[HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel (18041864).] "Little Annie's Ramble." In: Youth’s Keepsake. A Christmas and New Year’s Gift for Young People. Boston: E.R. Broaders, 1835.

The first printing of Hawthorne’s “Little Annie’s Ramble,” Hawthorne's fable of childhood innocence. After the main character's "ramble" through town with young Annie, he reflects: "Sweet has been the charm of childhood on my spirit, throughout my ramble with Little Annie! Say not that it has been a waste of precious moments, an idle manner, a babble of childish talk, and a reverie of childish imaginations, about topics unworthy of a grown man's notice. Has it been merely this? Not so; not so. [...] As the pure breath of children revives the life of aged men, so is our moral nature revived by their free and simple thoughts, their native feeling, their airy mirth, for little cause or none, their grief, soon roused and soon allayed. Their influence on us is at least reciprocal with ours on them." It is unsigned in the present volume, credited only to "The Author of 'The Gentle Boy'; it would be reprinted in the Salem Gazette in 1846, signed "By Nathaniel Hawthorne." The volume also includes “The Secret” by Miss Leslie, “The Bee, Clover, and Thistle,” “Silkworm’s Will” and “Captain Kidd” by Hannah F. Gould, “Birthday Verses, to a Little Girl” by Lydia H. Sigourney, “The Harvest Moon” by John Greenleaf Whittier,” “The Tempting Moment” by Mrs Sarah Hale, and “Sunshine and Storms” by Ellen Sturgis (as “E.S.”). Clark C6.

16mo. Frontispiece (spotting internally). Original quarter morocco over yellow boards, gilt-stamped spine, all edges gilt (scuffed and rubbed).