Excerpt from The Parent's Assistant: Or Stories for ChildrenSuch, however, seems to be the case. According to the catalogue, there is no earlier copy at Bloomsbury, than the first part of the second edition; and from the inexplicit and conjectural manner in which most of the author's biographers speak of the book, it can scarcely - outside private collections - be very easily accessible. Fortunately, the old Monthly Review for September, 1796, with a most unusual forethought for posterity, gives, as a heading to its notice, a precise and very categorical account of the first edition. The Parent's Assistant; or, Stories for Children was, it appears, published in two parts making three small duodecimo volumes. The price, bound, was six shillings. There was no author's name, but it was said to be "by E. M." (i.e., Edgeworth, Maria) and the publisher was Cowper's Dissenter publisher, Joseph Johnson, of No. 72, St. Paul's Churchyard. Part I. contained "The Little Dog Trusty; or, The Liar and the Boy of Truth"; "The Orange Man; or, the Honest Boy and the Thief"; "Lazy Lawrence"; "Tarleton"; and "The False Key." Part II., "The Purple Jar," "The Bracelets," "Mademoiselle Panache," "The Birthday Present," "Old Poz," and "The Mimic." In the same year, 1796, a second edition was issued, apparently with some supplementary stories (e.g., "Barring Out"); and in 1800 came a third edition in six volumes.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com