Jl^. -"* V<^„ ^a: IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // "^ 1.0 I.I ■50 ""^™ 1^ 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 J4 ^ ■ — 6" ~ — ^ V] ^;. ?^5 ^iA '^ /A *^"..^* ■■'W Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ \^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (716) 872-4SU3 i\ I tail* I du odifier une mage Th4 co,>y filmed here has been reproduced thank* to the generosity of: National Library of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the c : iginal copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire filmA f ut reproduit grice A la g4n*rositA de: Bibliothdque nationale du Canada Les imagas sulvantefi ont it* reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compto teru de la condition at de is nettet<5 de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the lest page with a printed or Illustrated Imprae- &lon, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires orlginaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimto sont filmto en commen^ant par la premier plat et en termJnant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le eas. Tous les autres exemplaires orlginaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la premiira page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each Tiicrof iche shall contain the symbol ^^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un das symboles sulvants apparaftra sur la darnlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symbols y signifia "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be ontirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L4S cartos, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmfo it des taux de rMucticn diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un saul clichA, 11 est film6 i partir de Tangle sup4risur gauche, de gauchn k droite, et de haut en bas, en prenaiit le nombre d'Images nAcsssaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la m^ithoda. rrata o leiure. 1 2 3 5 6 I ytttlfer tt Co's ^burattonal Scries. TEXT-BOOK aw ENGLISH COMPOSITION FOE THE USE OF SCHOOLS. B7 THOMAS MORRISON, M.A., RECTOR OF XaE FREE CHUUCU MORMAI. SCHOOL, GUieOOW CANADIAN COPYKIGHT EDITION-Pricb, 45 cents. TORONTO: ADAM MILLER & Co. 1878. I-!ntered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture, by Adam Millek & Co., in the year 1S73. .^.:| PREFACE. -»— <- In constructing this Text-Book, the author has kept steadily in view the fact that the school life of the great majority of children is short, and that much has to be done in little time, and, frequently, with very imperfect appliances. He has not, therefore, attemj-ted to produce an ex- haustive treatise on English Composition. Such a work, however valuable in itself, would be alien to the purpose which the Publishers of this series have set before them. His aim has been to familiarize the learner, in a practical way, with the structure of sentences, with variety of expression, with the simpler forms of paraphrasing, and with the composition of simple narratives and easy essays. Anything more than this cannot, with reason, be expected from the pupils attending our ordinary elementary schools. The author has purposely avoided giving any illustra- tions on style, strictly so called, and on the correct use of figurative language. A somewhat lengthened experience in \;he practical work of education has convinced him that any attempt at the critical examination of style is beyond the reach of school children, and that such attempts, how- ever sounding they may appear, are a waste of precious 4 PREFACE. time. A boy of fourteen or fifteen yeui-a of age cannot be expected to write with the purity and the grace of an Addison ; it is enough for him to be able to express his thoughts in plain, unvarnished, grammatical English. In view of the imperfect appliances existing in many schools for the conduct of the work of education, and particularly in view of the multiplicity of subjects claim- ing the teacher's >attention, the author has arranged the whole book in the form of exercises. These exercises have been carefully graduated both as to difficulty and as to length, whereby a definite portion of work can be assigned to the pupils, as often as composition forms the subject of instruction. This, it is hoped, will tend to save time and trouble to the teacher, while it will secure uniform progress in the pupil. The exercises have been constructed with great care, and the selections have been invariably taken from classic writers. It is unnec3ssary to say anything upon the benefits arising from the study of Composition, or upon the plan on which it ought to be studied. The benefits are mani- fest ; the following pages will develop the author's views upon the best methods of teaching English Composition. it\ T. M. Glasgow, Oct. 1873. CONTENTS. Introduction, r40B CHAPTER I. THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. SECTIOS 1. Definition of Simple Sentence, 2. The Simple Subject, 3. Qualifications of the Simple Subject, 4. The Adjective Phrase, 5. Qualifying Phrases, 6. The Simple Predicate, . , 7. Modification of the Predicate, 8. The Adverbial Phrase, , 9. The Simple Object, 10. Analysis of the Simple Sentence, 11. Construction of Simple Sentences, 12. Variation of Fonn in Simple Sentences, 12 12 13 14 16 16 18 18 19 20 20 22 CHAPTER II. THE COMPOUND SENTENCE. 13. Definition of Compound Sentence, . , 14. Classification of Compound Sentences, , 15. Contracted Compound Sentences, . , 16. Construction of Compound Sentences, 25 25 27 29 C0NTENV3. CHAPTER III. TEE COMPLEX SENTENCE. 17. Definition of Complex Sentence, 18. Subordinate Sentences, . . • 19. Classification of Subordinate Sentences :— (a. ) The Noun Sentence, (6. ) The Adjective Sentence, , . (c. ) The Advsrbial Sentence, 20. Analysis and Construction of Complex Sentences, PACK S3 88 85 36 41 CHAPTER IV. PUNCTUATION. 21. Definition of Punctuation, 22. Classification of Points, 23. The Comma:— (1.) In Simple Sentences {?,.) In Complex Sentences, 24. The Semicolon :— (1.) General use of Semicolon, (2. ) Particular use of .'iemicolon, 25. The Colon :— (1.) General use of Colon, (2.) Particular use of Colon, 2G. The Period, 27. Special use of Period in Abbreviations 28. Point of Interrogation^ 29. Point of Exclamation, 30. Parenthesis, 31. The Dash, 32. The Quotation, . 33. Capital Letters, 34. The Paragraph, 47 47 47 50 53 53 55 65 f.7 67 58 58 59 69 60 61 62 CONTENTS. CTTAPTER V. VARIETY IN THE STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES. Ita PAOE 35. Variation of Clauses and Plirasea, • . .60 3G. Variation of Poetry into Prose order, . . #08 37. Variation of Grammatical Structure of Sentences, . 70 38. Grammatif^al and Rhetorical Arrangement, . . 75 39. Grtniniatical Arrangement, . , • • 75 40. Rhetorical Arrangement, . . • « 75 41. Principles of Rhetorical Arrangement, • ,76 *2. 1 )irect and Indirect Speech, . . • .79 43. Direct Speech, ..... 79 44. Indirect Speech, . .... 79 45. Principles of Indirect Speech, . . • ,79 46. Principles of Direct Speech, , . • .80 CHAPTER VI. VARIETY OF EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 47. 48. 4!). 50. Variety of Expression : — (a.) Substitution of one word for another, (6. ) Saxon Synonyms, . Elliptical Exercises, . . ' Variety of Expression : — (a. ) Expression of given Pasrag (b.) Abridgment of given Passag (c.) Expansion of given Passages, . Paraphrasing, .... 83 86 88 fl2 95 101 104 CHAPTER VII. NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. 51. Original Composition, . . • 62. Na.:ative Composition, 53. C)rder of Procedure, .... 64. Analysir, Synthesis, and Original Composition, 110 110 110 111 ^ CONTENTS. BWJ. 55. Readution cf given Passages into Elements, 5li. Use of Heads, . 67. Combination of given Heads into Narratives (a.) Heads giving full information. (6.) Simple Heads of Narratives, . 88. List of Subjocos for Narratives ;— (a.) Fables, Stories, etc., . • (6.) Biographies, . • • (c.) Historical Subjects, • . CHAPTER VIII. DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 59. Objects of Descr=r>tive Composition, . 60. Order ( f Procedure, 61. Resolution of given Passages into Elements, 62. Combination of given Heads into Description, 63. List of Subjects for Description:— (a.) Animals, 0.) Vegetables, (c.) Minerals, (d.) Instruments, (e.) Miscellaneous, ?AOt 111 118 122 124 127 128 128 • . 130 • . 130 • . 130 t . 139 • . 145 • . 145 • . 145 • . 146 • , 146 CHAPTER IX. THE ESSAY. 64. Definition of Essay, 65. Uniformity not desirable, 66. Hints for Essay writing, 67. Order of Procedure, 68. Heads for Essays, 69. List of Subjects for Essay*- 147 147 147 148 148 153 122 124 127 128 128 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. INTRODUCTION. 130 130 130 139 145 145 145 146 146 Composition is the art whicli teaches us to express our thoughts in appropriate languag3. A complete t)- -ight expressed in words is called a Sentence. In composition Ave have, accordmgly, to deal Pre witn the Construction of Sentences. -n j. Every Sentence must contain a Subject and a Predi- cate. The Subject of a Sentence is that part of it about which any affirmation is made. r • i. The Predicate of a Sentence is that part of it which contains the affirmation made regarding the Subject Examples : — The sun shmes is a Sentence : the sun is the Subject, shines is the Predicate. John killed the rat is a Sentence : John is the Subject, killed ths rat is the Predicate. EXERCISE I. In the following Exercise point out the Subject and the Predicate in each sentence : — Water freezes. John reads his lesson. The sky is clear. BainfaUs. Jane dances. Horses draw the plough. Kings rule. The moonbeams tinge the waters. The boy hurt his finger. The mountain is high. The sea is deep. The cat hunts ihe mice. The water is clean. The atars are shining. 10- ENGLISH COMPOSITION. A Sentence may assume various forms : — 1. It may contain a simple Assertion ; as, Snowfalh. Such a sentence is termed Assertivs. 2. It may ask a Question ; as, Who does that ? Such a sentence is termed Interrogative. 3. It may express a Command ; as, JRise up. Such a sentence is termed Imperative. 4. It may convey a Wish ; as, Long may you live. Such a sentence is termed Optative. EXERCISE II. Of what form is each Sentence in the following Exer- cise 1 Distinguish between the Subject and Predicate in each : — John went away. Mary has retutned. Spring is come. Come along. Who killed cock-robin ? What have you done ? Flowers are lovely. May your home be happy. God save the Queen. Never give up. Fight the good fight. He sleeps the sleep of death. The army was defeated. Can you repeat your lesson ? Who calls ? Did your power decay ? May every blessing attend you. EXERCISE III. Write six Assertive, six Interrogative, six Imperative, and six Optative sentences. A combination of words which does not contain a Predicate cannot form a {Sentence. Such a combination of words is called a Phrase. Example :—77ie sun having risen. These words con- tain no Predicate, and do not, therefore, form a Sentence. I'he sun having risen is called a Phrase. exercise IV. In the following Exercise distinguish between Sentences and Phrases :— The child sleeps. The Bleeping infant. The sun has risen. INTRODUCTION. 11 The sun having risen. Fire consumed the town. Consuming fire. The way was long. The wind was cold. The minstrel was infirm. Morn amid the mountains. The battle being over. Great is Diana. In this wretched and miserable plight. The ploughman plods his weary way. Darkness coming on. The curfew toUs the kneU of parting day. The officers having de- liberated. The king having fallen in battle. EXERCISE V. Convert the following Phrases into Sentences : — Example -.—The Phrase, The moon having arieen, may be converted into a Sentence thus : The moon havuig arisen shone in the blue sky. After many windings. The sun having set. The monarch having given his orders. The houses having been burned. Dark- ness coming on. The officers having deliberated. Snow having faUen. The sea having burst the barriers. With great energy and precision. The lark soaring in the sky. Dawn appearing on the mountain tops. For many weary days. After a long and stormy passage. CHAPTER T. THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. 1. A Simple Sentence is one which contains only one Subject and one Predicate ; as, The sun (Subject) shines (Predicate). 2. The Simple Subject is either a Noun or any other part of speech used as a Noun. The Simple Subject may thus be — , {a.) A Noun ; as, Wellington died. (6.) A Pronoun ; as, She went away, (c.) An Adjective ; as, The weary are at rest. [d.) A Participial Noun ; as, Walking is pleasant, (e.) The Infinitive Mood with or without an object ; as, To err is human ; to love the right ia manly. EXERCISE VI. Name the Subject in each of the following sentences, and tell of what it consists : — The wind is loud. The king was angry. The stars were shining. The light id dim. He foixght bravely. We have suc- ceeded. They were victorious. The poor are to be pitied. The M-icked cease from troubling. The rich have many anxieties. The wretched are exposed to many hardships. Singing is jileasant. Dancing gives pleasure. Speaking is strictly forbidden. To love God is our highest duty. To sleep soundly is a sign of good health. Thou art the man. The mountains look on Marathon. A king sat by the sea-shoro. Eeading aloud is use f ul. We feel the penalty of Adam. To forgive is an attribute of deity. THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. 13 EXERCISE VII. Construct twelve sentences with a Nonn as the Sub- ject. EXERCISE VIII. Construct twelve sentences with a Fronoun as the Subject EXERCISE IX. Construct four sentences with an Adjective as the Subject, four with a Participial Noun as the Subjpf".t, and four with the Infinitive Mood as the Subject. EXERCISE X. Construct Simple Sentences from the follovdiig Sub- jects : — Your brother. His father. The sea. To speak much. Silence. He. They. You and I. The indigent. The wealthy. To read aloud. To tell the truth. Playing at Cricket. Eomping on the grass. Croquet playing. To overtake the enemy. She. Juhus Caesar. Children. 3. The Simple Subject may be qualified by one or more words ; as, for example : — (a.) By one or more Adjectives ; as, The virtuoTis old man is dead. (b.) By a Participle; as, The singing birds are numerous. [c.) By a Noun in Apposition ; as, Paul, the Apostle, was sent to Rome. {(i) By a Noun in the Possessive Case, or its equiva- lent, a Preposition and its Case; as, Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness ; the love of money iy the root of all evil. EXERCISE XI. Name the Subject in the following sentences, and also the Qualifying Words :— Rare old pictures adorned the walls. Rich velvet hangings draped the galleries. The wise, faithful, and valiant soldier died 14 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. on the field of battle. The glittering helmets shone in the sun. The prancing steeds frightened the children. The dancing dogs gave much amusement. Cicero, the orator, was beheaded. Vic- toria, Queen of Britain, is much beloved. Milton, the great poet, was blind. The child's life was brief. The elephant's trunk is very useful. The offer of mercy was accepted. The will of the master must be obeyed. The jewels were rich and rare. The rising sun dispelled tlie mists. Livingstone, the great traveller, BtiU lives. We, the Commons of England, beseech your Majesty. EXERCISE XII. Supply Qualifying Words to tlie Subjects in the fol- lowing sentences : — The . . . mountain was difficult of ascent. The . . • sea frightenedthe children. The boys gathered . . . flowers in the meadow. Wellington, . . . , died at an advanced age. Victoria, . . . , is beloved of the nation. The path . . . is the path of glory. The boy . . . is sure to wm the prize. The road ... is self-denial. The . . birds are heard in the woods. Napoleon, . . . , was defeated at Sedan. The . . power of steam is very great. . . • leaves are pleasant to the eye. The light . . . is beneficial to plants. . . . winds lash the ocean into foan>. The duty ... is to obey their parents, A . . . head is a crown of righteousness. 4. The Simple Subject may be qualified by a phrase which has the force of an Adjective, and which is accord- ingly callsd the Adjective Phrase ; as, The king, attended by his courtiers, roae to the palace. Cffisar, having subdued Gaul, returned to Rome. The harp of this sweet singer touched all hearts. EXERCISE XIII. Name the Subject in the following sentences, point out the Qualifying Phrases :— The king, having subdued his enemies, returned in triumph. The loch, "sleeping in tranquil calmness, was beautifur. Men, taught wisdom by the past, joined their hands in friendship. and a THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. 15 When music, lieavenly maid, was young. Cheerfulness, a nymph of h(!althiest hue, flung her bow across her shoulder. The sleeper, awakened by the dying yells of the dog, opened his eyea. They went forth from their fatherland, a fallen and fettered race. The contest between the king and the comn^ons increased in bitterness. The signing of the great charter marks an era in English history. The voice of this truly great man reached all hearts. The song of the slaves, now redeemed from bondage, rose in joyful accents to heaven. The long contest between the English and the French was thus brought to a close. Having at last reached his destination, the boy sat down to rest. The con- stant motion of the waters of the ocean prevents putrefaction. 5. The Subject may be qualified by several Words or Phrases; as, The gallant young ofiicer, having ridden to the spot, and delivered his message, returned to the camp. EXERCISE XIV. Name the Subjects in the following sentences, and point out the Qualifying Words and Phrases :~ The readers of English history cannot fail to see the gradual growth of the constitution. The fate of this enthusiastic and wonderful boy is deeply touching. Nelson, having arranged his order of battle, and having given his orders to the fleet, gave forth his memorable signal. The tiny little waves, laughing in the sunsliine, and riopling on the sandy beech, filled the child- ren's hearts with joy. The gentle rivulet, flowing through grassy meadows, winding round sunny nocks, and dashing over the steep rocks, at last reached the sea. Inspired with a deadly hatred of Antonio, full of craft and cunning, and burning for revenge, the wretched outcast Jew formed his plans. The keen, searching wit of Portia, tempered by the dignity of her rank, and softened by the refinement natural to a woman, has been greatly admired. The gentle, loving Cowper, lover of everything pure and good, the idol of his friends, and the most delightful poet of his century, was frequently there. EXERCISE XV. Supply a Qualifying Phrase or Qualifying Phrases to the following Subjects : — 1" 16 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Exi^MPLE :-The ship was wrecked. The ship, having lost her anchor, and dnven by the fierce tvmd against the rocky shore, was wrecked. The conqueror came home to die. The sea dashed upon the beach. The children danced with joy. The boy was drowned. The queen was loudly cheered. The wind died away The sky became suddenly darkened. The chief walked hurriedly on. EXERCISE XVI. Construct six sentences in each of which the Subject is qualified by one or more Adjective Phrases. EXERCISE XVII. Supply an appropriate Subject to the following Adjec- tive Phrases, and in each case complete the sentence :— (1 ) Falling gently from the clouds. (2) Leaping upon the wall. fl4)ping his tLgs. (3) Tearing the trees up ^'^^^^-^'^iXZ in' down chimney cans, turning umbrellas mside out. (4) Peep ing through the clouds, brightening the face of ^^t^J^e ^o) Having served his country, having conquered ma thousand figVwom out with old age and anxiety. (6) The dar^g o^ his pkrents. the pride of his school, stripping himself of his dress, plunging into the roaring torrent. 6. The Predicate of a Sentence in its simple form is either — (a.) An Intransitive Verb; as. The sun shines. (b ) A Transitive Verb with a single or double object; as. The boy broke the toy. The king ojered his servant a reward. » ,. .• (c) The Verb To be, with a Noun, an Adjective, or some equivalent phrase; as, Thou art the man. James is happy. The boy is of uTisound mmd. ^ (d.) A Verb in the Passive Voice, with its Attribute, as, Caesar was made general. ..... .., (e.) An Intransitive Verb, with its Attribute, or with an Infinitive ; as, The boy seems a fool, ihe sports began tojlag. THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. 17 EXERCISE XVIIT. Name the Predicate in the following sentences, and state of what each consists : — The wind blows. The rain falls. The boy laughs. The bird sings. The battle rages. . The engine puffs. The horse draws the cart. The arrow hit the mark. The sword pierced his heart. The multitude re-echoed the cry. They offered the boy a handsome present. The teacher taught the class grammar. He asked a reward. Ask me any amount. Csesar was king. Hannibal was commander. The boy is dux. Snow is white. Flowers are lovely. Spring is charming. She was a young woman of great beauty. He was a man of great genius. George was proclaimed king. Cicero was called the father of his country. The man was chosen secretary. May you be happy! Echo seemed an answering blast. He ran to see the sight. Has the boy returned ? Can you give me ten shillings ? The girl becomes a woman. The sea appeared wonderfully beautiful. EXERCISE XIX. Construct six sentences with an Intransitive Verb as the Predicate, and six with a Transitive Verb and its Object as the JPredicate. EXERCISE XX. Construct six sentences with the Verb To be and a Noun as the Predicate, six with the Verb To be and an Adjective as the Predicate, and six with the Verb To be and an Equivalent Phrase as the Predicate. EXERCISE XXI. Construct six sentences with a Verb in the Passive Voice and its Attribute as the Predicate, and six with an Intransitive Verb and its Attribute as the Predicate. EXERCISE XXII. Supply appropriate Predicates to the following Sub- jects : — The lain , , . The mist . . . The lefty mountain peaks . . . The bright rays of the sun . . . John B m 18 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Hi ' h , . . Hia sister . . . The king, returning in great haste, Cyrus, overcome by the Greeks, and filled with ahame, . . . How many thousands of my poorest subjects ... A large bribe ... The river, swoUen by the melting of the snow, ... * The fisherman seated in the boat ... Ye moun- tains, ... I ye streams, ... 1 7 The Predicate of a Sentence may be modified by Adverbs, so as to specify more particularly time, place, or manner, etc. ; as, He sails tomorrow. He came here. The sun shines brightly. ^ LXERCISE XXIII. mme the Predicates in the following sentences, and point out the Modifying Words :— The boy returned yesterday. He told his story clearly. The wind roars loudly. He was magnificently dressed. The rain fell heavily. He wounded him severely. I saw him faU often He very frequently went to see the king. I shall ever cherish the remembrance of that hour. He lay listlessly on the green grass. The boat glides smoothly. Come hither, my little foot page. He will sail soon. He will depart by and bye. 8 The Predicate may be modified by several words having the force of an Adverb. These words may be termed the Adverbial Phrase ; as, The man set off after cm interval of many, years. He remained in tJie same spot. He kept his ground without once flinching. JSf B.—The Predicate may be modified by several Adverbial Phrases; as, After many years of toil, he re- turned to America with great gladness of heart. EXERCISE XXIV. Name the Predicates in the following sentences, and point out the Modifying Words and Phrases :— The snow fell all day. He wandered through the fields for many hours. A lovely boy was gathering flowers by moonlight in a wilderness. He stood for some moments with fear and trembling on the brink of the precipice. He then plunged THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. 19 without hesitation into the foaming abyss. Eight gallantly did the noble youth struggle with the raging waters. We see but dimly through the mists and vapoun Amid these earthly damps. But gently now the small waves glide, Like playful lambs o'er a mountain's side. EXERCISE XXV. Construct six sentences with one or more Modifying Words attached to the Predicate, and six with one or more Modifying Phrases attached to the Predicate. EXERCISE XXVI. Attach Modifying Words or Phrases to the Predi- cates in the following sentences : — The sea was . . . agitated. The scream was . . . piercing. The little bird hopped . . . The fresh young leaves were . . . beautiful. The boy was found sitting . . . He . . . visited America . . . The anemy advanced . . . the army was . . routed. The king, . . , led his army . . . Rise ... I ... he commanded the soldiers to charge the enemy . . . He sat ... to rest . . . 9. The object of a Transitive Verb forms part of the- Predicate of a Sentence. Any word or combination of words that can form the Subject can also form the Object; and the object may be (lualified exactly in the same way as the subject ; as, They killed the brave old soldier. All men love the man of upxight character. They hoard the noise of the thunder, reverberating from peak to peak. EXERCISE XXVII. Name the Object in each '^f the following sentences, and point out the Qualifying Words or Phrases : — They praised the beautiful scenery. They elected Csesar, the commander of the legions, dictator. He chased the stately fleet stag. He pursued his foes, exhausted with fatigue, and longing for rest. I could see young Cupid's fiery shaft, quenched in the ¥' ii\\ ! 20 ENGUSH COMPOSITION. a thousand blushing apparition* start into her tac Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds, Sige like an angry boar, chafed with sweat T 'fated to the Subject or the Predicate Ti.o tin" much incensed at this delay in .S thel^P^esrtd^pted a stiU more characteristic mode of enforcing them. Subject, The king. ISe'^^iStthe Subject, Muckin^e^ at iHU acteristic mode of enforcing them. EXERCISE XXVIII. Analyse the following Simple Sentcnces:- . He .e„t for Edward Montagu aften,^rc.CHe.^^^^^^^ r *"-: ^re":::::^rTad w t^^y ^pp-* p-* --^ Wotoy to tho emperor ha ^^ _^^^_ ^^^ , r'n^e^y or.: ^^Uaration. ,.3 to find the doctor, house. , . _^ rrirr.trtCtrs'ir.-a. ?^o:h''^S::X:Her r^ri"i^ earth to heaven. U. To construct a Simple Sentence from^^nven d^ ments, the pupU must eicamme each Phrase caretuuy, ii!-^ THE SIMPLE SENTENCE 21 attach it to the Subject or to the Predicate, according as the sense requires. In the following Exercise the Subject and the Predicate are contained always in the fir.st phrase, and the pupil is required to arrange the other phrases according to the requirements of the sense. Example. — Elements. 1. Martin Luther was at Jirat destined for a legal pro- fession. 2. Martin Lvtlier was horn at Erfurt, in Saxony. 3. Martin Luther vjas horn in the year 14o4. 4. MartinL'idher was the son of a miner. Combined into a ^'entence thus :— Martin Tjuthtr, the son of a miner, horn at Erfurt^ in Saxony, in the year 1484, was at first destined for a legal profession. EXERCISE XXiy. Combine the following Elements into Simple Sen- tences : — 1. Henry the Eighth united in himself the blood of the houses of York and Lancaster. Henry the Eighth was the son of Henry the Seventh and his queen, Elizabeth. Henry the Eighth was born on the 28th of June, 1491. 2. Howard leapt on board. / Howard bore straight A.q\\u on the admiraL Howard lashed his own ship to the Frenchman. Howard was followed by seventeen of his crew. n. Sir Thomas More retired with joy into the obscurity of private life. Sir Thomas More resigned the seals as Chancellor. Sir Thomas More divided his time between study and devotion. 4. The battle raged all day, The battle began early in the morning. <0 The battle continued mthout intermission. 3S ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 6. Cceear invaded Britain. CjBsar conquered Gaul. Cffisar conquered portions of Germany. Portions of Germany lie near the Rhino. Csesar left a deputy in his stead. 6 The doctor was reading some manuscript. ' The doctor had a complacent smile on hia face. The doctor was seated in an easy chair. 7. Sutherland has an area of 11)03 square miles. Sutherland is an extensive county m the north of Scotland. Sutherland is bounded n the N. by the North Sea. Sutherland has many hio;h hills. 8 The snipe is found in many p -ts of Europe and Asia. The snipe is very familiar t rortsmen The snipe is too wrell know/, to require description. 9 Napoleon the Third surrendered at Sedan. Napoleon declared war against Prussia. Napoleon sustained many crushing defeats. ' These defeats were mainly attributable to the imperfect militarv organization of France. Sedan w(^ completely encircled by German scldierd. 10 The robber was shot dead at the entrance to the cave. ' The cave ran far into the interior of the hill. The robber had spread terror in all directions. The robber was pursued by the king's troops. •Che troops were commanded by the king in person. 11. Th« skin is one of the most compound of all the tissues. Tlie sliir Is the outer covering of the body. TV Al- has to --rvu as a defence for the more deeply Beated structures. 12. She stood beside the harp for some Httle time. Her manner was curious. She went through the motion of playmg it with her right hand. *• a\,a AiH Tint sound it. ^i TUB SIMPLE SENTENCE. 23 EXERCISE XXX. Construct Simple Sentences on each of the fallowing topics : — (a). The hen. The cow. The dog. The pigeon. The a«oat. Barometer. Telegraph. Screw, etc. {d). Abraham. Moses. Daniel. Joseph. Wellington. Napoleon, etc. (c). War. Peace. Dreams. Sleep. Exercise. WaJiing. Fishing, etc. 12. The Form of tho Simple Sentence may be varied in many ways. EXERCISE XXXI. Change the position of the Subject, Predicate, or Object in the following sentences, without destroying the sense : — Example. — Diana of the EpLesians is great. Varied. — Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Such is the hand of heaven. From peak to peak leaps the live thunder. A man he was to all the country dear. Henry's next victim was one still more illustrioua. Great men have been among us. The fountain of perpetual peace flows there. These severe afflictions not from the ground arise. I shot an arrow into the air. Then the maiden clasped her hands. The sound of the bell, the knell of those unliappy men, was borne towards us on the wind. Fallen is thy throne, Israel. Colder and colder blew the wind. EXERCISE XXXII. Change the following Simple Sentences from the Active to the Passive Voice. Example. — I found the arrow. Changed. — The arrow was found by me. The young winds fed the plant with silver dew. Marmion never surveyed a fairer scene. The invasion of Italy followed 24 E^'GLISH COMPOSITIOiN. the retreat of the allied armies. Bourbon entered France on the l^t of July with an army of 22.000 men. The commissioners presented to him two documents. Cromwell vis.ted Mo- dunng his imprisonment. Shylock refused the ofler of the money The merchant bestowed ail his wealth upon his brother The victorious army pursued the fugitives durmg the whole mght. EXERCISE XXXIII. Cliange the following Simple Sentences from the Passive^'to the Active Voice. Example.— The world is governed by God. Changed. — God governs the world. All thin. , have been created by God. The clouds are attracted by the mountains. The dazzling splendour of the sun s rays wa. reflected from every wayside flower. The -f^'^'^^'^^^;^;^^^^^^^^ loved by the hero of his age. A letter was xmmediately written bv Lather, full of the most tender solicitude. His usual occupa- tion was resumed by the king. The city was deserted by a large number of its inhabitants. The brethren were dispersed by the pestilence in all directions. All these things have been much changed by time. The doors of the palace were forced open by the crowd. EXERCISE XXXIV. Change the following Simple Sentences into the Inter- rogative form. Example. — Your father has ccme. Changed.— Has your father come? The sun has rben with unwonted splendour Your brother '4 arrived The horse had not then reached the spot. Iho nv-er at that time had -ot burst its banks. 1|ip -s.a was un- uffled by the faintest breath of wind. The b.rds had all flown aC Tlxe child was «wept away by the torrent He lay all ^^ on the cold ground, 'ihe noise of the thunder hlled han ^^•!th awe- CHAPTER II. THE COMPOUND SENTENCE. 13. The Compound Sentence consists of two or more Simple Sentences combined so that the one is co-ordinate, or of equal force, with the other : as, The sun had set and the moon had not yet risen. EXERCISE XXXV. Name the Clauses of the Compound Sentences in the following Exercise, and state how they are con- nected : — John went away and Mary followed. She looks upon his lips, and they are pale. The way was long, and the night was cold. The heather was on fire, and tlie sky was illuminated by the flames Either you must work hard, or you cannot win the prize. Neither shall I go myself, nor will I allow you to go. He would fain have proceeded further, but the weather was unpropitious. Thus ended all hope of rescue, but the queen's courage did not leave her. We rejoiced at his arrival, for in it we saw our only hope of safety. The whole country was covered with snow, accordingly we could advance no farther. 14. From the foregoing analysis, it will be observed that Co-ordinate Sentences may be classified under four leading heads : ia ) Copulative— when the one sentence is simply added on to the other. This addition is usually effected by the conjunction and, but sometimes by mere juxtaposition; as, John went away and Mary followed. Come hither, Evan Cameron; conie, stand beside mil knee. ill'l 28 ENGLISH COMPOSITIOIT. ePnnoi^^^ Clause by the Conjunct.on *«'- ^^ ^^^y tn Interr.^ ro"atiTe Pronoun, such aa who, what, or oy »u tive Adverb, such as wAere, whm, how. EXERCISE XLVI. Can you tell me where they ^^ J^^^^^^^^^ j^ is manifest which we know. We testify what we ^av^^^^^^ ^^^^ent to . that the house has been broken into I^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^,3, ^-^ :rot:to"::Lrth:r^t=:tyrr, ..t. ... question asked. EXERCISE XLVIL Complete the following Complex Sentences by supply- ing appropri'^te Noun Clauses :— EXAMPLE -.-^.r, 0- '-/'W how miserably he failed. 4. x v„ 1 ^- It was not to m xe, .e, .UU, until, vAei., whenever, etc. THE COMPLEX SENTENCE. 87 2. When the Adverbial Clause expresses place, it may be termed an Adverbial Clause of Place ; as, lie remained where they etationed him. Adverbial Clauses of Place are joined to the Principal Clause by Adverbs of Place, such as, when^ whither, whence, etc. 3. When the Adverbial Clause expresses manner, it may be termed an Adverbial Clause of Manner ; as, He did as he was told. Adverbial Clauses of Manner are joined to the Princi- pal Clause by Adverbs of Manner, such as, as if, so far as, etc. 4. When the Adverbial Clause expresses condition, it may be termed an Adverbial Clause of Condition ; as, If we labour, we shall not want. Adverbial Clauses of Condition are joined to the Princi- pal Clause by such Cor junctions as if, except, unless, etc. 5. When the Adverbial Clause expresses cause, ground, or reason, it may be termed an Adverbial Clause of Cause ; as, I chastened him because I loved him. Adverbial Clauses of Cause are joined to the Principal Clause by such Conjunctions as because, for, since, as, etc. 6. When the Adverbial Clause expresses a conse- quence or effect, it may be termed an Adverbial Cause of Consequence ; as, The sea was so stormy thai the vessel could not jnit to sea. Adverbial Clauses of Consequence are joined to the Principal Clause by such Conjiinctions as th. 'o that, etc. 7. When the Adverbial Clause expresses concession, it may be termed an Adverbial Clause of Concession ; as, 1'hourjh He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. Adverbial '^lauses of Concession are joined to the Principal Clause by such Conjunctions as though, although^ notwithstanding, etc. 8. When the Adverbial Clause expresses degree, it may be termed an Adverbial Clause of Degree ; as, Tlie earth is larger than the moon. 38 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. AdverHal Clauses of Degree are joined to the Prmcipal Clause by such Conjunctions as than, as, etc. EXERCISE L. Name the Adverbial Clauses in the following Exercise, and state what they modily :— Whilst h« was tlunking over the matter, the "^e^JSers Wed Before the day had dawned, the enemy nad fled As thev went along the hill side, the lake came in view. So fai as cL udgtyou have nothing to fear. Unless these abide m heThip ye cannot be saved. If He bnt touch the mountan^. u/ smoke. Although the king claimed the v-^-^, f^J^ unable to follow it up. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise pSsh. He hurled the javelin with as much force as he could. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath bsea So clear in his great office, that his virtues _ Will plead, like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking oif. EXERCISE LI. Comnlete the following Complex Sentences by o-ii- ing appropriate Adverbial Clauses of Time, Place, or Manner. Example. — The enemy had come up . . . , The enemy had come up before he arrivea. The wind had completely died away . . • /he king was unable to proceed " T"l 1 W Tn hi opportunity. The wind blew . . . They laid him in his IL grave'. . • I am sure papa will be happy to see you at Inytime . . . They shall go to the place .. .The lark went soaring into the blue sky . . . She lis cned to the sound of the breakers some lunch wa. at once provided for ua. After dinner we retired to tue drawing- room . • • TEXERCISE LII. GoiTinlHte the following Compie.x Sentences by adding appropriate Adverbial Clauses of Condition or oi uause. i i THE COMPLEX SENTENCE. 39 Example. — Ye cannot expect to make progress. . . . Ye cannot expect to make j^rogress unless ye show due dilig'ence. The boy would have obtained the prize ^ we ehall discover on all hands abundant evidence of the goodness of God. He lost his situation . . . Blessed are the pure in heart . . . His example will be lost on yon . . . After reaching the river, the boys were not allo'»yed to bathe . . . . . . , he must live the life of the righteous. He entirely failed in his object , we must labour to merit it. Great talents will be of little avail , . . The general was unable to bring his force into action as • . . We must work in the day-time for , the builders build in vain. The vessel would have been completely wrecked . , . The boy was severely punished . • • EXERCISE LIIL Complete the following Complex Sentences by adding appropriate Adverbial Clauses of Consequence, Conces- sion, or of Degree. Example. — The road icas so infested with robbers. . . 2 Vie road was so infested ivlth robbers that travelling was very dangerous. The country was flooded to such an extent . . . His diligence was so remarkable, that . . . The efforts of the enemy were so successful, that , , . The river was swollen to an unusual degree, so that ... He may visit mo with every species of torture, yet ... I forgave him all tho debts, though „ . . The east is as far removed from the west, as . . . His brother was taller ... I shall do what you wish . . . The lion is a generous animal, though , yet will I trust him. EXERCISE LIV. 1. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing one Principal and one Subordinate Clause. Example. — Henry the Eighth, who now ascended the throne, was in th»3 T)riine of life= 40 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 2. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing one Principal and two Subordinate Clauses. Example.— Charles the fifth, who at that time was king of Spain, resolved that every effort should be made to crush the Reformation. 3. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing one Principal and three Subordinate Clauses. Example. — As she still looked fixedly at me, a twitch- ing, from which I could not dissociate the idea of pain, came into that cruel mark which marred her handsome face. EXERCISE LV. 1. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing a No;in Clause, occupying the place of the Subject to the Principal Clause. Example. — That the story waa false, was beyond a doubt. 2. Write thre^ Complex Sentences, each containing a Noun Clause, occupying the place of the Object to tlie Principal Clause. Example. — He learned, to his cost, that sin is its own piyiishment. 5. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing an Adjective Clause, which modifies the Subject of the Principal Clause. Example. — The little boy who hurt his finger went home. 4. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing an Adjective Clause, which modifies the Object of the Principal Sentence. took Example. — Can you show me the path which they THE COMPLEX SENTENCE. EXERCISE LVT. 41 1. Write three Complex Sentences, each containing aii Adverbial Clause of Time. Example. — You must not leave the spot until the signal is given. 2 Write 'three Complex Sentences, each containing an Adverbial Clause of Place. ^ Example.— Wherever your position is fixed, there abide. \ T^^^'t^' ,*^^?^ Complex Sentences, each containing an Adverbial Clause of Condition. Example.— It is vain to hope for success, unless we try to merit it. EXERCISE LVIT. \ 7^"^^ ,*^r^ Complex Sentences, each containing an Adverbial Clause of Cause. Example.— He was unable to find his way, for the country was covered with snow. \ T^'''^^ ,*^«r Co^^Plex Sentences, each containing an Adverbial Clause of Consequence. Example.— The wind blew with such force that the tallest trees were uprootod. \ ?^"J® ^^J^^^ Complex Sentences, each containinff an Adverbial Clause of Concession. Example— Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor. 20. In order to combine given Elements into Complex Sentences, the pupil should be habituated to resolve Complex Sentences into Simple ones. The process of Kesolution is the best and safest guide to that of Com- bmation ; Analysis is the best preparation for Svutha^is )m 42 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. EXERCISE LVIII. Resolve the following Complex Sentences into Simple Sentences: — Example.— r/ie wind, tvhich had blown violently all night, lulled towards morning. The wind had blown violently all flight.- The wind lulled towards morning. The battle, which raged all day, ceased with the coming on of evening. The mist crept slowly up the valley, when the sun began to shine. He had promised that he would grant hberty of conscience to his subjects. The royal prerogatn-e, for which he had long suffered, was sacred in his eyes. Great multitudes of people assembled in the streets, crying out that England was sold. Gold, which is found in many parts of the world, is the most precious of all the metals. The elephant, which fjequeats the jungles of Hindostan, is the largest of all quadrupeds The discontent was heightened by calamities, which the best adminis- tration could not have averted. The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, Burned on the waters. I'm sitting on the stile, Mary, Where we sat side by side; On a bright May morning long ago, When first you were my bride. EXERCISE LIX. Resolve tlie following Complex Sentences into Simple Sentences: Example.— T'/te ceremony was peculiarly magnijicent, and, in an age lohen those jxigeants were carried to the highest perfection, rivalled any former exhibition oj tlic sn .'-(/. 'i'v.' eremony was peculiarly magnijicent. ' that age those pageants were carried to the highest perfection. The ceremony rivalled any former ceremony of the same kind THE COMPLEX SENTENCE. 43 When the evening closed in, the diflBculty and danger of walking about London became serious indeed. The poison, which t^fy n.dministered, was so strong that it was, in no long time, rejected with nausea. I had been in Yarmouth, when the seamen said it blew great guns, but I had never known the like of this. As the high watery walls came rolling in, and, at their highest, tumbled into surf, they looked as if the least would engulf the town. As I sat beside his bed, when hope was aban- doned and all was done, a fisherman, who had knoAvn me when Emily and I were children, whispered my name at the door. The streams that bubble out their mirth — In humble nooks, or calmly flow; The crystal life-blood of our earth, Are now the dearest sight I know. EXERCISE LX. Combine the following Elements into Complex Sen- tences : — Example. — Elementa Svgar is made chiefly from the juice of the sugar-cane. The sugar-cane grows in the East Indies. The sugar-cane grows in Brazil. Sugar is largely used as an article of food. Combined thus : — Sugar, mude chiefly from the juice of the sugar-cane, which grows in the East Indies, and in Brazil, is largely used as an article of food. 1, In the reign of Queen Elizabeth a plant was brought to England for the first time. The plant was brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh. The plant is now very much used. Sir Walter had sailed across the seas to America in search of new plants. 2. An army in India was marching up a hilL The large guns were drawn by elephants. The large guns were very heavy. On the carriage of one of the guns a soldier was sitting. The soldier was very tired. 44 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. The soldier dropped asleep. The soldier fell from his seat 3 The carriage was loaded with its heavy gun. ■ The wheel of the carriage was on the point of rolling over his body. The elephant saw the danger. The elephant was unable to reach the man with its trunk. The elephant seized the wheel. The elephant lifted the wheel carefully over the soldier. 4. Parrots abound in the forests of South America. In these forests there is summer all the year round. In these forests the leaves are always green. In these forests the flowers are always blooming. 5. The elephant is the largest of all land animals. The elephant is found in Asia. The elephant is found in Africa. The elephant is chiefly found in the island of Ceylon. Ceylon is a beautiful island. Ceylon is as large as Ireland. There are vast forests in Ceylon. These forests form the home of thousands of elephants. 6. A captain in the Russian army had a daughter. The daughter was named Catherine. The captain had been banished to a small village. The village was in the north of Siberia. Catherine saw how unhappy her father was. Catherine resolved to go to St. Petersburg. Catherine resolved to ask the Czar to pardon her father, 7. The beaver was at one time abundant in Europe. The beaver is now chiefly found in North America. The beaver lives in a burrow. The beaver digs out his burrow near a stream. 8. Iron is one of the great sources of British wealth. Iron is obtained in large quantities in England. Iron is obtained in large quantities in Scotland. Iron is generally found in the same districts as coal. Coal is much required in smelting iron. n««i ia miiph rfinnired in manufacturing iron. THE COMPLEX SENTENCE. 45 9. A Scotch nobleman was very fond of farming. The nobleman had bought a cow from a gentleman. The gentleman lived near the nobleman. The cow was to be sent home next morning, 10. At the south-western extremity of Switzerland stood an ancient city. This ancient city stood in a great valley. This great valley the white giant of the mountains points out from afar. The ancient city stands on the banks of the Leman Lake. The ancient city stands at the spot where the Rhone roll& its majestic waters. The ancient city stands on a small hill. The foot of Caesar had once trod that hill. The steps of another conqueror were destined to leave their glorious traces on that hill. 11. The early stars began to shine. We lingered on in the fields, (time) We looked up to the stars. We thanked our God. God had guided us to this tranquillity. 12. Here my self-support gave way all at once. I made a movement of my hands, (and with) This movement (which) was intended to show her my ragged state. I broke into a passion of crying. The passion of crying had been pent up within me all the week. EXERCISE LXI. Write Complex Sentences on the following given Subjects : — ExAjr^LE. — Sponge Sponge, which is the soft skeleton of a sea animal, con- sists of a great number of tubes, ivhich during the life of the ^nimal are lined with a soft flesh. oponge is chiefly found in the Mediterranean, but the finest kinds come from the Grecian Islands, which stud the Archipelago. 46 ENGLI»H COMPOSITION. Sponqe is obtained by diving, and the people toho inhabit ihT islands are trained to be divers from Mdhood, whereby they become very expert at the work. Cotton. Wool. Silk. Lace. Leather. Gloves Paper. Pens Ink. Pencils. India-rubber. Cork. Coral. 1 earl, oil SeaHng-wax. Glue. Soap. Whalebone. Spoons. Knives. Bread. Honey. Sugar. CHAPTER IV. i' PUNCTUATION. 21. Punctuation is the art of separating the diflereuL parts of a sentence, or different sentences, from each other by certain conventional points. The object of this separation is to make the meaning of written language clear to the reader. 22. The Points commonly employed for this purpose are the following : — 1. Comma (,). 4. Period (.). 7. Parenthesis. ... ( ). 2. Semicolon... (;). 5. Interrogation... (?). 8. Quotation... (" "), 3. Colon (:). 6. Exclamation..., (!). 9. Dash (— ). THE COMMA. 23. 1. (a.) Commas are not required in an ordinary Simple Sentence. Example. — The little bird soared into the sky. (b.) Adjective and Adverbial Phn js are generally separated from the rest of the sentence by Commas. Example. — The emperor, surrounded by a brilliant staff, rode up to the gates of the town. Speaking generally, the movement was not successful. (c.) Nouns in Apposition, especially when accompanied by Adjuncts, are separated from the rest of the sentence by Commas. Example. — Oliver Cromwell, the captain of the famous Ironsides, soon came to the front. 48 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. \ i Id ) Whon several words of the same kind follow each other, without the intervention of any Conjunction, they are sepaiated from each other by Commas. Example. —He delivered a plain, unvarnished tale. One could easily discover the traces of his early hardships, struggles, and sulTei-ings. le ) When words of the same kind follow each other in pairs, the pairs are separated from each other by Commas. ExvMPLE.— The idle and the busy, the good and the bad, the grave and the gay, met there side by side. (/) All Nominatives of Address are separated from the rest of the sentence by Commas. Example.— Sire, the battle is lost. (a) There are certain Adverbs, such as therefore, moreover, besides, however, etc., which are very generally separated from the rest of the sentence by Commas. Example.— It is, moreover, necessary to bear this fact in mind. EXERCISE LXII. Point the following sentences correctly, and give a reason for each point yon insert : — Oswald in the midst of his exertions did not forget his friends. Shielded with the buckler of Scripture he gained an easy victory. Many fearing to compromise themselves refused to take a side The Pope France England the empire were all in commotion. A great crowd filled the cathedral of Berne the statliest edifice m the city. The population of every one of these places has since the Revolution much more than doubled. Conspicuous among these interesting cities was York the capital of " Morth. About a day's journey south of Leeds on the ve. a wud moorland tract lay an ancient manor now rich with cultivation then barren and unenclosed. Her endless docks quays and warehouses are among the wonders of the world England however in the seventeenth century was not destitute of water- PUNCTUATION. 49 iiig pliicea. Tuubridge Wella lying within a day's journey of the capital possessed great attractions. Hushed on the Angel's breast I saw an infant rest Smiling upon the gloomy deep below. give a reason for EXERCISE LXIII. Point the following sentences, and each point you insert : — Coal iron tin lead were found there in abundance. The general was a little humpbacked wiry old man. The clash of halberds swords and breastplates had alone hitherto re-echoed through the city. Poverty and wealth gorgeous pomp and squalid misery lofty virtue and rank iniquity flourished side by side. Friends Romans countrymen and lovers I come to bury Cajsar. Secretly and in the dark they carried their boats piece by piece to a quiet valley about half a mile from the sea. All corners of the earth kings queens and states maids matrons the very secrets of the grave are hardly hid from his searching glance. To tell the truth I was not much pleased with the performance. Come pensive sage in all the beauty of thy lowly simplicity. Fair daffodils we weep to see You haste away so soon. Lymoges ! O Austria thou dost shame That bloody spoil thou slave thou wretch thou coward Thou little valiant great in villany 1 EXERCISE LXIV. Point the following sentences, and give a reason for each point you insert : — To remain in the darkness on a battlefield in an enemy's counvry among the enemy themselves all for pity and mercy's sake is one of the noblest deeds recorded in history. Even the spiritual supremacy arrogated by the Pope was in the dark ages productive of far more good than evil. Even in war the cruelty of tho conqueror was frequently mitigated by these ideas. J thanked her for her kindness without making any demonstration of joy. Mr. Dick had regularly assisted at our councils with a D 60 EN'OLISH COMPOSITION. I meditative an.l sage demeanour. Earth and sky and and water mountain and valley sweeping upland and undulating nieadow all bore traces of divine workmanship. These are thy glorious works Parent of good. Meanwhile the adversary of God and man Satan with thoughts inllamed of highest design Tuts on swift wings Yet once more O ye laurels and once mo»-e Ye myrtles brown with ivy never sere I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude. At the bottom of the stairs the two earls attended by several gentlemen from the neighbouring counties waited dunng the dul cheerless morning to receive her. This progress having continued during many ages became at length about the middle of the eighteenth century portentously rapid. To gild refined gold to paint the lily To throw a perfume on the violet To smooth the ice or add another hue Unto the rainbow or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish Is wasteful and ndiculous excess. 2 (a) In Complex Sentences the Subordinate Clauses are generally separated from the Principal Clause by Commas. If the Subordinate Clause is short, and closely connected with the Principal Clause, the Commas are frequently omitted. The Adjective Clause, whexi it is restrictive, is not separated from the rest of the sentence by Commas. ExAMPLES.-Since the charter of the capital was in their way, that charter must be annulled. The man who saw this reported the fact. (6.) An Indirect Quotation is separated from the rest of the sentence by a Comma. Example.— The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. PUNCTUATION. 61 (c.) The Simple Clauses of a Compound SeuLeuce aa; generally separated from each other by a Comma, but if the Clauses are very sliort, no Comma is required. Examples.— Russel died with the fortitude of a Chris- tian, Sydney with the fortitude of a Stoic. My fathoi* remained but my mother left. (d.) In a Compound Sentence, when the Verb is omitted in the second Clause, its placf is siippliud by a Comma. Ex/"PLB. — To err is human ; to forgive, divine. ,s EXERCISE LXV. Point the following sentences, and give a reason for each point you insert : — When the rival parties first appeared in a distinct form they seemed to be not unequally matched. A few eminent men wlio belonged to an earlier and better age were exempt from the general contagion. Cowley distinguished as a loyalist and as a man of letters raised his voice courageously against the prevail- ing immorality. I was taking my coffee and roll in the morning before going to the office when the man himself walked in to my unbounded joy. But the agony of mind the remorse and shame I felt when I became conscious next day ! On somebody's motion we resolved to go down stairs to the dress boxes where the ladies were. I saw no more of him until the day when my sister left town. He replied that a good case of a disputed will where there was a neat little estate of thirty or forty thousand pounds was perhaps the best sort of professional business. In a small pretty village in Nottinghamshire There formerly lived a respectable squire Who excelled all his friends in amusements athletio And whose manner of living was far from ascetic. As they entered the town a young maiden tripped by With a cheek like a rose and a light laughing eya. 52 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 'h '-^^y-U "Where the lamps quiver So far in the river With many a light From window and casement From garret to basemenb She stood with amazement Houseless by night. EXERCISE LXVI. Point tlie following sentences, and give a reason for each point you insert ; — It is a remark of Lord Bacon's that reading makes a full man. It is the part of a madman to say I never thought of that. It is the common experience of mankind that habit is a second nature. It was a saying of Philip of Macedon that no town was impregnable into which gold could be introduced. It is excellent To have a giant's strength but tyrannous To use it like a giant. On his return home early in the month of August Pace who was at this time a favourite with the king found that Henry was at Penshurst enjoying the magnificent hospitality of the Duke of Buckingham. Nature had given him a keen understanding a restless and mischievous temper a cold heart and an abject spirit. They were zealous for monarchy and condemned m theory all resistance. His political tracts well deserve to be studied for their literary merit and fully entitle him to a place among English Classics. Moses tells us that the fountains of the earth were broken open. I have a son a little son a boy just five years old With eyes of thoughtful earnestness and mind of gentle mould They tell me that unusual grace in all his ways appears That my child is grave and wise of heart bejond his childish years. The shroud of years thrown back thou dost revive Half-raised half -buried dead yet still alive Gathering the world around thee to admire Thv disinterment and with hearts on fire PUNCTUATION. To catch the form and fashion of the time When Pliny lived and thou wert in thy prime. I venerate the man whose heart is warm Whose hands are pure whose doctrines and whose lif« Coincident exhibit lucid proof That he is honest in the sacred cause. 53 THE SEMICOLON. 24. 1. The Semicolon is used to indicate a longer pause than that required by the Comma. 2. "^he most common use of the Semicolon is in tlie following cases : — (a.) When the Clauses of a Complex or of a Compound Sentence contain distinct propositions, and each Clause has subordinate Clauses dependent on it, the princii^al Clauses are separated from each other by Semicolons. Examples. — At length the darkness begins to break ; and the country •which had been lost to view as Britain reappears as England. I approached him tenderly, for I loved even him ; but he showed his whole set of teeth, and wouldn't hear of the least familiarity. (6.) When the second Clause of a sentence ccntaris the reason for the st;vteinent made in the first, it is generally separated from it by a Semicolon. Example. — Nor is this strange; for it is evident that the inns will be best where the means of locomotion are worst. (c.) Antithetical Clauses are generally separatea from each other by a Semicolon. Example. — His boys followed the plough; but his girls went out to service. iV^.^. — In the exercises that follow, the Rules given in tiaTaffraT)h 2-3. rearardinf? the ase of the ComiHE. must be 54 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 1 4 applied, as well as those now given for the use of the Semicolon. EXERCISE LXVII. Point the following sentences, and give a reason for each point you insert: — The clouds around the setting sun assumed a new appearance the air was more mild and warm and during the night the wind became unequal and variable. The arts of deceit continually grow weaker whereas integrity gains strength by use. We know neither how nor for what purpose we exist nor what is to be the destiny of that principle within us which every heart- throb proclaims to be eternal. There is none to solve the deep mystery of the things about us but we feel in the darkness the clasp of a strong hand. The countenances of the soldiers were sad and lowering and had they given way to their feelings the festive pageant would have had a mournful and bloody end. The country around is destitute of trees for the uses of shade or building but some large beams were discovered in a cave by the soldiers. One of the fountains of aifection within me has been sealed up from my birth I would fain have an object to let it flow upon. The blood flowed freely but the king remained insensible. The rainbow comes and goes And lovely is the rose The moon doth with delight Look round her when the heavens are bare Waters on a starry night Are beautiful and fair The sunshine is a glorious birth But yet I know where'er I go That there hath passed away a glory from the earth. EXERCISE LXVIII. Point the following sentences, and give a reason for each point you insert : — The public mind was greatly disturbed but there was no dis- position to tumult. He readily consented to put his life in peril a seoond time for his prince but there was still another diflSculty. I ■ PUNCTUATION. 55 To find a priest was not easy for the person who admitted a proselyte into the Catholic church was guilty of a capital crime. The duke's orders were obeyed and even the physicians withdrew. The face is a blank without the eye and the eye seems to con- centrate every feature in itself. It is the eye that smiles not the lips it is the eye that listens not the ear it that frowns not the brow it that mourns not the voice. It was time for Mon- mouth was already drawing up his army for action. The noblest scenes of the earth can be seen and known but by few it is not intended that man should always live in the midst of them he "ures them by his presence he ceases to feel them if he be always with them. Had it pleased Heaven To try me with affliction had He rained All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head Steeped me in poverty to the very lips Given to captivity me and Juy utmost hopes I should have found in some part of my soul A drop of patience. Good name in man or woman dear my lord Is the immediate jewel of their souls Who steals my purse steals trash 'tis something nothing 'Twas mine 'tis his and has been slave to thousands But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed. THE COLON. 25. 1. The Colon is used to indicate a longer pause than that required by the Semicolon. 2. The Colon is not frequently used; it is most com- monly employed in the following cases : — (a.) When a sentence consists of two parts: the one complete in itself, and the other containing some remark or observation which is logically though not grammatically connected with the first, the two parts are generally sepa- rated from each other by a Colon. 56 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. >i ■■ Example.— I Lcknowledge a likeness: why miglit there not be some hkeness between what God does and what man invents 1 (b) When a sentence contains a series of distinct propositions, separated from each other by Semicolons, and the sense of the whole depends on. the last Clause, that Clause is generally separated from the rest of the sentence by a Colon. Example.— When the last charge had been made; when the broken and disorganised regiments had been hurled back in confusion; when the signal to advance was given, and the whole army moved on as one man : then it was seen how far steadiness surpasses mere dash. (c.) The Colon is also used, in conjunction with the Dash, to introduce a quotation. Example.— On his death-bed, he is Said to have ex- claimed : — "How vain is worldly glory now." EXERCISE LXIX. Point the following sentences, and give a reason for each point you insert : — His labour is not yet at an end man's labour never ceases. Do not expect perfect happiness here God grants no such thing to any mortal man. True virtue will sooner or later make itself felt causes are always followed by effects. Government is not made in virtue of natural rights which may and do exist in total independence of it and exist in much greater clearness and in a much greater degree of abstract perfection but their abstract perfection is their practical defect by having a right to everything they want everything. The poet must divest himself of the prejudices of his age or country he must consider right and wrong in their abstract and invariable state he must disregard present laws and opinions and rise to general and transcendental triiths which will always be the same he must content himself with the slow progress of his name contemn the anplaupe of his own time and commit his PUNCTUATION. 67 claims to the justice of posterity all these he must do if he wish to meril the title of great poet. The burgomaster waved his broad felt hat for silence and then exclaimed " What would ye my friends why do ye murmur that we do not break our vows and surrender our city to the Spaniards." Seneca has very beautifully said "Life is a voyage in the pro- gress of which we are perpetually changing our scenes." At last Imlac began thus " I do not wonder that your reputa- tion is so far extended vre have heard of your wisdom and come hither to implore your direction in the conduct of this business." THE PERIOD. 26. The Period is used at the end of every Complete Sentence, whether Simple, Compound, or Complex. Examples. — The sun shone brightly. Mary died and William reigned alone. To us who dwell on its surface, the earth appears the most important of all the planets. 27. The Period is also used after all Abbreviations of names, dates, titles, etc. Examples. — H. R. II. the Prince of Wales, for His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales. A.D. for Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord. EXERCISE LXX. Insert the proper points in the following Exercise : — The birds sang sweetly from every tree peace and contentment reigned in every dwelling after his abdication Xapoleon was sent to St Helena where he died her singular talents for government were founded equally on her temper and on her capacity the noblest of the Greeks and the bravest of the Allies were sum- moned to the palace to prepare them for the duties and dangers of the general assault it would be difficult to estimate the value of the benefits which these inventions have conferred on this country there are chanfrcs which may happen in a single instant Ei 4 58 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. of time and against which nothing known in the present system of things provides us with any security there is a perennial noble- ness and even sacredness in work he was nominated a KCB the Rev Dr M'Leod was editor of Good Words he died ad 1872 when HRH the Duke of Cambridge ./as conducting the review the Shah presented him with his sword he left many works in MS Three fishers went sailing out into the west Out into the west as the sun went down Each thought of the woman who loved him best And the children stood watching them out of the town For men must work and women must weep And there's little to earn and many to keep Though the harbour-bar be moaning INTERROGATION AND EXCLAMATION. 28. The point of Interrogation is used after all direct questions. Example. — Have you finished your lesson? 29. The point of Exclamation is placed after Inter- jections, or after any Phrases, Clauses, or Sentences which express any emotion of the mind. Examples. — Alas ! our young affections run to -waste. Italia ! Oh Italia ! thou who hast the fatal gift of beauty. Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean — roll ! EXERCISE LXXI. Point the following Exercise, and give a reason for each point you insert : — Have you ridden far to-day How many men succeeded in effecting their escape Do you imagine that it is the land-tax which raises your revenue Is it for him to question the dispensa- tion of the royal favour Come forth ye children of gladness come Hark forth from the abyss a voice proceeds Scion of chiefs ind monarchs where art thou Oh that the desert were my dwell- ing place. PUNCTUATION. Stars your balmiest influence shed ^^ Elements your wrath suspend Sleep ocean in the rocky bounds That circle thy domain Oh sleep it is a gentle thing Beloved from pole to pole To Mary queen the praise be given She sent the gentle sleep from heaven That slid into my soul Now my co-mates and brothers in exile Hath not old custom made this life more sweet Than that of painted pomp are not these woods More free from peril than the envious court- 59 THE PARENTHESIS AND THE DASH. 30. The Parenthesis is used to enclose some words supplementary to the leading idea of the sentence, and which might be omitted without injury to the sense. The use of the Parenthesis is not to be encouraged. Its presence in a sentence generally indicates defective combination, arising from confusion of thought. Example. — The distance of the nearest of these fixed stars or suns (for suns they are proved to be) is at least twenty billion miles 31. {a.) The Dash is used to indicate a break in the Sentence. Example. — Yet, now, if thou wilt forgive their sin — and if not, blot me out of thy book. (b.) The Dash is used to connect a succession of Clauses beginning with the same word, or to link on particular statements to a general one, which comprehends the particular. Examples.— And now the bell— the bell she had heard 60 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 1 I. t '■' ih': Ml 'm so oft, rung its remorseless toll. He was banished from all lie valued most — home, country, and friends. (c.) The Dash is now almost universally used in place of the Parenthesis. Example. — As far as the interests of freedom are concerned — the most important by far of sublunary interests— you stand as the representatives of the human race. EXERCISE LXXII. Point the following Exercise, and give a reason for each point you insert : — What I mean to say is this and when I have said it .T shall finish that mere bravery is not sufficient to win a battle. Up to that time the old man had not spoken once except to her or stirred from the bed-side. If thou beest he but oh how fallen. Some and they were not a few knelt down. That done she turned to the old man with a lovely smile upon her face such they said as they had never seen and never could forget and clung with both her arms about his neck. There is a village no matter where in which the inhabitants on one day in the year sit down to a dinner prep ed at the common expense. The tyranny grew into a custom and as the manner of our nature is it was considered as the most sacred of all duties to keep these poor fellows without their annual dinner. Our fathers each man was a god. The ancient rooms she had seemed to fill with life even when her own was waning fast the garden she had tended the eyes she had gladdened the noiseless haunts of many a thoughtful hour the paths she had trodden as it were but yesterday could know her no more. THE QUOTATION. 82. The Quotation is used to enclose words actually quoted. Example. — "It is not," said the schoolmaster, "it is not on eai"th that heaven's justice ends." PUNC3TUATI0N. 61 EXERCISE LXXIII. Insert the correct Quotation marks in the following sentences : — I have been, said he, in Argyll's room. I have seen him within an hour of eternity, sleeping as sweetly as ever man did. But as for me . I will not, said the queen. Seyton I command you i,o stay at every risk. Pardon me, madam, if I disobey, said the young man. The words he read were these : — Clime of the unforgotten brave ! Whose land from plain to mountain cave Was freedom's home or glory's grave ! This is the judgment of God, said the grand-master, looking upwards. The eyes of the Indian monarch Hashed fire as he replied : I will be no man's tributary ! I am greater than any prince upon earth. The foreman of the jury answered. Not guilty. Then Christabel knelt by the lady's side. And raised to heaven her eyes so blue- Alas, she said, this ghastly ride — Dear lady ! it hath wildered you I The lady wiped her moist cold brow, And faintly said, 'tis over now. A chieftain to the highlands bound Cries, boatman, do not tarry ! And I'll give thee a silver pound To row us o'er the ferry. CAPITAL LETTERS. 33. The following words should begin with Capital Letters : — (a.) The first word of every sentence. (b.) The first word in every direct quotation. (c.) The first word of every line of poetry. (d.) All proper Nouns and Adjectives formed from them, such as France, French. m ^i •|i 62 ENGLISH COMPOSITIOK. (e.) Tlie PiDnoun I, and the Interjection 0. (/) All names and attributes of God, (g.) Words denoting the days of the week, the names of the seasons, or months, the name of any important historical event, such as Reformation, etc. (A.) Single lettera used as abbreviations, as M.D. EXERCISE LXXIV. Insert the necessary Capitals in the following sen- tences : — the sea was meant to be irregular. when i arrived at the palace gate william received me. he is reported to have said : — "all is lost save our honour." henry the eighth was king of eugland. snow fell thick in deceraber and in the beginning of January, the roads were impassable, the revolution happened a. d. 1688. he was created m.d. and subsequently 11. d. i jumped up when he came in, and clasped his hands with fervour. within a mile of edinburgh town we laid our little darling down ; our first seed in god's acre soAvn ! BO sweet a place ! death looks beguiled of half his gloom ; or sure he smiled to win our wondrous spirit- child THE PARAGRAPH. 34. Tlie Paragraph marks a greater pause in the con- struction of a narrative than the Period, and contains a series of sentences, all treating of one subject. Para- graphs will be longer or shorter, according to the length and number of the sentences required to complete the particular subjects of which the Paragrapli treats. Example. — ^The following narrative may serve as an example of the use of the Paragraph : — It was not long before sunset when the van of the royal procession entered the gates of the city. PUNCTUATION. Ema 63 levated high ahove his vassab '••t.ie the Inca Atahuallpa, borne on a aedan or open litter, on which was a sort of throne, made of massive gold, of inestimable value. The palanquin waa lined with the richly coloured plumes of tropical birds, and studded with shining plates of gold and silver. Round his neck was suspended a collar of emeralds, of uncommon size and brilliancy. His short hair waa decorated with golden ornaments, and the imperial borla encircled his temples. The bearing of the Inca was sedate and dignified ; and from his lofty station he looked clown on the multitude below with an air of composure, like one accustoned to command. As the leading files of the procession entered the great square, larger, says an old chronicler, than any square in Spain, they opened to the riglit and left for the royal retinue to pass. Every- thing was conducted with admirable order. The monarch was permitted to traverse the plaza in silence, and not a Spaniard was to be seen. When some five or six thous. .\ of his people had entered the place, Atahuallpa halted, and, turning round with an inquiring look, demanded, "Where are the strangers." Il EXERCISE LXXV. Point the following narrative and divide it into Para- graphs : — She was dead no sleep so beautiful and calm so free from trace of pain so fair to look upon she seemed a creature fresh from the hand of God and waiting for the breath of life not one who had lived and suffered death her couch was dressed with here and there some winter berries and green leaves gathered in a spot she bad been used to favour when I die put ^lear me something that loved the light and had the sky above it always these were her words she was dead dear gentle patient noble Nell was dead her little bird a poor slight thing the pressure of a finger would have crushed was stirring nimbly in its cage and the strong heart of its child-mistress was mute and motionless for ever where were the trace.'' of her early cares her sufferings and fatigues all gono sorrow was dead indeed in her but peace and perfect happiness were born imaged in her tranquil beauty and profound repose. l! \ i 64 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. , ^Jl ,.t ' ■ iT w M' EXERCISE LXXVI. '^ Insert the necessary Points in the following narrative, and divide it into Paragraphs : — On the iriMming of Thun.aay the 5th of Febrnary the London Gazette announced M.at his majesty was going on well and was thought by the physicians to be out of dan^r^r the bells of all tho churches rang merrily and preparations for bontir. . were made m the streets but in the evening it was known that a relapse had taken place and that the medical attendants had-given up all hope the public mind was greatly disturbed but there was no d.s- position to tumult the Duke of York who had already taken on himself to give ordors ascertained that the city was perfectly nuiet and that he might without difficulty be proclaimed as soon as his brother should expire the king was in great pam and com- plained that he f .It as if a fire was burning withm him yet he bore up against his sufferings witli a fortitude which did not seem to belong to his soft and luxurious nature the sight of his misery affected his wife so much that she fainted and was carried senseless to her chamber the pr lates who were in waiting had from the first exhorted him to prepare for his end they now thought it their duty to address him in a still more urgent manner William Sancroft Archbishop of Canterbury an honest and pious though narrow-minded man used great freedom it is time he ?aid to speak out for sire you are about to appear before a judge who is no respecter of persons the king answered not a word. EXERCISE LXXVII. ; 1. Write three sentences, in each of which a Comma / is required. 2. Write three sentences^, in each of which tWO Commas are required. 3. Write three sentences, in each of which three or more Commas are required. EXERCISE LXXVIII. 1. Write three sentences, in each of which a Semicolon is required. PUNCTUATION. 65 2. Write three sentences, in each of which two Seitti- COlons are required. 3. Write three sentences, in each of which a Colon is required. EXERCISE LXXIX. 1. Write three sentences, each requiring a Point of Interrogation. 2. Write three sentences to illustrate the use of the Dash. 3. Write three sentences to illustrate the use of the Point of Exclamation. Il 'i % I, CHAPTER Y. VARIETY IN TH3 STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES. 35 The position of the Clauses and Phri-ses in a Sentence may be changed witnout altering the construc- tion, or injuring the sense. Example.— At the dead hour of midnight, the Kremlin itself wa^ found to be on fire. Changed.— The Kremlin itself was found to be on fire, at the dead hour of midnight. EXERCISE LXXX. Change the position of the PhraSBS or Clauses in the following sentences : — The army, less regardful of the past or the future, fixed their eyes on the goal of thoir wishes. During the first few hours after their arrival, an obboure rumour announced that the city would be endangered by fire in the course of the night. Aristotle says that upon the river Hypanis there exist little animals who . live only one day. On a sudden, while the battle was obstinately maintained on both sides, an event happened which decided the victory. Many of the best and bravest of the English nobihty and gentry, as I have said, lay dead on the field. While passing through this dense cloud, the voyagers carefully observed the barometer. The poor weep unheec' 3d, persecuced by every sub- ordinate species of tyranny. Now, for the first time these ten years, you know the flavour of cold water. On Sabbath days, whenever a babe was to be baptised, the sexton filled his baair here. All around us the world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. Meanwhile, in our island, the regular course of government has never been lor a day intcrrupteu. VARIETY IN THE STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES. 67 the EXERCISE LXXXI. Change the position of the Phrases or Clauses in the following sentences in two different ways ; — Example. At the dead hour of midnight, when all was silen+i in the castle, the page put the key into the lock of the wicket which opened into the garden. Changed. 1. When all was silent in the castle, the page, at the dead ho> . of midnight, put the key into the lock of the wicket which opened into the garden. 2. The page, when all was silent in the castle, put, at the dead hour of midnight, the key into the lock of the wicket which opened into the garden. They heard more than one ball w^iizz along +he surface of the lake, at no great distance fron- their little bark. As the heavy keys plunged in the lake, the abbot, who till then had been repeating his prayers, exclaimed, "Now bless shee, my son !" For a few seconds, apparently in the most violent agitation, he paced backward and forward. As the evening darkened, little glimmering lights, like stars of the third magnitude, twinkled on the mast heads, from whence the yellow dags had lately depended. With the Sabbath hills around us, far from the dust and din, the splendour and the squalor of the city, we have sat on a rocky bank, to (bonder at the varied and rich profusion with which God had clothed the scene. At length, towards morning, as the dawn broke up without, his spirit also grew stiller, the images grew clearer and more permanent. EXERCISE LXXXII. Change the position of the Phrases or Clauses in the following sentences in three different ways : — Example. When they saw that their masters were likely to gain the day, these men rushed from their place of conceal- I< 68 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. I' m i lii t^~':] ment with sucli weapons as they could get, that they might have their share in the victory and in the spoil. Changed. 1. These men, when they saw that their masters were likely to gain the day, rushed from their place of conceal- ment with such weapons as they could get, that they might have their share in the victory and in the spoil. 2. When they saw that their masters were likely to gain the day, these men, with such weapons as they could get, rushed from their place of concealment, that they might have their share of the victory and of the spoil. 3. That they might have theu- share in the victory and in the spoil, these men rushed from their place of con- cealment with such weapons as they could get, when they saw that their masters were likely to gain the day. After a short time, Bruce, who was looking out anxiously for the enemy, saw a body of English cavalry trying to get into Stirling from the eastward. No duubt King Edward thought, that, by exercisirg thi?? great severity towards so distinguished a patriot as Sir Williau: Wallace, he should terrify all the Scots into obedience. Early in the morning I set out for the top of Gerizim to inspect the ruins, taking with me my servant and the son of my host as a guide. I had loft a friend's home one evening just before dark, intending to skate a short distance up the noble river which glided directly before the door. On the 5th day of the moon, which, according to the custom of my forefathers, I always keep holy, after having washed myself, and offered up r^y morning devotions, I ascended the high hills of Bagdad, in order to pass the rest of the day in meuitation and prayer, 36. A very useful Exercise, and one somewhat re- sembling that of the preceding paragraph, consists in transposing passages of poetry into the order of prose, substituting only such words as are necessary to ma^e the Bsnse complete. variety in the structure of sentences. 69 Example. Beneath those nigged elms, that yew tree's shade, ^ Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow bed for ever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. Transposed. The rude forefathers of the hamlet, each laid for ever in his nan-ow bed, sleep beneath those rugged elms; beneath the shade of that yew tree, where the turf heaves in many a mouldering heap. EXERCISE LXXXIII. Transpose the following passages of poetry into the order of prose : — 1. Oft I had heard of Lucy Oray j And, when I crossed thtj wild, I chanced to see at break oi day. The solitary child. No mate, no comrade, Lucy knew ; She dwelt on a wide moor, — The sweetest thing that ever grew Beside a human door ! You yet may spy the fawn at play. The hare upon the green ; But the sweet face of Lucy Gray Will never more be seen. — Wordsworth, 2. A chieftain's daughter seemed the maid ; Her satin snood, her silken plaid, Her golden brooch, such birth betrayed. And seldom was a snood amid Such wild luxuriant ringlets hid ; Whose glossy black to shame rrigLt bring The plumage of the raven's wing j And seldom o'er a breast e > h.\c Mantled a plaid with motkpc care j And never brooch the folus combined Above a heart more true and kind. — ScqIL, i? t- 11^ •K "ii 70 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 3. Now came still evening on, and twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad ; Silence accompanied ; for beast and bird. They to their grassy couch, these to their nests, Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ; She all night long her amorous descant sung ; Silence was pleased : now glowed the firmament With living sapphires ; Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon. Rising in clouded majesty, at length Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light. And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. — Milton 4. I have lived long enough ; my way of life Is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf ; And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have : but in their stead, Curses, not loud, but deep, mouth-honour, breath. Which the poor leart would fain deny, but dare not. Shakspeare, 6. All houses wherein men have lived and died Are haunted houses. Through the open doors The harmless phantoms on their errands glide, With feet that make no sound upon the floors. We meet them at the doorway, on the stair, Along the passages they come and go. Impalpable impressions on the air, A sense of something moving to and fro. — Longfellow. 37. Not only can we change the position of the Clauses and Phrases in a sentence, we may vary its grammatical structure without destroying the sense. "We can, for example, change the Adjective Clause into the Participial Phrase, or vice versd; we can change a Simple Sentence into a Complex, or vice versd. Illustrations will make this quite clear to the pupU. EXERCISE LXXXIV. Change the following Sir>ple Sentences into Complex, • ML. VARIETY IN THE STUUCTURK OF SENTENCES. 71 making the Subordinate Clause, Adjective, Adverbial, etc., as the case may reqiiii.e : — Example. The wind having lulled, we put to sea. Changed. When the wind had lulled, we put to sea. The king, having received reinforcements, prepared for battle. Men of wise understanding are sure to be appreciated. After the victorj' the soldiers marched into the toMTi. The lark, soaring into the blue dome of heaven, poured forth a rich stream of melody. The new Pariiament, having been called without the royal writ, has been described as a convention. The army was drawn up on BlackLdath to welcome the sovereign. He was proclaimed king with a pomp never before known. The stony soil of Jerusalem is almost destitute of water. Compared with the more ext»avagant luxury of the great, the accommodation of the peasant must no doubt appear extremely simple and easy. I cannot give a satisfactory answer to your question regarding the value of this discovery. My hold of the colonies is in the close affection springing from common names, from common kindred, from similar privileges, and equal protection. The genius, seeing me indulge myself on this melancholy prospect, conducted me to another part of the hill. EXERCISE LXXXV. Change the following Complex Sentences into Simple: — Example. When he had raised my thoughts by those transporting airs to taste the pleasures of his conversation, he beckoned to me with his hand. Changed. Having raised my thoughts by those transporting airs to taste the pleasures of his Cijuversation, he beckoned to mo with his hand. n^^ 72 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. lUi: As the genius made me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second time. Our conductor then pointed to a monument where there is a figure of one of our English kings without a head. I could not but be pleased when I saw the kn'ght show such an honest passion for the glory of his country. Here I observed a poor man who was walking on the bank by himself. He had been eight years upon a project by which he might extract sunbeams out of cucumbers. I made my humble acknowledgment to this illustrious person since he had been so communicative to me. The other project was a scheme whereby all words whatsoever should be abolished. I am at this present moment writing in a house which is situated on the banks A the Hebrus. As she was endowed with a great command over her- self, she soon obtained an uncontrolled ascendant over her people; and while she merited all their esteem by her real virtues, she also engaged their affections by ber pretended ones. W have neglected to observe what our feelings indicated. EXERCISE LXXXVI. (jhatige the following Simple Sentences into Com- pound : — Example. Having descended into the lists, lie commanded them to unhelm the conquered champion. Changed. He descended into the lists, and commanded them to unhelm the conquered champion. The steam-engine has increased indefinitely the mass of human comforts, rendering cheap and accessible, all over the world, the materials of human enjoyments. He hastened to Rome in the expectation of being appointed consul. In consequence of the dissolution of the Roman empire, society had sunk into a con- dition of utter anarchy. Owing to the residence of people of fortune and refinement in the country, a degree of taste and elegance in rural economy has diffused itself among all classes. To av;.^^d defeat, one must struggle with his utmost energy. Upon lowering the drawbridge leading to the inner tower, the Jnfni-io+or? TnnHi+iifJA inatnntlv Tushed in. At length, night VARIETY IN THE STRUCTURE OP SENTENCES. 73 throwing her friendly mantle over the fugitives, the scattored troops of Pizarro rallied once more. At daybreak they found themselves alone on the beach. EXERCISE LXXXVII. Change the following Compound Sentences into Simple: — Example. Barillon hastened to the bed-chamber and delivered the message of the duchess. Changed. Barillon, hastening to the bed-chamber, delivered the message of the duchess. Buonaparte entered the first suburb of the city and then immediately stopped. The French soldiers exerted themselves, and the progress of the llamas was arrested. Napoleon hurried to the spot and thereafter retired to the kremlin. He looked back on the fire, and could not suppress his deep anxiety. The clock struck eleven, and the duke, with his body-guard, rode out of the castle. The insurgents halted on the edge of the ditch, and fired. He tramped across the hills for thirty miles and reached his destination at sunset. The emperor long struggled with misfortune but eventually gave up in despair. He un- dressed himself, and stepped into the basin. It wa,s New- Year's night, and an aged man was standing at a window peering wist- fully into the darkness. I speedily put on a pair of shoes and a coat, and hurried down stairs. A child is delighted with speaking, and yet has got nothing to say. EXERCISE LXXXVIII. Change the following Complex Sentences into Com- pound : — Example. The cathedral, Vhose walls were four feet in thickness, built of good brick and mortar, suffered more than other buildings. m Ht, I 74 ENGLISH COMPOSITION, Changed. The walls of the cathedral were four feet in thicltness, built of good brick and mortar, and accordingly it suffered more than other buildings. The outside is formed of rough stones of a light yellow colour, which form unequal steps all round. As they found the pasture-grounds boundless, they abandoned the idea of cultiva- ting the ground. The palace quite surprised me by the neatness with which it was kept. Many men who can boast much can perform little. The fighting men of the garrison were so much exhausted that they could scarcely keep their legs. It was after ten o'clock before the ships arrived at the quay. This mode of travelling, whicli by Euglislimen of the present day would be regarded as insufferably slow, seemed to our ancestors wonder- fully rapid. Our cavalry had moved up to the ridge across the valley on our left, as the ground was broken in front. As the heat in summer is very great, interment generally takes place on the day of death. EXERCISE LXXXIX. Change the following Compound Sentences into Com- plex: — Example. The officers had hitherto concurred with Columbus in opinion, but now they took part v,ith the private men. ^ Changed. The officei-s, who had hitherto concun-ed with Columbus in opinion, now took part with the private men. They proceeded, and the indications of approaching land seemed to be more certain. Many of the natives surrounded the Spaniards, and gazed with admiration upon their strange appearance. He foresaw the danger and prepared himself for it. Time hung heavy on our hands, and our days seemed to pass very slowly. We had nothing to support Hope, still we nourished her. He turned his body to lay his little stick upon the bundle, and I heard his chains upon his legs. Franklin made his discovery of the identity of lightning and electricity, but it VAEIETY IN THE STRUCT (JEE OP SENTENCES. 75 was sneered at and people asked, "Of what use is it?" There was a table near at hand, and I leaned upon it. Attempts have been made in a variety of foreign parts to cultivate the tea plant, but comparatively little success has rewarded these attempts. I had reached the venerable age of eighteen, and then I obtained my first hat. About sunset on the following evening we arrived at the parsonage ; it was situated in a sweet spot almost hidden by forest trees. 38. The arrangement of words in sentences is either Grammatical or Rhetorical. - 39. Grammatical Arrangemect is the order in which words are usually placed in ordinary discourse, such as we have been dealing with in the previous pages of this book. 40. Rhetorical Arrangement is used in impassioned discourse, whether in prose or verse, and is characterized by having the emphatic words placed first. 41. In Rhetorical Arrangement the following hints may be of use : — (a.) In sentences rhetorically arranged, the Adjective, when it is emphatic, is placed at the beginning of the sentence. Example. — Happy is the man that findeth wisdom. (b.) In sentences rhetorically arranged, the Adverb, when it is emphatic, is frequently placed at the beginning of the sentence. , Example. — No more shall he hear thy voice. (c.) In sentences rhetorically arranged, the Subject of the sentence is frequently placed after the Verb, whilst the Object is frequently placed before it. Examples. — Now comes the father of the tempest forth. Thy threats, thy mercy I defy. (d.) In sentences rhetorically arranged, any emphatic Ml til 76 ENGLISH COMPOSITIOM. i i 1 ■ 'V Adjunct is frequently placed at the beginning of tbe sen- tence. Example. — Beneath a spreading oak sat the I>ruid, hoary chief. (e.) In sentences rhetorically arranged, the Infinitive Mood, especially when it is emphatic, is frequently placed at the beginning of the 8enten(.*e. Example. — Depart you cannot, until you have finished the work. EXERCISE XO. Change the sentences in the following Exercise from the Rhetorical into the Grammatical order : — From the fierce fight on Calvary comes the cry of the great Captain of your salvation. To every region have its own angels of prophecy and consolation been assigned. Out of her keeping will jewels of beauty yet come forth. Bleosed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven. Our constitution, such as it is, let us devoutly honour and accept. In their rear glistened a forest of lances. Up came their guns, and in rushed their gunners to the abandoned redoubt. Bright and gigantic through the darkness, which closed around, the mountain shone a pile of fire. How breathlessly the pillared streets of the lovely city reposed in their security I How softly rippled the dark green waves beyond ! How cloudlessly spread the dreaming Campanian skies. From the summit of Vesuvius, darkly visible at the distance, there shot a pale, meteoric, livid light. To the last century belong most of the names of which you justly boast. Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed all at once in air. EXERCISE XCL Change the sentences in the following Exercise from the Rhetorical into the Grammatical order : — And now occurred the melancholy catastrophe which filled us •'.li w ith sorrow. A braver soldier than Captain Nolan the army '^mr-mm VARIETY IN THE STRUCTURE OP SENTENCES. 77 did not possess. Between those walls of fire, through that blind- ing rain of death, Have'ock walked his horse composedly, as if on parade. From every fort, trench, and battery — from behind sand-bags piled on shattered houses — from every post still hold by a few gallant spirits, rose cheer on cheer. It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the Queen of France — then the Dauphiness ; and surely never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. Little did I dream that I should live to see such disasters fallen upon her in a nation of gallant men. Over the Alban mountains the light of morning broke ; From all the roofs of the seven hills curled the thin wreaths of smoke ; The city -gates were opened ; the forum all alive, With buyers and with seller?? was humming like a hive ; Blithely on brass and timber the craftsman's stroke was ringing ; And blithely o'er her panniers the market girl was singing. Still on they sweep, as if their hurrying march Could bear tb«>m from the rushing of this wheel Whose chariot is the whirlwind. Heaven's clear arch At once is covered with a livid veil : — In mixed and fighting heaps the deep clouds reel :— Upon the dense horizon hangs the sun, In sanguine light, an orb of burning steel : — The snows wheel down, through twilight thick and dun— "Now tremble, men of blood, the judgment has begun." EXERCISE XCII. Change the following passages from the Bhetorical to the Grammatical order : — The wind and rain are over. Calm is the noon of day. The clouds are divided in heaven. Over the green hill flies the in- constant sun. Red through the stony vale comes down the stream of the hill. Sweet are thy murmurs, stream ! but more sweet is the voice I hear. It is the voice of Alpin, the son of song, mourning for the dead. Bent is his head of age, and red his tearful eye. The atrocious crime of being a young man, which the honour- able gentleman has, with such spirit and decency, charged upon ; I 78 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. me, I aliaU neither attempt to palliate nor deny. Whether yoiiti can be attributed to any one as a reproach, I will not assume the province of determining. As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honou him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him. There are teari for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death . r his ambition. Who's here so base, that would be abontlr-.*!*^ If any, speak ; for him have 1 ofifendod. Wished morning's come ; and now upon the plains And distant mountains, where they feed their flocks, The happy shepherds leave their homely huts, And with their pipes proclaim the new-bom day. The lusty swain comes with his well-filled scrip Of healthful viands, which, when hunger calls, With much content and appetite he eats. To follow in the field his daily toil. EXEI,"ISB XCIII. Change the following passages from the Grammatical into the Rhetorical order : — Example. — Diana of the Ephesians is great Changed. — Great is Diana of the Ephesians. The sleep of the dead is deep— their pillow of dust low. Thy dwelling is narrow now— the place of thine abode dark. She that brought thee forth is dead; the daughter of Morglan is fallen. The gloomy wood shall no more be lightened with the spleudour of thy sword. Thou hast one comfort in the loss thou hast sustained I may hear thy sorrows from thy own lips some time, but not nv>w. The gate is wide, and the way is broad that leadeth to destruction, and there be many who go in thereat ; the gate is strait, and the way is narrow that leadeth unto life, and there be few that find it. They were repulsed with loss of life full twenty times, but still they came back again. I thank you for what you have done for me, from the bottom of my heart. The aim of science is truth ; the desire of poetry is beauty. I conjure you, my Lords, who hear me, to rise superior to mere party, and to deal out impartial justice. VARIETY IN THE STRUCTURE OP SENTENCES. 79 EXERCISE XCIV. Change the following sentences from the Qrammatical to the Rhetorical order : — Britaiu shall still stand strong amid the tossing of the nations, with that life throbbing in her puLi-s, and thrilling her heart. All the Jews, who knew mo from the beginning, if they would testify, know my manner of life irom my youth, which was at the first among mii.j own nation at Jerusalem, that I lived a Pharisee after the straitest sect of our -eligion. •' George, be a king!" were the words which his mother was for ever croaking in the ears of her son ; and the simple, stubborn, affectionate, bigoted man tried to be a king. That lovely country, and the sublime ocean, and the serene heavens bending over them, and bearing that testimony to the universal Creator, which man and man's works withheld, would open on his view beyond the city, clinging round its temples, like its inhabitants to their en- shrined idols. You will find a settlement of sparrows wherever thejce is a cottage with a corn-field hard by. The sparrow lives in affluence during three quarters of the year. He makes his raids on gardens, fields, and meadows; and he is merciless to the reaped com in harvest. 42. The Form of Speech may be either Direct or Indirect. 43. In the Direct Form of Speech, the ^ords of a speaker . e recorded exactly as spoken by himself. ^ Example. — " I wish," said my uncle Toby, with a deep si^h, " that I was asleep." " Your honour," replied the corporal, " is too much concerned." 44. In the Indirect Form of Speech, the words of a speaker are given as reported by another. Example.— My uncle Toby, with a deep sigh, said that he wished he was asleep. The corporal replied that his honour was too much concerned. 45. It will be observed from the preceding examples that the principal changes in passing from the Direct to the Indirect Form of Speech are these: — „A- ■ 80 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. (a.) The first person is changed into the third. (6.) The second person is changed into the thii-d. (c.) The present tense is changed into the past. 46, In changing the Indirect Form of Speech into the Direct, the converse of what was advanced in paragraph 45 will hold good. EXERCISE XCV. Change the following passages from the Direct to the Indirect Form of Speech: — Mr Burke said:— "I decline the election. It has ever been ray rule through life to observe a proportion between my eflforts aud my objects. I have iiever been remarkable for a bold, ac+ive, and sanguine pursuit of advantages that are personal to myself." "The end," said Mr Canning, " whicn I have always had in view, as the legitimate object of pursuit to a British statesman, I can describe in one word. I hope that my heart beats as high towards other nations of the earth as that of any one who vaunts his philanthropy, but I am contented to confess that the main object of rry contemplation is the interest of England." " I am amazed," said Lord Thurlow, in a level tone of voice, "at the attack which the noble Duke has made on me. The noble DuL. cannot look before him, behind him, or on either side of him, without seeing some noble peer who owes his seat in this house to his successful exertions in the profession to which I belong." EXERCISE XCVI. Change the following passages from the Direct to the Indirect Form of Speech :— Mr. Sheridan spoke as follows :— " Whilst I point out the prisoner at the bar as a proper object of punishment, I beg leave to observe, that I do not wish to turn the sword of justice against that man, merely because an example ought to be made ; such a wish is as far from my heart as it is incompatible with equity and justice. If I call for punishment on Mr. Hastings, it is because I think him a great delinquent, and the greatest of VARIETY IN THE STRUCTURE OP SENTENCES. bi all thoae who, by their rapacity and oppression, have brouc^ht ruin on the nativ es of India, and disgrace upon the inhabitants of Great Britain." "I will carry with me," said Mr. O'Connell, "to my own country the recollection of this splendid scene. Where is the man that can resist the argument of this day ? I go to my native land under its influence ; and, let me remind you, that land has this glory, that no slave ship was ever launched from any of its nume- rous ports. I will gladly join any party to do good to the poor negro slaves. Let each extend to them the arm of his compas- sion ; let each aim to deliver h's fellow-man from distress. I shall go and tell my countrymen that they must be first in this race of humanity." EXERCISE XCVII. Change the following passages from the Ir direct to the Direct Form of Speech :-— He replied that he was quite indifferent as to the punishment they might inflict ; he had simply done his duty, and could face his enemies without fear. Charidemus said that perhaps his majesty nnght not hear the truth from the mouth of a Grecian and an exile ; but that, if he did not declare it now, he might perhaps never have another opportunity. His majesty's numerous army, drawn from various nations, and which impeopled the East, might seem formidable to the neighbouring countries. But it would not be so to the Macedonians. It was therefore his opinion that, if his majesty were to apply the gold and silver, which now so superfluously adorned his men, to the purpose of hiring an army from Greece to contend with Greeks, he might have some chance for success; otherwise he saw no reason to expect anything else than that his army should be defeated, as all the others had been who had e:iG0untered the irresistible Macedonians. Washington Irving relates that, in the course of a December tour in Yorkshire, he rode for a long time in one of the public coaches, on the day preceding Christmas ; and that he had three fine rosy sheeked school-boys as his companions inside, F i ■'••!;[ lit 82 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Hi EXERCISE XCVIII. Change tlie following passage from the Indirect to the Direct. Form of Speech :~ Cyrus, having summoned the Greek generals to his presence, told them that it was not, as they might readily suppose, in any want of their number to swell his army, that he engaged them in his service, but in the belief that they were much superior to far greater numbers of barbarians. What, therefore, he had now to desire of them was, that tbey should show themselves worthy of this freedom which they inherited, and for which he esteemed them fortunate; and he professed to them .at he should himself pref?^ that freedom to all he possessed, or to much greater pos- sessions held at the arbitrary will of another. For the battle which they expected, it might be proper to apprize them that the enemy's multitude would appear formidable ; that their shout of onset would be imposing ; but, if they were firm against these, he was even ashamed to say what contemptible soldiers they would find his fellow-countrymen to be. If they then only exerted themselves as might be expected, he was confident of acquiring means equal to his wishes to send those home the envy of their country, who might desire to return home ; but he trusted the far greater number of them would prefer the advantages which he should have opportunity to oflfer in his service. ' CHAPTEH VI. VARIETY OF EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 47. (a.) Before entering on Orig:inal Composition, the pupil should be exercised at consideraole lei gth on the correct use and application of words. When vve consider the loose way in which words are freqv mtly used, tLe importance of this exercise will be at once apparent. It has, besides, this advantage, that it familiarizes the pupil with a knowledge of the synonyms of the Ifuiguage, and thereby tends to increase his stock of vocables. We shall ievote this chapter to a series of exercises on Variety of Expression in Sentences. Substitute other and appropriate words in the followiiig passages for those printed in Italics : — Example. The Spaniards, while thus emplo^jed, were surrounded by the natives, who gazed, in silent admiration, upon actions which they could not rompyJiend, and of which they did not foresee the consequences. Changed. The Spanirrds, while occu^i.d ir this manner, were surrounded by the natives, v h'^ looked, in silent wonder, upon deeds which they <':nlu not understand, ^d of which they did not divine, im issue. EXERCISE XCIX. Towards I'mng, Columlius returned to his sliips, accompanied by many of the islanders la their boats, which they called canoes, 84 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Hf and which, though rudehj formed out of th i trimJc of a .: 'j\ m 86 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. cavalry, and the rolling fire of infantry; and beheld the waving of plumes and torn banners amid the smoke of battle that curtained them. EXERCISE CV. (6.) Substitute words of Saxon Origin for those printed in Italica in the following Exercises :— Example. The country that now forms the state of Pennsylvania, assigned to Penn by the royal charter, was still full of its primitive inhabitants ; and his principles did not permit him to regard the king's gift as a warrant to dispossess the actual proprietors. Changed. The country that now forms the state of Pennsylvania, gi^anted to Penn by deed from the king, was still full of its old inhabitants; and his way of thinking did not allow him to look upon the king's gift as a warrant to turn out the actual holders. But neither the culprit nor his advocates attracted so much notice as the accusers. In the midst of the blaze of red drapery, a space had been fitted up with green benches and tables for the Commons. The managers, with Burke at their head, ap- peared in full dress. Even Fox, generally so regardless of his appearance, had paid to the illustrious tribunal the comjjliment of wearing a bag and sword. Pitt had refused to be one of the conductors of the impeachment. But there stood Fox and Sheridan. There was Burke, in amplitude of comprehension and richness of imagination, superior to every orator, ancient or modern. EXERCISE CVI. To satisfy him, the door of Lhe bed-chamber was half opened, and he then beheld, enjoying a sweet and tranquil slumber, the man who, by the doom of him and his fellows, was to die within the space of two short hours. Struck with the sight, he hurried out of the room, quitted the castle with the utmost precipitation, and hid himself in the lodgings oi an acmamtance who lived near, VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 87 where he flung himself on the first bed that presented itself, and had every appearance of a man suffering the most excruciating torture. His friend, who had been informed by his servant of the state he was in, and who naturally concluded that he was ill, offered him some wine. He refused, saying, *« No, no ! that will not help me ; I have been in at Argyll, and saw him sleeping as pleasantly as ever man did, within an hour of eternity I But as for we • EXERCISE CVII. "Difficulty is a severe instructor set over us by the supreme ordinance of a parental Guardian, who knows us better than we know ourselves, as He loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is our helper. This amicable conflict with difficulties obliges us to an intimate acquaintance with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial." These are the memorable words of the first of philosophic statesmen— the illustrious Mr. Burke. Enter then into the amicable conflict with difficuUy. Whenever you encounter it, turn not aside ; say not, "There is a lion in the path ;" resolve on mastering it ; and every successsive triumph will inspire you with that confldence in yourselves, that habU of victory, which will make future conquests easy. EXERCISE CVIII. In the retreat from Moscow, Buonajmrte provided only for his own security ; the famished and the wounded were without protection. Forty thousand men, who had been despatched on distant and desperate excursions to supply the army with pro- visio7is, being uninformed of the retreat, perished to a man; whilst their disappearance caused the death of a far greater number of their former comrades. Forty miles of road were excavated in tlie snow. The army resembled a pnantasmagoria ; no sound of horses' feet was heard, no wheel of waggon or artillery, no voice of man. Regiment followed regiment in long and irregular lines, between two files of soldiers the whole way. Some of the latter stood erect, some reclined a little, some had laid their arms beside them, some clasped them; iill were dead. Several of these had slept in this position, but the greater part 11 88 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. had been placed eo as to leave the more room, and not a few,, from every troop or detachment, took their voluntary station among them. The barbarians, who at other seasons rush into battle with loud cries, rarely did so now. Feeble from inanition, inert from weariness, and somvolent from the iciness that en- thralled them, they sank into oblivion, with the Cossacks in pursuit and descending upon them. 48. Elliptical ExerciBSS serve a very useful purpose in teaching Composition to beginners. The learner has to exercise his judgment in finding the suitable word for the context, whilst the teacher can render the exercise of great value in the way of securing the correct use of words. It will frequently happen, in such exercises, that two or three different words, nearly resembling each other in meaning, might suit the Ellipsis. It will be the duty of the teacher, in such a case, to point out in what respects the words difi'er from each other, and which best meets the requirements of the case. We scarcely know any exercise which, in the hands of a skilful and judicious teacher, can be turned to more account than this. We subjoin a few exercises as examples, but the teacher can frame any number for himself according to circumstances. Supply appropriate words in the Elliptical Passages in the following Exercises : — EXERCISE cix. As the troops . . . Corunna, the general's . , . were directed . . . the harbour ; but an open ... of water painfully . . . him that to fortune at least, he was . . . way . . . ; contrary . . . still detained the . . . at Vigo, and the last consuming exertion ... by the army was rendered . . . ! The . . . were put into quarters, and their . . . awaited the ... of events. Three divisions . . . the town and suburbs of Corunna, and the reserve was . . . near the neighbouring village of El Burgo. For twelve days these hardy . . . had covered the . . . ; during which . . . they had . . . eighty miles of ... in tvo marches, passed several nights under VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 89 . » • in tho ... of the mountains, and been seven times . . . with the . . . They now assembled at the outposts, having f(3wer . . . missing ... the ranks, . . ". oqy other division in tho , EXERCISE ex. The inhabitants of the sea— . . . in tropical . . . wait . . . morning with ... for the .. . of the sea breeze. It . . . sets in . . . ten o'clock. Then the sultry ... of the . . . morning is ... , and there is a . . . freshness in the . . . , which seems to . . . new ... to all for their daily . , , About sunset, ... is again another calm. The sea-breeze is now . . . , and in a . . . time the . . . breeze sets in. The alternation of the . . . and . . . breeze— a wind from the ... by day, and from the . . . by . . . —is so regular in tropical countries, . . . it is looked . . by the . . . with as much ... as the ... of the sun. In extra-tropical .... particularly ... on the polar ... of the trade-winds, these breezes . , . only . . . summer and autumn ; for then ... is the of the sun . . . intense to produce the requisite ... of atmospherical rarefaction ... the land. This depends in a . . . , also, on the ... of the land upon which the sea- breeze . . . ; for when the . . . is arid, and the . . . barren, the heating power of the . . . is . . . with most effect. In such . . . the sea-breeze ... to a gale of wind. EXERCISE CXI. Tlie besieged city was at its . . . gasp. The burghers had ... in a ... of uncertainty for . . . days ; being aware . . . a fleet had . . . forth for their . . . ,' but knowing . . . well the thousand ... it had to . . . They had guessed its . . . by the illumination from the . . . villages ; they had heard its . . . of artillery on its . . . at North Aa ; but since ... all had been dark and . . . again, hope and . . . , in sickening . . . , distracting eveiy . . . They . . . that the wind . . . ,j,i 90 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. unfavourable, and at the . . . of . . . day, every , , , wa8 turned ... to the vanes of the . . . So ... as the easterly . . . prevailed, they felt as they , , . stood on towers and house—, . . . , that they must , , . in vain for the welcome . . . ; yet, while thus . . . waiting, they were . . . starving ; for even the . . . endured at Haarlem had not reached that . . . and intensity of ... to which Leyden was now . . . Starving . . . swarmed daily . . the shambles, where the . . . were slaughtered, contending for any . . . which mi^^'ht . . . , and lapping eagerly the . . . as it . . . along the pave- ment. EXERCISE CXir. Early rising is one of those good and proper . . . , which few, except . . . , dare ... to impugn. It has . . , to recommend it and ... to retard it in public .... except that it is . . . to ease and self-indulgence. Yet how few . . are there . . . systematically ... in the habit ! It . . . health, punctuality, morals, and despatch both in study and . . . ; and yet it is not . . . —a result which, we ... , arises from the very simple . . . that we do not . . . the attention we . . . to all or . . . of these matters. At some ... of life, moat per- sons have . . . early, or . . . to do it ; but en tom has ... to them a second . . . , and they contentedly . . . on in their . . . way ; while others still . . . the idea of ... , although for the last . . . years they have tried the ... for a ... or two, and as . . . broken through it. One half of the . . . does not . . . how the . . . half lives, and it has often ... me that ... in bed would be . . were ... to see the revelations of . . . life. EXERCISE CXIII. Upon the way I met a . . . woman, all in . . . , who . . . me that her . . . had been arrested for a . . . which he was not ... to pay, and that his eight . . . must now . . . , bereaved as they ... of his industry, which had bee a their only . . . 1 thought . . . at home, VARIETY OF EXPRESSTON IN SENTENCES. 91 were bein;? not . . . from my good friend's . . . , and, parted with th<; half of all my . . . ; and pray, mother, ! .' ! I not to have ... her the .. . half-crown, for what she . . . would be of little ... to her. However, I soon ... at the ... of my affectionate friend, guarded by the ... of a .. . maatitf, who ... at me, and would have . . . me to . . , but for the . . . of a woman, whose . . . was not leas grim . . . that of the dog ; she yet with great humanity ... me from the ... of this Cerberus, and was , . . on to , , . up my name to or master. EXERCISE CXIV. I had . . . the village of Shawaney, . . onthe . . , of the Ohio. The . . . at first was pleasant, but as my horse was . . . quietly . , . , I suddenly ... a great . . . in the . . . of the heavens. A hazy thick- ness ... the country, and I for . . . time ... an earthquake ; but my horse ... no propensity to stop and prepare for such an ... I had nearly . , . at the . . . of the vaUey, when I ... fit to halt . . a brook,* and . . . to quench my ... I was ... on my knees, with my . . . about to . . . the water, when from my ... to the earth, I heard a murmuring . . . of an extraordinary to my feet, and . . . towards the south-west, I observed a yellowish oval . . . , the . . . of which was quite new to me. Little . . . was . . . me for consideration, as the next ... a smart breeze began to . . . the taller trees. Two minutes had . . . elapsed, when the . . . forest before me was in feanul motion. . . . instinctively towards the . . . in which the . . . blew, I saw, to my great . . . , tlie noblest ... of the forest . . . their Icf' . heads, and, ... to stand against the ... , fall into . . . First the . . . broke off with a crackling . . , then the upper ... of the trunks . . . , and in many . . . whole ... of gigantic . . were falling entire to the . . . 49. The Exercises in the following paragraphs are in- tended to cany the pupil still further on in the acquisi- *tTit. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT~3) ^/ '% f/ z. 1.0 I.I 1.25 IS 1^ 12.0 ^ lll<4 Ph, 7 /] 4. ^. ■^ W ^J^^ .^^ ^ ^-^^ 7 Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4r ri' 92 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. tion of the power of expression. They are of three kinds : — (a.) In the first ssries of Exercises the pupil is required to express in Sentences of his own Construction and Arrangement the sense of given passages. The ideas are presented to him, and he has simply to give them expression. (h.) In the second series, the pupil is requiied to abridge given passages in Sentences of his own Construction and Arrangement ; and (c.) In the third, the pupil is required to amplify given passages in Sentences of his own Construction and Arrangement. Exercises of the nature following, form an admirable preparative to Original Composition, where the pupil has to find the ideas and then to give them expression. (a.) Express in Sentences of your own Construction and Arrangement the ideas contained in the given passages in the following Exercises : — Example. Every manual labourer may see something analogous to the art by which he earns his livelihood, operating among the natural objects by which he is surrounded. The sailor may discover the mysteries of his craft among marine animals. Changed. Every artizan may perceive among the objects which meet him on all sides in the external world something akin to that art by which he wins his daily bread. The creatures which live in the sea cannot fail to suggest to the mariner the mysteries of his own calling. EXERCISE cxy. The bjiilders may easily perceive that the woody structure of plants and the bones of animals are constructed on architectural VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 93 principles, being strengthened where weight has to be supported and pressure resisted, and becoming more slender where lightness is required. The form of the bole of a tree, and the manner In which it fixes itself into the ground, so as to be able to face the storms of a hundred years, are said to have yielded some sugges- tions to the celebrated engineer, Smeaton, in the construction of the Eddystone lighthouse. The architect of the Crystal Palace confessed that he derived some of the ideas embodied in that structure from observing the wonderful provision made for bearing up the very broad leaf of the beautiful lily, the Victoria Hegia, which has been brought, within these few years, from the marshes of Guiana to adorn our conservatories. EXERCISE CXVI. The date palm supplies a large proportion of the food of the dwellers in the desert of Arabia. The tree is thirty-three years in coming to maturity ; after which it will bear fruit for seventy years more, the annual crop of each tree averaging from three to four hundred pounds weight. Not only man, but all the animals of the desert can feed on the date. The fruit is easily preserved by ])acking it closely in woollen bags ; and when thus compressed into solid masses, it may be kept for several years. Sometimes a tree is tapped for the sake of its sap, which is much relished as a beverage, and which, when allowed to ferment, forms a drink resembling cider, A single tree will yield fourteen cr fifteen quarts a day for two years, but will die if the drain be continued longer. Every part of the date palm is turned to profitable account. The wood is used for building, and for every kind of carpenter work ; the fibre is twisted into ropes ; baskets are made of the branches ; and sheep are fattened with the pounded stones of the fruit. EXERCISE CX' II. A. man who dedicates his life to knowledge, becomes habituated to pleasure which carries with it no reproach ; and there is one security, that he will never love that pleasure which is paid for by anguish of heart — his pleasures are all cheap, all dignified, all innocent ; and, as far as any human being can expect permanence in this changing scene, he has secured a happiness which no malignity of fortune can ever take away, but which must cleave vm 94 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. to him while he lives, ameliorating every good, and diminishing every evil of his existence. I solemnly declare that, but for the love of knowledge, I should consider the life of the meanest hedger and ditcher as preferable to that of the greatest and riches b man in existence ; for the fire of our minds is like the fire which the Persians bum on the mountains — it flames night and day, and is immortal and not to be quenched. L pon something it must act and feed — upon the p«re spirit of knowledge, or upon the foul dregs of polluting passions. EXERCISE CXVIIL In Anna's wars, a soldier poor and old, Had dearly earned a little purse of gold ; Tired with a tedious march, one luckless nigh^ He slept, poor dog ! and lost it, every mite. This put the man in such a desperate mind, Between revenge, and grief, and hanger joined, Against the ioe, himself, and all mankind. He leaped the trenches, scaled a castle- wall,' Tore down a standard, took the fort and all. "Prodigious ,vell I" his great commander cried. Gave him much praise and some reward beside. Next pleased his Excellence a town to batter (Its name I know not, and 'tis no great matter) ; "Go on, my friend (he cried), see yonder walls. Advance and conquer ! go, where glory calls ! More honours, more rewards attend the brave." Don't you remember what reply he gave ? "D'ye think me, noble general, such a sot? Let him take castles, who has ne'er a groat." EXERCISE CXIX. Earth praises conquerors for shedding blood ; Heaven those that love their foes, and do them good. It is terrestrial honour to be crowned For strewing men, like rushes, on the ground. True glory 'tis to rise above them all. Without the advantage taken by their fall. He that in fight diminishes mankind, Does no addition to his stature find ; VARIETr OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 95 lishing for the bedgei' st mau ich the y, and t must on the But he that does a noble nature shoAV, Obliging others, still does higher grow ; For virtue practised such an habit gives. That among men he like an angel lives. The humble man, when he receives a wrong, Refers revenge to whom it doth belong, Nor sees he rea on why he should engage Or vex his spirit, for another's rage. (6.) Contract the various passages in the following Exercises, expressing the ideas contained in Sentences of your own Construction and Arrangement :— Example. When Nelson was a young middy, about fifteen years old, he went in the RacJtorse on a voyage of discovery towards the North Pole. The good ship was for some time embedded in the ice, and could not be set free from her thrall. Young Nelson determined on an adventure, and one night during mid-watch stole from the vessel with one of his comrades, taking advantage of a gathering fog, and started over the ice in pursuit of a bear. It was not long before they were missed. The fog thickened, and Captain Lutwidge and his officers became alarmed for their safety. Between three and four in the morning the weather cleared, and the two adventurers were des- cried, at a considerable distance from the ship, attacking a huge polar bear. The return-signal was immediately hoisted; Nelson's comrade called upon him to obey it, but in vain ; yet his musket had flashed in the pan, their ammunition was expended, and a chasm in the ice, which divided him from the bear, probably preserved his life. "Never mind," he cried, "do but let me get a blow at this monster with the butt-end of my musket, and we shall have him." Captain I. itwidge, however, seeing his danger, hred a musket, which had the intended effect of frightening the beast; and the boy then returned, some- what alarmed at the reception he might meet with from his commander. The captain contented himself with a I 96 ENGLTSH COMPOS ITTOIT. lir 14, . severe reprimand, and desired to know what could he his motive for hunting a bear. "Sir," said Nelson, pouting his lips, as he was wont to do when agitated, "I wished to kill the bear that I might carry the skin to my father! Contracted. When Nelson was a boy, he served on board the Racehorse. The vessel being for some time ice-bound in the Polar seas, the young middy resolved on an adventure on tlie ice. Leaving his ship, under cover of a thick fog, he started, with one of his companions, on a bear hunt. Great anxiety was felt on board for their safety, as soon as they were missed. When the fog cleared away in the early morning, the two youths were seen attacking an immense bear. Although the signal for return was at once hoisted, it was not until the firmg of ii gun from the ship had frightened the bear, that Nelson could be induced to return. The captain, after administering to him a stern rebuke for his conduct, asked him why he had gone on such a dangerous busmess. Nelson informed him that he was anxious to procure a bear skin to bring home as a present to his father ! EXERCISE CXX. Burchell, the South African traveller, was one day travelling with a caravan along the bank of a river which was densely fringed with tall grasses and mat-rushes, when his dogs began harking loudly at some concealed object. In a minute or two, roused by the tumult, a lion and lioness broke out into the open. The latter immediately took to flight among the reeds, but the hon, an enormous animal, with a full black mane, advanced a step or two, and then stood still, gazing calmly, as if to say, "Who are you that have dared to intrude on my royal privacy ?" Some of the party were unarmed, and to them the lion's glowing eye was a thing of fear ; others, who had weapons, put their fingeis on the triggers, ready to fire ; and Burchell himself held his pistols in the same manner. At this moment the dogs rushed forward and barked around him. Two of them ventured too VARIETY OP EXPRESSION TIN SENTENCES. 97 near the destroyer, who slightly lifted his paw, and, lo ! they were dear! So quickly was it done, that Burchell had only time to mark the result. The men immediately fired, a ball entered the lion's side; but though the blood began tc flow, he still pre- served his attitude of half scornful, half curious- immobility. They then expected that he would certainly spring, and Burchell raised his pistols ; but, to their surprise, and not a little to their relief, he wheeled himself round, and grandly marched away. I;t h .ll EXERCISE CXXI. Oft has it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark, With eyes that hardly served at most To guard their mastfir 'gainst a post. Yet round the worla the blade has been. To see whatever could be seen ; Eeturning from h's finished tour, Grown ten times perter than before ; Whatever word you chanced to drop, The travelled tool your mouth will stop : " Sir, if my judgment youll allow, I've seen, and sure I ought to know;" So begs you'll pay a due submission, And acquiesce in his decision. Two travellers of such a cast, As o'er Arabia's wilds they passed. And on their way in friendly chat Now talked of this and then of that; Discoursed a while, 'mong other matter, Of the chameleon's form and nature. *' A stranger animal," cries one, " Sure never lived beneath the sun : A lizard's body lean and long, A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, Its foot with triple claw disjoined; And what a length of tail behind ! How slow its pace ! and then its hue — Who ever saw so fine a blue?" ** Hold there," the other quick replies^ ** 'Tis green, I saw it with these eyes, ti ¥M 98 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. As late with open mouth it lay, And warmed it in the sunny ray ; Stretched at its ease the beast I viewed, And saw it eat the air for food." ♦« I've seen it, sir, as well as you, And must again affirm it blue, At leisure I the beast surveyed Extended in the cooling shade." " 'Tis green, 'tis green, sir, I assure ye"— «• Green !" cried the other in a fury, «• Why, sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes?" «' 'Twere no great los?," the friend replies, *' For if they always serve you thus, You'll find 'em but of little use." So high at last the contest rose. From words they almost came to blows; When luckily came by a third— To him the question they referred ; And begged he'd tell 'em if he knew, Whether the thing was green or blue. " Sirs," cried the umpire, " cease your pother, The creature's neither one nor t'other. I caught the animal last night, And viewed it o'er by candle-light; I marked it well, 'twas black as jet— You stare, but, sirs, I've got it yet. And can produce it. " " Pray, sir, do ; I'll lay my life the thing is blue." " And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen The reptile, you'll pronounce him green.^" " Well, then, at once to end the doubt," The man replied, " I'll turn him out ; And when before your eyes I've set him,^^ If you don't find him black, I'U eat him," He said; then full before their sight Produced the beast, and lo !— 'twas white. EXERCISE CXXII. The last wolves known to have existed in Scotland had their Aen in a deep sandy ravine under the knock of Bre-Moray, a w, ' jr. had their -Moray, a VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SE!^TENCE3. 99 lofty mountain in the upper part of Elginshire. Two brothers, residing at the httle village of Falkirk, boldly undertook ti watch one day until the old ones had gone forth in quest of food, and then to kill their young; and as every peasant had Buffered more or less from their depredations, the excitement to learn the result of so psrilous an enterprise was universal Jdaving seen the parent animals quit their covert, tho one brother stationed himself as a sentinel to give the alarm in cas, the wolves returned, while the other threw off his plaid and armed with his dirk alone, crawled in to despatch the cubs. He had not been long in the den when the watchman descried the wolves stealing back to the ravine. A sudden panic seized the wretched man; he fled without giving the promised warning, and never paused till he crossed the Divie, two miles off There conpcience-stricken for his cowardice, he wounded himself ii various places with his dirk; and on reaching Falkirk, asserted tiiat the wolves had surprised them in the den. that his brother was killed, and that it was with extreme difficulty he, wounded Tt^"/""' ^f.f'^'f ^' '''^^'- ^ "^^^^ °f -W-^ce rent the air; and the villagers, laying their hands on the nearest weapons set off ma body to recover, at aU hazards, the mutilated remains of their friend. What, then, was their astonishment, when, on reaching the hill of Bogney, they beheld the mangled and bleeding form of him whom th'ey lu^li^a^t draggmg himself towards them. For a moment they thought it was a ghost, and dreaded to approach him; but some of the boldest recovered from their momentary fright, and lent him the Zn tu' *^/ P°°' «!"«ature stood in need of. His story was soon told. After kilhng the cubs, he was m the act of making and the she-wolf threw herself upon him. With one lucky thrust of his dxrk he despatched her at once ; but his struggle with her W I^v, ^TT,*f r"*" ''^"""- Fortunately, the body of the brute he had killed afforded some protection, and aiter receiving severe wounds, he succeeded in driving his knife into the heart of his ferocious assailant. The indignation of the people against !p1 . .1,''^°.^."'^. abandoned his brother to what seemed certam death, and had then endeavoured by falsehood to conceal his guilt was unbounded. They dragged him before the laird. Who, on heanng the case, assumed, as was not unusual in those rude days, the function of a judge, and ordered the criminal to m ■ 100 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. I 1 1 » II ii| be hanged on the Bummit of the highest hill, a sentence that wa« immediately and willingly carried into execution. EXERCISE CXXIII. The sky is blue, the sward is green, The leaf upon the bough is seen : The wind comes from the balmy west, The little songster builds its nest ; The bee hums on from flower to flower, Till twilight's dim and dusky hour : The joyous year arrives ; but when Shall by -past times come back again? I think on childhood's glowing years, How soft, how bright, the scene appears I How calm, how cloudless, passed away , The long, long, summer holiday ! I may not muse, I must not dream. Too beautiful these visions seem For earth and mortal man ; but when Shall by-past times come back again? I think of sunny eves so soft. Too deeply felt, enjoyed too oft, When through the balmy fields I roved With her, the earliest, dearest loved ; Around whose form I yet survey. In thought, the bright celestial ray To present scenes denied ; and when Will by -past times come back again ? Alas ! the world at distance seen, Appeared all blissful and serene. An Eden, formed to tempt the foot, With crystal streams and golden fruit ; That world, when tried and trod, is found A rocky waste, a thorny ground ! We then revert to youth ; but when Shall by -past times come back again ? c c a ec a, cc E Wi th ■ VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 101 (c.) Expand the Passages in the following Exercises expressing the ideas in Sentences of your own Arranffel ment and Construction :— ^ Example. Without law there is no security, no rbimdance, no certain subsistence; and the only equality in such a condition, is an equality of misery. In a country where there is no law, there " no security for life or property, no abundance of the necessaries or the luxuries of life, no certain subsistence /or the inhabitants; and the only equality that can exist in such a condition of society, is an equality of misery, where all classes are exposed to the risks and dangers incident to a state of anarchy. EXERCISE CXXIV. 1. To estimate the benefit of the laws, it is only necessary to consider the condition of savages. They struggle against famine. Eivalry for the means of subsistence produces among them cruel wars. The gentlest sentiments of our mature are destroyed from the fear of famine. 2. I dare do all that *-"•" Who dares do mcT- f^co a man 3. It is not that vxy . That bids the siiei • It is not grief that l . ,— It is, that I am all alonb. EXERCISE CXXV. Lo, the lilies of the field, How their leaves instruction yield I Hark to nature's lesson, given By the blessed birds of heaven I Every bush and tufted tree Warbles sweet philosophy : ** Mortal, fly from doubt and sorrow, God providetb for the morrow. f 102 ENGLISn COMPOSITION. Say, with richer crimaon glows The kingly mantle than tb.e rose ? Say, have kings niure wholesome fare Than we, citizens of air? Barns nor hoarded grain have we, Yet we carol merrily. Mortal, fly from doubt and sorrow, God provideth for the morrow 1 " EXERCISE CXXVI. A. shepherd in the county of Norfolk had a favourite dog, which had been his faithful companion for many years. Cne day this shepherd went to remove a fiock of sheep from one field to another, '^hey had to pass by a gap in the hedge, whf re the shepherd tola his faithful servant to watch, saying, "You stand there. Jack." After the man had led his sheep to their new fold, he went about other work, and thought no more about the dog until the evening; but then he could not be found. The next day the shepherd remembered what he had told the dog to do the day before. He immediately set out to the place where he had left him, and to his delight found him at his post of duty. The poor animal was much pleased to see his master, but he never once sought to move from his post until he was called. EXERCISE CXXVII. 1. The man who acts sincerely, has the easiest task in the world; he follows nature, and has no need to invent pretences beforehand, or to make excuses afterwards, for any thing he has said or done. 2. A brute arrives at a point of perfection that he can never pass ; in a few years he has all the endowments he is capable of ; and were he to Live ten thousand more, would be the same thing he is at px-esent. 3. Oh., it is excellent To j.ave a giant s strength ; but tyrannous To use it like a giaat. 4. VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IV SENTEVCES. ^03 Will fortune never come with both hands full But write ner fair words still in foulest letH-rs ? She either gives a stomach, and no food— Si-ch are the poor iu health ; or else a *east And takes away thb stomaoh-such arr. the rich, That have abundance, and enjoy it not. EXKRCISE CXXVIil. All hail ! thou noble land, Our fathers' native soil ; stretch thy mighty hand. Gigantic grown by toil, O'er the vast Atlantic wave to our shore ; For thou, \vith magic might. Canst reach to where the light Of Phoebus travels bright The world o'er I Though ages long have passed, Since our fathers left their home, Their pilot in the blast O'er untra veiled seas to roam,— Yet lives the blood of England in our veins I And shall w. .lot proclaim That blood of honest fame, Which no tyranny can tame By its chains ? While the language free and bold Which the bard of Avon sung. In which our Milton told How the vault of heaven rung. When Satan, blasted, fell with his host : While this, with reverence meet, Ten thousand echoes greet. From rock to rock repeat Round our coast ; While the manners, while the arts. That mould a nation's soul, Still cling around our hearts, Between let ocean roll. fir h 1 T' t 104 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Our joint communion breaking with the snn ; Yet still from either beach The voice of blood shall reach More audible than speech, " We are one 1" 50. Paraphrasing, strictly considered, consists in ex- pressing the meaning of a given passage in different but equivalent words. It closely resembles translation trom one language to another, where every word m the one language is rendered by its equivalent m tlie other. There is, however, this difference between paraphrasing and translation, that, in the latter, you have the power of choosing the very best equivalent which the language affords to express the meaning, while in the former, the author, whose writing is to be paraphrased, has himself selected the fittest words to convey his meaning, and the paraphraser has to content himself with the most suitable equivalents he can find. As an exercise m Composition, accordingly, paraphrasing bears no comparison m value with translation ; but as translation is not attainable in all schools, we must make the nearest approach to ib Tve can, and this can be done by paraphrase. But whilst paraphrasing thus consists in expressing the meaning of a given passage in different but equivalent words, it is not necessary that the structure of the sen- tences in the paraphrased passage should remain the same as in the original. Simple sentences may be changed into Compound or Complex. The Active voice may be sub- stituted for the Passive, and the Passive for the Active. Figurative language may be expressed in literal language, etc. The chief thing to be attended to is to obtain full understanding of the exact meani-g of the passage as a whole, and in its detailed parts, to obseive carefully what parts are prominent, and which are less important, and then to express the meaning in words different from the ori^inalj taking care neither to expand nor contract t] ri ft fc lif to m *6^> VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 105 the passage unnecessarily, and bpecially to mamtain in the paraphrase the balance that obtains in the original. Examples. 1. Providence never intended that any state here should DO either completely happy, or entirely miserable. God never designed that any condition in this life should be either altogether fortunate, or completely wretched. (?r, ^ ^ It was never the will of God that men should enjoy in this life absolute felicity or misery. 2. Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living. ^ Advancing years diminish our relish of existence, but intensify our eagerness to live. Or, As we advance in years, we lose our pleasure in the enjoyments of life, but the desire of living grows upon 3. Duncan is in his grave ; After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well ; Treason has done his worst; nor steel, nor poison Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing ' Can touch him further. Duncan has been laid in the tomb ; after all the troubles of life he enjoys perfect rest. Treachery has run Its full course ; henceforward he has nothing to fear from the sword, poison, civil broils, or the threats of foreign invasion. Paraphrase the passages in the following Exercises :— EXERCISE CXXIX. Greatness confers no exemption from the cares and sorrows of life ; Its chare of them frequently bears a melancholy proportion to its exaltation. u I 106 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. To make a proper use of that short and uncertain portion of time alloted to us in our mortal pUgrimage. is a proof of wisdom; to use it with economy, and dispose of it with care, discovers prudence and discretion. The darts of adverse fortune are always levelled at our heads. Some reach us, and some fly to wound our neighbours. Let us therefore impose an equal temper on our minds, and pay without murmuring the tribute which we owe to humanity. Parent of nature ! Master of the world ! Where'er thy providence directs, behold My steps with cheerful resignation turn. Fate leads the willing, drags the backward on ; Why should I grieve, when grieving I must bear; Or take with guilt, what guiltless I might share ! EXERCISE CXXX. Tlie sun, with all its attendant planets, is but a very little part of the grand machine of the universe. Irresolution on the schemes of life which ofter themselves to our choice, and inconstancy in pursuing them, are the greatest and most universal causes of all our disquiet and unhappmess. The duties required of man are such as human nature does not willingly perform, and such as those are inclined to delay who yet intend some time to fulfil them. Such is the emptiness of human enjoyment, that we are always impatient of the present. Attainment is foUowed by ueglect, and possession by disgust. Happy the man who sees a God employed In all the good and ill that chequer life I Resolvhig all events, with their effects And manifold results, into the will And arbitration wise of the Supreme. The bell strikes one. We take no note of time, But from its loss. To give it then a tongue Ta Tirinn in man. VARIETY OP EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 107 EXERCISE CXXXI. The hope of immortality has been common to all the nations Of the ewrth. It is encouraged by the instincts of nature, and supported by the deductions of reason. IVom the right exercise of our intellectual powers arises one Of the chief sources of our happiness. The light of the sun is not so pleasant to the eye, as the light of knov, edge to the nund. The gratifications of sense yield but a delusive charm compared with the intellectual joys of which we are susceptible. This England never did, nor never shall, Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror, But when it first did help to wound itself. Now these her princes are come home again,* Come the three comers of the world in arms. And we shaU shock them : naught shaU make us rue. If England to itself do rest but true. EXERCISE CXXXII. As Providence has made the human soul an active beine always impatient for novelty, and struggling for something yet unenjoyed with unwearied progression, the world seems to have been eminently adapted to this disposition of the mind • it is formed to raise expectations by constant vicissitudes, and to obviate satiety by perpetual change. Wherever we turn our eyes, we find something to revive our curiosity, and engage our attention. In the dusk of the morning we watch the rising of the sun, and see the day diversify the clouds, and open new prospects in its gradual advance. After a few hours; we see the shades lengthen, and the light decline, till the sky is resigned to a multitude of shining orbs different from each other in magni- tude and splendour. The earth varies its appearance as we move upon it ; the woods offer their shades, and the fields their harvests ; the hill flatters with an extensive view, and the valley invites with shelter, fragrance, and flowers. * i.«., Now tMt her princes are come home again, let the three comers, etc. m 108 i ENGLISH COMPOSITION. EXERCISE CXXXIII. The whole of the cultivable soil of Egypt, with the exception of the oases of the desert, consists of the meadow-lands on either bank of the Nile. It has been renowned for its fertility from the earliest ages, and was long rightly regarded as the granary of the ancient world. Even at the present day ^Js fertility s without a parallel in any region of like extent. Th^^^ruiWul- ness is. consequent upon the periodic inundations of the Nile. Although there is little or no rain in Egypt, there are contmuous and heavy rains at the sources of the river. When the flood is at the highest, the whole valley of the NUe appears as a vast inland sea, dotted with towns and villages, and scattered mounds, barely emerging from the surface. At this season aU communi- cation has to be maintained by boats, save where, between places of importance, a few viaducts have been raised. The cultivators of E^t do not require to limit their labours to the production of a single crop ; in lands advantageously situated, as many as three crops are annuaUy raised by means of artificial irrigation. EXERCISE CXXXIV. The towers of heaven ire filled With armed watch, that renders all access Impregnable ; oft on the T^ordering deep Encamp their legions ; oi, with obscure wing, Scout far and wide into the realms of night, Scom-ng surprise. Or could we break our way By force, and at our feet all hell should rise - With blackest insurrection, to confound Heaven's purest light ; yet our great enemy, All incorruptible, would on his throne Sit unpolluted ; and the ethereal mould, Incapable of stain, would soon expel Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire. Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope la flat despair ; we must exasperate The Almighty victor to spend all his rage, And that must end us ; that must be our cure, To be no more. Sad cure ! for who would lose, Though full of pain, this intellectual being, till stion ither from tnary ty is itful- Nile. 1U0U8 jodis , vast unds, muni- places (rators action my as bion. VARIETY OF EXPRESSION IN SENTENCES. 109 Those thoughts that wander through eternity, To perish rather, swallowed up and lost, In the wide womb of uncreated night, Devoid of sense and motion ? EXERCISE CXXXV. He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves besides. There's not a chain That hellish foes, confederate for his harm, Can wind around him, but he casts it off With as much ease as Samson his green withes. He looks abroad into the varied field Of nature, and, though poor perhaps, compared With those whose mansions glitter in his sight, Calls the delightful scenery all his own : His are the mountains, and the valleys his. And the resplendent rivers. His to enjoy With a propriety that none can feel. But who, with filial confidence inspired, Can lift to heaven an unpresumptuous eye, And smU'ng say—" My father made them aU." • •Exercises, similar to those in this Chapter, can be formed from the ordmary reading books used in school. 'H"i rr P i Ui CHAPTER VIL NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. 51 In order to reduce to practice the principles ex- pounded and illustrated in the preceding chapter, the pupil must now engage in Original CompOBition. The simplest form of Original Composition and _«rith that, accordingly, we shall commence, is the Narrative Form. 52 Narrative Composition, as its name implies, deals mainiy with incidents or stories, biographies, historical events, the history of the arts and sciences, etc. In treating all such subjects the pupil must take care to preserve the due order of time, and to give to each part space proportioned to its importance. In no one point is the young composer more apt to err than in failing to preserve a proper balance between the different parts of an essay. A very common mistake consists in givmg too much space to the commencement of the essay, leaving, on the other hand, too little for the conclusion, io obviate this, the pupU should be required to frame a scheme of the subject which he intends to handle, m which the leading points to be touched upon are arranged in logical order. 53. To enable the pupil to form such a scheme, he should be required to analyse a given story, historical event, or memoir, into its elements, to observe the order in which the several parts are treated, and parti- cularly to notice the amount of space alloted to each and to point out the portions which might be omitted without injury to the sense. This analytic process, if NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. m judiciously gone about, will form tlie best Dossibl« r... parative for tbe synthetic or constructive ^ ^ " 8etf<;f exetcL:^^^^^^^ '""''"-^^^' "^ «^^" g^-^ tl-ee 1. Analytic Exercises, in which the pupil is -emuv^A to resolve a given Narrative into Heads. ^ 2 Synthetic or Constructive Exercises, in which the 8 Exercises in Original Composition, in which the '&.7Z^ *° ^"'« " "»■'«-'- iwi^e'of: ^ja Resolve the foUowing narratives into appropriate Example I. Fabrioius and the Physician of Pfrrhus. When Pyrrhus, king of Epire, had made war on the Romans and when he and the R^man army wZ dL!nt cir T^ ' t''."^^^ ? ^'^ ^^^«' '^' ptysiciCrPyrrhus cToff^thTl * "^^ '^' '""^P '^ ^^^'^^^'^ promfsfng to cut off the kmg by poison, if a reward should be giVen to him proportioned to the magnitude of the service Eabricius immediately caused him to be carried S to Pyrrhus, saying that it was disgraceful to conLd with an eneniy by poison, and not by^arms. On hrthe W IS reported to have said, "The sun can more easilv bf t pS t^Z:^r- ^^- ^abricius be Juctfe Heads. Romanr^'^ "^ *^' incident-war between Pyrrhus and the 2. Conduct of the physician of Pyrrhus. 3. His reception by Fabricius-. 4. Remark of Pyrrhus on the conduct of Fabricius. Frr 112 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Example II. Anecdote of Abistippus, The father of a family came one day to Aristippus the philosopher, and asked him to undertake the education of his son. The philosopher demanding five hundred drachmas as a fee, the father, who was a very covetoiis man, was frightened at the price, and told the philosopher that he could purchase a slave for less money. ^^ Do so, said AristippuP, « and then you will have two. Heads. 1. Occasion of the incident, a father treating with Arlstippus for the education of his son. 2 The fee demanded frightened the covetous father. 3 The retort of Aristippus on the father remarking that a slave 00^ he purchased ior a smaller sum than the fee asked. Example III. The Apostle Paul. Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles, was a native of Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia. He received his education in Jerusalem, where he was trained in all the tenets of the Jewish religion by Gamaliel, the most famous teacher of that time. When a young man, he was a bitter per- secutorof the Christians, and exceeded all hi^ contem- poraries in the zeal he displayed for the religion of his fathers, and the bitterness with which he regarded the professors of the new faith. While on a journey to Damascus on an errand of persecution, he was mira- culously converted, and at once became a most earnest preacher of the faith which he formerly destroyed. His zeal and earnestness procured him many enemies, nor were these confined to the unbelieving Jews. Many ot the Christian Jews regarded him with suspicion, because he boldly preached the admission of the Gentiles to the Christian Church on equal terms with the Jews. Alter planting the standard of the cross in many parts ot Asia lis, the ication mdred vetoiis isopher 3o so," istippus I that a isked. NARRATIVIi COMPOSITION. JIO Minor, and along the Grecian shores of the Arcliinpln, and being introduced, said, "I have come, my lord, respect. ag the field of wheat ad- joining such a wood." His lordship immediately recollected the circumstance. " Well, my friend, did I not allow you sufficient NARRATIVE COMPOSITIOll? 117 rodu^'ed 've that we have tiy, who equity, lelf your fortune V ia. It lexander ng. He , nowise ver seen J, struck ) accom- le of his it to him field ad- i, during ho young parts, he ' said hia ;hat field, I procure >ay you." lideration I estimat- ned quite I earl im- reyer, ap- 3ld which uxuriant. troduced, vheat ad- lected the 8ufficie:at to remunerate you for your loss ?" - Yes. my lord ; but I fin^ that I have sustained no loss at all; for where the horses had Zl r "Li! ^r^' '^' ''"^ '' ^^'* I^''^^'^^'"^- I ^*ve. there, fore, brought back the £50." "Ah !" exclaimed the venerable ear . -this is what I like; this is as it should be between maL and man He then went into another room, and returning with a cheque lor £100, presented it to the farmer, saying! Take care of this; and when your eldest son is of age. pre sent It to him, and tell him the cccasiou that produced it" EXERCISE CLXTIL Noble Eevenge. A young officer had so forgotten himself in a moment of irrite- tion. as to strike a private soldier, full of personal dignity, and disbnguished for his courage. The inexorable laws of military disciphne forbade to the injured soldier any practical redress, he could look for no retaliation by acts. Words only were at his command, and in a tumult of indignation, as he turned away the soldier said to his officei that he "would make him repent It. This, weanng the shape of a menace, naturally rekindled the officer s anger, and intercepted any disposition which might be rising within him toward a sentiment of remorse; and the u-ritation between the two young men grew hotter than before Some weeks after this, a partial action took place with the enemy. Suppose yourself a spectator, and looking down into a valley occupied by the two armies. They are facing each other you see. in martial array. But it is no more than a skirmish that IS going on; in the course of which, however, an occasion suddenly arises for a desperate service. A redoubt, which has fallen into the enemy's hands, must be recaptured at any price and under circumstances of all but hopeless difficulty. A strong party has volunteered for the service; there is a cry for some- body to head them; you see a soldier step out from the ranks to assume this dangerous leadership; the party moves rapidly for- ward; m a few minutes it is swallowed up from your eyes in clouds of smoke; for one half hour, from behind these clouds you receive hieroglyphic reports of bloody strife, fierce rerieatini signals, flashes from the guns, rolling musketry, and exulting hurrahs advancing or receding, slackening or redoubling At H^i 1 ?fj 118 ^ENGLISH COMPOSITION. length all is over; the redoubt has been recovered; that which was lost is found again ; toe jewel which had been made captive is ransomed with blood, crimsoned with glorious gore ; the wreck of the conquering party is relieved, and at liberty to return. From the river you see it ascending. The plume-crested officer in command rushes forward, with his left hand raising his hat in homage to the blackened fragments of what once was a flag, whilst with his right hand he seizes that of the leader, though no more than a private from the ranks. That perplexes you not; mystery you see none in that. For distinctions of order perish, ranks are confounded; "high and low" are words without a meaning, and to wreck goes every notion or feeling that divides the noble from the noble, the brave man from the brave. But whtrefore is it that now, when suddenly they wheel into mutual recognition, suddenly they pause? This soldier, this officer, who are they ? O reader ! once before they had stood face to face, the soldier that was struck, the officer that struck him, once again they are meeting ; and the gaze of armies is upon them. If for a moment doubt divides them, in a moment the doubt has perished, one glance exchanged between them publishes the forgiveness that is sealed for ever. As one who has recovered a brother whom he has accounted dead, the oificer sprang for- ward, threw his arms round the neck of the soldier, and kissed him as if he were some martyr glorified by that shadow of death from Avhich he was returning ; whilst, on his part, the soldier, stepping back, and carrying his open hand through the beautiful motions of the military salute to a superior, makes this immortal answer, that answer which shut up for ever the memory of the indignity offered to him, even while for the last time alluding to it: ♦' Sir," he said, "I told you before that I would make you repent it." 56. In forming a continuous narrative from given heads, it id evident that the heads must contain the whole material of the narrative, or, where this is not the case, the pupil must be made acquainted, either orally or by reading, with the substance of the narrative. Mere heads can simply serve as fingerposts to guide the learner in regard to the order which be is to follow. In the Exercises that follow we shall give specimens of each hat which ie captive the wreck to return, ted officer his hat in as a ;t, though i you not ; er perish, without a at divides ave. But to mutual is officer, d face to ruck him, »s is upon )ment the publishes recovered prang f or- md kissed V of death le soldier, s beautiful I immortal ory of the klluding to make you m given itain the is is not i, either larrative. juide the low. In s of each NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. Ug kind and in regard to the latter class, the teacher must ascertain, before commencing work, th^t the schoto ^re acquainted with the substance of the incident, story or fab e as the case may be. As it is manifest that Exercise of the description that follow can be multiplied by the teacher to any extent from the reading books usTd^ ofexi^lel'^^' content ourselves with alimited Jeloa Na^rraliv'e^^lr *^' ^'"'™^ ^'^^' ^*° Continuous Example L Humanity. Heads. King Alfred was hiding at Atb.ehiey from the Danes. A begg?r came requesting ahns. The queen told him they had only one small loaf, and that ihey iiad httle hope of obtaining any fresh supply. tht^n^ ''^^rA^V' ^'""^ *^" ^'^^^ ^*« *^« I<>af. saying that He who fed the five thousand could feed them Narrative. During the retreat of King Alfred at Athelney, in Somersetshire where he was obliged to take refuge from the L>anes, the following circumstance happened, which shows the extremities to which that great man was reduced, and gives a strzhng proof of his pious and benevolent dis- position A beggar came to his little castle, and requested alms Tlio queen informed him that they had only one small loaf remaining, which was insufficient for themselves and their friends, and that they had little hope of obtain- ing any fresh supply. But the king said, "Give the poor Christian one hall of the loaf. He thr^^ could feed five thousand with five loaves and two fish. , can certainly I 5 \f ; ■• ^ 120 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. make tliat liali of the loaf more than suffice for our necessities." Accordingly, the poor man was relieved ; and this noble act of charity was soon recompensed by a providential store of fresh provisions, which his friends brought him. N.B.—On comparing this narrative with the given heads, it will be seen that several expressions occur, which the heads only very remotely suggest. These expressions we have put in Italics: we have put them into the narrative on puiyose that the pupil may see that, in constructing a narrative, ho w at Uberty to throw in any touches which are in keepmg with the general gist of the story. Example II. The Hungry Fox, Heads. The fox— bread and meat— hollow tree— goes in— eats— cannot get out— another fox passes by— his remark :— moral Narrative. A hungry fox, seeing some bread and meat, which had been left by shepherds in the hollow of a tree, went in and ate them; but, his belly being swollen, and being unable to get out, he began to gi'oan and lament his condition. Another fox, that chanced to be passmg by, hearing his groans, came up and asked him the cause. Having learned what had happened, he said, "You must remain there till you become such as you were w] .n you entered, and then you will easily .get out." The fable teaches us that time removes difficulties. J^.J5.— The heads in the foregoing example would hardly fur- nish, by themselves, sufficient material to a beginner for the construction of the fable. In addition to the given heads, he would require to have the substance of the fable narrated to him. NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. 121 JbAAMPLE III. Life of Hannibal. Heads. 1. Birth and early life in Spain. 4. 2. Invasion of Italy. 5. 3. His recall from Italy. 6. His defeat at Zama. His exile and death His character. Narrative. Hannibal, son of Hamilcar, was born at Carthage, B.C. 247. He passed into Spain when nine years old, and, at the request of his father, took a solemn oath never to be at peace with the Romans. After his father's death he was made master of the horse in Spain, and in his twenty-fifth year was made commander-in-chief of all the Carthaginian armies. In three years he subdued all the nations in Spain opposed to Carthage, and took Saguntum after a siege of eight months. This was the cause of the second Punio war. Having resolved to carry the war into Italy, Hannibal levied a large army, and crossing the Alps, deemed hitherto almost inaccessible, he descended like an avalanche into the fertile plains of that country. After gaining many victories, he inflicted an almost crushing blow on the Romans at Cannse — a victory which proved his ruin. Instead of marching straight on Rome, ne lingered in Capua, where his soldiers became enervated. The Senate, in the mean- time, formed the daring resolution of invading Africa, and after some time Hannibal was recalled to defend his native soil. He was utterly defeated at the great battle of Zama, and, dreading the enmity of his coun- trymen, went into voluntary exile. After wandering from court to court, he killed himself by poison, in the seventieth year of his age. When we bear in mind the peculiar circumstances in which Hannibal was placed, we cannot fail to regard him as one of the greatest generals of antiquity. He ne^'-er enjoyed the full con- fidence of the home government, and was obliged to depend largely on the aid of mercenaries; yet, in spite 122 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. III!' of these disadvantages, he continued for a period of more than fifteen years to withstand all the power of Eome. ^.J?.— In the foregoing example, the heads simply serve to guide the pupil as to the order in which he constructs the nar- rative. All the facts he must obtain from books. (a.) In this section, the pupil can construct the narrative from the heads, which are given in full. exercise cxliv. Sib Philip Sydney and the Wounded Soldier. 1. A battle was fought at Zutphen. 2. Sir Philip Sydney in the bj>,ttle displayed the most un- daunted courage— two horses killed under him— mounting a third— bone of his thigh broken by a musket shot— returned to the camp— faint and thirsty— called for water— brought to him. 3. Putting the vessel to his mouth— a wounded soldier carried past— looked wistfully at the water— Sydney at once handed the water to the soldier, saying, "Thy necessity is greater than mme. EXERCISE CXLV. King Frederick and his Page. 1. Frederick— King of Prussia— rang his bell— no answer- opened door— found page asleep. Advancing to waken him— saw letter hanging from his pocket— curiosity— read it— from his mother— thanking him for sending her part of his wages- saying that God would reward him. 2. King put back letter— retired softly— took a bag full of ducats— returned— slipped bag into pocket. 3. Retiring— bell rung violently— page appeared— king rallied him on having been asleep— the lad confused— put his hand in pocket— found ducats— changed colour— wept— speechless. King asked cause-"Some one seeks my ruin "—"I know nothing of these ducats." King explains—" God often does great things for us in our sleep," told him to send the money to his mother- he would take care of both. NARRATIVE COMPOSITION 123 EXERCISE CXLVL The Turnip. 1. Poor working-man — large turnip in garden — wonder of everybody— took it as present to the mayor— praised and hand- somely rewarded. 2. A neighbour— rich and greedy — heard this— had many cows — took the fattest to the mayor — expecting a great reward — if so much for a turnip, how much more for a cow. 3. Mayor saw his motives — at first refused to have the cow- urged — took her — gave as a reward the turnip, which he said cost him double the price of the cow. Greed overreaches itself. full of EXERCISE CXLVII. Abraham and the Old Mam 1. Abraham sitting at his tent door, his usual habit, waiting to receive strangers, s'^s an old man, bent down, leaning on his stafif, wearied. Took nim into his tent — water for his feet — supper. 2. The old man asked no blessing, nor prayed. Being asked why, answered that he was a fire -worshipper. Abraham, angry, would not allow him to remaia, sent him out into the night, unprotected. 3. God came, asked Abraham where stranger was — Abraham's explanation— God's reply — "I have suffered him these hundred years, and couldst not thou," etc. ' 4. Abraham immediately finds him, brings him back, and treats him hospitably. Kindness to strangers is a duty. Quote a Scripture passage to prove this. I' EXERCISE CXLVIII. Death of General Wolfb. All Canada was in the hands of the English, save Quebec, the capital — Quebec on the St. Lawrence — on a rock, strongly forti- fied by nature and art, regarded as almost impregnable. Only way of reaching it was to land on the river bauk in the darkness — to clamber up the precipitous rocks, reach the plateau on 124 ENGLISH COMPOSITION, |1 . which the town stands. This enterprise ve.y dangerous— might be discovered— might float past the only landing place, and even if landed might not be able to ascend. Fleet lay above the town —at midnight boats were lowered, glided in silence down the river. Wolfe reciting to the officers Gray's "Elegy," just then published. Troops landed, sprang up the rock, boats returned to ships for more men, as soon as they landed they also ascended, and thus by morning upwards of 4000 dp en stood on plateau. Montcalm, the French commander, out-generalled, resolved to fight to the last. A desperate engagement, Montcalm shot, second in command also killed. Wolfe, early shot in t^e wrist, but hides wound. Makes a bayonet charge— shot in breast, falls. His men push on, the enemy give way— Wolfe hears a cry, "They run. " * * Who run ? " he asked. On being told it was the enemy, he sank down. "I die happy," were his last words. Quebec was taken, but the victory dearly bought. Great sorrow at homo when the news arrived. exercise cxliz. Sib John Moobs. Bom in Glasgow, 1761. Early joined the army as ensign to the 51st regiment of foot — regiment reduced at the peace of 1783, at the close of American war — entered Parliament, but soon rejoined the army, and served with distinction at the taking of Corsica in 1794. Returning after this to Britain, was sent to West Indies, where he met Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and under him performed many exploits, which led Abercrombie to speak of him as "the admiration of the whole army." He accompanied Abercrombie to Egypt, and took his full share in those brilliant exploits, which, in conjunction with Nelson's victory of the Nile, drove the French from Egypt. In 1808, sent to Spain to assist the Spaniards fighting against Napoleon. He tried to penetrate to Salamanca, forced to desist, commenced that wonderful re- treat which terminated in the battle and victory of Corunna, where he died on the 16th of January 1809. (6.) In the following Exercises, heads are simply given, the pupil must obtain the necessary information for the narrative from the teacher or from books. NARBiiTIVE COMPOSITION. liii I — ^might md even ;he town own the ust then returned scended, plateau, iolved to Lm shot, "^e wrist, ast, falls. y,"They nemy, he lebec was at home exercise cl. The Stag and its Horns Stag — fountain — shadow — horns beautiful — legs long and spindly— reflections— dogs heard— flight —thicket— caught— death : — moraL EXERCISE CLI. Thb Fox and the Goat. The thirst— the well— fox in— can't get out— goat— fox's speech -goat jumps down— fox jumps out— goat left :— moral exercise clii. The Doo and its Shadow. Dog— flesh in mouth— wading the stream— shadow— drops flesh —catches nothing : — moraL ensign to e of 1783, but soon taking of IS sent to md under I to speak iompanied B brilliant the Nile, a. to assist penetrate derful re- Corunna, •ly given, a for the exercise cliii. Dogs and Hides. Dogs— hides steeping— can't reach them— try to drink up water — burst : — moraL EXERCISE GLIV. Washington and Cherry Trek. The orchard— prized cherry tree— hatchet— tree notched— dis- covered— investigation— Washington's confession. EXERCISE CLV. The Duke and the Herd Bot. Boy— driving cow— difficult— asks help—promises half his re- ward — duke helps — slinks away— sends sovereign— meets boy offered sixpence— returns to castle— butler found cheating— dis- missed — boy sent to school — educated : — moraL k 126 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. EXERCISE CLVI. The Sailor and the Larks. Sailor — long prisoner — released — London — larks in cage — hxiya the whole — sets them fret) — his reason and remark. EXERCISE CLVII. Brucb and i-HB Spider.' Brnce — hiding — almost despairing of success — in bed — spider — tries to reach roof — fails once, twice, twelve times — succeeds —king encouraged — one more effort — succeeds. EXERCISE CLVIII. Napoleon and the British Sailor. Sailor— prisoner of war— weary for home— barrel found in cove — ^makes boat — sails — caught — brought back — Napoleon says he must have sweetheart — sailor has mother — Ncpoleon pleased- liberty — money — noble mother — noble son — sailor often in want — ^never parted with Napoleon's gift. EXERCISE CLIX. Massacre of Glencob. Oath of allegiance — Macdonald of Glencoe late — takes it— Breadalbane marches into Glencoe — hospitality — treachery — massacre — universal horror. execise clx. Life of Wolssi^ 1. Birth and early training. 2. Introduction to Henry VIII. and rapid rise. 3. Opposition to Reformation. 4. Opposition to Henry in the matter of the divorce of Queen Catherine. 5. His disgrace. 6. Fall. 7. Death and character. NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. 127 I'M I— buyi 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. EXERCISE CLXI. Life of Mosss. Birth and early training. Flight from Egypt, and residence in Midian. Sent back to Egypt to bring out Israelites. Exodus and wanderings in wilderness. Death and character. -spider ucceeds m coye says he eased— in want :es it— jhery — I Queen 58. As proposed, we subjoin a list of subjects, on which the pupil may be required to form continuous narratives. As the teacher's time in ordinary scIaooIs is much occupied from the great variety of branches he has to overlook, we have purposely made the list somewhat large. It is by no means exhaustive, however, and tho teacrer can add to it as occasion arisen. SUBJECTS FOR NARRATIVES. 1. 2. 8. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. (a.) Fables, Stories, Eia The Wolf and the Lamb. The Pox and the Grapes. The Jackdaw in Borrowed Feathers. The Lion and the Mouse. The Horse and the Stag. The Frog and the Ox. The Clown and the Gourd. The Farmer and his Sons. The Boys and the Frogs. The Grateful Crane. The Hare and the Tortoise. The Town and Country Mouse. The Ass in the Lion's Skin. The Bears and the Bees. The Frogs desiring a King. Death and the Traveller. Parable of Good Samaritan. Parable of Prodigal Son. Parable of Talents. The Rich Man and Lazarus. :i!, ]n 128 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 4 21. The Ewe Lamb— Nathan to David. "22. The Wicked Husbandmen. 23. Whang the Miller. 24. Alnasohar and his Day-Dreami. 25. Canute and his Courtiers. 26. Sir Ralph the Rover. 27. Sir Isaac Newton and his Dog. 28. Androcles and the Lion. 29. Mungo Park and the Desert Flower. 30. The Fisherman and tue Porter. 31. Columbus and the Egg. 32. Alfred and the Cakes. (5) BlOGRAPHHS. 1. Abraham. 2. Joseph. 3. Moses. 4. Joshua. 6. Gideon. 6. Samson. 7. David. 8. Solomon. 9. Joab. 10. Hezekiah. 11. Daniel. 12. Wolaey. 13. Raleigh. 14. Blake. 15. Nelson. 16. Wellington. 17. Napoleoii. 18. Miltiades. 19. Themistocles, 20. Regulus. 21. Pompey. 22. Livingstone. 23. Havelock. 24. Lord Clyde. 25. Byron. 26. Sir Walter Scott. 27. Campbell. 28. Sir Robert PeeL 29. Faraday. 30. Newton. (c) Historical Subjects. 1. Spanish Armada. 2. Cowrie Conspiracy. 3. The Deluge. 4. The Exodus. 5. Crossing the Red Sea. 6. David and Goliath. 7. Capture of Jericho. 8. Battle of Flodden. 9. Bannockbum. 10. Death of Queen Mary. 11. Jesas Walking on the Sea. 12. Paul's Journey to Rome. 13. Battle of Cannse. 14. Defence of Thermopylae. 15. Siege of Londonderry. 16. Relief of Lucknow. NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. 129 17 The Battle of Hastings. 18. Death -f William the Con- queror. 19. Battle of Bunker's Hill. 20. The Charge of the Light Brigade. 21. Siegi ofSebastopoL 22. Luther at Diet of Worms. 23. Gunpowder Plot. 24. Csosar's Invasion of Britain. 25. Destruction of Jerusalem. 26. The Signing of the Cove nant, 1638. 27. The Battle of Trafalgar. 28. The First Crusade. 29. Solomon's Judgment. I J* ' 1 CHAPTER VIIL DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 59. Descriptive Composition, as its name i^jjlies, is employed in describing Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, Instruments, Works of Art, Products of Manufacture, Scenes from Nature, etc. 60 We shall adopt the same plan in treating of De- crintive as we aid in treating of Narrative Coam^sition, and shall give three kinds of Exercises. 1. Analytic Exercises, in which the pupil is required to resolve a given description into heads. 2 Synthetic or Constructive Exercises, in whicli the pupil is required to combine given heads into a contmuous description. t.- i. i.v 3 Exercises in Original Composition, in which the pupil is required ■' -> describe given objects. - 61. Resolve the following Paragraphs into appropriate Heads :— example l Flax. Elax is grown in Great Britain, especially in Ireland, but also to a large extent in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Egypt, and India. The stalk is long and slender branchmg at the top, and bearing several beautiful light blue flowers, about the size of a large buttercup. These are succeeded by little round pods of seed, e^ch about as large as a garden pea, and containing several of the little flat brown :ieeds called Imseed, from which we extrax^t DESCEIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 131 iplies, is [iuerals, ifacture, g of De- [}^sitioii, required rhicli tlie intinuous hich the propriato L Ireland, jermany, i slender, biful light ). These L about as the little ^e extract oil. The stalk is not more than half as thick aa a wheaten straw, but very strong, because of the tough fibres which run through it from bottom to top. These fibres, when separated from the pith which is mixed with them, and the skin which covers them, are the flax from which linen is made. In order to obtain them, the plants have tc be pulled up just after they have done fiowering, and dried in the sun ; several bundles of them are then placed in the shallow part of a river or pond, stones or pieces of wood being placed to prevent them floating away. At other times they are simply exposed to the night dew. The moisture which they imbibe quickly causes the soft skin which covers the fibres to decay. After this process is completed, the bundles are spread one to dry, and when dried, the whole stalk can be easily rubbed to a powder, with the exception of the fibres, which are not impaired by the process. The bundles are accordingly beaten with a heavy wooden implement, or scutched, aj9 it is called ; and to remove the skin and pith broken up by this process, they c^' heckled, or drawn through a peculiar kind of iron comb. The fibres which remain after these two operations are raw flax, and are fine enough for making coarse linen cloths; but they require to be hecUed over and over again through much finer combs, to render them suitable for the manufacturing of fine linen, lawn, or iace, all of which are made from this plant, which, with cotton, afibrds clothing to a large proportion of the human race. HEivDS. 1. Flax — where grown. 2. Flax — description of plant. 3. From seeds we obtain linseed. 4. Separation cf fibre from plant. (a.) Plants pulled and dried. (6.) Plants steeped in water. (c. ) Plants dried and beaten with wooden implements. {d. ) Plants heckled — explanation of process. 6. Uses of the plant. 1 132 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Example II. The Barometbr. The weiglit of the atmosphere at any place is con- stantly changing. Conceive a tube, of which the base is exactly an inch square, rising from the sea shore to a point in the atmosphere where the air ceases to have any apparent weight. Then fill another tube, of which the base is also an inch square, with mercury, to a height of 30 inches. Now it has been found that the weight of the column of air in the first tube is equal to that of the mercury in the second — viz., 15 pounds. The air is perhaps 60 miles high, the other only 30 inches ; but the latter makes up in density what it wants in height. Hence we speak of the air exerting a pressure of 30 inches of mercury, or of 15 pounds on every square inch at the sea side. But the pressure or weight diminishes every foot we ascend from the shore into the interior. For small heights, the difierence of weight may be in- appreciable, but when we ascend a high hill it becomes plainly manifest. The instrument which enables us to measure the weight of the air is the barometer, which, in its simplest form, consists of a glass tube, closed at the one end and open at the other. When this tube is filled with mercury, and inverted into a basin also containing mercury, the weight of the air outside the tube supports the mercury inside the tube. The mercury, it is evident, will rise or fall exactly as the weight of the air increases or diminishes. As the weight of the air becomes less the higher we ascend, the fall of the mercury in the tube will enable us to ascertain the height we have reached. To the husbandman, the barometer is of considerable use as a means of indicating coming changes in the weather. Its use as a weather-glass, however, is greater to the mariner, who roams over the whole ocean, and is often under skies and in climates altogether new to him. The watchful captain of the present day, trusting to this in- fallible monitor, is frequenilv able to take in sail, and to 14 DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 133 3. 4. make ready for a storm, where in former times thedread- tul visitation would have fallen upon him unprepared. Heads. 1. The principle on which the barometer depends ascertained by experiment— the experiment. 2. Barometer, simple description of. Law of rise or fall of mercury in tube, * Uses of the barometer : — (a.) To the traveller. (b.) To the farmer. (c.) To the sailor. EXERCISE CLXII. The Peacock, ^ Peacocks, in a wild state, though now rarely found, are some- times seen m large flocks on the islands of Java and Ceylon When this bird was first brought into Greece many centuries ago, the people prized it so highly, that a sum equal to fifty dollars ot our money was paid for one peacock. When Alex- ander the Great was in India, he saw these birds flying wild, in vast numbers, and was so struck with their beauty that lie ordered those who killed or disturbed one of the birds to be severely punished; and in Greece, for some time after the introduction of the bird into that country, a large price was paid for the privilege of seeing it. The peacock is among the most beautifully dressed birds in the world, and he seems to be too well aware of his beauty himself He struts among his companions like a general at the head of his brigade. But his voice ! The ravings of a screech owl are more tolerable than this music; I doubt if there is a bird on the face of the globe that could scream a more frightful solo. Nature is full of com- pensations— where she bestows beauty of plumage, she with holds sweetness of voice ; and it will generally be found that the sweetest songsters of the grove aie the most plainly dressed of all the feathered tribes. I it fTl EXERCISE CLXIII. The Keindeer. reindeer- Is an aalmai peculiar to ooid countries, especially 134 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Lapland. It supplies the inhabitants with almost everything which we obtain from the horse, the ox, and the sheep, and provides for the greatest part of their wants. Their skins are made into shoes, bedding, tent-covers, and dress ; their horns into various kinds of vessels ; their bones into knives, spoons, and needles ; and their sinews into cord and thread. Very little trouble is required to keep the reindeer, as it feeds chiefly on leaves and mosses, which it seeks for itself by scraping away with its hoofs and horns the snow that generally covers the ground. It is the companion of its owner and his family ; and it can perform a journey of more than a hundred miles in twenty successive hours. The female gives a rich milk, and the flesh forms excellent food. We have, in this animal, an instance of the goodness of God, who provides for the wants of the whole human family in the way best suited to the peculiar circum- atauces of each country. EXERCISE CLXIV. Ginger. Ginger is the underground stem or root-stock of a dwarf plant, which, although a native of India, is now cultivated in most hot countries. When growing, it resembles a short reed, having a thin round stem, and a few grass-like leaves. The roob-stock or ginger is dug up and washed ; it is yellowish-white in colour, and, when dried, has a dirty- white wrinkled skin. This is sometimes scraped oflF, and the ginger blea ohed, a process which makes it beautifully smooth and white, but does not improve its quality. We get ginger from the East and West Indies, and Wesitem Africa. It is often preserved in sugar, the root being taken up when young, and boiled in syrup. Preserved ginger is sent to us from China and the East Indies ; a little also comes from the West Indies. Ginger is used to give a higher flavour and a more agreeable taste to the ordinary articles of diet than they naturally possess. BXFUCISE CLXV. Hemp. The hemp plant grows to a height of about six feet. Great quantities are produced in B issia and Poland, and also, though not to Uie same extent, 'u Prussia, Germany, Austria, Italy, DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITIOif. 135 India, and the United States of America. It would, be hard to say what we should do without this useful plaiit ; for from the fibres of Its stem, after they have been separated and cleaned we make cloth for the sails of our ships, and ropes for their riggmg ; and although many substitutes have been proposed for It, none have be n found to answer so weU. In addition to sail- cloth and cordage, finer cloths and string of all kinds are made from it. Ever, when hempen ropes are worn out, they do not cease to be useful ; for if they have been used for ships' rigginrr and soaked through with the tar which has been rubbed over them as a preservative, they may be untwisted, and the tarry hemp then forms what is called oakum-s, most useful material to whe ship-carpenter, who stuffs it tightly in between the planks of ships to prevent leakage. If the ropes have not been soaked with tar, they are used for making brown paper. Coarse white paper is made from the bleached or whitened sail-cloth. EXERCISE CLXVI. Copper. Copper, a well-known metal, is so called from its having been first discovered, or at least wrought to any extent, in the island of Cyprus, It is of a fine red colour, and has a great deal of brilliancy. Its taste is astringent and nauseous j and the hands when rubbed some time on it acquire a peculiar and disagreeable flavour. It is harder than silver, and is very malleable j it can be hammered out into leaves so thin as to be blown about by the sUghtest breeze. Its ductility is considerable, and its tenacity so great, that a thin copper wire is capable of supporting upwards of 300 lbs. avoirdupois without breaking. Its liability to rust, when exposed to air or damp, is its greatest defect. The rust thus formed is called verdigris, which is one of the most active poisons. Copper is one of the metals which is almost invaluable from its fitness for manufacturing purposes. It forms the basis of almost all our ornamental metals, and when used alone there is no metal, except iron, that contributes more largely to the convenience of man. It is used in sheathing the bottom of ships; for roofing towers and other buildings; in making money; in making boilers, pipes, percussion caps, engraving, electro-plating, etc. Copper is found an England, and in many parts of the Old and New Worlds. f 136 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. •!i EXERCISE CLXVIL Stkel Pens. Steel penmaking may be briefly described as follows : — ^The steel is procured from Shefl&eld ; it is cut into strips, and the scales removed by immersion in pickle, composed of diluted sulphuric acid. It is then passed between rollers, by which it is reduced to the necessary thickness ; it is now in a condition to be made into pens, and it is for this purpose passed into the hands of a girl, who is seated at a press, and who, by means of a bed and a punch corresponding, speedily cuts out the blank. The next stage is piercing the hole which terminates the slit, and removing any superfluous steel likely to interfere with the elasticity of the pen ; at this stage the pens are annealed in quantities in a muffle, after which, by means of a small stamp, the maker's name is impressed upon them. Up to this stage the future pen is a flat piece of steel ; it is then transferred to another class of workers, who, by means of the press, make it concave, if a nib, or form a barrel, if a barrel pen. Hardening is the next process : to eflect this a number of pens are placed in a small iron box, and introduced into a muffle ; after they be- come of a uniform deep red, they are plunged into oil j the oil adhering is removed by agitation in a circular tin barrel. Ihe process of tempering succeeds j and, finally, the whole are placed in a revolving cylinder with sand, pounded crucible, or other cutting substance, which brightens them to the natural colour of the material. The nib is ground with great rapidity by a girl, who picks it up, and finishes it with a single touch on a small emery wheel. The pen is now in a condition to receive the slit, and this is also done by means of a press ; the descend- ing screw has a corresponding cutter, which passes down with the minutest accuracy, the slit is made, and the pen is com- pleted. Steel pens are manufactured in Sheffield, Birmingham, and London. One factory in Birmingham produces aimually y 00,000 pens. EXERCISE CLXVIII. A Funeral at Sea. ^s :— The , and the f diluted ' which it condition 1 into the means of he blank. the slit, with the mealed in ill stamp, ;his stage sferred to make it lardening placed in they be- 1 ; the oil rel, Ihe ire placed or other ral colour dity by a >uch on a to receive s descend- own with a is com* tningham, annually ft& * DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 137 monimg sun rises and not a cloud appears to shut out his rays. A shght breeze plays on the surface of the slumbering oceL. The stiUness of the morning is only disturbed by the ripple of the waters or the divxng of a flying fish. The national flag! dis- played half way down the mast, plays in the breeze. The vessel glides m queenly serenity, and seems tranquil as the element on whose surface she moves. The crew are now summoned to pre- their companion AU are ready for the final scene. The main hatches are the bier. A spare sail is the paU. The poor sailors, m their tar-stained garments, stand round. The main-top saU is hove to the mast. The ship, as if amazed, pauses on her course and stands still The bell tolls, and at the knell, and the words! We commit this body to the deep," you hear the plunge, and you see the tears start from the eyes of the generous tarsT The waves close over the body, and the melancholy duty is done. kxebcisb clxix, Thb Eab. r,!^^ "^'^t"? °*, ^^""^^ is in aU its more important parts so hidden withm the head, that we cannot perceive its construction by a mere external inspection. What in ordinary language we call the ear, is only the outer porch, or entrance vestibule of a curious series of intricate winding passages, which, like the lobbies of a great building, lead from the outer air to the inner chambers. Certain of those passages are full of air, others are full of hquid; and thin membranes are stretched like parchment curtains across the corridors at different places, and can be thrown into vibration, or made to tremble, as the head of a drum does, when struck with a stick or the fingers. Between two of those parchment-like curtains, a chain of very small bones extends, wliich serves to tighten or relax these mem- branes, and to communicate vibration to them. In the inner- most place of all, rows of fine threads, caUed nerves, stretch like the strm^s of a piano from the last points to which the trem- blmgs or thnllmgs reach, and pass inwards to the brain If these threads or nerves are destroyed, the power of hearing as infallibly departs as the power to give out sound is lost by a piano or violin, when its strings are broken. 138 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. S' EXERCISE CLXX. LooH Katrinb. And, now, to issue from the glen* No pathway meets the wanderer's ken, Unless he climb, with footing nice, A far-projecting precipice. The broom's tough roots his ladder made. The hazel saplings lent their aid; And thus an airy point he won, Where, gleaming in the setting sun, One burnished sheet of living gold. Loch Katrine lay beneath him rolled, In all her length far- winding lay. With promontory, creek, and bay. And islands that, empurpled bright, Floated amid the livelier light ; And mountains, that like giants stand, To sentinel enchanted land. High on the south, huge Ben- Venue Down to the lake in masses threw Crags, knolls, and mounds, confusedly hurled. The fragments of an earlier world; A wildering forest feathered o'er His ruined sides and summit hoar, While on the north, through middle air, Ben- An heaved high his forehead bare. EXERCISE CLXXI. HOHENLINDEN". On Linden, when the sun was low. All bloodless lay the untrodden snow; And dark as winter was the flow Of Iser, rolling rapidly. But Linden saw another sight, When the drum beat at dead of nighl^ Comn^anding fires of death to light The darkness of her scenery, » The TroBsacha. DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 139 By torch and trumpet fast arrayed, Each horseman drew his battle blade, And furious every charger neighed, To join the dreacUul revelry. Then shook the hills with thunder riven, Then rushed the steed to battle driven; « And louder than the bolts of heaven Far flashed the red artillery. But redder yet that light shall glow On Linden's hills of stained snow, And bloodier yet the torrent flow Of Iser, rolling rapidly. 'Tis mom, but scarce yon level sun Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun. Where furious Frank and fiery Hun Shout in their sulph'rous canopy. The combat deepens. On, ye br ve, Who rush to glory or the grave 1 Wave, Munich, all thy banners wave, And charge with all thy chivalry 1 Few, few, shall part where many meet; The snow shall be their winding sheet; And every turf beneath their feet Shall be a soldier's sepulchre. 62. Write a brief account of each of the following objects from the heads given : — exercise clxxii, The Horse. 1. Where found— where tame— where wild. 2. General characteristics— size, shape, colour, food. 3. Its disposition — iiijstances of. 4. lifj uses— in agriculture, in commerce, in war. EXERCISE CLXXIH The Ostrich. 1. The class of birds to which Ostrich belon< 140 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. 2. Its distribution — limited to a s lall portion of the earth's surface — where. 3. Description of— general size — feet, wings, tongue, nostrils. 4. Habits — peculiar method of hatching — its habit of conceal- ment when hunted. & Uses of— its eggs, its feathers. ¥ EXERCISE CLXXIV. The Camel. 1. Countries in which found. 2. Climatic peculiarities of these countries require correspond- ing peculiarities in the structure of the beasts of burden : — (a.) Countries barren, sandy, soft. Camel's foot soft and ex- pansive — does not sink in sand. (6. ) Countries parched, destitute of water — wells at long dis- tances from each other. Camel provided with four stomachs, and is able to carry a supply of water — hence its suitability for districts in which found. (c.) Frequent waves of sand blow across the desert, would choke any ordinary animal. Camel provided with an apparatus whereby '"j can exclude the sand. 3. Its uses — ship of the desert— why. EXERCISE CLXXV. The Elephant. 1. Where found — peculiarities of these districts — immense, almost impassable, forests and jungles. 2. Some peculiarities of structure in elephant to suit such localities : — (a.) The hardness and thickness of skin — uses of — not easily torn or lacerated, {b. ) The tusks- -position of — structure — uses of— can clear his way through the jungle, (c.) The weight of the tusks would, in ordinary animals, weigh down the head, but the elephant has remarkably short neck, compared with its size. (d.) Disadvantage of short neck to a graminivorous animal like DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. 141 le earth's nostrils. : conceal- rrespond- l: — t ana ex- long dis- itomachs, .bility for t, would apparatus immense, 3uit snch lot easily clear his Is, weigh )rt neck, imal like elephant— compensation in trunk— describe— its uses and mar- vellous flexibility of-can lift a tree or a pin— can convey food or water to its mouth. («.) The grinders— succeed each other, not from the top and bottom, as those of other animals do, but from behind, so that 'the old one is pushed forward by the new untU it falls out- advantage of this provision. 3. Habits — disposition — anecdotes of. 4. Uses —in commerce— in travel— in war, exercise clxxvi, The Boa. 1. Where found— the true boa confined to the New World- abundant in America. 2. Its size and shape— jaws capable of great power of expan- sion— advantage of this— body compressed— larger in the middle —tail prehensile, i.e., it can hold on by the tail. 3. Its habits — food of what nature— found near springs or rivers— hence boa lurks in their neighbourhood— prey approaches to drink— spring— crushed by the boa's folds— lubricated with saliva— swallowed— boa gorged— frequently killed in this state. 4. Its use in the economy of nature— "nothing walks with aim- less foot." EXERCISE CLXXVII. Rice. 1. Conditions necessary to its growfTi— a temperature of at least 73-4° of Fahrenheit, and an abund .t supply of moisture— these are found in the S.E. of Asia, the Indian peninsulas, China, Japan, the United States, Italy, and certain parts of Africa— hence rice grows well in these districts. 2. Mode of culture— requires to be covered with water— where rivers do not overflow their banks as Nile— artificial irrigation adopted, explain — water drawn off— reaped. 3. Nature of fruit— larger return in proportion to ground under cultivation than any other grain, but it is less nutritious than other kinds of grain, it is destitute of fatty substances, and is not suited for human food, if used alone. 4. Modes of preparation for use. *. 142 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. EXERCISE CLXXVIII. Cotton. 1. Conditions necessary to its growth. 2. Where these conditions are fulfilled. 3. How grown. . 4. How prepared for manufacture, 5. Its importance to Britain. 6, Its uses to mankind. EXERCISE CLXXIZ. The Peab. 1. Its form and shape — somewhat oval, broad at one end, narrow at other, with stem passing right through it, by which it is attached to the tree. 2. Extremely smooth and diy — cut it — smooth and juicy. 3. Taste sweet, flavour pleasant. 4 Seed where — in centre, why — hence the use of the fruit. 5. Provision made for the preservation of the seed, in which is the life — wisdom of God. EXERCISE CLXXX. Gold. 1. Where found — specify countries— chiefly India, America, Australia. 2. Native state — ore — process of separating the gold from the ore — ore crushed, then washed. 3. Its properties— fusible, malleable, ductile — the latter is its most wonderful property — illustration — gold leaf. 4. Its uses — coin — why employed as the medium of payment- articles of use — articles of ornament and luxury. ' exercise clxxxi. Coal. I. Where found — more or less in all countries — very abundant in Britain — important to ua. DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. US 2 How obtained -mining-shaft sunk — describe procoss- maohmery erected- coal cut by miner— lifted to surface by machinery. ' _ 3. Special dangers in mining-danger from flooding— danger trom roof falling— special danger from foul air— what is this- precautions against— thorough ventilation— safety-lamp. 4. Properties and uses — domestic— in factories —in iron- smelting— in steam vessels. one end, by which uicy. ) fruit. , in which America, I from the fcter is its layment— abundant EXERCISE CLXXXU, The Thermometbr. 1. Meaning of word, heat measurer. 2. Various ways of determining amount of heat, e.g., sense of touch— variable, insufficient— heat may be measured by its eflFects —expansion one of these effects— expansion by heat is always uni- form ; hence expansion forms a good means of measuring any amount of heat. 3. Expansion of solids too small to serve the purpose— of gaioa too great to be of use practically, but of liquids more uniform^ of all liquids mercury expands most uniformly— hence mercury is used as the measurer of heat. 4. Mode in which mercury is used for this purpose— glass tube, closed at one end and containing a bulb at the other, fiUed with mercury— plunged into boiling water-height at which mercury stands marked— then plunged into water at freezing point-^ height again marked-these form the boiling and freezing points respectively— space between these points divided into a given number of equal spaces called degrees. 6. Uses of the instrument. EXERCISE CLXXXIIl, A Table Knieb. 1. Consists of two parts— blade and handle. 2. Blade, made of steel— why steel— shape of blade—shape of part which is inserted into handle. 3. Handle, bone or ivory— blade, how inserted— how fastened. 4. Where manufactured— uses of. [Il 144 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. Ljs_'> I?'" EXERCISE CLXXXIV. Tea-Cup. 1. Materials of which formed — how prepared for nse. 2. Potter's wheel — describe— eflfects of the rotatory motioa of — use of hands in the work. 3. How hardened — pui in fire— describe furnace — how long in furnace. 4. Fainted by the hand. EXERCISE CLXXXV. Candles 1. Materials of which comoosed, and whence obtained — ^tallo^, wax, etc. 2. How material is prepared — if tallow, melted in a large vat. 3. Wick — material and use of. 4. Describe process of dipping, and of making candles in moulds. 6. Use of — substitutes tor. EXERCISE CLXXXVL A Thunderstorm. 1. Generally preceded by intense heat — of a peculiarly close, oppressive, stifling nature, and a great stillness — no motion of the air, no leaf fluttering in the breeze. 2. Sky becomes overcast — big black clouds gather on the horizon — gradually cover the face of the sky, which wears a lurid colour, giving a peculiar metallic lustre to the plumage of any birds on the wing. 3. The lightning — its brilliancy, its suddeness, then the roar of the thunder, and the falling of the rain. 4. Byron's description of a thunderstorm. EXERCISE CLXXXVIL The Ocean. 1. Its extent — proportion of water to earth on the globe, great oceans of the globe. 2. Its properties — saltness, mobility, etc. DB8CRIPTIVB COMPOSITION. 145 *. Quote gome lines on the ocean. 1. Slheep. 2. w. •. -Jot,' 4 J>'C'i. 5. Ixare. 6. Rabbit. 7. Roe. 8. Pig. 9. Beaver, 10. Fox. 11. Wol£ 12. Lion. 1. Birch, 2. Oak. 3. Fern. 4. Lily. 5. Turnip. 6. Carrot. 7. Onion. 8. Parsley. 9. Pea. 1. CoaL 2. Iron. 3. Tin. 4. Lead. 6. Silver. (a.) Animals. 13. Tiger. 14. Rhinoceros. 15. Zebra. 16. Cat. 17. Dove. 18 Hen. 19. Duck. 20. Goose. 21. Turkey. 22. Crow. 23. Linnet. 24. Blackbird. (b.) Vegetablks. 10. Beech. 11. Indigo. 12. Tea. 13. Tobacco. 14. Ash. 15. Maple. 16. Potato. 17. Wheat. 18. Barley. (c) Minerals. 6. Slate. 7. Marble. 8. P«at. 9. Mercnry. 10. Flint 25. Parrot. 26. Eagle. 27. Hawk. 28. Ost -h. 29. Salmon. 30. Herring. 31. Crab. 32. Crocodile. 33. Snake. 34. Eel. 35. Oyster. 36. Mussel. 19. Oats. 20. Rye. 21. Orange. 22. Vine. 23. Fig. 24. Cedar. 25. Rose. 26. Coffee. 27. Sugar-can©. 11. Granite, 12. Clay 13. Salt. 14. Lime. 15. Diamond 146 ENGLISH COMPOSITION. |i r i {d.) Insteumbnts. 1. Microscope. 9. Pick. 17 Balloon. 2. Telescope. 10. Shovel. 18. Clock. 3. Stereoscope. 11. Steel Pen. 19. Watch. 4. Knife. 12. Plough. 20. Needle. 5. Fork. 13. Carriage. 21. Saw. 6. Hake. 14. Cart. 22. Plane. 7. Fanners. 15. Barrow. 23. Diving Bell. 8. Spade. 16. Axe. 24. Pulley. (e. ) Miscellaneous. 1, Carpets. 24. Shipbuilding. 2. Linen. 25. Sheep-shearing. 3. Gunpowder. 26. Corn-reaping. 4. Butter. 27. Winnowing. 5. Cheese. 28. Cheese-making. 6. Chair. 29. Covering of Birds. 7. Table. 30. Bread-making. 8. Shilling. 31. Sahara. 9. Brick. 32. Eivers. 10. Button. 33. Mountains. 11. Wine. 34. Prairie. 12. Beer. S5. A Storm. 13. Ink. 36, A Glacier 14. Gas. 37. Sunrise. 15. Paper. 38. Volcano. 16. Flour. 39. Magic Lantern. 17. Glue. 40. Air-Pump. 18. Mortar. 41. Liquefaction. 19. Brush-making. 42, Spectacles. 20. Cotton-weaving • 43, A Landscape, 21. Pottery. 44. A Public Building. 22. Glass-making. 45, A Public Ceremony. 23. House-building i6. A Newspaper. ! t: eU. CHAPTER IX. THE ESSAY. «v^t' ^ ®!^'°* propriety of language, an Essay is a Short Treatise upon any given Subject, in which the subject IS defined, discussed, proved, or illustrated as tne case may require. 65. No definite rules can be laid down for the guidance of the learner in the composition of the Essay, at least no rules that are of universal application; for the manner in which any two minds will approach the treatment of any subject will be as diverse as the minds themselves. Uni- formity, indeed, is not desirable, and would prove fatal to the healthy growth of the mind. 66. The following general hints may be given: (a.) When a subject of Essay has been prescribed the pupil should first carefully think over the exact force and meaning of the terms in which the subject has been proposed, so as to have a definite conception of the ran^ examined the " Elementary Arithmetic," by Kirkland * .«cott, and am much pleased with the work thro jah- 2r««J-^* X^''^?' ^^® ^2°^ *^ excellent, the exercises are weU arranged, practical, and such as will be likely to prevent the pupil using any purely mechanical methods of iolution ; while the use of the unitary method, to the exclusion of all others. I consider its strongest recoiiraondation. It is well worthy o/ a place among our Arithmetical Text Books, as being the beat el*, mentary Arithmetic yet prepared for our Public Schoola. BANDPIELD DAVIDSON, Principal Model School, Renfrew. -~^'l^*^® examined Kirkland * Scott's elementary Arithmetic. ^u I }?^,T*",'i",'' reasons, think that it is siperior to all others, anci that it should be at once introduced as a text-book into our Public Hchools. My principal reasons are ; that it associatea oral and writ- ten exercises and employs the same method in both cases, and '.hat these methods are the simplest and moso logical that have ever been devised It is hard to showbymeann of an Ariihmetic how the subject should be taught; but Mlessrs. Kirkland & Scott, in mv humble opinion, have surmounted this difficulty. Before the issue of the Arithmetics by Messrs. Kirkland & Scott, we had no arithmetic from which the teacher could learn how to teach it • but now the most inexperienced teacher need not err in mathod ii he studies these woiits, "«"*«» W. 0. MIDDLETON,IB.A., Headlfaatarjof Hawkaibnry H. *P. Schools. ♦v,-'^°i"''^if®?®^*."'ry^P*^'"®*^o''y Kirkland St Scott presenta tne subject of which it treats ;_ so simple, progre8f<.ve and philo- ■ophical a manner as to render ita introduotion w> (our Publlo Schools highly desirible. * *»«"» JAMES BROWN, Priuei^ Model School, WI (tby. In its method, its arrangement and gradation of the different Bu^jects I consider Kirkland & Scott's superior to any other Arithmetic I have yet seen, and would be pleased to aee it auner- cede the present Authorized Book, *^ G. YOUNG SMITH, M.A.Tli.B., Inspector, Whitby. I have carefully examined Kirkland & Scott's Elementary t^A\^^°^^^ *™ ^"""^ pleased wi.a it. The arrangement hTIJ /;f '^^"'"Jr? °' a simple character and yet STifRclent to draw out the faculties of the pupil pad make them understand ^hdt la required at once. This, I consider, a great advantage over tne old system, and I should be pleued to see the book at once iiiiroduced into our schoola. R. KENNEY, M.D., Inspector ofPubUo Schoola, DIatrlot No. 3. Your elementary Arithmetic, by Messrs. Kirkland ft Scott, la ' Buperior lu system, arrangement and selection of exercises, to anythiiig yet ljubliahed on written elementary work, it would SSt^itiS '^' ^^^^ *°^ text-book to fiunblki Smith'* 'SM! r. ■■ THREE EDITIONS SOLD IN SIX MONTHS —OF— HAMBLIN SMITH'S ARITHMETIC, ADAPTED TO CANADIAN CURRBMCY By' THOMAS EIRKLAND, M.A., Science Master Normal School, Toronto, and WM. SCOTT, M.A., TiCead. Master Model School, Ontario. 4th Edition, Price, 75 Cents, Authorized^ by the Miniater of Education, Ontario. Authorized by Ihe G^uncil of Public In^tin.Mon, Qutibte* Recommended by the Senate of the Univ. of Ralifax. Authorized by the Chief Supt. EdAication, Manitoba. FROM NOVA SCOTIA. A. 0. A. DOANE, Inspector of Schools, Borrington, N. B. " Hamblin Smith's arithmetic seems very suitable to the neoea- sities of our public schools. The exercises are admirable, and the examination papers are invaluable as aids to teachers in thorough training. They ■will also prove of great service to pupils uesirous of passing the grade tests. The author appears not to rely so much on set rules as upon explanuuions and the clearing of seeming obscurities, so that pupils may readily comprehend the questions and proceed to the solutions. I cox-dially recommend i ts use to all those desirous of obtaining an acquaintance with this branch of useful knowledge 0. P. ANDREWS, Inspector for Queen's Co., Nora Scotia. *' I have much pleasure in certifying to the superiority of the Canadian edition of Hamblin Smith's Arithmetic over any text book on that subject that has yet come under my notice. It is Eractioal, complete and comprehensive. The appendix and exam- latiou papers are important and valuable features. I shall be pleased to recommend its early incroducticn." "W. S. DANAGH, M.A., Inspector of Schoo'.fi, Cumberland, N. 8. Hamblin Smith's Arithm.;tio.— "It has a value for candidates preparing for public examination, as the examples have been mostly culled from Examination papers, indeed I may say that I have not seen any other work on this branch that is so specially calculated to assist the student in passing with credit official teats. 1 therefore think that Hamblin Smith's Arithmetic should be placed ca the authorized liat of books for public schools." " B.