LESSON XIII.

CONSONANT SOUNDS IN COMBINATION.

dst as in bidst, midst, couldst, wouldst.
fr as in frame, freeze, from, frown.
ft as in lift, drift, swift, left.

fts as in drifts, lifts, gifts, sifts.

Air and exercise, (not air un exercise.) Charles and John. Land and water. Questions and answers. A peach and an apple. A dog and a horse.

Rollo's Visit to the Cliffs.

As the party rode slowly away from the beach, Rollo's mother expressed a wish to go to the cliffs. They were rocky (precipices) (overhanging the sea, at the extremity of a point of land about a mile from the beach, where the party had been, and thither they directed their (course)

The precipices were very high, and the swell of the sea dashed and roared against them at their foot; and yet the water looked very smooth at a little distance

Note to Teachers. — One great cause of indistinct utterance arises from sinking the sound of some of the final consonants when they are followed by words beginning with a vowel. Thus the word and is frequently pronounced like the article an, or like un; and sometimes with only the sound of n; as, air an' exercise - air un exercise — or air 'n' exercise. If the attention of children is early called to this subject, the defect will soon be remedied.

from the land. Rollo (wondered why there should be waves along the beach and (against) the rocks, when there were none out in the open sea.

"I should think, father," said he, "that it would be (calmer) near the shore, and more windy out upon the

water."

"It is," said his father.

"Then, why are not the waves larger?" "They are full as large."

"Why, father," said Rollo, "there are no waves at all out from the land."

"You cannot see them very well," said his father, "because we look down upon them. When we are upon a mountain, the small hills below almost (disappear. Besides, the waves out in the open sea, in such a still time as this, are in the form of broad swells; but these swells are broken when they roll against the shore, and so this makes the surf."'

"I mean to look over and see," said Rollo; and he . walked cautiously) along towards the precipice.

"O Rollo," (exclaimed Mary, "do not go so near!" "Why, there is no danger," said Rollo.

"Rollo! Rollo!" exclaimed Mary again, as Rollo went nearer and nearer.

His father had turned away, just as he had finished his (remarks,) and so had not observed what Rollo was doing. In fact, the boy did not go near enough to the brink to be in any danger, though Mary was afraid to have him so near.

His mother, hearing Mary's call, turned to see what was the matter; and she, too, felt afraid at seeing

Rollo so near. She called him to come away; but he told her that he was not near enough to fall.

"But I prefer that you should come away," said his mother; and she looked very anxious and uneasy, and began to hurry along towards him.

You see that large (island) off to the right," said Rollo's father, directing) her attention) in the right

quarter.

"Yes, I see it-Rollo !"

Well, that is George's Island. There is a rock ¡ying just about south of it."

"Yes," said Rollo's mother, "I believe I see it; beckoning, at the same time, to Rollo.

Her mind was (evidently occupied with watching Rollo. She looked first at the rock and island, where Mr. Holiday was pointing, and then back at Rollo, until at length Mr. Holiday, (perceiving) that her mind was disturbed by Rollo's motions, said to him,—

"Rollo, keep outside of us."

"Outside, father!" said Rollo; "how do you mean?"

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Why, farther back from the brink than we are." So Rollo walked (reluctantly back till he was about the same distance from the brink with his father, and then began to take up some little stones, and throw them over.

His father and mother went on talking, though Rollo's stones (disturbed) them a little. At length Rollo came and stood near his father, to hear what he was saying about a large ship which was just coming into view behind the island.

As he stood there, he kept pressing forward to get as near the brink) as he could, without actually going before his father and mother. She instinctively put out her hand to hold him back, and was evidently so uneasy that Mr. Holiday looked to see what was the matter. Rollo had pressed forward so as to be a very little in advance of his father, though it was only very little indeed.

"Rollo," said his father, "go and sit in the carryall until we come."

Rollo looked up surprised, and was just going to ask why he should go, when he perceived that he was in advance of his parents, and that he had consequently disobeyed his father's orders. He went away rather sullenly.

"I was not more than an inch in advance of where they were," said he to himself; "and, besides, it was far enough from the brink. I do not see why I need be sent away."

However, he knew that he must obey, and he went and took his seat in the carryall. It was turned away from the sea, and he had nothing before him but the inland prospect.

"What dismal-looking rocks and hills!" said he to himself.

They had appeared wild and picturesque when he first came in view of them, but now they had a very gloomy expression. He who is dissatisfied with himself, is generally dissatisfied with all around him.

LESSON XIV.

CONSONANT SOUNDS IN COMBINATION.

kts as in acts, facts, directs, suspects.
ldz as in fields, yields, holds, folds.
if as in myself, himself, wolf, gulf.
Im as in elm, helm, realm, film.

I spoke of the man, (not o' the man,) who told me of the boys. The want of men is occasioned by the want of money. Children climb the mound of the rampart. The top of the house.

Rollo's Visit to the Cliffs, concluded.

ROLLO waited till he was tired, and some time longer. At length his father and mother appeared, and Rollo jumped out, and asked his father if he might ride in the wagon, and drive the girls again.

"No," replied his father; "I have made another arrangement Jonas," he (continued, "you may get into the wagon, and drive on alone."

Rollo's father then helped Mrs. Holiday and Mary into the back seat, while he put Lucy and Rollo on before, and he took a seat between them.

they had rode on a little way, he said,

When

Note to Teachers. The sound of f, when final, is liable to be suppressed when a consonant begins the succeeding word, and particularly the th; as, I spoke o' the man, for I spoke of the man.