Experience the American dream with today’s Patriots of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s September 17, 1777. I’m at the home of ten-year-old Jacob Morgan.
JG: “Hi, Jacob! What’s that book you’re reading?”
JM: “Why, Mr. Gillespie, sir, this is my New England Primer. It is my school textbook that teaches me how to read. It also teaches me about the Bible. For example, A is ‘In Adam’s fall, we sinned all’; B is ‘Thy life to mend, this Book attend’; and C is ‘The Cat doth play and after slay.'”
First published in 1690, The New England Primer taught colonial children their ABC’s, about the Bible, and about God’s love.
Read the full text of The New England Primer.
John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.
