SHELDON FUND JULY 10, 1940 PROSPECTUS. THE design of the publishers, in this Magazine, is to offer to the public an entertaining work for children and youth; one that may become with them a favorite; one that will please and instruct them; one that they will regard not as a thing which they must read as a task, but which they will love to consult as a companion and friend; one, in short, the reading of which may be permitted to good children as a reward, but the denial of which may be felt as a punishment by those who are bad. It will consist chiefly of matters of fact, and the editors will endeavor to present truth and knowledge in a guise, as attractive to the youthful mind, as that in which fiction has generally been arrayed. The title of the work is chosen, as an indication of what it is intended shall be its character. The style which the author of Peter Parley's Tales has chosen as a vehicle of instruction for youth, will be adopted in its pages, and Peter Parley, in his proper character of story teller and traveller, will often appear as a contributor. The work will comprise pieces adapted to all stages of the youthful faculties from childhood upwards. It may thus pass from hand to hand in the family circle, and the parents will not disdain to find amusement in what they are called upon to explain to their children; while the elder branches will be induced to try to lead on, by easy steps, their still younger companions to that enjoyment which they have already experienced themselves. The Contents of the Work will be too various to be enumerated in this place; but in order to convey some idea of the intentions of the conductors, the following may be mentioned as forming a portion of the more prominent subjects; I. Geographical Descriptions, of manners, customs, and countries. II. Travels, Voyages, and Adventures, in various parts of the world. III. Interesting Historical Notices and Anecdotes of each State, and of the United States, as well as of foreign countries. IV. Biography, particularly of young persons. V. Natural History, as birds, beasts, fishes, &c.; as well as plants, trees, flowers, &c. VI. A familiar description of the Objects that daily surround Children in the Parlor, Nursery, Garden, &c. VII. Original Tales, consisting of Home Scenes, Stories of Adventure, &c., calculated to stimulate the curiosity, exercise the affections, and improve the judgment. VIII. An Account of various trades and pursuits, and some branches of commerce. IX. Cheerful and pleasing Rhymes, adapted to the feelings and comprehension of youth. The Publishers have made arrangements to have the work abundantly illustrated with spirited engravings, and every effort will be made to render it a useful auxiliary to the cause of education. CONDITIONS. The work will be issued every other Saturday, and 26 numbers will constitute the yearly volume. The price will be One Dollar a year, payable in advance. To all who take six or more copies, a reasonable discount will be made. BOSTON, 1833. LILLY, WAIT & CO. FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. No. 1. SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1833. TO THE PUBLIC. Ir a stranger were to knock at your door, and ask some favor, you would first look him in the face, and then decide whether you would grant it or not. Now I, Parley's Magazine, am a stranger. I come before the reader, and like him who knocks at your door, I ask you to take me in. Like him also, I come with a face, or rather with a cover, which is much the same thing. Pray will you look at it; nay, will you be so kind as to study it? It is, I assure you, unlike some other faces, or covers, only meant to deceive. It is, I hope, an honest index to my real character. It is said, that men as they grow old, grow deceitful, but youth are supposed to be without guile. Now if I were an old magazine, professing to teach the black arts and misty sciences, you might distrust me. But as I am young, and only hold companionship with the young, I beg you to consider me an ingenuous youth, who means what he says, and says what he means; and who, having nothing to conceal, lets his plans and purposes shine out frankly in his face; one, in short, who has not yet learned the artifices, or adopted the disguises of the world, and whose countenance may therefore be taken as a certificate of his character. What then does my face or my cover seem to say? It consists of a number of little round pictures, each of which bears a certain meaning. One of them exhibits a church, by which I intend to tell you, that in my pages you will occasionally find VOL. I. something about religion, and those duties and pleasures which spring from it. Not that I mean to preach sermons, for that is not my calling; nor will I weary your patience with long moral lessons, for that would make you dislike me. But I believe that all good people find many sweet thoughts and pleasant feelings in that love, truth and kindness, which religion teaches, and as I only seek the favor of good people, you may expect, sometimes to find these topics in my leaves. Another feature of my face, exhibits a man gazing at the stars, through a long tube, called a telescope. Seen through this instrument, a star looks as large as a great wheel, and the moon appears like a vast world with mountains, rivers and seas upon it. By this picture I mean to say, that I shall often tell you of Astronomy, which means an account of the sun, moon and stars, and the wonders which are displayed in the heavens. The next picture exhibits a sort of ball in a frame, which is called a globe, and represents the figure of the earth, which, you know is round. The study of the earth, its mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, cities and inhabitants, is called Geography. It is one of the most pleasing and useful of all studies, and I mean often to discourse of it to my readers. Beneath the picture of the globe, is a ship, with its sails spread. It is crossing the deep sea, and by this I mean to tell you that I shall frequently relate tales of mariners, and |