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y separately published work icon Victorian Readers : Sixth Book anthology   poetry   prose   children's fiction   essay   extract  
Issue Details: First known date: 1929... 1929 Victorian Readers : Sixth Book
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Notes

  • Epigraph: Reading furnishes the mind only with the material of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours (Dr Channing).
  • Epigraph: 'The Pilgrim' by Ethel Clifford (facing contents page).

Contents

* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:Victoria Education Department , 1929 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
My Countryi"The love of field and coppice,", Dorothea Mackellar , single work poetry (p. 1-3)
Sunrise in the Blue Mountains, Louise Mack , extract novel (p. 4-10)
Happy Creeki"The little creek goes winding", J. B. O'Hara , single work poetry (p. 10-11)
The Bush Schoolboyi"His bag upon his sturdy back, he goes,", Myra Morris , single work poetry (p. 15-18)
There's a Landi"There's a land that is happy and fair,", Robert Richardson , single work poetry (p. 33)
A Lover of the Bush, Mary Grant Bruce , extract children's fiction children's (p. 34-35)
The Sum of Thingsi"This is the sum of things... that we", A. W. Jose , single work poetry (p. 39)
Note: Both Jose and 'Ishmael Dare' given as author.
The Dream of Tommy Hurst, Mary Grant Bruce , single work children's fiction short story children's
This story was written in 1925 at the request of The Melbourne Society for the Protection of Animals. (Victorian Readers : Sixth Book, p. 226.)
 (p. 41-47)
For Englandi"The bugles of England were blowing o'er the sea,", J. D. Burns , single work poetry war literature (p. 55)
Bell-Birdsi"By channels of coolness the echoes are calling,", Henry Kendall , single work poetry (p. 56-57)
Where the Pelican Builds Her Nest Where the Pelican Buildsi"The horses were ready, the rails were down,", Mary Hannay Foott , single work poetry (p. 87-88)
The Miracle of the Mallee, Frederic C. Spurr , extract prose (p. 89)
Calling to Mei"Through the hush of my heart in the spell of its dreaming", 'John O'Brien' , single work poetry (p. 94)
Clancy of the Overflowi"I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry (p. 113-116)
Note: Illustration by John Rowell.
Round the Compass in Australia, Gilbert Parker , single work extract prose travel (p. 116)
An Australian Tornado, Conrad H. Sayce , single work extract novel (p. 125-128)
Hark! The Bells!, Adam Lindsay Gordon , single work extract poetry (p. 128-129)
The Loaded Dog, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Dave and Andy create a bomb to blast fish out of the waterhole. However their dog picks the bomb up and begins a deadly, yet hilarious, game of 'fetch'.
 (p. 151-156)
Note: Abridged. Illustration by Nancy Liddelow.
The Miner's Right : A Tale of the Australian Goldfields, Rolf Boldrewood , single work novel (p. 159-162)
A "Rush", Rolf Boldrewood , single work extract novel (p. 159-162)
VIEW ENTIRE CONTENTS ( works)
* Contents derived from the Melbourne, Victoria,:Victoria Education Department , 1940 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
My Countryi"The love of field and coppice,", Dorothea Mackellar , single work poetry (p. 1-3)
Sunrise in the Blue Mountains, Louise Mack , extract novel (p. 4-10)
Happy Creeki"The little creek goes winding", J. B. O'Hara , single work poetry (p. 10-11)
The Bush Schoolboyi"His bag upon his sturdy back, he goes,", Myra Morris , single work poetry (p. 15-18)
A Lover of the Bush, Mary Grant Bruce , extract children's fiction children's (p. 37-38)
A Song of Windi"Hark to the song of the scattering, scurrying,", Will Lawson , single work poetry (p. 38-39)
The Dream of Tommy Hurst, Mary Grant Bruce , single work children's fiction short story children's
This story was written in 1925 at the request of The Melbourne Society for the Protection of Animals. (Victorian Readers : Sixth Book, p. 226.)
 (p. 43-49)
For Englandi"The bugles of England were blowing o'er the sea,", J. D. Burns , single work poetry war literature (p. 58)
Bell-Birdsi"By channels of coolness the echoes are calling,", Henry Kendall , single work poetry (p. 59-60)
Where the Pelican Builds Her Nest Where the Pelican Buildsi"The horses were ready, the rails were down,", Mary Hannay Foott , single work poetry (p. 89-90)
Calling to Mei"Through the hush of my heart in the spell of its dreaming", 'John O'Brien' , single work poetry (p. 96-97)
Clancy of the Overflowi"I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better", A. B. Paterson , single work poetry (p. 108-110)
An Australian Tornado, Conrad H. Sayce , single work extract novel (p. 123-126)
Hark! The Bells!, Adam Lindsay Gordon , single work extract poetry (p. 126-127)
The Loaded Dog, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Dave and Andy create a bomb to blast fish out of the waterhole. However their dog picks the bomb up and begins a deadly, yet hilarious, game of 'fetch'.
 (p. 150-155)
Note: Abridged. Illustration by Nancy Liddelow.
A "Rush", Rolf Boldrewood , single work extract novel (p. 159-162)
Coachwhip Birdi"Who slipped across the gully then", Elsie Clarice Cole , single work poetry (p. 163)
Spider Orchidsi"Still they stand upon the hillside and the low sun glances", Marie E. J. Pitt , single work poetry (p. 164-165)
The House of the Commonwealth, Roderic Quinn , extract poetry (p. 221)
VIEW ENTIRE CONTENTS ( works)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Melbourne, Victoria,: Victoria Education Department , 1929 .
      Printed by H. J. Green
      Extent: 244p.
      Description: illus.
      Note/s:

      • Only literary material by Australian authors individually indexed in contents list below.

        Other material in this reader includes:

      • Prose: 'The White Ship', extract from Charles Dickens's A Child's History of England, 12-14; 'How Sheep Came to Australia' by C. E. W. Bean (q.v.) 37-39; 'King Lear', short critical precis of the plot of Shakespeare's play, illustrated by Sir John Gilbert, 131-133; 'The Plate of Gold', unattributed Hindu legend, 141-142; 'Crabs', from the publication My Magazine edited by English journalist Arthur Mee, illustrated, 165-171; 'Alexander Selkirk', unattributed biographical record of Scottish sailor, illustrated, 191-195; 'Saved by the Truth', unattributed account of Governor Griswold during the American War of Independence, 201-203; 'The Prince and the Judge' unattributed extract from The Children's Encyclopaedia edited by Arthur Mee, illustrated, 206-209.

      • Fiction: 'The Judgement of Sancho', illustrated extract from Don Quixote by Cervantes, 19-22; 'The Men of Whitby', illustrated essay by English author Robert Blatchford, 26-32; 'Slap-Bang' illustrated extract from 'Boum Boum' in The Strand Magazine written by French author Jules Claretie, pen name of Arsene Arnaud (1840-1913) 58-66; The Ugly Ducking, illustrated and adapted from Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) 69-82; 'The Punishment of Gruffanuff' extract from The Rose and the Ring by English author William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) 85-87; 'A Perilous Journey' by American author Elihu Burritt, 92-93; 'The White Goat', illustrated extract from Alphonse Daudet's Letters from My Mill, 96-99; 'The Story of Abou Hassan the Wag', extract from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, 101-113; 'Zadig the Wise', extract from Voltaire's Zadig, or, the Book of Fate) 118-120; 'Croesus and Solon', extract from Croesus and Fate by Tolstoy (1828-1910) 121-123; The Death of the Dauphin (revised for children) by French novelist Alphonse Daudet 135-137; 'David Copperfield Goes to Work', extract from David Copperfield by English novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) illustrated by Fred Barnard, 145-147; 'Damocles', adapted from the Latin of Cicero (106-43 BC) 178; 'Sindbad Meets the Old Man of the Sea', extract from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments (illustrated) 182-184; 'Moses at the Fair',extract from Oliver Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield (illustrated) 186-189; 'The Lawyer and the Oyster' unattributed fable, 196; 'The Feather: A Story of Peace and Good-Will', unattributed illustrated extract from Friends' Quarterly Examiner July 1916, 212-217; 'Our New Neighbours' by American poet and novelist Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907) 218-221.

      • Poetry: Untitled extract from 'The Lay of the Last Ministrel' by Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) 3; Untitled extract from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 18; 'King Hilary and the Beggar-Man' by A. A. Milne, 23-26; Couplet from 'Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington' by Tennyson, 32; 'The Loss of the Birkenhead' by English poet Sir Francis Hastings Doyle (1810-1888) 35-36; 'The Light of Other Days' by Irish poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852) 40; 'The Skylark' by English poet James Hogg (1770-1835) 48; 'Ulysses and the Sirens' extract from The Odyssey by Homer, 49-51; 'The Answer' by Canadian poet William Wilfred Campbell (1861-1918) 51; 'The Home-Coming of Ulysses extract from The Odyssey by Homer, 52-55; 'Killed at the Ford' by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) 66-67; 'The Rainbow' by English poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) 67; 'The Dawn of Peace' extract from English author John Ruskin (1819-1900) 68; 'The Time of the Barmecides' illustrated, by Irish poet James Clarence Mangan (1803-1849) 82-84; 'Boadicea' by English poet William Cowper, 89-92; Untitled extract from Cato by Joseph Addison, 94; 'Sherwood' by English poet Alfred Noyes, 99-101; 'The Journey Onwards' by Irish poet Thomas Moore, 117-118; Untitled extract from Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost, 120; 'Where Lies the Land?' by English poet Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861) 121; 'The Slave's Dream' by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) 124-125; 'Starlight' by New Zealand poet Sheila McLeod, 130-131; 'The Last Minstrel', extract from The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) 134; 'Pippa's Song' by English poet Robert Browning, 137; 'Young Lochinvar', extract from 'Lochinvar' by Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), illustrated by Jean Moreton, 138-140; 'Lord Ullin's Daughter' by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) (illustrated) 143-145; 'The Seven Sisters', unattributed but elsewhere attributed to English poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) 148-150; 'The Seashell', extract of three stanzas from 'The Shell' by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) 150-151; 'Judgements of Others', extract from 'Address to the Unco Guid' by Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) 156; 'The Well of St. Keyne' by English poet Robert Southey (1774-1843) 157-158; 'Daffodils' by English poet William Wordsworth, 172-173; 'A Scene from "William Tell"' from William Tell by German poet Schiller (1759-1805) 173-177; 'The Grasshopper and the Cricket' by English poet John Keats (1795-1821) 177; 'The Tide River', poem from conclusion of Chapter One of The Water Babies by English novelist Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) (illustrated by John Rowell, q.v.) 179-180; 'The Castled Crag of Drachenfels' by English poet Lord Byron (1788-1824) 181-182; 'Thankfulness' by Robert Burns, 184; 'Forty Years On' Harrow School song by Edward E. Bowen, 185-186; 'Signs of Rain' by English Physician Edward Jenner (1749-1843) 190-191; Untitled extract from Robert Burns' Epistle to Dr Blacklock, 196; 'The Pipes of Lucknow' originally called 'The Pipes at Lucknow' by American poet John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) (illustrated) 197-201; 'The Village Blacksmith', by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (illustrated) 204-206; 'After Blenheim', by English poet Robert Southey (illustrated) 209-212; 'Charity', extract from 'Vision of Sir Launfal' by American poet James Russell Lowell, 217.

      • Aphorisms: Untitled quote about poverty from German critic and poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) 147; Untitled quote about ignorance from English prelate Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) 177.

      • Notes and comments, critical and biographical, p. 222-244

      Series: y separately published work icon Victorian Readers The Victorian Reading-Books Charles R. Long (editor), Victorian Department of Education (publisher), Melbourne : Victorian Department of Education , 1928-1930 Z1417172 1928-1930 series - publisher anthology

      Preface to Victorian Readers: Eighth Book (1929):

      As the need for a Primer and First Book of modern type and for the provision of more space in The School Paper for articles of current interest had been felt for some time, it was decided last year [1927] to proceed with the preparation of a series of reading books (eight in number) to be published by the Government Printer. The selection of matter and the obtaining of drawings from local artists to illustrate it were entrusted to committees of inspectors and teachers, with Mr. J. C. Lowry, B.A. (a senior inspector of schools), as chairman, and Mr. C. R. Long, M.A., as editor.

      This book - the most advanced of the projected series - is the first to be issued. The main aim of the committee that made the selections for it was to obtain such as possessed literary merit, were informative, were likely to arouse interest, and were suitable as regards the average standard of attainment of the grade or forms for which the book was intended. The young readers were to begin at home, to be taken in imagination to various parts of the Empire, to Europe, and to the United States of America, and thus to gain knowledge of their rich heritage and acquire a well-founded pride of race. The inculcation of sound morality was always to be kept in view, and support given to the creation of a feeling against international strife and to the implanting of a desire for world-wide toleration. The grouping of the selections (story, essay, poem etc.) in order to secure continuity of thought - one selection serving to reveal and support another - was to be aimed at throughout, so that the contents of the book might not be a mere collection of unrelated items, but approach as nearly as possible to a unity.

      The committee was of the opinion that notes and explanations to aid in the securing of intelligent reading would be advantageous, but that they should not be unduly elaborate or very numerous, and that they should form a section at the end of the book. It is hoped that those which have been provided will not only prove helpful in themselves, but will also suggest interesting lines of study (critical, etymological, biographical, historical, geographical, etc) that may be followed up to advantage by some of the young readers, if not by all.

      Though it was recognized that the local production of a series of reading-books to compare favourably with those issued by leading British publishers would not be easy of accomplishment, yet it was believed that the effect of the use of such a series in the schools and in the pupils' homes would make the effort well worth while.

             Number in series: 6
    • Melbourne, Victoria,: Victoria Education Department , 1940 .
      Printed by H. J. Green
      Extent: 244p.
      Edition info: Second edition.
      Description: illus.
      Note/s:
      • Contents differ slightly from the first edition.

      • Only literary material by Australian authors individually indexed in contents list below.

      • Prose: 'The White Ship' extract from Charles Dickens's A Child's History of England,12-14; 'How Sheep Came to Australia' by C. E. W. Bean (q.v.) 40-42; 'An Indian Boy', extract from Indian Boyhood by Charles A. Eastman (a.k.a. Hakadah, his Sioux name) 119-121; 'King Lear' illustrated by Sir John Gilbert, short critical precis of the plot of Shakespeare's play, 129-131; 'The Bear' extract from The Story of San Michele by Swedish author Axel Munthe (1857-1949) 136-138; 'The Plate of Gold' unattributed Hindu legend, 142-143; 'Crabs' (illustrated) from the publication My Magazine edited by English journalist Arthur Mee, 165-171; 'Saved by the Truth' unattributed account of Governor Griswold during the American War of Independence, 203-205; 'The Prince and the Judge' unattributed extract from The Children's Encyclopaedia edited by Arthur Mee (illustrated) 208-211.

      • Fiction: 'The Judgement of Sancho' illustrated extract from Don Quixote by Cervantes, 19-22; 'The Men of Whitby' illustrated essay by English author Robert Blatchford, 26-32; 'Slap-Bang' illustrated extract from 'Boum Boum' in The Strand Magazine written by French author Jules Claretie, pen name of Arsene Arnaud (1840-1913) 61-69; The Ugly Ducking illustrated adaptation from Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) 71-84; 'The Punishment of Gruffanuff' extract from The Rose and the Ring by English author William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) 87-89; 'Why Parrots Have Long Lives' by French author Alexandre Dumas (1803-1870) 91-93; 'The White Goat', illustrated extract from Alphonse Daudet's Letters from My Mill, 98-101; 'Robinson Crusoe Lands Some Stores' illustrated extract from The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by English author Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) 103-107; 'Zadig the Wise' illustrated extract from Voltaire's Zadig, or, the Book of Fate, 111-113; 'Croesus and Solon', extract from Croesus and Fate by Tolstoy (1828-1910) 114-116; 'David Copperfield Goes to Work', extract from David Copperfield by English novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) illustrated by Fred Barnard, 146-148; 'Blanchard's Trousers' extract from French author Hugues Lapaire's short story, illustrated by W. S. Wemyss, 177-183; 'Damocles', adapted from the Latin of Cicero (106-43 BC) 184; 'Sindbad Meets the Old Man of the Sea'illustrated extract from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, 188-190; 'Moses at the Fair' illustrated extract from Oliver Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield, 192-195; 'The Man With the Carpets' unattributed humorous story about avarice versus natural abundance, 197-199; 'The Feather' unattributed illustrated extract from Friends' Quarterly Examiner July 1916, 213-217; 'Our New Neighbours' by American poet and novelist Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907) 218-221.

      • Poetry: Untitled extract from 'The Lay of the Last Ministrel' by Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) 3; Untitled extract from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 18; 'King Hilary and the Beggar-Man' by A. A. Milne, 23-26; Couplet from 'Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington' by Tennyson, 32; 'King John and the Abbot of Canterbury' unattributed early English ballad, 33-36; 'Lone Dog' by British poet Irene Rutherford McLeod (1891-?) 42; 'The Light of Other Days' by Irish poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852) 50; 'The Cavalier's Escape' by G. Walter Thornbury (1828-1876) 51-52; 'Ulysses and the Sirens' extract from The Odyssey by Homer, 52-54; 'The Home-Coming of Ulysses extract from The Odyssey by Homer, 55-58; 'Killed at the Ford' by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) 69-70; 'The Rainbow' by English poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) 70; 'The Fairy Shoemaker' by Irish poet William Allingham (1824-1889) 84-86; 'Boadicea' by English poet William Cowper, 93-95; 'Sherwood' by English poet Alfred Noyes, 101-103; 'Where Lies the Land?' by English poet Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861) 114; 'Columbus' (illustrated) by American poet Cincinnatus Heine Miller (a.k.a. Joaquin Miller) (1841-1913) 117-118; 'The Slave's Dream' by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 122-123; 'Starlight' by New Zealand poet Sheila McLeod, 128-129; 'The Last Minstrel' extract from The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) 132; 'Get Up and Bar the Door' unattributed early traditional ballad, 133-135; 'Young Lochinvar' extract from 'Lochinvar' by Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), illustrated by Jean Moreton, 139-141; 'Lord Ullin's Daughter' by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) (illustrated) 144-146; 'Father William', from Lewis Carroll's (a.k.a. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, 1832-1898) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, illustrated by Lewis Carroll, 149-150; 'The Well of St. Keyne' by English poet Robert Southey (1774-1843) 156-157; 'The Pigtail' poem originally called 'A Tragic Story' by English poet William Thackeray (1811-1863) 158; 'Daffodils' by English poet William Wordsworth, 172-173; 'A Scene from "William Tell"' from William Tell by German poet Schiller (1759-1805) 173-177; 'The Tide River' poem from conclusion of Chapter One of The Water Babies by English novelist Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) illustrated by John Rowell, 185-186; 'The Sea-Shell' poem originally called 'The Shell' by English poet Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) 187; 'Pippa's Song' by English poet Robert Browning (1812-1889) 188; 'Thankfulness' by Robert Burns, 190; 'Forty Years On' Harrow School song by Edward E. Bowen, 191-192; 'Signs of Rain' by English Physician Edward Jenner (1749-1843) 196-197; 'The Pipes of Lucknow' originally called 'The Pipes at Lucknow' by American poet John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) (illustrated) 199-202; 'The Village Blacksmith', by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (illustrated) 205-208; 'Charity' unattributed four line poem, 211; 'Out on the Road' originally called 'Tewkesbury Road' by English poet John Masefield (1878-1967) 212.

      • Aphorisms: Untitled quote about poverty from German critic and poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) 148.

      • Notes and comments, critical and biographical, p. 222-244

      Series: y separately published work icon Victorian Readers The Victorian Reading-Books Charles R. Long (editor), Victorian Department of Education (publisher), Melbourne : Victorian Department of Education , 1928-1930 Z1417172 1928-1930 series - publisher anthology

      Preface to Victorian Readers: Eighth Book (1929):

      As the need for a Primer and First Book of modern type and for the provision of more space in The School Paper for articles of current interest had been felt for some time, it was decided last year [1927] to proceed with the preparation of a series of reading books (eight in number) to be published by the Government Printer. The selection of matter and the obtaining of drawings from local artists to illustrate it were entrusted to committees of inspectors and teachers, with Mr. J. C. Lowry, B.A. (a senior inspector of schools), as chairman, and Mr. C. R. Long, M.A., as editor.

      This book - the most advanced of the projected series - is the first to be issued. The main aim of the committee that made the selections for it was to obtain such as possessed literary merit, were informative, were likely to arouse interest, and were suitable as regards the average standard of attainment of the grade or forms for which the book was intended. The young readers were to begin at home, to be taken in imagination to various parts of the Empire, to Europe, and to the United States of America, and thus to gain knowledge of their rich heritage and acquire a well-founded pride of race. The inculcation of sound morality was always to be kept in view, and support given to the creation of a feeling against international strife and to the implanting of a desire for world-wide toleration. The grouping of the selections (story, essay, poem etc.) in order to secure continuity of thought - one selection serving to reveal and support another - was to be aimed at throughout, so that the contents of the book might not be a mere collection of unrelated items, but approach as nearly as possible to a unity.

      The committee was of the opinion that notes and explanations to aid in the securing of intelligent reading would be advantageous, but that they should not be unduly elaborate or very numerous, and that they should form a section at the end of the book. It is hoped that those which have been provided will not only prove helpful in themselves, but will also suggest interesting lines of study (critical, etymological, biographical, historical, geographical, etc) that may be followed up to advantage by some of the young readers, if not by all.

      Though it was recognized that the local production of a series of reading-books to compare favourably with those issued by leading British publishers would not be easy of accomplishment, yet it was believed that the effect of the use of such a series in the schools and in the pupils' homes would make the effort well worth while.

             Number in series: 6
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Last amended 8 Jan 2009 14:23:36
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