st
gratitude is due them for their careful and discriminating effort to
preserve for the children of future generations this rich heritage of
nursery melodies.

Many less discriminating editors, however, have ruthlessly mutilated and
adapted many of the rhymes to suit their fancy, thinking, possibly, that
as Mother Goose is only a title, the verses attributed to her belong to
the general public to use as it sees fit. On the contrary, Mother
Goose's melodies belong to the children, and no addition or change
should be made except by those who are in such close sympathy with the
child-heart that they may act with the child's authority.

This present edition of "Mother Goose" preserves the best of the verses
which became so popular in England and America as to first demand their
publication. It is the only truly classic edition that has been
published in modern times. The two authorities which have been followed
are the edition published for John Newbery's grandson in London in 1791,
and probably edited by Oliver Goldsmith, and the edition published in
Boston in 1833 by Munroe and Francis, called "The Only True Mother Goose
Melodies." It is from this copy that the following quaint introduction
by "Ma'am Goose" is quoted.

Not all the favorites among the nursery rhymes are here, only those that
first helped to make the fame of the fictitious but no less worthy
patron of childhood. May her fame and her melodies be lovingly preserved
to give joy and inspiration to many future generations of little
children.

EULALIE OSGOOD GROVER

1915

[Illustration]

Hear What Ma'am Goose Says!

My dear little Blossoms, there are now in this world, and always will
be, a great many grannies beside myself, both in petticoats and
pantaloons, some a deal younger, to be sure, but all monstrous wise and
of my own family name. These old women, who never had chick or child of
their own, but who always know how to bring up other people's children,
will tell you with long faces that my enchanting, quieting, soothing
volume, my all-sufficient anodyne for cross, peevish, won't-be-comforted
little bairns, ought be laid aside for more learned books, such as
_they_ could select and publish. Fudge! I tell you that all their
batterings can't deface my beauties, nor their wise pratings equal my
wiser prattlings; and all imitators of my refreshing songs might as well
write another Billy Shakespeare as another Mother Goose--we two gre