Possibly one of the strongest early incentives to the home production of books specially written for children was the desire to supply them with suitable Sunday reading; and the literary annals of New England are studded with the names of authors who were preeminently successful in this department, as the circulation of some of their books testifies. Many of these, however, which for reasons we shall presently see had the largest circulation in the earlier part of the present century, are demodés and forgotten. Without attempting a complete list of those who have successfully labored in this field, we may mention the names of Dr. Harvey Newcomb of Thetford, Massachusetts; Rev. Dr. Baker and Rev. W. M. Thayer of Franklin, Massachusetts; Rev. Z. A. Mudge of Ovington, Massachusetts, among men, and the following women: Mrs. G. Oakes Smith of Cumberland, Maine; Maria J. B. Brown and her sister, Sara H. Brown, of Northampton, Massachusetts; Madeline Leslie of Andover, Massachusetts; Mrs. Sarah T. Martyn of Hopkinson, New Hampshire; Mrs. Catherine M. Trowbridge of South Mansfield, Connecticut; Mrs. Caroline G. Davis of Northwood, New Hampshire; Mrs. Annie M. Mitchell of Sandwich, Massachusetts; Mrs. Mary M. Clark of Fairford, Maine; Mrs. Harriet V. Cheney and Miss Tuthill (Aunt Friendly) of New Haven. Doubtless many other famous names of authors and their books will occur to our readers, that might be put into this list, but these are mentioned as giving some idea of the number of New England men and women who made the writing of Sunday-school books a leading feature of their literary work.
The history of Sunday-school books has been a curious one, reflecting in a striking manner the tendencies of the present age. At first they contained very distinct sectarian teaching, and each denomination or group of denominations had its own set of authors, who introduced such dogma into their books as was in accordance with its views and would insure their acceptance. Later on distinct sectarian teaching was gradually dropped; and those books had the best sale which were colorless in that respect, while inculcating only the broad religious principles on which all sects alike were agreed. Very keen, indeed, was the scrutiny to which the publishers submitted the books they put forth for this market, lest any bit of dogmatic teaching should creep in unawares. Whether this change was brought about by the publishers, who found that sectarian teaching restricted sales, or whether it was by influence from the outside, from the consumers of this class of book-by which is meant those who bought them for distribution-it is difficult to say; probably both causes operated. Then at a later period those books were most in favor which had the least direct religious teaching in them and which illustrated by example rules of conduct and of morals to be approved and followed. But Sunday-school books professedly put forward as such are no longer to-day in demand as formerly. Books specially intended as Sunday-school rewards, presents and prizes, which down to ten or fifteen years ago were written in such large numbers and manufactured and sold in such enormous quantities, are being superseded by what is called secular literature. Tons of the former class of books were shipped from England during the first three-quarters and well on into the fourth quarter of this century; and our home production during that period was enormous. But the old-fashioned Sunday-school book has vanished, never to return unless to be examined as a curiosity.
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