THE PRIMARY SCHOOL READER. PART THIRD. DESIGNED FOR THE FIRST CLASS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, AND FOR THE LOWEST CLASS IN GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. BY WILLIAM D. SWAN, PRINCIPAL OF THE MAYHEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BOSTON. PHILADELPHIA: THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT, & Co. BOSTON: LITTLE & BROWN. HARVARD Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by WILLIAM D. SWAN In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY." PREFACE. THIS book forms the concluding number of a series for teaching reading in Primary Schools. It is also designed for the lowest class in Grammar Schools, thus forming a connection between them. As an accurate and distinct articulation forms the basis of good reading, it should receive our first attention in instruction, and be constantly taught, until words are habitually "delivered out from the lips as beautiful coins, newly issued from the mint, deeply and accurately impressed, perfectly finished, neatly struck by the proper organs, distinct, in due succession, and of due weight." * To accomplish this, some system is necessary. The first step should be to practise upon the Alphabetic Elements. This exercise, and a careful pronunciation of 'words in which the elements are liable to be perverted or suppressed in utterance, will soon enable the pupil to have all the vocal elements under complete com * AUSTIN'S Chironomia. "When the elements are pronounced singly, they may receive a concentration of organic effort, which gives them a clearness of sound, and a definite outline, if I may so speak, at their extremes, that makes a fine preparation for a distinct and forcible pronunciation in the compounds of speech."- RUSH's Philosophy of the Human Voice. |