The constitutionalist — Exeter, N.H., 1810-12-31 00:00:00, page 4

THE publishers, wishing to give a fair opportunity for the introduction of the Juvenile Spelling-Book into schools, will furnish them to the
Booksellers and Country Traders, at the same prices that Webster's Spelling-Book has been sold at, with a liberal credit ; and at the end
a year, will receive all unsold copies, and return the amount paid for them if requested. December, 1810.
JUVENILE SPELLING-BOOK.
THE
JUVENILE
SPELLING-BOOK:
BEING AN
EASY INTRODUCTION
TO THE
English Language :
CONTAINING
EASY AND FAMILIAR LESSONS IN SPELLING,
WITH APPROPRIATE
READING LESSONS.
Calculated
TO ADVANCE THE LEARNERS BY EASY GRADATIONS, AND TO
TEACH THE ORTHOGRAPHY OF JOHNSON, AND THE
PRONUNCIATION OF WALKER.
BYTPICKET,
Author of the ' Juvenile Expositor,' @c.
' Nothing can enter into the affections, which
stumbles at the threshold.'....BLAiß.
In this work all extraneous matter and all
pictures have been scrupulously rejected, and the
pages filled with useful, improving, and entertaining
reading-lessons.
To present children with cuts or pictures of objects
or animals which they have never seen, and of which
no sort of proportion is observed, is calculated to give
them false and inaccurate ideas. The mouse and ele
phant are in some books nearly of the same size.... The
whale and crocodile fill the same page.
Elementary books which are crammed full of dispro
portionate pictures and romantic stories, are, it is be
lieved, read too often and too long. The profusion of
those books, protract the imbecility of childhood ;
they ariest the understanding, instead of advancing
it; they give forwardness without strength ; they hin
der the mind from making vigorous shoots, and ren
der it inactive, when it should expand. They are
indeed amusing to the eye, and in a certain degree in
structive, but it is doubted, whether they should be
used as the basis of instruction.
Toy-books are doubtless proper on some occasions,
but the misfortune is, that the- stimulants used to at
tract the attention at first, must be, not only continu
ed, but heightened, to keep up the attraction. The
early use of books of this sort is mostly followed by a
disrelish for those of a more serious and improving
kind. The taste thus pampered, history and geogra
phy become dry and uninteresting ; grammar labori
ous ; morality and religion dull.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
From the Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, D. D President
of Nassau-Hall, (New-Jersey-)
Princeton College, June 3, 1808.
SIR,—I have perused your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' with no inconsiderable satisfaction. It appears
to me to be well adapted to the ends you have had in
view in its compilation. And I doubt not, your method,
under the direction of a skilful and diligent instructor,
will vqy much facilitate to children, the learning to
read and speak their own language with propriety.
Wishing you success in your very useful and respec
table occupation,—l am, Sir, your most obedient and
humble servant,
SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH.
From the Rev. John Wheelock, L. L. d. President of
Dartmouth University, (N. H.)
Dartmouth College, July 26, 1808.
SIR,—I have received a copy of the 'Juvenile
Spelling-Book.' It appears that the object of this per
formance is, to present to the view of the young learn
er, the elements of the English language, in their pro
per order, and to bring him to the knowledge of each
part, separately, in succession, until he shall attain a
thorough acquaintance with the whole. It also ap
pears, that, to this end, the attention of the learner is
carried beyond the shape and sound of words, to im
press his mind effectively in its progress with their
distinct meaning: Such a method must be highly
useful. It prevents that confusion, which is produced
by crowding the memory, at the same time, with words
of different syllables, leading to errours in pronuncia
tion. What is more important, it secures against the
contagion of impertinent diction, by establishing the
mind in a habit of annexing proper definite ideas to
the different terms.
Such are the reasons which induce to a favourable
opinion of your plan ; nor is the manner less pleasing,
in which you have executed the same. These are
weighty motives to influence those, who are friendly
to the purity and preservation of ournative language,
and its diffusion amoqg the young, to encourage your
labours :—and may you enjoy the satisfaction of see
ing their extending useful effects.—l am, with great
consideration, Sir, your most obedient servant,
JOHN WHEELOCK.
From the Rev. Robert Davidson, d. d. President of the
faculty of Dickinson College, State of Pennsylvania.
Carlisle, 16th August, 1808.
SIR,—I have perused your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' with much satisfaction. All attempts to ren
der the acquisition of knowledge easy and delightful
to the youthful mind, Reserve public encouragement.
The first lessons of instruction cannot be made too
plain. Nothing can be more discouraging to a child,
than to he obliged to repeat or commit to memory
words and rules, whose meaning cannot yet be com
prehended. Your method seems well adapted to fix
the attention, amuse the fancy, and inform the under
standing at the same time. —Wishing you success in
your endeavours to facilitate to the rising generation
the English Language, in its orthography and true
pronunciation, and hoping that an enlightened public
will smile upon these your laudable efforts. —I am,
Sir, vour most obedient and humble servant,
J ROBT. DAVIDSON.
From Mr. Daniel C. Sanders, a. m. President of the
University of Vermont.
Burlington, November 10, 1806.
SIR, —The 'Juvenile Spelling-Book' has been re
ceived, and the perusal of it has afforded me much
pleasure, and the examination much satisfaction.
Whatever tends to improve the youthful mind, is an
important consideration, and your performance is hap
pily designed to promote that object; inducing at the
same time to virtue, is a work of real patriotism, a rich
legacy far posterity, and a high oblation to him who
E. LITTLE & CO. No. 3, State-Street, near the Market, Newburyport, and C. NORRIS & CO. Exeter, have just
published Picket's Juvenile Spelling-Book, the copyright of which, for the New-England States, they have purchased.
forbids not little children, out of whose mouths he per
fects praise, to come to his benevolent embraces.
The gradations in your plan, proceed from what is
simple to what is more complex, by steps numerous,
but almost imperceptible. These, considering the
imbecility of the infant mind, seem not only proper,
but necessary.
In aiding the accentation of syllables, and the pro
nunciation of words, the mode of arrangement is of
signal use. Attention, more than ordinary, is paid to
the precise quantity of syllables,which in all the branch
es of English Prosody, even the most elementary, has
hitherto been unaccountably neglected. The tabular
collections of words, are desirably copious, comprising
a large catalogue of those most useful in ordinary bu
siness, and daily conversation. The reading lessons
are chiefly selected from descriptions of objects in the 7
natural world, which are at once the most important
and the most interesting of all other; As these, if
well improved, will enlarge the capacities and increase
the funds of knowledge —The moral hints which are
interspersed throughout your work, are well calculated
to increase the social affections, and meliorate the
heart of the young reader. The select collections will
early habituate learners to make useful distinctions
between the meaning of different words.
Your work, as to the plan and execution of it, con
tains many excellencies, which well merit estimation ;
and which, it is hoped, will ensure to it, public patron
age, proportionable to its value, and your successful
labour.—! am, Sir, with much respect, your most obe
dient servant,
DANIEL C. SANDERS.
From Mr. Jeremiah Atwater, A. m. President of Mid
dlebury College, state of Vermont.
Middlebury, Sept. 23, 1808.
SIR, —I have examined your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' and am pleased with your method of teaching
children to spell a^l read words of one, two, three,
&c. syllables, before they attempt those of greater
length. The reasons you assign for this, appear to be
weighty.
I am no less pleased with your method of arranging
and classing words analogically, according to the
sounds of the vowels, in order to determine the pro
nunciation. This plan is not only calculated to facili
tate the child's progress in learning to pronounce his
words; but it will greatly assist him in acquiring
their orthography.
On subjects of this nature, experience rather than
theory must decide. Much time is doubtless lost in
teaching children to read, by depending on arbitrary
associations, without interesting their young minds
sufficiently in what they are required to learn. Their
task thus becomes irksome and their progress retard
ed. As children easily learn what they love, the soon
er they can be made to feel interested in their lessons
the better: and your method seems well adapted to
that end.
The importance of early education is so great to the
community, that all attempts at improvement in the
method of conducting it, ought to be encouraged.
That your book may meet with such public encour
agement as its merits really deserve, is the sincere
wish of your very obedient and humble servant,
JEREMIAH ATWATER.
SIR, —I have perused your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' and think it contains much originality of method,
and is happily calculated for the end you have had in
view in compiling it. While it instructs, it leads chil
dren by easy gradations to the knowledge of the Eng
lish language, and will not fail of giving a pleasing
satisfaction to the mind. Therefore I need say no
more than that it surpasses any book of the kind I
have seen — 4 am, Sir, with due consideration,
BENJAMIN WEST.
From Dr. Asa Bullard, of Boston.
Boston, Nov. 4, 1808.
SIR, —Having critically examined the ' Juvenile
Spelling-Book,' I fully approve of the plan. It appears
to be peculiarly well adapted to the early instruction
of youth in spelling and reading the English language,
and to instil into their minds pure sentiments, as well
as much useful knowledge. I therefore earnestly re
commend it to parents, guardians, and instructors of
youth in general, as being, in my opinion, the best sys
tem of elementary instruction I have yet seen.
ASA BULLARD.
From the Rev. Samuel Austin, d. D. Minister of the
Gospel, in Worcester.
Worcester, December 30, 1808.
SIR, —I received a few days ago your ' Juvenile
Spelling-Book' which,you politely sent to me, and have
perused it with attention. As an elementary work it
has a claim to the public patronage beyond any pro
duction of a similar kind that I have seen. The abun
dance of monosyllables which you have inserted is a
judicious provision. Certainly nothing can be of greater
importance than that children be well grounded in
these radical words, before they proceed to put sylla
bles together. Your reading lessons are well adapted
to engage the attention of children, and to render
their progress pleasant and rapid. By giving them a
taste of the advantages of learning, you stimulate their
appetite for farther attainments in it. But the moral
tendency of your lessons, especially of those towards
the close of your book, particularly delight me. It is
just such as every friend of human happiness must
wish to observe in all books that are put into the hands
of children. If you imagine that my name can add
any thing to the respectablewecommendations already
given, it is at your service.—Please to accept of as
surances of my esteem. SAMUEL AUSTIN.
—miiffmH""b<'™><p^iß{:
From the Rev. Elijah Parish, D. D. Minister of the
Congregational Church in Byfield, State of Mas
sachusetts. Byfield, August 10, 1808.
SIR,—I have received, and with pleasure perused,
your 'Juvenile Spelling-Book.' It shows great care and
labour in the compilation. lam pleased with the gen
eral plan, and think it judicjously executed. To amuse
and please the child, is a very sure way of hastening
his improvement. lam particularly gratified, that your
reading lessons so generally, not only please, but con
tain instruction important to the 'Juvenile' reader. A
useful maxim, or a moral lesson, may as easily be print
ed, as the most trifling sentence. The maxim makes
a lasting impression, and is profitable while the child
exists. Thus the moral culture of the heart begins and
proceeds with that of the understanding. No time can
be better employed than yours ' for the benefit of the
rising generation.' The wise education of children is
of infinite importance to them and to society. Wishing
you much success in this useful and honourable em
ployment, I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, yours,
ELIJAH PARISH.
From Mr. Betyamin West, L. L. D A. A. s. Formerly
Professor of Brown University, State of Rhode-
Island.
Providence, Oct. 13, 1808.
From Thomas Porter, Esq. A. m. Preceptor of a select
Classical Seminary, at Newtown, Buck's County,
Pennsylvania.
Newtown, Feb. 15, 1810.
The many respectable recommendations of this
little work, contained in the author's preface .renders it
unnecessary for me to say any thing in its praise.—lt
is an improvement upon Murray's, and by far the most
complete Spelling-Book I have seen. As such I have
introduced it into my Seminary, and shall always take
pleasure in recommending it.
THOMAS PORTER.
From Mr. John S. Conger, A. m. Principal of the Acad
emy at Bridgetown, Cumberland county, N. J.
Bridgetown,. Feb. 21, 1310.
On looking over the arrangement and contents of
the 'Juvenile Spelling-Book,' I was at once convinced
of its great utility in the province of English education.
I immediately introduced it into the seminary under
my tuition, and soon found, to my great satisfaction,
that the pupils learned to read with fluency, correct
ness and understanding, in much less time than from
any other book I ever used.
' ' . JOHN S, CONGER.
From Mr. John M. Hanckel, A. m. Principal of the
Academy at Burlington, New-Jersey.
Burlington, July 25, 1808.
SIR, —I have perused your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' and am pleased to find that you have adopted
Johnson and Walker as standards. Your book, in my
opinion, is far superiour to any work of the kind, not
only in plan, but in correctness. —Wishing you, there
fore, that encouragement which your work deserves, I
am, with respect, yours, &c.
JOHN M. HANCKEL.
From Mr. Simeon Colton, A. m. Principal; and Mr. John
Field, A. M. Assistant of Leicester Academy, State of
Massachusetts. Leicester, July 23, 1808.
SIR, —We some time since received a copy of your
'Juvenile Spelling-Book,' which we have perused with
much satisfaction. It is with pleasure we view the va
rious improvements made in this work, particularly in
the reading lessons, which are peculiarly calculated to
engage the attention of the young beginner. Os the
different works of this kind which have fallen under
our observation, we do not recollect any one that ap
pears so well adapted to the improvement of young
scholars; we therefore cordially join in approving this
work. We sincerely hope the book will meet that kind
reception which it so justly merits.
From the Rev. Timothy Alden, jun. A. M. Preceptor of
the Female Literary Academy at Boston.
Boston, Sept. 15, 1808.
SIR, —I have received a copy of your ' Juvenile
Spelling-Book,' and am pleased with the plan and ex
ecution of the work. It combines simplicity and per
spicuity of method, and is, in my opinion, happily cal
culated to lead the pupil by easy gradations to a cor
rect knowledge and rapid acquisition of the elements
of the English language
Although I could wish to see some improvements ,on
the orthography of Johnson yet, till some character
of similar gigantic genius shall appear, not only to
point them out, but to give them a sanction, his sys
tem ought to be adopted. The pronunciation of Walker
has the most ample authority in its favour, and is con
tinually gaining popularity, as the standard, in this
part of our country.—l am, dear sir, your obt. servant,
TIMOTHY ALDEN, jun.
From Nathan K. Clough, A. b. Principal of the Am-
herst Academy.
Amherst, (N. H.) Nov. 9, 1808.
SIR, —I have perused your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' and am ,appy to say that it meets my full ap
probation. The work discovers originality of plan;
and I think, from the experience I have had in the
instruction of youth, promises much greater utility
than any book of the kind I have yet seen. Every thing
which can mitigate the labour of the teacher, or en
courage the learner, deserves the patronage of the
public. In pursuing the methods heretofore laid
down in Spelling-Books, much time is uselessly con
sumed in learning the child to pronounce detached
words of many syllables, of whose use and significa
tion he is wholly ignorant. These difficulties and dis
couragements are, manifestly, in a great measure re
moved ; and the short sentences and familiar maxims,
introduced in their places, appear to me well adapted
to the capacities of children, and much better calcu
lated to facilitate the progress of the beginner, than
long and disconnected words, which cannot fail of ren
dering his task extremely disagreeable, and not unfre
quenrly disgusting. Upon the whole, I think your lau
dable exertions -well deserve the notice and encourage
ment of an enlightened public; and I sincerely hope,
and have no doubt, that the merits of your work will
be duly appreciated, and your labours generously re
warded.—l am, sir, your humble servant,'
Academy.
Hudson Academy, June 23, 1809.
SIR, —I have examined your 'Juvenile Spelling-
Book' with attention, and am much pleased both with
the plan and the execution. • Your method of instruct
ing, by analogy, is at once evincive of your acquaint
ance with the structure of the human mind, and (in
my opinion) a sure guarantee of the success and use
fulness of your book. I have already introduced it
among the lower forms in this institution, and feel a
disposition to encourage its introduction, as far as my
influence extends, into all schools where the first ru
diments of the English language are made an object
of pursuit.—With much respect, I am, sir, your hum
ble servant, ASHBEL STRONG.
Academy, Maine.
Fryeburgh Academy, March 23, 1809.
SIR, —Having examined a copy of the 'Juvenile
Spelling-Book,' I am inclined to believe it is happily
calculated, in the hands of an instructor, to make easy
and rapid the progress of youth in reading and under
standing the English Language, so far as it can be
done without the assistance of grammar l in all its
parts, and the other sciences. The words for the
spelling are well chosen and judiciously arranged. The
prose and the poetry, which occasionally appear, will
naturally interest the young mind, and excite proper
attention.
Nothing, perhaps, is truer, than that 'variety is
charming.' With variety the 'Juvenile Spelling-Book'
abounds in an eminent degree.—Wishing you success
in your literary pursuit, I am, dear sir, your most obe
dient and very humble servant,
AMOS J. COOK.
From Mr. Ashbel Strong, A. m. Principal of the Hudson
From Mr. Amos J. Cook, A. m. Preceptor of Fryeburgh
NATHAN K. CLOUGH.
SIMEON COLTON.
JOHN FIELD.
induced to offer the following work to parents and in
structors of youth, hoping that it may, in some manner,
relieve them from their laborious employment, and also,
be of some benefit to the rising generation.
That this performance may give pleasure as well as
convey instruction, the reading lessons have been cho
sen, which are calculated, not only morally and relig
iously to improve, but also, to amuse those for whom
they are designed.
In the execution of the work, the compiler has en
deavoured to unite the principles of Dr. Johnson,
Mr. Walker, and Mr. Murray.
The pronunciation of Walker, the reading lessons
of Murray, and other eminent writers or compilers,
and the orthography of Johnson, except only, in the
omission of k, after hard c, in such words as public,
phthisic, arithmetic, &c.•
The compiler hopes, that the spelling and reading
lessons Will be found suitably adapted to each other,
both in their nature and quantity ; that the learner win
be furnished with a consistent and pleasing variety, in
his studies; and that, from the mutual aid they afford
to one another, he will be gradually conducted to the
art of reading with ease and propriety.
Tax design of this little manual is, to comprize the
elementary principles of the English Language,
plain, concise, and simple manner, suited to the com
prehension of children.
Many valuable works have of late been written, for
the improvement of those who are more advanced, but
few are simplified to the capacities of beginners.
A work of this sort cannot be made too simple of
familiar, nor too much care taken in the selection and
arrangement of the materials.
In order to render the acquisition of language easy to
children, we should use words and expressions which
they can understand. The sentences should be short,
and the language simple. The ideas such as are famil
iar to them, or which they can readily comprehend, and
the descriptions and incidents detailed, should relate
to things of which they have some acquaintance.
Urged by these considerations, the compiler has been
From Mr. "Ephraim Kingsbury, A. m. Preceptor of Haver
hill Academy, New Hampshire.
Having critically examined the ' Juvenile Spelling-
Book,' I am happy to say that I think it superiour to
any work of the kind extant. The plan is correct, the
arrangement judicious. The method of teaching chil
dren to read words of one, tv^. and three syllables, be
fore they atteifyt those of greater length, is much su
periour to that of beginning a table with words of two
syllables, and increasing the syllables to five or six,
as is the case in many of our spelling-books.
I sincerely wish to see the 'Juvenile Spelling-Book'
introduced into all our schools, and meet that kind re
ception it so highly merits.
At a meeting of the Associated Instructors of youth
in the Town of Boston, on the 18th of July, 1810.
% oted, That Doctors Bullard and Adams, Rev. Thom
as aterman, Mr. Rufus Webb, and John Lathrop, Esq.
be a Committee to examine the Juvenile Spelling-Book,
published by Mr. Albert Picket of New-York, and to
make report at the next meeting of the Association.
At a meeting of the Association on the 15fh of Au
gust, 1810. The above named Committee reported,
That they had carefully examined the Juvenile Spel
ling-Book, and stated it as their opinion, that the ar
rangement of this book is judicious and suitably pro
portioned to the progress children usually make in the
art of reading and spelling. That the method of in
struction, by early accustoming children to read with
out spelling, is an improvement worthy the attention
of Parents and Instructors. That the lessons appear
to be well adapted to the capacities of children, and
such as must be peculiarly interesting to them. Your
Committee are therefore of the opinion, that this book
merits the recommendation of this Society.
Voted, Unanimously to accept the above report, and
that Dr. Bullard and Rev. T. Waterman be a Committee
to transmit the same to Messrs. E. Little & Co. New
buryport.
Newburyport, Nov. 16th, 1810.
The Committee, to whom was referred the considera
tion of Picket's Juvenile Spelling-Book, Reported,
" That they have examined Picket's Juvenile Spelling-
Book, ated find his moire of conveying a knowledge of
the elementary principles of our language correct,
and well calculated for the easy progress of children." •
Report read and accepted.
A true copy of the records.
SAMUEL L. KNAPP, Sec'ry.
From Benjamin Allen, L. r. D. Principal of
Dummer Academy, Byfield, Mass.
Dummer Academy, Nov. 17, ISIO.
I have examined The Juvenile Spelling-Book, and
think it " to comprize the elementary principles of the
English Language, in a plain, concise, and simple
manner, suited to the comprehension of children."
It is a work of much merit—calculated to interest
and amuse the minds of children, and at the same
time to impress them with some of the most important
precepts of morality and Religion.
Believing such a work to deserve the patronage of
the public, I hope it will be generally introduced into
the Schools of our Country.
BENJAMIN ALLEN.
From Mr. John Vose, A. m. Preceptor of Atkinson
Academy, N. H.
Atkinson, Nov. 27, 1810.
Gentlemen,'
1 have with much pleasure perused the "Ju
venile Spelling-Book." The arrangement is happy,
surpassing any thing of the kind I have seen. The
various sounds and powers of the letters are well im
pressed by the reading lessons. Throughout, the au
thor, by easy and gentle movements, leads the little
stranger up the first ascent of erudition.
Pleased with the work, I consider it meritorious, and.
well deserving general introduction into our schools.
I am your very obedient servant,
JOHN VOSE.
E. Little & Co.
True Copy.—Attest,
EPH. N. FARRAR, Sec'ry.
From the Newburyport School Committee.
From the Boston Association of Instructors.
PREFACE.
Haverhill, N. H. Oct. 1810.
EPHRAIM KINGSBURY.