is called a noun. An instrument is being played, and the pleasant sounds that fall upon my ears are nouns too. A noun simply means a name, and a name may represent a common stone, or a Kooh-i-noor diamond. It may be a stable, or St. Paul's Cathedral, it matters not, it is still a noun, although the one is a common one and the other a capital. Nouns are the walls of a poem, and the backbones of history, and a good reader brings them out from among the rest of the language he uses, and shows by his lip what the noun may represent.

EXAMPLES:

"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea."-Rev. vii. 1, 2.

Four what did John see? Why, angels. Angels are the nouns, or the names of celestial beings. God's malakim or kingly servants who wait upon Royalty in the Paradise above. Again, in the fifth verse, there were twelve thousand sealed of the tribe of Juda, and twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, and twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad. See First Rule on figures, and join it in practice to the nouns here mentioned. Read the chapter through as an exercise. Again, in the first verse--fourangelsnot four men, nor dæmons, nor beasts, but angels. Thus, in reading for others, or in recitations at school, let the people know what the nouns or names are about, whether they are children, cattle, or kings, and also how many of them the writer is speaking. Take as an easy example the 626th hymn, in the New Congregational Hymn Book, and read it carefully, noticing only the nouns for the present time. I will number some of them for reference, and give another piece as an exercise for my young friends to try their abilities by.

626TH HYMN.

On! towards Zion, on!

Glory awaits you there;

Crowns for the victor's brow;

Robes that the conquerors wear;

Thrones for the sons of might;

Harps for the sons of song;

Welcomes from heaven's own King;

Greetings from heaven's bright throng.

On! for ye now must wage

The warfare life begun ;

Or see life's day decline,

With life's great work undone.

Hark! for your Captain calls,
And o'er your path has shone

His lightning-gleaming sword;
On! to the fight, then on!

Put off each cumbrous weight,
Renounce each darling sin;

He must be free as air,

Who would faith's victory win.
With patience gird the sword,
Maintain the strife begun ;

Be firm unto the end,

On! to the foe, then on.

Be fearless in the fight,

Look round you-myriads stand

Enrobed in glorious light;

Earth's star-crowned victor band,

They point you to the prize,

By true hearts surely won;

They urge you to advance

On! to the field, then on!

See! Christ among them throned,

He, who the crown of shame

Wore on that royal head,

Now wreathed with endless fame.

He waits to bind a crown,

Life's last great battle won,

Round every conqueror's brow;

On! then, to victory, on !-Aveling.

Read it aloud, laying emphasis on the nouns in italics, and, by your voice and cheery exultation carry the verses on to a climax, as: the Captain's gleaming sword flashes through the sun-light on the field of battle-on then, to fight the foe-on the field of victory. I will now give a list of proper nouns or names, and in order to aid you, I would recommend the useful little manual published by the "Sunday School Union," entitled, "A Pronouncing Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names," price sixpence; and study it not look it over, then put it by-but study it.

EXERCISES.

"Now, those that sealed were Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah; Seriah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. And the Levites; both Joshua, the son of Azaniah; Binnui, of the sons of Henadad; Kadmiel and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabeel, Zadock, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, and Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah."

Take the above list as proper nouns, and then continue the chapter (the 10th Neh.) as an exercise on common nouns. Read also the 1st Book of Chron. for proper

nouns, and the Gospel of St. Mark for common ones, and the 37th chapter of Ezekiel for combination.

Virtue, dear friend, needs no defence,

The surest guard is innocence;

None knew 'till guilt created fear,

What darts or poisoned arrows were.

Integrity undaunted goes

Through Lybian sands or Scythian snows;

Or where Hydasphes wealthy side

Pays tribute to the Persian pride.

THE BARON'S LAST BANQUET.

O'er a low couch-the setting sun had thrown its latest ray,
Where in his last strong agony - a dying warrior lay;
The stern old baron Rudiger, whose frame had ne'er been bent
By wasting pain till time and toil its iron strength had spent.

They come around me here, and say my days of life are o'er,
That I shall mount my noble steed and lead my band no more;
They come, and to my beard they dare to tell me now that I,
Their own liege lord and master born, that I, ha! ha! must die.

And what is death? I've dared him oft before the Paynim spear;
Think ye he's entered at my gate, has come to seek me here?·
I've met, faced him, scorned him, when the fight was raging hot,
I'll try his might, I'll brave his power, defy and fear him not.

Ho! sound the tocsin from my tower and fire the culverin,
Bid each retainer arm with speed, call every vassal in;
Up with the banner on the wall, the banquet board prepare,
Throw wide the portal of my hall and bring my armour there.

A hundred hands were busy then, the banquet forth was spread,
And rung the heavy oaken floor with many a martial tread;
While from the rich dark tracery along the vaulted wall,
Lights gleamed on harness, plume, and spear, o'er the proud old Gothic

[hall.

Fast hurrying through the outer gate, the mail'd retainers poured,
On through the portal's frowning arch, and throng'd around the board;
While at its head, within his dark carved oaken chair of state,
Armed cap-a-piè, stern Rudiger with girded falchion sat.

Fill every beaker up, my men, pour forth the cheering wine,
There's life and strength in every drop-thanksgiving to the vine !
Are ye all there, my vassals true? mine eyes are waxing dim,
Fill round, my tried and fearless ones, each goblet to the brim.

Ye're there, but yet I see you not, draw forth each trusty sword,
And let me hear your faithful steel clash once more round my board;
I hear it faintly: louder yet," What clogs my heavy breath?"
Up all, and shout for Rudiger, "Defiance unto Death."

Bowl rang to bowl, steel clang'd to steel, and rose a deafening cry,
That made the torches flare around, and shook the flags on high;
Ho! cravens, do you fear him, slaves, traitors, have ye flown;
Ho! cowards, have ye left me to meet him here alone?

But I defy him: "let him come !" Down rang the massy cup,
While from its sheath the ready blade came flashing half way up;
And with the black and heavy plumes, scarce trembling on his head,
There in his dark carved oaken chair old Rudiger sat dead!

Green.

Apply the first and second rules to these exercises.

C