The
Pilgrim's and Puritans had a profound belief that all must seek the
Word of God in the Bible. Hence, they firmly believed in educating
their children to read. For this purpose hornbooks
were created which consisted of the alphabet accompanied with a text
from the Bible. The alphabet and Biblical text were mounted on a
board which was covered with a thin sheet of transparent animal horn.
Eventually, children utilized the New England Primer
which was printed in Boston in 1690.
By 1691, the Primer was entering it's second edition and was advertised by Benjamin Harris of Boston. The oldest extant copy of the New England Primer is dated 1737.
By 1691, the Primer was entering it's second edition and was advertised by Benjamin Harris of Boston. The oldest extant copy of the New England Primer is dated 1737.
The
Primer was
known as the “Little
Bible of New England” and
is considered to be the most influential school book in the history
of American education. The Primer
was three by five inches and contained an eighty-eight page
devotional. The New
England Primer
was the school book of America during the end of the 1600's and early
1700's. There were over three million copies of the Primer
which were printed containing the alphabet and some scripture verses.
Consequently, the actual manner in which the alphabet was taught
utilizing the Bible clearly indicates the Christian nature of this
most important book in the history of America.
A
- In Adam's Fall
We
sinned all.
B
- Heaven to find,
The
Bible Mind.
C
- Christ crucify'd
For
sinners dy'd.
D
- The Deluge drown'd
The
Earth around.
E
- Elijah hid
By
Ravens fed.
F
- The judgment made
Felix
afraid.
G
- As runs the Glass,
Our
Life doth pass.
H
- My Book and Heart
Must
never part.
J
- Job feels the Rod,
Yet
blesses GOD.
K
- Proud Korah's troop
Was
swallowed up.
L - Lor fled to Zoar,
Saw
Fiery Shower
On
Sodom
pour.
M
- Moses was he
Who
Israel's Host
Led
thro' the Sea.
N
- Noah did view
The
old world & new.
O
- Young Obadias,
David,
Josias
All
were pious.
P
- Peter deny'd
His
Lord and cry'd.
Q - Queen Esther sues
And
saves the Jews.
R - Young pious Ruth,
Left
all for Truth.
S
- Young Sam'l dear
The
Lord did fear.
T
- Young Timothy
Learnt
sin to fly.
V
- Vasthi for Pride,
Was
set aside.
W - Whales in the Sea
GOD's
Voice obey.
X
- Xerxes did die,
And
so must I.
Y
- While youth so chear
Death
may be near.
Z
- Zaccheus he
Did
climb the Tree
Our
Lord to see.
This cherished prayer was included in the New England Primer:
The prayer was originally recorded in the Enchiridion Leonis which is dated 1160 A.D.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
The prayer was originally recorded in the Enchiridion Leonis which is dated 1160 A.D.
2 comments:
Thanks for posting the full alphabet of verses. I notice that other sources have other versions of the rhymes. For example, this source has this listed for B-F (https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/neprimer.html)
B Thy Life to Mend
This Book Attend.
C The Cat doth play
And after slay.
D A Dog will bite
A Thief at night.
E An Eagle's flight
Is Out of sight.
F The Idle Fool
Is Whipt at School.
And this source differs for T-Z, Giving U instead of V (https://www.studenthandouts.com/pictures/american-history/colonial-period/new-england-primer.html)
T: Time cuts down all both great and small.
U: Uriah's beauteous wife made David seek his life.
W: (same)
X: Xerxes the great did die, and so must you & I. (close)
Y: Youth forward slips death soonest nips.
Z: (same)
I notice the other sources are less biblical and more tragic. Is one of these from the 1777 version?
I found more.
According to Britannica, the more religious (and less edgy) version was later, in the mid 1700s. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-New-England-Primer
An early version has photos posted here. It looks like these are from 1727.
https://www.conservapedia.com/The_New_England_Primer
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