in any way authentic account of tales of real entertainment, are given by Mr. Lossing in “The Home of Washington,” and tell their own tale: 

     [Richard Henry Lee to George Washington]

PA brought me two pretty books full of pictures he got them in Alexandria they have pictures of dogs and cats and tigers and elefants and ever so many pretty things cousin bids me send you one of them it has a picture of an elefant and a little indian boy on his back like uncle jo’s Sam pa says if I learn my tasks good he will let uncle jo bring me to see you will you ask your ma to let you come to see me.

     RICHARD HENRY LEE.

     [G.  Washington to R.H.  Lee]

DEAR DICKEY—­I thank you very much for the pretty picture book you gave me.  Sam asked me to show him the pictures and I showed him all the pictures in it; and I read to him how the tame Elephant took care of the Master’s little boy, and put him on his back and would not let anybody touch his master’s little son.  I can read three or four pages sometimes without missing a word....  I have a little piece of poetry about the picture book you gave me but I mustn’t tell you who wrote the poetry.

G.W.’s compliments to R.H.L. 
And likes his book full well,
Henceforth will count him his friend
And hopes many happy days he may spend.

Your good friend
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

In a note Mr. Lossing states that he had copies of these two letters, sent him by a Mr. Lee, who wrote:  “The letter of Richard Henry Lee was written by himself, and uncorrected sent by him to his boy friend George Washington.  The poetical effusion was, I have heard, written by a Mr. Howard, a gentleman who used to visit at the house of Mr. Washington.”

It would be gratifying to know the titles of these two books, so evidently English chap-book tales.  It is probable that they were imported by a shop-keeper in Alexandria, as in seventeen hundred and forty-one there was only one press in Virginia, owned by William Sharps, who had moved from Annapolis in seventeen hundred and thirty-six.  Luxuries were so much more common among the Virginia planters, and life was so much more roseate in hue than was the case in the northern colonies, that it seems most natural that two southern boys should have left the earliest account of any real story-books.  Though unfortunately nameless, they at least form an interesting coincidence.  Bought in seventeen hundred and forty-one, they follow just one hundred years later than the meeting of the General Court, which was responsible for the preparation of Cotton’s “Milk for Babes,” and precede by a century the date when an American story-book literature was recognized as very different from that written for English children.