Eliza Leslie

This book of games and activities suitable for young middle class girls illustrates how much of women's training to become proper ladies begins in childhood.

"Best known for her culinary and domestic guides and the award-winning short story "Mrs. Washington Potts," Eliza Leslie deserves a much more prominent place in contemporary literary discussions of the nineteenth century. Her writing, known for its overtly moralistic and didactic tones--though often presented with wit and humor--also provides contemporary readers with a nuanced perspective for understanding the diversity among American women in Leslie's time. Leslie's writing serves as a commentary on gender ideals and consumerism; presents complicated constructions of racial, national, and class-based identities; and critiques literary genres such as the Gothic romance and the love letter. These criticisms are exposed through the juxtaposition of her fiction and nonfiction instructive texts, which range from lessons on literary conduct to needlework; from recipes for American and French culinary dishes to travel sketches; from songs to educational games. Demonstrating the complexity of choices available to women at the time, this volume enables readers to see how Leslie's rhetoric and audience awareness facilitated her ability to appeal to a broad swath of the nineteenth-century reading public."--Publisher's website.

Ten-year-old Jody carefully grooms and trains the red pony colt his father has given him, only to face the possibility of losing him to sickness.

To -- New Year's day / by Miss Sedgwick -- Anna's picture / by Florence -- The fair pilgrim / by William L. Stone -- Spring / by J.G. Percival -- The bride / by Mrs. Sigourney -- I will forget thee / by B.B. Thatcher -- To one I love -- Perils on the deep / by A.D. Woodbridge -- The panther scene / From the Pioneers -- The first frost of autumn / by S.G. Goodrich -- Wealth and fashion -- Euthanasia / by C.C. -- Dante's Beatrice / by the author of 'Sights from a steeple' -- To a lady / by R. -- Life beyond the mountains -- The magic spinning wheel / by J.K. Paulding -- The wreck at sea / by H.F. Gould -- To -- The painter boy -- The Indian weed sprite -- The young phrenologist / by John Neal -- Gratitude -- The young mother / by Mrs. Sigourney -- Horrors of a head dress / by a nervous man. The lost wager / by a bachelor -- The spirit of Poesy / by I. McLellan -- A pilgrimage to the White Mountains / by Grenville Mellen -- The wandering pole / by H.F. Gould -- The conquerors of Spain / by L.H. Sigourney -- The three sceptres / by Mrs. S.J. Hale -- Youth recalled / by J.G. Percival -- The emigrant's adventure / by Mrs. S.J. Hale -- The last of the household / by Grenville Mellen -- Blanche and Isabel / by H.F. Gould -- The muse and the album / by J.L. Grey -- A vision / by J.G. Percival -- I'll think of that / by Grenville Mellen -- Life; its seasons / by C.W. Everett -- The May pole of Merry Mount / by the author of 'The Gentle boy' -- Early days / by I. McLellan -- The pilot's boy -- [Minister's Black Veil]( / by the author of 'Sights from a steeple' -- I love you, Flowers / by J.H. Mifflin -- Hunters of the prairie -- Constance Allerton / by Miss Leslie -- The spy.