POPULAR LESSONS, CHIEFLY SELECTED FROM THE WRITINGS OF MRS. BARBAULD, MISS EDGEWORTH, OTHER APPROVED WRITERS. DESIGNED PARTICULARLY FOR THE YOUNGER CLASSES OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.-ST. PAUL. REVISED AND IMPROVED BY THE AUTHOR. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY ROE LOCKWOOD & SON, 411 BROADWAY. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, BY ELIZA ROBBINS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. INTRODUCTION. AMERICAN POPULAR LESSONS was first published in 1820, and was used in its original form for nine years, chiefly in the Public Schools of the city of New York. A much wider circula tion has been given to this work than its author ever presumed upon. In 1829 it was recast, and again much modified in 1839. The author is greatly indebted to several of the very intelligent and conscientious gentlemen who form the book committee of the Public School Society for suggestions of improvements which might render this book more effective; she has, to the best of her apprehension, followed their instructions, and hints also afforded to her by Mr. Roe Lockwood, the publisher, whose information and integrity deserve the utmost consideration. The design of American Popular Lessons is to teach much more than the art of reading. It is intended, as far as it goes, to impart the most useful truths, both in morals and physics, of which the infant mind is susceptible. Additions and corrections after the lapse of twenty-eight years have become necessary, and they have been made to the extent practicable in so small a work. . The fact that it has been so long employed in the Public Schools of New York city with entire |