McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader

How it opens

The exercises are still suitable, and perhaps more helpful than some contemporary alternatives. Much is left to the teacher. Explanations given in the text are enough to get started teaching a child to read and write. Counting in Roman numerals is included as a bonus in the form of lesson numbers.…

Details

• AuthorWilliam Holmes McGuffey
• SourceProject Gutenberg #16751
• Length137,605 words · 9h 10m of reading
• Chapters251
• DictionaryIncluded
• CopyrightPublic domain in the United States
• Source checked2026-08-28

Contents

251 chapters

Recovered from the original source text, so you can open the book at any of them.

1. 01The section numbers are decimal in the Table of Contents but are in Roman Numerals in the body.
2. 02NEW YORK-CHICHESTER-BRISBANE-SINGAPORE-TORONTO
3. 03Preface (3)
4. 04SELECTIONS FOR READING. (5)
5. 05ALPHABETICAL LIST OF AUTHORS. (9)
6. 06INTRODUCTION. (11)
7. 07I. ARTICULATION. (11)
8. 08ELEMENTARY SOUNDS. (12)
9. 09VOCALS. (12)
10. 10Sound as in
11. 11SUBVOCALS AND ASPIRATES (13)
12. 12Subvocals. as in
13. 13Aspirates. as in
14. 14SUBSTITUTES. (14)
15. 15FAULTS TO BE REMEDIED. (15)
16. 16CORRECT INCORRECT
17. 17CORRECT INCORRECT
18. 18EXERCISES. (16)
19. 19EXAMPLE (16)
20. 20EXERCISES. (17)
21. 21Correct is improperly pronounced
22. 22EXERCISE
23. 23EXAMPLES
24. 24EXERCISES. (18)
25. 25II. INFLECTION. (18)
26. 26EXAMPLES. (19)
27. 27FALLING INFLECTION. (21)
28. 28EXAMPLES. (21)
29. 29EXAMPLES. (21)
30. 30EXAMPLES. (22)
31. 31EXAMPLE. (22)
32. 32EXAMPLES. (22)
33. 33RISING INFLECTION. (23)
34. 34EXAMPLES. (23)
35. 35EXAMPLES. (23)
36. 36EXAMPLES. (24)
37. 37EXAMPLES. (24)
38. 38EXAMPLE. (24)
39. 39EXAMPLES. (25)
40. 40EXAMPLES. (25)
41. 41EXAMPLES. (25)
42. 42EXAMPLES. (25)
43. 43RISING AND FALLING INFLECTIONS. (26)
44. 44EXAMPLES. (26)
45. 45EXAMPLES. (27)
46. 46EXAMPLES. (27)
47. 47EXAMPLES. (27)
48. 48OF SERIES. (28)
49. 49EXAMPLE. (28)
50. 50EXAMPLE. (28)
51. 51EXAMPLES. (28)
52. 52EXAMPLES. (29)
53. 53EXAMPLES. (29)
54. 54EXAMPLES (30)
55. 55EXAMPLES. (30)
56. 56PARENTHESIS. (30)
57. 57EXAMPLES. (30)
58. 58CIRCUMFLEX. (31)
59. 59EXAMPLES. (31)
60. 60MONOTONE. (32)
61. 61EXAMPLES. (32)
62. 62III. ACCENT AND EMPHASIS. (33)
63. 63EXAMPLES. (33)
64. 64EXAMPLES. (33)
65. 65SECONDARY ACCENT. (34)
66. 66EMPHASIS. (34)
67. 67ABSOLUTE EMPHASIS. (35)
68. 68EXAMPLES. (35)
69. 69RELATIVE EMPHASIS. (35)
70. 70EXAMPLES. (35)
71. 71EMPHASIS AND ACCENT. (37)
72. 72EXAMPLES. (37)
73. 73EMPHASIS AND INFLECTION. (37)
74. 74EXAMPLES. (37)
75. 75EMPHATIC PHRASE. (38)
76. 76EXAMPLES. (38)
77. 77EMPHATIC PAUSE. (39)
78. 78EXAMPLES. (39)
79. 79IV. INSTRUCTIONS FOR READING VERSE. (39)
80. 80EXERCISES IN INFLECTION. (40)
81. 81ACCENT AND EMPHASIS. (41)
82. 82EXAMPLE. (41)
83. 83EXAMPLES. (42)
84. 84POETIC PAUSES. (43)
85. 85EXAMPLES. (44)
86. 86SIMILE. (44)
87. 87EXAMPLES. (45)
88. 88V. THE VOICE. (46)
89. 89EXAMPLES IN PITCH (46)
90. 90Medium Pitch. (47)
91. 91Low Pitch. (48)
92. 92QUANTITY AND QUALITY. (49)
93. 93LONG QUANTITY. (49)
94. 94MEDIUM QUANTITY. (50)
95. 95SHORT QUANTITY. (51)
96. 96MOVEMENT. (51)
97. 97SLOW MOVEMENT. (52)
98. 98MODERATE MOVEMENT. (52)
99. 99QUICK MOVEMENT. (53)
100. 100Passion and Grief
101. 101Plaintive
102. 102Calm
103. 103Fierce Anger
104. 104Loud and Explosive
105. 105VI. GESTURE. (55)
106. 106ELOCUTION AND READING. (57)
107. 107ON MODULATION. (59)
108. 108MCGUFFEY'S SIXTH READER. (63)
109. 109II. THE NEEDLE. (67)
110. 110III. DAWN. (68)
111. 111IV. DESCRIPTION OF A STORM. (70)
112. 112V. AFTER THE THUNDERSTORM. (72)
113. 113VI. HOUSE CLEANING. (73)
114. 114VII. SCHEMES OF LIFE OFTEN ILLUSORY. (78)
115. 115VIII. THE BRAVE OLD OAK. (81)
116. 116IX. THE ARTIST SURPRISED. (82)
117. 117X. PICTURES OF MEMORY. (88)
118. 118XI. THE MORNING ORATORIO. (90)
119. 119XII. SHORT SELECTIONS IN POETRY. (94)
120. 120III. A GOOD NAME. (95)
121. 121V. OLD AGE AND DEATH. (95)
122. 122VI. MILTON. (96)
123. 123XIII. DEATH OF LITTLE NELL. (96)
124. 124XIV. VANITY OF LIFE. (100)
125. 125XV. A POLITICAL PAUSE. (102)
126. 126XVI. MY EXPERIENCE IN ELOCUTION. (104)
127. 127XVII. ELEGY IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD. (108)
128. 128XVIII. TACT AND TALENT. (113)
129. 129XIX. SPEECH BEFORE THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION. (115)
130. 130XX: THE AMERICAN FLAG. (119)
131. 131XXI. IRONICAL EULOGY ON DEBT. (121)
132. 132XXII. THE THREE WARNINGS. (124)
133. 133XXIII. THE MEMORY OF OUR FATHERS. (128)
134. 134XXIV. SHORT SELECTIONS IN PROSE. (130)
135. 135II. LAS CASAS DISSUADING FROM BATTLE. (130)
136. 136III. ACTION AND REPOSE. (131)
137. 137IV. TIME AND CHANGE. (131)
138. 138V. THE POET. (132)
139. 139VI. MOUNTAINS. (132)
140. 140XXV. THE JOLLY OLD PEDAGOGUE. (133)
141. 141XXVI. THE TEACHER AND SICK SCHOLAR. (135)
142. 142XXVII. THE SNOW SHOWER. (141)
143. 143XXVIII. CHARACTER OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. (143)
144. 144XXIX. NAPOLEON AT REST. (146)
145. 145XXX. WAR. (148)
146. 146XXXI. SPEECH OF WALPOLE IN REPROOF OF MR. PITT. (151)
147. 147XXXII. PITT'S REPLY TO SIR ROBERT WALPOLE. (152)
148. 148XXXIII. CHARACTER OF MR. PITT. (154)
149. 149XXXIV. THE SOLDIER'S REST. (156)
150. 150XXXV. HENRY V. TO HIS TROOPS. (158)
151. 151XXXVI. SPEECH OF PAUL ON MARS HILL. (160)
152. 152XXXVII. GOD IS EVERYWHERE. (161)
153. 153XXXVIII. LAFAYETTE AND ROBERT RAIKES. (163)
154. 154XXXIX. FALL OF CARDINAL WOLSEY. (167)
155. 155XL. THE PHILOSOPHER. (171)
156. 156XLI. MARMION AND DOUGLAS. (176)
157. 157XLII. THE PRESENT. (178)
158. 158XLIII. THE BAPTISM. (180)
159. 159XLIV. SPARROWS. (185)
160. 160XLV. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. (186)
161. 161XLVI. GOD'S GOODNESS TO SUCH AS FEAR HIM. (189)
162. 162XLVII. CHARACTER OF COLUMBUS. (192)
163. 163XLVIII. "HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP." (195)
164. 164XLIX. DESCRIPTION OF A SIEGE. (197)
165. 165L. MARCO BOZZARIS. (202)
166. 166LI. SONG OF THE GREEK BARD. (205)
167. 167LII. NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. (209)
168. 168LIII. LOCHIEL'S WARNING. (211)
169. 169LIV. ON HAPPINESS OF TEMPER. (215)
170. 170LV. THE FORTUNE TELLER. (218)
171. 171LVI. RIENZI'S ADDRESS TO THE ROMANS. (221)
172. 172LVIII. LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS. (226)
173. 173LIX. NECESSITY OF EDUCATION. (228)
174. 174LX. RIDING ON A SNOWPLOW. (231)
175. 175LXI. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. (234)
176. 176LXII. THE QUACK. (238)
177. 177LXIII. RIP VAN WINKLE. (242)
178. 178LXIV. BILL AND JOE. (246)
179. 179LXV. SORROW FOR THE DEAD. (249)
180. 180LXVI. THE EAGLE. (251)
181. 181LXVII. POLITICAL TOLERATION. (253)
182. 182LXVIII. WHAT CONSTITUTES A STATE? (255)
183. 183LXIX. THE BRAVE AT HOME. (256)
184. 184LXX. SOUTH CAROLINA. (257)
185. 185LXXI. MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTH CAROLINA. (259)
186. 186LXXII. THE CHURCH SCENE FROM EVANGELINE. (262)
187. 187LXXIII. SONG OF THE SHIRT. (266)
188. 188LXXIV. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. (269)
189. 189LXXV. THANATOPSIS. (275)
190. 190LXXVI. INDIAN JUGGLERS. (278)
191. 191LXXVII. ANTONY OVER CAESAR'S DEAD BODY. (281)
192. 192LXXVIII. THE ENGLISH CHARACTER. (286)
193. 193LXXIX. THE SONG OF THE POTTER. (290)
194. 194LXXX. A HOT DAY IN NEW YORK. (292)
195. 195LXXXI. DISCONTENT.--AN ALLEGORY. (295)
196. 196LXXXII. JUPITER AND TEN. (301)
197. 197Sir R. Sauerkraut, you old crab
198. 198LXXXIV. MY MOTHER'S PICTURE. (310)
199. 199LXXXV. DEATH OF SAMSON. (312)
200. 200LXXXVI. AN EVENING ADVENTURE. (315)
201. 201LXXXVII. THE BAREFOOT BOY. (317)
202. 202LXXXVIII. THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS. (321)
203. 203LXXXIX. THE FOLLY OF INTOXICATION. (322)
204. 204XC. STARVED ROCK. (325)
205. 205XCI. PRINCE HENRY AND FALSTAFF. (327)
206. 206XCII. STUDIES. (332)
207. 207XCIII. SURRENDER OF GRANADA. (334)
208. 208XCIV. HAMLET'S SOLILOQUY. (339)
209. 209XCV. GINEVRA. (340)
210. 210XCVI. INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES. (344)
211. 211XCVII. ENOCH ARDEN AT THE WINDOW. (347)
212. 212XCVIII. LOCHINVAR. (350)
213. 213XCIX. SPEECH ON THE TRIAL OF A MURDERER. (352)
214. 214C. THE CLOSING YEAR. (355)
215. 215CI. A NEW CITY IN COLORADO. (358)
216. 216CII. IMPORTANCE OF THE UNION. (362)
217. 217CIII. THE INFLUENCES OF THE SUN. (364)
218. 218CIV. COLLOQUIAL POWERS OF FRANKLIN. (366)
219. 219CV. THE DREAM OF CLARENCE. (368)
220. 220CVI. HOMEWARD BOUND. (371)
221. 221CVII. IMPEACHMENT OF WARREN HASTINGS. (375)
222. 222CX. A VIEW OF THE COLOSSEUM. (389)
223. 223CXI. THE BRIDGE. (392)
224. 224CXII. OBJECTS AND LIMITS OF SCIENCE. (394)
225. 225CXIII. THE DOWNFALL OF POLAND. (396)
226. 226CXIV. LABOR. (398)
227. 227CXV. THE LAST DAYS OF HERCULANEUM. (401)
228. 228CXVI. HOW MEN REASON. (405)
229. 229CXVII. THUNDERSTORM ON THE ALPS. (408)
230. 230CXVIII. ORIGIN OF PROPERTY. (410)
231. 231CXIX. BATTLE OF WATERLOO. (415)
232. 232CXX. "WITH BRAINS, SIR." (417)
233. 233CXXI. THE NEW ENGLAND PASTOR. (419)
234. 234CXXII. DEATH OF ABSALOM. (420)
235. 235CXXIII. ABRAHAM DAVENPORT. (424)
236. 236CXXIV. THE FALLS OF THE YOSEMITE. (426)
237. 237CXXV. A PSALM OF LIFE. (429)
238. 238CXXVI. FRANKLIN'S ENTRY INTO PHILADELPHIA. (431)
239. 239CXXVII. LINES TO A WATERFOWL. (434)
240. 240CXXVIII. GOLDSMITH AND ADDISON. (435)
241. 241II. ADDISON. (436)
242. 242CXXIX. IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. (438)
243. 243CXXX. CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON. (440)
244. 244CXXXI. EULOGY ON WASHINGTON. (444)
245. 245CXXXII. THE SOLITARY REAPER. (446)
246. 246CXXXIII. VALUE OF THE PRESENT. (447)
247. 247CXXXIV. HAPPINESS. (451)
248. 248CXXXV. MARION. (453)
249. 249CXXXVI. A COMMON THOUGHT. (456)
250. 250CXXXVII. A DEFINITE AIM IN READING. (457)
251. 251CXXXVIII. ODE TO MT. BLANC. (462)

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