Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, BY IVISON, BLAKEMAN, TAYLOR, & CO., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE. THE grade of this Reader has been carefully adapted to the wants of pupils who, by the use of the preceding numbers of the Series, have already acquired a pretty full vocabulary of simple words, as well as a distinct and natural delivery of pieces of an easy, familiar style. In this book the pupils advance one step. Their minds are brought in contact with pieces of a somewhat higher style, involving not only more difficult words and phraseology, but thoughts and statements requiring for their comprehension more maturity of mind and a greater depth of reflection. The treatment of elocutionary principles is also of a more advanced and exhaustive character; and the rules and exercises are sufficiently copious to enable the teacher to impress them upon the pupils' minds. The subject-matter of the lessons comprehends every variety proper in a book of this grade; an especial prominence, however, being given to narrative pieces, on account of their simplicity both for analysis and delivery. Colloquial matter has been copiously supplied, on account of its value for elocutionary purposes. Much of the material of this book will be found to be well adapted to assist in storing the pupils' minds with useful knowledge, as well as to impart a taste for scientific study and an observation of nature. The lessons are brief; but it will be found that many of them, as consecutively arranged, have a logical coherence, although widely differing in style, and in the particular topics treated. The definitions of words are carefully taught by lists appended to the lessons, and alphabetically arranged, so as to be easily referred to, and studied in connection with the text. These lists include every word the meaning of which seemed to need explanation; and, it is thought, will prove of great convenience to the teacher. The use of difficult technical terms and proper names has been avoided in this book. Brief analyses of many of the lessons are given to afford a guide in conducting exercises of this kind, without which the reading lessons must be divested of much of their educational value, or efficacy in promoting the mental development of the pupil. These brief topical summaries, it has been thought, will prove far more valuable than any system of minute questioning, sentence by sentence, and paragraph by paragraph. The beauty of the illustrations in this book will be obvious to all. They have been drawn and engraved by the best artists and engravers, expressly for this work, and will be found not only to add to its attractiveness, but to augment its value and usefulness as a school text-book. The publishers hope that this work, in connection with the series of which it forms a part, will prove a valuable addition to the school literature of the day. Cambridge: Electrotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co. |