custom of good readers and speakers of the present day.

We should not, as was done in Mr. Walker's time, pronounce the words odious, verdure, virtue, as if written ojious, verjure, virchue; but o-di-ous verd-ure, virt-ue, giving their simple sound to the t and d; t not preceded by s, and soft c are sounded like sh, when followed by ia, ie, and io. Double s is sounded like sh before long u, as issue, assurance, (ishue) (ashurance); and single s in a few words, as sure, sugar, (shure) (shugar), sometimes also like zh as pleasure, treasure, (pleazhure) (treazhure).

EXERCISE 4.

In all probability the destruction of Frontenac facilitated the expedition against Fort du Quesne, entrusted to the conduct of Brigadier Forbes, who with his little army began his march in the beginning of July from Philadelphia to the river Ohio, a prodigious tract of verdure very little known, destitute of military roads, encumbered with mountains, morasses, and woods that were almost impenetrable. It was not without incredible exertion that he procured provisions and carriages, formed new roads, extended scouting parties, secured camps and surmounted many other difficulties in the course of his tedious march, during which he was also harassed by small detachments of the enemy's Indians.

Hume.

FRIENDSHIP.

Then judge yourself and prove your man
As circumspectly as you can,

And having made election,
Beware no negligence of yours,
Such as a friend but ill endures,

Enfeeble his affection.

Pursue the search, and you will find
Good sense and knowledge of mankind,
To be at least expedient,

And after summing all the rest,

Religion ruling in the breast,

A principal ingredient.

Cowper.

Him the Almighty power,

Hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky,
With hideous ruin and combustion, down
To bottomless perdition.

LESSON 5.

ON THE SOUND OF THE FINAL CONSONANTS.

In order to read distinctly, it is necessary to be particularly attentive to the sound of the final consonant, whether the following word commence with a consonant or a vowel. A fault very common with young persons, and careless readers in general,

is the complete omission of the letter d in the word and before a vowel, sounding it as if it were written an. This, when the next word begins with a similar sound, has a very disagreeable effect. For example, an orange an an apple. Another vice is the improper suppression of the letter f before words beginning with th. Instead of "What is the time of the day?" you hear, "What is the time o' the day?" Its omission before the other consonants also is not infrequent. For example, "A sheet o' paper; a train o' camels; a piece o' chalk." This faulty pronunciation arises from a slight difficulty in sounding the combination of consonants brought together in a situation where there is no room for a pause. But it is a difficulty easily overcome by a deliberate articulation. The consonant sounds which terminate sentences or members of sentences where a pause is required, should always be pronounced very distinctly. In order to effect this, the reader should be careful, at every pause on a consonant, especially t and d, to separate the organs so as to let the letter expend itself in a slight vowel sound.

This exercise especially, requires to be practised under the direction of a judicious teacher, otherwise the pupil may fall into the opposite error of giving too theatrical a sound to the final con

sonant.

EXERCISE 5.

FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS.

When the hours of day are numbered,
And the voices of the night

Wake the better soul that slumbered
To a holy calm delight;

Ere the evening lamps are lighted,
And, like phantoms grim and tall,
Shadows from the fitful firelight,
Dance upon the parlour wall;

Then the forms of the departed
Enter at the open door;
The beloved, the true hearted,

Come to visit me once more.

He, the young and strong, who cherished
Noble longings for the strife,

By the road side fell and perished,
Weary with the march of life!

They, the holy ones and weakly
Who the cross of suffering bore,
Folded their pale hands so meekly,
Spake with us on earth no more!

And with them the being beauteous,
Who unto my youth was given,
More than all things else to love me,
And is now a saint in Heaven.

With a slow and noiseless footstep,
Comes that messenger divine;
Takes the vacant chair beside me,
Lays her gentle hand in mine.

And she sits and gazes at me

With those deep and tender eyes;
Like the stars, so still and saint-like,
Looking downward from the skies.

Uttered not, yet comprehended,
Is the spirit's voiceless prayer;
Soft rebukes in blessing ended,
Breathing from her lips of air.

O, though oft depressed and lonely,
All my fears are laid aside,

If I but remember, only

Such as these have lived and died.

Longfellow.

LESSON 6.

ON THE LETTER r.

THE correct sound of this letter, which is to be pronounced according to the rule given in the Third Chapter, is a medium between the forcible pronunciation of the Irish, and the feeble indistinct tone given to it by the inhabitants of the