McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader
Category: Children
Genres: Reader
Level 2.05 1:51 h
McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader is the second in the series used to teach young readers. The book uses sentences to help children understand the meaning of words. Students given this text had already built a basis for reading and therefore could use this book's exploratory nature to educate further and incite young readers. The stories are exciting enough to be memorable to help children further understand and even recall them and their learned vocabulary.

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader

Revised Edition

by
William Holmes McGuffey


McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader

Lesson I

news’paper       cold       or’der        seem       through      stock’ings        chat       sto’ry        light       Har’ry       branch’es        kiss       burns       Mrs.    e vents’       an other          Mr.     stool        lamp       mends

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader

EVENING AT HOME.

1. It is winter. The cold wind whistles through the branches of the trees.

2. Mr. Brown has done his day’s work, and his children, Harry and Kate, have come home from school. They learned their lessons well to-day, and both feel happy

3. Tea is over. Mrs. Brown has put the little sitting room in order. The fire burns brightly. One lamp gives light enough for all. On the stool is a basket of fine apples. They seem to say, “Won’t you have one?”

4. Harry and Kate read a story in a new book. The father reads his newspaper, and the mother mends Harry’s stockings.

5. By and by, they will tell one another what they have been reading about, and will have a chat over the events of the day.

6. Harry and Kate’s bedtime will come first. I think I see them kiss their dear father and mother a sweet good night.

7. Do you not wish that every boy and girl could have a home like this?


Lesson II

beauti ful             porch              rain’bow              burst              bub’bles              same              big’gest              sneeze              col’ors              main              soap              wash              red              ma’ny

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader

BUBBLES.

1. The boys have come out on the porch to blow bubbles. The old cat is asleep on the mat by the door.

2. “Ha! ha!” laughs Robert, as a bubble comes down softly on the old cat’s back, and does not burst.

3. Willie tries to make his bubble do the same. This time it comes down on the cat’s face, and makes her sneeze.

4. “She would rather wash her face without soap,” says Harry. “Now let us see who can make the biggest bubble.”

5. “Mine is the biggest,” says Robert. “See how high it floats in the air! I can see — ah! it has burst.”

6. “I can see the house and the trees and the sky in mine,” says Willie; “and such beautiful colors.”

7. “How many, Willie?”

8. “Red, one; blue, two; there — they are all out. Let us try again.”

9. “I know how many colors there are,” says Harry. “Just as many as there are in the rainbow.”

10. “Do you know how many that is?”


Lesson III

rubber               gun                parlor                street                number                ten                oclock’                shoot

WILLIES LETTER.

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader

New York, Dec. 10, 1878
Dear Santa Claus:
Papa is going to give me a Christmas tree, and he says that you will put nice things on it if I ask you. I would like a gun that will shoot, and a rubber ball that I can throw hard, and that will not break Mamma’s windows or the big glass in the parlor. Now, please don't forget to come. I live on Fourth St., number ten. I will go to bed at eight o’clock, and shut my eyes tight. I will not look, indeed I won’t.
Your little boy,
Willie.


Lesson IV

a bove’                world               dark                oft                never                spark                dew                till                dia mond                twinkle                blazing

THE LITTLE STAR.

1. Twinkle, twinkle, little star;
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!

2. When the blazing sun is set,
And the grass with dew is wet,
Then you show your little light;
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

3. Then, if I were in the dark,
I would thank you for your spark.
I could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

4. And when I am sound asleep,
Oft you through my window peep;
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.


Lesson V

be hind’  to geth’er    no’ble  Scotch    Dodg’ er    min’utes      crib      wag’on   ter’ri er    count’ry   scold    fel’low  shag’gy   frisk’i ly     fits   cel’lar    guards        New’found land       yard      har’ness

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader

TWO DOGS.

1. James White has two dogs. One is a Newfoundland dog, and the other is a Scotch terrier.

2. The Newfoundland is a large, noble fellow. He is black, with a white spot, and with long, shaggy hair. His name is Sport.

3. Sport is a good watchdog, and a kind playfellow. Every night he guards the house while James and his father are asleep.

4. In the daytime, James often uses Sport for his horse. He has a little wagon, and a set of small harness which just fits the dog.

5. He hitches Sport to this wagon, and drives over the country. In this way, he can go almost as fast as his father with the old family horse.

6. The name of James's Scotch terrier is Dodger. He is called Dodger because he jumps about so friskily. He is up on a chair, under the table, behind the door, down cellar, and out in the yard, — all in a minute.

7. Dodger has very bright eyes, and he does many funny things. He likes to put his paws up on the crib, and watch the baby.

8. The other day he took baby’s red stocking, and had great fun with it; but he spoiled it in his play, and James had to scold him.

9. Everyone likes to see James White with his two dogs. They always seem very happy together.


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