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EXERCISES.

1. Good or bad habits generally go with us through life. 2. Nothing in this life is more estimable than knowledge. 3. It is one of the melancholy pleasures of an old man to recollect the kindness of friends.

4. The certainty that life cannot be long, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform.

5. To maintain a steady and unbroken mind, marks a great and noble spirit.

6. Compassionate affections convey satisfaction to the heart.

7. Virtue must be habitually active; not breaking forth occasionally with a transient lustre, but regular in its returns; not like the aromatic gale, but like the ordinary breeze.

8. To sensual persons hardly any thing is what it appears to be. There are voices which sing around them. There is a banquet spread. There is a couch which invites them to repose.

9. By disappointments and trials the violence of our passions is tamed. In the varieties of life, we are inured to habits both of the active and the suffering virtues.

10. An idle man is a mere blank in creation. He cannot engage himself in any employment or profession; he can succeed in no undertaking; he must be a bad husband, father, and relation; and he must be a worthless friend.

11. Veturia at first made some hesitation to undertake the office of an intercessor, knowing the inflexible temper of her son, and fearing that he would only show his disobedience in a new light. She at last, however, set out from the city, accompanied by many of the principal matrons of Rome, with Volumnia, her daughterin-law, and her two children. Coriolanus was resolved to give them a denial, and called his officers round him to be witnesses of his resolution; but when told that his mother and his wife were among the number, he instantly cam down from his tribunal. At first the tears of the women deprived them of the power of speech; and the rough soldier himself could not refrain from sharing in their distress. Coriolanus now seemed much agitated by contending passions. His mother seconded her words by her tears; his wife and children hung round about him; while the fair train, her companions, added their lamentations. Coriolanus for a time was silent; till at length he flew to take up his mother, crying out, "Thou hast saved Rome, but lost thy son!"

SECTION X.

IDEAS SUGGESTED TO FORM SENTENCES.

Let the Teacher propose a subject, and each Pupil, at his suggestion, successively express an idea upon it.

Let the ideas be written down as first expressed, and afterwards re-written in simple or compound sentences, as the sense may require:—

EXAMPLE.

Write about Silver. liant. It is sonorous. In various parts of the world. Particularly in South America. At Potosi. What are its uses? It is coined into money. It is manufactured into silver-plate.

Name some of its properties. It is bril-
It is ductile. Where is it found?

Silver is a brilliant, sonorous, and ductile metal. It is found in various parts of the world, and particularly at Potosi in South America. It is coined into money, and manufactured into silver. plate.

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V.-ARRANGEMENT OF SENTENCES.

THE ARRANGEMENT of words in sentences is either grammatical or rhetorical.

Grammatical arrangement is the order in which words are usually placed in speaking and writing. Rhetorical arrangement is that order of the words, in which the emphatical parts of the sentence are placed first.

The rhetorical arrangement is used chiefly in poetry and impassioned prose.

The principal rules for arranging words in sentences are as follows:

I. In sentences grammatically arranged, the subject or nominative is generally placed before the verb; as, 'The birds sing; To obey is better than sacrifice.'

In sentences rhetorically arranged, the subject or nominative is often placed after the verb; as, · Shines forth the cheerful sun;' Great is Diana of the Ephesians.'

The nominative is also placed after the verb in the following instances:

1. When the sentence is interrogative; as, 'Do riches make men happy ?'

2. When the sentence is imperative; as, 'Go thou.'

3. When a supposition is expressed by an ellipsis; as, 'Were it true.'

4. When the sentence begins with there, here, &c.; as, 'There was a commotion among the people;' 'Here are five loaves.'

5. In such phrases as, said he, replied they, &c.

II. The article is always placed before the noun, whose signification it limits; as, 'A table;'‹ An inkstand; The book.'

1. When the noun is qualified by an adjective, the article is placed before the adjective; as, 'A large house.'

2. The indefinite article is placed between the noun and the adjectives many and such; and also between the noun and all adjectives which are preceded by as, so, too, and how; as,

Many a man has attained independence by industry and perseverance ;' 'Such a misfortune has seldom happened;' 6 So great a multitude;'How mighty a prince!'

3. The definite article is placed between the noun and the adjective all; as, 'All the people are assembled.'

III. In sentences grammatically arranged, the adjective is generally placed before the noun which it qualifies; as, "A beautiful tree;' A swift horse.'

In sentences rhetorically arranged, the adjective, when

it is emphatic, is sometimes placed at the beginning of the sentence; as, ' Just and true are all thy ways.'

The adjective is frequently placed after the noun in the following instances :

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1. When it is used as a title; as, 'Alexander the Great.' 2. When other words depend upon it; as, A man generous to his enemies.'

3. When several adjectives belong to one noun; as, ' A man wise, just, and charitable.'

4. When the adjective expresses dimension; as, 'A wall ten feet high.'

5. When it expresses the effect of an active verb; as, ' Vice renders men miserable.'

6. When a neuter verb comes between it and the noun or pronoun; as, 'It seems strange.'

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IV. The pronoun of the third person is placed after that of the second; and the pronoun of the first person after those of the second and third; as, 6 You and I will go; Shall it be given to you, to him, or to me?' V. In sentences grammatically arranged, the active verb is generally placed before the word which it governs; as, If you respect me, do not despise my

friend.'

In sentences rhetorically arranged, the active verb is frequently placed after the word which it governs; as, Silver and gold have I none.'

The active verb is also placed after relative pronouns; as, 'He is a man whom I greatly esteem.'

VI. In sentences grammatically arranged, the infinitive mood is placed after the verb which governs it; as, He loves to learn.

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In sentences rhetorically arranged, the infinitive mood, when emphatic, is placed before the word which governs it; as, Go I must, whatever may ensue.'

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VII. Adverbs are generally placed immediately before or immediately after the words which they qualify; as, Very good; He acted wisely.'

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Adverbs, when emphatic, are sometimes placed at the

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