A series intended to create and foster a taste

for good reading

CHOICE LITERATURE

BOOK TWO

FOR INTERMEDIATE GRADES

COMPILED AND ARRANGED

BY

SHERMAN WILLIAMS

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, GLENS FALLS, N.Y.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

LEL AND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSIT

BUTLER, SHELDON & COMPANY

PHILADELPHIA NEW YORK CHICAGO

BOSTON

CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER once said, "To teach a child to read, and not teach it what to read, is to put a dangerous weapon into its hands."

There can be no doubt as to the truth of this statement. High schools now very generally have courses in reading and literature; but the great majority of pupils never reach the high school, and those who do have formed a taste for reading before that period,- very often a taste for reading that is decidedly bad, and only occasionally for that which is really excellent; so that in this particular the work of the high school becomes largely that of reformation, instead of formation, -a very difficult work that need not have been necessary.

This procedure utterly ignores the needs, so far as the study of literature is concerned, of ninety per cent of the pupils, and begins the work too late with the others. To some extent desultory work is being done in many primary and grammar schools, through the use of supplementary readers; but this cannot be very effective in forming a taste for good reading, because the expense necessary to provide a sufficient amount and variety of books will be so great that few schools can meet it, and still fewer will. Too often the supplementary readers used are intended merely to furnish information. As a result of this condition of affairs, with the exception of here and there a school, no effective effort is being made to create and foster a taste for good literature in grades below the high school. Much supplementary reading is being used, but there seems to be no clearly defined plan, no definite end aimed at.

This is probably due to the fact that there is no series

of readers well adapted to the carrying on of this work. The compiler of this series has attempted to meet this want. The selections are carefully made and graded, and are believed to be those suited to the age and maturity of the pupils for whom they are intended. They are all good of their kind, and it is believed that the selection of trashy matter on the one hand, or matter beyond the comprehension of the pupil on the other, has been avoided.

Each volume of the series has been made with a definite purpose in view, and in each will appear a brief statement in regard to the selections made and the end aimed at. There will be such notes and explanations as seem to be necessary. This series can be used to excellent advantage in teaching children how to read, but it should be borne in mind that the primary purpose of the series is to teach what to read, to create and foster a taste for good literature; therefore many selections for which room cannot be found will be suggested, to aid in directing the out-of-school reading of the pupils. It is hoped that teachers will encourage pupils to form little libraries of their own. Many suggestions will be Imade that will aid in such a work.

The selections from Longfellow, Whittier, Stowe, Holmes, and Lowell are made by arrangement with and permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co., the authorized publishers of the writings of these authors. Thanks are also extended to G. P. Putnam's Sons for permission to use selections from Irving; to Edmund Clarence Stedman for permission to use "Pan in Wall Street "; to Charles Scribner's Sons for the use of a selection from Miss Dodge; to Lee and Shepard for the use of Julia Ward Howe's "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

TO THE READER

IT is not wise for you to be governed in your selections for reading solely by your likes and dislikes. In school you study those subjects that are believed to be of most value, either because of the discipline given or knowledge obtained. Your reading should be done on the same plan. The world has passed judgment on books that have been long issued, and there are many of which you cannot afford to be ignorant if you are to pass for an intelligent and educated person. There are many kinds of literature that you will have to learn to like, just as you have learned to like many other things that were at first distasteful. It is largely a matter of habit. For that matter, education is chiefly the acquisition of habits. Certainly success or failure in life depends more on one's habits than anything else. We can learn to like almost anything in life and in literature, and it is well worth while to put forth some effort to learn to like the best. You will do this little by little. It must be a growth. It may be a slow growth. But some day, if you persist, you will be surprised to find yourself reading, with real pleasure, that which not very long before you felt sure you could never enjoy.

As a rule, we like those things which we can do well, and when you can read with understanding that which the world has pronounced good, you will generally do so with pleasure.