FIRST LESSONS IN LANGUAGE;

OR,

ELEMENTS

OF

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

BY

DAVID B. TOWER, A. M.,

AND

BENJAMIN F. TWEED, A. M.,

AUTHORS OF GRADUAL LESSONS IN GRAMMAR AND
SEQUEL, AND OF GRAMMAR OF COMPOSITION.

BOSTON:

CROSBY & AINSWORTH.

NEW YORK: OLIVER S. FELT.

1867.

From the North American Review.

Our schools suffer no imposition so egregious as in the cumbrous gram matical text books in common use. They serve no earthly purpose, except to overtask the verbal memory, and to obscure the mental perception of the pupil. The grammar now before us is an honorable exception. Its definitions are as simple as language can make them., and are, in every instance, illus. trated by examples carefully analyzed. Its rules of syntax are few, concise, and comprehensive. It contains no irrelevant matter, and could be studied with interest and profit by an intelligent pupil of seven or eight years of age.

From 8. H. TAYLOR, LL. D., Principal of Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.

It seems to me happily adapted by its simplicity and clearness to make the study of grammar intelligible and profitable even for the child. It is for grammar what "Colburn's First Lessons" is for arithmetic; it makes the principles clear without burdening the mind with the technics. I know of no work so well adapted for those beginning the study of grammar. You have done a valuable service to the young in the preparation of it; and I am confident that you will find a rich reward in the conviction that you have made the study of grammar, which has so often been found perplexing and dis heartening, adapted to the comprehension of the child, as well as attractive and pleasant.

I rejoice at every such successful effort as this in the cause of education.

As to GRAMMARS, it is now getting to be a maxim, that the less a boy has to commit to memory in the way of words about grammar, the better; princi ples he wants, and these he must understand by familiar illustrations, and must fix them in mind, and make them forever his own, by practical applica tion. He must form the habit of writing and speaking correctly by practice alone; it can be done in no other way. Tower's "GRAMMARS" and "COMPOSITION" are based upon this great truth, the foundation of all the usefulness of grammar. Wherever this truth is recognized, the Grammars are hailed with delight, as you may see in the strong notices the universal praise accorded to them. No books ever before received such decided out-spoken commendation.

TOWER'S GRAMMAR is used as a text book in the public schools of Brooklyn N. Y., New York City, Boston, Charlestown, Lowell, Lawrence, New Bedford, &c., &c. Also recommended by the State School Commissioners for New Hampshire, the State School Superintendent of California, &c. Orders are constantly received for it from every state in the Union. No school book before ever went so rapidly and extensively into use. No other has received such universal and decided praise-and this high opinion has been sustained and confirmed by the practical test of the school room. See further notices on the sixth page.

Please read from 11th to 23d page, and circulate the Book and Notices among Teachers.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853.
by DAVID B. TOWER, in the Clerk's Office

of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY