*dies*

[conuly]

Cautionary Tales for Children.

*dies again*

I cannot believe that this is in print. I grew up hearing about Jim (who ran away from nurse and got eaten by a lion) and honestly would never have imagined having the complete collection of "cautionary tales" poems. In fact, the only other one I can recite is Matilda (who told lies and was burnt by fire), though I know bits of Henry King (um... the Chief Defect of Henry King was eating little bits of string) and the one that starts: The nicest boy I ever knew was Charles Augustus Fortescue (who never took a stand and sucked up to everyone and therefore went far in life).

Yeah. I want this.

Comments

[nerdinium.livejournal.com]

Well, some kids do need cautionary tales. I know a girl that was a Zena Warrior Princess fan, and wanted to try to catch arrows like she did. Her brother was only too happy to oblige. She ended up with 25 stitches in her scalp - she was incredibly lucky.

I have a feeling, though, that an encyclopedia of cautionary tales wouldn't have made any difference to them. :)

[conuly]

Probably not. The boy who aimed a gun at his sister only got scolded. The illiterate girl, though, got tossed by a bull and therefore avoided all signs for the rest of her life :)