BY CHARLES W. SANDERS, A.M. AUTHOR OF SPELLING BOOK, AND SERIES OF SCHOOL READERS; YOUNG NEW YORK: - PUBLISHED BY NEWMAN AND IVISON, 178 FULTON STREET, CINCINNATI: MOORE & ANDERSON. AUBURN: J. C. IVISON & CO According to Act of Congress, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Forty-Two, BY CHARLES W. SANDERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. PREFACE. In the previous Numbers of the SCHOOL READERS, the general design was to furnish, in addition to other important characteristics, those facilities whereby the scholar might acquire an easy and fluent manner of reading,-aiming to prevent the acquisition of those pernicious habits, so commonly contracted in the perusal of first lessons. It was, therefore, thought proper to reserve an exposition of the elementary principles of reading for the present work, believing that an earlier introduction of them. would be attended with injury rather than benefit. Accordingly, PART FIRST of the present work, is devoted to that subject; and PART SECOND, being mainly conformed to the general plan presented in former numbers, aside from such peculiarities as the design of the work seemed to demand, contains such lessons for exercise in reading, as are illustrative of the principles set forth in Part First. The principal features which characterize that portion devoted to the RHETORICAL PRINCIPLES, will be found to consist in its brevity and general arrangement; while, at the same time, all the important principles, taught in works especially devoted to the subject, are fully explained and illustrated. In order that these LESSONS may be rendered of practical utility, and the principles which they are designed to set forth, as perspicuous as possible, they are accompanied with such examples as are calculated not only to illustrate the subject, but also to afford appropriate lessons for exercise in reading. Each lesson is followed by a series of QUESTIONS, adapted to elicit a knowledge of the several topics which it embraces. As to the importance of a concise and appropriate exposition of the Elementary Principles of reading, in a work of this kind, a doubt will not be entertained; and it is believed that its utility will be generally, if not universally, appreciated. For a want of it. teachers are often compelled to make use of works, so voluminous in their character, as tend to excite a distaste in the mind of the scholar, for a study which otherwise might be rendered pleasing and beneficial. It is often the case that scholars become familiar with the principles of Inflection. Emphasis, and the like, in theory, but derive from it little or no practical benefit. This is in consequence of not applying such knowledge when perusing their reading lessons. For this reason, the Author has been induced to add, to the ordinary questions in relation to the subject, such GENERAL QUESTIONS in regard to certain Rhetorical and Grammatical Principles, as each lesson is adapted to illustrate, and thereby bringing into practical exercise, a knowledge of the principles presented in the former part. In instances where it is thought a doubt might exis as to what Rule or remark allusion is made, the reference is noted in connection with the question. Thus, by frequent reference to the several topics treated upon in the Elementary Part, a practical and thorough knowledge of them will be acquired. |