The music teacher holds a piece of music and has her mouth open wide for singing. The sender mocks the recipient's appearance while performing., Text: You play and sign with exquisite skill, / And practice arts intended to "kill;" / Yet such expressions give to your face, / The effect is lost by lack of grace., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The schoolmaster sits in a chair and holds a sign that reads "ABC" and points to it with a pointer. One child stands behind his chair and wears a dunce cap, and another child stands in front of him., Text: Don't frighten your scholars with rap-rap-rap -- / But reserve for yourself the black dunce cap; / Seat your own self on the three-legged stool, / The only fit place for a pedagogue fool! / Hie thee, young Dominic!-- back to you school! / And teach the young dunces with blackboards and rule; / Don't mutter base nonsense to them as to me, / But contented remain at your A,B,C., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The school-mistress holds a rod and a pamphlet of the alphabet in her hands. She stands next to a bench with a fool's cap on it., Text: Mistress of fools-cap, rod rule, / None better than thyself to teach the school; / For education forms the common mind, / And with a twig, you drive it in behind., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The schoolmaster holds a book and a switch in his hands, and he stands next to a bench with a fool's cap on it. The valentine mocks the recipient for courting a younger woman., Text: How now, Master Dominio! what want you here. / I'm sure, I'm too old to be going to school; / And if you are wishing to wed me, my dear, / I'm sure you must take me to be a young fool., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A school master holds a student by his hair and prepares to hit his backside with a twig broom. A donkey is drawn on the blackboard in the background., Text: A MODEL School Master you are, there’s no doubt, / Some put knowledge in, but you beat it all out; / With your lunatic whipping, your kicks and your thumps, / You can bring out an ape’s phrenological bumps; / And if you’re promoted to suit able schools, / It should be a college of asses and mules., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
The thin schoolmaster sharpens his quill and looks away from the classroom of children. The valentine mocks him for targeting younger and smaller children because he is afraid of the older, larger ones., Text: Oh! Mighty Framer of the youthful mind! Great among the Small ones! / You spank the little ones behind, Afraid to touch the tall ones; / A sour Curmudgeon, like yourself, You'd better seek in time; / If you don't, you ugly Elf, You'll have have no Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The school mistress holds a book marked "abc a" in front of a group of children. She has pointed features and an enlongated neck. The "Bad One" refers to the devil., Text: Gracious! what your husband would be! / If you only had one!--- / But before that ever could be, / You will see the Bad One! / That you're striking none can doubt, / Not the silliest scholars--- / For in school, when you're about, / Crackee! how they hol-lers!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
