A charming didactic work, aimed at the production of piety and industriousness in the young. Because it also contains an interesting work on grief for the young, the work seems to have found heavy circulation in America as children were informed of their father's deaths during the Civil War.

Aside from the tale on grief for the young, there is an interesting Christmas tale, and the most significant, being the Story of an African Negro. Very fascinating staging; a young boy arrives in Barbados and there discovers an old man, in his 80's, who knows all about slavery, suffering, and difficulty, and yet still manages to teach the young man about patience, virtue, and forgiveness. A fascinating turn of events narratively, with the elder wise black man becoming the teacher of virtue to the younger, affluent white boy. Contains a wonderful color illustrations as well. 

Rather unusual on the market.

Law, Lady Charlotte [Sympathy by Elizabeth Anne Maling]. A Winter's Wreath of Illustrative Tales. Edited by Lady Charlottle Law. Sympathy. A Tale. by E. A. M. London. James Hogg & Sons. Nd. 1861 [w/1863 inscription]. 124pp.

Good example with some light chipping at spine, some rubbing generally to cloth, but textually solid and quite crisp and clean. Unusually, not heavily handled.