NEW-ENGLAND PRIMER.

T

Time cuts down all

Both great & small.

U

Uriah’s beauteous wife,
Made David seek his life.

W

Great Washington brave,

His country did save.

X

Xerxes the great did die,

And so must you and I.

Y

No Youth, you see,

From death is free.

Z

Zacheus, he

Did climb the tree,

His Lord to see.

Have communion with few ; be intimate with ONE ;

Deal justly with all ; speak evil of none.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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The first settlers of New England brought primers with them from England where they had been in use for over 100 years. Primers, also known as "catechisms", began as religious books with simple lessons. Such books often had an alphabet along with useful pictures and stories with a heavy dose of moralism. This example includes both religious (e.g., Zacheus) and modern references (Washington). Even in this late copy, the Puritan interest in death was impressed on young readers.

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