Animation is the life of expression. You should never read or speak, even upon the most ordinary occasions, in a listless, meaningless, colorless manner. Words are symbols of thought and feeling, and should, therefore, be exprest with life and vivacity. The more vividly you picture to yourself what you read, the clearer and more forceful it is likely to be to your hearers. Let your constant aim in reading be to enter into the inner spirit of the selection, and to interpret the author's meaning by putting yourself in his place. Half-hearted effort is incompatible with proper expression. Good reading demands not only intelligence, but sympathy and enthusiasm. Cultivate mental alertness in all your speaking; know what you are about; concentrate your mind upon the particular passage you are reading; and constantly bear in mind that animation is the soul of expression. EXAMPLES FOR PRACTISE 1. A railroad train was rushing along at almost lightning speed. A curve was just ahead, beyond which was a station at which the cars usually passed each other. The conductor was late, so late that the period during which the town train was to wait had nearly elapsed; but he hoped yet to pass the curve safely. Suddenly a locomotive dashed into sight right ahead. In an instant there was a collision. A shriek, a shock, and fifty souls were in eternity; and all because an engineer had been behind time. "Behind Time." FREEMAN HUNT. 2. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. "Psalm 98:4-9." THE BIBLE. 3. Who but the locksmith could have made such music? A gleam of sun shining through the unsashed window and checkering the dark workshop with a broad patch of light, fell full upon him, as tho attracted by his sunny heart. There he stood working at his anvil, his face radiant with exercise and gladness, his sleeves turned up, his wig pushed off his shining forehead-the easiest, freest, happiest man in all the world. Beside him sat a sleek cat, purring and winking in the light, and falling every now and then into an idle doze, as from excess of comfort. The very locks that hung around had something jovial in their rust, and seemed like gouty gentlemen of hearty natures, disposed to joke on their infirmities. "The Cheerful Locksmith." CHARLES DICKENS. 4. Advance, then, ye future generations! We would hail you, as you rise, in your long succession, to fill the places which we now fill, and to taste the blessings of existence where we are passing, and shall soon have passed our own human duration. We bid you welcome to the healthful skies and the verdant fields of New England. We greet your accession to the great inheritance which we have enjoyed. We welcome you to the blessings of good government and religious liberty. We welcome you to the treasures of science and the delights of learning. We welcome you to the transcendent sweets of domestic life, to the happiness of kindred, and parents, and children. We welcome you to the immeasurable blessings of rational existence, the immortal hope of Christianity, and the light of everlasting truth. DANIEL WEBSTER. "The Religious Character of the Origin of New England." 5. Away then they dashed, through thick and thin, stones flying and sparks flashing at every bound. An opening in the trees now cheered him with the hopes that the church bridge was at hand. The wavering reflection of a silver star in the bosom of the brook told him that he was not mistaken. "If I can but reach that bridge," thought Ichabod, "I am safe." Just then he heard the black steed panting and blowing close behind him; he even fancied that he felt his hot breath. Another convulsive kick in the ribs, and old Gunpowder sprang upon the bridge; he thundered over the resounding planks; he gained the opposite side; and now Ichabod cast a look behind to see if his pursuer should vanish, according to rule, in a flash of fire and brimstone. Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but too late. It encountered his cranium with a tremendous crash. He was tumbled headlong into the dust, and Gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider passed by like a whirlwind. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." WASHINGTON IRVING. SIXTH LESSON PART 1. DRILL 1. Physical Culture. Extend both arms straight out at sides, the fists clenched; then swing the arms vigorously in circles from front to rear, keeping the rest of the body as still as possible, and the chest well expanded. Breathe deeply and regularly. 2. Deep Breathing. Bend forward slightly from the waist. Inhale a deep breath through the nostrils, direct the will to the muscles of the back and expand it as much as possible. Exhale deeply and fully through the nostrils. 3. Voice Exercise. Repeat the sounds a, e, i, o, u, directing each tone clearly and precisely toward a distant point. This projecting of the voice should be practised in both soft and loud tones. The aim throughout should be to acquire freedom, depth, and elasticity of voice. Speak to some one in the distance, without elevating the pitch of your voice. 4. Articulation. Repeat the following elements clearly and firmly: ip▬▬▬▬it▬▬▬▬▬▬ik—ip—ik—it—ik—ip—it ib-id- -ig- -ib- -ig- -id-ig -ib-id ib—ik—ik—it—ip id-ib-ibig-id-ibig-id-ib |