McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader

McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader wasn't a single story, but a collection of readings aimed at children between the ages of six and eight, or even adults learning to read. Published in 1836 as part of the popular McGuffey Readers series, the Second Reader aimed to build on the skills learned in the First Reader.

The book is divided into 71 lessons, each containing a short piece of prose or poetry. These readings introduced new vocabulary (typically 8-20 words per lesson) and helped students with spelling, pronunciation, and understanding punctuation.

The content of the McGuffey Readers has been criticized for being moralistic and sometimes reflecting outdated social views. However, there's no doubt about their historical significance. McGuffey's Readers were hugely influential in American education, selling over 120 million copies by 1960. They are still used in homeschooling today, and you can even find free digital versions online.