When the stars, at set of sun,

Watch you from on high;

When the light of morn has come,

Think the Lord is nigh …

The First Reader is more of the same with the addition of two-syllable words and a little more emphasis on cursive (“script”) penmanship. The Second Reader is a more progressive reading plan; it has a more detailed “Table of Vocals,” which is a more detailed phonics table and punctuation mark definitions. This volume not only introduces three- and four-syllable words but is also the first reader to present each lesson in the form of stories. Each story not only uses the newly introduced words but also teaches lessons in poetry, family values, sibling relationships, forgiveness, animal stories, and overcoming fears in priceless prose such as “Afraid in the Dark,” “The Broken Window,” and “Kitty and Mousie.” I can still hear my grandma reciting:

Two black eyes had little kitty,

Black as a crow;

And they spied the little mousie,

Long time ago …

Moving into the Third Reader, we broaden our range of phonics sounds by adding diphthongs and subvocals, along with “Exercises in Articulation,” which include double vowel sounds and blends. This reader also introduces emphasis by using italics and capital letters. Punctuation is expanded by including marks and pauses such as hyphens (-), commas (,), semicolons (;), and colons (:), among others. Stories are more detailed and expansive, as this reader could carry children into sixth or seventh grade. Once again, these stories not only teach but also are a joy to read.

McGuffey’s Fourth Reader, ideal for junior high level readers, draws readers deeper into phonics and develops the learner’s articulation. This is reinforced through practice with inflection, illustrated at the top of the next column.