TO THE NATIONAL SPELLING-BOOKS, WITH EASY AND PROGRESSIVE READING LESSONS; FOR THE USE OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS. NEW EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. BY B. D. EMERSON, AUTHOR OF THE NATIONAL SPELLING-BOOKS. BOSTON: RUSSELL, SHATTUCK, & CO. KC 10836 HARVARD Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1836, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. NOTICE. In consequence of the increasing use of the New National Spelling-Book, the author has thought best to revise this work; and by adding a few pages and making slight alteration in a few others, to render it a suitable introduction to both his Spelling-Books. In doing which none of the reading exercises have been altered, and so inconsiderable were the changes necessary to be made in the spelling columns, that teachers will experience little or no inconvenience in using this improved edition in the same class with former editions of this book. STEREOTYPED BY SHEPARD, OLIVER, AND CQ. INTRODUCTION. In the English language, there are twenty-six letters; they are divided into vowels and consonants. A vowel is a simple sound of itself. The vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. A consonant has no sound independent of its union with a vowel. The consonants are b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z, and sometimes w and y. A diphthong is the union of two vowels, pronounced together, so as to make one syllable. A triphthong the union of three vowels. A proper diphthong has both the vowels sounded. An improper diphthong has but one of the vowels sounded. Of the Vowels. A has five sounds;-1. as heard in fate, nåtion;-2. as heard in tår, fåther;-3. as heard in båll, fåll;-4. as heard in fắn, fåtten ;—5. as heard in wåd, wanton. E has two sounds;-1. as heard in me, here;-2. as heard in met, tendril. I has two sounds;-1. as heard in time, fineness;-2. as heard in pin, dinner. O has five sounds;-1. as heard in no, notion;2. as heard in move, lose ;—3. as heard in når, forfeit ;—4, as heard in nốt, yonder;-5. as heard in good, wolf. U has four sounds;-1. as heard in cure, måte ; -2. as heard in tåb, buffet;-3. as heard in båll, fålness;-4. as heard in rule, truly. |