Oh, yes, my son! You have learned it already. You put words in their right place, and use them correctly in talking with me. You do so, because you have imitated your mother and me. You do not know that you use them in the right way. This you have yet to learn. You will learn it easily by observing a few rules, or laws.

I am glad to hear this, said Wilmer. Father, tell me something about these rules, or laws.

I will do so, my son, said Professor Cadmus. Some of them refer to the letters; some of them refer to words; others refer to sentences. Grammar, my son, treats only

of words and sentences.

Father, said Wilmer, I know you can make every thing plain. I wish you would tell me some of the laws of letters and words: some of the laws of spelling. I wish you would also tell me some of the laws by which we arrange and make sentences.

To-morrow evening, said Professor Cadmus, I will tell you something about letters and spelling. Letters make words, words make sentences, and sentences make language.

This closed the conversation; and Wilmer retired, to think about the constitution of the English language.

INSTRUCTION XVIII.

ORTHOGRAPHY,

OR

SPELLING.

HISTORY OF SPELLING.

Professor Cadmus was in the study at the usual hour, and Wilmer at his side. He began at once at the point where he left off the preceding evening.

Have you thought, my son, about orthography? Orthography, father! What is that? asked Wilmer. Oh, I forgot! said the Professor. It was the word, spelling, that I used. Well, orthography means nearly the same thing. It is composed of two Greek words, and means correct writing. It teaches us how to use letters in writing words.

A few remarks, continued Professor Cadmus, about the history of spelling words in the English language, will help you to see what it means.

Father, said Wilmer, you make me happy already.

Professor Cadmus continued: It is only a short time since the orthography, or spelling of English words, has been settled. When the first writers in England began to write their words, they were guided by two things: the speaking of words, and the ear. These were not good guides.

Why? asked Wilmer.

Why do you ask? said Professor Cadmus. Men spoke and heard words in different ways. Patrick and Sandy and Bridget do not speak words as your mother speaks them.

Oh, no! said Wilmer. I see now that the speaking and hearing of words were not good guides.

The history of orthography, or spelling, said Professor Cadmus, is curious. When you are older, Wilmer, you will, no doubt, take pleasure in reading it. I will just notice a few facts, to excite an interest in this history.

The following letter was written by an educated English lady, 250 years ago, to an English nobleman of high rank:

"My ffary gode Lord,-Her I send you, in tokyn hoff the newe year, a glasse of satyl, set in sallfer gyld. I pray

you take it in wort; and hy wer habel het shoulde be bater. I woll hit were wort a m crone."

Wilmer sat silently for a time, gazing at the letter, which his father had handed to him.

You cannot read it, said his father, because the words are not correctly spelled. Turn now to the other page, and you will see the same letter in modern spelling.

Wilmer read aloud:

"My very good Lord,-Here I send you, in token of the new year, a glass of setylla, set in silver gilt. I pray you to take it in worth (or valueless as it is). If I were able, it would be better. I would it were worth a thousand crowns."

This is all very plain, said Wilmer. I wonder how any fine lady could have written such a letter. Such spelling! Yes, said Professor Cadmus, the English language has been so spelled, as to appear to be another language. Little attention was paid to spelling till lately.

The letter which you have seen is only one of the specimens of spelling in former days. Queen Elizabeth, of England, spelled the word, sovereign, seven different ways; and yet she could speak eight languages. Shakspeare, the great poet, spelled his own name two ways; and Leicester, one of the noble courtiers of Queen Elizabeth's days, spelled his name eight ways. The honored name of Villiers is spelled twelve different ways in their family records; and the no less noble name of Percy, in fifteen different ways. Father, you astonish me! How did men learn to spell correctly?

To find it out, said Professor Cadmus, was the labor of years. Several learned men paid attention to this subject; and many books were written about it. At length Dr. Samuel Johnson arose, and almost settled the spelling of words.

STANDARD OF SPELLING.

Dr. Johnson published his large Dictionary of the English Language about one hundred years ago, in 1755. In writing it, he says in his preface, that he proceeded with a scholar's reverence to settle the orthography, or spelling of words. You may read his preface. You will find it in the first volume of his large dictionary.

I will read it to-morrow morning, father. Has the spelling of English words been altered since the year 1755?

Professor Cadmus said that it had been altered a little. Slight changes have occurred since that time. Dr. Johnson did not leave the subject perfect. Many learned men since then have devoted much time to the study of words. Among the great men who have done much since Johnson's days to settle the orthography of words, I may mention Lowth, Elphinstone, Kenwick, Sheridan, Nares, Walker, Reid—all of Great Britain: Webster and Worcester, of the United States.

Father, said Wilmer, you have given me a great deal of information about orthography. If I wish to know how to spell a word, I must look how it is spelled in the dictionary. But in which dictionary shall I look? You have a great many.

Wilmer, said Professor Cadmus, I have a great many dictionaries in my library. I take great pleasure in examining them.

Father, asked Wilmer, shall I look in Webster's dictionary,

when I want to know the correct spelling of words? Is it the best?

You ask a hard question, said Professor Cadmus. Some dictionaries are best for the meaning, some for the pronunciation, others for the spelling, and some for the origin of words. I wish you to consult Webster and Walker, and make them your guide in spelling and defining words. Neither is complete in itself. You will learn all about this when you are older and wiser, and know how and when you should consult them. To-morrow evening, I will tell you more about orthography. In the meantime, think of what you have heard to-night. Think of the history and standard of spelling.

He then

Wilmer rose, and bowing, thanked his father for what he had told him about spelling and dictionaries. retired to read to his mother.

INSTRUCTION XIX.

MORE ABOUT ORTHOGRAPHY OR SPELLING.

GUIDES IN SPELLING ENGLISH WORDS.

Wilmer was gazing at the face of the study clock when it struck seven. In a few minutes, his father entered; and said, he would have been punctual to a minute, but was engaged in telling a story to his mother when the hour arrived.

Let us proceed at once, he continued, to the subject of the evening,—orthography or spelling. We have spoken of its history. We have also spoken of the best standards, Walker and Webster.

Yes, father, said Wilmer, but I should like to know what is to be our guide. You said that the ear was not a good