THE present volume, though carefully fitted, like each of its pre-
decessors, to the place which it holds in the Series, forms, also, in
itself, like each of them, a complete progressive Reader. It is not,
therefore, merely a set of promiscuous extracts: claiming no other
than the merit of exhibiting diversity of style and elegance of senti-
ment.
All the matter, on the contrary, whether original or selected, has
been adapted and arranged with the closest regard to the experi-
enced wants of learners. To meet the disposition of youth, ever
"studious of change," it offers, both in style and subject, the most
ample variety; to plant the precious seeds of virtue, to cherish and
protect them in their growth, it carefully supplies the means of
moral culture; while, further to enrich the mind with useful knowl-
edge, make it familiar with noble sentiments and elegant diction,
it brings the pupil in communion with many of those master spirits
that have, by their works, most adorned and elevated English
Literature.
THE FIRST PART of the work, embracing some thirty-five pages, is
devoted to the statement and illustration of principles and pre-
cepts for Rhetorical Reading. The instructions in this part will
be found, it is hoped, comprehensive without being prolix, and,
withal so simple and so direct as to admit of the most ready and
accurate application. In this part, the diligent student will find
every necessary aid in his endeavors to attain a graceful and effect-
ive delivery; while the teacher, anxious to secure to his pupils the
benefit of ample and judicious practice, will have no reason to com-
plain of the paucity of examples.
THE SECOND PART, occupying the remainder of the volume, com-
prises more than two hundred Exercises in reading. Here each
Lesson is preceded by a list of words taken from it, and duly de-
fined; the Proper Names are explained in brief, but often compre-
hensive Notes; frequent References are made to the instructions in
the First Part; and the whole is concluded with a series of questions
designed to awaken interest, prolong attention, and so make the
deeper impression. These notes, references, definitions, and ques-
tions, all have a common aim,-that of securing a better reading
of each piece, by securing to the learner a better understanding of
its meaning. They direct attention to the precise import of given
words in given places, fix firmly in the mind noted events, persons,
and localities, and foster the habit of tracing minutely the several
shades and relations of thought in a connected discourse.
Such, in general terms, is the NEW FOURTH READER.
It is com-
mended to all who regard good Reading, as a valuable accomplish-
ment:-to all who, in teaching this subject, have respect to the
laws of mental growth;-to all who, in school, would duly combine
the entertaining with the instructive; and, especially, to those
who sympathize with the sentiment of the poet :-
How empty learning, and how vain is art,
But as it mends the life, and guides the heart.
.Rev. F. L, Hawks, 60
Mrs. Emily C. Judson, 62
Jean Paul Richter, 66
..J. T. Headley, 68
C. Jillson, 70
.Krummacher, 71
Jane Taylor, 72
....Anon, 76
Charles Mackay, 77
..John Locke, 78
..Anon, 80
..Southey, 81
.O. G. Warren, 83
.H. W. Heywood, 84
.Rev. W. H. Van Doren, 85
..Anon, 86
.Sir George Mackenzie, 89
..H. F. Gould, 90
..N. P. Willis, 91
Washington Irving, 98
do.
..Anon, 97
Wm. C. Richards, 99
Ben Jonson, 100
Knowles, 101
.Bible, 103
.Anon, 106
.H. F. Gould, 10
.Dr. Watts, 109
.Dean Swift, 111
.Linnæus Banks, 115
..J. Hagan, 116
Longfellow, 117
Krummacher, 119
S. W. Seton, 120
.Rev. John Todd, 122
.Anon. 124
Humorous Speaker, 125
80 Importance of Early Rising,.
81 Danger of Riches...
82. Real and Apparent Happiness,.
83. Emptiness of Riches,.
84. The Miser,....
85. Reflections on early Death,.....
86. The Being and Attributes of God,.
87. The Daisy,....
88. God is Everywhere,.
39 How to meet Adversity,..
90 Character of Charles Twelfth,.
91. Results of Ambition,...
.Epes Sargent, 174
.Charles Swain, 176
...Bible, 177
.Rev. Samuel W. Fisher, 179
John G. Saxe, 181
W. D. Gallagher, 183
.Smellie, 185
. Wilson, 187
..James Hogg, 189
Catharine Talbot, 190
.Rev. Orville Dewey, 192
..Jeremy Taylor, 193
.Edward Young, 195
..Robert Pollok, 196
.Alexander Pope, 197
Maxcy, 199
..J. M. Good, 203
.Hugh Hutton, 203
.Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, 205
Oliver Goldsmith, 207
92. Influence of Good Deeds and Words,.
93. Language of a Man of Education,.
94. Rivers,..
107 Precepts,.
108 My Birth-Day,
109 Labor,.
110. Law,.
Sequel to the same,.
111. Reproof to an Affected Speaker,.
112. A Fond Sister's Love,.
113. Brother Jonathan's Ships,.
114. The Newspaper,.
115. Superiority of Wisdom,.
116. Working Man's Song,..
117. Jupiter dividing the Earth,
Daniel Webster, 224
.Thomas Moore, 225
...Anon, 226
.Joseph Story, 228
.Edinburgh Review, 230
.J. H. A. Bone, 231
..Horace Rublee, 233
234
.Sir Matthew Hale, 236
...Thomas Moore, 238
.Frances Osgood, 240
Richard Hooker, 242
...Tappan, 243
.La Bruyère, 244
..Shakspeare, 245
George Grenville, 248
Rev. William Adams, 249
.Robert Hall, 252
Charles Mackay, 254
126. DEBATE." Which is preferable, City or Country life?"
From Mc Elligott's American Debater.-
133. Advice to a Young Critic,.
184. The Fretful Man,..
135. The Cultivation of the Mind,
136. Self-Reliance,.
187. The Way to meet Adversity,.....
138. As thy Ďays, so shall thy Strength
189. Agricultural Pursuits,.
140. Parting Address to La Fayette,.
141. The Might with the Right,.
142. Falls of the Mohawk,.
143. Public Virtue,.
Alexander Pope, 291
William Cowper, 293
.Humphrey, 294
.R. Waldo Emerson, 297
Horace by Cowper, 299
be,....L. H. Sigourney, 800
..Horace Greeley, 301
John Quincy Adams, 304
W. E. Hickson, 806
.Thomas Moore, 307
Henry Clay, 808
Rev. C. M. Butler, D.Ď. 810
|