You will notice that in some of these alphabets, ''i'' is not considered a separate letter to ''j'', nor ''u'' to ''v''.
===A stands for Apple and Awl===
: From ''The new universal primer, or, an easy book, suited to the tender capacities of children'', c1790.
'''''The Alphabet in Verse.'''''
A stands for ''Apple'' and ''Awl'', B stands for ''Book'' and for ''Ball''. C stands for ''Custard'' and ''Cream'', D stands for ''Dog'' and for ''Dream'', E stands for ''Eve'' and for ''East'', F stands for ''Foot'' and for ''Feast''. G stands for ''Gold'' and for ''Gem'', H stands for ''He'' and for ''Hem''. J stands for ''John'' and for ''Job'', K stands for ''Knot'' and for ''Knob''. L stands for ''Lamb'' and ''Lark'', M stands for ''Marble'' and ''Mark''. N stands for ''Nag'' and for ''Note'', O stands for ''Owl'' and for ''Oat''. P stands for ''Plumbs'' and for ''Pail'', Q stands for ''Question'' and ''Quail''. R stands for ''Riches'' and ''Rule'', S stands for ''Stone'' and for ''Stool''. T stands for ''Tell'' and for ''Tale'', V stands for ''Virtue'' and ''Veal''. W stands for ''Wind'' and for ''Would'', X stands for ''Xantippe'' the ''Scold''. Y stands for ''Year'' and for ''Yeast'', Z stands for ''Zeal'' and for ''Zest''.
===A Stands for Apple and Ace===
: From ''The great alphabet, for the ready instruction of little boys and girls'', c1800.
A Stands for Apple and Ace, And is always found in every face.
B Stands for Boy and for Bat and for Box to put in a new hat.
C Stands for Cow and for Cell And for Cream that we all love so well
D Stands for Dog and for Dick, and for Dunce who is heavy and thick
E Stands for Elm and for ear, and for egg, all times of the year.
F Stands for Fancy and Fame, and for Folly which leadeth to shame
G Stands for Game, and for Gold And for Guineas, all shining behold.
H Stands for Horse and for Hound, and for Harrow, that raketh the Ground.
I Stands for Inn and for Isle, whereon the Sun doth often smile.
J Stands for James and for Jane, and for Jumping that oft giveth pain.
K Stands for Kite and for Knave, and for King, that's both noble and brave.
L Stands for Land and for Lead, and for a little thing in the head.
M Stands for Man and for Might, and for Money, most people's delight.
N Stands for Name, and for Nancy, and for Nobody always in fancy.
O Stands for Owe and for Owl, and for Oil that's not good when 'tis foul.
P Stands for Pit, and for Pool, and for Punch, that makes many a fool.
Q Stands for Quart and for Quote, and for Quarrel of wonderful note.
R Stands for Rogue and for Ring, and for Right, called a very good thing
S Stands for Spring and for Sop, and the Sash of a very fine Shop.
T Stands for Tom and for Tame, and for Tobit, a very good name.
U Stands for Us, and for Urn, and for Use that [torn....] in turn.
V Stands for Vine and for Vase, and for Vinegar, four and [torn....]
W Stands for Watch and for Wine, and for Welcome to all Books of mine.
X Stands for Xantippe so loud, and for Xerxes, a King very proud.
Y Stands for Yawl and for Young, and for Youth with a very smooth tongue.
Z Stands for Zaccheus bold, and for Zealot, both wrinkled and old.
===A is an ANGLER, who caught a great fish===
: From ''The new English primer, or reading made easy'', by Joseph Brown, pp11-12, c1790.
'''THE ALPHABET,'''
'''With Examples in Verse.'''
A is an ANGLER, who caught a great fish, B is a BISHOP, who loves a good dish, C is a CAPTAIN, frank-hearted and free, D is a DOCTOR, in search of a fee, E is an EARL, so rich, proud and great, F is a FIDLER, who plays at the gate, G is a GLUTTON, whose maw knows no bounds, H is a HUNTSMAN, that follows the hounds, I is an INN, fam'd for mirth and good cheer, J is a JUDGE, whom all rogues dread and fear, K is a KETTLE, to boil on the fire, L is a LASS, whom the young men admire, M is a MOUSE, catch'd fast in a trap, N is a NURSE, with a child in her lap, O is an OVEN, to bake a mincy-pye, P is a PIDGEON, just learning to fly, Q is a QUEEN, with a crown on her head, R is a ROBBER, of travellers the dread, S is a SOLDIER, who fights for the king, T is a TREE, on which the birds sing, U is an USHER, who teaches the class, V is a VIPER, concealed in the grass, W's a WIDOW, decrepid and old, X is XANTIPPE, a desperate scold, Y is a YOUTH, gay and gaudily drest, Z is a ZANY, who comes up the last.
===Apple-pye===
: From ''The child's new play-thing'', p17, 1743.
Apple-pye. B bit it. C cut it. D divided it. E eat it. F fought for't. G got it. H [illegible] I join'd for't. [K] kept it. L long'd for't. M mourn'd for't. N nodded at it. O open'd it. P peep'd in't. Q quarter'd it. R rum for't. S snatch'd it. T turn'd it. V view'd it. W won it. X, Y, Z, &. I wish I had a Piece of it now in my Hand.
===A Little Learning is a dang'rous thing===
: From ''The child's new play-thing'', pp54-57, 1743.
''An Alphabet of Moral Precepts in Verse.''
A A Little Learning is a dang'rous thing. Drink deep, or taste not the ''Pierian'' Spring.
B. Be thou the first true Merit to befriend: His Praise is lost, who stays till all commend.
C. Content is all we aim at with our Store; He that has that with Little, needs no more.
D. Do thou with Pleasure own thy Errors past, And make each Day a Critick on the last.
E. Ever be silent when you doubt your Sense, And speak, tho' sure, with seeming Diffidence.
F. Fortune's vain Favours, never at a Stay, Like empty Shadows pass, and glide away.
G. Give to thy poorer Neighbour, if thou see That thou hast Pow'r, and be Necessity.
H. He who bewails and not forsakes his Sin, Confesses only what he'll do again.
I. Just be thy Thoughts, and every Word sincere; And know no Wish but what the World may hear.
K. Know this one Truth (enough for Man to know) Virtue alone is Happiness below.
L. Lord of myself I am, whilst those that have More Wealth, make that their Lord, which is my Slave.
M. Manners with Fortunes, Humours change with Climes, Tenets with Books, and Principles with Times.
N. Neglected Beauty now is prize'd by Gold, And sacred Love is basely bought an sold.
O. One Science only will one Genius sit, So vast is Art, so narrow human Wit!
P. Pride is the never-failing Vice of Fools, The Wise and Virtuous walk by humble Rules.
Q. Quarrels and Strife, and Law-suits wisely shun ; By Peace and Silence no Man is undone.
R. Riches, like Insects, when conceal'd they lie, Wat but for Wings, and in their Season fly.
S. So live with Man, as if God's curious Eye Did ev'ry where into they Actions pry.
T. Trust not yourself: but your Defects to know, Make use of ev'ry Friend and ev'ry Foe.
V. Virtuous and vicious ev'ry Man must be, Few in th'Extreme, but all in the Degree.
W. We think our Fathers Fools, so wise we grow; Our wiser Sons, no doubt, will think us so.
X ''Xerxes'' survey'd his mighty Host with Tears, To think they all must die within few Years.
Y. Yesterday's past, To-morrow's none of thine, To-day thy Life to virtuous Acts incline.
Z. Zealously strive with Sense to store thy Mind, And to that Sense let Virtue still be join'd.
===A Wit's a Feather, and a Chief a Rod===
: From ''The child's new play-thing'', pp58-61, 1743.
'''''Another Alphabet.'''''
A. A Wit's a Feather, and a Chief a Rod. An honest Man's the noblest Work of God.
B. Be sure he be at least as good as thee, To whom thy Friendship shall familiar be.
C. Count all th' Advantage prosp'rous Vice attains, 'Tis but what Virtue flies from and disdains.
D. Despair of nothing that you would attain, Unweary'd Diligence your Point will gain.
E. Envy will Merit, as its Shade, pursue ; But, like a Shadow, proves the Substance true.
F. First worship God ; he that forgets to pray, Bids not himself good Morrow, nor good Day.
G. Greatness by Virtue's only understood : None's truly great that is not truly good.
H. Honour or Shame from no Condition rise ; Act well your Part, there all the Honour lies.
I. Immodest Words admit of no Defence; For want of Decency is want of Sense.
K. Know well thy self, presume not God to scan, The proper Study of Mankind is Man.
L. Live well, and then how soon soe'er you die, You are of Age to claim Eternity.
M. Make much of ev'ry Moment of your Time, If you aspire in Art to be sublime.
N. Ne'er judge between two Friends, but rather see If thou canst bring them friendly to agree.
O. Others in Wealt and Pomp their Thoughts may please, But be thou rich in wishing none of these.
P. Pleasure, as wrong or rightly understood, Is our worst Evil, or our greatest Good.
Q. Questions may be propounded by a Fool, That no wise Man can answer for his Soul.
R. Reason's whole Pleasures, all the Joys of Sense, Lie in three Words: Health, Peace, and Competence.
S. Safe in thy Breast close lock up thy Intents; For he that knows thy Purpose, best prevents.
T. Thank those that do thee Good, so shall thou gain Their second Help, if thou shouldst need again.
V. Vice is a Monster of so frightful Mien, As to be hated, needs but to be seen.
W. Whoever makes his Father's Heart to bleed, Shall have a Child that will revenge the Deed.
X. ''Xantippe'' brawls, whilst ''Socrates'' was still, And ne'er was quiet, till she had her Will.
Y. Young Men, be diligent, and I'll engage Your youthful Pains will Pleasure yield in Age.
Z. Zeal is a Fire, and useful in its kind; But nothing is more dangerous, if blind.
===partial alphabet===
: From ''A pretty book for children: or, an easy guide to the English tongue'', 1761.
:: [Front page missing, so alphabet starts at G...]
G Was a Giant, both surly and stout. H Was a Huntsman, and rov'd all about. I Was an Innkeeper, and he sold Ale. K Was a King that would often regale. L Was a Liar, by all Men abhorr'd. M Was a Merchant, as rich as a Lord. N Was a Noodle, and he turned a Rake. O Was an Oven to bake a Plumb Cake. P Was a Parrot, and chatter'd away. Q Was the Question, to School or to play. R Ran a Race by himself, and was beat. S Was a Slut, and spoilt the Roast Meat. T Was a Traytor and deserved to swing. V Vow'd him Vengeance, and told it the King. W Was a Warrior stout, active, and bold. X Was Xantippe that arrant old Scold. Y Was a Youth, a pretty good Lad. Z Was a Zany, altogether as bad.