BY FREDERICK EMERSON, LATE PRINCIPAL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARITHMETIC,
BOYLSTON SCHOOL, BOSTON.
BOSTON: JENKS AND PALMER.
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Early 19th century arithmetic books taught addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, often using problems drawn from everyday life. Many times these arithmetic books taught morality as well. On page 20 of this book (to see, click on the "Select a page" menu above) the author teaches a lesson in Temperance (or the practice of not drinking alcohol) in a subtraction problem. Many schoolbook authors were ministers or other people involved in movements of the day such as Temperance and Abolition (the movement to free slaves).