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In a message dated 11/4/2003 11:46:17 AM Eastern Standard Time,
krisulam@... writes:
I thought those of you discussing scary tv and books might enjoy this
Alphabet book by
Edward Gorey. Here you go:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/7535/gorey.html
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Wow...kinda cool!

I remember as a kid, reading a book about poor kids who were sent out into
the woods by their parents (no, not the gingerbread house story) and they ended
up wasting away and dying. I was so fascinated by it, and the pictures of the
kids wasting away. Kinda wierd, I know. Or the "Little Match Girl" story.

It was a really old story (I remember the pictures were the old carved in
wood and stamped type pictures). It seems, when children died more often and at
younger ages, these sort of stories were common.

Nancy B. in WV


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In a message dated 11/4/03 7:23:17 PM, CelticFrau@... writes:

<< It was a really old story (I remember the pictures were the old carved in
wood and stamped type pictures). It seems, when children died more often and
at
younger ages, these sort of stories were common. >>

There's a ballad called "Babes in the Wood." It's very short and comes in
different versions, but the one I know best they were lost, not abandoned, "as
I've heard people say" (it says, so it puts that into question too).

"And when they were dead, the robin so red
brought strawberry leaves and over them spread;
and sang them a song the whole winter long
poor babes in the wood who never done wrong"

During the early 20th century, such "tearjerkers" were really popular. I
guess with flu epidemic, polio, rheumatic fever (which my mom had, and which her
15 year old brother died of), scarlet fever... they were both less attached
and more sentimental in some ways.

Sandra