INTRODUCTORY.

The plan of this reader-the second of the New Era Series is a continuation of the one adopted for the First Reader.

The lessons are graded along two lines of what may now be regarded as of greatest interest and educational value,― viz., Nature-Study and Literature. To these, lessons of general interest have been added, where worth merited their introduction.

The lessons in Nature-Study follow the changing conditions of the seasons. The selections in Literature have been, in large measure, adapted to the holidays of

the year.

Believing that the individual follows the development of the race, myths and legends, in a limited degree, have been included, and it is believed that these lessons will prove to be favorites with the children.

Children are interested in child-life, at all times and in all places; hence brief stories of the far away and long ago have been introduced.

Typical American birds and domestic animals have been given particular attention. The children are en

couraged in the reading of good literature, by selections from Whittier, Longfellow, the Cary sisters and others, and patriotism is inculcated by stories of the boyhood lives of eminent Americans,

Believing that ideas grow as they find expression, each lesson has suggested desk-work which will express the text in words, drawing, coloring or cutting. Brief exercises in language-drill are given for the convenience of the teacher.

NOTE.-The extracts from Whittier, Longfellow, Stedman, and Alice and Phoebe Cary, are used by permission of, and by special arrangement with, Houghton, Mifflin & Co., publishers of their works.