St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 4, February 1878

"St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 4, February 1878" by Various is a children's magazine from the late 1800s containing a variety of stories and poems designed to both amuse and teach young readers. From the imaginative poem "The Shepherd-Boy," we meet Roy, a young shepherd whose ordinary world is made extraordinary through the power of his boundless imagination, turning pastures into dreamscapes. Another story presents Gottlieb, a young choir member battling challenges as he seeks perfection, reflecting the emotional trials children face when pushing themselves to succeed and impress those they admire. The collection blends whimsical imagination with formative life lessons, showing the reader the values held during that time.