Chapter 1

[Transcriber's Notes:

Welcome to the schoolroom of 1900. The moral tone is plain. "She is kind to the old blind man."

The exercises are still suitable, and perhaps more helpful than some contemporary alternatives. Much is left to the teacher. Explanations given in the text are enough to get started teaching a child to read and write. Counting in Roman numerals is included as a bonus in the form of lesson numbers.

Each lesson begins with vocabulary words, followed by the description of a picture (if any) related to the lesson's reading exercise. The lesson then consists of printed text for reading and sometimes script (handwriting) for reading or copying.

Don Kostuch ]

ECLECTIC EDUCATIONAL SERIES.

MCGUFFEY'S [Registered]

First

ECLECTIC READER

Revised Edition

McGuffey Edition and Colophon are Trademarks of

JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. NEW YORK - CHICHESTER - WEINHEIM - BRISBANE - SINGAPORE - TORONTO

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.

This First Reader may be used in teaching reading by any of the methods in common use; but it is especially adapted to the Phonic Method, the Word Method, or a combination of the two.

I. Phonic Method.--First teach the elementary sounds and their representative, the letters marked with diacriticals, as they occur in the lessons; then, the formation of words by the combination of these sounds. For instance, teach the pupil to identify the characters a, o, n, d, g, r, and th, in Lesson I, as the representatives of certain elementary sounds; then teach him to form the words at the head of the lesson, then other words, as nag, on, and, etc. Pursue a similar course in teaching the succeeding lessons. Having read a few lessons in this manner, begin to teach the names of the letters and the spelling of words, and require the groups, "a man," "the man," "a pen," to be read as a good reader would pronounce single words.

II. When one of the letters in the combinations ou or ow, is marked in the words at the head of the reading exercises, the other is silent. If neither is marked, the two letters represent a diphthong. All other unmarked vowels in the vocabularies, when in combination, are silent letters. In slate or blackboard work, the silent letters may be canceled.

III. Word Method.--Teach the pupil to identify at sight the words placed at the head of the reading exercises, and to read these exercises without hesitation. Having read a few lessons, begin to teach the names of the letters and the spelling of words.

IV. Word Method and Phonic Method Combined.--Teach the pupil to identify words and read sentences, as above. Having read a few lessons in this manner, begin to use the Phonic Method, combining it with the Word Method, by first teaching the words in each lesson as words; then the elementary sounds, the names of the letters, and spelling.

V. Teach the pupil to use script letters in writing, when teaching the names of the letters and the spelling of words.

Copyright, 1879, by Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. Copyright, 1896, by American Book Company. Copyright, 1907 and 1920, by H.H. Vail.

EP486

Preface

In presenting McGuffey’s Revised First Reader to the public, attention is invited to the following features:

1. Words of only two or three letters are used in the first lessons. Longer and more difficult ones are gradually introduced as the pupil gains aptness in the mastery of words.

2. A proper gradation has been carefully preserved. All new words are placed at the head of each lesson, to be learned before the lesson is read. Their number in the early lessons is very small, thus making the first steps easy. All words in these vocabularies are used in the text immediately following.

3. Carefully engraved script exercises are introduced for a double purpose. These should be used to teach the reading of script; and may also serve as copies in slate work.

4. The illustrations have been designed and engraved specially for the lessons in which they occur. Many of the engravings will serve admirably as the basis for oral lessons in language.

5. The type is large, strong, and distinct.

The credit for this revision is almost wholly due to the friends of McGuffey’s Readers,--eminent teachers and scholars, who have contributed suggestions and criticisms gained from their daily work in the schoolroom.

Cincinnati, June, 1879.

(iii)

THE ALPHABET.

A a N n B b O o C c P p D d Q q E e R r F f S s G g T t H h U u I i V v J j W w K k X x L l Y y M m Z z

McGuffey's FIRST READER.

LESSON I.

dog the ran

a o n d g r th

The dog.

The dog ran.

LESSON II.

cat mat is on

c t i m s

The cat. The mat.

Is the cat on the mat?

The cat is on the mat.

LESSON III.

it his pen hand

a in has man

p h e

The man. A pen.

The man has a pen.

Is the pen in his hand?

It is in his hand.

LESSON IV.

hen fat rat box big run from can

f b x u

A fat hen. A big rat.

The fat hen is on the box.

The rat ran from the box.

Can the hen run?

LESSON V.

Rab Ann hat catch see

e ch s

See Rab! See Ann!

See! Rab has the hat.

Can Ann catch Rab?

LESSON VI.

she pat too now let me

sh oo ow l

Ann can catch Rab.

See! She has the hat.

Now Ann can pat Rab.

Let me pat Rab, too.

LESSON VII.

Ned eggs black left fed nest them get will

a black hen the nest

w ck

Ned has fed the hen.

She is a black hen.

She has left the nest.

See the eggs in the nest!

Will the hen let Ned get them?

LESSON VIII.

head he Nat come with and o

Let me get the black hat. Now Ned has it on his head, and he is a big man.

Come, Nat, see the big man with his black hat.

LESSON IX. REVIEW.

pat catch has left hat can

black eggs Rab Ann fed get

Ned is on the box. He has a pen in his hand. A big rat is in the box. Can the dog catch the rat?

Come with me, Ann, and see the man with a black hat on his head.

The fat hen has left the nest. Run, Nat, and get the eggs.

SLATE WORK.

LESSON X.

Nell some pan him yes do you have

I to i y v o

Do you see Nell?

Yes; she has a pan with some eggs in it.

Let me have the pan and the eggs, will you, Nell?

Has the black hen left the nest?

I will now run to catch Rab. Will you run, too?

LESSON XI.

O whip Ben up still sit if stand Jip

o wh j

O Ben! let me get in, will you?

Yes, if you will sit still.

Stand still, Jip, and let Ann get in.

Now, Ben, hand me the whip.

Get up, Jip!

1,2.

LESSON XII.

Kitty nice sweet sing just hang

cage then song pet put not

k g c a y ng u

Kitty has a nice pet. It can sing a sweet song.

She has just fed it.

She will now put it in the cage, and hang the cage up. Then the cat can not catch it.

LESSON XIII.

Tom top Kit'ty's at back

look good doll think spot

th n oo

Look at Tom and his dog. The dog has a black spot on his back. Do you think he is a good dog?

Tom has a big top, too. It is on the box with Kitty's doll.

LESSON XIV.

sun we how pond stop for

go swim her us hot duck

e o

The sun is up. The man has fed the black hen and the fat duck.

Now the duck will swim in the pond. The hen has run to her nest.

Let us not stop at the pond now, for it is hot.

See how still it is! We will go to see Tom and his top.

LESSON XV.

John rock set jump fun must

may un'der skip bank but touch

O John! the sun has just set. It is not hot, now.

Let us run and jump. I think it is fun to run, and skip, and jump.

See the duck on the pond! Her nest is up on the bank, under the rock.

We must not touch the nest, but we may look at it

LESSON XVI. REVIEW.

The sun has set, and the pond is still.

John, Ned, Ben, Tom, and Nell stand on the bank, and look at the duck.

The dog with a black spot on his back, is with Tom. See! Tom has his hat in his hand. He has left his big top on the box.

Kitty's doll is on the rock. Nell has put her pet in the cage. It will sing a sweet song. The duck has her nest under the rock.

It is not hot now. Let us run, and skip, and jump on the bank. Do you not think it is fun?

LESSON XVII.

are ink moss this tub up set' a

SLATE WORK

LESSON XVIII.

nut did shut shall lost fox

men met step in'to hunt mud

SLATE WORK.

LESSON XIX.

Kate old no grass dear likes

be drink milk cow out gives

a

O Kate! the old cow is in the pond: see her drink! Will she not come out to get some grass?

No, John, she likes to be in the pond. See how still she stands!

The dear old cow gives us sweet milk to drink.

LESSON XX.

mam ma' large as pa pa arms ride

far barn both Prince trot your

Papa, will you let me ride with you on Prince? I will sit still in your arms.

See, mamma! We are both on Prince. How large he is!

Get up, Prince! You are not too fat to trot as far as the barn.

LESSON XXI.

of that toss fall well Fan'ny

ball wall was pret'ty(prit-) done what

a a

O Fanny, what a pretty ball!

Yes; can you catch it, Ann?

Toss it to me, and see. I will not let it fall.

That was well done

Now, Fanny, toss it to the top of the wall, if you can.

LESSON XXII.

had went call might flag near swam swing

Did you call us, mamma?

I went with Tom to the pond. I had my doll, and Tom had his flag.

The fat duck swam to the bank, and we fed her. Did you think we might fall into the pond?

We did not go too near, did we, Tom?

May we go to the swing, now, mamma?

LESSON XXIII.

here band hear horse play they

pass where front fine hope comes

e e

Here comes the band! Shall we call mamma and Fanny to see it?

Let us stand still, and hear the men play as they pass.

I hope they will stop here and play for us.

See the large man in front of the band, with his big hat. What has he in his hand? How fine he looks!

Look, too, at the man on that fine horse.

If the men do not stop, let us go with them and see where they go.

LESSON XXIV.

Bess hap'py make cart tent woods

lit'tle ver'y bed Rob'ert gone draw

Bess and Robert are very happy; papa and mamma have gone to the woods with them.

Robert has a big tent and a flag, and Bess has a little bed for her doll.

Jip is with them. Robert will make him draw Bess and her doll in the cart.

LESSON XXV.

James Ma'ry made sang my lay

sport spade lap dig doll's sand

said (sed) y

"Kate, will you play with me?" said James. "We will dig in the sand with this little spade. That will be fine sport."

"Not now James" said Kate; "for I must make my doll's bed. Get Mary to play with you."

James went to get Mary to play with him. Then Kate made the doll's bed.

She sang a song to her doll, and the doll lay very still in her lap.

Did the doll hear Kate sing?

LESSON XXVI.

its shade brook picks all

by help stones glad soft

Kate has left her doll in its little bed, and has gone to play with Mary and James. They are all in the shade, now, by the brook.

James digs in the soft sand with his spade, and Mary picks up little stones and puts them in her lap.

James and Mary are glad to see Kate. She will help them pick up stones and dig, by the little brook.

1,3.

LESSON XXVII. REVIEW

"What shall we do?" said Fanny to John. "I do not like to sit still. Shall we hunt for eggs in the barn?"

"No" said John; "I like to play on the grass. Will not papa let us catch Prince, and go to the big woods?"

"We can put the tent in the cart, and go to some nice spot where the grass is soft and sweet."

"That will be fine," said Fanny. "I will get my doll, and give her a ride with us."

"Yes," said John, "and we will get mamma to go, too. She will hang up a swing for us in the shade."

LESSON XXVIII.

peep while take sleep tuck safe

oh wet feet chick can't feels wing

Peep, peep! Where have you gone, little chick? Are you lost? Can't you get back to the hen?

Oh, here you are! I will take you back. Here, hen, take this little chick under your wing.

Now, chick, tuck your little, wet feet under you, and go to sleep for a while.

Peep, peep! How safe the little chick feels now!

LESSON XXIX.

wind time there fence kite high

eyes bright flies why day shines

This is a fine day. The sun shines bright. There is a good wind, and my kite flies high. I can just see it.

The sun shines in my eyes; I will stand in the shade of this high fence.

Why, here comes my dog! He was under the cart. Did you see him there?

What a good time we have had! Are you not glad that we did not go to the woods with John?

SLATE WORK.

LESSON XXX.

wish float tie know

rope boat try shore

give pole don't push

drag won't oar fun'ny

"Kate, I wish we had a boat to put the dolls in. Don't you?"

"I know what we can do. We can get the little tub, and tie a rope to it, and drag it to the pond. This will float with the dolls in it, and we can get a pole to push it from the shore."

"What a funny boat, Kate! A tub for a boat, and a pole for an oar! Won't it upset?"

"We can try it, Nell, and see."

"Well you get the tub, and I will get a pole and a rope. We will put both dolls in the tub, and give them a ride."

SLATE WORK.

LESSON XXXI.

bound Rose called got drown found brave

came Pon'to jumped mouth a round' brought wa'ter

"Here, Ponto! Here, Ponto!" Kate called to her dog. "Come, and get the dolls out of the pond."

Rose went under, but she did not drown. Bess was still on the top of the water.

Ponto came with a bound, and jumped into the pond. He swam around, and got Bess in his mouth, and brought her to the shore.

Ponto then found Rose, and brought her out, too.

Kate said, "Good, old Ponto! Brave old dog!"

What do you think of Ponto?

LESSON XXXII.

June Lu'cy's air kind trees sing'ing blue

when pure says (sez) sky pic'nic u a

"What a bright June day! The air is pure. The sky is as blue as it can be.

Lucy and her mamma are in the woods. They have found a nice spot, where there is some grass.

They sit in the shade of the trees, and Lucy is singing.

The trees are not large, but they make a good shade.

Lucy's kind mamma says that they will have a picnic when her papa can get a tent.

LESSON XXXIII. REVIEW.

James and Robert have gone into the shade of a high wall to play ball.

Mary and Lucy have come up from the pond near by, with brave old Ponto, to see them play.

When they toss the ball up in the air, and try to catch it, Ponto runs to get it in his mouth.

Now the ball is lost. They all look for it under the trees and in the grass; but they can not see it. Where can it be?

See! Ponto has found it. Here he comes with it. He will lay it at little Lucy's feet, or put it in her hand.

LESSON XXXIV.

boy our spoil hur rah' own coil

noise fourth such join thank a bout'

hoist pay Ju ly' playing oi

"Papa, may we have the big flag?" said James.

"What can my little boy do with such a big flag?"

"Hoist it on our tent, papa. We are playing Fourth of July."

"Is that what all this noise is about? Why not hoist your own flags?"

"Oh! they are too little."

"You might spoil my flag."

"Then we will all join to pay for it. But we will not spoil it, papa."

"Take it, then, and take the coil of rope with it."

"Oh! thank you. Hurrah for the flag, boys!"

LESSON XXXV.

fin'ished bon'net les'son saved white a way'

I've am work scam'per read'y gar'den

THE WHITE KITTEN.

LESSON XXXVI.

care al'ways line Frank

row been (bin) keeps home

Frank has a pretty boat. It is white, with a black line near the water.

He keeps it in the pond, near his home. He always takes good care of it.

Frank has been at work in the garden, and will now row a while.

LESSON XXXVII.

much one (wun) yet hun'gry

seen grand'ma corn would o

"What is that?" said Lucy, as she came out on the steps. "Oh, it is a little boat! What a pretty one it is!"

"I will give it to you when it is finished," said John, kindly. "Would you like to have it?"

"Yes, very much, thank you, John. Has grandma seen it?"

"Not yet; we will take it to her by and by. What have you in your pan, Lucy?"

"Some corn for my hens, John; they must be very hungry by this time."

LESSON XXXVIII.

mar'ket bread bas'ket bought meat

tea try'ing tell which

James has been to market with his mamma.

She has bought some bread, some meat, and some tea, which are in the basket on her arm.

James is trying to tell his mamma what he has seen in the market.

LESSON XXXIX.

reads so wears please could hair

fast love eas'y gray chair who glass'es

See my dear, old grandma in her easy-chair! How gray her hair is! She wears glasses when she reads.

She is always kind, and takes such good care of me that I like to do what she tells me.

When she says, "Robert, will you get me a drink?" I run as fast as I can to get it for her. Then she says, "Thank you, my boy."

Would you not love a dear, good grandma, who is so kind? And would you not do all yon could to please her?

LESSON XL.

does won'der moth'er oth'er bee hon'ey lis'ten flow'er

"Come here, Lucy, and listen! What is in this flower?"

"O mother! it is a bee. I wonder how it came to be shut up in the flower!"

"It went into the flower for some honey, and it may be it went to sleep. Then the flower shut it in.

"The bee likes honey as well as we do, but it does not like to be shut up in the flower.

"Shall we let it out, Lucy?"

"Yes; then it can go to other flowers, and get honey."

LESSON XLI.

best hitched their should or rid'ing

live holds hay driv'ing tight ear'ly

Here come Frank and James White. Do you know where they live?

Frank is riding a horse, and James is driving one hitched to a cart. They are out very early in the day. How happy they are!

See how well Frank rides, and how tight James holds the lines!

The boys should be kind to their horses. It is not best to whip them.

When they have done riding, they will give the horses some hay or corn.

Slate Work

LESSON XLII.

look'ing thought pick'ing heard chirp were told birds

search dear'ly young girl loved chil'dren be sides'

A little girl went in search of flowers for her mother. It was early in the day, and the grass was wet. Sweet little birds were singing all around her.

And what do you think she found besides flowers? A nest with young birds in it.

While she was looking at them, she heard the mother bird chirp, as if she said, "Do not touch my children, little girl, for I love them dearly."

The little girl now thought how dearly her own mother loved her.

So she left the birds. Then picking some flowers, she went home, and told her mother what she had seen and heard.

LESSON XLIII.

eight ask aft'er town past ah tick'et

right half two train ding light'ning

"Mamma, will you go to town?"

"What do you ask for a ticket on your train?"

"Oh! we will give you a ticket, mamma."

"About what time will you get back? "

"At half past eight."

"Ah! that is after bedtime. Is this the fast train?"

"Yes, this is the lightning train."

"Oh! that is too fast for me."

"What shall we get for you in town, mamma?"

"A big basket, with two good little children in it."

"All right! Time is up! Ding, ding!"