The following abbreviations are commonly used in printed books-viz:

bh, ch, oh, ph, zh, mh, ph, sh, th, ττ,

Many other contractions have been introduced, in different books, but those that are inserted here are the most usual, and the rest may be found in the plates of contractions at the end of the book.

The following sentences will furnish an exercise, in reading the Irish character.

EXTRACTS.

SEANRAJTE, an treas CAIBIDIL.

1. A mic, na dearmaid mo dligead: add cojmeadad Do crojde m'alteanta.

2. Oin do bearajd sjad ċugad rad leatead, agus sa0jal fada, agus riotcajn.

3. Na treizead trocaire agus firiñe tu; ceangail fa'd Braj410 140, air clár do črojde.

4. Mar sin do jeaba tu fabar, agus tuigse majd a radarc De agus duine.

5. Cuir do 50g 4 nDia re do uile crosse, agus na bi Gaojb re do tuigre féin.

6. An do jligtib uile admúig eision, agus do Deana se do jligte díreac.

7. Na bi zlic an do srilib rem; blod eagla Dé ort, agus reacain an tolc.

8. Blajd sin na sláinte dod smlin, agus na smjor dod cnarijsb.

9. Ondrug an Tigearna le do maoin, agus le primidil huile biriz.

10. Mar sin ljonfuigear do rzioból le rajobrios, agus brisrio do cantaoirige amac le fjon nuad.

11. A mic na tarcuirnig smadrugad an Tigearna; agus na bi cuirte da ċeartujad.

12. Oir an te graduigios an Tigearna, smaċtuigid se é, amuil smaċtuigios atair an mac jona mbi a drjl.

13. Jr rona an te do jejb eagna; agus an duine do jejb tuigre.

14. Oir is ream a ceañuigeact na ceañujject 4310, 43ur a roċar ná ór zlan.

15. Jr mórluang 30 mór i näid na cloča uaisle; agus na huile neste is 40jbin leat, ni cojiméas ria 140.

16. Atajo Fad laete an a dearlájih, agus an a lajm clé

rajobrios agus onóır.

17. Ir rligte rólair a slijte, agus ir riotcáin a casáin yle

18. Ir cran beata i don druing, glacas greim di, agur is sona zac aon da brortoigion 1.

19. Do regio an Tizearna an talam le na gliocas, le tuigse do daingnid se na flajteamnur.

20. Le na colur bristear amac na nagein, agus silid na neul an drúct anuas.

PROVERBS-CHAP. III.

1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments.

2. For length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee.

3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6. In all thy ways acknowledge him; and he shall direct thy paths.

7. Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.

10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction.

12. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom; and the man that getteth understanding.

14. For the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15. She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared unto her.

16. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by under standing hath he established the heavens.

20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21. A mic, na dealocaidis sin re do jŕlib; conujnih zljocur iomlán agus discréid.

22. Mar sin béid siad na mbeata do't anam, agus na ngráraib dot mujneul.

23. An sin riubolujo du an do slije 30 daingean, agus ni bruige do cor tuislead.

24. A nud lusdreas du sior, ni biad egla ort: pór lujorjo du rior, agus blad do codlad rájm.

25. Na bjó eaglá ort re huamán oban, no re dólás an uile, anuair tjucrar re.

26. Oir bus e an Tigerna do baránta, agus cujmdeocho ré do cor o a bejt zabta.

27. Na coñajim mait d'n drujing dar dual j, anuair bios si 4 ccumas do lajme ne a deanam.

28. Na habair pe do comarrain, imtis agus tam arir, agus do beqa me dyt a máraċ ; an ug biad se agad adtajce. 29. Na tionscuin ole a najajo do comarsain, o áitreabus re 30 ruajmneac lam riot.

30. Na ceañaing re duine gan adbar, muna ndearna re docar air bit duit.

21. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion.

22. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28. Say not unto thy neighbour, go, and come again, and tomorrow 1 will give thee, when thou hast it by thee.

29. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.