ページの画像
PDF
ePub

XXXVIII. The True To-day. Death's Final Conquest. Essay on
Man. Incentives to Trust. Death of John Quincy
Adams. Peaceable Secession Impossible. Cato's So-
liloquy,

XXXIX. Death of Adams and Jefferson. The Common Lot. Henry

Clay on the Compromise. National Character from

National Recollections,

354

XLVII. Opposition to Misgovernment.

Summer Morning in the

Country. Sun-Setting. The American Forest-Girl.

Toby Tosspot. Andrew Jones,

327

L. On the British Treaty, 1796. Moral Reflections from a View
of Winter. Morning Hymn,

-

363

READING.

LESSON I.

HOW TO READ WELL-ALL DESIRE TO DO SO-FEW EVER DO-REASONS WHY THIS WORK AN EXPERIENCED FRIEND, LEADING TO THE NATURAL AND THE GRACEFUL, IN UTTERANCE AND ACTION.

To read well, is to read as if the words were supplied by the act of present thought, rather than by the page before us; or just as we should speak, if the language and sentiments were our own.

Children, and all persons while engaged in earnest conversation, or telling an interesting story, generally speak in such tones, and with such a degree of animation and force, as are best suited to give a clear expression of their thoughts and feelings. Just so we should read; and if we desire to excel, we must refer constantly to the manner in which sensible and well educated persons talk, as the only safe and correct model.

We must adapt our style to the nature of the composition we are reading, whether it be light and

humorous, or serious and solemn; and endeavor to represent naturally every shade of emotion. If it be a narrative we are reading, our utterance should be the same as if we were relating it in our own language: if a conversation, we should refer with just discrimination to the persons engaged in it; and try to represent, by our tones and manner, the distinct peculiarities of each: if an essay, a sermon, an oration, we should put ourselves, as nearly as we can, in the place of the author, and read just as if the thoughts and words came warm and fresh from their original fountain; and so of every other kind of writing.

Hence the necessity of a quick eye to mark the sense; for no one can read or speak well whose thoughts do not go some way before his utterance. He must understand the subject, and the exact import of all the words; his pronunciation must always be in critical accordance with the best usage; his voice must be cultivated, so as to be flexible, full, forcible and mellow; his ear so instructed, as readily to detect the least deviation from strict propriety of tone; and all his external movements such as to appear natural, easy, and dignified.

Taking these brief outlines for the only correct standard, how rarely do we meet with a truly good reader and yet how seldom do we listen to a person who really thinks himself a poor one! We are in general the last to discover our own faults; and when they are shown to us by the friendly hints and criticisms of others, we are naturally slow to apprehend, and often still slower to acknowledge and to correct them.

« 前へ次へ »