The Nursery, February 1877, Vol. XXI. No. 2: A Monthly Magazine for Youngest Readers

In Short

The Nursery is a delightful archival window into late-19th-century American juvenile literature. Each issue functioned as a moral and educational companion for "youngest readers," blending whimsical poetry, observational science, and short stories about everyday childhood trials. The writing emphasizes character-building, curiosity, and the cultivation of kindness toward both people and animals. It has remained a significant historical artifact because it so clearly articulates the domestic values, linguistic styles, and instructional priorities of a bygone era, providing a tactile sense of how children were spoken to and entertained in the 1870s.

The Story

The magazine unfolds as a collection of short, interconnected vignettes rather than a single narrative. It begins by introducing the theme of industriousness; we meet Edwin, a young boy who uses a jig-saw to manufacture toys to earn money for his future college education. This sets a tone of purposeful activity that permeates the entire volume. From the domestic workspace, the magazine shifts to the wider world of nature, featuring poems like "The Petition of the Sparrows," which encourages children to feed birds during harsh winters.

The stories then delve into the daily life of children, showcasing both play and responsibility. We follow a young girl navigating the dangers of a wharf, where her doll, Anna Maria, falls into the sea and is retrieved by a quick-thinking boy named Tom. This episode serves as both a mild cautionary tale about safety and a celebration of community problem-solving. Other accounts, such as the story of Frank Simmons on the island of Nantucket, ground the reader in the practical realities of rural life, detailing the seasonal rituals of sheep-washing and shearing.

As the magazine moves toward its conclusion, it balances these practical lessons with imaginative flourishes. We encounter Bertie, who experiences the wonder of a steam-powered toy boat, and Harry, who fashions an Indian figure out of clay as a birthday present for his father. Throughout these accounts, there is a consistent thread of intergenerational affection, particularly in the story of Emma Payson, who chooses a book over new shoes, leading a compassionate stranger to provide for her and her brothers.

The collection concludes with a mixture of natural history—such as the habits of ravens and the behavior of squirrels—and songs, like "Chipperee, Chip." The final arc of the magazine does not resolve a conflict so much as it settles the reader into a stable, moralized worldview where hard work is rewarded, animals are treated with stewardship, and curiosity is a virtue. By the end, the reader has visited the pasture, the classroom, and the family hearth, leaving them with a sense of the Victorian ideal: a life lived in harmony with the natural world and one's neighbors, underpinned by a clear understanding of right and wrong.

How It Unfolds

The industrious spirit The volume opens by celebrating Edwin’s mastery of the jig-saw, establishing the value of turning play into productive labor. This initial beat underscores the period’s belief that children should be both purposeful and skilled.

Nature as a moral teacher The narrative shifts to the outdoors, where children are encouraged to view birds and squirrels as fellow inhabitants of a shared world. The stories suggest that by feeding the sparrows or watching the tom-tits, a child learns the golden rule of "help one another."

The lessons of the wharf A brief, tense interlude occurs when a doll is lost to the sea, requiring the cooperation of boys in the neighborhood. This beat reinforces the importance of being observant, cautious, and helpful when others are in distress.

Rural traditions and rewards The focus moves to the island of Nantucket, where the cyclical nature of sheep farming becomes a lesson in duty. Frank’s reward of his own lambs illustrates the satisfaction found in participating in adult responsibilities.

Domestic generosity The final movement centers on the Payson children, whose self-sacrifice prompts a charitable response. This beat serves as an emotional climax, confirming that virtue and an early love of reading are recognized and supported by the community.

The People

Edwin is the prototypical self-made youth; he possesses a practical "knack" for woodworking and a high-minded ambition for college, demonstrating that even a young boy can contribute to his family's livelihood.

Emma Payson represents the ideal, studious child. Her choice to forgo new shoes in favor of a book marks her as intellectually hungry, a trait that prompts the intervention of a benevolent older woman, ensuring her physical needs are met alongside her educational ones.

Frank Simmons is the observant participant in rural life. Through his experiences with his grandfather’s sheep, he transitions from a boy who worries about the cruelty of ear-notching to a responsible young sheep-owner who respects the necessity of the practice.

Tom and Sam are the "smart boys" of the wharf. Their quick response to Jane’s distress highlights the importance of keeping a cool head and utilizing available tools—like a pair of tongs—to solve problems, embodying the magazine’s ideal of the helpful neighbor.

Finally, the persona of the adult narrators—often identified as "Uncle Charles" or "Cousin Vida"—functions as a central, guiding authority. They bridge the gap between the reader and the world, providing context for the animal behaviors and moral lessons being presented, always maintaining a tone of gentle, firm instruction.

In Its Own Voice

"If I can pay my college expenses by working at odd hours, Mr. Topliff, I mean to do it--and I think I can."

Edwin explains his ambitious plan to balance manual labor with higher education to a local shopkeeper.

"The raven is a sly bird, and has not many friends."

The narrator introduces the character of Jocko, a bird known for his cleverness and unfortunate penchant for wine.

"They will have their silver-wedding!"

The poet George Cooper concludes the whimsical tale of the Froggies’ Party with a promise of future celebrations.

What It's Really About

The Nursery is fundamentally a guide to character formation through observation. It argues that a child’s world should be a training ground for adult virtues: industry, kindness to animals, and intellectual curiosity. The text operates on the assumption that the natural world is a divine classroom where lessons in the "golden rule" are constantly being enacted by birds, horses, and even squirrels. By framing these encounters as stories, the magazine argues that a child's moral development is inseparable from their engagement with the environment. It posits that if a child learns to be gentle with a lamb or studious with a book, they are participating in a larger, ordered society that rewards such character with success and kindness.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find The Nursery a soothing, if occasionally didactic, experience. It offers a rare, unfiltered look at the Victorian imagination, where the primary conflict is often as simple as a doll falling off a pier or a pig stealing a horse's oats. Those interested in the history of childhood and education will appreciate the specific cadence of the language and the period-typical assumption that children should be small, productive citizens.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the moralizing tone; the magazine does not shy away from telling the reader exactly how they should feel about a squirrel's pantry or a raven's greed. Some of the period attitudes, particularly the offhand acceptance of animal husbandry and the rigid definitions of children's roles, may feel antiquated. Yet, the warmth of the writing is unmistakable. There is a genuine, quiet joy in the description of a brass toy boat hissing with steam or the sight of a "tiny robin" learning to feed. It is a slow, methodical read that asks you to sit still and pay attention to the small, wondrous details of a world that, while distant in time, remains deeply recognizable in its focus on the tender relationship between children and the life around them.