ought to be made at the end of a line, unless the sense, or some of the usual marks of pause, require a considerable one. The great rule for reading verse, as well as prōşe, is to read slowly, distinctly, and in a nǎt'u-răl* tone of voice. We shall now caution young readers against' some faults which many are apt to commit. In doing this, it will unavoidably happen, that a few of the preceding observations will, in some respects, be repeated: but this confirmation of the rules will, it is presumed, be no disadvantage to the learners. A display of the various errours in reading, incident to children, may make a greater impression, than di-rec'tzóns which àre positive, and point only to the propriety of prō-nun-ci-a'tión. Rules for the government of the voice. 1. Avoid' too loud, or too low a voice. An overstrained voice is very inconvenient to the reader, as well as disgusting to the hearer. It exhausts the reader's spirits; and prevents the proper management and modulation of his voice, according to the sense of his subject; and it naturally leads into a tone. Too low a voice is not so inconvenient to the speaker, as the other extreme: but it is very disagreeable to the hearer. It is always offensive to an audience, to observe any thing in the reader or speaker, that marks indolence or inattention. When the voice is naturally too loud, or too low, young persons should correct it in their ordinary conversa'tión; by this means they will learn to avoid' both the extremes, in reading. They should begin the sentence with an even, moderate voice, which will enable them to rise or fall, as the subject requires. 2. Avoid a thick, confused, cluttering voice. It is very disagreeable to hear a person mumble, clip, or swallow his words; leaving out some syllables in the long words, and scarcely ever pronouncing some of the short ones; but hurrying on without any care to give his words their full sound, or his hearers the full sense of them. This fault is not easily cured. The best means of mending it, is to endeavour, both in convĕrsa'tión and reading, te pronounce every word in a deliberate, clear, and distinct manner. 3. Be careful to read neither too quickly nor too slowly. A precipitant reader leaves no room for pauses; fatigues himself; and lowers the dignity of his subject. His hearers lòşe much of what *năt'tshu-răl. † prō-nun-she-ā'shün. is delivered, and must always be dissatisfied with a reader who hurries and tires them. Children àre very apt to read too fast, and to take a pleasure in it, thinking that they who pronounce the words with the greatest rapidity, àre the best scholars.-The heavy, dronisn, sleepy reader, and who often makes pauses where there should be nóné, is also very disagreeable. If he hems and yawns between the periods, he is still more so. 4. Study to avoid an irregular mode of pronunciation. It is a great fault in reading, to raise and fall the voice by fits and starts; to elevate and depress it unseasonably without regard to sense or stops; or always to begin a sentence with a high voice, and conclude it with a low one; or, on the contrary, to begin with a low voice, and conclude with a high one. To avoid' these ĕrrours, the sentence should not be begun in too high, or too low a key; regard should be had to the nature of the points, and the length of the periods; and the reader's mind should be attentive to the subject, sense, and spirit of his author. 5. With the utmost care ăvoid a flat, dull, uniform voice, without emphasis or cadence, or a proper regard to the sense of what is reading. This is a practice to which chil'dren who do not love learning, and who are tired of their lessons, àre very prone. When this mode of reading becomes ha-bit'u-al,* it is painful to the hearer, and very difficult to be remedied. The best means of cure àre those prescribed for the preceding ĕrrour: for if the mind be attentive to the sentiments delivered, the voice will be adapted to their nature and importance. 6. Reading with an improper tone, is a great and commor fault of learners, and must be carefully avoided. No habit is more easy to be contracted than this, or harder to be overcome. This unnatural tone in reading, is always disgusting to persons of sense and delicacy. Some have a squeaking tone. Persons whose voices àre shrill and weak, or overstrained, are apt to fall into this tone.-Some have a singing or canting note: others assume a high swelling tone. These lay too much stress on every sentence, and violate every rule of decent pronunciation.-Some affect an awful and striking tone, attended with solemn gri-mace'; as if they wished to move the hearer with every word, whether the weight of the subject supports them or not.-Some have a set, uniform tone of voice, which has already been noticed. Others have a strange, whimsical, whi'ning tone, peculiar to themselves, and not easy to be described. They are continually laying the emphasis on words which do not require or deserve it * hă-bitsh'u-ăl. To avoid all kinds of unnatura! and disagreeable tones, we should read with the same ease and freedom that would mark our private convĕrsă'tión, on the same subject. We do not hear persons converse in a tone; if we did, we should laugh at them. "Do not," says Dr. Watts, "affect to change that natural and easy sound with which you speak, for a strange, new, awkward tone, as some do when they begin to read. We should almost be persûñ'ded that the speaker and the reader were two different persons, if our eyes did not tell us the contrary." We shall close these rules and obşĕrvā'tións, by a remark of considerable importance to young persons who are desirous of learning to read well. Few rules on the subject àre intelligible to children, unless illustrated by the voice of a competent instructer. They should, there'fore, pay great attention to the manner in which their teacher, and other persons of approved skill, perform' the business of reading. They should observe their mode of pronouncing the words, placing the emphasis, making the pauses, managing the voice, and adapting it to the various subjects they read; and, in all these respects, endeavour to imitate them as nearly as possible. TO THE ENG'LISH READER. PART I. PIECES IN PROSE. CHAPTER I. SE-LECT' SENTENCES AND PARʼAGRAPHS. SECTION I. TO be good is to be happy. Vice, soon or late, brings misery. We were not made for ourselves only. A good person has a tender concern for the happiness of others. Modesty is one of the chief ornaments of youth. Deceit discovers a little mind. Cultivate the love of truth. No confidence can be placed in those who are in the habit of lying. Neglect no opportunity of doing good. Idleness is the parent of vice and misery. Cleanliness promotes health of body and delicacy of mind. Boast not of the favours you bestow. Merit the approbation of the wise and good. It is a great blessing to have pious and vir'tuous† parents. The most secret acts of goodness àre seen and approved by the Al-migh'ty. SECTION II Our reputation, virtue,‡ and happiness, greatly depend on the choice of our companions. Good or bad habits, formed in youth, generally go with us through life. * na'tshure. † věr'ishū-ús. ‡ věr❜tshū. We should be kind* to all persons, even to those who àre unkind to us. When we acknowledge our misconduct, and àre sorry for it, generous and good persons will pity and forgive us. Our best friends àre those who tell us of our faults, and teach us how to correct them. If tales were not listened to, there would be no tale-bearers. To take sincere pleasure in the blessings and excellencies of others, is a sure mark of a good heart. We can never treat a fellow-creature ill, without offending the gracious Cre-a'tor and Father of all. A kind word, nay, even a kind look, often affords cóm'fórt to the afflicted. Every desire of the heart, every secret thought, is known to him who made us. SECTION III. He that cares only for himself, has but few pleaş'ures, and those few àre of the lowest order. We may escape' the censure of others, when we do wrong privately; but we cannot avoid the reproaches of our own mind. Pàr-ti-ǎl'i-ty‡ to self often hides from us our own faults; we see very clearly the same faults in others. Never sport with pain and distress in any of your ǎ-müşe'ments; nor treat even the meanest insect with wânton cruelty. Vicious pursuits may yield a few scattered pleaş'ures; but piety and vir'tue will make our whole life happy. Fancy paints pleaş'ures at a distance, with beautiful colours; but poşşes'sión often takes away their beauty. We should accustom ourselves to bear small injuries patiently; we shall then be better able to support great ones. When provoked by the follies of others, think of your own imperfections, be patient and hum'ble. Without frugality nóne can be rich; and with it very few would be poor. The good or bad disposition' of children, often shows itself, in their behaviour to servants and inferiours; it is seen even in their treatment of dumb animals. They who ridicule the wise and good, àre dangerous companions; they bring virtue itself into contempt. We cannot be good as God is good, to all persons every +par-she-ǎl'e-te. * kyind. † un-kyind'. |