There are a few pieces which contain some dialect. All dialect, period spelling, etc., has been preserved.
The remainder of the TN is at the end of the book.
* * * * *
When the voice is weak, it should be strengthened by frequent practice, by exercising it in the open air, and upon all convenient occasions.
* * * * *
The Universal Reciter,
CONTAINING
81 Choice Pieces.
* * * * *
It is necessary not only to practise a little, but to practise a great deal. In this way ease, grace, and fluency are acquired.
[Illustration:
OH! TELL ME, I SAID, RAPID STREAM OF THE VALLEY, THAT BEAR'ST IN THY COURSE THE BLUE WATERS AWAY, CAN THE JOYS OF LIFE'S MORNING AWAKE BUT TO VANISH, CAN THE FEELINGS OF LOVE BE ALL DOOM'D TO DECAY? AN ECHO REPEATED--"ALL DOOM'D TO DECAY."
]
THE
UNIVERSAL RECITER,
A
LITERARY BOUQUET,
CONTAINING
81 CHOICE PIECES
OF RARE POETICAL GEMS, FINE SPECIMENS OF ORATORY, THRILLING SENTIMENT, ELOQUENCE, TENDER PATHOS, AND SPARKLING HUMOR.
* * * * *
LONDON:
WILLIAM NICHOLSON AND SONS, 20, WARWICK SQUARE PATERNOSTER ROW, AND ALBION WORKS, WAKEFIELD.
CONTENTS.
PAGE. A Horse Car Incident 194
A love of a Bonnet 87
An Eruption of Mount Vesuvius 100
A Plea for the Ox 103
A Pleasure Exertion 203
A Precious Pickle 125
A Psalm of Life 231
Bell of the "Atlantic" 243
Big Oyster, The 122
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Universal Reciter 81 Choice Pieces of Rare Poetical Gems
- 2: The 234Mariner's Wife
- 3: The Universal Reciter 81 Choice Pieces of Rare Poetical Gems
- 4: Of all the aggravating women I ever came across
- 5: Yes and there's Bucephalus Alexander
- 6: It's a' to pleasure our gudeman
- 7: Unt de sun he purnt 'em zwi lager den cents all right
- 8: Snyder was absolutely fearful to behold by this time
- 9: The funniest story I ever heard
- 10: S'posen me an' you was goin' on a scursion down de riber
- 11: But the wran builds two holes to the nest
- 12: 'the brogue may burn to cindhers
- 13: But whin his first laugh was over
- 14: When they saw that it was Ugly Sam
- 15: I'll shake hands with ye all around afore I go
- 16: Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand
- 17: With ears erect poor Bunny faster fled As Shtop my colt
- 18: Who'll buy the heavy heaps of Care
- 19: About one little harmless mouse
- 20: I have known Thee in the whirlwind
- 21: As if it bore the superscription of the Godhead
- 22: He sent for lancewood to make the thills
- 23: Tries to obtain the hand of Zaphira
- 24: Nor let Zaphira doubt thy providence
- 25: Kneeling at thy feet kneels
- 26: Had not guilt steel'd thy heart
- 27: To see us ground with Slavery's grist
- 28: Producing a ratten from under his jacket
- 29: Do you want to shirk your task
- 30: I've been among the mighty Alps
- 31: His infant made a vulture's prey
- 32: Eleven buckram men grown out of two
- 33: Give you a reason on compulsion
- 34: Vainly o'er the Pontic main Flingest thou
- 35: Enter ALBERT TELL'S son with bow and arrows
- 36: ALBERT shoots That's better
- 37: For thou must reach Mount Faigel by the dawn
- 38: The coach stopped to change horses
- 39: Both he and Tooler suddenly sprang back
- 40: I'll make yow run for't anyhow phit
- 41: What shall us do wi' th' warment
- 42: Entreated Tooler to allow them to have it
- 43: For each empty nook in the basket old
- 44: But this bonnet is not extravagant
- 45: If ye's don't resave this letther
- 46: Fastone and Dora coming up the steps
- 47: All my bonnets come from Thompson
- 48: And this is Thompson's most stylish bonnet
- 49: Stingy blackgurd has sint me this whisp of a bunnet
- 50: A vast vapour shooting from the summit of Vesuvius
- 51: Suddenly arose an intense and lurid glow
- 52: I love the Ox the large eyed Ox
- 53: The landlord wagged his finger steady
- 54: Goliath gives vent to his arrogance in a bombastic style
- 55: Already I behold thy mangled limbs
- 56: Dident know I ever writ poitry
- 57: Parson Potter seldom went to confrence meetin'
- 58: I 'd like to see some poitry o' hern
- 59: Would be herdin' wid the haythens
- 60: An' I spacheless wid shurprise
- 61: It 's you ought to be arristed
- 62: Don't keer for nuffin nor nobody
- 63: None cooked as Juno cooks them
- 64: My mother's pickleth never thpoil
- 65: After Miss Pease has forbidden it
- 66: During the dialogue between MISS PEASE and MRS
- 67: It is a drefful pickle and so sudden
- 68: Gabble says the vinegar was poisoned by Mr
- 69: My mother's hand this Bible clasped
- 70: Others to mount guard in the trunk
- 71: For he died a drunkard and only sixteen
- 72: Surely you do not intend to eat a gridiron
- 73: Parley voo frongsay munseer
- 74: May you want a gridiron yourself yet
- 75: About the end of October evewy one goes to Bwighton
- 76: B Bwighton was invented in the year 1784
- 77: I made thuch a jolly widdle the other day on the Ethplanade
- 78: For all the reviling that malice can fling
- 79: What were mine if things was only sich
- 80: The flag's come back to Tennessee
- 81: Yesterday noon he went boating
- 82: Who told them I was after melons last night
- 83: Ain't heard a keow moo mooing
- 84: They're stained with watermillons
- 85: You're nothing but a drop of rain
- 86: And he'd sigh to be rid of all scolding old dames
- 87: And Redman the bones highly thought on
- 88: And boned all their bones for Dr
- 89: Four great red Fanny and Hetty
- 90: I only hope she'll put on one of her chignons
- 91: I don't know the way among the poor yit
- 92: That child has one of those horrible chignons on her head
- 93: But your pupils all wear red chignons
- 94: Imitate Hannah Jones her warm heart
- 95: Depraved and lost by Adam's fall
- 96: The conductor had come inside the door
- 97: He struck his cane on the floor as he spoke
- 98: For the lovely Xantippe just pulled off her shoe
- 99: To the belfry chamber overhead
- 100: And Josiah was all up in end to go too
- 101: And now you have rousted me up for good
- 102: In his pantaloons and breast pockets
- 103: But when Miss Gowdey hollered out Oh
- 104: There they was all covered with jell
- 105: The bold boy of glingall a tale of '98by samuel lover
- 106: An' SHAMUS O'BRIEN kem into the dock
- 107: Then towards the judge SHAMUS bent down his head
- 108: De swoard mus' win de argument
- 109: Dere's notting equals de swoard
- 110: The old man in the stylish church
- 111: He shot the golden sentences down in the finest pews
- 112: Strop and soap under your pillow at night
- 113: And pulled on the trigger without more reflection
- 114: Leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time
- 115: Then up spake John de Matha My mariners
- 116: A ruffian band Rush in and savagely demand
- 117: It got so after awhile that peddlers marked that house
- 118: But Sarah wasn't expected to know this
- 119: But wen it was brot he lookt at it and squeezed it
- 120: I've had the worst kind of a narvous head ache
- 121: Pledge with wine pledge with wine
- 122: While the bridal party shrank back
- 123: Her lips quivering faster and faster
- 124: Jocular and Laughable Anecdotes
- 125: 125 'Peace's' corrected to 'Pease's' JUNO