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PREFACE.

THIS volume is intended, as its title indicates, as a reading book for Young Ladies. It consists of a brief treatise upon the Principles of Elocution, and selections for reading in prose and verse.

The Principles of Elocution are such as can be easily understood and reduced to practice by the class of learners for whom they are designed. The sentences which illustrate them are so arranged as to direct the attention of the learner to but one principle at a time; as by this means a firm and lasting impression of each will be made upon the mind. The pauses, inflections of the voice, and the proper emphases to be used, have not been designated by marks, but are left to the taste and judgment of the reader, with the aid, when necessary, of the teacher. The exercises in articulation, and the classes of words containing sounds liable to be perverted or suppressed in utter

ance, should receive daily attention, as by this means the voice will be much improved and strengthened.

The Reading Lessons have been selected with great care. The design has been not only to present every variety of style necessary to teach good reading, but to select such pieces as would be interesting and instructive to young ladies. In a reading book for boys, less of the narrative and descriptive style, and more of the declamatory, would be required to prepare them for the various public stations in life which they may be called upon to occupy; but in preparing a book for young ladies, the design should be to select such pieces as will tend to make good fireside readers. Such has been the aim of the compiler. The selections contain just and moral sentiments, and many of them are designed to furnish useful instruction upon some of the most important duties in life.

In selecting the pieces, such alterations have been made as were deemed necessary to adapt them to the design of the work.

BOSTON, December, 1850.

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