Stevens and Hole's School Series. THE COMPLETE READER. BEING A CAREFULLY GRADUATED SYSTEM OF TEACHING TO READ AND SPELL BY MEANS OF ATTRACTIVE AND INSTRUCTIVE LESSONS. IN FOUR BOOKS. ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR UPPER AND MIDDLE-CLASS SCHOOLS. BY E. T. STEVENS, A.K.C. LONDON Head Master of the Cathedral Grammar School, Bristol AND CHARLES HOLE, F.R.G.S. Head Master of the Loughborough House Collegiate School, Brixton; late EDITORS OF 'THE GRADE LESSON BOOKS,' ADVANCED LESSON BOOK,' ETC, BOOK II.-THE INTERMEDIATE READER. LONDON: LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. PREFACE. THE EDITORS published, three years since, a Series of Lesson Books entitled the 'Grade Lesson Books,' embracing a complete system of Reading, and a thorough course of Spelling, Writing, and Arithmetic. These Books were drawn up specifically for those Elementary Schools which were brought under the operations of the Revised Code, and the reception they have met with justifies the Editors in believing that they supplied a felt want. The fact, however, of their plan embracing Arithmetic and Writing, as well as that many of the Lessons were written or selected with special regard to the class of children to be found in our National and British Schools, rendered the Books, in the estimation of many teachers whose opinion the Editors are bound to respect, unsuitable, as a rule, for schools of a higher class. It has, nevertheless, been suggested to the Editors, by many persons experienced in the wants of Upper and Middle Class Schools, that, as the principles of education are the same for all classes, the system adopted in them, so far as it embraces Reading and Spelling, will be equally acceptable in the last-mentioned schools. In accordance, therefore, with the suggestions thus made, the Editors have resolved to publish a Series, under the title of THE COMPLETE READER, especially designed for Upper and Middle Class Schools. It consists of Four Books, as under:-Book I. THE PRIMARY READER; Book II. THE INTERMEDIATE READER; Book III. THE EXEMPLAR of STYLE; and Book IV. THE SENIOR CLASS READER. This Series forms a complete course of graduated instruction in Reading and Spelling, from the earliest stage to the period when the pupil has acquired the power to appreciate the rich literature of our language, and to enter with interest upon the consideration of some of the great facts and principles in History, Geography, and Science. THE PRIMARY READER is divided into two parts, and has been drawn up with great care. The first part introduces the pupil systematically, and by the easiest gradations, to a complete knowledge of English Monosyllables. Two or three of the first Lessons comprise words of Two Letters and a few common words of Three. Then the simple Vowel Sounds are taken with Single Initial Consonants. The words are placed in columns at the top of each page, and Lessons are formed on them-consecutive narratives, not mere disjointed sentences-only those words being introduced which are contained in the respective Spelling Lessons or in those preceding. A few easy Dissyllables are given advisedly, but only such as are compounded of words previously learnt. When the simple Vowel Sounds have been gone through, the Diphthongs are treated in the same way; and when the words which have Single Consonants before the Vowel Sounds have been exhausted, those with Compound Initial Consonants are taken. Silent letters and 'ough' come at the end of the Book, with the exception of three or four Auxiliary Verbs, which are earlier introduced to aid in the construction of the Reading Lessons. If the learner thoroughly master this course, it is believed he will overcome the primary difficulties of Reading; and will be able, with comparative facility, not only to read but to enjoy the Lessons which form the Second Part of the volume, and which consists of stories, poems, adventures, &c., in Monosyllables and easy Dissyllables. THE INTERMEDIATE READER, also divided into two parts, comprehends two steps in advance of the Primary Reader. It comprises lessons similar to those contained in the latter, but suited to the presumed gradation at which the pupil has arrived: Part the First being confined to narratives, &c., in difficult Dissyllables and easy words of Three Syllables; and Part the Second comprising more advanced lessons, introducing words of various degrees of difficulty. These first two Books have been produced with the special view of inspiring the pupil with a love for the exercise, by enabling him, by careful gradation and attractive matter, to read with ease, fluency, and |