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THE

1884

[blocks in formation]

PUBLISHED BY CROCKER AND BREWSTER,
47 Washington Street.

NEW YORK: JONATHAN LEAVITT,

182 Broadway.

HARVARD
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, By WILLIAM B. FowLE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

THE want of a French Reading Book that should contain a greater variety of lessons than is to be found in any book with which the compiler is acquainted, and which should at the same time possess attractions sufficient to animate and encourage the young pupil, has led to this compilation. The title page shows the general divisions of the work: the table of contents, will, it is hoped, show that the sources whence the pieces are drawn are numerous and well approved. The compiler hopes that he has attained his object, the making of an agreeable book, without losing sight of what should always be a prominent object in school books, the inculcation of virtuous principles.

In abridging the comedies of Molière, no alteration, except of a word or two, has been made in the text! The orthography of each writer has been followed, especially in the imperfect and conditional tenses of verbs, that the pupil may become acquainted with the differences that exist amongst the best writers. Great care has been taken in the typographical execution of the work; but the difficulties of printing a foreign language are too manifold for the compiler to presume that he has entirely surmounted them. He only hopes that the work will be found as correct at least as any American edition of a foreign book; and the enterprize of the publishers, in stereotyping the work, will enable them to correct whatever errors may be discovered, should the work meet with that patronage which is respectfully solicited.

BOSTON, MARCH 10, 1832.

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