ongs might as well write a new Billy Shakespeare as another Mother
Goose--we two great poets were born together, and we shall go out of the
world together.

No, no, my Melodies will never die,
While nurses sing, or babies cry.

[_Copyright secured._]

HISTORY OF THE GOOSE FAMILY.

[_From the Boston Transcript._]

COTTON MATHER AND MOTHER GOOSE.

_Mr. Editor_:--Your correspondent, N.B.S., has so decisively given a
_quietus_ to the question as to the birthplace of Cotton Mather, that
there is no danger of its ever being revived again. But there is
another question of equal importance to many, to the literary world
in particular, which should in like manner be put to rest. _Who was
Mother Goose?_ and _when_ were her melodies first given to the world?
These are questions which have been often asked, but have never been
satisfactorily answered. The recent publication of a book called "Mother
Goose for Old Folks" has again revived these questions, which serves to
show that the subject has not yet lost its interest.

Many persons imagine that Mother Goose is a myth,--that no such person
ever existed. This is a mistake. _Mother Goose_ was not only a veritable
personage, but was born and resided many years in Boston, where many
of her descendants may now be found. The last that bore the ancient
paternal cognomen died about the year 1807, and was buried in the Old
Granary Burying Ground, where probably lie the remains of the whole
blood, if we may judge from the numerous grave-stones which mark their
resting place. The family originated in England, but at what time they
came to this country is unknown,--but probably about the year 1656.
This was the "_Wealthy family of Goose_" which is immortalized by
Mr. Bowditch in his book of Suffolk Names, who at the same time has
immortalized himself. They were landholders in Boston, so early as 1660.
Nearly half the space between West and Winter streets, on Washington
street, and extending westerly towards Tremont street, 275 feet belonged
to this family, as did also a large tract of land on Essex, Rowe and
Bedford streets, upon which now stand two churches and a large number of
dwelling houses. _So much for Mother Goose._ Now for her melodies.

It is well known to antiquarians that more than _two_ hundred years ago
there was a small book in circulation in London bearing the name of
"Rhymes for the nursery; or Lulla-Byes for Children," which contained
_many of the id