THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHER.

We are not in the regular receipt of this Journal but have seen enough of it to know that it is worthy of the "Old Bay State," and will not disgrace even Massachusetts, famed as she is for able teachers and good schools.

FORRESTER'S BOYS AND GIRLS MAGAZINE.

Edited by Francis Forrester, Sen. Published by Binney & Rand, 36 Washington St. Boston. $1,00 a year in advance.

This as its name imports is a magazine for children, is well printed and beautifully illustrated, combining instruction and amusement, and characterized by a high moral tone.

SARGEANT'S SCHOOL MOTHLY.

Boston. Epes Sargeant. No. 1., Volume 1. A new enterprise, and if merít secures success this will certainly attain it, comprising as it does a choice compendium of prose and poetry, consisting of historical sketches, dialogues, pieces for declamation, and reading in schools, stories and anecdotes, the whole profusely illustrated and beautifully printed. Terms $1,00 a year.

THE STUDENT AND SCHOOLMATE.

A monthly reader for schools, edited by N. A. Calkins, associate editor W. T Adams. New York, Calkins & Stiles. Boston, James Robinson & Co. This well known magazine has just commenced its fifth volume, and is steadily increasing in attractiveness. It is what it pretends to be, a reader for schools, and far more worthy of a place in the hands of children learning to read, than many of the reading books in use. It consists of "articles in the natural Sciences, History, Biography, Travels, Stories, Poetry, Discoveries, pieces for declamation and school exhibitions, dialogues, with marks for emphasis, tones, inflections and gestures, besides a collection of puzzles, enigmas, charades, anecdotes, &c. Terms $1,00 a year.

ITEMS.

Rev. Robert Allyn has resigned the office of school Commissioner of Rhode Island, and accepted the chair of ancient languages in Ohio University.

Prof. Alpheus Crosby has accepted the appointment of Principal of the State Normal school, Salem, Massachusetts.

C. E. Hovey who has conducted the Illinois Teacher with marked ability for the past two years, makes his parting bow as Editor, in the December number. We learn that the State normal school of which he is principal is in a flourishing condition. The 2d term commences on the 4th inst., at Bloomington.

The Illinois Teacher has attained a circulation of 2000 copies.

Geo. B. Stone retires from his position as resident editor of the Indiana School Journal Its circulation is nearly as great as that of the Illinois Teacher.

The winter term of Lawrence University commenced on the 17th ult. It is in a flourishing condition, and is doing a good work.

The annual meeting of the Illinois State Teachers Association was held at Decatur on the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st of December. There was a very large at endance and a great deal of interest manifested.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :

Preiident.-B. G. Roots of Tamaroa. Editor of Illinois Teacher.-Newton Bateman, Jacksonville. State Agent.-S. Wright, Franklin Grove. Recording Secretary.-J. F, Eberhart, of Dixon. Com. of Arrangements.-A. H. Fitch, A. Com. of Finance.-D. S. Wentworth, C.

W. Estabrook and Rev. Josiah Woods.
E. Hovey, and Dr. Cutchon.

The winter term of the Palmyra Union school commenced on the 6th inst., in the new school house. Mr. E. B. Gray, favorably known in this State for two years past as the energetic and gentlemanly general agent of A. S. Barnes &. Co., is Principal, Miss Boss, teacher in the intermediate, and Miss Williams in the primary department.

Much credit is due the citizens of Palmyra for the energy displayed in building a school house at a cost of nearly $4500 in these hard times.

BOOK NOTICES.

THE NATIONAL PRONOUNCING SPELLER.

THE NATIONAL FIRST READER.

THE NATIONAL SECOND READER.

THE NATIONAL THIRD READER.

THE NATIONAL FOURTH READER.

By Richard G. Parker and J. Madison Watson. New York, A. S. Barnes & Co. A great fault of many of the reading books formerly in use, is a want of adaptation to the capacity of those for whom they are designed.

Many of our readers can remember the time when "Webster's spelling book" and the "English Reader" were the only books used in school to teach the art of reading, and no one needs to be told that the latter, though a choice collection of extracts from the English classics is entirely unfit to put into the hands of a child who is learning to read. The subject matter of the book is to a great extent entirely above the comprehension of a child, and requires maturity of judgement and a good store of general information to enable one to read it intelligently.

Now a first principle, a rule which should always be observed is this: No child should be permitted to read a lesson (as a vocal exercise) which he cannot fully comprehend. In other words he should understand his lesson in order to read it, and not read it in order to understand it.

Many of the reading books which took the place of the English reader in our schools are made up in a great measure of extracts from sermons, philosophical and scientific essays, parliamentary and congressional speeches, the ablest efforts of cultivated minds, and from the nature of the case, though models of style and

abounding in information, entirely unsuited to the capacities of children and unfit to be used to teach reading.

In most of our common schools from one eighth to one fourth of the time de. voted to instruction is spent in reading, and yet it is a rare thing to find an easy, natural, unaffected reader, whose performance gives pleasure to the hearer and clearly presents the idea of the writer.

This is to be attributed partly to ignorance of the first principles of reading on the part of teachers, and partly to the character of the books which they have been obliged to use in teaching. Of late great improvements have been made in reading books and there are several series before the public measurably free from the defects which abounded in those in use in our school days.

The National series is worthy of a prominent place in the list of readers and will commend itself to all teachers who realize the value of a properly graded, well selected collection of lessons adapted to pupils of every degree of advancement, and rendered attractive by neat binding, large print, white paper and (in the first and second Nos.) beautiful illustrations.

The speller is arranged both for oral spelling and for dictation or writing exercises and seems to be well adapted to aid in teaching this most important branch of study.

THE LITTLE PILGRIM.

Edited by Grace Greenwood, published by Leander K. Lippincott, Philadelphia The name of the distinguished editress is a guaranty that the "Little Pilgrim” is such a visitor as parents will gladly welcome to their firesides as a companion and friend to their children. A careful examination of its pages has convinced us that The boys and girls of Wisconsin cannot do better than to subscribe for the Little Pilgrim," For terms see 4th page of cover of Dec, No. of the Journal.

EMERY'S JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE.

Published weekly by Emery & Co., No. 204 Lake St. Chicago, IL Vol. 1. No. 2. The increase of Agricultural papers in the West is an encouraging sign that there is felt on the part of the peopie an increased interest in the subject of which they treat. Still there are too many men living amongst us, farmers too, who do not believe that they can learn anything from an agricultural journal. To such we say in all kindness, you are mistaken my good friends. The fact is, no farmer can afford to do without an agricultural paper, it is a real necessity, if you wish to keep pace with your fellows in these progressive times. And it would be better for you to take two such papers than not to take any. We can confidently recommend the "Journal of Agriculture" to all who need such a paper.

THE WISCONSIN FARMER, for January appears with a new title page and is print. ed on new type, presenting a neat and clear face to its patrons on the commencement of the year. It is filled with interesting and useful matter, and is worthy of a place at every fireside in the State.

Read the advertisement on the next page.

CHINESE SUGAR CANE SEED.
[See Offer Below.]

$500.00 In Premiums to those who will Aid in the Circulation of the

WISCONSIN FARMER

AND

NORTH-WESTERN CULTIVATOR.

Published Monthly, at Madison, Wis.. by POWERS & HOYT.

PROSPECTUS FOR VOLUME III.

New Series---Vol. X. From the Beginning.

This Popular, Industrial Journal, devoted to Western Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanics, Natural History, and Education, beautifully illustrated, and forming a handsome Royal Octavo Volume of about FIVE HUNDRED PAGES ANNUALLY.

TERMS---ONE DOLLAR A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

TO CLUBS.-We offer the following liberal inducements: Seven copies, $6.00; Ten copies, $3.00; Fifteen copies, $12.00; Twenty copies, $15.00.

TO AGENTS THE FOLLOWING PREMIUMS

For the largest number of Subscribers received before the 1st. of March, 1858:

1. $30.00, in Agricultural and Horticultural Books, for the highest list.

2. $25.00. in Agricultural Books, for the 2d highest list.

3. $20 00, in Agricultural Books, for the 3d highest list.

4, $15.00, in Agricultural Books, for the 4th highest list.

5. $10.00, in Agricultural Books, for the 5th highest list.

6. Bound volumes of the Farmer for 1856 and 1857, with the current numbers of 1858, for a list of fifty subscribers.

7. Bound volumes of 1856 and 1857 for a list of forty subscribers.

8. Current numbers of 1858, or the bound volumes of either 1856 or 1957, for a list of twenty subscribers.

For lists of the Premium Books see December and January numbers.

AS AN ADDITIONAL INDUCEMENT and partial reward to those who may be disposed to engage in the circulation of the Farmer, and also to assist in the important work of improving the products of the Northwest, we shall distribute, among our agents and working friends a large quantity of

CHOICE SEEDS AND CUTTINGS,

Gathered from all parts of the world-the assortment that each will receive being determined entirely by the degree of effort made for the circulation of the Farmer.

ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO COMMENCE WITH THE VOLUEE.

Postmasters, old subscribers, and all friends of agriculture, are desired to act as agents, and to forward their subscriptions as early as possible.

SUGAR CANE SEED FROM THE SOUTH,

We are getting a supply of this article direct from the best southern cultivators, and propose to furnish one pound of the seed gratis, (done up in a safe package,) to every person sending us two one dollar subscriptions to the Farmer, on or before the 1st of April. Who will not avail themselves of the opportunity?

*Specimen numbers sent on application.

Unrivalled Attractions!!

EMERSON'S MAGAZINE AND PUTMAN'S MONTHLY,

TWO GREAT MAGAZINES IN ONE.-90,000 COPIES THE FIRST MONTH. MAGNIFICENT PROGRAMME FOR 1858. $20,000 IN SPLENDID WORKS OF ART.

FIVE DOLLAR ENGRAVING TO EVERY SUBSCRIBER.

The Great Library Offer.--Agents Getting Rich.

The union of EMERSON'S MAGAZIFE and PUTNAM'S MONTHLY has given to the consolidated work a circulation second to but one similar publication in the country, and has secured for it a combination of literary and artistic talent, probably unrivalled by any other magazine in the world. During the first month, the sale in the trade and demand from subscribers exceeded 90,000 copies, and the numbers already issued of the consolidated work are universally conceded to have surpassed, in the richness of their literary contents, and the beauty and pro. fuseness of their pictorial illustrations, any magazine ever before issued from the American press. Encouraged by these evidences of favor, the publishers have determined to commence the new volume in January with still additional attractions, and to offer such inducements to subscribers as cannot fail to place it, in circulation, at the head of American magazines. With this view they now announce the following splendid programme. They have purchased that superb and costly steel-plate engraving,

and will present a copy of it to every three dollar subscriber for the year 1858. It was engraved at a cost of over $6,000, by the late celebrated A. L. Dick, from the original of Raphael Morghen, after Leonardo Da Vinci, and is the largest steel-plate engraving ever executed in this country, being three times the size of the ordinary three dollar engravings.

The drst impressions of this engraving are held at $10, and it was the intention of the artist that none of the engravings should ever be offered for a less snm than $5, being richly worth that amount. Thus every three-dollar subscriber will receive the Magazine one year-cheap at $3-and this splendid engraving, richly worth $5; thus getting for $3 the value of $8.

We shall commence striking off the engravings immediately, yet it c n hardly be expected that impressions of so large a plate can be taken as fast as they will be called for by subscrib ers. We shall, therefore, furnish them in the order in which subscriptions are received. Those who desire to obtain their engravings early, and from the first impressions, should send in their subscriptions without delay. The engraving can be sent on roilers, by mail, or in any other manner, as subscribers shall order.

$20,000 IN WORKS OF ART.

In addition to the superb engraving of "THE LAST SUPPER," which will be presented to every three dollar subscriber for 1858, the publishers have completed arrangements for the distribution, on the 25th day of December, 1858, of a series of splendid works of art, consisting of one hundred rich and rare Oil Paintings, valued at from $100 to $1,000 each. Also, 2,000 magnificent Steel-Plate Engravings worth from $3 to $5 each, and 1,000 choice Holiday Books, worth from $1 to $5 each, making, in all, over THREE THOUSAND GIFTS, worth TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

INCLOSE $3 TO THE PUBLISHERS AND YOU WILL COMMENCE RECEIVING THE MAGAZINE BY RETURN MAIL. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE WITH THE FIRST COPY A NUMBERED SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPT ENTITLING YOU TO THE ENGRAVING OF "THE LAST SUPPER,"

and a chance to draw one of these "THREE THOUSAND PRIZES."

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SUBSCRIBE FOR EMERSON'S MAGAZINE FOR 1858. First: Because its literary contents will, during the year, embrace contributions from over ONE HUNDRED different writers and thinkers, numbering among them the most distinguished

of American authors.

Second: Because its editorial departments, "Our Studio," "Our Window," and "Our Olio," will each be conducted by an able editor-and it will surpass, in the variety and richness of its editorial contents, any other magazine.

Third: Because it will contain, during the year, nearly six hundred original pictorial illustrations from designs by the first American artists.

Fourth Because for the sum of $3 you will receive this splendid monthly, more richly worth that sum than any other magazine, and the superb engraving of "THE LAST SUPPER,” worth $5.

Fifth: Because you will very likely draw one of the three thousand prizes to be distributed on the 25th day of December, 1858-perhaps one that is worth $1,000.

Notwithstanding that these extraordinary inducements can hardly fail to accomplish the ob