Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/304

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ESSAYS.
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makes ſome men, otherwiſe of good learning and underſtanding, averſe to writing even a common letter.

Let the pieces read by the ſcholars in this claſs be ſhort; ſuch as Croxal's fables and little ſtories. In giving the leſſon, let it be read to them; let the meaning of the difficult words in it be explained to them; and let them con over by themſelves before they are called to read to the maſter or uſher; who is to take particular care that they do not read too faſt, and that they duly obſerve the ſtops and pauſes. A vocabulary of the moſt uſual difficult words might be formed for their uſe, with explanations; and they might daily get a few of thoſe words and explanations by heart, which would a little exerciſe their memories; or at leaſt they might write a number of them in a ſmall book for the purpoſe, which would help to fix the meaning of thoſe words in their minds, and at the ſame time furniſh every one with a little dictionary for his future uſe.