Transcriber's Notes:
Welcome to the schoolroom of I 900. The moral tone is
plain. "She is kind to the old blind man,"
The exercises are still suitable, and perhaps more helpful
than some contemporary alternatives. Much is left to the
teacher. Explanations given in the text are enough to get
started teaching a child to read and write. Counting in
Roman numerals is included as a bonus in the form of
lesson numbers.
The "non-ASCI" text remains as images. The "non-
ASCI" text is approximated in text boxes to right of the
image, as are script images.
Don Kostuch
ECLECTIC EDUCATIONAL SEFHES.
MCGUFFEY'S®
First
ECLECTIC READER
RavtBed EdfJiorr
McGiijfey Edition and Colophon are Trademarks of
SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.
This First Reader may be used in teaching reading by any of
the methods in common use: but it is especially adapted to the
Phonic Method, the Word Method, or a combination of the
two.
I. Phonic Method.— First teach the elementary sounds and their
representative, the letters marked with diacriticals. as they
occur in the lessons; then, the formation of words by the
combination of these sounds. For instance, teach the pupil to
identify the characters ^ ^^ ". ^' t r, and th, in Lesson I, as the
representatives of certain elementary sounds; then teach him to
form the words at the head of the lesson, then other words, as
nag. on. and. etc. Pursue a similar course in teaching the
succeeding lessons. Having read a few lessons in this manner,
begin to teach the names of the letters and the spelling of
words, and require the groups, "a man," "the man," "a pen," to
be read as a good reader would pronounce single words.
II. When one of the letters in the combinations on or oiv, is
mai'ked in the words at the head of the reading exercises, the
other is silent. If neither is marked, the two le'tters represent a
diphthong. All other unmarked vowels in the vocabularies,
when in combination, are silent letters. In slate or blackboard
work, the silent letters may be canceled.
III. Word Method. --Teach the pupil to identify at sight the
words placed at the head of the reading exercises, and to read
these exercises without hesitation. Having read a few lessons,
begin to teach the names of the letters and the spelling of
words.
IV. Word Method and Phonic Method Combined. -Teach the
pupil to identify words and read sentences, as above. Having
read a few lessons in this manner, begin to use the Phonic
Method- combining it with the Word Method, by first teaching
the words in each lesson as words; then the elementary sounds,
the names of the letters, and spelling.
V. Teach the pupil to use script letters in writing- when
teaching the names of the letters and the spelling of words.
Copyright, 1879. by Van Antwerp- Bragg & Co.
Copyright- 1896, by American Book Company.
Copyright, 1907 and 1920, by H.H. Vail.
EP486
Preface
In presenting McGuffey's Revised First Reader to the public,
attention is invited to the following features:
1. Words of only two or three letters are used in the first
lessons. Longer and more difficult ones are gradually
introduced as the pupil gains aptness in the mastery of words.
2. A proper gradation has been carefully preserved. All new
words are placed at the head of each lesson, to be learned
before the lesson is read. Their number in the early lessons is
very small, thus making the first steps easy. All words in these
vocabularies are used in the text immediately following.
3. Carefully engraved script exercises are introduced for a
double purpose. These should be used to teach the reading of
script; and may also serve as copies in slate work.
4. The illustrations have been designed and engraved
specially for the lessons in which they occur. Many of the
engravings will sei"ve admirably as the basis for oral lessons in
language.
5. The type is large, strong, and distinct.
The credit for this revision is almost wholly due to the
friends of McGuffey's Readers,— eminent teachers and
scholars, who have contributed suggestions and criticisms
gained from their daily work in the schoolroom.
Cincinnati, June, 1879.
(iii)
ECLECTIC SERIES.
THE ALPHABET.
A
a
N
n
B
b
O
o
C
c
P
P
D
d
Q
q
h,
e
R
r
F
f
S
s
G
g
1
t
H
h
U
u
I
1
V
V
J
J
w
w
K
k
X
X
T,
1
Y
y
M
m
/
z
FIRST READER.
aT3 G JO fi a g
OP 2 1? ^ 3 LL
VU/Xlj j
\j
SCRIPT FIGURES
l2.3U5lDn^qO
Script Alphabet
A
B C D E FG
t
I J K L M N
O
P Q R S Y U
V
W X Y Z
a
b c d e f g h
i
) k 1 111 n p q
r
stuvwxyz
SCRIPT FIGURES
■ ■
234567890
ECLECTIC SERIES.
FIRST READER
McGuffey's
FIRST READER.
LESSON L
dog the ran
i 5 n d g r th
The dog.
dog
the
ran
a o n d g r th
The dog ran.
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON II.
e t i m 5
on
cat
mat
is
on
e
t
i
m
s
The cat. The mat.
Is the cat on the mat?
The cat is on the mat.
FIRST READER.
LESSON III.
it
in
pen
hag
e
hand
man
it
his
pen
hand
a
in
has
man
P
h e
The man,
A pen.
The man has a pen-
Is the pen in his hand?
It is in his hand.
10
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON IV.
hen
fat
rat
box
big
run
from can
f
b X u
A fat hen.
A big rat.
The fat hen is on the box.
The rat ran from the box.
Can the hen run?
FIRST READER.
LESSON V.
11
Rab Ann liat «iitcU see
e
See Rab! See Ann!
See! Rab has the hat.
Rab Ann hat catch see
e ch s
Can Ann catch Rab?
12
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON Vl.
she pat
too now
let me
^^M
K
sh oo
ow 1
she
pat
too
now
let
me
sh
oo
ow
1
Ann can catch Rab,
See! She has the hat.
Now Ann can pat Rab.
Let me pat Rab, too.
LESSON VII.
N5d
ogg§
nest
dicm
left
get
Ned eggs black left
fed nest them get
FIRST READER.
13
Will a black lien
w ck
Ned has fed the hen.
She is a black hen.
She has left the nest.
the nest
will
a
black hen
w ck
the
nest
See the eggs in the nest!
Will the hen let Ned get them?
14
Lead
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON VIM.
he
with
6
and
Let me get the black hat. Now Ned
has it on his head, and he is a big man.
Come, Nat, see the big man with his
black hat.
head
he
Nat
come
with
o
and
FIRST READER.
LESSON IX. REVIEW.
pat catch has left
hat can black eggs
Rab Ann fed get
15
Ned is on the box. He has a pen in his
hand. A big rat is in the box. Can the dog
catch the rat?
Come with me, Ann, and see the man
with a black hat on his head.
The fat hen has left the nest. Run, Nat,
and get the eggs.
SLATE WORK.
3hjb "VYhaJT^ ^u^ a rvoX.
The cat ran. Ann ran.
The man has a hat.
16
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON X.
Nell some
pan
Liin
yea
do
you
Jjave
I
to
y
Do you see Nell?
Yes; she has a pan with some eggs in
it.
Let me have the pan and the eggs, will
you, Nell?
Has the black hen left the nest?
I will now run to catch Rab. Will you
run, too?
Nell
some
pan
him
yes
do
you
have
I
to
i y
V
FIRST READER.
LESSON XI-
17
o
wh
J
whip
Ben
up
still
sit
if
etand
Jip
o
whip
Ben
up
still
sit
if
stand
Jip
o
wh j
O Ben! let me get in, will you?
Yes, if you will sit stilL
Stand still, Jip, and let Ann get in.
Now, Ben, hand me the whip.
Get up, Jip!
la-
18
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XII.
Kitty has a nice pet. It can sing a
sweet song.
She has just fed it-
She will now put it in the cage, and
hang the cage up. Then the cat can not
catch it.
Kit'ty
nice
sweet
sing
just
hang
cage
then
song pet put not
k g c a y ng u
FIRST READER.
LESSON XIII.
19
Look at Tom and his dog. The dog
has a black spot on his back. Do you
think he is a good dog?
Tom has a big top, too. It is on the
box with Kitty's doll.
Tom
top
Kit'ty's
at
back
look
good
doll
think spot
th n
oo
20
Bun
stop
her
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XIV.
we
us
how
go
hot
pond
swim
duck
sun
we
how
pond
stop
for
go
swim
her
us
hot
duck
e
o
The sun is up. The man has fed the black
hen and the fat duck.
Now the duck will swim in the pond.
The hen has run to her nest.
FIRST READER.
21
Let us not stop at the pond now, for it is
hot.
See how still it is! We will go to see
Tom and his top.
LESSON XV.
J&hn
rock
Bgt
jump
John
rock
set
jump
fun
ITlUSt
may
un'der
fun
must
may
un'der
skip
bank
but
touch
skip
bank
but
touch
O John! the sun has just set. It is not hot,
now.
Let us run and jump. I think it is fun to
run, and skip, and jump.
See the duck on the pond! Her nest is up
on the bank, under the rock.
We must not touch the nest, but we may
look at it.
22 ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XVI. REVIEW.
The sun has set, and the pond is still,
John, Ned, Ben, Tom, and Nell stand on
the bank, and look at the duck.
The dog with a black spot on his back, is
with Tom. See! Tom has his hat in his
hand. He has left his big top on the box.
Kitty's doll is on the rock.
Nell has put her pet in the cage. It will
sing a sweet song. The duck has her nest
under the rock.
It is not hot now. Let us run, and skip,
and jump on the bank. Do you not think it
is fun?
FIRST READER.
LESSON XVIL
are iuk inoaa this tub
SLATE WORK
23
upset^
3-Pu- fu/TTj ojYuL \Kh vfJtt ahjb orb
-Jaxm. ? OTU. wuyiA {h orb ^Ai-
Ao^, 3-^1x6 djJjJ^ <Kk/Y\. AA^n/m>.
LESSON XVIM.
niit dkl sliiit shall h^^st fox
mfen met step in'^to h Cini miid
SLATE WORK.
are
ink
moss
this tub
a
up set'
The pen and the ink are on
the stand. Is this a good
pen? The moss is on the
rock. This duck can swim.
Ben upset the tub.
nut did shut shall lost fox
men met step into hunt mud
Will the dog hunt a fox?
Ben lost his hat. Shall I
shut the box? I met him
on the step. Did you jump
into the mud? I have a
nut. I met the man.
24
ECLECTIC SERIES,
LESSON
XIX.
Eate
old
no
grass
dear
likes
be
drink
milk
^ow
■
out
glve^
Kate
old
no
grass
dear
likes
be
drink
milk
cow
1
out
gives
O Kate! the old cow is in the pond: see
her drink! Will she not come out to get
some grass?
No, John, she likes to be in the pond.
See how still she stands!
The dear old cow gives us sweet milk to
drink.
FIRST READER.
LESSON XX.
25
mam ma
armg
both
ride
Prinze
far
tr6t
pa pa
barn,
jour
mam ma'
large
as
pa pa
anus
ride
far
barn
both
Prince
trot
your
Papa, will you let me ride with you on
Prince? I will sit still in your arms-
See, mamma! We are both on Prince.
How large he is!
Get up, Prince! You are not too fat to
trot as far as the barn.
26
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXI.
6f(6v) liiAt tOSB
well Fan'ny ball
wag pret'ty (prit-) ^<^^^
O Fanny, what a pretty ball!
Yes; can you catch it, Ann?
Toss it to me, and see- I will
not let it fall.
That was well done.
fall
of
that
toss
fall
wall
weil
Fan'ny
ball
wall
what
was
pret'ty(prit-)
a
done
a
what
FIRST READER.
27
Now, Fanny, toss it to the top of the
wall, if you can.
LESSON XXIL
had
flag
wfent
near
Bwarn
might
SWIQg
had
flag
went
near
call
swam
might
swmg
Did you call us, mamma?
28
ECLECTIC SERIES.
I went with Tom to the pond. I had my
doll, and Tom had his flag,
The fat duck swam to the bank, and we
fed her. Did you think we might fall into
the pond?
We did not go too near, did we, Tom?
May we go to the swing, now, mamma?
Iloio
plaj
front
LESSC
N XXIII.
hoar
horse
baud.
here
band
hear
horse
tliej
pk^s
where
play
they
pass
where
fine
hope
eomeg
front
fine
hope
comes
S
#■
e
e
Here comes the band! Shall we call
mamma and Fanny to see it?
FIRST READER.
29
Let us stand still, and hear the men play
as they pass.
I hope they will stop here and play for
us.
See the large man in front of the band,
with his big hat. What has he in his hand?
How fine he looks!
Look, too, at the man on that fine horse.
If the men do not stop, let us go with
them and see where they go.
30
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXIV.
Bt^SH
hajV ij
mako
cart
Bess
hap'py
make
cart
tent
W(x>dg
llt'tle
vBr'J
tent
woods
lit'tle
ver'y
bed
Rol/ert
g^ne
draw
bed
Rob'ert
gone
draw
Bess and Robert are very happy; papa and
mamma have gone to the woods with them.
Robert has a big tent and a
FIRST READER.
31
flag, and Bess has a little bed for her doll.
Jip is with them. Robert will make him
draw Bess and her doll in the cart.
LESSON XXV.
said (seJ)
MaVy
J
sail
g
%
sp?
ade
dig
sand
James
Ma'ry
made
sang
my
lay
sport
spade
lap
dig
doll's
sand
said (sed)
y
"Kate, will you play with me?"
32
ECLECTIC SERIES.
said James. "We will dig in the sand with
this little spade. That will be fine sport."
"Not now James" said Kate; "for I must
make my dolTs bed. Get Mary to play
with you."
James went to get Mary to play with
him. Then Kate made the doll's bed.
She sang a song to her doll, and the doll
lay very still in her lap.
Did the doll hear Kate sing?
LESSON XXVI.
its shade br6ok picks all
by hfelp stones glad soft
its shade
by help
brook
stones
picks
glad
all
soft
Kate has left her doll in its little bed, and
has gone to play
FIRST READER.
33
with Mary and James. They are all in the
shade, now, by the brook.
James digs in the soft sand with his
spade, and Mary picks up little stones and
puts them in her lap.
James and Mary are glad to see Kate.
She will help them pick up stones and dig,
by the little brook.
1,3.
34 ECLECTIC SERIES
LESSON XXVII. REVIEW
"What shall we do?" said Fanny to John.
"I do not like to sit stilL Shall we hunt for
eggs in the barn?"
"No" said John; "I like to play on the
grass. Will not papa let us catch Prince,
and go to the big woods?"
"We can put the tent in the cart, and go
to some nice spot where the grass is soft
and sweet."
"That will be fine," said Fanny. 'T will
get my doll, and give her a ride with us,"
"Yes," said John, "and we will get
mamma to go, too. She will hang up a
swing for us in the shade,"
FIRST READER.
35
LESSON XXVI
vhile
iiick safe oK wet fet
chick mn^t feel§ wing
peep
while
take
sleep
tuck
safe
oh
wet
feet
chick
can't
feels
wing
Peep, peep! Where have you gone, little
chick? Are you lost? Can't you get back to
the hen?
Oh, here you are! I will take you back.
Here, hen, take this little chick under your
wing.
Now, chick, tuck your little,
36
ECLECTIC SERIES .
wet feet under you, and go to sleep for a
while.
Peep, peep! How safe the little chick
feels now!
LESSON XXIX.
i
r!^^
■1 • ■
!■■:
-'■ 7 "^
■ ■■■■■■" 0'j^<^^w^- -■"■■■-"■>. ~
Wind
kite
flie§
time th^re fen^e
higli eje§ bright
whj day sliineg
wind
time
there
fence
kite
high
eyes
bright
flies
why
day
shines
FIRST READER.
37
This is a fine day. The sun shines bright.
There is a good wind, and my kite flies
high. I can just see it.
The sun shines in my eyes; I will stand
in the shade of this high fence.
Why, here comes my dog! He was under
the cart. Did you see him there?
What a good time we have had! Are you
not glad that we did not go to the woods
with John?
SLATE WORK.
ukj cxxjyl mL 1/kv Ihjb JxKaxijb.
The pond is stilL How it
shines in the hot sun! Let
us go into the woods where
we can sit in the shade.
38
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXX.
wish
float
tie
Unow
rope
boat
try
shore
give
pole
don't
push
drag
won't
oar
fun'n^
wish
float
tie
know
rope
boat
try
shore
give
pole
don't
push
drag
won't
oar
fun'ny
"Kate, I wish we had a boat to put the
dolls in. Don't you?"
"I know what we can do. We can get
the little tub, and tie a
FIRST READER.
39
rope to it, and drag it to the pond. This will
float with the dolls in it, and we can get a
pole to push it from the shore,"
"What a funny boat, Kate! A tub for a
boat, and a pole for an oar! Won't it
upset?"
"We can try it, Nell, and see."
"Well you get the tub, and I will get a
pole and a rope. We will put both dolls in
the tub, and give them a ride."
SLATE WORK.
hy thjb fwrrui. Q> Ao|t vn/ruL
Tnxhdub tiix ZuAT ^/yoX uX ,
YliU (jcZ Ihjh ^^yh^ laJX orb
^hjL IajJt, ojtuL uJfiAjiL tL .
The dolls had a nice ride
to the pond. A soft wind
made the tub float out.
Nell let the pole fall on
the tub, and upset it.
40
ECLECTIC SERIES
LESSON XXXI.
bound Ro§e galled g5t
drown found brave tiame
P6n'to
a round'
jumped
brought
mouth
wa'ter
bound
Rose
called got
drown
found
brave came
Pon'to
jumped
mouth
a round'
brought
wat'er
"Here, Ponto! Here, Ponto!" Kate called
to her dog. "Come, and get the dolls out of
the pond."
F/RST READER.
41
Rose went under, but she did not drown.
Bess was still on the top of the water.
Ponto came with a bound, and jumped
into the pond. He swam around, and got
Bess in his mouth, and brought her to the
shore.
Ponto then found Rose, and brought her
out, too.
Kate said, "Good, old Ponto! Brave old
dog!"
What do you think of Ponto?
LESSON XXXII.
June
T-'u'^jy-"^
A '
air
kind
tree§
blue
t\'}ien
pure
say? (sez)
sky
pie me
June
Lu'cy's
air
kind
trees
sing'ing
blue
when
pure
says (sez)
sky
pic'nic
u
a
42
ECLECTIC SERIES.
"What a bright June day! The air is
pure. The sky is as blue as it can be.
Lucy and her mamma are in the woods.
They have found a nice spot, where there
is some grass.
They sit in the shade of the trees, and
Lucy is singing.
FIRST READER. 43
The trees are not large, but they make a
good shade.
Lucy's kind mamma says that they will
have a picnic when her papa can get a tent.
LESSON XXXIII. REVIEW,
James and Robert have gone into the
shade of a high wall to play ball.
Mary and Lucy have come up from the
pond near by, with brave old Ponto, to see
them play.
When they toss the ball up in the air, and
try to catch it, Ponto runs to get it in his
mouth.
Now the ball is lost. They all look for it
under the trees
44
ECLECTIC SERIES
and in the grass; but they can not see it.
Where can it be?
See! Ponto has found it. Here he comes
with it. He will lay it at little Lucy's feet, or
put it in her hand.
own
aucli
hoist
LESSON XXXIV-
our spoil
■eoil noige
jt>tn thank
pay Julj'
oi
h iir rii!/
fourth
a bout'
pliiy'ing
"Papa, may we have the big flag?" said
James,
"What can my little boy do with such a
big flag?"
"Hoist it on our tent, papa. We are
playing Fourth of July."
"Is that what all this noise
boy
our
spoil
hur rah'
own
coil
noise
fourth
such
join
thank
a bout
hoist
pay
July
oi
play'ing
FIRST READER.
45
is about? Why not hoist your own flags?"
"Oh! they are too little."
"You might spoil my flag,"
"Then we will all join to pay for it. But
we will not spoil it, papa."
"Take it, then, and take the coil of rope
with it,"
"Oh! thank you. Hurrah for the flag,
boys!"
46
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXXV.
son
white
Beam
T^adJ
work
ga/den
THE WHITE KITTEN.
Co-)TU„fe!iA^,r>vi| &urn/ -LiJXix 'fwJlrU',
fin'ished
bon'net
les'son
saved
white
a way'
IVe
am
work
scam 'per
read'y
gar'den
Kitty, my pretty, white kitty.
Why do you scamper away?
Fve finished my work and my lesson
And now I am ready for play.
Come, kitty, my own little kitty.
Fve saved you some milk come and see.
Now drink while I put on my bonnet,
And play in the garden with me.
FIRST READER.
LESSON XXXVI.
47
eare al^Y a^y§ line
row been (bin) keeps
Frank
liome
care
row
al'ways
been (bin)
line
keeps
Frank
home
Frank has a pretty boat. It is white, with
a black line near the water.
He keeps it in the pond, near his home.
He always takes good care of it.
Frank has been at work in the garden,
and will now row a while.
48
ECLECTIC SERIES.
FIRST READER.
LESSON XXXVII.
4-9
mueli one (wun) y6i ^^^ll^g^f
seen graTni''ma €orn would
9
"What is that?" said Lucy, as she
came out on the steps. "Oh, it is a little
boat! What a pretty one it is!"
"I will give it to you when it is
finished," said John, kindly. "Would you
like to have it?"
"Yes, very much, thank you, John-
Has grandma seen it?"
"Not yet; we will take it to her by and
by. What have you in your pan, Lucy?"
"Some corn for my hens, John; they
must be very hungry by this time."
much
one (wun)
yet
hun'gry
seen
grand'ma
corn
o
would
50
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXXVIII.
James has been to market with his
mamma.
She has bought some bread, some
meat, and some tea, which are in the
basket on her arm.
James is trying to tell his mamma
what he has seen in the market.
mar'ket
bread
bas'ket
bought
meat
tea
ti-y'ing
tell
which
FIRST READER.
LESSON XXXIX.
51
read§
so
wea
e^ukl
hA-ir
n
fast
love
m
ea^^y
gray
m
chair
who
S
1 ^
'*d^-i
rg please
i=;-ji.h
?K^
R-i-v-
See my dear, old grandma in her easy-
chair! How gray her hair is! She wears
glasses when she reads.
She is always kind, and takes such
good care of me that I like to do what she
tells me.
reads
so
wears
please
could
hair
fast
love
eas'y
gray
chair
who
glass'es
52
ECLECTIC SERIES.
When she says, "Robert, will you get me
a drink?" I run as fast as I can to get it for
her. Then she says, "Thank you, my boy."
Would you not love a dear, good
grandma, who is so kind? And would you
not do all yon could to please her?
LESSON XL.
bee hou'ej" lis'ten flow^er
does won'der moth'er oth'er
bee hon'ey lis'ten flow'er
"Come here, Lucy, and listen! What is
in this flower?"
"O mother! it is a bee. I wonder how it
came to be shut up in the flower!"
"It went into the flower for
FIRST READER.
53
some honey, and it may be it went to sleep.
Then the flower shut it in.
"The bee likes honey as well as we do,
but it does not like to be shut up in the
flower.
"Shall we let it out, Lucy?"
"Yes; then it can go to other flowers,
and get honey."
54
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XLI.
liUclied
tlieir
HhoiiUl
best
best
hitched
their
should
6r
rul''irig
live
lioldi^
or
rid'ing
live
holds
liay
clr]v''inff
tiglit
ear'lv'.
■■.■
hay
driv'ing
tight
ear'ly
Here come Frank and James White. Do
you know where they live?
Frank is riding a horse, and James is
driving one hitched to
FIRST READER.
55
a cart. They are out very early in the day.
How happy they are!
See how well Frank rides, and how tight
James holds the lines!
The boys should be kind to their horses.
It is not best to whip them.
When they have done riding, they will
give the horses some hay or corn.
Slate Work
Some horses can trot very
fast. Would you like to ride
fast? One day I saw a dog
hitched up a little cart. The
cart had some com in it.
56
ECLECTIC SERIES
LESSON XLII.
heard
were
search
young
loved
chirdren
th6ii^ht
be Hide§'
A little girl went in search of flowers for
her mother. It was early in the day, and the
grass was wet. Sweet little birds were
singing all around her.
And what do you think she found
besides flowers? A nest with young birds
in it.
look'ing
thou
ght
pick'ing
heard
chirp
were
told
search
dear'ly
young
girl
loved
birds
chil'dren
be
sides'
While she was looking at
FIRST READER.
57
them, she heard the mother bird chirp, as if
she said, "Do not touch my children, little
girl, for I love them dearly."
The little girl now thought how dearly
her own mother loved her.
So she left the birds. Then picking some
flowers, she went home, and told her
mother what she had seen and heard.
LESSON XLIII.
eight
ask aft''er
town
eight
ask aft'er
town
paet
ah tfck^et
right
past
ah tick'et
right
half
two traia
liglit^'ning
ding
half
two train
light'ning
ding
"Mamma, will you go to town?"
"What do you ask for a ticket on your
train?"
58
ECLECTIC SERIES.
"Oh! we will give you a ticket,
mamma."
"About what time will you get back? "
"At half past eight."
"Ah! that is after bedtime. Is this the fast
train?"
"Yes, this is the lightning train."
"Oh! that is too fast for me."
"What shall we get for you in town,
mamma?"
FIRST READER .
59
"A big basket, with two good little
children in it."
"All right! Time is up! Ding, ding!'
scliool
room
LESSON XLIV.
eS^en(e'^vii)
bot)k
rude
teaoh'er
readying
three
sniiiU
nooTi
poor
It is noon, and the school is out.
Do you see the children
school
e'ven (eVn)
three
room
small
book
teach'er
noon
rude
read'ing
poor
60 ECLECTIC SERIES.
at play? Some run and jump, some play
ball, and three little girls play school under
a tree.
What a big room for such a small
school!
Mary is the teacher. They all have books
in their hands, and Fanny is reading.
They are all good girls, and would not
be rude even in playing school,
Kate and Mary listen to Fanny as she
reads from her book.
What do you think she is reading about?
I will tell you. It is about a poor little boy
who was lost in the woods.
When Fanny has finished, the three girls
will go home.
In a little while, too, the boys will give
up their playing.
FIRST READER.
LESSON XLV.
6J
a.p'[>]e
mew
tease
4i
crack'er
ap'ple
mew
tease
crack 'er
down
new
dl'ly
a sl^ep'
down
new
silly
a sleep'
wants
eallg
knew
frtond^
wants
calls
knew
friends
upon'
fleiw
PoU
PoJ'ly
up on'
flew
Poll
Pol'ly
Lucy has a new pet. Do you know what
kind of bird it is? Lucy calls her Polly.
Polly can say, ""Poor Poll! Poor
62 ECLECTIC SERIES.
Poll! Polly wants a cracker;" and she can
mew like a cat.
But Polly and the cat are not good
friends. One day Polly flew down, and lit
upon the cat's back when she was asleep.
I think she knew the cat would not like
that, and she did it to tease her.
When Lucy pets the cat, Polly flies up
into the old apple tree, and will not come
when she calls her. Then Lucy says, "What
a silly bird!"
LESSON XLVI. REVIEW,
"Well, children, did you have a nice
time in the woods?"
"Oh yes, mother, such a good time! See
what sweet flowers
FIRST READER.
63
we found, and what soft moss. The best
flowers are for grandma. Won't they please
her?"
"Yes; and it will please grandma to
know that you thought of her."
"Rab was such a good dog, mother.
We left him under the big tree by the
brook, to take care of the dolls and the
basket.
"When we came back, they were all
safe. No one could get them while Rab was
there.
64
ECLECTIC SERIES.
We gave him some of the crackers from
the basket,
"O mother, how the birds did sing in the
woods!
"Fanny said she would like to be a bird,
and have a nest in a tree. But I think she
would want to come home to sleep."
"If she were a bird, her nest would be
her home. But what would mother do, I
wonder, without her little Fanny?"
LESSON XLVII.
beach
wave§
w atoll
shelly
goring
the§e
ev^er
— ^_^_
la^
T
seat
beach
shells
these
seat
sea
waves
goring
ev'er
sea
side
watch
eVen ing
la'zy
side
These boys and girls live near the sea.
They have been to the
FIRST READER.
65
beach. It is now evening, and they are
going home.
John, who sits on the front seat, found
some pretty shells. They are in the basket
by his side.
Ben White is driving. He holds the lines
in one hand, and his whip in the other.
66
ECLECTIC SERIES.
Robert has his hat in his hand, and is
looking at the horses. He thinks they are
very lazy; they do not trot fast.
The children are not far from home. In a
little while the sun will set, and it will be
bedtime.
Have you ever been at the seaside? Is it
not good sport to watch the big waves, and
to play on the wet sand?
LESSON XLVHI.
log
fish
qui et
stiimp
pi'oud
riv^er
pulled
log
fish
qui'et
stump
proud
riv'er
pulled
fa'ther
One evening Frank's father said to him,
"Frank, would you like to go with me to
catch some fish?"
FIRST READER.
67
"Yes; may I go? and with you, father? "
"Yes, Frank, with me."
"Oh, how glad I am!"
Here they are, on the bank of a river.
Frank has just pulled a fine fish out of the
water. How proud he feels!
See what a nice, quiet spot they have
found. Frank has the stump of a big tree for
his seat, and his father sits on a log near
by. They like the sport.
68
rain
drops
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON
XLIX.
out'slJe
ftften
pit'ter
win^Afi^f
sound
painter
s6iiie''time§
onay
mi/git;
rain
OLifside
often
pit'ter
say
win'dow
sound
pat'ter
drops
some'times
on'ly
mu'sic
SLATE WORK
\Arvf\h Lyb/LUui.:fcrX(:3tc^
-Icr ^{}ujmj. S ^m\. tJWi^ tfuAA
I wish. Mamma you would
tell me where the rain comes
from. Does it come from the
sky? And when the little
drops pitter-patter on the win-
dow do you think they are
playing with me? I can not
work or read for I love to listen
to them. 1 often think their
sound is pretty music. But the
rain keeps children at home
and sometimes I do not like
that, then.
FIRST READER.
69
lUA/U- (ICJnL gj^OU. flXoAj^ OTb ^tA^?
The little raindrops only say,
"Pit, pitter, patter, pat;
While we play on the out-side.
Why can't you play on that?"
LESSON L.
skate
throw win'ter
ground mer'ry
lauglViiig (Uiririg)
hurt
next
snow
A*
pair
sled
thi'ow
win'ter
hurt
ice
cov'er
Hen'ry
next
skate
ground
mer'ry
snow
sis'ter
laugh'ing
(lafing)
pair
I like winter, when snow and ice cover
the ground. What fun it is to throw
snowballs, and to skate on the ice!
See the boys and girls! How merry they
are! Henry has his sled, and draws his little
sister. There they go!
70
ECLECTIC SERIES
I think Henry is kind, for his sister is too
small to skate.
Look! Did you see that boy fall down?
But I see he is not hurt, for he is laughing.
Some other boys have just come to join
in the sport. See them put on their skates.
Henry says, that he hopes his father will
get a pair of skates for his sister next
winter.
FIRST READER
71
LESSON LI.
pa
aw
)o lite^
ineati§ i§ n't
speak sir
sliake Fi'do
tricks teach
din'ner
EHen
I bow'vvow
Ellen, do look at Fido! He sits up in a
chair, with my hat on. He looks like a little
boy; but it is only Fido.
Now see him shake hands. Give me your
paw, Fido. How do you do, sir? Will you
take dinner with us. Fido? Speak!
paw
po lite'
means
is n't
speak
sir
shake
Fido
tricks
teach
din'ner
EHen
bowVow
72
ECLECTIC SERIES..
Fido says, "Bowwow," which means,
"Thank you, I will."
Isn't Fido a good dog, Ellen? He is
always so polite.
When school is out, I will try to teach
him some other tricks.
LESSON Lll.
pu&&
shed
^ ^^^^
pain
waj 1
L^^^^H^^H^^^^I
stole
hid
saw
eat
mm
E^t'tifi
suffer
go/i*^
'<*u?" "«i
^^'^
flome'thing eauglit tried Ne'ro
puss
shed
pain
way
stole
saw
hid
eat
Hat'tie
suffer
sor'ry
some 'thing
caught
tried
Ne'ro
"O Hattie! I just saw a large
FIRST READER.
73
rat in the shed; and old Nero tried to catch
it,"
"Did he catch it, Frank?"
"No; Nero did not; but the old cat did."
"My cat?"
"No, it was the other one."
"Do tell me how she got it, Frank. Did
she run after it?""
"No, that was not the way. Puss was hid
on a big box. The rat stole out, and she
jumped at it and caught it."
"Poor rat! It must have been very
hungry; it came out to get something to
eat."
"Why, Hattie, you are not sorry puss got
the rat, are you?"
""No, I can not say I am sorry she got it;
but I do not like to see even a rat suffer
pain."
74
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON Llll.
roll
build
grand'pa
hard
roll
build
grand 'pa
hard
foam
ships
lioug^e§
long
foam
ships
hous'es
long
Bail
break
wcibd^en
blow
sail
break
wood'en
blow
Mary and Lucy have come down to the
beach with their grandpa. They live in a
town near the sea.
Their grandpa likes to sit on the large
rock, and watch the big ships as they sail
far away on the blue sea. Sometimes he
sits there all day long.
The little girls like to dig in the sand,
and pick up pretty shells. They watch the
waves as they roll up on the beach, and
break into white foam.
They sometimes make little
FIRST READER.
15
houses of sand, and build walls around
them; and they dig wells with their small
wooden spades.
They have been picking up shells for
their little sister. She is too young to come
to the beach,
I think all children like to play by the
seaside when the sun is bright, and the
wind does not blow too hard.
76
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON LIV.
mas tei"
asked
want'ed
four
Willie's
night
rab'bits
lad
car'ried
cents
teiring
fifty
mas'ter
One day, Willie's father saw a boy at the
market with four little white rabbits in a
basket.
He thought these would be nice pets for
Willie; so he asked the lad how much he
wanted for his rabbits.
The boy said, "Only fifty cents, sir.'
FIRST READER.
77
Willie's father bought them, and carried
them home.
Here you see the rabbits and their little
master. He has a pen for them, and always
shuts them in it at night to keep them safe.
He gives them bread and grass to eat.
They like grass, and will take it from his
hand. He has called in a little friend to see
them-
Willie is telling him about their funny
ways.
SLATE WORK.
whxiL^(:i^y^,i?A/nA. €am/s Zlisn^ hanj-tl
Some rabbits are as white as
snow, some are black, and others
have white and black spots.
What soft, kind eyes they have.
78
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON LV-
bush
find bro'ken
again'(ag6u'')
p%<
show
bring
fas'ten (fas'n)
o'^ver
bush cun'ning
place show
find bro'ken
o'ver bring
a gain' (a gen')
fas'ten (fas' n )
"Come here, Rose. Look down into this
bush."
"O Willie! a bird's nest! What
FIRST READER.
79
cunning, little eggs! May we take it, and
show it to mother? "
"What would the old bird do, Rose, if
she should come back and not find her
nest?"
"Oh, we would bring it right back,
Willie!"
"Yes; but we could not fasten it in its
place again. If the wind should blow it
over, the eggs would get broken."
LESSON LVI-
strong round dry bill worked
send^ elaw§ flit God st
strong round dry bill worked
sends claws flit God spring
"How does the bird make the nest so
strong, Willie?"
"The mother bird has her bill and her
claws to work with, but
so
ECLECTIC SERIES.
she would not know how to make the nest
if God did not teach her. Do you see what
it is made of?"
"Yes, Willie, I see some horse-hairs and
some dry grass. The old bird must have
worked hard to find all the hairs, and make
them into such a pretty, round nest."
"Shall we take the nest. Rose?"
"Oh no, Willie! We must not take it; but
we will come and look at it again, some
time."
SLATE WORK.
God made the little birds to sing,
And flit from tree to tree;
'Tis He who sends them in the spring
To sing for you and me.
FIRST READER.
LESSON LVII.
81
feath'ers
ago'
fly
worm
crumb
feed'ing
ug'iy
off
feed
brown
guess
things
"Willie, when I was feeding the birds
just now, a little brown bird flew away
with a crumb in its bill."
82 ECLECTIC SERIES.
"Where did it go, Rose?"
"I don't know; away off, somewhere."
"I can guess where. Rose. Don't you
know the nest we saw some days ago?
What do you think is in it now?"
"O Willie, I know! Some little brown
birds. Let us go and see them."
"All right; but we must not go too near.
There! I just saw the old bird fly out of the
bush. Stand here, Rose. Can you see?"
"Why, Willie, what ugly little things!
What big mouths they have, and no
feathers!"
"Keep still, Rose, Here comes the old
bird with a worm in her bill. How hard she
must work to feed them all!"
FIRST READER.
83
LESSON LVni.
fairing
be gun'
morn mil
griefi^
Lord
woeg
each
nigh
tear
lUaXcli/ ovoi^ :^^cn'VL orb fd-^^
iio cam. Awu omxl fuuiA:
fall'ing
counts
woes
nigh
be gun'
griefs
stars
tear
mom'ing
Lord
each
joys
When the stars at set of sun
Watch you from on high
When the moming has begun
Think the Lord is nigh.
All you do and all you say,
He can see and hear:
When you work and when you play,
Think the Lord is near.
All your joys and griefs He knows
Counts each falling tear.
When to Him you tell your woes,
Know the Lord is near.
84
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON LIX.
whifl'tle(wliisa)
puck'et wiFlow
note
lame
e"v ery
tak''ing
dead
blew
^ane
whis'tle (whis'l)
pock'et wil'low
note filled
dead
sick
walk ev'er y
blew
lane
lame tak'ing
cane
took
One day, when Mary was taking a walk
down the lane, trying to sing her doll to
sleep,
FIRST READER . 85
she met Frank, with his basket and cane.
Frank was a poor, little, lame boy. His
father and mother were dead. His dear, old
grandma took care of him, and tried to
make him happy.
Every day, Mary's mother filled Frank's
basket with bread and meat, and a little tea
for his grandma,
"How do you do, Frank?" said Mary.
"Don't make a noise; my doll is going to
sleep. It is just a little sick to-day."
"Well, then, let us whistle it to sleep,"
And Frank, taking a willow whistle out of
his pocket, blew a long note,
"Oh, how sweet!" cried Mary. "Do let
me try."
86
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON LX-
tftrned fa^e
eried
low
aFmoat soou
more
ery
on^e(wuiis)
be «au§e^
"Yes, Mary, I will give it to you,
because you are so good to my grandma,"
"Oh! thank you very much." Mary blew
and blew a long time, "I can't make it
whistle," said she, almost ready to cry.
"Sometimes they will whistle, and
sometimes they won't," said Frank. "Try
again, Mary,"
She tried once more, and the whistle
made a low, sweet sound. "It whistles!"
she cried.
In her joy, she had turned the dolTs face
down, and its eyes
turned
face
cried low
al'most
soon
more cry
once(wuns)
be cause'
FIRST READER.
87
shut tight, as if it had gone to sleep,
"There!" cried Frank, "I told you the
way to put a doll to sleep, is to whistle to
it."
"So it is," said Mary. "Dear, little thing;
it must be put in its bed now."
So they went into the house, Frank's
basket was soon filled, and he went home
happy.
88
ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON LXI.
stood
twSlve
obey'
^tono
hiin sfelf
flapped
bet'ter
be fore''
flap'pitig
walked
ChTp'py
chick^en^
first
flap
food
kept
Stood
him self
flap'ping
first
twelve
flapped
walked
flap
o bey'
bet'ter
Chip'py
food
stone
be fore'
chick'ens
kept
There was once a big, white hen that had
twelve little chickens. They were very
small, and
FIRST READER. 89
the old hen took good care of them. She
found food for them in the daytime, and at
night kept them under her wings.
One day, this old hen took her chickens
down to a small brook. She thought the air
from the water would do them good.
When they got to the brook, they walked
on the bank a little while. It was very
pretty on the other side of the brook, and
the old hen thought she would take her
children over there.
There was a large stone in the brook: she
thought it would be easy for them to jump
to that stone, and from it to the other side.
90 ECLECTIC SERIES.
So she jumped to the stone, and told the
children to come after her. For the first
time, she found that they would not obey
her.
She flapped her wings, and cried, "Come
here, all of you! Jump upon this stone, as I
did. We can then jump to the other side.
Come now!"
"O mother! we can't, we can't, we can't!"
said all the little chickens.
"Yes you can, if you try," said the old
hen. "Just flap your wings, as I did, and
you can jump over."
"I am flapping my wings," said Chippy,
who stood by himself; "but I can't jump
any better than I could before."
FIRST READER.
LESSON LXIL
91
chirped iie\^er
slow^'ly regally
brood
didii^t
use
door
bite
piege
chirped nev'er in deed'
slow'ly re'ally
brood be gan'
did n't
use
door
bite
piece
"I never saw such children," said the old
hen. "You don't try at all."
"We can't jump so far, mother. Indeed
we can't, we can't!" chirped the little
chickens.
"Well," said the old hen, "I must give it
up," So she jumped back to the bank, and
walked slowly home with her brood.
92 ECLECTIC SERIES .
"I think mother asked too much of us,"
said one little chicken to the others.
"Well, I tried," said Chippy.
"We didn^t," said the others; "it was of
no use to try."
When they got home, the old hen began
to look about for something to eat. She
soon found, near the back door, a piece of
bread.
So she called the chickens, and they all
ran up to her, each one trying to get a bite
at the piece of bread.
"No, no!" said the old hen. "This bread
is for Chippy, He is the only one of my
children that really tried to jump to the
stone."
FIRST READER.
93
LESSON LXIII.
"w ■■' ■..■:-. ;--■■ -..■
last alilteB write waste
neat tak'en elean learn
readier pa/ents sfee'ond
last
slates
write
waste
neat
tak'en
clean
learn
read'er
par'ents
sec'ond
We have come to the last lesson in this
book. We have finished the First Reader.
94 ECLECTIC SERIES.
You can now read all the lessons in it,
and can write them on your slates.
Have you taken good care of your book?
Children should always keep their books
neat and clean.
Are you not glad to be ready for a new
book?
Your parents are very kind to send you
to school. If you are good, and if you try to
learn, your teacher will love you, and you
will please your parents.
Be kind to all, and do not waste your
time in school. When you go home, you
may ask your parents to get you a Second
Reader-
FIRST READER.
95
PHONIC CHART,
LONG VOCAl^.
A, as In
ate.
€, as in
OTif.
^ "
G^re.
^ '^
i^e.
a, "
arm.
6, "
<>de.
a, "
last.
u, "
iise-
&= "
all.
a, -
bflrn.
6, "
eve.
00, ''
f^l.
SnOBT VOCALS.
a, aa in
am.
>5, a^ in
odd.
e, "
end,
n. -
up.
h "
ID.
00, '^
look.
WPeTHOSOS.
oij ovj aa
.11 oil^ boy. oui ow, a.3 in cmt, now.
ABPJ RATES.
f, aa in
fife.
t, a£ in
tat.
h, -
him.
sh, ^^
s1l4^.
k. ^^
kite.
oil, ^^
chat.
p. ^*
pLpc.
i\ ''
thick.
a, -
sa-Efcc,
wh, "
why-
Long Vocals
Sound
as in
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96
FIRST READER.
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b
bib
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valve
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did
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this
gig
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zin
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jug
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azure
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nine
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lull
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for
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what
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myth
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gz
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full
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