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XXXVIII. The True To-day. Death's Final Conquest. Essay on
Man. Incentives to Trust. Death of John Quincy
Adams. Peaceable Secession Impossible. Cato's So-
liloquy,

354

READING.

LESSON I.

HOW TO READ WELL-ALL DESIRE TO DO SO-FEW EVER DO-REASONS WHY-THIS WORK AN EXPERIENCED FRIEND, LEADING TO THE NATURAL AND THE GRACEFUL, IN UTTERANCE AND ACTION.

To read well, is to read as if the words were supplied by the act of present thought, rather than by the page before us; or just as we should speak, if the language and sentiments were our own.

Children, and all persons while engaged in earnest conversation, or telling an interesting story, generally speak in such tones, and with such a degree of animation and force, as are best suited to give a clear expression of their thoughts and feelings. Just so we should read; and if we desire to excel, we must refer constantly to the manner in which sensible and well educated persons talk, as the only safe and correct model.

We must adapt our style to the nature of the composition we are reading, whether it be light and

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