STANDARD SUPPLEMENTARY READERS. THE SUPPLEMENTARY READERS form a series of carefully graduated reading-books, designed to connect with any of the regular series of five or six Readers. These books, which are closely co-ordinated with the several Readers of the regular series, are : I. Easy Steps for Little Feet: Supplementary to First Reader. In this book the attractive is the chief aim, and the pieces have been written and chosen with special reference to the feelings and fancies of early childhood. II. Golden Book of Choice Reading: Supplementary to Second Reader. This book presents a great variety of pleasing and instructive reading, consisting of child-lore and poetry, noble examples, and attractive object-readings. III. Book of Tales; being School Readings Imagi. native and Emotional: Supplementary to Third Reader. - In this book the youthful taste for the imaginative and emotional is fed with pure and noble creations drawn from the literature of all nations. IV. Readings in Nature's Book: Supplementary to Fourth Reader. This book contains a varied collection of charming readings in natural history and botany, drawn from the works of the great modern naturalists and travelers. V. Seven American Classics. VI. Seven British Classics. The "Classics" are suitable for reading in advanced grammar grades, and aim to instill a taste for the higher literature, by the presentation of gems of British and American authorship. Copyright, 1880, by Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Company. In the series of Supplementary Readers, the plan of which is given on the opposite page, the "Seven British Classics" is designed, in connection with the "Seven American Classics," to supply a superior kind of reading for use in the advanced classes of grammar-schools. It is not needful to discuss the import of the term classic in connection with the writers from whom these selections are drawn ; but it may be remarked that the word is here used in a somewhat free sense. Time is the consecration of a classic; and, while in the case of Addison and Lamb there can be no question as to the legitimacy of the epithet, it may be deemed too early yet to apply it to men of our own generation, to men who like Macaulay and Thackeray have but lately passed away, or to Tennyson who wears the laurel on a living brow. We can only say of the authors here represented, either that they are already classics in the strict sense, or that their works hold, embalmed and treasured up, that ethereal and fifth essence which gives assurance that the world will not willingly let them die. It is sincerely hoped that this taste of standard literature may tend in some degree to counteract the effect of the scrappy incoherence of the matter which children are generally condened to read in school. It is unfortunate that the technical conditions which school-readers must fulfill are such as to iii exclude, especially in the lower books, the best writ seems that even in the higher books, such as are in of pupils from fifteen to seventeen years of age, -COI too prone to sacrifice the seasoned timber of literat merely "popular" pieces of the fashionable writers c The literary firmament is never without its holiday fir its brilliant coruscations that often outshine the heav for a moment. But the rockets and "brief candles leaving the stars in their serene and sempiternal beaut The seven masters here represented are Addis Lamb, Campbell, Macaulay, Tennyson, and Thackera is hoped that, so far as space permitted, they are a represented. Complete pieces have been given save instances of selections from elaborate works, and eve it may fairly be claimed that the selections are in t "entire and perfect chrysolites." To present compl of literary workmanship, was indeed the prime obje book, for extracts are at best what Bacon calls "flash The "Seven American Classics" has been made on plan, and the two little volumes can hardly fail to be appetite for what is purest and best in the literatur language. WEBSTERIAN MARKS USED IN THIS Book. .-, ē, I, o, u, y, long; & u, y. short; as in term; I as in firm; oo as in food; oo as in foo e, eh, as k; gas j; g as in get; n as in linger; g as z; I as gz. |