X.

USE OF WORDS, PHRASES, AND CLAUSES, IN THE EXPANSION OF THE IDEA.

The previous Exercise having rendered the student familiar with the parts of which a compound sentence is composed, it is now proposed that he be exercised in the construction of such sentences; as in the following

We went.

We went in a carriage.

Example.

We went in a carriage to the meeting.

We went in a carriage to the meeting last night.

We went in a carriage to the meeting in Church Street last night.

We went in a carriage to the meeting in Church Street last night, and heard an excellent sermon.

We went in a carriage to the meeting in Church Street last night, with a number of friends, and heard an excellent sermon from the Rev. Mr. Stevens.

We went in a carriage to the meeting in Church Street last night, with a number of friends from the country, and heard an excellent sermon from the Rev. Mr. Stevens, on the duties of children to their parents.

We went in a carriage to the meeting in Church Street last night, with a number of friends from the country, and heard an excellent sermon from the Rev. Mr. Stevens, on the duties of children to their parents, delivered in a very solemn and impressive manner.

Exercises.

In the same manner the student may expand the following simple

sentences:

My father sailed.

John related.

If Henry had nɔt disobeyed.
God created.

I remember.

Habitual indolence undermines.

They have done all they could.
A cat caught.

A thief was caught.
The lightning struck.
The river rolled.
The minister preached.

The artist painted
I have purchased.
His parents reside.
The boy fell.
The girls rose.
A mad dog bit.
The sheriff took.

The wind blew down.

The tide overflowed.
The earthquake destroyed.

A large number of peopled assembled. The beggar came.

Geography teaches.

I heard him sing.

XI.

OF THE PARTS AND ADJUNCTS OF A SENTENCE.

The natural order of an English sentence is to place the subject with its adjuncts, if any, at the beginning of the sentence, and the verb and the objective, with their respective adjuncts after it. This order, however, it is not necessary always to preserve, but on the contrary the beauty and harmony of the sentence are often greatly increased by a departure from it. With respect to the cadence, or close of a sentence, care should be taken that it be not abrupt nor unpleasant. In order to give a sentence its proper close, the longest member and the fullest words should be reserved for the conclusion. But in the distribution of the members, and in the cadence of the period, as well as in the sentences themselves, variety must be observed; for the mind and the ear soon tire with a frequent repetition of the same tone.

In the following example the student will notice the different order in which the parts of the sentence are arranged, while they still collectively convey the same idea. The dif ferent forms of construction, which depend on the power of varying the arrangement, have a material effect upon the precision and harmony of the sentence; and therefore that arrangement is always to be preferred, which, while it sounds most harmoniously to the ear, conveys most clearly the idea intended to be expressed.

Example

The poet must study variety, above all things, not only in professed descriptions of the scenery, but in frequent allusions to natural objects, which, of course, often occur in pastorals.

Above all things, the poet, not only in professed descriptions of the scenery, but in the frequent allusions to natural objects which occur of course in pastorals, must study variety.

Not only in professed descriptions of the scenery, but in the frequent allusions to natural objects, which occur, of course, in pastorals, the poet must, above all things, study variety.*

Exercises.

[The student will notice that in the following sentences, the members are very badly arranged. It is required of him to present them in such order as will make them most harmonious and exhibit the sense to the best advantage.]

There was a feeling of strangeness, as he passed through the village, that every thing should be just as it was when he left.

In the trees, there was a melancholy gusty sound. and the night was shutting in about it, as they drew near the house.

But not only from its relation to the past night, the morning is a fit time for devotion, but considered as an introduction to a new day.

To strengthen a character, which will fit me for heaven or for hell, to perform actions which will never be forgotten, to receive impressions which may never be effaced, to that world where I have often gone astray, I am to return.

Temptations which have often subdued me, this day, I am to meet; again with opportunities of usefulness, I am to help in deciding the hap

*It will save much time and trouble in copying, if the student, in the preparation of his exercises, pursue the following method: placing the different members of the sentence in separate lines and numbering them, he may afterwards arrange them by their numbers, as in the following example:

1 We,

2 with the rest of our party,

3 notwithstanding the storm and darkness,

4 pursued,

5 our journey.

piness of their present and future life, in mending their characters, and to influence the minds of others.

Having on the mercy and protection of the Almighty cast ourselves, to the labor and duties which he imposes, with new confidence we should go forth.

Given in part to prayer, as of devotional topics and excitements, a variety it furnishes, this period should be.

And gone to testify of us to our judge, and that another day has gone, at this hour, naturally a reflecting mind will remember.

Time misspent and talents wasted, defective motives and irregular desires, if suffered to speak plainly and inspect faithfully, conscience will

recount.

Between the brothers was no deadly and deep quarrel and of this un natural estrangement the cause neither of them could tell.

In the little hollow that lay between the grave of their father, whose shroud was haply not yet still from the fall of dust to dust, and of their mother long since dead, as the brothers composedly but firmly stood, grasping each others hand, the minister said, "I must fulfill the promise which I made to your father on his death bed” and with a pleasant countenance stood beside them.

On a voyage in quest of a north-west passage to India, Henry Hudson in 1609, an Englishman in the service of the Dutch, discovered the noble river that bears his name.

XII.

SENTENCES.

The following words constitute a perfect sentence. It is required to arrange them into sentences.

Example.

1.

A gratitude emotion delightful is.
Gratitude is a delightful emotion.

2.

Exclamation interesting adverse when circumstances under Mark Antony this made "have all I except lost away given have I what."

Mark Antony. when under adverse circumstances, made this interesting exclamation• "I have lost all, except what I have given away."

Exercises.

Sorrows the poor pity sufferings of the and.

To itself others heart grateful the duty at performs once its and itself grateful endears.

Beings best of God kindest the is and.

Lamented an amiable youth sincere of terms in grief parent death affectionate the of a most.

Temper even and mild remarkably a possessed Sir Isaac Newton.

Words few these in duties contained all are moral our: By do done be would as you.

To eat and drink, instead of living do as many drink and eat we should to live in order.

Glorious the Sun how an object is; but glorious more how much good is great that and good Being use for our made it who.

XIII.

CAPITAL LETTERS.

The first word of every book, chapter, letter, note, or any other piece of writing should begin with a capital letter.

The names of the months and the days of the week should always begin with a capital letter.

The first word after a period should begin with a capital letter.

The first word after every interrogation, or exclamation, should begin with a capital letter; unless a number of interrogative, or exclamatory sentences occur together, and are not totally independent.

1

The various names, or appellations of the Deity should begin with a capital letter; as, God, Jehovah, the Almighty, the Supreme Being, the Lord, Providence, the Messiah, the Holy Spirit, &c.

All proper names, such as the names of persons, places, streets, mountains, lakes, rivers, ships, &c., and adjectives derived from them, should begin with a capital letter.

The first word of a quotation after a colon, or when it is in a direct form, should begin with a capital letter.