ANNUAL

FOR

1869.

THE CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR'S PRESENT

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WITH

EIGHT COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS,

PRINTED IN OIL, BY BEN. GEORGE.

LONDON:

BEN. GEORGE, 47, HATTON GARDEN,

AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

MDCCCLXIX.

LONDON:

DEN. GEORGE 47, HATTON GARDEN.

PREFACE.

ETER PARLEY has often been asked to

explain the secret of his "ANNUAL success with the young gentlemen of England. It has been said "there must be trees for fruit, and trees for flowering only." As with trees, so with authors, and it may be that PETER PARLEY has a special aptitude for entertaining the young. But waiving this theory, his solution of the secret is, that his success has been obtained by earnestness of purpose, and an affectionate regard for the present happiness, and future welfare of his young friends.

In his intercourse with boys, literary and personal, he has never lost sight of the fact that they were destined to become men-some, perhaps, great and distinguished men-therefore, while endeavouring to interest them, he has lost no oppor

tunity and spared no pains to elevate them with the imperishable truths taught by Him who "spake as no man spake.”

Boys have quick perceptions, and can readily distinguish between those who labour for them from a mercenary point of view, and those who address them in the spirit of love and sincerity. When instructing them, too, PETER PARLEY has always remembered that

Boys must be taught, as if you taught them not,
And things unknown, proposed as things forgot.

Mere literary ambition has but little actuated PETER PARLEY'S labours for youth. He trusts that he has been animated by higher feelings. His sole purpose has been to make good men out of happy boys, and awaken in the dull and grovelling ones-those that can look up to the star-lit sky without emotion, and down upon the earth enamelled with a thousand flowers, without wonder or admiration-a more ennobling spirit. Those again who would succed with boys should emulate Goldsmith's Country Pastor :—

And as a bird each fond endearment tries

To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

PETER PARLEY has also studied to elevate his large and youthful audience with regard to human actions-taught them to discriminate between what is pure and excellent, and what is vicious and degrading, as well as to give them true perceptions of the sublime and beautiful in the, world as