New National Fourth Reader | Page 3

of pupils. Original
investigation, even if followed at first by somewhat crude results, is in
the end more satisfactory than any other course.
The Definitions (pages 373-382) and the List of Proper Names (pages
383 and 384) may be used in the preparation of the lessons.[01]
When exercises are written, particular care should be required in regard
to penmanship, correct spelling, punctuation, and neatness.
[01] "The Definitions" are found at the end of the text, however "the
List of Proper Names" has not been included in this production.

PHONIC CHART.

VOWELS.
a as in lake a " " at a " " far a " " all a " " care a " " ask a as in what e " "
be e " " let i " " ice i " " in o " " so o as in box u " " use u " " up u " " fur
oo " " too oo " " look

DIPHTHONGS.
oi, oy (unmarked), as in oil, boy ou, ow " " " out, now

CONSONANTS
b as in bad d " " do f " " fox g " " go h " " he j " " just k " " kite l " " let
m as in me n " " no p " " put r " " rat s " " so t " " too v " " very w " " we
y as in yes z " " froze ng " " sing ch " " chick sh " " she th " " think th "
" the wh(hw)," what

EQUIVALENTS.
VOWELS.

a like o as in what e " a " " where e " a " " they e " u " " her i " u " " girl
i " e " " police o, u like oo as in to, rule o " u " " come o " a " " for u, o "
oo " " put, could y " i " " by y " i " " kit'ty
CONSONANTS.
c like s as in race c " k " " cat g " j " " cage n like ng as in think s " z " "
has x " ks, or gz " box, exist

FOURTH READER

LESSON I
spokes'man, one who speaks for others.
cho'rus, a number of speakers or singers.
apt, _likely; ready_.
folks, _people; family_.
mis'er a ble, _very unhappy; very poor_.
lone'some, _without friends; lonely_.
score, twenty.
wretch'ed, _unhappy; very sad_.
* * * * *

"I'M GOING TO."

PART I.
Once upon a time, there was a little boy, whose name was Johnny.
"Johnny," said his mamma, one day, "will you bring me an armful of
wood?"
"Yes," said Johnny, "I'm going to"; but just then he heard Carlo, the
dog, barking at a chipmunk over in the meadow, so he ran off as fast as
he could go.
Now this was not the first time that Johnny had said to his mamma,
"Yes, I'm going to." He never thought of that wood again until about
dinner-time, when he began to feel hungry.

When he got back, he found that dinner was over, and papa and
mamma had gone to ride. He found a piece of bread and butter, and sat
down on a Large rock, with his back against the stump of a tree, to eat
it.
When it was all gone, Johnny began to think what he should do next.
He closed his eyes as people are apt to do when they think.
Presently he heard a score of voices about him. One was saying, "Wait
a bit"; another, "Pretty soon"; another, "In a minute"; another, "By and
by"; and still another, louder than the rest, kept screaming as loud as it
could, "Going to, going to, going to," till Johnny thought they were
crazy.
"Who in the world are you?" said he, in great surprise, "and what are
you making such a noise about?"
"We are telling our names," said they; "didn't you ask us to tell our
names?"
"No," said Johnny, "I didn't."
"O what a story!" cried they all in a breath.
[Illustration]
"Let's shake him for it," said one.
"No, let us carry him to the king," said another.
So they began to spin about him like so many spiders; for each one of
them carried a long web, and when that gets wound around a boy or a
girl, it is a very difficult thing to get rid of.
In a few minutes they had him all wound up--hands and feet, nose and
eyes, all tied up tight. Then they took him among them, and flew