the young speaker

Front matter

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<2 Spe fe .

Contents

BART BIRST.

DIRECTIONS FOR READING.

Lesson. Page 1, Pronunciation, - - - 5 ey a 13 2. Pause, ~ = = aa = « 14 3. Inflection, - - - = 3 mI 16 4, Emphasis, - - - - = = 19 5. The Voice, - - - = = a 20

Part Second

LESSONS EXCLUSIVELY FOR READING. 1. Clouds, - = - - Anonymous. 22 2. Early Rising, - = = Mechelen. pr) 3. <A. Drop of Dew, - . - Anonymous. 23 4, Divine Excellence, - Mrs. Barbauld. 24 5. The Hundred and Third Palas - Bible. 25 6. The Cottage on Fire, - - Anonymous. 26 7. Cruelty to Insects, - - - Percival. rif 8. Winter, - - - - Goodrich, 28 9. Application, - - - Dodsley. 29 10. The Sloth and the ee - Percival. 30 11. Truth above all Things, - - Aitkin. 31 12. The Seasons, - - - Mrs. Barbauld. 32 13. The Nests of Birds, - - - Sturm. 34 14. Part of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, Testament. 35 15. Filial Affection, - - - Beauties of History. 37 16. Tired of Play, - - - Willis. 38 17. The Shetland Pony, - - - Goodrich. 39 18. Test of Goodness, - - Anonymous. 41

19. Remembrance of God, - = Wood. 42

Dil.

CONTENTS.

5 Page.

Inference Making, - - - Aikin. 44 The Goldfinch, - - - Anonymous. 45 Winter, - - - Mrs. Barbauld. A7 The Coral Jalands - - - Aikin. 48 Indian Gratitude, 5 - = Dwight. 50 Industry, - - - - Bible. 52 The Ant, = - _— - Cobbin. 53 Lokman, - - Aitkin. 54 The Hundred and Fourth Peal; - Bible. 56 The Butterfly’s Ball, - - Roscoe. 57 Hope and Memory, - - - Mrs. Sigourney. 58 Self-Denial, Miss Taylor. 60 The Shepherd Boy dad his Dog Shag, - Anonymous. 62 The Bright Firmament, — - Mrs. Barbauld. 64 : PARES CARD.

LESSONS FOR SPEAKING OR READING.

Our Native Land, - - - M. M. B. _ 68 Early Piety, - - - - Mrs. Gilman. 68 Eternity, - - . Hervey. 69 Why yield to Caceh - - - Anonymous. 69 The Death of the Righteous, - Farris. 70 Depend not on Earthly Bliss, - - Hervey. 70 The Land that we live in, - - Thompson. 71 A Word in Kindness, - - - Anonymous. 72 Brutus on the Death of Cesar, - Shakspeare. 72 The Soldier, = - - - Smyth. ' 73 The Snow, = = - Swain. By Care of the Deity, - - - Anonymous. 74 You cannot Conquer America, - Chatham. 74 Joseph Lancaster, - - - Mrs. Fitzgerald. 75 The Rainbow, - - - Hervey. 76 Song of the Felon’s Wife, - = Proctor. 76 Meet the Foe, - - - Percival ht National Greatness, — - - "= Harper. 77 The Three Doves, - - - Aldrich. 78 The Captive Chief, - - - Palmer. 79 Speech of Logan, - - - Ashe. 79 A Mother’s Love, - - - Miss Taylor. 80 The Patriot Warrior’s Dirge, - Anonymous. 81 Reflections in a Vault, - - = Hervey. 82 Frederick the Great, - = Haven. 82 The Rock of the Pilgrims, au 0 ete Morris. 83 Address to the gees = has Logan. 83 The Sleeper, - - = = Anonymaus. 84

CONTENTS.

“The Swiss Cowherd’s Song,

Influence of our Country,

One good 'Turn deserves Another,

The Sailor’s Departure, Power of Death, = The Death Bed, - Life without Freedom, Jack Halyard’s Speech,

The Greek Islander in Balls,

Adversity, - To the Sea,

A’sudden Calm in ihe Pacific;

Ambition False and True, -

Reply to the Duke of Grafton, An Infant killed by Lightning,

Aspirations of Youth, - Indignant Rebuke, - The Little Husbandman, The Alarm, 5

Why we do not excel in Oratory,

How old art Thou, -

On laying the Beracitalgie of the

Hill Monument, - Noble Inspiration, -

On seeing T'wins lying Dead, The Sailor Boy’s Farewell,

Our Dear and Native Land,

Liberty, - + A Picture, - = Song of Logan, - A Child’s Thoughts, The War Song, .

Battle of Bunker Hill, To my Sister, - =

Personal Influence, - The Orphan, - - America—her Example, The Charge, - - The Snow Storm, - Strike for Liberty, - The Light of Home, God’s Care over us, - The Atheist and Acorn, Read the Sky, - - Adams and Jefferson, Applause of War, -

Vengeance, - Story of Joseph, - Ulysses’ Dog, - The Warrior’s Wreath,

Advocating the Revolution,

Death and the Youth, - Speech of Judas, -

‘Builher

Montgomery.

Beman.

Mrs. Gilman Miss Bailie Crafts.

Hood.

Moore.

Cardell.

Mrs. Hemans.

Anonymous.

Keate.

Coleridge.

Anonymous.

Thurlow.

Clare.

Montgomery.

Chatham.

Anonymous.

Whittier.

Knowles.

L. H. C.

Pierpont.

Hervey.

Montgomery.

Mrs. Hale.

Webster.

Percival.

Anonymous.

Ashe.

Anonymous, Folsom.

Webster.

Thatcher.

Hervey.

Anonymous.

Phillips.

Percival.

Smith.

Anonymous.

Mrs. Hale.

Chalmers.

Watts.

Miss Roscoe.

Webster.

Knowles.

Percival.

Sprague.

Anonymous.

Anonymous.

Quincy.

Miss Landon.

Josephus.

90 91

10 CONTENTS.

Lesson. : F a . The Butterfl pert: - - - nonymous. 7 a vane a - Price. 128 83. Friends separated by Deally - - Montgomery. 129 84. The Existence of God, - - Mazxcy. 130 85. The Lost Boy, - - - Anonymous. 131 86. Death and Immortality, + - Anonymous. 132 87. Rolla’s Speech, = - « Sheridan. 133 88. Dreaming in Captivity, - - Mrs. Hemans. 134 89. Responsibility of the American Citizen, Webster. 135 90. Glory of Washington, = - Brougham. 136 91. Home, fe ) - Anonymous. 137 92. The Nursery Tale, 3 - Bayley. 138 \ 93. Union—Washington, - < - Russell. 139 94. The Dog, - - - - Mrs. Sigourney. 139 95. The Beggar and his Dog, - - Wolcot. 141 96. The Death of the Flowers, - - Miss Bowles. 141 97. We must Fight, ‘ - - - \Henry. 143 98. The Blind Mother, - - - Anonymous. 143 99. The Hills, - = - Anonymous. 145 100. Eulogium on Dr. Franklin, - Mirabeau. 146 101. The Child’s Wish in June, - - Mrs. Gilman. 147 102. The Pauper’s Death-Bed, - - Mrs. Southey. 148 103. Man Immortal, m = . Montgomery. 149 104. The Queen of France, = - Burke. 150 105. Our Flag, = = ~ Percival. 151 106. The Blind Boy, - - - Hawkes. 152 107. Think on the Poor, - = = Anonymous. 153 108. Influence of Superior Minds, - Sprague. 154 109. The Meteor, - = = Bazton. 155 110. Saul, before his last Battle, - Byron. 156 ddd. amet $5 = & = Hunt. 157 112. The Life-Boat, - - - Mrs. Osgood. 158 113. The Perfect Speaker, - - Anonymous. 159 114. The Battle Call, - - - Percival. 159 115. The Imprisoned Eagle, - - Anonymous. 160 116. The Sailor Boy’s Dream, - - Anonymous. 161 117. The Warrior Father, - 2 = Mrs. Hale. 163 118. Mary’s Grave, - es Roscoe. 164 119. God Governs in the Affairs of Men, - Franklin. 165 120. The Noble Sailor, - - Rindge. 166 121. The Boy’s Return to his Home - Waterman. 167 122. Importance of Oratory, - - Knowles. 168 123. The Beauties of Creation, - - Heber. : 169 124. Casabianca, - - - Mrs. Hemans. 170 125. The Ship, 4 - - Anonymous. 172 126. The Snow! The Siow! - - _ Knight. 173 127... Q’* “ronsides, - 4 Holmes. 173 if A eal, - = Aether 0 Pen and Ink Sketches. 175 129. Intemperance, s - : Anonymous. 176 130. The Storm, J. E. L. 177 131. The Flight of the Muxcien Tndiehy - Anonymous. — 178 132. National Character, = 6 Maszcy. 179

133. Til Drink no More, - - - J. EL D. 180 ee

CONTENTS. Ly Lesson. . Page 134. A Sabbath Morning, - - Bacon. 181 135. Patience Recommended, - - Bolingbroke. 182 136. The Inguiry, - - Anonymous. 183 137. The Voice of the Peoples - - Knowles. .. 184 138. Take Heed, - - - J. B.D 185 139. War-Songof the Greeks, - - Proctor. 186 140. Birthday of W pghing toms - - Webster. 187 141. Old Winter, = - - - Moore. 188 142. ‘The Land of our Birth, - ™ <4 Montgomery. 189 143. The Wind in a Frolic, - - - Howit. 190 144. The Rainbow, - - - Amelia. . 191 145. Encourage Emigration, - - Henry. 193 146. The Little Shroud, - - - Miss Landon. 194 147. Wings, - - - - Hervey. 195 148. Adams and Jefferson, - - Everett. 196 149. Plea of the Red Indian, Anonymous. 197 150. Behind and Before, Aue of Pen and Ink Sketches. 198 151. The Country of Washington, - - Webster. 201 152. Onthe Death ofa Boy, - - Anonymous. 202 153. The Awakening of the Misa, = - Anonymous. 203 154. A Death-Bed, - - J. Aldrich. 204

Part Fourth. Lessons Exclusively For Reading. |

1. ‘A Noonday Walk, - - - Mrs. Barbauld. 206 2. Charity, - ~ - - Testament. 207 3. The Rainbow, - - - - Sturm. 207 4. Night’s Lessons, - - - Mrs. Sigourney. 208 5. The Blessedness of Heaven, - - Mrs. Bar bauld. 210 6. Profane Swearing, - - - Wood. 211 7. The Horse, - - - - Goodrich. 912 8. Humanity, - - Anonymous. 213 9. Improve the intend. - = Mrs. Barbauld. 215 10. Difference between Man and the inferior Animals, = = - Taylor. Q17 11. The Apostle Paul’s Defense, - Testament. 218 12. Lying, - - - Wood. ; 220 13. Lord William, - - - Southey: 222 14. The War of the Revolution, - - Cardell. bP ...1925 15. Humming Birds, - - Goodrich. 229 16. A Worthy of the Riivtion, > - Cardell. 231 17. Death of a Conqueror, - - Bible. 234 18. The Generous Russian Peasant, - Karamsin. 235 19. Parental Instruction, - - Law. | 237

20 Picture ofa Youth, - - - Hardie. 239

CONAMP WWE

CONTENTS.

Page Damon and Pythias, - - Brooke. 241 The Almighty, - - - The Scriptures. 243 Immortality, - - - Mrs. Barbauld. 246 ‘Influence of Knowledge, - - J. Keese. 247 A Father to his Child, a - Bacon. 248 Indian Resolution, - - - Irving. 250 Washington, a Teacher to the Young, Anonymous. 251 The Duties of School-Boys, - - Rollin. 257

Part Fifth. Dialogues For Speaking Or Reading

Choice of Hours, - - - Mrs. Gilman. 260 Conscience, - - - Anonymous. 260.

Freedom’s Jubilee, - - - Hewitt. 261 Hot Cockles, ~ - - Anonymous. 262 The Child’s First Grief, - - Mrs. Hemans. 263 Children’s Wishes, - - Mrs. Gilman. 264 Things by their Right Namies, - - Aikin. 265 War Song of the Revolution, - Anonymous. 267 Winter, - - = Anonymous. 268 The Children’s Chaica, - - Mrs. Gilman. 269 Life, Death, and Eternity, - - Anonymous. 270 The World, - - - 3 Be Og fs 271 The Land of the Blest, - - Mrs. Abdy. 272 Man and Woman, - - - Montgomery. 274 Stranger and Child, - - - Mrs. Hemans. 275 Canute’s Reproof, - - - Aitkin. 277 The Brothers, - - - - Sprague. 278 Indian Chant, - - - Schoolcraft. 279 Patriotism, - - - Bretson. 280 The Chamber of Sack iis, - - Colton. 281 Father’s Birthday, - - - Miss Edgeworth 283 se King Alfred and the Peasant, - Knowles. 284 ‘ ; Mrs. Gilman,

American Boy and English Boy, - } WreStlemans "20" Choice of Countries, . - Mrs. Gilman. 288 The T'wo Robbers, - - Aitkin. 290 Tell’s Meeting with his Patriot F riends, Knowles. 291 The Little Rebels, - - ° Anonymous. 293 Alfred the Great, - ° - Aikin. 295

THE

YOUNG SPEAKER.

OT

Peek TT FLEES T.

DIRECTIONS FOR READING.

Norz. Teacurrs may, perhaps, think it sufficient to require their younger pupils to read to them, occasionally, the lessons of this part; but the older cnes would, no doubt, find it profitable to commit to memory those on Pause, Inflection, and Emphasis.

lahS SO Ney x

PRONUNCIATION.

1. Give to every letter its proper sound.

2. In particular give a full sound to the vowels a, e, 7, 0, u.

3. Be careful not to drop the g, in words ending in ing ; if you drop that letter, you will be found saying mornin for morning ; puddin for pudding ; flyin for flying, and the like. This is a very common fault.

4. Another fault equally common is to sound ow like wr ; thus many say windur instead of window; pillur stead of pillow ; fellur instead of fellow, and so on.

5. It is likewise very incorrect to give the sound of r at the end of words where the letter itself is not found. Some persons say sawr for saw ; lawr for law ; idear for idea, and thus in other words of the same class.

6. There are other words in which the sound of 7 is as improperly changed ; thus we often hear waw for war; stah for star ; haus for horse, and so on.

7. Do not omit to sound any letter which should be sounded. In this way injury is often done to such words as every, several, vessel, memory, and numerous others, being improperly pronounced ev’ry, sev’ral, vess’l, mem’ry, and so forth.

8. Do not drop the d in the word and, nor Say git for get ; yit for yet ; fust for first; bust for burst; bile for boil; hoss for horse ; idee for idea; ile for oil; jest for just; gine for join; ketch for catch; kittle for kettle ; line for loin ; pint for point; sich for such; yunder for yonder; shet for shut: fur for far; ben for been, pronounced bin ; doos for does, pronounced duz; agin for again, pronounced agen; ware for were, pronounced wur, and the like. Of many frequent faults in pronunciation, those mentioned above are some of the least excusable, and I hope all my young readers and speakers will be careful to avoid them.

LESSON II.

PAUSE.

1. Pay particular attention to the grammatical stops and other pauses. No person can read well without observing this rule. :

2. At the comma printed thus , you may stop till you can pronounce one.

3. At the semicolon printed thus $ you may stop till you can pronounce one two.

4. At the colon printed thus $ you may stop till you can pronounce one two three.

5. At the period printed thus. you may stop till you can pronounce one two three four.

6. At the interrogation printed thus ? and at the exclamation printed thus 2 you may stop about as long as at a colon.

7. The parenthesis printed thus ( ) requires a stop at its beginning and end about as long as at a comma.

8. At the dash printed: thus — you should generally stop about as long as at a semicolon, and sometimes even as long as at a period. When it is added to either of the other stops, it increases the length of that stop.

9. The pause at the end of a paragraph should be longer than at the end of an ordinary sentence.

DIRECTIONS FOR READING. 15

Nore. The foregoing rules are as good, perhaps, as can be given: but the time occupied in pausing at each of the stops, will sometimes vary, no doubt, from that which has been directed. It must depend upon the nature of what is read.

10. It is frequently proper to pause where none of the grammatical stops are inserted. In the examples which follow, the places of pause will be marked by the dash. ‘These are called rhetorical pauses.

11. After the nominative case, when it consists of more than one word, or of one important word, a pause is necessary ; thus,

The price of improvement is labor.

Washington was a great and good man.

12. When other words come. between the nominative case and the verb, they should be separated from both by a short pause ; thus,

Trials in this state of being That course if persevered in are the lot of man. will secure the prize.

13. Before the prepositions in, of, with, from, to, beyond, and the like, a short pause is often proper; thus, of thy youth. in the wood.

Remember thy Creator in the days We found him with his faithful dog

14. Before the relatives who, which, what, and that, the adverb how, and that used as a conjunction, a short pause generally occurs ; thus,

Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land. which the Lord who is thy God, hath given thee.

Tell me——how did the accident happen?

15. The infinitive mood generally requires a short pause before it ; thus, to see whether all was secured. to relieve the distressed.

He left the room is highest enjoyment was

16. Words placed in opposition to each other should be distinguished by a short pause ; thus,

Some

Those in ease ; these.

place the bliss in action, some call it pleasure, and contentment

LESSON III INFLECTION.

1. Ir you will pronounce the following question with interest, you will readily perceive that the voice slides upward in sounding the word rain: Does it rain? And in the answer No, you will as readily perceive that it slides downward. This is called inflection. Inflection is heard in the note of a bird when it seems to cry “ sweet.”

2. Inflection then is that sliding up or sliding down of the voice which is heard in finishing the pronunciation of a word.

3. There are two simple inflections of the voice, the upward, called the rising inflection, and the downward, called the falling inflection.

4. The mark for the rising inflection is printed thus ,

ve Does it rain ? 5. The mark for the falling inflection is printed thus ;

a4 No. 6. Other examples.

L- aS Was he obedient, or disobedient ? \ He was obedient, not disobedient. ; Ta N Did he act politely, or impolitely ?

N “A He acted politely, not impolitely.

NN Was he treated kindly, or unkindly ?

NY he He was treated kindly, not unkindly. 7. All questions may be divided into two kinds, called the direct and indirect. 8. ‘The direct question is that which can be answered by yes Or no: this question is read with the rising slide ; thus, a Were you treated kindly? We were. =

9. The indirect question is that which cannot be answered

# yes or no: this question is read with the falling slide ; thus,

\ N Who treated you kindly? Our teacher.

DIRECTIONS FOR READING. 17

10. The answers to all questions are read with the falling slide.

11. In affirmative sentences, at the semicolon, colon, and period, the falling slide generally occurs ; thus,

God is in every place ; he speaks in every sound we hear: he is seen in all that our eyes behold.

12. At the comma before either of these stops, the rising slide commonly takes place ; thus, y li They are beautiful, but He is beauty ; they are strong, but He is strength ;

A they are perfect, but He is perfection. 13. In negative sentences the thing denied generally takes the rising slide ; thus, v4 I cannot help it; the fault is not mine. I can accept of no excuse for profanity and falsehood.

14. In sentences containing both affirmation and negation, the affirmative part takes the falling slide, and the negative the rising ; thus,

I came to bury Cesar, not to praise him.

Za You were paid to fight against Alexander, not to rail at him.

15. Words denoting an address, generally take the rising ‘slide ; thus,

John, fetch me your new book. a My friends, the subject is of vast importance.

16. The language of grief, pity, affection, and the like, inclines the voice to the rising slide; thus, Ye And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. Poor youth! the cares of the world have come early upon him, observed ys the father. 17. At the rhetorical pause, the rising slide generally occurs; thus,

Lancaster—was the friend of youth.

That boy’s desire is—to succeed in his studies. a

18. When the word or expresses uncertainty, it takes the rising slide before and the falling after it; thus,

74 NS Was John a good or a bad boy?

Za \ It was either Thursday or Friday.

19. Words and phrases in opposition to each other must have opposite slides ; thus,

Zz .

Homer was the greater genius, Virgil the better artist. But of the two, less dangerous is the offense,

~ Zi A ~S

To tire our patience, than mislead our sense. 2 20. The language of command, reproof, threat, and the like, requires the falling slide ; thus, x NN

Go; study; and deserve my good opinion.

*

His lord answered, and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant.

21. When a word is repeated with stress, it generally takes the falling slide ; thus,

John, John, bring me the prize composition.

It is unjust, I say it is unjust to treat him so.

22. The exclamation, when it expresses tender feeling, or implies a question, adopts the rising slide ; thus,

Oh, that those lips had language !

va Ue What! you think he told a lie!

In most other cases it receives the falling slide ; thus,

How blessed is that man who puts his trust in God!

23. The parenthesis receives the same inflection at its close as that which immediately precedes it, whether rising or falling. It should also be read in a lower tone of voice, and somewhat quicker than the rest of the sentence ; thus,

Ya Industry—(however good may be his talents)—-will be necessary to complete success.

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without

\ Ss violence—(for they feared the people test they should have been stoned) — and when they had brought them they set them before the council.

24. When several nouns, alone or connected with other words, begin a sentence and do not end it, each takes a drop

DIRECTIONS FOR READING. 19 of the voice, with the rising slide, except the last, which receives the rising slide alone ; thus,

74 a Dependence and obedience belong to youth.

v4 4 The young, the healthy, and the hws, should not presume on their advantages. 25. When several nouns, alone or connected with other words, end a sentence, each takes the rising slide except the last ; thus,

Ve N The spirit of true religion breathes gentleness and xffability. os Industry is the law of our being ; it is the demand of nature, of reason,

\% ° and of God.

LESSON TY.

EMPHASIS.

1. Emphasis is a certain stress of voice given to a particular word or words in a sentence to bring out their meaning in the best manner. :

2. The words which receive the emphasis are generally in opposition to other words expressed or implied. In this case it is called the emphasis of sense.

3. This sentence—wShall you ride to town to-day ?—will illustrate the principle; and show the nature and importance of emphasis.

4. It is capable of being taken in four different senses, according as the emphasis is laid. The emphatic word is marked in ¢talics ; thus,

Shall you ride to town to-day 7—that is, not another.

Shall you ride to town to-day /—that is, not walk.

Shall you ride to town to-day ’—that is, not to the country. Shall you ride to town to-day ?—that is, not to-morrow.

5. Emphasis is employed sometimes with great effect where no antithesis or opposition is apparent ; itis then called the emphasis of force ; it is chiefly the offspring of feeling ; thus,

Could you treat that child so unkindly ?

I will reward such diligence as that.

6. Wherever there is inflection there is always some degree of emphasis, but the amount of it must depend upon the importance of the words upon which it occurs ; thus,

Le It was James, not John, who told the falsehood.

LESSON V..

THE VOICE.

1, Every person has three pitches in his voice, the high, 27 the middle, and the low one.

2. The high is that which he uses in calling aloud to some ei at a distance.

. The low is that which he uses when he speaks almost in a “whisper.

4. The middle is that which he employs in common discourse, and which he should use in reading.

5. The voice in reading should be the same as it would be in speaking on the same subject.

6. In order to be well heard, observe a due degree of slowness; pronounce every word and syllable distinctly ; a distinct manner will do more than mere loudness of sound.

7. No person can read well if he read in a hurry.

8. Nor on the other hand must the words drop from the lips in a faint and feeble manner.

9. At the beginning of a paragraph, pitch the voice low, that it may be’ allowed gradually to swell; and increase rather than diminish the sound at the end of each period.

10. Let the voice be smooth and gentle, and not too noisy.

11. A round mellow voice is pleasing both in speaking and reading.

12. The voice in all cases should be made to suit the subject.

13. Whether it be serious, familiar, gay, or humorous, the voice should at all times correspond.

14. It would be wrong to read a familiar piece in a mournful strain, or a serious-one in a gay and lively manner.

15. In particular—the sublime language of the sacred Scriptures should be read with a care and deliberation, befitting their solemn dignity and importance, and not in the familiar style of common conversation.

16. Study to wnderstand what you read, and you will probably read with taste and propriety,

THE YOUNG SPEAKER.

a