ANONYMOUS ILLUSTRATOR, “The Twins,” Juvenile Miscellany, 1833, Volume 5, Issue 2

ANONYMOUS ILLUSTRATOR, “The Twins,” Juvenile Miscellany, 1833, Volume 5, Issue 2

In this story about two twin girls, each has a cat, a dog, and a lamb. When they try to teach the animals to dance, the animals refuse to cooperate. The cats hiss and spit. The lambs lift one foot and stand still. Rather than get angry, the girls laugh in delight, give up trying to teach the animals to dance, and decide instead to pick flowers for their pets. Avoiding the conventional characterization of Jesus as the Lamb of God, the story provides an amusing lesson about remaining calm in the face of difficulty.

Boston Public Library, Rare Books & Manuscripts