OF THE 



UNlVEF*SITYj! 



OF 



PREFACE 



IN the preparation of this Reader my purpose 

 has been threefold : 



First, to put in the hands of the teachers who fol- 

 low the Nature Course outlined in my Manual for 

 Teachers suitable supplementary reading matter. 

 The myths and poems are arranged in an order cor- 

 responding to the lessons therein suggested. 



Second, to tell these myths in language simple 

 enough to make them practicable reading lessons for 

 second and third year pupils. 



I am aware that most of these myths have been 

 infinitely better told by Hawthorne and others ; but 

 even the charmingly simple version given by Bald- 

 win could not be read by pupils younger than those 

 in the fourth year of school work, and the place of 

 the Greek myth should be much earlier in the child's 

 school life. Tell the stories as elaborately or as sim- 

 ply as you please. In the one case Hawthorne, in 

 the other Baldwin, are the safest guides. Let this 

 serve as an introduction to the science work. After- 

 wards, let the children read the simple version, sup- 

 plementing both this and the oral lessons with the 



191652 



