Cautionary Tales for Children

Cautionary Tales for Children by Hilaire Belloc. Illustrator: Basil T. Blackwood. Cautionary Tales for Children: Designed for the Admonition of Children between the ages of eight and fourteen years is a 1907 children's book written by Hilaire Belloc. It is a parody of the cautionary tales that were popular in the 19th century. Illustrated by Belloc's friend from Oxford Basil Temple Blackwood, it is similar in style to the The Bad Child's Book of Beasts which had brought Belloc public acclaim and commercial success a decade earlier. The book contains an introduction and eleven tales, all written in rhyming couplets. "Introduction: Upon being asked by a Reader whether the verses contained in this book were true." "Jim: Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion." "Henry King: Who chewed bits of string, and was early cut off in Dreadful agonies." "Matilda: Who told Lies, and was Burned to Death." "Franklin Hyde: Who caroused in the Dirt and was corrected by His Uncle." "Godolphin Horne: Who was cursed with the Sin of Pride, and, Became a Boot-black." "Algernon: Who played with a Loaded Gun, and, on missing his Sister, was reprimanded by his Father." "Hildebrand: Who was frightened by a Passing Motor, and was brought to reason." "Lord Lundy: Who was too Freely Moved to Tears, and thereby ruined his Political Career." "Rebecca: Who Slammed Doors For Fun And Perished Miserably." "George: Who played with a Dangerous Toy, and suffered a Catastrophe of considerable Dimensions." "Charles Augustus Fortescue: Who Always Did what was Right, and so Accumulated an Immense Fortune."