WOR 19 FEB 36

PREFACE

THE author of these lessons always gives a hearty welcome to any text-book that bids fair to introduce the pupil to a knowledge of his mother-tongue in a pleasing way,that may perhaps beguile the child into a love of good literature and a respect for pure English. Books of this character are constantly increasing in number and attractiveness, and must necessarily do much toward the development of a sound national literary taste. A feast is being spread for the American youth of to-day that was undreamed of a half century ago. But there comes a time in the school life of each child when the drinking of nectar must be interrupted by a certain amount of real work in technical grammar, work so laborious that it is useless to attempt

to deceive the pupil into the notion that he is still banqueting. Let us rather give him a keen relish for the work.

The exercises of the following pages have been prepared with the view of avoiding some of the things that have in the past contributed to make grammar unattractive. Their leading characteristic will be found in the fact that they are based upon the connected text of a classic. After reading this text and discussing with the teacher all difficult