The literature provided for children before John Newbery began to make it his business to cater specially for them was of the very scantiest character. Mr John Ashton in his interesting book, “Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne,” however tells us that even in the early days of the last century the little folk had their special literature. “For,” he says, “there was compiled and printed a play-book for children, to allure them to read as soon as they can speak plain; composed of small pages so as not to tire children; printed with a fair and pleasing letter, the matter and method plainer and easier than any yet extant. The price of this was fourpence, and it must have been a favourite, for it is advertised as being in its second edition in 1703. Certainly the little ones then lacked many advantages in this way that ours now possess; but, on the other hand, so much was not required of them. There was no dreaded ‘examination’ to prepare for—no doing lessons all day long, and then working hard at night to get ready for the next day's toil. They were not taught half a dozen languages, and all the ologies, whilst still in the nursery; but, were the suggestions and advice given to ‘the Mother’ in Steele's ‘Lady's Library’ thoroughly carried out, they would grow up good men and women.