The Fireside Picture Alphabet or Humour and Droll Moral Tales; or Words & their Meanings Illustrated

This lively picture alphabet turns each letter into a playful lesson in language and good conduct. From “Ablution” and “Barter” to “Fraud,” “Genius,” and “Horror,” children meet useful words paired with simple definitions, comic scenes, and short rhymes. The verses make unfamiliar meanings easier to remember while inviting young listeners to notice the humor in every example.

Some characters learn through harmless mistakes, while others display qualities worth avoiding, such as negligence, obstinacy, excess, and deceit. Mischievous children, puzzled grown-ups, animals, and everyday mishaps fill the pages, creating a cheerful blend of vocabulary practice and moral instruction. Designed for shared listening or reading beside the fireside, this collection offers an entertaining way for children to expand their word knowledge—and perhaps recognize a few amusing habits in themselves.