where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

PUBLISHED BY

W. D. TICKNOR & CO. AND T. R. MARVIN,

BOSTON.

1. MY LITTLE PRIMER. This small book presents to the eye of the child, for his first lessons, whole words instead of single letters; the words being such as are already familiar to his ear and tongue. To these his attention may be exclusively directed for some time; or, having been taught to read but a few words, the next step may be taken-that of teaching him the names and powers of the letters which compose them. In this way, in the course of the earlier lessons, he will learn the whole alphabet. While the new method is in form but a slight variation from the old, in character it is essentially different; for by it the rudiments of reading become intelligible and interesting.

"Follow the order of nature in teaching, whenever it can be discovered. This is only admitting that God is wiser than man, and that all our processes may be improved by a study of his works. The method of learning to read by words first instead of letters, is suggested by this rule."-The School master, by G. B. Emerson.

2. MY FIRST SCHOOL-BOOK. Its plan is, in many respects, entirely original. The columns of words are so composed as to awaken pleasurable thought. The words are grouped according to their natural affinities; such as the members of the body, articles of dress, furniture, &c. The reading lessons are pleasing, and peculiarly well adapted to the infant mind.

3. SECOND READING-BOOK in the Primary School, designed to follow the Reading Lessons of My First School-Book."

4. THIRD READING-BOOK in the Primary School.

An indispensable quality of a Primary school reading book is its adjustment to the power of the learner-to his ability not merely to pronounce the words, but also to give them vitality and beauty, by expressing the thoughts and feelings which they are intended to convey. The lessons therefore, should be those which can be made intelligible to the child, and in which he can take a lively interest. Their scenes and language should be so natural and vivid, so identified with his own knowledge, conceptions, and feelings, that while reading from the book, he shall seem to himself, and to others also, to be giving utterance to that only which is fresh from his own mind and heart. In addition to this, in selecting and preparing the materials for the present books, the aim has been to have them furnish a suitable variety of exercises in every department of juvenile elocution; and thus to aid the young learner, as well as the printed page can do it, in becoming an accomplished young reader.

5. SPELLING AND THINKING COMBINED; or, the SpellingBook made a Medium of Thought.

"How do you teach spelling? Cannot the NONSENSE COLUMNS in Spelling-books be dispensed with? * * * In every stage we should avoid, as the bane of good habits of thought, the common use of the nonsense columns of a spelling book. Nothing more pernicious could be contrived. The use of them prevents thinking, without teaching to spell."-The Schoolmaster, by G B. Emerson.

6. TABLE FOR USE IN TRAINING THE ORGANS OF SPEECH IN ARTICULATION. A large sheet, about five feet square, intended to be attached to the wall of a school-room. The Table is so constructed that, with only a small number of words, every combination of elementary sounds is represented.

7. THE BLACK-BOARD IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL. A Manual for Teachers, to illustrate some valuable Methods of interesting and instructing young Children.

"Perhaps ingenuity has seldom, if ever, rendered a greater service to mankind, than when it turned a few feet of deal board and a little black paint, into one of the most effective of all instruments for the rapid and vivid communication of knowledge."-Horace Mann.

TESTIMONY OF TEACHERS WHO HAVE USED THE BOOKS.

The following remarks are taken from various reports, and other communications, made by Primary School Teachers of Boston.

By a Teacher in District No. 1.

"My First School-Book contains such a collection of familiar words, enabling a child to associate the object itself with its name, that spelling is rendered more attractive than it was wont to be. In Spelling and Thinking Combined, the classification of the derivatives with their primitives conduces to make spelling and pronunciation correct, by fixing the variations more firmly in the mind. The natural and attractive arrangement of useful and valuable items contained in this book, together with the plans proposed to awaken thought, and incite interest, make it an efficient helper in the pathway to knowledge. The reading lessons are all that could be desired to interest and instruct."

By a Teacher in District 6.

"Mr. Bumstead's books are in my opinion better adapted for our primary schools, than any others now in use within my knowledge. The mode of instruction recommended in them is practicable and well suited to the capacities of small children, and the books are well calculated to interest them."

By a Teacher in District 1.

"The books My Little Primer, My First School-Book, and Spelling and Thinking Combined, are, I think, such as will receive the approbation of every teacher. I can say that I have never had a book the method of which has been so successful as that contained in these books. Having been a teacher in private schools I have had an opportunity of knowing the plans of other books, particularly that of teaching the letters without any connection with words. This is not only very tedious for the teacher, but also for the scholar. The new plan I have found to be a great relief to both instructer and children, and the author of these books I must consider as “A friend of mine."

By a Teacher in District 13.

"In my own school, and in others so far as my knowledge extends, these school books have been introduced with perfect success. We find them in every respect adapted to the age and wants of those for whom they are designed."

By a Teacher in District

"I know of no books so well adapted to the wants of children in their first lessons, as My Little Primer and My First School-Book. The columns are composed of easy, familiar words, so that the child becomes master of the alphabet before he is aware that it is dull A B C."

By a Teacher in District 12.

"I highly approve My First School-Book, and, also, Spelling and Thinking Combined. I think the way in which they are prepared is calculated to teach the children to spell more readily, and to give them a better idea of spelling, than any other books with which I am acquainted. The words being undivided assist the children in learning to read."

By a Teacher in District 11.

"Of the various books I have ever used, these I consider as the most interesting and useful. The scholars are interested because while learning to read the words they understand their meaning."

By a Teacher in District 16.

"I think them perfectly adapted to the wants of the schools for which they are designed; and I feel assured that in my school the children have much improved in spelling since their introduction. The reading lessons are so simple and interesting that the scholars instead of being wearied with the exercises, are usually anxious to proceed."

By a Teacher in District 13.

"I think that the books prepared by Mr. Bumstead are peculiarly adapted to the successful teaching of young children. With them I have been enabled to advance children much more rapidly, and with far less labor, than with any other series of books which 1 have used."

By a Teacher in District 17.

"I am pleased with these books, and I think that with them the children of my school have improved more rapidly than they did under the old system of teaching the elements of reading."

By a Teacher in District 8.

"I would express my approbation of these school books, for I have used them with great success, and I feel highly indebted to their author for his judgment and care in preparing them. All teachers of the young, I think, cannot fail of finding in these books invaluable assistants in their arduous, yet not unpleasant, labors."

By a Teacher in District 14.

"I am happy in expressing my conviction of the superiority of these books over any which I have heretofore used or seen. I admire the method by which the pupils are to learn from them, for I think it is calculated to interest as well as to instruct."

By a Teacher in District 8.

"I regard these as the best books I have ever used. The selection of words is of the most intelligible and useful character. The interest which my scholars manifest in their spelling lessons, and the facility with which they acquire the reading lessons, is very gratifying.'

By a Teacher in District 1.

"These books have been used with success in the school under my care; and were I at liberty to select for myself a set of books for the instruction of my pupils, those now in use would be my choice."