Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-10
New Publications.
The SECOND PRIMARY RrApER.
The THIRD PRIMARY READER.

lHE THIRD Urinary hEADER
A FOURTH CLASS READER. by G.S. Hillard.
A SECOND CLASS READER, by G. S. Hilhrd.
A FIRST CLASS READER, by G. S. Hillard.
The above is series of reading books from
the entcrprising publishing firm of HIcK-
LING, SWAN & BREWER, in Boston.
The first two, as we learn by a preface
from Mr.. Hillard, were prepared by an e1-
perienced and able teacher, and supervised
by Mr.. Hilard himself.
We cannot do less than express our admi-
ration of the clear and beautiful type and
paper, and the attractive and tasteful wood
cuts Of these books for children. We never
see such nicely got up school books, without
recalling to mind the wretched paper and
type, which were thought to be good enough
for children in our go-to-school days. The
reading lessons seem to us to be made up,
perhaps, as well as possible, and the. little
spelling lessons Of words to be found in each
chapter are appropriate and useful
There are in each one preliminary exercises
on tne souuus Vi letteIe, anu lneir coHoiii
ton in syllables, which will be made useful
by good teacher. We doubt, however,
whether it is really helpful to the pupil to
carry the practice of marking in words, by
italics or otherwise, the several letters whose
sounds are to be particularly regarded, to the
extent that it is In these preliminary lessons.
The pupil must become familiar with the
combinations just as they stand in the books
generally, and the less he Bees of them in a
different shape the better, as we view it. The
teacher can best draw his attention to par
ticular letter in word, if there is any need
of it, The defect, SO far as it is one, is not
one of great moment, however and there are
hardly any school books nowadays, wherein
there is not an attempt to help the pupil, be-
yond what is good for him. These books are
freer from this fault than most others.
The Readers of Mr.. Hillard are for schol-
airs mole advanced that those for which the
preceding volumes are intended. Two of
them, the Fourth Class Reader, and the
Second Class Reader, have Introductory por-
tions of considerable extent, containing varied
exercises and rules in Orthoepy and express
ion. We have not be able to examine those
portions, but cannot doubt that they are we'll
prepared. As for the reading lessons, both
in prose and verse, they show great care and
good taste, and great variety of selection,
such as any one would have a right to expect
from so scholarly a man as MIR. Hillard. We
do not know Of any other volumes better |
adapted for their proper purpose than those.
Young and old can find entertainment and |
benefit from their perusal. They are got up
in excellent style also.
A PRoNouNcrNG SPELLING Book OF the |
English language by j. f. WORCESTER; same
publishers.
To scrutinize a spelling book, (unless it
were a very bad one) to an extent which
would justify decided expression of opinion,
would require much more time than We can
now bestow. An octave volume on most
subjects could be criticised with far les, la
Dor. We see that it indicates much labor in
ts preparation, and is well printed, Con-
'idering its source, We presume it u he
work of merit.