SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE BOOK. I. The words at the beginning of the lesson and those in the Reading Columns at the end have been accented and divided into syllables. When such words are read either by the class as a whole, or by each individual pupil, care should be taken that each syllable is clearly and distinctly pronounced. Correct pronunciation in syllables is one of the best means to obtain correct spelling. II. The Dictation Exercises have been constructed from words which occur in the lesson. The words are intended to be given first, and these having been examined and cor, rected, a fresh dictation exercise will present itself in the sentences. III. The Word Exercises at the end of each section may be used either as home or class exercises, or both. A good thing for the pupil would be to ask him to copy a few of the words upon his slate, dividing each into its syllables, and marking the accent. IV. By way of training the young mind at an early stage to distinguish Name words from others, the pupil is asked to tell the nouns in a portion of each lesson, and, at a more advanced stage, the adjectives. This exercise will generally be found to interest as well as benefit the pupil. V. Elliptical Exercises on words similar in sound, together with a number of Proverbs in common use, have been inserted to give variety to the contents of the book THE ENGLISH READER. SECOND BOOK. SECTION I. I.-JAMIE AND ROVER. Nurse, one who takes care of Lit'-ter of puppies, a brood of children. Lawn, a grassy plain. Trot'-ted, moved fast. Pet'-ted, fondled. Re-mem'-ber, call to mind. WELL may Jamie love young dogs. Doom'ed, condemned. Riv'-er, water. a stream of fresh Play-fel'-lows, those we play with. Rover, and well may Rover love Jamie, for they have saved each other's lives. Shall I tell you how? Don't you think you would be very fond of a dog that had saved your life? Yes; I am sure you would. Well, this is what Rover did for Jamie. When he was a very little fellow, he was playing in his papa's garden, quite safe, as every one thought. And his nurse left him for two or three minutes sitting with Rover on the lawn. When she came back, both dog and child were gone. You may be sure she was in a sad fright, and called Jamie as loud as she could; and papa, and mama, and all the people in the house came running out to see what was the matter. Then they heard Rover barking at a distance. And they ran to the place from which the sound came. And there lay Jamie, all wet and cold, on the grass, and Rover, wet too, stood over him, wagging his tail, as if in joy that he had saved him. For Rover had indeed saved Jamie's life. The child had trotted off when his nurse left him, and found his way to the pond; and while he stooped to pick a bright yellow water-lily, he fell in. You may be sure Rover was petted and made very much of ever after. Now I will tell you how it came to pass that Jamie saved Rover's life. But neither Rover nor Jamie can remember anything about that, for Rover was a tiny pup and Jamie a baby. Rover was one of a litter of three or four puppies, and was doomed to be drowned. But when the |