A Little Christmas Dream

Original text under image in Punch: 'Mr L. Figuier, in the Thesis which precedes his interesting Work on the World before the Flood, condemns the Practice of awaking the Youthful Mind to Admiration by means of Fables and Fairy Tales, and recommends, in lieu thereof, the Study of the Natural History of the World in which we live. Fired by this Advice, we have tried the Experience on our Eldest, an imaginative Boy of Six. We have cut off his "Cinderella" and his "Puss in Boots," and introduced him to some of the more peaceful Fauna of the Preadamite World, as they appear Restored in Mr. Figuier's Book. The poor Boy has not had a decent Night's Sleep ever since!'