Lessons have been selected that are interesting to the young, and that convey, each, an instructive moral in such a way as to impress itself deeply on the mind of the pupil. They have also been selected and arranged with a view to affording the best possible exercises in reading.

New selections have been made from several distinguished writers. Those from Archbishop Spalding, Father Lacordaire, Doctor Newman, Miss Hoffman, and Brother Philippe, are in every respect excellent.

Short biographical sketches have been appended of the different authors from whose works selections, have been made. In making those selections care has been taken to furnish examples of the various styles of composition, and in doing this whatever could be found most interesting and instructive was sought for; whilst every thing dull, frivolous, or at all tinctured with erroneous views or principles has been rigidly excluded.

The Lessons are a grade higher than those of the Third Reader, but nothing supposed to be above the capacity or intelligence of children who have read through the preceding books of the Series has been introduced.

The instructions on articulation, emphasis, and inflection, will be found to be moderately full and very clear and intelligible.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION. PAGE.
Pronunciation [15]
Articulation [16]
Accent [19]
Time [20]
Emphasis [22]
Inflection [34]
Circumflex Inflection—Monotone [39]
Parenthesis and Parenthetical Clauses [40]
Tone—Expression and Energy [42]
On Reading of Verse [45]
Rests in Verse [48]
READING LESSONS.
PROSE.
LESSON.
1. Teaching and Character of Jesus Christ Chateaubriand, [52]
3. The Devoted Son and the Generous Stranger Brother Philippe, [55]
4. The Christian Mother Mary I. Hoffman, [60]
6. The Two Roads [66]
9. The Young Shepherd Fenelon, [72]
10. The Same.—Continued [75]
12. The Broken Heart Irving, [79]
13. Little Victories [84]
14. The Same.—Continued [86]
16. The Widow of the Pine Cottage [91]
19. The Bobolink Irving, [97]
20. The Same.—Continued [99]
22. Portrait of a Virtuous and Accomplished Woman Fenelon, [102]
24. The Avaricious Miller Goldsmith, [105]
25. The Death of the Little Scholar Dickens, [108]
28. The Monk of St. Francis Sterne, [115]
29. My Mother’s Grave Brownson, [118]
30. Good Counsel [120]
32. Reproof to an Affected Speaker La Bruyere, [125]
35. Our Miseries Often Our Fault Blair, [129]
37. Influence of Religion on the Tyrolese Alison, [133]
40. Behind Time Freeman Hunt, [138]
43. A Storm at Sea Archbishop Hughes, [145]
44. The Atmosphere [150]
46. Discretion Addison, [154]
47. Stability of Character Alison, [156]
52. Death of Little Nell Dickens, [167]
53. Sorrow for the Dead Irving, [171]
54. Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Spain Prescott, [174]
59. The Charmed Serpent Chateaubriand, [183]
60. My Rosary Sir Humphrey Davy, [185]
61. The Indians Story, [187]
63. The Friars and the Knight Digby, [191]
66. Patriotism and Christianity Chateaubriand, [196]
67. Best Kind of Revenge Chambers, [199]
68. Queen Elizabeth of Hungary Montalembert, [201]
70. The Presumption of Youth Rollin, [210]
73. A Picture of Human Life Johnson, [216]
75. On the Waste of Time Franklin, [223]
77. Dialogue with the Gout Franklin, [227]
79. Edward the Confessor Lingard, [232]
82. Washington and Bonaparte Compared Chateaubriand, [238]
83. Character of Franklin Brougham, [242]
87. The Roman Pontiffs Archbishop Spalding, [249]
88. Labor and Genius Sydney Smith, [251]
91. A Curtain Lecture of Mrs. Caudle Jerrold, [259]
94. God Gave to His Church Charity Lacordaire, [270]
96. George Washington Dwight, [273]
97. Conduct of La Fayette in the American Revolution J. Q. Adams, [276]
99. Sir Thomas Moore Henry Giles, [282]
101. The Religion of Catholics Dr. Doyle, [287]
103. Speech of Logan, Chief of the Mingoes Jefferson, [293]
105. Character of the Irish Peasantry Barrington, [296]
109. Voluntary Confession of Sin Lacordaire, [310]
POETRY.
LESSON.
2. Little at First, but Great at Last [53]
5. Woodman, Spare that Tree Morris, [64]
7. The Laborers [68]
8. The Boy Willis, [70]
11. Old Times Gerald Griffin, [78]
15. Our Titles [90]
17. A Psalm of Life Longfellow, [95]
18. Let Virtue be Your Aim [96]
21. Who is My Neighbor? [101]
23. The work of To-day Charles Mackay, [104]
26. God, the True Source of Consolation Thomas Moore, [112]
27. The Martyrdom of St. Agnes De Vere, [113]
31. The Sister of Charity Gerald Griffin, [122]
33. My Birthday Thomas Moore, [126]
34. Labor Frances Osgood, [127]
36. True Patriotism Sir William Jones, [132]
38. Hymn of the Mountaineers Mrs. Hemans, [135]
39. Exhortation to Prayer [136]
41. Evil Influence of Skepticism Campbell, [141]
42. David’s Lament for Absalom Willis, [143]
45. The Cherwell Water Lily Faber, [152]
THE YEAR OF SORROW—IRELAND—1849.
48. Spring Aubrey De Vere, [160]
49. Summer [162]
50. Autumn [164]
51. Winter [165]
55. Palestine. (Altered from Whittier.) [178]
56. Love of Country and of Home Montgomery, [180]
57. The Heavenly Rest [181]
58. Love of Country Scott, [182]
62. Indian Names Sigourney, [190]
64. Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way Eliza Cook, [193]
65. Now, To-day Adelaide A. Proctor, [195]
69. William Tell Knowles, [203]
71. Mary Magdalen Callanan, [214]
72. The Wexford Massacre [215]
74. The Doubting Heart Adelaide A. Proctor, [222]
76. The Reaper Death Longfellow, [226]
78. The Death of the Flowers William Cullen Bryant, [230]
80. The Coming of Winter T. B. Read, [235]
81. The Sister of Charity Williams, [236]
84. The Last Minstrel Scott, [246]
85. The Minstrel Boy Thomas Moore, [247]
86. Army Hymn O. W. Holmes, [248]
89. The Dying Girl Williams, [255]
90. The Angelus Bell Campion, [257]
92. The Song of the Shirt Hood, [263]
93. Bernardo del Carpio Mrs. Hemans, [266]
95. Union and Liberty O. W. Holmes, [272]
98. Paul Revere’s Ride Longfellow, [278]
100. The Battle Field Bryant, [285]
102. A Birthday Offering Dr. Newman, [290]
104. God is Everywhere [294]
106. Advice to a Young Critic Pope, [300]
108. Elegy Written in a Country Church-yard Gray, [305]

TABLE OF VOWEL SOUNDS.