7(v 
 
 * ***^# %%*#%%*#%% 
 
I 
 
 A 
 
 NEW HISTORY 
 
 < 
 
 O 
 
 7" 1 
 
 UE BE/ 
 
 WRITTEN EY 
 
 GAFFER BLACK BEARD, 
 
 For the Amufement of Little Lack Beari 
 and his Pretty Sifers* 
 
 ADO RNED Wl TH CUTS. ; 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED Br JOHN ADAMS. 
 
 Ig04. 
 
Catital Letters. 
 
 A-BCDEFGH1JKLM 
 
 NOPQRSTUV 
 
 W X Y Z 
 
 Small Letters 
 
 abcdefgh i j k 1 ra|n o pq 
 rfstuvwxyz&. 
 Double Letters, 
 flilfffffi fi ffl ffi ffi Sl lb (h ft 
 
 Paj r\ t c 
 
 ,i:.-M()[]»+t§llf W 
 
A Neiv Hijiory of 
 B L U. E BEARD. 
 
 NCE upon a time there li- 
 ved, a great way off, an 
 old man who had two daughters, 
 the name of the eideit was Fati- 
 ma, the youngefl Irene. Irene 
 was a very pretty girl, but Fati- 
 ma was beauty icfelf ; and fo ve- 
 ry good befides, that every body 
 loved her : you may fee her in- 
 troduced to a gentleman, to 
 whom Ihe was going to be mix- 
 
 A 2 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 ried, her father having given his 
 content, had not the fame of her 
 beauty reached the ears of a ve- 
 ry great man, I (hould have faid 
 tyrant, for he was a very cruel 
 over-bearing nobleman, and had 
 been married to feveral ladies, 
 of whom nobody knew what was 
 become; but as he was very rich 
 and lived in a grand cattle, of 
 
I> 
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 which I here prefent you with 
 
 the drawing; ; he fome how or 
 
 other, was never long withont a 
 wire. This nobleman, whole 
 name was Abomelique, but gen- 
 erally called Blue Beard, on ac- 
 count of his beard being of' that 
 colour, being determined to fee 
 her, under a pretence of buii- 
 nefs, paid the father of Fatima a 
 vifir. Poor Fatima I fhe little 
 
 A 
 
( 8 ) . 
 
 thought the great Abomeliquc 
 was come to her father's cottage 
 on her account 3 but fo it was, 
 he came attended like a king, 
 (you may iee him in the pidture) 
 
 
 •X^r^r-'S-^r-jr-J- 
 
 the father o- Faiima (landing at 
 the door to receive him j as ioon 
 as he entered the houle the old 
 man entertained him in the bell 
 manner he could, and ordered 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 his two daughters to drefs rhem- 
 
 felves in their be ft, and wait up- 
 on him ; who being good girls 
 foon did as they were bid. No 
 {boner did Blue Beard fee Fati- 
 ma than he fell violently in love 
 with her. I fhould not fay love, 
 for it was that kind of love a wolf 
 has for a pretty innocent lamb. 
 So, without any more ado, he 
 told her father the reafon of his 
 coming, offering to make her 
 his wife ; and that himlelf and 
 his other daughter, mould po 
 and live with him at the Cattle. 
 The father was quite delight- 
 ed with the offer, efpecially as 
 Blue Beard told him he mould 
 be the mafter of all his ilaves, 
 and next himfelf in power. Ire- 
 ne too thought Hie ihould like it 
 
 B 
 
( ">■ ) 
 
 vaftly ; " What a fine thing, " 
 laid (he to herfelf, " it will be to 
 have fine rooms to walk in when 
 the weather is bad ; and gardens 
 to range in when the cveather is 
 fine ; well. I almoft wilh he had 
 fallen in love with me, fori don't 
 think the great Abomelique 
 would be fo ugly, if it was not 
 for his monftrous great Blue 
 Beard :" Such was the thought 
 of Irene. As to poor Fatima me 
 fainted away, which frightened 
 Blue Beard, who would have 
 been glad to have found her a- 
 greeable to his wifhes ; however, 
 with much ado they brought her 
 to herfelf, when Blue Beard left 
 her,promifingtocome the next 
 day, and fetch her in ftate to the 
 Cattle : after he was gone no. 
 
( '? ) 
 
 thing ran in the fathers head 
 but how he fhould enjoy himfelf 
 at the Caiile. As to Irene, ihe 
 could not help pitying her filler, 
 who was in a lad taking. 
 
 Fatima had a real love for Se- 
 ]im, to whom her father had pro- 
 mifed his content, in marriage. 
 You fee promileswith tome, like 
 pye-cru(l,are made to be broken. 
 Ah ! filiy old man, you little 
 think about the evil that hangs 
 over your daughter's head. As 
 Fan ma knew (he mould be for- 
 ced to go with Biue Beard, (he 
 wroie immediately to Selim. 
 ]^ ow only think what a fine hi ng 
 it is to be a (cholar, for if Fati~ 
 ma could not have wrote to her 
 lover, nobody clfe would have 
 done k for her, and what would 
 
( 12 | 
 
 have been the coniequence you 
 will find by and by; fo above 
 ail things learn to read your 
 book, iha t your daddy and mam- 
 my may learn you to write too ; 
 wc ., as ioon as the had fi milled 
 her letter, (he gave it toatrufty 
 meflenger, who fet off full lpeed 
 
 i 
 
 «ic 
 
 * ^ s* s ^ ^r^f" xx-y'sTy 
 
 and loon arrived ar Selim's 
 houfe. I muft now return to 
 Biue Beard, who could not get 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 awinkoffleepall night, fo much 
 did he think, of his intended 
 bride : io, noiooner had the iun 
 gilded the mountain's tops than 
 he was up, and the procefiion 
 was ordered to move towards the 
 village ; you can't think what a 
 fine light it was, firft came two 
 trumpeters, then two kettele- 
 drums, then two French horns, 
 then two men with fine fiikeu 
 flags, then fomeol hisbiackilaves 
 aimed with bows and arrows ; 
 next came the great Abomelique 
 himfelf, riding on an elephant, 
 under a fine filken canopy; next 
 followed another elephant rich- 
 ly dreffed, with a fine feat on 
 his back, and a filken canopy- 
 over it, for Fatima and her 
 fifter ; a fine Arabian horfe fol- 
 
 mm rmt ^ 
 
( 14 ) 
 Jowed, led by a black Have, for 
 
 her father; a band of mufic fol- 
 lowing ; then his (laves, armed 
 with bows and arrows, clofed v 
 the proceffion. Blue Beard 
 brought fome fine clothes along 
 with him for Fatima and her fil- 
 ter, which the father infilled up- 
 on her wearing. It was in vain 
 for her to tell him (lie could not 
 be happy, as her heart was given 
 to Selim ; he knew that Blue 
 Beard was very rich, and, like 
 many others, he thought happi- 
 neis confided in wealth j fo fays 
 he have him you muft, and have 
 him you (hall : Abomelique,at 
 the fame time, took all manner 
 of pains to pleale her ; for, be- 
 fide the fine clothes, he brought 
 her jewels and diamonds in pro- 
 
( '5 .) 
 
 fufion, and promiied (he fliould 
 want for nothing when [he got 
 the Caftle. 
 
 After being drelTed in a very 
 grand manner, (he was put, or 
 rather forced, into her feat en 
 the elephant's back along with 
 her fifter Irene ; the ladies 
 round about, who came to the 
 fight, could fcarce keep from 
 envyingher, forgetting that very 
 fine clothes may hide a very hea- 
 vy heart, as it did now. No 
 fooner was the company (eated 
 than the mufic began to play, 
 and off the great Abomelique 
 marched in triumph with his 
 prize. Her lover Selim no foon- 
 er received her letter, than, 
 knowing no time was to be loft, 
 went directly to his brother, 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 who commaocie'd a troop, who 
 promifed to affj It him to the ut- 
 moft ; Co it was agreed to muf- 
 ter their men, and let off im- 
 mediately for the father, and 
 bring Fatima away ; or, it Blue 
 Beard had already got her, to 
 force her from him, who bv now 
 had arrived at his CafUe. Sure 
 nothing could equal the rejoic- 
 ings made to welcome her. — » 
 Blue Beard conducted her to a 
 fine feat in a magnificent garden, 
 where refrefhments were placed 
 and fome of the females were or- 
 dered to dance to entertain her ; 
 but for all this (lie was (till mel- 
 ancholy : as to her father he 
 was as merry as a grig, pulling 
 about the women, driving 
 about the men ; and Irene 
 
( "7 ) 
 
 would have been merry could 
 (lie have feen her fifter lb. Blue 
 Beard having a mind to leave 
 her a li tie to herfelf, pretended 
 he hadthufinefs of the utmoft 
 importance to tranfact, told her 
 he mud leave her till the even- 
 ing, giving her at the fame 
 time the keys of all the apart- 
 ments of the Caftle, telling her 
 as the was miflrefs of the place 
 to go freely into any of them, 
 except that room, the door of 
 which was in the Blue Chamber 
 — and of which this key, let with 
 diamonds, opens the lock ; up- 
 on your life don't go into that 
 chamber, giving Fatima the 
 keys ; and then with a look that 
 frightened her fadly, left her ; 
 is ibon as he was gone, Irene 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 cried, now is not that kind of 
 him to give you the keys to go 
 where you pleale : No, my dear 
 fitter, laid Fatima, I had much 
 rather he had kept ihem ; you 
 find I am forbid going into one 
 room, did not you hear him lay 
 my life depended on it. 
 
 I don't think any thing of 
 that, laid Irene, I long to lee 
 that chamber in particular ; 
 come don't mope fo, if you had 
 not feen Selim fir ft you might be 
 verv happy, for fetting alide his 
 beard I don't think Abomelique 
 fo very ugly ; now as he won't 
 be athometill evening, pray do 
 let us go over theCaftle, I long 
 to have a rummage. It was a 
 long time before Irene could 
 pcrfuade her fitter to go -, how- 
 

 ( l 9 ) 
 ever {he agreed at length and 
 
 away they went : it would tire 
 your patience if I told you ail me 
 fine things they faW ; in one ot 
 the rmoos there was a fine gui- 
 tar hanging up, which Fatima 
 took down, and began playing 
 upon to divert her melancholy. 
 Irene would not let her litter 
 play upon it long, for me was 
 impatient to fee the reft of the 
 chambers, when at length they 
 arrived at the blue one, this was 
 
 ihegrandeft of all, it was lined 
 with looking-glaffes, ornament- 
 ed with fine blue enamelled 
 frames % here you mmht fee 
 yourfelf from head ot foot ; the 
 mantle piece was fupportted by 
 pillars of the fineft blue china i 5 
 and though it was called the 
 
( 2 ° ) 
 
 Blue Chamber, it might as well 
 have been called the Golden one 
 as the floor was lined with ir 
 twogjals chandelers hung from 
 the ceiling by chains of gold, 
 in fhorr, nothing was want. nV to 
 make this the fineft room that 
 , eve rwasieen: i nthemiddleof 
 
 this chamber flood the door of 
 that they were forbid to enter • 
 well, After Fatima, fays Irene,! 
 am quite delighted with this 
 place, I foould like to fee the 
 
 next chamber ve%, I dare fay 
 it muft be finer ftiJl . come 
 
 what fay you to it, (hall we look 
 at it, there is nobody here to fee 
 us, and you know we need not 
 tell of ourfelves. 
 
 Dear fifter, faid Fatima, pray 
 don t afk me, I dread the 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 thought of it, let us be fatisfied 
 with what we have ieen, and re- 
 turn ; indeed I begin to be tired 
 with the ramble we have had ; 
 well, but dear filler, laid Irene, 
 as we may not have:uch another 
 opportunity a great while, if you 
 wont go in, ! et usjuft open the 
 door, and only look in, lure 
 there can be no great harm in 
 that I could like to pleafe you, 
 favs Farima, but I am !adiy a- 
 fraid : Pho ! cried Irene, don't 
 be afraid before you are hurt ; 
 come, fear nothing. Fatima, 
 to pieafe her, took the key all 
 fparkling with diamond-, and 
 put it to the lock, when the door 
 flew open in an inftant, and dis- 
 covered fuch adifmal (cene, ihat 
 Fatima inftamly fainted away, 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 the walls were lined with ikeie- 
 tons, and the iloor was (ire wed 
 with the limbs of the dead wives 
 the cruel Blue Beard had alrea- 
 dy murdered, which were fwim- 
 ming in (heir blood, into which 
 when Fan ma fainted, (be dropt 
 the key. At one end of this dif- 
 mal room ilood the figure of 
 Death holding a dart, and over 
 htm was wrote in characters of 
 
 blood, THE PUNISHMENT OF CU- 
 RIOSITY. Mercy on me ! fa id 
 
 Fatima, as foon as Hie recover- 
 ed, what will become of me, 
 Abomehque will finely find me 
 out and no doubt, ferve me as he 
 has done the poor creatures we 
 have jufl feen. 
 
 Come, dear fitter, faid Irene, 
 let us get away, i am very lorry 
 
 IUKHM 
 
( 23 ) 
 I perfuaded you to open the 
 
 door ; where is the key gone, 
 
 fays Fatima,'tis not in the door 
 
 perhaps it is dropt, fays Irene : 
 
 and io it was fure enough, and 
 
 what was worie, into the blood; 
 
 fhe took it up, locked the door, 
 
 and wiped the blood from off 
 
 her hands, but in fpite of all they 
 
 couid do they could not wipe it 
 
 from the key. Now you mutt 
 
 know this key was the gift of a 
 
 Fairy to Blue Beard ; and when 
 
 poor Fatima found (lie could 
 
 not clean it, fhe cried bitterly, 
 
 and Irenecould not help crying 
 
 too. You know, my dear, 'tis 
 
 a laying, * one trouble leldom 
 
 comes alone ;' and that was the 
 
 cafe now; for while they were 
 
 thinking what they ihould do, 
 
1" s 
 
 ( 2 4 ) 
 
 a black Have entered to tell them 
 Aboa-ieiique had returned, and 
 expected them in the grand fa- 
 loon. This was terrible news 
 for Fatima, who gave herfelf 
 up tor ioit > however, go (he 
 muft. 
 
 Now as they were going, Fa- 
 timafaysto Irene, my dearfifter, 
 yeilerday I wrote to Selim, and' 
 as I make no doubt but he 
 
 received the letter, this day 1 ho- 
 ped to lee him ; pray do you po 
 to the top of the tower, amUf 
 he mould be coming, beckon 
 him with your handkerchief to 
 make hafte. Away went Irene 
 with a heavy heart ; while Fa- 
 tima, with a heavier one, went 
 to meet Blue Beard ; who, as 
 foon as he faw her, cried out, 
 
( *5 ) 
 
 ' Well, Madam, how have you 
 
 entertained yourfeif ? don't you 
 think there are fights in the Caf- 
 tie worth looking at ?' 'Yes,* 
 replied Fatima, fighing, ' there 
 are indeed !.'• — ' But why figh, 
 my love !' fays Blue Beard, 'I 
 hope you have not broke the 
 order I gave you ; come, give 
 me the keys.' Poor Fatima wirh 
 an aching heart, put her hand 
 into her pocket, and pulling out 
 the keys, gave them to him with 
 a trembling hand. 
 
 lue Beard was afraid fome- 
 
 thing had happened by her 
 trembling ; he no fooner faw 
 the blood on the key of the 
 chamber he forbid her to enter, 
 than his countenance changed, 
 and he roared out in a voice like 
 
( 26 ; 
 
 thunder, « Ah ! wretch, I fee 
 what you have been at ; you 
 have feen my former wives, 
 who have forfeited their lives by 
 their curiofity, and you (hall 
 now go and lay among them.' 
 So laying he feized her by the 
 heair of her head : when, falling 
 
 */\/V*^v/\/" 
 
 on her knees, me befought 
 to fpare her life - 9 but he w 
 
 him 
 
 as a 
 
 mimm iimm m» mimiii iiiiim 
 

 
 s 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 ■ 
 
 ( 27 ) 
 
 m on iter not to be moved, When 
 (he found he was determined to 
 kill her, (he begged him to 
 grant her a little time to fay her 
 prayers. He bid her go, but 
 not be long, or he would fetch 
 her. 
 
 Getting up into her chamber 
 flie called for her fifter, and afk- 
 ed her if fhe law any thing. No, 
 dear filler, laid Irene, nothing 
 but the dreary common and the 
 iky. Are you moft done ? faid 
 Blue Beard; yes, cried Fatima : 
 when calling again to Irene, fhe 
 faid, fifter, what doyou fee ? No- 
 thing, dear fifter, but a flock of 
 fheep. Are you not a coming r" 
 faid Blue Beard, in a furlter 
 voice than before ; yes dirclly, 
 laid Fatima j when calling to 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 her fifter, (lie aiked her if (he 
 faw nothing ; yes, cried Irene, 
 I fee a great cloud ofduft, but it 
 is a great way off. If you don't 
 come down, Blue Beard roared 
 out, I will fetch you • coming, 
 cried Fatima • then calling a- 
 gain to her fifter, fhe aiked her 
 wiiat (he faw ? I fee, cried Ire- 
 ne, a number of horlemen riding 
 full fpeed towards the Caftle : 
 wave your handkerchief, dear 
 fifter, that they may make more 
 hafte, or I fear it will be all 
 over with me. 
 
 At this inftant entered Blue 
 Beard, and feizing her hair, be- 
 gan dragging her towards the 
 Blue Chamber, while her ihrieks 
 were enough to pierce the heart 
 of flone. He had not dragged 
 
e ( 2 9 ) 
 
 her far, before he heard the 
 
 found of feer on the flairs ; and 
 
 as tyrants are always cowards, 
 
 he (topt to liften. 
 
 J— I e had not flopt long before 
 
 Selim, (who had forced into the 
 
 Caftle ) following the cries ot 
 
 Fatima, rufhed into the room, 
 
 with his fw T ordinhishand. Vil- 
 
 lian, faid Blue Beard, draw 
 
 i»g 
 
( 3° ) 
 his fey mater, what cloft thou 
 
 here ? Tyrant, cried Selim, to 
 puniih fuch a monlter as thou 
 art. — They laid no more, but at 
 it they went. Defpair lent cour- 
 age to Blue Beard ; love, to Se- 
 lim ; while poor Fatima fat trem- 
 bling on the floor At length 
 
 Selim prevailed - } for running 
 Blue Beard through the body, 
 he laid him breathlefs on the 
 floor. 
 
 He now wenttoFatima, who 
 was fainting, and taking her in 
 his arms, carried her to the win- 
 dow, to pive her air. 
 
 In the mean time his brother 
 had overcome the flaves, who 
 were not lorry to hear of Blue 
 Beard's death. 
 
 I 
 
( 3i ) 
 
 Selim took poifeffion ot the 
 Caftle, gave che ilaves their li- 
 berty, and married Fatima. Se- 
 lim's brother fell in love with 
 and married Irene, and they all 
 four lived together happily. 
 
 Cruel Blue Beard being dead) 
 And those lovers in his steady 
 Time goes merrihj along ^ 
 
 JVow a, dance j and then a song: 
 For wherever true love's found, 
 Joy and pleasure will abound. 
 By the poor around they're blest. 
 By the rich around car est ; 
 Guilt may leave behind its stings, 
 Nought but comfort virtue brings, 
 
 **. 
 
 
 0% B 
 
 HP mm 
 
1