An Early Mother Goose Play

Edward Eggleston (1837-1902), American regional novelist and historian, best known for his The Hoosier Schoolmaster (1871) and The Hoosier Schoolboy (1883) described this play as “not at all instructive, for it teaches no moral (or immoral) whatsoever. It is simply an amusement for children – a little sweetmeat with no medicine (or poison) concealed in it.” This perspective on literature for children was not necessarily the mainstream position when this was published in December of 1879.

The famous St Nicholas Magazine, still edited by Mary Mapes Dodge at that time, did espouse children’s literature for enjoyment, so this publication venue was a logical one.

Eggleston goes into great detail about the costumes and stage sets for the performance of this drama in the first quarter of the publication and gives directorial instructions throughout.

The beginning “Dialogue” is actually a monologue by Mother Goose who is dressed as the illustration in the image below indicates:

“I am Mother Goose, a poor, simple old body, that makes verses to get children to sleep. I’m pretty old. I aint afraid to tell me age. I would tell you how old I am if I knew, but it’s been so long since I was a gosling that I’ve forgotten how long it is. If my memory serves me right, I think I’m a tough old goose, more than a thousand years old. I rocked Shem, Ham, and Japhet to sleep when Noah was alive. I don’t mean Noah Webster, but Captain Noah that sailed in the ark. I would sing you some of my songs, but I am afraid to. My verses are just like soothing sirup, and if I should sing, you would all snore the accompaniment in five minutes. . . .”

The four pages below are the article as it appeared in the St. Nicholas: For Girls and Boys. Scribner’s Illustrated Magazine. Mary Mapes Dodge, Editor. Volume VII November 1879 to November 1880., pp. 146-149.