The American speaker: being a collection of pieces in prose, poetry, and dialogue ...

Front matter

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Preface

Although the exercise of declamation has, of late, received more attention in schools than was formerly devoted to it, still it is true that less consequence is attached to it than its real importance demands. The advantages of frequent practice in " speaking" are so many and so great, that it should receive more prominence, in all our schools. If scholars, at quite an early age, should be trained in the rehearsal of pieces, as a regular school duty, we think it would tend to produce a degree of freedom, force, and naturalness in reading, which could be obtained in no other way; and if the very favorable influence it exerts in promoting distinctness and energy, in this and other branches, was the only benefit to be derived from its practice, it would be entitled to particular consideration.

But there are other advantages resulting from the exercise ; and not the least in importance is that which comes from the habit of committing selections to memory, — a custom much less common than formerly, but none the less beneficial.

The compiler of this volume has endeavored to make such a collection of pieces as will meet the wants of schools in the department under consideration. He has taken several selections which have been long before the public, but their merit is such as to entitle them to a permanent rank among lessons for declamation. Some of the pieces possess interest only as adapted to occasional circumstances. It has been a leading design of the compiler to exclude such pieces as breathe a highly martial spirit ; and while in some there may be a degree of humor, it will be found that most of them inculcate wholesome sentiments. A volume of similar size, composed

IV PREFACE.

exclusively of dialogues, will be published in a few weeks, in which will be inserted exercises of greater length and variety.

It has not been deemed essential or important to insert rules and directions, because books, abounding in such rules, are already numerous, and because it is believed that the teacher can impart all needed instruction more clearly and efficiently than can be given by any printed directions.

With the earnest hope that the book may be both acceptable and useful, the compiler commends it to the attention of his professional brethren, and to the use of those for whose special pleasure and benefit it has been prepared.

Note. — The plates of the " American Speaker" were destroyed by fire soon after the publication of the third edition, and, in preparing a new set, the author has made several changes. The Dialogues in the present edition are entirely different from those in the former editions, and several pieces have been added to the Prose and Poetry parts. A few pieces of Poetry that were in the early editions are omitted in this on account of their length.

Those desirous of obtaining the Dialogues as contained in the first edition, may find them all in the volume of " School Dialogues" recently prepared by the author of this work.

Salem, Mass., March, 1849.

Contents

No. Authors. Pagb

1. Liberty and Knowledge, D. Webster, .... 9

2. Free Schools, the Glory of New England, . Story, 10

Part II. — Poetry

1. Psalm of Life, Longfellow, .... Ill

2. Ambition, False and True, Anon., 112

3. On Visiting a Scene of Childhood, . . . . Blackwood's Mag., .112

4. A Hint on Street Manners, O. W. Holmes, . .113

5. The American Eagle, John Neal, .... 114

6. Speed the Prow, James Montgomery, .115

7. Prologue, Anon., 116

8. Cleon and I, Chas. Mackay, . . .117

9. The Family Meeting, C. Sprague, .... 118

10. Passing Away, Miss Jew sbury, . . .119

11. New England, J. G. Whittier, . . 120

12. To an Indian Gold Coin, Ley den, 122

13. Indian Names, Mrs. Sigourney, • . 123

14. The Immortal Mind, Byron, 124

CONTENTS. Vn

No. Authors. Page

15. The Poor and the Rich, J. R. Lowell,

16. The Landing of the Pilgrims, Mrs. Hemans,

17. Light for All. Chambers 1 Journal

IS. To the American Flag, J. R. Drake,

19. Napoleon at Rest, . . . John Pierpont,

20. The Three Elack Crows, Birom, . . .

21. Contented John, Jane Taylor, .

22. An Acre of Corn Anon., . . .

23. The Old Arm Chair Miss E. Cook,

24. The Poor Man's Hvmn CD. Stuart,

25. Labor '. Miss C. F. Orne.

26. The Crop of Acorns, Youth's Companion, . 138

27. Lines for an Exhibition, H. S. Osborne, . . . 139

28. Our Country, Pabodie, 140

29. The New Englander among the Alps, . . R. C. Waterston, . . 141

30. The Dilatory Scholar, C Gilman, .... 142

31. A Name in "'the Sand, H F. Gould, ... 143

32. Report of an Adjudged Case, &c, .... Cowper, 143

33. Philip of Mount Hope . . . . J. 0. Sargent, . . . 144

34. The Fields of War, I. MLellan, Jr., . . 145

36. New England's Dead, I. WLellan, Jr., . . 147

37. The Flight of Xerxes, Miss Jewsbury , . . .149

38. A Centennial Hymn, Pierpont, ..... 150

39. Yankee Ships, J. T. Fields, .... 151

40. Plea for the Red Man, C. Sprague, .... 152

41. A Scene in a Private Mad-House, .... M. G. Lewis, . . .154

42. " Excelsior," Longfellow, .... 155

43. The Battle of Life, E. C. Jones, .... 157

44. The Mariners, Park Benjamin, . . 157

45. Plea of the Indian, Anon., 158

46. The Removal, " 159

47. The Cold-water Man, J. G. Saxe, .... 160

48. The Grave of the Indian Chief, Bryant, 162

49. Universal Freedom, H. Ware, Jr., . . . 162

50. New England, Mrs. E. T. Daniels, 163

51. The Oaken Bucket, S. Woodworth,

52. The Thriving Family — the States, . . . Mrs. Sigourney,

53. The Poor Man, Anon., ....

54. The Voice of Love, Isaac F. Shepard,

55. The Coming of the Pilgrims, Charles Sprague,

56. Old Ironsides, O. W. Holmes,

57. Dirge of Alaric, E. Everett, .

58. The Farmer's Song, Anon

59. Epilogue, " ...

60. Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize, Goldsmith, .

61. The Life-Boat O. Oglethorpe,

62. The Steamboat, O. W. Holmes,

63. The Inquiry, Anon., . . .

64. The Midnight Mail, . . . . '. H. F. Gould,

65. The Stranger and his Friend, J. Montgomery,

125 127 128

, 129 131 132

, 133 134 135 136

, 137

66. Hope, W. D. Northend, . 184

VIII CONTENTS.

No. Authors. Page

67. Freedom, L. Dame, 185

69. Two Hundred Years Ago, G. Mellen,

70. A Legend, J. G. Whittier,

71. The Happy Home, Knickerbocker, ,

72. Old Massachusetts, "

73. Look Aloft, Jona. Lawrence,

74. Press On, Park Benjamin,

75. All's for the Best, Tapper, . . ,

76. The Flower, G. L. Streeter, ,

77. Upward and Onward, Dollar Mag.,

78. All is Action, /. Hagen, .

79. Try — Keep Trying, . Anon., . .

80. The World as it is, "

81. Philosophy of Endurance, C. Mackay,

82. The Storm, J E. Dow,

83. The Letter from Home, J. G. Lyons,

84. Lines on the Loss of a Ship, John Malcom,

85. Room Enough for All, Saturday Rambler

86. To Young Students, Miss Embury,

87. The Child at Play, Anon., . .

88. Be Kind, "

89. Speak Gently, "

90. Life's Companions, C. Mackay,

91. Art, C. Sprague

92. To the Falls of Niagara, J. G. C. Brainard, .214