E-text prepared by Internet Archive, University of Florida, David Garcia,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team



Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
      file which includes the original illustrations.
      See 11065-h.htm or 11065-h.zip:
      (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/0/6/11065/11065-h/11065-h.htm)
      or
      (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/1/0/6/11065/11065-h.zip)





AUNT MARY'S PRIMER

ADORNED WITH A HUNDRED AND TWENTY PRETTY PICTURES

1851






[Illustration: Front Cover]



[Illustration: Frontispiece: ANGLING. SHOOTING. A DONKEY RACE. HUNTING
THE HARE. CHILDREN AT PLAY. A COUNTRY RIDE.]



[Illustration]




A FEW WORDS TO THE TEACHER.


When Little Mary (or any other little girl or boy) knows all the letters
perfectly, let the teacher turn over a page and pronounce one of the
mono-syllables. Do not say _a, m, am_--but say _am_ at once, and point
to the word. When the child knows that word, then point to the next,
and say _as_, and be sure to follow the same plan throughout the book.
Spelling lessons may be taught at a more advanced age; but it will be
found that a young child will learn to read much more quickly if they be
dispensed with in the Primer. In words of more than one syllable, it is
best to pronounce each syllable separately, _car, pet_,--_po, ker_,--and
so on. In the lesson on "Things in the Room," point out each thing as
the child reads the word, and indeed, wherever you can, try to associate
the word with its actual meaning. Show a child the word _coach_ as a
coach goes past, and she will recollect that word again for ever. In the
"Lesson on the Senses," make the child understand how to feel cold and
heat, by touching a piece of cold iron or marble, and by holding the
hand to the fire,--how to smell, to hear, to see, and to taste. In the
"Lesson on Colours," be sure to show each colour as it is read; and
endeavour to make every Lesson as interesting as you can. _Never weary
a child with long lessons_. The little poem at the end is intended to be
read to the child frequently, that she may gradually learn it by heart.

J.C.


       *       *       *       *       *

      A a   B b   C c   D d   E e
      F f   G g   H h   I i   J j
         K k   L l   M m   N n
      O o   P p   Q q   R r   S s
         T t   U u   V v   W w
            X x   Y y   Z z

         _F  N  W  B  E  H  A
          P  R  Y  S  V  Z  C
           K  D  X  O  J  U
           G  I  L  Q  M  T_

   _q  o  f  m  e  g  v  p  a  h  n
     y  x  b  i  w  c  j  l  s  u
            d  k  t  r  z_

       *       *       *       *       *

     am     eg      if      ok      ud
     as     eb      il      or      um
     an     ed      ip      ot      up

    and    eke     its     old     use
    are    end     ire     oft     urn
    arm    elf     imp     ore     uns

     an     et      ig      od      up
    man    met     gig     god     pup
    can    pet     big     sod     cup
    pan    set     pig     pod     sup

    at      og    an      ar      ir
   cat     dog   van      are     ire
   rat     log   vane    hare    fire
  grate   clog   vanes   hares   fires

       *       *       *       *       *

[Illustration]

Here is a Cat, and here is a Rat.

[Illustration]

The Hare runs from the Dog.

[Illustration]

The Fox will eat the Hen.

       *       *       *       *       *

  ail      eat      eel      oil
  mail     feat     feel     toil
  paid     seas     reed     coil
  bait     peas     beer     soil

  oat      out      ein      bee
  boat     rout     rein     been
  groat    flout    vein     coo
  float    trout    skein    moon

  lap-dog     ink-stand    wind-mill
  peg-top     wood-cut     wild-duck
  sky-lark    sun-shine    birds-nest

     ool        ight         arth
    hool       eight        earth
   chool       might       dearth
  school      wright       growth

       *       *       *       *       *

[Illustration]

A mad Bull runs fast. The Girl makes Lace.

[Illustration]

A Cart-load of Hay. The Horse trots well.

[Illustration]

The Man breaks the Ice.  Here are some Pigs.

       *       *       *       *       *



HERE ARE THE NAMES OF SOME THINGS IN THE ROOM.


  Ta-ble       Car-pet       Can-dle
  Po-ker       But-ton       Bas-ket
  So-fa        Pic-ture      Kit-ten
  Work-box     Side-board    Hearth-rug
  Cot-ton      Fen-der       Tea-urn
  Book-case    Scis-sors     Cur-tain


       *       *       *       *       *

Am I to go out for a walk?

Yes, you are to go out for a walk.


Will you go with me?

No, I can not go with you.


Will Jane go for a walk with me?

Yes, Jane and the dog will go with you.

       *       *       *       *       *



A FIRST LESSON ON THE SENSES.

[Illustration]

Snow is white, and soft, and cold. Do you feel cold?

The fire is red and is very hot. Do you feel hot?

This is a pretty book. Do you see the pictures?

Roses, Violets, and Pinks smell very sweetly.

The Coach makes a noise as it goes. Did you hear it?

Plum-cake is very nice. Would not you like to taste it?

       *       *       *       *       *



A FIRST LESSON ON COLOURS.

[Illustration: A Black-bird.]

The Rose is red.

This Ribbon is blue.

Papa's coat is black.

The Violet is purple.

[Illustration: A Yellow-hammer.]

Gold is yellow.

The Grass is green.

Milk is white.

The Book-case is brown.

       *       *       *       *       *



A FIRST LESSON IN WRITING.


Ask Mama for a sheet of paper and a pencil.

Make a line like this *I.

What letter is it like? It is like the letter I.

Now put another line across the top *T.

What letter is that like? It is like T.

Now draw two lines thus *L.

Now another two lines, thus *V, and thus *X.

Now three lines, thus *N, now thus *H, now *F,

Now like this *K, now *A, now *Y, now *Z,

Now draw four lines, thus *W, now *M, now *E,

Now make a ring *O--like Mama's ring,

Now make a line *I, add half a ring to it *D.

Now make this *P, now this *B, now this *R,

Now *C, now *G, now *Q, now *S, now *U.

Here are all the large letters of the Alphabet.

**(bold these into a larger sans-serif script, heavy)**

       *       *       *       *       *



A FIRST LESSON IN NUMBERS.


  one          six         eleven          fifty
  two          seven       twelve          sixty
  three        eight       twenty          seventy
  four         nine        thirty          eighty
  five         ten         forty           ninety


How many stars are here   *   *   *

How many here *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

There are twenty-four hours in a day.

There are seven days in a week.

There are four weeks in a month.

There are twelve months in a year.

These are the seven days,--Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday.

These are the twelve months,--January, when it is often very cold;
February, when it is dull and dirty; March, when the winds blow;
April, when the flowers begin to come; May, when the trees are in bloom;
June, when the hay is made: July, when it is so hot; August, when it is
harvest time; September, when apples are ripe; October, when the farmers
brew their best beer; November, when London is covered with fog; and
December, when Christmas comes.

       *       *       *       *       *



LARGE THINGS THAT WE SEE.

[Illustration: Here is a House close to a Country Church.]
[Illustration: The Barn stands behind the road-side Inn.]
[Illustration: This is a Water-mill, and this is a Wind-mill.]
[Illustration: Betty is in the Dairy, and Robert is beating a
Walnut-tree.]
[Illustration: A rustic Bridge, close by some Men making a Hay-stack.]
[Illustration: A Pigeon-house.]
[Illustration: A Man lighting a Gas-lamp.]



COUNTRY EMPLOYMENTS.

[Illustration: A Man Ploughing.]
[Illustration: A Farmer sowing Seed.]
[Illustration: Two Men Reaping.]
[Illustration: A Man thrashing Corn.]
[Illustration: Men and Women making Hay.]
[Illustration: Two Girls Gleaning.]
[Illustration: Betty milks the Cows, while John cuts down trees.]
[Illustration: Women picking Hops.]
[Illustration: Cows drinking Water.]
[Illustration: They wash Sheep before they cut off their Wool.]



LONDON CRIES.

[Illustration: Fruit! Oranges and Apples.]
[Illustration: Buy my Straw-berries!]
[Illustration: Any Chairs to mend?]
[Illustration: Come and see the Giant!]
[Illustration: Remember the Sweeper.]
[Illustration: Pray think of Poor Jack.]
[Illustration: Dust O! Dust O!]
[Illustration: Who will buy my flowers?]
[Illustration: Fish O! All alive!]
[Illustration: Do you want a link. Sir?]
[Illustration: Any knives to grind?]
[Illustration: Who'll buy my images?]



TRAVELLING BY LAND.

[Illustration: The Lord Mayor's Coach, and an Omnibus.]
[Illustration: This Cab is going faster than the Brewer's Dray.]
[Illustration: What a pretty Market-cart behind the Waggon.]



TRAVELLING BY WATER.

[Illustration: A Ship on the Sea, and a Steam-boat on the River.]
[Illustration: Those Boats are going fast.]
[Illustration: Her is a Coal-barge.]
[Illustration: A Man on a Raft.]
[Illustration: A handsome State-barge.]



WILD ANIMALS.

[Illustration: A large Elephant, and a tall Giraffe.]
[Illustration: The Lion is handsome.]
[Illustration: Bisons run in herds.]
[Illustration: The Tiger is very fierce.]
[Illustration: Camels are very docile.]
[Illustration: The Wild Ass is beautiful.]
[Illustration: So is the Leopard.]
[Illustration: The Zebra is very wild.]
[Illustration: Some Deer are in our parks.]
[Illustration: The Wild-Boar lives in forests.]
[Illustration: A long-tailed Monkey.]



LARGE BIRDS.

[Illustration: The Golden Eagle is larger than the Vulture.]
[Illustration: The Ostrich is the largest bird.]
[Illustration: Owls fly at night.]
[Illustration: The Heron loves fish.]
[Illustration: Storks build nests in Chimneys.]
[Illustration: Swans are graceful birds.]
[Illustration: The Cock has fine feathers.]
[Illustration: The Goose hisses.]
[Illustration: Turkey is good for dinner.]
[Illustration: The Duck says Quack!]
[Illustration: Men shoot Partridges.]



DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

[Illustration: The Cow gives us milk.]
[Illustration: The Ass brays.]
[Illustration: The Horse runs fast.]
[Illustration: The Greyhound runs faster.]
[Illustration: The Goat jumps among the rocks.]
[Illustration: Sheep give us wool.]
[Illustration: The Mule is very sure-footed.]
[Illustration: The Sow is dirty.]
[Illustration: This dog is called a Spaniel.]
[Illustration: The Squirrel cracks nuts.]
[Illustration: The Guinea-pig squeaks.]
[Illustration: The Mouse is fond of cheese.]



SMALL BIRDS.

[Illustration: The Cuckoo comes in the Spring.]
[Illustration: A King-fisher.]
[Illustration: The Turtle-dove lives in the woods.]
[Illustration: A Swallow.]
[Illustration: The Goldfinch is pretty.]
[Illustration: The Nightingale sings sweetly.]
[Illustration: The Red-breast picks up crumbs, so does the Sparrow.]
[Illustration: The Water Wag-tail.]
[Illustration: The Lark flies high in the air.]
[Illustration: The Bull-finch is handsome.]
[Illustration: The Wren is a small bird.]



RURAL AMUSEMENTS.

(_See the Frontispiece._)

Do you see the man Angling. He is trying to catch fish with a hook and
a line.

That man is shooting partridges. The dog finds them for him in the
fields.

Oh, what fun! two boys riding a race on Donkeys to see which will get
home first.

The poor hare runs away from the dogs. I fear they will catch her.

Here are some boys and girls at play. The man is smoking his pipe at
the door.

What a pleasant ride they will have in the Park on those Donkeys.

       *       *       *       *       *



[Illustration]

MY MOTHER.


  Who fed me from her gentle breast,
  And hush'd me in her arms to rest,
  And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
    My Mother.

  When sleep forsook my open eyes,
  Who was it sung sweet lullaby,
  And soothed me that I should not cry?
    My Mother.

  Who sat and watch'd my infant head,
  When sleeping on my cozy bed;
  And tears of sweet affection shed?
    My Mother.

  Who lov'd to see me pleased and gay,
  And taught me sweetly how to play,
  And minded all I had to say?
    My Mother.

  Who ran to help me when I fell.
  And would some pretty story tell.
  Or kiss the place and make it well?
    My Mother.

  Who taught my infant heart to pray,
  And love God's holy book and day;
  And taught me wisdom's pleasant way?
    My Mother.

  And can I ever cease to be
  Affectionate and kind to thee,
  Who was so very kind to me,
    My Mother?

  Ah, no! the thought I cannot bear,
  And if God please my life to spare,
  I hope I shall reward thy care,
    My Mother.

  And when I see thee hang thy head,
  'Twill be my turn to watch thy bed,
  And tears of sweet affection shed,
    My Mother.

  For God, who lives above the skies,
  Would look with vengeance in his eyes,
  If I should ever dare despise
    My Mother.


[Illustration]