PREFACE. WHILE this book, both in matter and in style, is a considerable advance upon No. IV., it will be found to meet for its own stage the special aim of the whole Series of ROYAL READERS-viz., to cultivate the love of reading by presenting interesting subjects treated in an attractive style. The lessons have, as a rule, been made longer than those in the preceding book, in order to accustom the pupils to the sustained interest of a continuous narrative; but a glance at the Table of Contents will show that this object has not been attained at the expense of variety. For convenience in class-reading, the lessons are divided into paragraphs of nearly equal length. The following are the leading features in the plan of the volume :I. Very copious NOTES are appended to each lesson, explaining every point of difficulty that occurs in the course of it. These Notes make the book thoroughly self-interpreting-a matter of the greatest importance when it is remembered how rarely the scholars have within their reach the books of reference necessary to make every scientific and historical allusion intelligible, It is believed, also, that teachers will find it advantageous to have the requisite information in the compact form in which it is given in the Notes, not only for their own convenience, but also as a means of enabling them to advance more rapidly, as well as more surely, than if they had to communicate that additional information orally during school hours. II. The ACCENTUATION and the MEANING of difficult words are given in the Notes, as well as the Pronunciation in phonetic spelling of foreign words. Derivations are introduced sparingly, and always in brackets, so that they may be either prescribed or not, at the discretion of the teacher. III. The WORD LESSONS include a list of all the difficult words in Part I., given page by page, with synonyms; groups of words related in meaning; and a series of specially prepared Dictation Exercises, containing difficult words in common use, and words selected from the FIFTH READING-BOOK. MIRIAM'S SONG.1 SOUND the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea! His chariots, his horsemen, all splendid and brave- Praise to the Conqueror! praisel to the LORD!/ Of those she sent forth in the hour of her pride? 'Miriam's Song.-"And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." (Exodus xv. 20, 21.) The reference of course is to the destruction of Pharaoh's host in the Red Sea. THOMAS MOORE (1779-1852). 2 The tyrant the Pharaoh or King of Egypt. 3 Who shall return, &c.-The meaning is, the destruction has been so complete that not one man is left to return with the story to Egypt. Pillar of glory.-The pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night. (Exodus xiv. 24. See also Hymn of the Hebrew Maid, p. 108, stanza 1, and Note 2.) |