FROM

AMERICAN AUTHORS.

A READING BOOK FOR

SCHOOL AND HOME.

FRANKLIN, ADAMS, COOPER, LONG FELLOW.

EDITED BY

SAMUEL ELIOT,

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BOSTON.

NEW YORK:

TAINTOR BROTHERS, MERRILL & CO.

758 BROADWAY.

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

In many of the reports of prominent school superintendents, which have come to our notice, it is recommended that the series of reading books in use in the schools be supplemented by miscellaneous books of history, poetry, biography, fiction, etc. This growing demand for supplementary reading material for public and private schools, of a different character from what is to be found in any series of school readers, has led to the publication of this volume.

It was more directly suggested by the following, which we quote from the report (1878) of Samuel Eliot, LL. D., Superintendent of Schools, Boston: "We not only want more reading books, but different ones; not readers, not fragments of writings, but writings however brief, a story or a history, a book of travels or a poem, associated as vividly as possible with the author who wrote them."

While many good books might be selected from those already published, nearly all of them contain more or less material not suited to the object in view. It is believed that a book prepared with special reference to school use will be found in every respect better

adapted to the purpose, as well as more available on the score of economy. Dr. Eliot, upon request, kindly consented to select and prepare the material, declining any pecuniary compensation.

It is confidently hoped that his familiarity with the wants of the schools and his thorough knowledge of the best available literature have secured selections acceptable to those who have given special attention to the subject of supplementary reading.

TAINTOR BROTHERS, MERRILL & CO.

NEW YORK, April 25, 1879.