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Whenever possible, t'; 1^ National Library Bibliotheque nationale of Canada du Canada e: EXERCISES* IN COMPOSITION -^4 '/.~y^Tv-y — KOU FOURTH AND FIFTH CLASSES. BY G. E. HENDERSON Editor of *' The Canadian Teacher." CHAS. G. ERASER Assistant Master^ Gladstone Ave. School, Toronto. AND GEO. A. ERASER Principal oj Public School^ ^lawkesville. F»RICK. 16 CENTS TORONTO : THE EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING CO. 1898. .v..:t .\ '" Entered according to Act of the Parliament o" Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundrer! suid ninety-eight, by G. E. Henderson, Chas. G. Fkaser, and Gko. A. Fkaser, at the Department of' Agriculture. '"f PREFACE I To THE Boys and Girls:— If you would excel in Composition you must practice. Excellence comes only b/ careful, honest effort. From the beginning, remember that "Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle." Do each exercise as if it were to be handed down the ages ; and let each sentence praise the little Composition "Apprentice" who aspires to be a " Master'' in the art. Criticize your own work mercilessly. Never be satisfied with "good enough." K^ep correctness, usefulness and beauty in view. Be thorough. Do not be afraid of the effort it will cost to b'jcome well informed on any subject. The result will be, not only excellent compositions, but also a thorough- ness of character which will be shown in every under- taking of your life. These general ideas we supplement with the following definite rules : — ' . Let your work be neatness itself. . ' Form each letter with the greatest care. Watch carefully the spelling of e^ach word. Choose words that will express tnil^dea correctly. At first, make short sentences. Let each sentence contain one idea definitely ex- pressed. 7. Express the idea grammatically. 8. Begin each sentence with a capital letter. 9. End each sentence with a period. 10. Use the interrogation mark (?), the exclamation mark (!), and the quotation marks (" — ") correctly. I. 2. .3- 4. 5- 6. r*' * 11. Do not use such words as "and," **but," "so," '*then," too often. 12, Learn to use the comma (,) properly. PREFACE. In writing a composition we suggest the following ?.s a guide : — 1. Secure information on the subject. 2. Decide on the points you shall discuss. 3. Select the statements you wish to make on each point. 4. Arrange these statements logically. This will form a paragraph ; the paragraphs will form the com- position. 5. Criticize your work — the correctness of the state- ments — the choice of words, striking out those that are faulty and substituting others— the spell- ing—the arrangement of the words in the sen- tences — the grammar -the arrangement of the thoughts in the paragraph. This is the mechan- ical part and it is absolutely necessary. Here the eye tests. 6. Then let the ear test. Read your composition aloud, and see that the arrangement of the sounds is agreeable. Allow nothing harsh to pass. 7. If possible lay the composition aside. Then criticize again and copy your work neatly, putting the title at the centre of the top, and doubly underlining it, leaving a margin, and writing your name in the upper right-hand corner of the page. It will then be ready to be presented to the public. .„', ■*•' EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise i. I, Correct the errors and give reasons : — 1. John adams was President of the united states. 2. I am going by the new york central Railway. 3. Lake erie is north of the state of ohio. 4. March, april and may are Spring months. 5. The bay of biscay is west of france. 1. Pekin is the capital of the empire of china. 2. easter Sunday comes in april next year. 3. James alien lives in new Orleans. 4. what does John think of robert's Success ? 5. Have you read the globe to-day ? 6. it was a summer evening, old Casper's work was done, and he before his cottage door was sitting in the sun, and by him sported on the green his little grandchild wilhelmine. 2, Explain the abbreviations in the following :-^. 1. Jas. Brown, M.A., left on the 22nd inst. 2. Address Chas. Ross Esq., Ottawa, Ont. 3. He bought i doz. eggs and 3 lbs. butter. ' { 4. The G.T.R. Express is due at 8 o'clock p.m. 5. Messrs Brown Bros., Buffalo, N.Y., U.S.A. 6. TheC.P.R. train arrives in St. Thomas at 5.3oa.mi 7. The MSS. consist of 8pp., each 24 II. EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION, t Exercise a. /. Change to the plural: — 1. My mother gave me that picture. 2. The boy and the girl rode in a carriage. ; 3. Mr. Brown and his son visited me. 4. The master wrote 2, 3 and 8 on the board. 5. She sees the stars shining through the chinks. 2. Change to the singular: — 1. Days pass quickly away. 2. Lions and tigers eat men. ' • 3. Mice ran up and down the halls. • .. 4. They bought apples and potatoes. 5. We caught geese and ducks in the trap. . 6. You must watch the gaps for two days. J. Change the number of each noun and pronoun and make any other changes necessary : — : , . 1. The girl gave her father and mother a present. 2. We came past the trees to the road. 3. His knife and fife fell on the roof below. 4. He loves his brother and his sister. 5. The general and his aide-de-camp have come. 6. The Englishman and the Norman talked together. 4, Change to the plural: — • ., 1. The girl's hat was torn by the wolf. 2. The lass's dress is made of tartan. 3. The lady's hat was spoiled by a shower. 4. The thief stole the farmer's ox. 5. I walked a mile to my brother's farm. 6. The teacher corrects the boy's exercise. ^ 5. Change to the singular : — ' ' * " " 1. It took days to do the two men's work. 2. Nicks were cut in the boys' knives. 3. The rainbows' colors are always the same. 4. The women's parcels are carried by boys. 5. The princes* yacht won the prize. ,i( 6. James' hats and coats are on the floor. /•■• EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. I ■ Exercise 3. /. Change to the masculine gender : — 1. The ewe lamb was killed by the tigress. 2. The Princess of Wales visited the Queen of Denmark. 3. Lady Macdonald visited the Duchess of York. 4. The Czarina is a granddaughter of the Queen. 5. The Countess of Aberdeen is a noble woman. 2. Change to the feminine gender : — 1. " I am killed, sire," the boy replied. 2. The king and his noblemen ate thereof. 3. The child is father of the man. 4. The abbott and the monk know the priest. • 5. The emperor was the arbiter of Europe. 6. Father welcomed our two nephews to-day. J. Change to words of opposite gender : — 1. He saw the queen and the prince to-day. 2. The drake and the goose seized the bread. 3. The king's niece lives with the duchess. 4. The count visited his brother, the abbott. 5. The widower has two lovely daughters. 6. She gave her mother his cap. 4. Change the Norman to the Saxon possessive : — 1 . The soldiers of Napoleon won many battles. 2. The armies of Rome conquered Gaul. 3. The sting of the bee is very painful. 4. The song of the reaper is heard in the land. 5. The mother of the boy keeps him neat and clean. 6. The tail of the rat was caught in the trap. J". Change the Saxon possessive to the Norman : — 1 . The king's army was completely defeated. 2. The men's work was spoiled in one night. 3. The mouse's mother kept away from the trap. 4. The tree's leaves covered the ground. 5. The ass's burden fell off his back. 6. The sheep's wool was spun into yam. ■■ tXERClSES IN COMPOSITION. ^. Exercise 4. Use these words in the Subject Nominative ,••«. man dog mice deer child cat cows sheep Use these words as Predicate Nominatives : — hoop apple kite house parlor girl robin plate 3, Use these words as Appositive Nominatives : — baker teacher Canadian hero lawyer doctor American heroine 4. Use these words in the Nominative of Address :■ Charles master queen sir Robert judge father Paul jf. I'se these words as direct objects of verbs : — wall fruit cradle donkey tree milk river birds 6. Use these words as indirect objects of verbs : — me mother horse friend you father man London /. Use these words as objects of prepositions ;— head cheek finger arm eyes heel thumb neck 8, Distinguish these plural nouns: — Pence and pennies Dies and dice Cloths and clothes Sail and sails Brothers ancl brethren Peas and pease. g. Fill the blanks with the proper words : — We heard the .... of the wagon, the I. of the thunder and the train of cars, the . . the rain. 2. We heard the .... of the mower, the lark, tiie of the children playing, the clock and the of the school bell. of the ... of of the of the I. I. 2. 3. 4. 5- EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise 5 Write appropriate adjectives in these blanks :~ v^'ater .... stones .... fruit snow clouds lumber residence . . eagle • . glass . . apple . . description 2. Give the words meanino the opposite of:~ '^^ ^ few straight finite much' late fewer complete 3. Use these words in a statement : brave honest happy loose ^'"d old feathery neat 4. Use each of these words in a statement: two seven twice tenth tnree nme thrice twenty-first S' Use these words in describing something :— singing running crying walking shmmg burnmg laughing talking 6. loin appropriate adjectives to : — a watch a lamb a dress a cane a dog a suit 7. What adjective corresponds to : America France England story • woman man picture a river an ocean Canada >pain Turkey Asia Europe 8. Use these adjectives in the comparative degree ;— wise much first b-vfiful old many last lovely p. Use these adjectives in the superlative degree /— tall farther round handsome kind nearer straight happier 10 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. ■4, I I. 2, J! Exercise 6. Add " v" to each of the following words. Then form a sentence containing the neiv word. ram wood water star wool glass dirt cotton sugar whole Supply " rt " or ^^ an'^ in the blanks : — J editor wrote .... account of the struggle .... United Empire Loyalist had on .... rough bush farm in .... Province of Canada. 2 European brought .... useful article. 3 hostler took .... ass to .... ox's stall. 4. . . hotel-keeper welcomed . . young man to the bar. 5. . . heiress gave . . apple to . . boy with . . old coat. Harvest Time. J. Add an adjective to each of the nouns in italics ; — The grain waves. The air stirs. The sickle rattles in the field. The thrush sings in the tree and the quail whistles to his mate. Horses draw the reaper and the gratn falls before it. The thunder rumbles. Now the whip cracks and the bundles fall rapidly to the ground. The harvesters gather the tightly bound bundles and place them in thocks till the sun sinks. Soon the bins will be full. Cares will cease, songs will resound, and the men will rest. Tlie Cricket and the Butterfly. Substitute nouns for the pronouns in italics. A little cricket sat in the grass. She saw a beautiful butterfly flit about from flower to flower. She envied hinty ior he had a beautiful color. "Ah," sighed .f^^, "why am I not as beautiful as he?" Many children came across the meadow. They espied the summer birdling. " Oh," cried /^^j/, " see the beauti- ful butterfly." They ran with hat and apron after him. He tried to escape, but one child caught him. But the child was careless. He broke off one of his wings. Then he crushed in his little head. The cricket had seen it all. " Ah," said she^ " how good it is that I Hve in concealment." . ,,t EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. II Exercise 7. The Qlowworm. " Of what use is my light or who sees it down here in the grasses?" sighed tie glow worm. "If I could shine up there in the sky now like that beautiful moon or the stars, or even if I could fly about in the air as the fireflies do, I might brighten the world a little, but what good can I do here ? " I will curl myself up here and sleep and nobody will miss me." So the glowworm lay in his bed two whole nights and days. *'Heigho!' he sighed at the end of the second day, " I am tired of this. I believe I wi I light my lamp to-night and go out once more for a stroll." "Oh, here you are," cried the cricket. "I missed your light last night, didn't enjoy my practising half as much as usual." *' Glad to see you !" cried the daisies and grasses. " The fireflies flit over our heads, but no one but yourself thinks of lighting our feet. Where have you been ?" *'Oh, we are so glad that you have come! "cried a voice, and the Canada lilies rang a merry chime to welcome him. " We are so glad you have come. We know the stars are overhead and the fireflies flitting about above us, but we cannot see them, for we cannot lift up our heads, our necks are so slender. So you see we always watch for your cheery light down in the grass. You light up our faces, too, and make them almost as beautiful as the daylight does"; and all the lily bells pealed another chime, gay enough for a fairy weddmg. " Well, well !" thought the glowworm, " I will let my light shine after this ; there is something for every one to do." 1. Change to the plural. 2. Supply nouns jor the pronouns, . J. Change to the feminine gender. • .•'• m 12 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise 8. A Fairy Tale. A young" peasant once sat by the side of a wood. He was hungry, and prayed the gods to give him just a morsel of food. Suddenly a dwarf came forth out of the wood, an 'I told him his prayer was answered. Taking a pouch from his side, and giving it to the peasant, he said : ** You will always find in this pouch something to satisfy hunger and thirst ; but you must nev r consume it al!, and you must always share your food and drink with those who ask you." The dwarf then vanished ; and the peasant found, to his delight, new bread and chees.% besides delicate viands and delicious beverages. He ate heartily and noticed that the pouch immediately filled up again. He now felt sure of food, and from this time lived an idle, shiftless life. One day, as he wa gorging himself, a feeble old man tottered up to him and prayed for a morsel, as he himself had done in the past. But he refused in a brutal, churlish tone. Immediately the bread and cheese broke and scattered at his feet, and pouch and all vanished. 1. Change to the first person singular^ 2, Change to the first pef*son plural, J, Change to the present tense. Dally Tasks. " Over and over again, ; No matter which way I turn, I always find in the book of life Some lesson that I must learn ; I must take my turn at the mill, I must grind out the golden grain, ' I must work out my task with a resolute will Over and over again." — Anon. , ;, .,7 Change to the plural ; the second person ; the past tense. EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. 15 \. Exercise 9. 1. Use these adjectives attributively : — old merry courteous talented good much polite vocal Then change the degrees of the adjectives, 2. Use these adjectives predicatively : — good sweet horizoi. al wel ome kind bright perpendicular dilij.ent wise happy generous affa )le warm sunny affectionate britile J. Change the gender of the pronouns : — 1. He caught his hand in a wheel. 2. She knitted the stocking for her mother. 3. She washed his face in the spring. 4. His sleigh carried her over his rink. 5. I quickly caught her hand in mine. 4. Change the number of the pronouns : — 1. I know my lessons as well as they. 2. We caught his dog eatmg our meat. 3. They broke his saw while cutting our wood. 4. This cost them many hours of their time. 5. She knows it is my hat. 6. They bought that hat for you and me. The Birds. The birds have a glorious time. They fly, and hop, and skip. They sing till field and wood resound. They are well and free from care, and they always find some- thing good to eat. Wherever they fly the table is set. When the day's work is ended they settle in the trees. They softly rest through the night and have beautiful dreams. When the early morning light breaks, they mount upon their wings and fly forth into the world to sing their joyous songs. 1, Change this extract to the singular number, 2. Change this extract to the first person, J. Then change to the singular. \ . -. 14 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. 8'! Exercise lO. 1. Write these ivords in Declarative sentences : — love justice bitterness peace cold virtue diligence pride Change each sentence to the opposite. 2. Use these words in Interromtive sentences : — desk clock date pointer bell time chalk student Answer each question properly. J. Use these words in Imperative sentences : — walk drink shut run creep read write stand 4. Use these ivords in Exclamatory sentences : — burns barks hurrah I flies roared growled alas ! flew 5. Usetheseas (/) transitive^ {2) intransitive^verbs : — fell wrote read shot burn learn smoke thresh 6. Use these (i) in the active^ (2) in the passive^ voice: — sold raise shovel combine sung bay effect idled /. Make statements using these words to denote possession : — father scholar masters children teacher visitor trustees oxen king friend generals men 8. Make questions using these words in the po:.- sessive case : — mother Agnes tomatoes women sister Robert potatoes ladies princess Alice knives baby EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. 1$ Exercise ii. I. Select (i) the subject ; (2) the object ;— 1. The soldiers fight battles. 2. The dog bit the rabbit. 3. The boy won a prize. 4. Tom broke a window, 5. Fred loves his sister. 6. The policeman caught the man. Add words to describe bjtii subject and objects 2 Change the verbs to the passive voice ;— 1. The dog bit the boy. 2. The man finished the work. 3. The maid milks the cow. 4. The woman mends the dress. 5. The boy learns the lesson. 6. The teacher teaches the pupil. J. Change the verbs to the active voice : — 1. The latch ^ i a gate was broken by a boy. 2. The gate was blown open by the wind. 3. A cow strayed from the field. 4. The cow was run over by a train. 5. The train was overturned by the cow. 6. -A little child was killed by the accident. 7. So a little child was killed by that mischievous boy. 4. The folloiving are concise statements of stories in the School Readers, Enlarge the subject and the predicate so as to include the chief ideas of the story. Then transpose in as many ways as possible: — Fourth Reader. 1. " The Little Midshipman " — A midshipman escapes. 2. *' Battle of Hastings " — Harold was killed. 3. " Battle of Bannockburn '' — JrucedefeatedEdward. 4. "The Death of Little Nell "— Nell died. 5. ** Discovery or America' — Columbus discovered. 6. '* The Black Prince at Crecy" Edward fought bravely 7. " A Christmas Carol " — Scrooge was cJianged, > , i6 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise la. \ Day on the Farm. The long night passes. The day dawns and breaks. The sun rises from behind the hills, and the golden sun- beams call to work. Willie, the farmer's boy, awakes, and, rising from his comfortable bed, dresses himself and goes out to meet the duties of the day. With hi-: dog, he scampers along the lane to the meadow where the cows are grazing, or standing waiting fv^r them at the bars. He puts down the bars and calls the cows by name. How Collie barks as he drives the cows along ! He does not bite them. He merely wants to show how glad he is to take them home, and how willing he is to do his duty. At the end of the lane the maids are waiting with their pails ; and soon the music of the milk upon the pails is heard. Then the milk becomes deep enough to cover the tin, and the music ceases. Merrily the work goes on, and, milking c one, the pails of warm, foamy milk are carried to the dairy, where the milk is strained and the cans are placed into the clear, cool water, and the golden cream begins to rise. The dairy is closed, and all have a good wash before going in to breakfast. How hearty each one is ! The morning air has given a good appetite, and mother's meals always satisfy. The fried potatoes, the ham and eggs, the light, well-baked bread and sweet butter, and the warm coffee and cream receive ample attention, and then all go out to continue the duties of the day. Father takes the horses to the field to drive the mower. Mother and the girls wash the dishes, make the beds and clear up the rooms. The men finish the chores, and harness the horses, ready to haul in the hay, while Willie and Collie drive the cows to the pasture again, and hurry back to go with the waggon to draw in the hay. What fun it is to draw in hay ! Will stands on the hay-rack and builds the load as the men lift up great forks of hay. As layer after layer of hay is placed on the EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. I? load, he binds it fast. At last the load starts for the barn, where the great hay-fork, which has been fastened to the roof of the barn, lifts half a ton at a time and throws it into the mow where it is stored for the winter. At last the girls ring the dinner-bell, and men and horses as well as Will, welcome its merry sound. Again their appetites «re satisfied, and the afternoon's work begins. The loads continue to pass into the barn, while the sun pursues his course across the clear blue sky, and, when he sinks to rest behind the western woods, the twinkling stars peep down upon a farmer's family, tired in body but happy in heart. jf ell this story : — (i) in the past tense ; (j) in the present perfect tense. (2 ) in the future tense ; (4) in the past perfect tense. Exercise 13. Morning. The rising sun proclaimed the day, and the sunbeams which peeped through the curtain roused Mary from a good night's rest. Father had already lit the fire, and the water in the kettle was boiling, so she arose at once, arranged her clothes and put them on. When her hands and face were washed and her hair was combed, she quickly came down to prepare breakfast. The coffee was made, the dishes were placed upon the table and the victuals were brought out. Then she set the chairs and called the family to breakfast. How pleasantly they met to say good morning to each other, and form a happy circle round the table ! Father said grace, and each set to work ; and while the appetites were being satisfied, the duties of the day were discussed. Breakfast finished, they rose from the table and each started for his own work. • i Re write this para^^raph^ changing the voice of the verbs, - ..... . - .. . . -. * / i8 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. I I Exercise 14. Change the construction of these setttences by: — /. Changing the voice of the verbs. 2. Interchanging Nortfian and Saxon possessive. J. Interchangifig direct and indirect narrative. 4. Interchanging wofdsy phrases^ and clauses, 5. Using synonyms for words or ph^uses. 6. Expressing the idea in another ivay. 1. " Well, you are a queer fish," she said. 2. The bear said he was not afraid of a bird. 3. The shanty is covered with boughs. 4. Mr. and Mrs. Brown's home is in Ottawa. 5. Thou animated torrid zone. 6. All men are mortal. 7. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 8. The man caught the weasel in a trap. 9. I asked her where she was going. 10. " I should like to see the nest,*' said the bear. 1 1. The wolf told the bear he had better be careful. 12. It was not so much the lateness of the hour as the solitude and desolation of the place that terrified me. 13. In front of it, two enormous logs are roiled closely together and a fire is built between them. 14. No English soldier pulled a trigger ; with match- less endurance they sustained the trial. 15. Your friendships determine your character. 16. Jack said it was only an axe they had heard. 17. The secret of eminence is love. 18. John is wiser than Thomas. 19. Arthur began his ablutions at once. 20. Sleep deserted his pillow. 21. James, not being ready, cannot go. 22. The year Napoleon was born was also tne year of Wellington's birth. 23. The old verger put the lights out. 24. The Duke of York's yacht entered port. 25. The boys' and girls' les ons are long. ,; 'if . ■4t .Hi ,1 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. 19 Exftrcise i5. 1. Change to the opposite as many word^ as you can : — 1. He is a rich man. 2. She bought a new dress, 3. I do not like cold soup. ' 4. Me is late this morning. 5. The girl lost the boy's sister. 6. He is a drunken man. 2, Account for these capital letters : — 1. The man caught a fish. 2. My son is called Charlie. 3. He ;^nd I are going to Toronto. 4. O Caesar 1 Great is thy fame ! 5. Willie has read " Uncle Tom's Cabin." 6. Scott wrote " The Lady of the Lake." 7. Shakespeare said, "Brevity is the soul of wit." 8. The Prince of Wales is a son of the Queen of England. 9. Thou, God, seest me, and Thou art Love. 10. How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour ; And gather honey all the day, From every opening flower. J. Change each 7Vord to a phrase : — daily plentiful fashionable yearly hopeful agreeable seaward cloudless backward homeward lifeless monthly childless beggarly rapidly Use each phrase in a sentence. penniless graceful appear semi-weekly bi-weekly 4, Give one word for each Having no money. With kind ways. Every three months. Looking like death. Without knowledge. To bear patiently. of the following phrases . In the style. Towards the front. Every year. Every twelve months. To think over. One liked by all. 20 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise i6. J. Choose the appropriate word : — 3- 4. 5- 2. He was angry (at, with) his father. There were six of us (beside, besides) those absent. The basket is made (of, from; wire. He careful (of, with) your books. Strive to be reconciled (to, with) vour enemy. Write sentences to show the preposition which should follow : — absent boast exclude quarrel address blush grateful reflect arrive change long unite approve compare need wait banish differ opposite worthy J. Use these prepositions in sentences to show the relation between ** boy " and some other word: — in at behind under from on by amongst above across 4. Write sentences to show the difference between : — 1. divide between 2. overcome by 3. familiar with 4. live in 5. agree with 6. angry with 7. ask of 8. careful of divide among overcome with familiar to live at agree to angry at ask after careful in 5. Write sentences using these phrases (/) as adjec- tives ; (2) as adverbs : — on the fence among the trees behind the sofa beside the house at the store around this school by the fence in the cellar along the road above the picture under the stove beneath the barn near the town to Berlii\ EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. ar Exercise 17. /. Divide these into smaller sentences : — » 1. The poor old blind man fell on the ice. 2. The tDoy >vas tall, strong and polite. • 3. The teacher is energetic, kind and patient. 4. My mother was washing, ironing and baking. 5. The rich and poor, the great and sm-^ll, must die. 6. The lazy and ignorant do not succeed. 2. Combine these sentences in as many ways as you can : — 1. You will get the prize. You dest o it . 2. They spoke. We listened. 3. The dinner was ready. We all sat down. 4. The boy had been called. He came at once. 5. You are truthful. You will be believed. J. Supply the ellipses : — 1. It is better to do that than to be idle. 2. I remember the day he arrived. 3. I shall not use it unless forced to do so. 4. I love thee more than life. 5. She is taller than I. 4. In sentences write the names of: — 1. Three men. 2. Three married women. 3. Three unmarried women. 4. Three ministers. 5. Three professors. Three newspapers. Three poems. Three novels. * Three doctors. Three members of parliament. 5. Compose three sentences showing the use of: — in, into between, among of, off less, fewer this, that oldest, eldest these, those farther, further much, many who, which good, wiU who, that, teach, learn taught, learned full, fill lie, lay rise, raise -• shall, wil\ , , .. 22 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. I* i! Exercise i8. Combine into a simple^ a compound, a complex sentence : — 1. The tiger is fierce. He is a blood-thirsty animal- He lives in India. He lives in China. He lives in the Indian islands. He roams about. He lives in the jungles. These jungles are dense. He goes about very silently. 2. Pussy has fur. The fur is pretty. The fur is soft. She is gentle. She can purr. She has claws. The claws are sh?***" The claws are short. She can scratch hard. 3. The hunters went through the jungles. There were many hunters. They were on elephants. They sat on the backs of these animals. There is grass in the jungles. It is long. The hunters were chasing the man- eater. This is a fierce animal. 4. The girl had curls. They were long. They were beautiful. They were of a brown color. The girl was timid. She was a little girl. She sat under a tree. She was in the shade. It was a maple tree. The tree was tali. The girl was sleeping. 5. There are some boys. They are on the road. There is a crowd of them. They are making a lot of noise. They are going to fish. They wish to catch truut. The fish are shining. They are also speckled. The boys will go to the river. The river is broad. 6. Baker discovered a lake. He was a traveller. He travelled in Africa. He was celebrated. He spent many years in his efforts. They were weary years. He made determined efforts. The lake was called Albert Nyanza. It is one of the sources of the Nile. This is a great river. 7. Th«re is a lodge. It is in ruins. It is seven miles from the town. It was built by the Duke of Kent. The Duke is now dead. He was the father of Victoria. Victoria is our sovereign. The Duke was then Com- mander-in-chief. He was over all the forges of the colony. V EXERCISES IN CdMPOSiTlON. 23 Exercise 19. Divide the following words into the accented syllable : — 1. woodman blackbird playmate penknife blackboard shoelace 2. beginning certainly dignity hearth wrapped passenger terrible 3. merciful bri liant manufacture quantities dissolute unfortunate 4. conquered heareth touched chanced buried arrived injured 5. condemned permitted merriment vengeance individuals accompanied volunteers brooklet homeward • pitching troublesome freedom youthful Providence resembles retraced induced nestled carrying pitcher unconscious draughts captivity successfully glistening dazzles favorable travelling easily suggested generously threatened vegetable dimensions especially luxuriant acknowledged triumphantly agriculture composition syllables and mark bosom blossom express enlarge manage Saxon engineer judgment assistance carriage distances numbered business defeated evenly contentment exacting enlighten elephant severely thieving foreign corpse puzzled pitying existence responsible confident coquetry menageries variegated principle alcohol \ * * ■I t ■; i 34 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise ao. I. Give words related in meaning to : — Show the difference in their meanings. Construct sentences^ using them correctly. Model.— Divide f division, dividend, individual I. amiable annual century certain export esteem auditor captain educate appear barbarous complete diameter equator frigid bigamy dialogue fence 2. gravity general heritage humanity knowledge letter luminary morality orator purity peace question justice inflection majority noble quarter regent 2. Show by the derivation the meaning c * / — Make a list of other words from same root. Show by sentences the difference in meaning. I. advocate confirm finish accident direct factory aqueduct dignity fortune alter flourish denominator brief delusion geography clear exceed hospital 2. imbibe position urban legalize polygon virtue memory pardon valiant maniac session vegetable monarch similar vinegar province solution village EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. H Exercise ai. 1. Show the difference in meaning between : — ail, ale forth, fourth martin, marten brews, bruise flew, flue pole, poll b'ue, blew gall, Gaul pore, pour cote, coat grown, groan root, route clime, climb lone, loan sell, cell doze, does lief, leaf use, ewes Use each pair of words correctly in a sentence. 2. Write the words of similar sound to : — ark bell broach cord ciaws dew fowler furs grater gild hide jam kill lone lea maze, new nose our peak plum rood, sink sell sum Salter throws teem wave won Use each pair of words correctly in a statement. J. Give the homonyms (words of the same sound) of:— adds hart air road slight birth just bare rain two coarse knit cent raze use dust links hew seer vane faint mote meet slay write glare nave pare sow you Use each pair of words correctly in a question. 4 Show the meaning of these words by using them correctly in sentences : — bate, bait graze, grays lessen, lesson meter, metre pleas, please . peak, pique quarts, quartz bow, beau chews, choose claws, clause day, dey friar, fryer rime, rhyme rest, wrest sweet, suite sun, son tear, tare wane, wain .».>>i^ 26 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise aa. h I. Distinguish these pairs Creator and creature parent and child landlord and tenant winner and loser wholesale and retail host and guest cause, effect superior, inferior plaintiff, defendant principal, assistant transparent, opaque economy, extravagance antiquity, novelty of words : — leader and follower ' teacher and pupil creditor and debtor lender and borrower native and foreigner external and internal ancestor, descendant physician, patient ruler, subject affirmative, negative convex, concave wealth, poverty bravery, cowardice 2, Use these pairs of counsel, council mettle, metal vial, viol succor, sucker profit, prophet plaintiff, plaintive bridal, bridle calendar, calender aloud, allowed words properly in sentences currants, currents holy, wholly symbol, cymbal knotty, naughty principal, principle lesson, lessen Britain, Briton carrot, carat altar, alter Place the accent on the italicized words : — 1. If you redet you will be declared a redet. 2. You may discoun' the note if the discount is low. 3. In a minute he had taken only a minute part of the gold. 4. What is your object when you object to his v jte ? 5. I give you a permit which will permit you to go with the army. i, i6« We never desert our friends in the desert. . Tiies^ countries produce butter, eggs and other $^< 9. I \ EXEi^CISES IN COMPOSITION. 27 Synonyms. I. Give as 7tiany synonyms as you can for : — friendship genial protract work frugahty fortunate quicken pure food industrious teach queer fiction mysterious support ' jardon lealthy exercise primeval speak 2. Give as many antonyms as you can for • - sagacious satisfy send severe righteousness slander declare support youthful pretence poetry polite pleasant love obscure large ill-natured persuade light necessity J. Give the classical word corresponding to • • ask breast hearty burgess build room careful fairness forsake ring friendly ease ill-use wont nightly enough keep flag godly truth 4^ Give the Saxon word corresponding to :■ human matron comprehend martial royal captive convey ancient novel barbarian repair natal sombre vagrant observe adjacent divine vapor premit similar 5. Distinguish the following synonyms : — alliance, league, union, partnership, federation, appetite, thirst, longing, relish, desire, craving, displace, mislay, remove, derange, misplace, confuse, neat, trim, tidy, orderly, clean, nice, prim, spruce, precedent, example, pattern, instance, antecedent, sagacious, intelligent, shrewd, judicious, wise. 6. Account for the derivation of these words :— cows and beef ; i P>gs and pork sheep and mutton _ calves and veal i^£isiaiBrgrs aj ? u 28 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Exercise 24. IVkaf rules of syntax are violated in the following ? — 1. My left foot is the coldest. 2. I only ate one apple. 3. This is the dog who bit me. 4. Their's is far better than your's. 5. Who owns this here house? 6. They have chose a fine motto. 7. He has no less than five cents. 8. Two miles aren't much of a walk. 9. I wish you would walk slower. 10. Let every man look out for themselves. 11. Them books is not worth readin'. 12. Do not go any further than the bridge. 13. What do yous think of that book? 14. Let's you and I go to the concert. 15. He's a pretty fine sort of a fellow. 16. Who spoiled my pen ? It wasn't me. 17. Thou hath done all things well. 18. Little children should love each other. 19. He ain't going to Buffalo this week. 20. Divide this between the boys and girls of your class. 21. Every man and boy were put out of the room. 22. That was the amusingest story I ever heard. 23. One has to be careful when he throws stones. 24. John throwed the apple in the river. 25. I am quite sure I seen the man yesterday. 26. He refused to comply to my request. 27. Of the three I consider him the more suitable. 28. What is the distance between every telegraph pole : 29. John is a better reader than any boy in his class. 30. Are you going to the Teacher's Association ? 31. You scarcely said nothing all the time you was there. 32. Him and me and John was at the picnic. 33. The parents, not the boy, is to blame. 34. Are these your brother*s-in-law houses ? 35. I am mad at John for acting so silly. ''.^wmssm^^M EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. 29 Exercise 25. 1. Which words in each sentence are redundan (unnecessary ) ? — 1. He stepped on to a chair. 2. We saw no one at aHr 3. Iron sinks dewn in the water. 4. T le balloon rose up very rapidly. 5. She ^s a poor widow wofftan. 6. Give me another -one-. 7. They returned back to the same place. 8. I do not wish for any at all. 9. Don't do it any more^i^fai«. 10. Where have you been 4a..'* 1 1. They both-met in the street. 12. I ate both the two of themr- 13. He continued to read. 14. Give me a yard off t)f that piece. 2. Rearrange to express the sense intended : — 1. A gentleman will adopt a little boy with a smal? family. 2. They built a house for their clergyman with sever gables. ^' '^^ ' 3. We hav^ a room for a lodger twelve by sixteen. 4. A boy wanted who can open oysters with references. 5. Wanted, room for two gentlemen about thirty feef long and twenty feet broad. 6. Wanted, an organist and a boy to blow the same. 7. Bulldog for sale ; will eat anything, very fond of children. 8. Furnished apartments suitable for gentlemen with folding doors. 9. Lost, near High Park, an umbrella belonging to a gentleman with a bent rib and a bone handle. 10. For sale, a mail phaeton, the property of a gentle- man with a movable headpiece as good as new. 11. Wanted, experienced nurse for bottled baby. 12. Wanted, by a respectable girl, her passage to New York, willing to take care of children and a good sailor. / r" 30 EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Punctuation. 1. The crow said the fox is not my friend. 2. The crow repHed the fox is a black bird. 3. The king sang the jester makes jokes too. 4. My heart cried the man. is as brave as the best, 5. It was and I said not or. 6. They that have have they that have not have not. 7. That that that that that modifies is a noun. Did'nt Think. (Arrange as Poetry.) Once there was a robin Hved outside the door who wanted to go inside and hop upon the floor oh no said the mother you must stay with me Httle birds are safest sitting in a tree I don't care said robin and gave his tail a fling i don't think the old folk know quite everything down he flew kit seized him before he'd time to blink oh he cried i'm sorry but i didn't think. Bitter Fruit. This is very pleasant cried a young bear as he floated down the river on a log he had found by the waters edge what a mistake my mother made when she told me not to go on it its the nicest time i ever had and so i shall tell her when i get back and the log floated down the river i wonder when it will go the other way cried the little bear after a time as the current bore him farther and farther from home im getting huiigry but the log floated on i want to go back cried the little bear again ive been quite far enough and im getting stiffand cramped still the log floated on o dear cried the little bear i wish id listened to my mother i believe she was right after all and when i get home i think ill tell her so but alas the poor little bear never had a chance of telling her so for he never saw his mother or his home again he was seen and captured by some fur traders and many a time in his captivity did he mourn over the disobedience that cost him his liberty mrs prosser m \ EXERCISES IN COMPOSITION. Sentence Exercises. I. Ask what the following are made of : — books houses watches fences ships guns dishes roads Answer your question^ properly, 2* Give different meanings for : — last will like can bear row J. In one sentence make two statements about: — 3» stake plate grass iron milk gold boys girls clouds rain 4. Tell the uses of: — music butter mowers bread mitts gloves scissors scales ^, Write questions containing nouns forvied J ^om ,;— ♦ smaii long true just poor frail high young 6. Write commands^ using these words in the f>os