of a primary reader are not found in such variety of use and association as to bring them home to the comprehension of children from six to seven years of age. The "Easy Steps" has been so graded as to utilize the stock of words learnt from the "First Reader," and to enlarge the pupils' stock of acquired and assimilated words in such degree as may fit scholars to advance by a solid path to the Second Reader. It is hoped that the pieces in the "Easy Steps" present a freshness and an interest not less welcome than novel. They have been written and chosen with special reference to the feelings and fancies of early childhood, great pains having been taken to secure alluring and instructive readings without sacrificing simplicity either of thought or expression. The words that stand as vocabularies at the head of each lesson should first be pronounced by the teacher. Then attention should be called to the meaning of the words as determined by use and association with the context. Lastly, the words may serve as spelling lessons. ID you ever hear of 2. Crusoe was a sailor. He was wrecked on a lone island far, far away over the sea. There he lived all alone, many long, weary years. 3. He had no one to speak to, no one to love him, no one to take care of him when he was ill, no one to do anything at all for him. 4. He had to build his own house; sow, and reap, and grind his corn; cook his food, and make his tables and chairs, pots and pans, plates and dishes. 5. He had to make and mend his own his of wild goats, which he shot with gun. And very odd he looked, in this strange dress, hat, shoes, and all, made of goat's skin. I think you would stare very hard if you saw a man walking down the street in such a dress. 6. I said Crusoe was all alone. Ah, but he was not quite alone; for he caught some wild goats and made them tame. These gave him nice, warm milk every day. 7. Then he had a dog which knew almost everything his master said to him. You |