1. A Comma [,] is used to divide those parts of a sentence between which, if you were speaking, you would breathe, or stop long enough to say quickly “ONE.”

2. A Semicolon [;] divides those parts of a sentence between which you would rapidly count “TWO.”

3. A Colon [:] divides those parts of a long sentence between which you would rapidly count “THREE.”

4. A Period [.] ends the sentence. After a Period we may count FOUR, FIVE, SIX, or more.

5. A Note of Interrogation [?] is always placed after a question: as, “Have you seen my kite?” “Can you spin a top?”

6. A Note of Exclamation [!] is placed after a sentence expressive of surprise, admiration, grief, horror, &c.: as, “O what a large apple!” “O what a pretty doll!” “What a dreadful misfortune!” “What a horrible sight!”

7. Quotation Marks [“ ”] enclose a sentence that has been spoken or written by another person: as, “My mother said to me, ‘Dear child, always speak the truth!’ ”

We will now recapitulate these signs for you, that you may recognize them perfectly:

Sound the R's—Marbles, not määbles; arms, not ääms; were, not wàuh.

Ring out the ng's—Coming, not comin'.

Articulate the other consonants—Chest, not chess; pleased, not please'; friends, not friens; and, not an', &c.

Aspirate the H's—White, not wite; when, not wen.

Give to each vowel its own sound—Yellow, not yelluh; velvet, not velvut; Ellen, not Ellun; new, not noo; pût, not putt; doll, not dawl, &c.

Do not make use of the sound uh for her, of, and or; or of the sound um for him and them.

“At the top of his speed.” This means that Hugh ran as fast as he could.

SPEED, the rate at which a body moves.

1. It is New Year's day. Hugh and Ellen are busy with the toys that have been given them by their mother, or sent them by their friends.

2. Hugh has a large india-rubber ball, a chest of tools, a stout wagon, a bag of marbles, and a paint-box. All these are very nice presents for a boy.

3. Ellen has a little table with a tea-set of white and gilt china. She has also a rich glass box, filled with sugarplums; an orange, some cakes, and a large wax doll.

4. This doll not only rolls her eyes, but she has waxen hands and feet. She is dressed in a pink silk slip with lace over it, and on her head, she has a yellow straw hat, trimmed with black velvet.

5. Ellen is so proud of her new doll, that she cannot put it down. She shows it to all those who come to wish her mother a happy New Year. I hope she will not break that pretty doll.

6. Ellen's little cousin Clara is coming to spend the day with her. They will set out the china, and take tea on the little table. The table is ready with sugar in the sugar-dish, and cakes in the plates.

Sound the R's—Albert, dinner, father, morning, horse, hard, &c.

Ring out the ng's—Morning, trotting, looking, neighing.

Articulate the other consonants—Breakfast, softly, lastly.

Aspirate the H's—Which, when.

Distinguish between the vowels—Latin, sorrow, refused, behaved.

DAINT-Y, delicate.

AM-PLY, fully.

CA-RESS, a kiss or embrace.

IN-DUS-TRY, steady attention to work

RE-WARD, something given us for having done well.

1. Albert's bay pony, Fleeta, was one of the prettiest little ponies you ever saw. She had a black mane and tail; and her coat shone like satin.

2. She was so gentle, that when Albert called her, she knew his voice, and came trotting up at his call. Then she would bend her head for him to stroke it, and show her love by laying it against his breast.

3. The reason why Fleeta was so fond of her young master, was, that Albert always fed and curried her himself. Every morning, before he went to his own breakfast, he saw that his pony had hers; that she was washed, her dainty hoofs were cleaned, and she had a pail of fresh water to drink.

4. Every day, when Albert came from school, he went to visit Fleeta; and after dinner, she was saddled for a gallop through the woods. It was hard to say which was the happier of the two, when Albert was in the saddle.

5. One day, Albert's father came home, looking very sad. He had lost a great deal of money, and said he could afford to keep Fleeta no longer. He must sell his horses; and Albert's horse too, he said, must go.

6. Sell Fleeta!—Poor, poor Albert, how he cried! He thought he would die of grief, as many of us have thought when, like him, we were young, and had not yet known what it was to taste of sorrow.

Sound the R's—Mother, dear, pure, bitter, tears, earnest, heart, heard.

Ring out the ng's—Pleasing, kneeling.

Articulate the final consonants—Soft, earnest.

Aspirate the H's—When.

Pronounce the vowels correctly—Bright, not bräeet; night, not näeet; guile, not gäeele.

GUILE, sin, deceit.

EARN-EST, serious and sincere in intention.

Sound the R's—Farm, birds, before, door, larger, water, arbor, &c.

Ring out the ng's—Going, looking, putting, lying, &c.

Articulate the final consonants—Filled, hatched, hoped.

Aspirate the H's—Where, when.

Give to each vowel its own sound—Fruit, yellow, windows.

PAD-DLING, playing in the water.

LA-DEN, loaded.

LAWN, a very large grass-plot.

1. Mary is going to live in the country. Her papa has sold his house in town, and has bought a farm. Mary is very happy to live in the country, where there are plenty of trees and grass; where the woods are filled with birds, the orchards with fruit, and the farm-yard with poultry.

2. To-day Mary went out in a carriage with her mother and father, to see their new house. They drove through a long, shady lane, and then the carriage swept around a circle, and drew up before the front door.

3. The house was very pretty. It had a pleasant, sunny parlor, with windows that opened to the floor, and a nice dining-room that looked out upon the garden.

4. Mary ran through the empty rooms, and laughed to hear how strange was the sound of her own voice when she spoke. Then she came and stood before one of the open windows that led to the garden.

5. There she saw a pretty, green lawn; and beyond it, so many gay flowers, that she begged her mother to let her have a romp by herself down the smooth, broad walk.

6. At the end of this walk was a grape-arbor, where she sat down and rested for a while under the cool, shady roof made by the leaves. The arbor was full of little green grapes, some no larger than a pea.

7. Further on, but fenced in, were peach, fig, pear and apple trees, laden with fruit. But the fruit was not yet ripe, so Mary knew she must not ask for any, and having rested herself, she ran back to the house.

8. Her mother was not there, but Mary heard her voice not very far off. When she joined her mother, she saw flocks of turkeys, hens, ducks, and geese, and six of the hens had little broods just hatched.

9. Then there were young ducks, covered with yellow feathers, as soft as down. Mary thought them even prettier than the chickens. But as she stood looking at them paddling in a trough of water, a gander began to hiss at her, and Mary ran away.

10. Aunt Kitty, who had been there for a week, putting things to order, now took Mary with her to a sty, where a fat sow was lying on some straw in the midst of a litter of young pigs.

11. Then Mary's father took her to see the stables. On the roof of the stables was a fine, large pigeon-house; but there were no pigeons, though Mary hoped that some day or other they would find their way there.

12. At last, they went into the cow-yard. Aunt Kitty came out with her pail to milk the cows, and Mary's mama told her that she might choose a cow for herself. So Mary chose a red cow, whose name was Daisy.

13. Daisy had a young calf, and gave four gallons of milk a day. Aunt Kitty laughed, and said that Miss Mary had “a heap of sense,” to take the best cow she had in her drove.

14. Mary said that she was not going to take Daisy, or Daisy's milk, from Aunt Kitty; but she would pet and feed her cow, in the hope that it would come to know and love her.

15. When they went back to the carriage to drive home, Mary told her father that she had never spent so happy a day in her life; and she hoped they were to move into the country very, very soon.

16. Mary will have her wish; for next week she will leave town for her new home; and when she is there, I hope she will be a good girl, and think of her Father in Heaven, who gives us every thing we have on earth.

17. And I hope that for love of HIM, she will be kind to other little boys and girls, who may not have so many comforts as she has, in her pretty country home.

Sound the R's—Dinner, surely, orchard, farmer, there, pear, &c.

Ring out the ng's—Walking, lying, saying, eating, &c.

Articulate all the consonants—Shalt, accept.

Aspirate the H's—While, What.

Pronounce the unaccented vowels—Yellow, reward.

HEDGE, a fence made of shrubbery.

ES-CAPE, the act of coming out of danger unhurt.

REL-ISH, pleasure produced by eating anything nice.

COM-MIT, to do.

1. A little boy was once walking in the country with his father, when they passed by an orchard. It was a warm day in the fall.

2. “Dear papa,” said Fabian, “I am very hungry.”

3. Mr. F. So am I, my son; but have patience. As soon as we get home, I shall order dinner.

4. Fabian. There is a fine pear-tree, papa, laden with large yellow pears. How I should like to have one!

5. Mr. F. So should I, Fabian, but you see that the pear-tree is not on the high-way, but in an orchard.

6. Fabian. Never mind, papa. I can easily creep through the hedge, and gather some for both of us.

7. Mr. F. And what would the owner of the orchard say to that?

8. Fabian. O, he is no doubt at home. I have just peeped in, and there is no one near to see us.

9. Mr. F. No one, Fabian? You mistake, my child. There is One very near, who not only will see, but will punish us, if we take what belongs to others.

10. Fabian. Who is near, papa? I see no one.

11. Mr. F. God is near; and he sees not only your acts, Fabian, but your very thoughts. GOD will see you, my son, and He has said: “Thou shalt not steal.”

Sound the R's—Western, waters, father, mother, silver, under, over.

Ring out the ng's—Rolling, drooping.

Articulate the final consonants—Wind, (pron. wynde), and, rest, breast, nest, west.

Take heed that you distinctly sound the d in the word “and,” which, in this little poem, being always followed by another consonant, is apt to be slighted.

Aspirate the H's—While, him.

Give the vowels their pure sound—Wind, not wäeend; while, not whäeel.

Dey come dis mawnin' fum t'udder side ud dï river.

They came this morning from the other side of the river.

I seed um dat time, dough dey didden see me.

I saw them that time, though they did not see me.

Let no one suppose that these astounding barbarisms are current among the children of the illiterate alone. They are the dialect first learned by every young Southerner, from that dusky deity of his infantine worship, his “Mammy.” Many a distinguished Southern orator has had to study hard before he could break himself of “Mammy's” Africanisms; and it is to spare our children this future trouble, that we call their attention to these errors.

Many of them may be corrected by paying attention to those little words which, in grammar, we call particles.

A few exercises are subjoined, merely as illustrative of the errors; but it would be superfluous to extend the examples, as every reading lesson in every book abounds with them:

The paper is in the desk, in the study, on the table.

Though an egg is small, it is strong food.

Aspirate the H's—Which, when, whip.

Give to each vowel its own sound—Before, children, de-lighted, terrible, yellow.

Do not slight the little words.

Sound the R's—Large, curtain, turned, sharp, roar, feared, &c.

Ring out the ng's—Going, touching, feeling, looking, &c.

Articulate the consonants—Best, turned, limbs,shaped,fast, and,&c.

TENT, a shelter made of cloth.

SHAG-GY, having a rough coat.

GLOSS-Y, smooth and shining.

TO AT-TRACT, to draw attention.

GRACE-FUL, well formed, having pretty motions.

BRU-IN, a name given to bears.

1. A few days ago, Edwin and Susan went with their father to take a walk. After they had passed three or four streets, they came to a large open square, in the midst of which was a huge tent of canvas.

2. Edwin and Susan had seen many and many a soldier's tent, but they had never yet seen a tent as large as the one now before them. At the door stood a man, to whom their father gave some money.

3. As soon as he had the money, the man stepped aside and put back a curtain, when they all three passed inside, and what do you suppose was there?

4. Row upon row of iron cages as large as a farm wagon, in each one of which was to be seen a pair of lions, tigers, wolves and panthers. There was also a huge bear; then a crowd of people, who closed up the view.

5. The children knew that something very merry was going on at the other end of the tent, for they heard a good many faint squeaks, and a great deal of hearty laughter. But their father thought it best to keep away from the crowd, so they turned their atten-tion to the Lion.

6. There stood the king of beasts, his long mane almost touching the floor of his cage. Susan mistook him for the lioness, on account of his “long hair,” as she called the mane.

Sound the R's—Curtains, girl, or, stars, pearly, brighter, forth, har vest, &c.

Ring the ng's — Singing, peeping, floating.

Articulate the Consonants—Round, them, child, soft.

Aspirate the H's—When, while.

Give to each vowel its own sound—Shine, bright, yellow, silent, skies, harvest.

Do not slight the particles.

SKIM, to pass lightly.

REAP-ER, one who cuts grain.

FLOAT-ING, moving lightly in the air.

BEAM, a ray of light.

SHEAVES, bundles of grain.

PEARL-Y, like a pearl.

Sound the R's—Morning, mirth, ordered, served, comfort, &c.

Ring the ng's—Morning, passing, watching, rowing, &c.

Articulate the other Consonants—Forests, jumped, climbed, and, midst, &c.

Aspirate the H's—Which, while, whether, when, where, &c.

Give to each vowel its own sound—Bēhind, forests, children, politely, bēlow, rēpast, boatmen, rēceive, &c.

Do not slight the little words.

LAPSE, the passing.

SWARD, grass.

MOOR-ED, tied.

SNUFF, scent.

RIP-PLE, little wave.

RE-PAST, a meal.

DROWS-Y, sleeply.

TI-NY, very small.

1. Not long ago, a party of boys and girls went with their parents to a picnic. They left home quite early in the morning, some in carriages, some on horseback.

2. They were followed by a wagon, in which were baskets of every size, filled with all that would be needful for a dinner given in the woods on the grass.

3. The children were in fine spirits; above all, when having left the city behind them, they drove into the cool, shady woods, and heard the crisp leaves crack under the carriage-wheels.

4. There were great oaks and tall pines, and the boys talked of all the various uses to which man has put these two kingly trees.

5. They agreed that not only were the oaks and pines kings at home in their own forests, but abroad too, where they ruled the great ocean in the form of ships. Some boys thought the oak was the most useful of trees, others liked the pine; and much was said on both sides.

6. At last, after the lapse of half an hour, the woods opened, and the road ended at the side of a pretty lake, on whose banks ths picnic was to be given.

7. The carriages were soon empty, and the children began to play all manner of merry games. Some jumped the rope, some climbed the trees to gather nuts, some went in search of wild grapes, and a few threw themselves upon the sward in little groups to talk.

8. Two of the largest boys had brought a stout rope with them, which they tied to two oak-trees. Then they notched a plank, and passing it through the rope, it made a firm seat, after which they po-litely invited the girls to come and swing.

9. This was very thoughtful of these two boys and proves that they had kind hearts. Those who forget themselves to think of the comfort or pleasure of others, are loved, not only on earth below, but in heaven above.

10. Moored to the banks of the lake, were three little boats, each with a boatman, who rowed the children to the shore op-posite, and back again. This was great sport, and hap-pily it was sport without danger.

11. The lake was not deep enough to drown any one so that the children could dip their hands over the sides of the boat, and amuse themselves with the ripples of the water, to their heart's content.

12. They were all happy, each one to his taste, while their fathers sat watching them, and their mothers were busy making ready the dinner near the boat-house which served them for sort of a pantry.

13. Out of this boat-house came so many nice things that everybody wondered whether they could ever be eaten. But nobody wondered long. The last thing was laid out on the grass, and dinner was ready.

14. Forth from lake and woods came troops of happy, hungry children, and after much mirth and a vast deal of noise, all were seated and served.

15. Away went chicken-salad and oysters, turkey and ham, champagne and claret. Knives and forks rattled, corks popped, and our little people thought that never had feast been equal to this repast in the woods, spread out on the sweet, soft grass.

16. And now they rise. The empty plates are put back into empty baskets, the boatmen receive their fee for rowing the children, the carriages are ordered, and the party are off for town again.

17. The horses, always glad to turn their heads towards home, snuff the air, and trot gaily off; while the boys and girls tired, but happy as ever, are leaning back in drowsy comfort, now and then closing their eyes, and thinking about bed-time.

18. Such a drive! such a day! And how they all sleep on the night that follows that joyous picnic on the banks of the tiny lake, which lies hidden so far away from town in the midst of those lovely woods!

Sound the R's—Winter, summer, perfume, purple, &c.

Ring the ng's—Walking, picking, nothing, making, &c.

Articulate the other Consonants—Asked, felled, the, they, them, &c.

Aspirate the H's—Which, when, what, where, &c.

Give to each vowel its own sound—For-ever, not fur-ever; returned, violets, family, willow, &c.

RAP-TURE, great joy.

GLEE, gayety, mirth.

PAS-TURE, field of grass for cattle.

VIN-TAGE, gathering of grapes for wine.

CLUS-TERS, bunches.

PEAS-ANTS, poorer class of country people.

WINE-VAT, large vessel in which wine is fermented.

FER-MENT, to work like yeast, cider, and ale.

1. “How I wish that winter could last forever!” cried a boy who had just returned from a sleigh-ride, and was now in the garden, making a huge man of snow.

2. His father, who heard the wish, came forward and said, “My son will you write your wish upon my tablets?” Fred wrote it down, while his hands shook with cold.

3. Winter passed away, and it was Spring. Again Fred was in the garden with his father. The trees had began to bud, and the flowers to blow. They walked in the midst of violets, hy-a-cinths, and jonquils.

4. Fred thought he had never seen anything so pretty in his life, and as he scented the perfume that filled the air, he looked around him in rapture.

5. “These are the beauties of Spring, my son,” said Mr. G.; “they are very lovely, but very short-lived.”

6. “What a pity!” cried Fred. “Why is it not always Spring?”

7. His father drew out the tablets, and asked him to write this down. Fred did so, and ran to and fro about the garden, snuffing the air like a young colt.