Banbury Chap Books | Page 7

originality of his own, and was not such a plagiarist and imitator as some of his contemporaries. Many of the tales he cleverly adapted to the locality, which have become very valuable. His edition of the Rasselas realized ￡5 5s. This book was written by Johnson in a week to defray his mother's funeral expenses.
We give several extracts from some of Rusher's Penny Books which will show how well he adapted them to his town.
[Illustrations: 241 - 244]
[Early John Bewick,] Rusher's Lilliputian Library, Banbury, circa. 1810.
At Rusher's fam'd Warehouse, Books, Pictures and Toys Are selling to please all The good girls and boys.
For youth of all ages There's plenty in store, Amusement, instruction, For rich and the poor.
From the New House that Jack Built.
See Jack in his study, Is writting a book, As pretty as this is In which you may look;
The price is one penny, For girls or for boys, There's more too at Rusher's, And Pictures and Toys.
Poetic Trifles.
Sing see-saw, Jack thatching the ridge, Which is the way to Banbury-bridge? One foot up and t'other foot down, And that's the way to Banbury town.
As I was going to Banbury Upon a summer's day, My dame had butter, eggs and fruit, And I had corn and hay, Joe drove the ox and Tom the swine, Dick took the foal and mare: I sold them all--then home to dine From famous Banbury Fair.
Here's something new Dear child for you, I will please you in a trice A halfp'ny chuse, Now don't refuse, A penny is the price.
Tho' basely born Pray do not scorn A Tale no worse than many For I'm afraid More say in trade, A halfp'ny's made a penny.
Good things to engross, Near Banbury cross Where Tommy shall go on the nag, He makes no mistake, Buy a Banbury Cake, Books, Pictures, and Banbury Shag.
Little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a tree He sang merrily As merrily could be.
He nodded with his head And his tail waggled he As little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a tree.
Now each lad and each lass Both sister and brother May have books for each class For Father or Mother.
And when with much pleasure You've read them all o'er, Then hasten to Rusher's, He's printing some more.
Where each daughter and son And each nephew and niece, Each good child may have one, For a penny a piece.
BLACK YOUR SHOES, YOUR HONOUR?
Here's Finiky Hawkes, As busy as any, Will well black your shoes, And charge but a penny.
The following little "Banbury Cake" Book is so excessively rare, we give the text verbatim.
* * * * *
THE HISTORY of a BANBURY CAKE.
An Entertaining Book For Children.
BANBURY: Printed and Sold by J. G. RUSHER, Bridge Street.
Price One Penny.
PREFACE.
It will be thought very odd, I doubt not, by each little boy and girl into whose hands this book shall fall, that a Banbury Cake should be able to write (as it were) its own life; but as they advance in years, they will find that many strange things happen every day--I shall therefore without more words to the bargain proceed with my story.
HISTORY OF A BANBURY CAKE.
I was born or made (whichever you please, my little reader) at Banbury in the county of Oxford, as you can plainly conceive by my title, where great numbers of Cakes are brought into being daily; and from whence they travel by coach, chaise, waggon, cart horse and foot into all parts of this Kingdom: nay and beyond the seas, as I heard my maker declare that he had, more then once sent some of them into France.
Soon after I was made, and while I was yet warm from the oven, I was sold by my maker's fair daughter to a person on horseback for twopence.
With this person I took my first journey to Oxford; he rode a very fine Black Horse. As soon as he came home, he gave me to his son a lovely little boy, about seven years of age, and one as I found to my comfort not only lovely in person but in temper also. His name was Tommy, and he was praised and loved by all that knew him, and had often presents of cakes, toys and little books, and other things that are proper for children of his age; the books he kept with great care as things of value and worthy of his notice, but other trinkets he seemed to despise.
Tommy and his cousin were taken to see Mr. Polito's collection of wild beasts and birds, which were then exhibiting at Oxford, among which were a large lion, an eagle, and many other natural curiosities, which sight was very entertaining, as Tommy and his cousin had never seen such before. They afterwards walked into the Colleges, round Christ Church College Meadow, and indeed saw