79.460 MYARD COLLEGE LIBRARY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, BY GEORGE S. HILLARD, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE. PREFACE. HE Franklin Sixth Reader and Speaker corresponds, in the grade of its selections and in many other essential respects, with "Hillard's First Class Reader," of the first series, and "The Sixth Reader" of the one which followed, and is, like those publications, intended for use in high schools, and for the most advanced classes in our public grammar and in private schools. While the main object in its compilation has been to teach the art of good reading, both by furnishing a choice variety of selections best adapted for practice and reading exercises, and by the preparation of the most complete and thorough rhetorical instructions on the part of its authors and compilers, it has also been their design to give to this work somewhat more of an elocutionary character than either of its predecessors. With this view a wide range of selections has been made, in order that the pupil may be trained to give proper form and expression to every variety of style. At the same time, with the view that this compilation may be used with more advantage in rhetorical instruction, it will be found to contain a larger proportion of animated and declamatory selections. The compilers have endeavored to enable their youthful readers to make themselves familiar with some of the treasures of English and American literature, so far as to do so has been found consistent with their one great aim, the preparing a good reading-book. In this view they have been constrained to retain a large number of the best pieces which have been found so acceptable in the "Sixth Reader." These occupy about one third part of the present volume. The compilers have retained several pieces which have long been familiar to all persons acquainted with English literature, and which may to some extent be pronounced hackneyed; such as Gray's "Elegy," Cowper's "Slavery," etc. But the permanent popularity of such pieces is due to their intrinsic merit, and they ought not to be displaced to make room for productions which are only commended by the gloss of novelty, but will not wear so well as those on which time has set its lasting seal of approval. In retaining these the compilers have been guided, not only by their own judgment, but by the express wishes of several teachers who were desirous that selections should be retained which have so well borne the sharp test of daily use. In the preparation of the work the compilers have been aided by the judgment and experience of many practical teachers, especially several masters of grammar schools in this city, whose services and interest are gratefully remembered. ! |