"Well, my dear Anne," said Mrs. Harley, "how do you like my first story?"
Anne. O very much mamma, what good children Edward and James were, to give their money to a poor little hungry boy; indeed, if ever I should meet one I will do the same.
Mrs. Harley. Then you will do well, and I shall love you dearly. Remember, that the use of reading examples of virtue is to inspire you with the desire to imitate them. But do you, my dear, know of what the story you have just read is composed?
Anne. O yes, mamma, of words, is it not?
Mrs. Harley. You are right: letters make syllables, one or more syllables make a word, words form a sentence, and a number of sentences compose not only the little story of Edward and James, but all the great books in the library. Now can you tell me how letters are divided?
Anne. Not properly mamma, pray explain it to me.
Mrs. Harley. I will my dear, and so we begin our
FIRST LESSON.
Mrs. Harley. Letters of which there are twenty six in our language, are divided into vowels and consonants. There are five proper vowels, a, e, i, o, and u. Y is generally a consonant at the beginning of words, and a vowel at the end of them. Repeat the vowels.