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THE THIRD READER.

I-DO YOU KNOW HOW TO READ?

ON

NE day Uncle Ned, who was sitting in his arm-chair, called his little nephews and nieces about him. I think there were five in all. Let me see-George, James, Jennie, Grace and Eva.

2. "Well, children," said Uncle Ned, "do you know how to read?"

3. "Why, what a question!" said George. "Of course we do. We have all been to school these three years."

4. "Yes," said Grace; "and I have been through the First Reader and the Second Reader."

5. "So have I!" said James. "And I! and I!" echoed the others. "And grandma says I can tell the hard words in her big Bible almost as well as she can," added Jennie.

6. "Why, what a wonderful set of nephews and nieces I have!" said Uncle Ned.

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"How

wise you must be, all of you! Here, James, read this verse for me as well as you can."

7. So James took the book which his uncle Ned handed him, and read very rapidly, without minding the stops:

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8. "You may read the next verse, Jennie.'

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9. Jennie obeyed, and read with a high, shrill tone, very unlike the charming tone in which she always talked :

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'He followed her to school one day,

Which was against the rule;

It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.'"

10. "Here, George," said Uncle Ned, "read the next verse."

11. So George tried to do his best, and shouted so loud that Uncle Ned shut out the noise by putting a finger in each ear:

12. "

"And so the teacher turned him out;

But still he lingered near,

And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.'"

Now, your turn, Grace."

13. Grace read the next verse in what is called a sing-song, like this:

"And then he ran to her and laid
His head upon her arm;

As if he said, I'm not afraid,

You'll keep me from all harm."

14. "Let me see," said Uncle Ned, looking around at the children through his glasses. "Here are five noses-there are five of you. You have not read, Eva. You were not so sure that knew how to read, but you may try."

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15. Eva took the book and read in a very pleasant tone, as if she were talking or telling a pretty story:

16. "

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'What makes the lamb love Mary so?'

The eager children cry;

'Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,'

The teacher did reply.''

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Now, children," said Uncle Ned, "I think one of you knows how to read. Can you tell me which it is?"

17. “If you mean the one who reads best, I know," said Grace. "I think Eva does."

18. "So do I," and "So do I," said the others. 19. "Now, children, why does she read best?" 20. "Because she did n't read too fast," said James.

21. "And I think it is because she spoke so plainly," said George.

22. "What do you say, Jennie?" asked Uncle Ned.

23. "I guess it is because she understood what she read," said Jennie.

24. "And I think she enjoyed reading it;" added Grace.

25. "Good, children!" said Uncle Ned. "You have all given me answers which show that you are learning to think, if you are not learning to read well. If you will all remember what each one has just said, you will be fine readers one of these days.

26. "Read slowly, distinctly, understandingly, and as if you enjoyed it, and you will all be as good readers as Eva."

27. "A great deal better, I hope," said Eva. "I want to be as good a reader as my teacher. She makes us have nice times with our reading-lessons. She talks with us about the stories, and helps us find out what they mean, before we read them to her."

28. "She must be a good teacher," said Uncle Ned, patting Eva on the head. "Now you may all go and have a good game at 'hide-and-seek.""

QUESTIONS.

Which of the children read best to Uncle Ned? What was good in Eva's reading? Do you think you can read as Eva did? Do you know any one in your class whose voice sounds very sweet in reading? Do you like to hear a pleasant tone when any one reads or speaks? Do you know of any one who does not read distinctly? Can you speak plain when your teeth are shut close together? What should you do, then, to read distinctly? Did you ever hear any one read with a sing-song? Do you like the sound of it? What did you like best in the reading of ? (naming any member of the class.)

"H

II.-RED, OR BLACK?

URRAH for the seaside!" cried Philip. "What fun I shall have with the boating and the bathing, and the digging in the sand! But the fishing will be the best fun of all. Many a jolly red lobster will I drag out of the sea!"

2. "Red lobsters!-red!" cried Henry, with a loud, rude laugh. "Catch a red lobster if you can! If you had seen as many lobsters as I have seen, you would know that they are of a dark color, almost black.'

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3. "You must not try to make fun of me!” said Philip, while his cheek grew almost as red as the lobster he was thinking of. "As if I did n't know the look of a lobster, when my aunt has lobster salad once a week! The shell is red, I tell you.'

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4. "The shell is black, I tell you," said Henry -"black as my boots! If you say it is red, you say what is not true."

5. "Do you mean to say I tell a lie?" said Philip, getting very angry; and from high words the two boys were near coming to blows, when in old man came up, and asked what was the

matter.

6. "This boy says lobsters are black, and I say they are red," cried Philip. "Now, are they not red, sir?”

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