PREFACE. THE object of a Reading-Book is to aid in teaching children to read. In arranging the "Fifth Reader," we have endeavored to subordinate all other ideas to this. We have sought to introduce only such lessons as are within the easy comprehension of the children, those that will awaken their interest and sympathy, and afford variety in style and delivery. Very little space is given to the theory and science of reading, believing, as we do, that they are entirely out of place at this grade of instruction; that it is an unfortunate waste of time and effort to burden the pupils with rules and definitions, when the time is so valuable to them for actual practice in reading. The art of reading is that which should occupy their time and effort at the present. The science of reading will be fully discussed in the work on Elocution now being prepared. We have selected from the works of the most celebrated authors in French, German, English, and American Literature, and have been careful to introduce only the best models of excellence in point of literary merit, and, as far as possible, such selections as impart valuable instruction. Every pupil of proper age to use the "Fifth Reader," should have access to a good dictionary; and, for this reason, very few terms have been illustrated or defined. It is much better that the children should form the habit of consulting the dictionary for themselves. All terms and allusions that are not to be found in such ordinary books of reference as should be accessible in every good school, are explained in the "Manual." There, also, will be found a brief sketch of each prominent author represented in the book. XII. A STREET SCENE IN NEW YORK..Lydia Maria Child.... XIV. SEINE-FISHING OFF SOUTHAMPTON.....Clara Hunter. XVI. AN OLD WOMAN'S RAILWAY SIGNAL.. Elihu Burritt.... XVII. CAPTURING THE WILD HORSE.... Washington Irving.... XXII. "TELLING ON ONE ANOTHER" XXIII. THE SKATER AND THE WOLVES.. Charles Whitehead.... XXXV. PRIMITIVE LIFE IN NEW YORK... Washington Irving.. .M. Humbert.... 135 XLIV. A VISIT FROM JAPANESE LADIES. XLVI. AN EVENING AT SEA...... Francis A. Chateaubriand. XLVII. THE VALLEY OF THE YOSEMITE...A. D. Richardson.... 163 XLIX. THE MILL ON THE FLOSS... LXXI. THE OLD MEETING-HOUSE.. .Harriet Beecher Stowe.. LXXIII. ANIMALS OF THE PYRENEES... LXXVIII. THE OCEAN AND ITS LIFE....... .M. Schele De Vere.. LXXXIX. THE CONDOR OF THE ANDES.....Dr. J. von Tschudi... XCI. RURAL LIFE IN ENGLAND........ Washington Irving.... 281 200 XX. THE HIGH TIDE.... ..James Russell Lowell. Thomas Buchanan Read.... Samuel Taylor Coleridge.. XXXVIII. HOW THE BROOK WENT TO MILL....Benj. F. Taylor XL. THE JOLLY OLD PEDAGOGUE.. XLII. IN THE CELLAR.. William Cullen Bryant.... 279 ..Heinrich Heine.. |
