Beauty"--

"_Les yeux bleus_
_Vont aux cieux._
_Les yeux gris_
_Vont a Paradis._
_Les yeux noirs_
_Vont a Purgatoire._"

None of the other rhymes seem to be anything but nonsense, and nonsense
is a very good thing in its way, especially with pictures. Any child who
likes can get Mrs. Markham's "History of England," and read about the
Jims, and Georges, and Charleys, but I scarcely think that such children
are very common. However, the facts about these famous people are told
here shortly, and if there is any more to be said about Jack and Jill, I
am sure I don't know what it is, or where the hill they sat on is to be
found in the geography books.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Contents]

Page

I. _Historical_ 29

II. _Literal and Scholastic_ 41

III. _Tales_ 53

IV. _Proverbs_ 75

V. _Songs_ 85

VI. _Riddles and Paradoxes_ 121

VII. _Charms and Lullabies_ 143

VIII. _Gaffers and Gammers_ 153

IX. _Games_ 167

X. _Jingles_ 189

XI. _Love and Matrimony_ 197

XII. _Natural History_ 217

XIII. _Accumulative Stories_ 247

XIV. _Relics_ 261

_Notes_ 275

_Index of First Lines_ 279

[Illustration: Illustrations]

Page

Frontispiece--Little Bo-Peep 4

Title-Page 5

Heading to Preface 7

Medallion--Frederic. Walliae Princeps