struction with other words in the sentence, but are suggested by them, or explanatory of their meaning; as, "Know, then, this truth, (enough for man to know) Virtue alone is happiness below." "The wisest men (and it may be said the best too) are not exempt from sin." Are parentheses and brackets much used by authors at the present day? No; commas are generally used instead of them. EXERCISE. Copy and punctuate the following sentences. Dash. 1. A crimson handkerchief adorned his head His face was cheerful and his nose was red 2. Some and they were not a few knelt down 3. His eyes how they twinkled his dimples how merry 4. They poisoned my very soul hot burning poisons 5. Away ungrateful wretch A father's curse rest Alas what am I doing I cannot curse my son 6. The friend of our infancy has she gone forever 7. Thou merry laughing sprite With spirits feather light Untouched by sorrow and unsoiled by sin In love's dear chain so strong and bright a link. There goes my ink Parentheses. 8. Let us then for we cannot flee without disgrace boldly meet the foe. 9. Mr. Morton every old citizen knows him well died last week of apoplexy. LESSON XXVIII. OTHER MARKS USED IN WRITING. ARE any other marks used in writing besides those which have been described ? Make an apostrophe. For what is the apostrophe used? I. To denote the omission of one or more letters; as, tho' for though; 'neath for beneath. II. When s is placed after a noun, making it denote possession, an apostrophe is inserted before the s; as, John's book. But when the noun ends in s, and signifies more than one, an apostrophe alone placed after it makes it denote possession; as, "The ladies' seats." Make quotation marks. For what are quotation marks used? Quotation marks are used to inclose a passage quoted from an author or speaker, in his own words; as, "To err is human; to forgive, divine." Are single quotation marks ('') ever used? Yes; single quotation marks are used to inclose quotations that occur within quotations, or that are slightly altered from the words of the author or speaker; as, "The Scripture saith, 'Watch and pray.' Make a hyphen. For what is the hyphen used? The hyphen is used, I. To connect two simple words that unite to form a compound word; as, "A spirit-moving strain." II. At the end of a line, when there is not room for the whole of a word, the hyphen is placed after one of its syllables, to show that the remainder may be found at the beginning of the next line;* "He strove manfully." as, Make a caret. For what is the caret used? When some word that has been omitted is interlined, the caret is used to show where it should be lesson introduced; as, "Study this carefully." Λ EXERCISE. Copy and punctuate the following sentences: Apostrophe. Ill neer forget your kindness. They sat neath a spreading willow. Tho Milton was blind yet was his mind well stored with knowledge. signal gun. Where is my fathers hat? was one of the most celebrated in Greece. Hark tis the Zenos school Romes great *When the pupil, in writing, cannot get the whole of a word in the line, and has to carry part of it to the next, he must be careful to divide it according to its syllables, and place the hyphen after a complete syllable. ness has passed away. I saw the citys gates. I saw the cities gates. Where is Janes fan? Quotation marks. Pope says The proper study of mankind is man. When Socrates was asked what man approached the nearest to perfect happiness he answered That man who has the fewest wants. The philosopher hath truly said Anxiety is the poison of human life. The quality of mercy says Shakspeare is not strained. How much truth there is in Franklin's maxim One today is worth two to-morrows. Hyphen. Away thou earth polluting miscreant! He is a mischief maker. The laborer enjoys his well earned feast. The air is full of snow flakes. Where is your eye glass? Near the shore was a grove of spice wood. The river glides on in its serpent like course. Caret. (In each of the following sentences, one or more words are omitted. Introduce the omitted word or words is by means of a caret; as, Dark the path.) Λ Labor gives a relish pleasure. Hope, the balm life, soothes under every misfortune. Charity is one of the of virtues. Always show to the aged ther mother. Do not your time. Honor your fa LESSON XXIX. EXERCISE. COPY and punctuate the following extracts: 1. PHOCION. Phocion one of the most illustrious of the ancient Greeks was condemned to death by his un grateful countrymen When about to drink the fatal hemlock he was asked if he had any thing to say to his son Bring him before me cried he My dear son said this magnanimous patriot I entreat you to serve your country as faithfully as I have done and to forget that she rewarded my services with an unjust death 2. THE SYBARITES. We have heard many stories of lazy people but what Athenæus tells us of the Sybarites a nation of antiquity exceeds them all. They would not allow any mechanical trade to be carried on in their city because the noise was unpleasant and disturbed their slumbers for the same reason to keep a rooster was a grave offence punishable by law. A Sybarite on one occasion it is said wandering out into the country saw some men digging whereupon the sight gave him a violent strain in the back while a friend to whom he described what he had seen caught a severe pain in the side. One of them having visited Lacedæmon was introduced to the public table where the principal dish was black broth. Ah cried he no longer do I wonder at the bravery of the Spartans for rather would I die than live on such wretched diet. 3. THE FORM OF THE EARTH. Heraclitus supposed that the earth had the form of a canoe Aristotle that it was shaped like a timbrel while Anaximander proved to his own satisfaction that it was a vast cylinder It was reserved for a later age to discover its real shape |