Subject: Lyr Add: A Bible-themed alphabet, 1882.
From:
Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Aug 22 - 11:30 PM
The Penny Post, Vol. 32 (London: Parker and Co., 1882), contains 4 versions of biblical-themed alphabets. On page 251f is this text submitted by a reader named “S.W.” in response to a request by “A.S.P.”:
A stands for Angel, who praises the Lord.
B is for Bible, God’s most holy Word.
C is for Church, where the righteous resort.
D is for Devil, who wishes our hurt.
E is for Eve, who was mother of all.
F is for Felix, who trembled at Paul.
G is for Goliath, whom David brought low.
H is for Heaven, where the faithful will go.
I is for Isaac, “the Darling,” it seems.
J is for Joseph, who told Pharaoh’s dreams.
K is for Korah, the rebel struck dead.
L is for Lot, who from Sodom was led.
M is for Moses, the great man of God.
N is for Noah, preserved from the flood.
O is for Og, the great giant destroyed.
P is for Peter; he Jesus denied.
Q is for quail, a sad curse in disguise.
R is for Rahab, who hid the two spies,
S is for Saviour, and Jesus is such.
T is for Thomas, who doubted too much.
U is for Uzza, who died for his sin.
V is for Vashti, the hard-fated queen.
W is for whale, to Jonah a dread.
X is a Cross, on which Jesus bled.
Y is for yoke, ’tis the badge of a slave.
Z is for Zaccheus, whom Jesus did save.
And on page 252 is another text submitted by “E.V.”:
A is for Adam, who was the first man.
B is for Balaam, who to curse Israel did plan.
C is for Cain, who his brother did kill.
D is for Daniel, who kept the Lord’s will.
E is for Elijah, who the ravens did feed.
F is for Felix, of his conduct take heed.
G is for Goliath, who by David was slain.
H is for Haman, from envy refrain.
I is for Isaac, that dutiful son.
J is for Jonah, who from God tried to run.
K is for Korah, who as a rebel did fall.
L is for Lydia, who listened to Paul.
M is for Mary, Christ’s words she did mark.
N is for Noah, who was saved in the ark.
O is for Obadiah, who of the prophets took care.
P is for Peter, of pride and passion beware.
Q is the Queen, who came wisdom to find,
R is for Ruth, that daughter so kind.
S is for Stephen, who suffered unmoved.
T is for Timothy, his Bible he loved.
U for Uzziah, King of Judea was he,
V—Christ is the Vine, and a branch may I be.
[W-Z are omitted.]
On page 304 is a text submitted by “M.E.T.,” who recalls teaching it in Sunday-school “more than thirty years ago.” The text is nearly the same as that from The Infantile Instructer above, so I will not repeat it here.
On pages 329f is a text submitted by “H.H.P.,” who recalls learning it “nearly fifty years ago”:
A is for Adam, who in Eden did live;
To all birds and beasts their name he did give.
B is for Babel, the tower so high,
The builders intended should reach to the sky.
C is the Creation, when the heavens and the earth,
The air and the ocean, received their first birth.
D is the Deluge, that awful event,
To punish bad men alone it was sent.
E is for Egypt, where Joseph ruled,
Though as a slave to the Ismaelite sold.
F is the Fountain that opens so free,
To cleanse guilty sinners just like you and me.
G is the Gospel which Christ did reveal,
And when on the cross did with His blood seal.
H is for Haman, who hanged so high
On the gallows he made for poor Mordecai.
I is for Israel, whom God did choose;
Perhaps better known by the name of the Jews.
J is for Joshua, who with terror did fill
The Amorite kings when the sun stood still.
K is for Korah, who with all his allies,
The earth swallowed up with awful surprise.
L is for Lazarus, who, although he was dead,
Was raised again by what Jesus said.
M is for Mary, whom none should despise
For washing Christ’s feet with the tears from her eyes.
N is for Nicodemus, whom Jesus told plain
Should not enter heaven unless born again.
O is for Obadiah, who the Prophets did save
By bringing them food while they hid in a cave.
P is for Paul, of whom we may say
That he laboured hard to point out the way.
Q are the Quails, which God sent to feed
The murmuring Jews while they stood in need.
R is the Red Sea, which Israel went through
When Pharaoh with chariots and horse did pursue.
S is for Sampson, the Bible doth say
He killed a lion that stood in his way.
T is for Thomas, who would not believe,
Until he had proof that his Saviour did live.
U is for Uriah, who in battle was slain,
When by David’s desire he went to the plain.
V is the Virgin, whom Gabriel we see
Declaring the mother of Jesus to be.
W is the Widow, whose oil did increase,
Till she from her wants found happy release.
X is the Cross on which Jesus died;
Alas! for my sins was He thus crucified.
Y is the Young Man who came running to know
The way that would lead from misery and woe.
Z is for Zion, that blissful abode;
Oh, may I get there to dwell with my God!
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