McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader. William Holmes McGuffey
then rise one note higher, and practice on that key, then another, and so on, until the highest pitch of the voice has been reached. Next, reverse the process, until the lowest pitch has been reached.
EXAMPLES IN PITCH (46)
High Pitch.
NOTE.—Be careful to distinguish pitch from power in the following exercise. Speaking in the open air, at the very top of the voice, is an exercise admirably adapted to strengthen the voice and give it compass, and should be frequently practiced.
1. Charge'! Chester" charge'! On'! Stanley, on'!
2. A horse'! a horse'! my kingdom' for a horse'!
3. Jump far out', boy' into the wave'! Jump', or I fire'!
4. Run'! run'! run for your lives!
5. Fire'! fire'! fire'! Ring the bell'!
6. Gentlemen may cry peace'! peace'! but there is no peace!
7. Rouse' ye Romans! rouse' ye slaves'!
Have ye brave sons'? Look in the next fierce brawl
To see them die'. Have ye fair daughters'? Look
To see them live, torn from your arms', distained',
Dishonored', and if ye dare call for justice',
Be answered by the lash'!
Medium Pitch. (47)
NOTE.—This is the pitch in which we converse. To strengthen it, we should read or speak in it as loud as possible, without rising to a higher key. To do this requires long-continued practice.
1. Under a spreading chestnut tree,
The village smithy stands';
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands';
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
2. There is something in the thunder's voice that makes me tremble like a child. I have tried to conquer' this unmanly weakness'. I have called pride' to my aid'; I have sought for moral courage in the lessons of philosophy', but it avails me nothing'. At the first moaning of the distant cloud, my heart shrinks and dies within me.
3. He taught the scholars the Rule of Three',
Reading, and writing, and history', too';
He took the little ones on his knee',
For a kind old heart in his breast had he',
And the wants of the littlest child he knew'.
"Learn while you're young'," he often said',
"There is much to enjoy down here below';
Life for the living', and rest for the dead',"
Said the jolly old pedagogue' long ago'.
Low Pitch. (48)
1. O, proper stuff!
This is the very painting of your fear:
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,
Impostors to true fear, would well become
A woman's story at a winter's fire.
Authorized by her grandam.
2. Thou slave! thou wretch! thou coward!
Thou little valiant, great in villainy!
Thou ever strong upon the stronger side!
Thou fortune's champion, thou dost never fight
But when her humorous ladyship is by
To teach thee safety! Thou art perjured too,
And sooth'st up greatness. What a fool art thou,
A ramping fool; to brag, and stamp, and sweat,
Upon my party! thou cold-blooded slave!
3. God! thou art mighty! At thy footstool bound,
Lie, gazing to thee, Chance, and Life, and Death;
Nor in the angel circle flaming round,
Nor in the million worlds that blaze beneath,
Is one that can withstand thy wrath's hot breath.
Woe, in thy frown: in thy smile, victory:
Hear my last prayer! I ask no mortal wreath;
Let but these eyes my rescued country see,
Then take my spirit, all Omnipotent, to thee.
4. O Thou eternal One! whose presence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion guide,
Unchanged through time's all-devastating blight!
Thou only God, there is no god beside!
Being above all things, mighty One,
Whom none can comprehend and none explore;
Who fill'st existence with thyself alone—
Embracing all, supporting, ruling o'er—
Being whom we call God, and know no more!
QUANTITY AND QUALITY. (49)
Quantity, in reading and speaking, means the length of time occupied in uttering a syllable or a word. Sounds and syllables vary greatly in quantity. Some are long, some short, and others intermediate between those which are long or short. Some sounds, also, may be prolonged or shortened in utterance to any desired extent. Quantity may be classified as Long, Medium, or Short.
DIRECTIONS FOR PRACTICE ON LONG QUANTITY.—Select some word of one syllable ending with a long vocal or a subvocal sound; pronounce it many times in succession, increasing the quantity at each repetition, until you can dwell upon it any desired length of time, without drawling, and in a natural tone.
REMARK.—Practice in accordance with this direction will enable the pupil to secure that fullness and roundness of voice which is exemplified in the hailing of a ship, "ship aho—y;" in the reply of the sailor, when, in the roar of the storm, he answers his captain, "ay—e. ay—e;" and in the command of the officer to his troops, when, amid the thunder of artillery, he gives the order, "ma—rch," or "ha—lt."
This fullness or roundness of tone is secured, by dwelling on the vocal sound, and indefinitely protracting it, The mouth should be opened wide, the tongue kept down, and the aperture left as round and as free for the voice as possible.
It is this artificial rotundity which, in connection with a distinct articulation, enables one who speaks in the open air, or in a very large apartment, to send his voice to the most distant point. It is a certain degree of this quality, which distinguishes declamatory or public speaking or reading from private conversation, and no one can accomplish much, as a public speaker, without cultivating it. It must be carefully distinguished from the "high tone," which is an elevation of pitch, and from "loudness." or "strength" of voice.
It will be observed that clearness and distinctness of utterance are secured by a proper use of the subvocals and aspirates—these sounds giving to words their shape, as it were; but a clear, full, and well-modulated utterance of the vocals gives to words their fullness.
LONG QUANTITY. (49)
1. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
2. Woe, woe, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem!
3. O righteous Heaven! ere Freedom found a grave,
Why slept the sword, omnipotent to save?