heaven-star-elegance-duty-drake-bottle-brush

-friend—John Johnston-employment-inetal-man - landlord-bridegroom — gander-actress-king

- — poetess — table — mob - daughter — woman

-mouse

-ox.

THE ARTICLES.

Before we leave the nouns we'll try
The articles again—lest I
Have not been quite explicit.
You've not forgot the article,
That easy little particle
You learned in half a minute.

When a is used before a word,
You'll hear how strange and how absurd
To say a ear, a eye.
These words begin with vowels, dear,
Now notice to put an in here,

An eye, an ear—now try. An is used instead of a when the word which it precedes begins with a vowel or a silent h, as an egg, an hour.

CORRECT

a

An horse-a essence—an window-a article an butterfly-a adverb-an writing-desk-a hour ago—a idiot-an minister—a enemy—an purse--a animala adjective—an drawing-room—a honest man—a easychair—a exhibition—a empty box.

INDEFINITE AND DEFINITE ARTICLES.

Now an and a are used for one,
An eagle or a fife, a drum,
But the is used for both.
“ I see the tree," and all the trees ;
“ We watch the bee, and all the bees,"
Their honey's so much worth.

The word define means mark it out,
Then the is definite--no doubt,
The Queen's our own dear queen.
To her we all should deference pay,
Because the Holy Scriptures say,

“ Fear God,” “ Honour the king.” Insert the proper articles in the following space :Show me the size of shilling. Can you tell us amusing story. Robert lifted

largest orange. He might have taken

smaller one. -present. I would like much if

papa gold watch. Do bring baby prettiest toy you can find. Poor Tom has lost

-eye. Pharisees liked uppermost seats.” My sight is good—I can see smallest speck. Emma is amiable child. The gardener is honest man.

The bell

rang

Mamma gave

could give

me

me

66 The

hour ago.

It may

have been observed that we have omitted the case of nouns. We think it cannot be properly—at all events easily—comprehended by the child till the noun forms the subject of a verb.

CASE.

'Tis hard to understand case now,
But when you older grow you'll know
What I'll explain to you.
Case is a certain noun's position
Placed to a verb or preposition ;
Pronouns have cases too.

But case we must take up again,
When placed beside a verb, and then
You'll understand it soon.
You'd think it very hard, I'm sure,
If told to play an overture
Before

you

knew a tune.

THE ADJECTIVE. An adjective is put before or beside a noun to show the quality or kind of noun, as A tight coat. What kind or quality is the coat ? A tight coat. Has it no other quality? Yes, it is good, but coarse. good, and coarse are each called? An adjective.

The tight,

AN ADJECTIVE.
'Tis put before the coat, to show
What sort of coat it is you know,
To tell the coat is tight;
Good, coarse, and homely too it is,
But not a bit the worse for this,
Well-lined and warm, yet light.

That boy is stout, or lean, or lame,
Or gentlemanly—all the same--
Each is an adjective.
A pretty, little, bustling town,
These words all stand before the noun,

Or next it, you perceive.
Point out adjectives in the following sentences:
The Scotch are cautious, prudent, and often pious.
The English are active, loyal, and orderly.
The Irish are shrewd and witty, but turbulent.
The French are sprightly, ingenious, and polite.
The Spanish are proud, slow, and indolent.

The Dutch are cleanly, industrious, and fond of making money.

The Germans are plain, quiet, and affectionate.
The Prussians are intelligent, polite, and social.
The Italians are musical, tasteful, and contented.
The Swiss are simple, sober, and well-behaved.
The Norwegians are honest, handsome, and contented.

The Laplanders are simple, primitive, and well-informed. Insert an adjective in the following spaces :

The adjective is not always close to the noun. Mary has made a wreath of -flowers. Flowers are Tigers are

This thread is The thunder is very

The feathers are the

man a penny.John likes milk better than butter-milk. The sun is and

Do lay aside that hat. My nephew presented me with a book. Mamma intends

— — to give him a dressing-case. The water is most

Baby is

Mr.

Thomas gave

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.

Some adjectives almost the same,
Are made quite different in name
When we compare them thus.
Now this is good, and that is better,
And Jane's is best-I mean the letter
Your sister wrote to us.

The positive is first, you see,
Then when we change it one degree
'Tis called comparative-
For we compare it with the first.
And then this third one, or the last,

Is called superlative.
Positive State. Comparative Degree. | Superlative Degree.
Bad, evil, or ill

Worst
Good or
Better

Best
Much or many
More

Most
Little
Less

Least
Far
Farther

Farthest
Near
Nearer

Nearest or next.

Worse

REGULAR COMPARISON.

You think these rather odd, don't you?
Now here's a regular method too,
By er and est, you see;
Thus John is big, Tom bigger, biggest,
This bread is thick, or thicker, thickest.
Then this will easy be.