"A maxim is sometimes like the seed of a plant which the soil it is thrown into must expand into leaves and flowers, and fruit; so that a great part must be written as it were by the reader,"

PHILADELPHIA:

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BROWN.

́TO THE READER.

MANY volumes on a similar plan with this have been published in America, as well as Europe. The best of these (now out of print) passed through several editions, but appeared without the names of the authors attached to the selections, and much of the pleasure of perusing them was thus lost. Care has been taken in this volume to affix the name of the author, or of the book from whence the extract was taken, whenever it was practicable.

Few books of its size can be found comprising an equal fund of interest and instruction-however small, it is not one of those which should be perused at a sitting; but on the contrary, it may be occasionally resorted to, and never without affording something to amuse or instruct, a flash of genius, or a useful precept to guide and adorn life.

EDITOR.

It forms a suitable parsing book for schools.