Etext prepared by Dianne Bean of Phoenix, Arizona. The book

contained diacritical markings, music notations, and samples ofhandwriting, which have been omitted in this ascii etext. Therewere several torn pages which are noted by [missing words]. Ifyou have a good copy and would like to fill in the blanks or addthe engravings to this etext, please contact Project Gutenberg.

THE NEW MCGUFFEY FIRST READER

PREFACE

The New McGuffey First Reader has been prepared inconformity with the latest and most approved ideas regardingthe teaching of reading, and its lessons embody and illustratethe best features of the word, the phonic, and the sentence orthought methods.

While all the stories in this book are new, or have beenrewritten especially for its pages, care has been taken topreserve the distinguishing characteristics which have givento the McGuffey Readers their unparalleled popularity andusefulness.

The gradation both in thought and in words has been carefullymaintained, and the work provided enables the pupilsto advance by easy and evenly progressive stages from thebeginning to the end.

Only a few new words are introduced at each lesson, andthese are repeated frequently in succeeding lessons until thepupils are able to recognize them without difficulty.

From the first lesson script is presented in connection withthe printed forms of words, the frequency of its use diminishingas the printed forms become more familiar.

The sounds of the letters are taught, in the order of thealphabet, by appropriate exercises after the various readinglessons. The phonic elements and the common diacriticalmarks are learned one at a time and in a manner that is bothnatural and easy.

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A a N n
B b O o
C c P p
D d Q q
E e R r
F f S s
G g T t
H h U u
I i V v
J j W w
K k X x
L l Y y
M m Z z

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FIRST READER

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a boy I see

boy I see a boy

I see a boy

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girl can and the girl

I see a girl.

I see a boy.

I see a boy and a girl.

The boy can see the girl.

I can see the girl and the boy.

I can see the girl.

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man has hat run

See the man!

See the boy and the man!

The man has a hat.

Has the boy a hat?

The boy can run.

Can the man run?

The man can see the boy run.

a man can has hat a

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doll have my

I have a hat.

I have a doll.

See my doll!

Can the doll see?

I can see my doll.

Has the doll a hat?

My doll has a hat.

The girl has a doll and a hat.

a can has hat have a

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play may take ball

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