Page:Goody Two-Shoes (1881).djvu/14

vii "Goody Two Shoes" was published in April 1765, and few nurery books have had a wider circulation, or have retained their poition o long. The number of editions that have been publihed both in England and America is legion, and it has appeared in mutilated verions under the aupices of numerous publihing houes in London and the provinces, although of late years there have been no new iues. Even in 1802, Charles Lamb in writing to Coleridge, said—

'"Goody Two Shoes" is almot out of print. Mrs Barbauld's tuff has banihed all the old claics of the nurery, and the hopman at Newbery's hardly deigned to reach them off an old exploded corner of a helf, when Mary aked for them. Mrs Barbauld's and Mrs Trimmer's nonene lay in piles about.