New Language Lessons: An Elementary Grammar and Composition

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American Book Company, 1877 - English language - 192 pages
This book is an attempt to bring the subject of language home to children at the age when knowledge is acquired in an objective way, by practice and habit, rather than by the study of rules and definitions. In pursuance of this plan, the traditional presentation of grammar in a bristling array of classifications, nomenclatures, and paradigms has been wholly discarded. The pupil is brought in contact with the living language itself : he is made to deal with speech, to turn it over in a variety of ways, to handle sentences ; so that he is not kept back from the exercise-so profitable and interesting-of using language till he has mastered the anatomy of the grammarian. Whatever of technical grammar is here given is evolved from work previously done by the scholar. - William Swinton.

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Page 80 - While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, The wreathing fires made way. They wrapt the ship in splendour wild, They caught the flag on high, And streamed above the gallant child, Like banners in the sky. There came a burst of thunder sound — The boy — oh ! where was he ? Ask of the winds that far around With fragments strewed the sea ! — With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, That well had borne their part — But the noblest thing which...
Page 98 - I flew to the pleasant fields traversed so oft In life's morning march, when my bosom was young; I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft, And knew the sweet strain that the corn-reapers sung.
Page 187 - ... eat, ate, eaten fall, fell, fallen feed, fed, fed feel, felt, felt fight, fought, fought find, found, found flee, fled, fled fling, flung, flung fly...
Page 82 - Tickled with the flattery, like a little fool, I went to work ; and bitterly did I rue the day. It was a new ax; and I toiled and tugged till I was almost tired to death.
Page 117 - The Reaper said, and smiled ; "Dear tokens of the earth are they, Where he was once a child. "They shall all bloom in fields of light, Transplanted by my care, And saints upon their garments white, These sacred blossoms wear.
Page 18 - I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers and sisters and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth. This put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and they laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
Page 37 - The sun rose high, and sank, and the battle still raged. Through all the wild October day, the clash and din resounded in the air. In the red sunset, and in the white moonlight, heaps upon heaps of dead men lay strewn, a dreadful spectacle, all over the ground.
Page 65 - HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Satan exalted sat...
Page 62 - They climb up into my turret O'er the arms and back of my chair; If I' try to escape, they surround me; They seem to be everywhere.
Page 21 - Our brethren are already in the field ! Why stand we here idle ? What is it that gentlemen wish ? What would they have ? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery ? Forbid it, Almighty God ! I know not what course others may take ; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death...

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