Language lessons

Preface

Even to follow a beaten track in the present enlightened methods of teaching English may afford an earnest teacher opportunity for improving text-books. But in this volume are contained, it is hoped, some special features. Too often a child is called upon to enter the difficult study of formal grammar with almost no preparation. His book of language lessons, beautiful and pleasant as it was, did not, as he discovers, furnish him adequate introduction to the science of grammar ; nor, among a number of agreeable exercises, did he really strengthen himself with any systematic or progressive study of composition.

The writer trusts that such vital needs may be satisfactorily met in these pages. Enough of grammar is furnished to lead a child naturally up to a formal text-book, the facts that are learned being restated and emphasized by frequent reviews. A series of dictation exercises, questions and answers, oral narratives and descriptions followed by the written forms, unfinished stories to be completed, paraphrases, outlines and exercises in paragraph structure/ is a serious endeavor to present a methodical and permanently useful course in composition. *

4 PREFACE

An effort is made to have all matter expressed in the simplest and most idiomatic language. Especially is it the intention to have something of real value in every exercise, let the subject matter be what it may. Underneath all is a conviction that it is the child's right to have his tasks attractive as well as improving.

J, W. SEWELL.

Index To Contents

ABBREVIATIONS, 20, 154.

ADJECTIVE PHRASES, 127.

ADVERBIAL PHRASES, 127.

ADVERBS, 94, 95, 96.

ANALYSIS, of compound sentences, 148. of simple sentences, 106, 107.

BIBLE STORIES, Story of Daniel, 35.

Story of David, 13.

Story of Elijah, 19.

Story of Joseph, 24.

Story of Samson, 28.

CAPITAL LETTERS, 10, 16, 20, 22,

156.

CLAUSES, 141.

COLON, 156.

COMMAS, 62, 141, 156.

COMMANDS, 37, 41.

COMMON NOUNS, 15, 17, 18.

COMPOSITION, see Story Writing.

COMPOUND SENTENCES, 140, 141,

142, 145, 148, 151.

CONJUNCTIONS, 87, 91.

CONTRACTIONS, 32, y 3 .

CONTRASTS,

Apple and the Orange, The, 138.

Dog and the Wolf, The, 114.

Horse and the Cow, The, 1 14.

Mouse and the Hole, The, 142.

Potato and the Tomato, The, 145.

Rabbit and the Squirrel, The, 118.

DESCRIPTION, 70, 103.

DICTATION EXERCISES,

Arrow and the Song, The, 1 1 7.

Boy and the Jewel, The, 79.

Child in the Bear's Den, The, 49.

Dog and his Shadow, The, 10.

Fox and the Crane, The, 27.

Fox and the Grapes, The, 13.

Humming Bird, The, 145.

Making Good Weather, 93.

Mice and the Cat, The, 23.

Ruined Castle, The, 105.

Rules for Reading, 144.

Selections, 155.

Truth and the Traveler, 63.

Wise Crow, A, 19.

DIRECT OBJECT, 51, 53.

DIRECT QUOTATION, 62.

EXCLAMATION, 71, 72, 74.

EXCLAMATION POINT, 71, 72,

GRAMMAR LESSONS,

Clauses, 141.

Compound sentences, 140, 141, 142,

113, 115, 118, 133.

Number, singular and plural, 1 12,

"3-

INDEX TO CONTENTS

GRAMMAR LESSONS — Continued, Phrases, 122, 127.

Predicate nouns and adjectives, 133,

INFORMATION LESSONS, African Children, 40.

Ants, Facts about, 39, 63.

Bees, Facts about, 44.

Butterflies, Facts about, 57.

Camel, The, 97.

Cat, The, 26.

Chinese Children, 48.

Clouds, 129.

Coffee, 88.

Cork and Rubber, 99.

Cotton, 124.

Cow, The, 31.

Dog, The, 14.

Eskimos, 58.

Faster Ways of doing Things, 132,

*39-

Fly's Eyes and Feet, The, 68.

Forests, Importance of, 151.

Gardener Bird, The, 150.

Horse, The, 19.

Humming Bird, The, 143.

Indian Children, 54.

Kangaroo, The, 102.

Lion, The, 93.

Partridge, The, 136.

Rabbit, The, 36.

Rain, 135.

Rivers, 145.

Salt, Facts about, 131.

Silk, Facts about, 120.

INFORMATION LESSONS— Continued,

Spiders, Facts about, 50, 76.

Sponge, The, 86.

Tiger, The, 74.

INITIALS, 20.

INTERJECTIONS, 71.

INTERROGATION POINT, 37, 83,

156.

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS, 83,

MEMORY EXERCISES,

Ant and the Glow-worm, The, 137.

Arrow and the Song, The, 116.

I want Mamma, 76.

Little Jack Frost, 34.

Little by Little, 147.

Little Things, 28.

Lost Doll, The, 22.

Our Flag, 67.

Will and the Way, The, 108.

Wind and the Leaves, The, 152.

ORAL DESCRIPTION, 70.

PARTS OF SPEECH, Exercise on,

INDEX TO CONTENTS

POETRY CHANGED TO PROSE, of pronouns, 79, 80.

PREDICATE ADJECTIVES, 133,

83, 84, 125.

PROPER NOUNS, 15, 17, 18.

PROSE, FROM POETRY TO, 114,

Colon, 156.

Exclamation point, 71, 72, 156.

Interrogation point, 37, 83, 156.

Quotation marks, 62, 156.

Semicolon, 156.

SEMICOLON, 156.

SENTENCES,

SENTENCES — Continued,

{See Writing Sentences.) SINGULAR NUMBER, 112, 113.

STANZAS, 153.

Acorns, 148.

Andrew Jackson, 96.

Black Bear, The, 75.

Fly's Eyes and Feet, The, 68.

Fox and the Crow, The, 64.

Fox and the Grapes, The, 12.

Franklin, Benjamin, 82.

Hare and the Tortoise, The, 61.

Kind-hearted Boy, The, 39.

Making Great Plans, 72.

Mice and the Cat, The, 23.

Ostrich, The, 90.

Piper of Hamelin, The, 84.

Story of Daniel, 35.

Story of David, 13.

Story of Elijah, 19.

Story of Joseph, 24.

Story of Samson, 28.

Strange Dish, A, 74.

Washington, George, 70.

Wise Crow, A, 18.

{See also Picture Stories and Unfinished Stories.) SUBJECT, 43, 45, 46, 49, 55, 57-

UNFINISHED STORIES, Bob and the Beggar, 132.

Faithful Dog, A, 122.

Fox and the Crab, The, 65.

How a Clock saved a City, 103.

Katharine's Boast, 128.

Lump of Gold, A, no.

Robert and the Parade, 1 1 2.

Was he Honest, 104.

What Gertie Found Out, 81.

Will and the Circus, 144.

Wonderful Fiddler, The, 89.