Well, we all know the nursery rhyme and most of us have taught it to our children. Did you know it was written May 24, 1830 by Sarah Josepha Hale. At the time she was a widow and had come to work as an editor for Ladies' Magazine in Boston. The title of the poem was originally Mary's Lamb.
Godey's purchased the Ladies Magazine in 1837 and she continued to work for Godey's Lady's Book and stayed in Boston while her youngest son finished college at Harvard.
She retired in 1877 at the age of 89. Another interesting tidbit, that same year, Alexander Graham Bell recorded the first phonograph speaking the first lines of Mary's Lamb.
She believed in higher education for women and helped form Vassar College. She published nearly 50 volumes of work in her lifetime.
Who would have thought a nursery rhyme would lead to such a prominent life in the 19th century?
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
St. Nicholas A Monthly Magazine for Boys & Girls
St. Nicholas: a monthly magazine for boys and girls, edited by Mary Mapes Dodge was a children's illustrated magazine from 1873 to 1924. The magazine was edited by Mary Mayes Dodge the author of Hans Brinker of The Silver Skates. Mary's editorial policy was:
To give clean, genuine fun to children of all ages.
To give them examples of the finest types of boyhood and girlhood.
To inspire them with an appreciation of fine pictorial art.
To cultivate the imagination in profitable directions.
To foster a love of country, home, nature, truth, beauty, and sincerity.
To prepare boys and girls for life as it is.
To stimulate their ambitions--but along normally progressive lines.
To keep pace with a fast-moving world in all its activities.
To give reading matter which every parent may pass to his children unhesitatingly
You can read more about this magazine at: Link
Some of the authors who contributed regularly to this magazine were:
Louise May Alcott
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Emily Dickinson
J. Frank Dobie
Rudyard Kipling
Sidney Lanier
Robert Louis Stevenson
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Mark Twain
Kate Douglas Wiggin
To give clean, genuine fun to children of all ages.
To give them examples of the finest types of boyhood and girlhood.
To inspire them with an appreciation of fine pictorial art.
To cultivate the imagination in profitable directions.
To foster a love of country, home, nature, truth, beauty, and sincerity.
To prepare boys and girls for life as it is.
To stimulate their ambitions--but along normally progressive lines.
To keep pace with a fast-moving world in all its activities.
To give reading matter which every parent may pass to his children unhesitatingly
You can read more about this magazine at: Link
Some of the authors who contributed regularly to this magazine were:
Louise May Alcott
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Emily Dickinson
J. Frank Dobie
Rudyard Kipling
Sidney Lanier
Robert Louis Stevenson
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Mark Twain
Kate Douglas Wiggin
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Harriet Beecher Stowe
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
THE CHAMPION OF HUMAN LIBERTY
"Ah, dearer than the praise that stirs
The air to-day, our love is hers!
She needs no guaranty of fame
Whose own is linked with freedom's name."
—Whitiier.
THERE are few women in American history who have been so highly praised and so severely censured as Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mrs. Stowe was born in the year 1812, at Litchfield, Conn., just at a time when her father, Rev. Lyman Beecher, was rising into fame as a pulpit orator. As a girl she was active, conscientious and helpful. When grown she spent more or less of her time in teaching school. Later on in life she married the Rev. Calvin E. Stowe and entered upon her domestic duties with the same energy with which she took up all other duties of life, busying herself with her pen at odd moments.
She was never called beautiful, yet her large, dark eyes, and almost sad expression of countenance, show that the woman was no ordinary type. After- her marriage she moved near Boston. Here she had an opportunity to study the negro character. Here she also studied the system of slavery and its influence upon master and slave. Her heart was stirred with the tales of wrong and sorrow which she heard from those who had escaped from the land of bondage. The pent-up feelings of her heart at last found an outlet. She resolved to write and tell what she knew of the crimes and horrors of the slave system, in a book. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" took the public by storm. It first appeared in detached parts through the medium of a weekly newspaper. In April, 1852, it was issued in two volumes, and in May was republished in London. By the close of 1852 more than one million copies had been sold in America and England. The book has now been translated and published in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Flemish, Polish, Russian and other languages. These versions are to be found in the British Museum, in London. It has been dramatized in twenty different forms, and to-day, not only in America, but in every capital in Europe, its influence in stamping out the dark system of slavery, is beyond^all question. Mrs. Stowe uttered a voice for humanity and for God that will not soon die away, and in strength of description has never been surpassed.
Take for instance that part where Eliza, the slave mother, concealed in a closet, overhears a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Shelby, and learns that her little son has been sold to a trader. "When the voices died in silence, she rose and crept stealthily away. Pale, shivering, with rigid features and compressed lips, she looked an entirely altered being from the soft and timid creature she had been hitherto. She moved cautiously along the entry, paused one moment at her mistress' door, raised her hands in mute appeal to heaven, and then turned and glided into her own room. It was a quiet, neat apartment on the same floor with her mistress. There was the pleasant sunny window, where she had often sat singing at her sewing; there a little case of books, and various little fancy articles arranged by them, the gifts of Christmas holidays; there was her simple wardrobe in the closet and in the drawers; here was, in short, her home; and, on the whole, a happy one it had been to'her. But there, on the bed, lay her slumbering boy, his long curls falling negligently around his unconscious face, his rosy mouth half open, his little fat hands thrown out over the bed clothes, and a smile spread like a sunbeam over his whole face. 'Poor boy, poor fellow,' said Eliza; 'they have sold you; but your mother will save you yet.' No tear dropped over that pillow; in such straits as these the heart has no tears to give—it drops only blood, bleeding itself away in silence."
Somewhat in advance of her pursuers, Eliza reached a village on the bank of the Ohio. Here, to her dismay, she found the river swollen to a flood, and filled with floating ice. She had been but a short time in the village tavern when "the whole train of her pursuers swept by the window, around to the front door. A thousand lives seemed to be concentrated in that one moment to Eliza. Her room opened by a side door to the river. She caught her child, and sprang down the steps toward it. The trader caught a full glimpse of her just as she was disappearing down the bank; and throwing himself from his horse, and calling loudly on Sam and Andy, he was after her like a hound after a deer. In that dizzy moment, her feet to her scarce seemed to touch the ground, and a moment brought her to the water's edge. Right on behind they came; and, nerved with strength such as God gives only to the desperate, with one wild cry and flying leap, she vaulted sheer over the turbid current by the shore, on to the raft of ice beyond. It was a desperate leap, impossible to anything but madness and despair. The huge, green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched and creaked as her weight came on it; but she staid there not a moment. With wild cries and desperate energy she leaped to another and still another cake, stumbling, leaping, slipping, springing upward again. Her shoes are gone, her stockings cut from her feet, while blood marked every step; but she saw nothing, felt nothing, till dimly, as in a dream, she saw the Ohio side, and a man helping her up the bank."
Besides "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Mrs. Stowe wrote many other works, the most notable being "The Minister's Wooing," "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands." and "Oldtown Folks." Mrs. Stowe passed away on the first of July, 1896, surrounded by friends in her pretty home at Hartford, Conn.
Excerpt from Leaders of the 19th Century by Evelyn Harriet Walker ©1900
THE CHAMPION OF HUMAN LIBERTY
"Ah, dearer than the praise that stirs
The air to-day, our love is hers!
She needs no guaranty of fame
Whose own is linked with freedom's name."
—Whitiier.
THERE are few women in American history who have been so highly praised and so severely censured as Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mrs. Stowe was born in the year 1812, at Litchfield, Conn., just at a time when her father, Rev. Lyman Beecher, was rising into fame as a pulpit orator. As a girl she was active, conscientious and helpful. When grown she spent more or less of her time in teaching school. Later on in life she married the Rev. Calvin E. Stowe and entered upon her domestic duties with the same energy with which she took up all other duties of life, busying herself with her pen at odd moments.
She was never called beautiful, yet her large, dark eyes, and almost sad expression of countenance, show that the woman was no ordinary type. After- her marriage she moved near Boston. Here she had an opportunity to study the negro character. Here she also studied the system of slavery and its influence upon master and slave. Her heart was stirred with the tales of wrong and sorrow which she heard from those who had escaped from the land of bondage. The pent-up feelings of her heart at last found an outlet. She resolved to write and tell what she knew of the crimes and horrors of the slave system, in a book. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" took the public by storm. It first appeared in detached parts through the medium of a weekly newspaper. In April, 1852, it was issued in two volumes, and in May was republished in London. By the close of 1852 more than one million copies had been sold in America and England. The book has now been translated and published in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Flemish, Polish, Russian and other languages. These versions are to be found in the British Museum, in London. It has been dramatized in twenty different forms, and to-day, not only in America, but in every capital in Europe, its influence in stamping out the dark system of slavery, is beyond^all question. Mrs. Stowe uttered a voice for humanity and for God that will not soon die away, and in strength of description has never been surpassed.
Take for instance that part where Eliza, the slave mother, concealed in a closet, overhears a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Shelby, and learns that her little son has been sold to a trader. "When the voices died in silence, she rose and crept stealthily away. Pale, shivering, with rigid features and compressed lips, she looked an entirely altered being from the soft and timid creature she had been hitherto. She moved cautiously along the entry, paused one moment at her mistress' door, raised her hands in mute appeal to heaven, and then turned and glided into her own room. It was a quiet, neat apartment on the same floor with her mistress. There was the pleasant sunny window, where she had often sat singing at her sewing; there a little case of books, and various little fancy articles arranged by them, the gifts of Christmas holidays; there was her simple wardrobe in the closet and in the drawers; here was, in short, her home; and, on the whole, a happy one it had been to'her. But there, on the bed, lay her slumbering boy, his long curls falling negligently around his unconscious face, his rosy mouth half open, his little fat hands thrown out over the bed clothes, and a smile spread like a sunbeam over his whole face. 'Poor boy, poor fellow,' said Eliza; 'they have sold you; but your mother will save you yet.' No tear dropped over that pillow; in such straits as these the heart has no tears to give—it drops only blood, bleeding itself away in silence."
Somewhat in advance of her pursuers, Eliza reached a village on the bank of the Ohio. Here, to her dismay, she found the river swollen to a flood, and filled with floating ice. She had been but a short time in the village tavern when "the whole train of her pursuers swept by the window, around to the front door. A thousand lives seemed to be concentrated in that one moment to Eliza. Her room opened by a side door to the river. She caught her child, and sprang down the steps toward it. The trader caught a full glimpse of her just as she was disappearing down the bank; and throwing himself from his horse, and calling loudly on Sam and Andy, he was after her like a hound after a deer. In that dizzy moment, her feet to her scarce seemed to touch the ground, and a moment brought her to the water's edge. Right on behind they came; and, nerved with strength such as God gives only to the desperate, with one wild cry and flying leap, she vaulted sheer over the turbid current by the shore, on to the raft of ice beyond. It was a desperate leap, impossible to anything but madness and despair. The huge, green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched and creaked as her weight came on it; but she staid there not a moment. With wild cries and desperate energy she leaped to another and still another cake, stumbling, leaping, slipping, springing upward again. Her shoes are gone, her stockings cut from her feet, while blood marked every step; but she saw nothing, felt nothing, till dimly, as in a dream, she saw the Ohio side, and a man helping her up the bank."
Besides "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Mrs. Stowe wrote many other works, the most notable being "The Minister's Wooing," "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands." and "Oldtown Folks." Mrs. Stowe passed away on the first of July, 1896, surrounded by friends in her pretty home at Hartford, Conn.
Excerpt from Leaders of the 19th Century by Evelyn Harriet Walker ©1900
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Mark Twain
One of the famous authors from the 19th century and also continued work in the 20th was Mark Twain. Below is a list of the novels/books he published during the 19th century. Many of these books can be downloaded at various internet sites, my favorite is Gutenburg's.
The Innocents Abroad 1869
Curious Republic of Gondour 1870
A Burlesque Autobiography 1871
Roughing It 1872
The Gilded Age 1873
Sketches New and Old 1875
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1876
Carnival of Crime in CT 1877
A Tramp Abroad 1880
1601 1880
The Prince and the Pauper 1881
The Stolen White Elephant 1882
Life on the Mississippi 1883
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1885
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court 1889
The American Claimant 1892
Tom Sawyer Abroad 1894
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson 1894
Tom Sawyer, Detective 1896
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc Vol 1 1896
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc Vol 2 1896
How to Tell a Story and Others 1897
Following the Equator 1897
The Innocents Abroad 1869
Curious Republic of Gondour 1870
A Burlesque Autobiography 1871
Roughing It 1872
The Gilded Age 1873
Sketches New and Old 1875
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1876
Carnival of Crime in CT 1877
A Tramp Abroad 1880
1601 1880
The Prince and the Pauper 1881
The Stolen White Elephant 1882
Life on the Mississippi 1883
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1885
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court 1889
The American Claimant 1892
Tom Sawyer Abroad 1894
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson 1894
Tom Sawyer, Detective 1896
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc Vol 1 1896
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc Vol 2 1896
How to Tell a Story and Others 1897
Following the Equator 1897
Friday, October 2, 2015
The Dark Knight by Henry G. Bell
This isn't the kind of a poem I would normally read or post but as I skim through some of the references in Google books about the Dark Knight this 1830 poem (It could have been published before that date but that is the earliest I found it.) seems to have influenced a far amount of writings during the 19th Century. This 1830 poem was printed in "The Edinburgh Literary Journal." The following year, Bell published a book of poems "Summer and Winter Hours." in which he included this poem.
THE DARK KNIGHT A BALLAD.
By Henry G. Bell
There came a dark knight from a far countrie,
And no one ever saw his face, for he
Wore his black vizor down continuallie.
He came to a gay bridal, where the bride
Stood, in rich robes, her destined lord beside,
Who gazed upon her with a joyful pride.
And there was music in the sunny sky,
And mirthful voices made a glad reply,—
And there was music in the young bride's eye.
Yet ever and anon her look would fall
On the dark knight who stood apart from all,—
Dark as his shadow, moveless on the wall.
The words were spoken, and the bridal o'er,
And now the mirth grew louder than before;
Why stands the dark knight silent at the door?
The hour grows late, and one by one depart
The guests, with bounding step and merry heart,—
Methought I saw that new-wed ladie start.
N'one in her father's hall are left but she
And her young bridegroom, who, as none may see,
Hath twined his arm around her lovinglie.
Yes,—there is still a third—the vizor'd knight,—
Mark you the glancing of his corslet bright,
Mark you his eye that glares with such strange light?
He moves on slowly through the lofty room,
And as he moves there falls a deeper gloom,—
That heavy tread, why sounds it of the tomb?
And through the castle there was stillness deep,
A drearier stillness than the calm of sleep,—
Closer, in silent awe, the lovers creep.
—A shriek was heard at midnight, such as broke
On every ear, like the first pealing stroke
Of the alarm bell, and the sleepers woke!
In the old hall where fitful moonlight shone,
There lay the bridegroom and the bride alone,
Pale, dead, and cold as monumental stone,—
A vizor'd helm was near, but the dark knight was gone.
THE DARK KNIGHT A BALLAD.
By Henry G. Bell
There came a dark knight from a far countrie,
And no one ever saw his face, for he
Wore his black vizor down continuallie.
He came to a gay bridal, where the bride
Stood, in rich robes, her destined lord beside,
Who gazed upon her with a joyful pride.
And there was music in the sunny sky,
And mirthful voices made a glad reply,—
And there was music in the young bride's eye.
Yet ever and anon her look would fall
On the dark knight who stood apart from all,—
Dark as his shadow, moveless on the wall.
The words were spoken, and the bridal o'er,
And now the mirth grew louder than before;
Why stands the dark knight silent at the door?
The hour grows late, and one by one depart
The guests, with bounding step and merry heart,—
Methought I saw that new-wed ladie start.
N'one in her father's hall are left but she
And her young bridegroom, who, as none may see,
Hath twined his arm around her lovinglie.
Yes,—there is still a third—the vizor'd knight,—
Mark you the glancing of his corslet bright,
Mark you his eye that glares with such strange light?
He moves on slowly through the lofty room,
And as he moves there falls a deeper gloom,—
That heavy tread, why sounds it of the tomb?
And through the castle there was stillness deep,
A drearier stillness than the calm of sleep,—
Closer, in silent awe, the lovers creep.
—A shriek was heard at midnight, such as broke
On every ear, like the first pealing stroke
Of the alarm bell, and the sleepers woke!
In the old hall where fitful moonlight shone,
There lay the bridegroom and the bride alone,
Pale, dead, and cold as monumental stone,—
A vizor'd helm was near, but the dark knight was gone.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
The Shepherd's Betrothal
This week my latest novel "The Shepherd's Betrothal was released. Below is a copy of the Book Cover and the back cover copy.
In this arranged marriage story I wanted to do something a bit different and I hope I've achieved it. If you're looking for a fun read, take a moment and check it out, or better yet, purchase a copy. ;-)
THE SHEPHERD'S BETROTHAL
by Lynn A. Coleman
HEARTSONG PRESENTS HARLEQUIN
ISBN: 978-0373487714
HOPE LANG BELIEVES IN LOVE…
Not an arranged marriage to a man she's never met. Hope scorns such old-fashioned ideas, until she meets the man she once refused as her groom. Soon she's falling for the rugged yet caring Irishman.
Ian McGrae's determined to make a success of his new Florida homestead—not grapple with the woman who rejected him. But when the ownership of his land is disputed, Hope works by his side to uncover the threat. As Ian gets to know Hope, he finds she's his perfect match. And if they can forgive and forget the past, they just might have a future together.
The Shepherd's Betrothal is a Historical Romance set in St. Augustine, FL.
Paper Back at Amazon
Kindle Version
Barnes & Noble and Nook Version is on the same page.
At CBD
In this arranged marriage story I wanted to do something a bit different and I hope I've achieved it. If you're looking for a fun read, take a moment and check it out, or better yet, purchase a copy. ;-)
by Lynn A. Coleman
HEARTSONG PRESENTS HARLEQUIN
ISBN: 978-0373487714
HOPE LANG BELIEVES IN LOVE…
Not an arranged marriage to a man she's never met. Hope scorns such old-fashioned ideas, until she meets the man she once refused as her groom. Soon she's falling for the rugged yet caring Irishman.
Ian McGrae's determined to make a success of his new Florida homestead—not grapple with the woman who rejected him. But when the ownership of his land is disputed, Hope works by his side to uncover the threat. As Ian gets to know Hope, he finds she's his perfect match. And if they can forgive and forget the past, they just might have a future together.
The Shepherd's Betrothal is a Historical Romance set in St. Augustine, FL.
Paper Back at Amazon
Kindle Version
Barnes & Noble and Nook Version is on the same page.
At CBD
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