HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE




PREFACE

This Reader is intended more particularly for pupils in Class A of the
public evening schools.

The pupils of this class may be considered as having passed the
transition stage of which mention was made in the Second Reader, and as
having entered upon the last stage in acquiring the English language.

They have not only acquired a considerable vocabulary, but have now a
practical mastery of our vernacular. They use English in their
conversation; in short, they have acquired the power of expressing
their feelings and thoughts in the English language. Notwithstanding
all this, they are conscious of the fact that their _language_ is less
idiomatic than that of the native born, and their power over the
written expression is wofully weak.

To remedy these defects, they flock to the evening schools. They have
decided to make this country their permanent home, and they are deeply
interested in everything appertaining to our government, our
institutions, our literature, in fact our civilization.

A glance at the contents of this reader will convince the experienced
teacher that the reading material is many-sided enough to satisfy the