McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader

Contents

INTRODUCTORY MATTER PAGE. ARTICULATION 5 EMPHASIS 10 PUNCTUATION 11

SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY.

LESSON 1. The Shepherd Boy 13 2. Johnny's First Snowstorm 15 3. Let It rain 18 4. Castle-building 20 5. Castle-building 22 6. Lend a Hand (Script) 25 7. The Truant 27 8. The White Kitten 29 9. The Beaver 31 10. The Young Teacher 34 11. The Blacksmith 38 12. A Walk in the Garden 39 13. The Wolf 42 14. The Little Bird's Song 44 15. Harry and Annie 46 16. Bird Friends 48 17. What the Minutes say 51 18. The Widow and the Merchant 52 19. The Birds Set Free 54 20. A Moment too Late 66 21. Humming Birds 67 22. The Wind and the Sun 59 23. Sunset (Script) 61 24. Beautiful Hands 52 25. Things to Remember 65 26. Three Little Mice 67 Z7. The New Year 69 28. The Clock and the Sundial 72 29. Remember 74 (iii)

iv CONTENTS.

LESSON PAGE. 30. Courage and Cowardice 76 31. Weighing an Elephant 78 32. The Soldier 82 33. The Echo 83 34. George's Feast 86 35. The Lord's Prayer 90 An Evening: Prayer (Script.) 91 36. Finding the Owner 92 37. Bats 95 38. A Summer Day 98 39. I will Think of It 101 40. Charlie and Rob 104 41. Ray and his Kite 107 42. Beware of the First Drink 111 43. Speak Gently 114 44. The Seven Sticks 115 45. The Mountain Sister 117 46. Harry and the Guidepost 121 47. The Money Amy didn't Earn 123 48. Who Made the Stars? 126 49. Deeds of Kindness 128 50. The Alarm Clock 130 51. Spring 132 52. True Courage 134 53. The Old Clock 137 54. The Waves 139 55. Don't Kill the Birds 143 56. When to Say No 144 57. Which Loved Best? 146 58. John Carpenter 147 59. Persevere 151 60. The Contented Boy 151 61. Little Gustava 156 62. The Insolent Boy 158 63. We are Seven 163 64. Mary's Dime 167 65. Mary Dow 169 66. The Little Loaf 172 67. Susie and Rover 174 68. The Violet. 178 69. No Crown for Me 180 70. Young Soldiers 184 71. How Willie Got out of the Shaft 187 72. The Pert Chicken 191 73. Indian Corn 193 74. The Snowbird's Song 197 75. Mountains 200 76. A Child's Hymn 203 77. Holding the Fort 204 78. The Little People 207 79. Good Night 208

INTRODUCTION.

ARTICULATION.

A distinct articulation can only be gained by constant and careful practice of the elementary sounds. Whenever a word is imperfectly enunciated, the teacher should call attention to the sounds composing the spoken word. If the pupil fails to sound any element correctly, as in the case of lisping, the fault can be overcome by calling attention to the correct position of the organs of speech, and insisting upon exact execution. Except in case of malformation of these organs, every pupil should sound each element correctly before such drill should cease.

TABLE OF VOCALS.

LONG SOUNDS.

6 ECLECTIC SERIES,

SHORT SOUNDS.

DIPHTHONGS.

TABLE OF SUBVOCALS.

TABLE OF ASPIRATES.

THIRD READER. 7

NOTE.-The above forty-five sounds are those most employed in the English language. Some of these sounds are represented by other letters, as shown in the following table.

TABLE OF SUBSTITUTES.

EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION.

The following exercises may be used for drill after the tables are fully understood. Pronounce the word first; then, the sound indicated.

8 ECLECTIC SERIES.

EXERCISE I.

THIRD READER. 9

10 ECLECTIC SERIES.

EMPHASIS.

NOTE.--If the pupil has received proper oral instruction, he has been taught to understand what he has read, and has already acquired the habit of emphasizing words. He is now prepared for a more formal introduction to the SUBJECT of emphasis, and for more particular attention to its first PRINCIPLES. This lesson, and the examples given, should be repeatedly practiced. In reading and in talking, we always speak some words with more force than others. We do this, because the meaning of what we say depends most upon these words. If I wish to know whether it is George or his brother who is sick, I speak the words George and brother with more force than the other words. I say, Is it George or his brother who is sick? This greater force with which we speak the words is called EMPHASIS. The words upon which emphasis is put, are sometimes printed in slanting letters, called Italics,* and sometimes in CAPITALS. The words printed in Italics in the following questions and answers, should be read with more force than the other words, that is, with emphasis. Did you ride to town yesterday? No, my brother, did. Did yon ride to town yesterday? No, I walked.

* Italics are also used for other purposes, though most frequently for emphasis.

THIRD READER. 11

Did you ride to town yesterday? No, I went into the country. Did you ride to town yesterday? No, I went the day before. Have you seen James or John lately? I have seen James, but not John. Did you say there were four eggs in the nest, or three? There were only three eggs, not four. Were the eggs white or blue? The eggs were white, not blue. Had the boy a hat on his head, or a cap? He had a cap on, not a hat.

PUNCTUATION.

Punctuation should be thoroughly studied by the pupil, in order that he may become perfectly familiar with the marks and pauses found in the reading lessons of this volume.

MARKS AND PAUSES.

These marks are used to point off written or printed matter into sentences and parts of sentences, and thus to assist the reader in obtaining the meaning of the writer. They seldom indicate the length of the pause to be made; this must be determined by the sense. A Hyphen (-) is used between syllables in a word divided at the end of a line; as, "be-cause," "ques-tion," and between the parts of a compound word; as, Rocking-chair, good-by.

12 ECLECTIC SERIES.

The Comma (,), Semicolon (;), and Colon (:) mark grammatical divisions in a sentence; as, God is good; for he gives us all things. Be wise to-day, my child: 't is madness to defer.

A Period (.) is placed at the end of a sentence; as, God is love. Life is short. Or is used after an abbreviation; as, Dr. Murphy. Jan. 10, 1879.

An Interrogation Point (?) denotes a question; as, Has he come? Who are you?

An Exclamation Point (!) denotes strong feeling; as, O Absalom! my son! my son!

The Dash (--) is used where there is a sudden break or pause in a sentence; as, The truth has power--such is God's will--to make us better.

Quotation Marks (" ") denote the words of another; as, God said, "Let there be light."

An Apostrophe (') denotes that a letter or letters are left out; as, O'er, for over; 't is, for it is. And is also used to show ownership; as, The man's hat. Helen's book.