THE FIRST CLASS READER: A SELECTION FOR EXERCISES IN READING, FROM STANDARD BRITISH AND AMERICAN AUTHORS, IN PROSE AND VERSE. FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, BY B. D. EMERSON, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. ADVERTISEMENT. The Series, of which this volume is the hirst, comprises also The Second-Class Reader,' and 'The Third-Class Reader.' 'The Second-Class Reader' is now in the press, and will be completed as soon as may be consistent with its faithful mechanical execution. 'The Third-Class Reader,' which is nearly ready for the press, will be published in a few weeks after the appearance of the other volumes of the Series. STEREOTYPED BY LYMAN THURSTON & Co. BOSTON Em 33 = B PREFACE THE design of preparing a series of School Readers, adapted to the advanced state of literature and science, was suggested to the author, more than two years since, by a friend of well known literary taste, and celebrity as a teacher; and it was undertaken with the condition of receiving his coöperation. Since which time, it has been the continued object of their attention during their leisure hours; and whatever degree of merit or responsibility the volumes shall be found to possess, must be divided between the author and his friend. No small amount of labor and research has been devoted to this undertaking; and the principles which have governed in making the compilation demanded nothing less. To select such matter, as is, in all respects, proper to compose a Reading Manual for Youth, will be acknowledged a task of much importance and no little delicacy. Purity of sentiment, blended with that which may inform the understanding, while at the same time it interests the heart, is indispensable. The fascinations of melody and rhythm, 'the sounding period and the well turned line,' are often to be resisted, in order to comply with the rigid construction of this rule. In a word, each extract should contain S some useful truth, either of a moral or scientific nature; something of more importance than the mere amusement of a passing hour. N * Mr. John Frost of Philadelphia. |