This description of the printer’s ability is borne out by the “New-Gift for Children,” printed by this firm.  It is probably the oldest story-book bearing an American imprint now in existence, and for this reason merits description, although its contents can be seen in the picture of the title-page.  Brown with age and like all chap-books without a cover—­for it was Newbery who introduced this more durable and attractive feature—­all sizes in type were used to print its fifteen stories.  The stories in themselves were not new, as it is called the “Fourth edition.”  It is possible that they were taken from the Banbury chap-books, which also often copied Newbery’s juvenile library, as the list of his publications compiled by Mr. Charles Welsh does not contain this title.

The loyalty of the Boston printers found expression on the third page by a very black cut of King George the Third, who appears rather puzzled and not a little unhappy; but it found favor with customers, for as yet the colonials thought their king “no man of blood.”  On turning the page Queen Charlotte looks out with goggle-eyes, curls, and a row of beads about the size of pebbles around her thick neck.  The picture seems to be a copy from some miniature of the queen, as an oval frame with a crown surmounting it encircles the portrait.  The stories are so much better than some that were written even after the nineteenth century, that extracts from them are worth reading.  The third tale, called “The Generosity of Confessing a Fault,” begins as follows: 

“Miss Fanny Goodwill was one of the prettiest children that ever was seen; her temper was as sweet as her looks, and her behavior so genteel and obliging that everybody admir’d her; for nobody can help loving good children, any more than they can help being angry with those that are naughty.  It is no wonder then that her papa and mama lov’d her dearly, they took a great deal of pains to improve her mind so that before she was seven years old, she could read, and talk, and work like a little woman.  One day as her papa was sitting by the fire, he set her upon his knees, kiss’d her, and told her how very much he lov’d her; and then smiling, and taking hold of her hand, My dear Fanny, said he, take care never to tell a lye, and then I shall always love you as well as I do now.  You or I may be guilty of a fault; but there is something noble and generous in owning our errors, and striving to mend them; but a lye more than doubles the fault, and when it is found out, makes the lyar appear mean and contemptible....  Thus, my dear, the lyar is a wretch, whom nobody trusts, nobody regards, nobody pities.  Indeed papa, said Miss Fanny, I would not be such a creature for all the world.  You are very good, my little charmer, said her papa and kiss’d her again.”

[Illustration:  Title-page from “The New Gift for Children"]