Twenty Six Choice Poetical Extracts: Selected from Celebrated Authors, and Printed from Copper Plates Engraved Expressly for the Work, Each Embellished with a Beautiful Vignette, Illustrative of the Subject

In Short

This volume gathers twenty-six short religious and moral poems by various celebrated authors, accompanied by copper-plate engravings. It moves readers through sacred histories—from Noah's Ark and David facing Goliath to the journey to Emmaus—alongside reflections on daily life, the changing seasons, and human frailty. The work has endured because its gentle verses offer timeless moral instruction and devotional comfort, blending scriptural truths with accessible imagery that speaks directly to the spiritual development of young readers.

The Story

The collection opens with a contemplation of the supreme value of the Bible, exalting its sacred leaves as mines of knowledge and divine light that surpass earthly treasures. It immediately pairs this with an exploration of the New Testament, inviting humble souls to embrace gospel grace and find peace away from thunderous judgment. From these foundational texts, the volume turns inward, presenting a personal soliloquy of a dejected creature seeking divine guidance through life's puzzling labyrinths, followed by strict admonitions on how to properly observe the Sabbath through pious work rather than listless slumber.

The arc then transitions into sacred history and divine protection. Noah and his small crew safely weather the roaring floods because Jehovah shuts them in, an event mirrored by the colorful promise of the rainbow as a covenant of grace against destruction. The Lord's Prayer is offered as a model of humble submission, while quiet retirement far from worldly tumult allows the soul to sing like a nightingale. The narrative of faith deepens with Christmas morn, celebrating the humble birth of the Savior in a manger, and transitions into the fleeting passage of time on New Year's Day, where human life is compared to a swift arrow or a passing dream.

Daily struggles and divine providence occupy the middle span of the book. Hardship marks a cold winter's night, where an industrious yet impoverished family huddles around dying embers, sustained only by mutual love and pride. This domestic scarcity contrasts with the soaring assurance that the Creator feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, matching the prodigal son's journey from swine-tending despair back to his forgiving father's loving embrace. The collection moves seamlessly from the peaceful death of the righteous man—whose exit resembles gentle night-dews—to young David's courageous triumph over Goliath through unwavering faith. Youthful pride in beauty is rebuked by the frail grace of lilies and roses, while the village preacher exemplifies a life dedicated to raising the wretched rather than seeking personal power.

As the arc reaches its final movements, the focus centers intensely on redemption and eternal reward. The solemn finality of the crucifixion finishes the ancient prophecies and tears the sacred veil, immediately answered by the joyful dawn of Easter Day. A morning waking thought urges the active soul to avoid trifles and pursue wisdom, while the diligent bee provides a parable of industry against the cold famine of a lazy winter. Two disciples walk the road to Emmaus, meeting a courteous stranger who reveals himself in the breaking of bread. The collection surveys the grand creation from a country prospect, watches the fragile grass of hay time fall beneath the scythe of death, and looks to young Samuel's prayerful posture as a defense against inner sin. The volume concludes on Whitsunday with the descent of cloven flames, sending forth disciples armed with the powerful words of the cross to subdue stubborn passions and lead willing captives to grace.

How It Unfolds

The scriptural foundation The collection opens by establishing the supreme worth of the Bible and the New Testament over earthly riches. It calls humble souls to accept freely offered gospel grace and seek divine guidance through life's mazes.

The rhythm of devotion Focus shifts to personal piety, proper Sabbath observance, and quiet spiritual retirement away from worldly tumult. Soliloquies and the Lord's Prayer guide the reader toward inner restraint and grateful praise.

Historical and seasonal reflections Moving through biblical narratives like Noah's Ark and Christmas morn, the text examines human mortality against the changing seasons. New Year's Day reflections and winter scenes highlight the fleeting nature of earthly life and the warmth of mutual love.

The providential care The text balances human hardship with the steadfast assurance that God provides forന്ത്the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. Parables of the prodigal son and David's battle illustrate deliverance from despair and sin.

Exemplars of virtue Portraits of the humble village preacher and the frail beauty of flowers warn against vanity while championing spiritual richness. The death of the righteous man provides a serene picture of peaceful transition.

The triumph of redemption The arc culminates in the solemnity of the crucifixion, the joy of Easter morning, and the journey to Emmaus. Parables of the industrious bee and the grass of hay time emphasize preparation for eternity.

The final outpouring The book concludes with youthful devotion modeled after Samuel and the fiery descent of the Spirit on Whitsunday. Disciples go forth with the power of the cross to conquer stubborn hearts and secure eternal grace.

The People

The figures populating these verses are archetypes of spiritual struggle and devotion. Noah wants safety from the overwhelming deluge, and though angry billows assault his vessel, he remains entirely secure because Jehovah shuts him in, emerging preserved and steadfast. The prodigal son wants only to escape his degrading life among the swine and hunger, hindered by his own past rebellion and sin; he ends up thoroughly embraced, stripped of his shame, and clothed in clean garments at his father's feast.

David wants to defend Israel against the terrifying giant Goliath, standing against the discouragement of the monarch who views him as an inexperienced youth; relying entirely on divine power, David succeeds and leaves the opposing armies wondering at his triumph. The village preacher wants to raise the wretched and guide souls to heaven, untouched by the desire for earthly power or formal flattery; he ends up universally dear to his rustic parishioners, surrounded by children who tug at his gown. The industrious bee wants to secure provisions for the coming winter, successfully avoiding the lazy fate of the drone who starves in December. Finally, young Samuel desires to approach the throne of heaven with a clean heart, battling an inner foe of sin and unbelief; he serves as a model of meek, fervent prayer for every youthful reader seeking divine grace.

In Its Own Voice

Reflecting on the incomparable value of sacred scripture, the author of the opening poem declares:

Here mines of knowledge, love, and joy, / Are open'd to our sight; / The purest gold without alloy, / And gems divinely bright.

Describing the quiet endurance of an impoverished family during a harsh winter evening, the verse notes:

The frugal housewife trembles when she lights / Her scanty stock of brushwood, blazing clear, / And dying soon, like all terrestrial joys.

Capturing the sudden recognition of the risen Savior during a simple meal, the narrative recalls:

He bless'd the bread, but vanish'd at the word, / And left them both exclaiming, 'T'was the Lord'!

What It's Really About

The collection explores the fundamental relationship between human frailty and divine grace, arguing that earthly treasures, beauty, and physical life are fleeting compared to spiritual wealth. It addresses how individuals should navigate a world filled with temptation, suffering, and mortality. By contrasting human poverty, sin, and the inevitable decay of the body—likened to grass cut down by a scythe—with the unchanging bounty of God's providence and redemption, the poems prompt young readers to examine their own spiritual readiness. Ultimately, the work questions where true security lies, answering that steadfast faith, humility, and obedience to divine instruction offer the only refuge against eternal despair.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate nineteenth-century devotional literature, classic moral verse, and historical children's literature will find this collection deeply rewarding. Reading it feels like stepping into a hushed nineteenth-century parlor or a quiet Sunday school room, surrounded by copper-plate engravings and gentle didactic instruction. The language carries a formal, rhythmic cadence that invites slow, reflective pacing.

However, modern readers must approach the text with an awareness of its historical context. The heavy emphasis on sin, repentance, and strict religious duty reflects early nineteenth-century pedagogical attitudes that can feel austere or unyielding today. Furthermore, the archaic spelling conventions—such as superscripts and eighteenth-century poetic diction—require patience to navigate. Yet, for those willing to lean into its historical charm, the lingering impression is one of profound quietude. The vivid imagery of the winter hearth, the colorful rainbow of covenant, and the steadfast hope of redemption stay with the reader long after the final page is closed, offering a unique window into how past generations sought to shape young minds with poetry and faith.