Children's Reading by Arthur Quiller-Couch

If, then, you consent with me thus far in theory, let us now drive at practice. You have (we will say) a class of thirty or forty in front of you. We will assume that they know a -- b, ab, can at least spell out their words. You will choose a passage for them, and you will not (if you are wise) choose a passage from Paradise Lost: your knowledge telling you that Paradise Lost was written, late in his life, by a great virtuoso, and older men (of whom I, sad to say, am one) assuring you that to taste the Milton of Paradise Lost a man must have passed his thirtieth year. You take the early Milton: you read out this, for instance, from "L'Allegro":

Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee / Jest and youthful Jollity, / Quips, and Cranks, and wanton wiles, / Nods and Becks, and wreathed Smiles / Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, / And love to live in dimple sleek; / Sport that wrinkled Care derides, / And Laughter holding both his sides.