PREFACE. THE opportunities presented in this volume for the practice of all the characteristics of a good reader are many and important, and the selections themselves, made as they are from so great a number of authors whose works are well known and highly estimated, while they subserve the purpose for which they have been arranged, can not fail to inform the understanding, improve the taste, and cultivate the heart. In Part First, the important principles of Orthoëpy and Elocution are comprehensively and systematically arranged, and accompanied by copious and lucid exam →ples, illustrating their use and application. In Part Second, while the exercises in reading have been graded in a systematic manner, presenting the simplest pieces first in order, it will also be found that a strict classification has been preserved with regard to the nature of the subjects. Many of the pieces have never before appeared in any reading-books; and, in most of those which are not entirely new, some new feature will be found to give freshness and peculiar adaptation. It has been our especial aim, while introducing a great variety of the choicest literature of the English language into this work, to reject such pieces as, from the nature of their subjects, would not be understood by the pupils for whom the book has been prepared. Great pains have been taken to indicate the pronunciation of all words liable to be mispronounced, where they occur; and in notes, placed for convenience at the bottom of each page, will be found full explanations of difficult or uncommon words, not only by their appropriate synonyms, but, wherever necessary, by an extended paraphrase. Biographical sketches of noted persons whose names occur in the reading exercises, and explanations of classical allusions, are also given in the notes. It remains to be stated, that, while this volume appears as a constituent member of a series, it bas been so arranged that it may be profitably used either in connection with the members of its own family, by itself, or with any other series of reading-books. Washington Irving. 49 Banvard. 55 10. Peter of Cortona-concluded. 24. A Human Being with Nothing to Do ..Charles Dickens. 158 60. Terrific Scene at the Great Natural Bridge, Va. .Elihu Burritt. 152 80. The Journey of a Day-A Picture of Human Life... Dr. Johnson. 188 81. Indian Summer in New England.. 86. Agriculture. 87. Agriculture-concluded 89. Memory and Hope .. 91. North American Indians.. 93. Rural Life in Sweden. 95. Children.. 97. Judge not 98. Judge not-concluded 230 115. No life pleasing to God that is not useful to Man..Hawkesworth. 273 116. No life pleasing to God that is not useful to Man-concluded. 275 |