PREFACE. THESE little compositions were formed at a time when the purchase of the many valuable books we enjoy for Children was not convenient-to the Authoress. Her Children were anxious for information: she therefore endeavoured to gratify their wishes by simplifying, and reducing to the capacities of Children of six and seven years old, many interesting relations, extracted from the works of our most intelligent Travellers. To a numerous young family they have afforded enter tainment, and led to observation. FOOD FOR THE YOUNG, &c. RATIONAL INQUIRIES. ONE day a gentleman dined with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who had lately returned from America. Frederic and Lucy were much amused with the accounts this gentleman gave of several productions and animals he had seen in America. He talked much about beavers; but, as Frederic and his sister were quite unacquainted with this curious animal, they could not clearly understand all they heard; and presently after, the conversation changing, they left the room and B 66 went into the garden.-"Brother," said Lucy, as they walked along, mamma has often told us that America is one of the four quarters of the world. I wonder she has never shewed us whereabouts it is on the map: I should like vastly to know more about a place which produces such wonderful things as papa's visitor talked about to-day. "Indeed," replied Frederic, "I should like to know more about them as much as you; and I think, if we see mamma not busy this evening, we had better ask her to tell us about them. You know she desired us always to ask her to explain what we could not understand. But, Lucy, I think we might go and look at the map ourselves: mamma bung it in the back parlour on purpose that we may look at it whenever we have a mind."-“ Oh! I had forgot that," cried Lucy, turning immediately round towards the house. They had not looked at the map three minutes before they found out America,-it forming so large a part of the world, and being separated from Europe, Asia, and Africa, by immense seas. They also observed that America itself was divided into two parts, North America and South America; and they saw that the West Indies (from whence they knew sugar, coffee, and many other things came,) were very near America. As their papa and mamma were still engaged with their visitor, Frederic and Lucy amused themselves with tracing, on the map, the course of some of the largest rivers. They recollected their papa and mamma telling them that the highest mountains, the largest rivers, and the |