RULE XII.-Logical Subject.-When the logical subject ends with a verb of the same form as the predicate verb, or consists of parts subdivided by commas, it is separated from the predicate by a comma.

Ex.-Whosoever sins, suffers.

A youth, a boy, a mere child, could answer the question.

RULE XIII.-Quotations.—A short quotation, or an expression resembling a quotation, is preceded by a

comma.

Ex. Patrick Henry began by saying, "It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope."

"His great fault was, that he lacked accuracy."

RULE XIV.-Numeral Figures.-When any numbers, except dates, are expressed by figures consisting of more than four characters, they are separated by commas into groups of three, beginning at the right. Ex. The territory contains 1,456,743 square miles.

RULE XV.-Ambiguity.-A comma is sometimes needed to prevent ambiguity.

Remark. Thus, in the sentence, “He asked for the position, without a recommendation," the omission of the comma would make the sentence ambiguous, if not entirely ungrammatical. In writing sentences of this kind, it is well to avoid any construction which needs punctuation-marks to make the sense clear.

Exercise.

Insert commas and periods in the following sentences wherever recessary:

1. Life as we call it is nothing but the edge of the boundless ocean of existence when it comes upon soundings

2. In character in manners in style in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.

3. If a good face is a letter of recommendation a good heart is a letter of credit.

4. Three-story men idealize imagine predict; their best illumination comes from above through the skylight

5. Beauty like truth and justice lives within us; like virtue and like moral law it is a companion of the soul.

6. Though deep yet clear; though gentle yet not dull

7. Sin or moral evil should excite the greatest abhorrence.

8. We are fearfully wonderfully made

9. Sound sound the tambourine! strike strike the mandoline!

10. Let us every day strive to become better wiser and more cuitivated

11. Woe woe to the rider that tramples them down!

12. Washington the first President of the United States was born in Virginia

13. Diogenes the Cynic philosopher was a native of Greece 14. Punctuation is derived from the Latin punctum a point

15. Strong proofs not a loud voice produce conviction

16. Whatever you try to do do with your might

17. Every study however insignificant is of some value

18. The clouds seem to float as it were lazily on the summer breeze 19. Dear sir I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter

20. I am my dear sir with great respect your friend

21. Come companion of my toils let us take fresh courage

22. Our friend having finished his work began at once to prepare for the journey.

23. Physicians the cause of the disease being once discovered think the cure half wrought.

24. I proceed lastly to discuss this most important question.

25. Well I am pleased to think that we have at last accomplished the work successfully.

26. Education is of no use to us unless it make us stronger and better.

27. We remained awake a great part of the night that we might observe any change that took place.

28. Semiramis built Babylon; Dido Carthage; and Romulus Rome.

29. Speak as you mean do as you profess and perform what you promise

30. One murder makes a villain; millions a hero.

31. He arose and said "I do not care to discuss this question at present."

32. While the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept. 33. I inquired and rejected consulted and deliberated till the sixty-second year made me ashamed of wishing to marry.—Johnson. Here is the sorrow the sighing

34.

35.

36.

Here are the cloud and the night;
Here is the sickness the dying
There are the life and the light

Lives of great men all remind us
We may make our lives sublime
And departing leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time

There is a reaper whose name is Death
And with his sickle keen

He reaps the bearded grain at a breath
And the flowers that grow between.

The Semicolon (;).

The semicolon is used to separate parts of sentences less closely connected than those separated by commas. The following are the most important rules for the use of the semicolon:

RULE I.-Parts of Sentences.--A semicolon should be placed between the parts of a sentence when the subdivisions of these parts are separated by commas Ex. It is our first duty to receive the instruction; our second, to apply it.

RULE II-A General Term.-A general term having several particulars in apposition may be separated from the particulars by a semicolon.

Ex.-Nouns have three cases; Nominative, Possessive, and Ob、 jective.

Note.-By many writers a dash, or a comma and a dash, are used instead of the semicolon; as, Nouns have three cases-Nominative Possessive, and Objective.

RULE III.-Short Sentences.--Short sentences which have but a slight dependence on one another as to sense are usually separated by semicolons.

Ex. The wind and the rain are over; the clouds have passed away; the sunshine again floods over the earth.

RULE IV. Before As.—A semicolon should precede as when it introduces an example.

For illustration, see the application in this book wherever examples are introduced.

Note. A semicolon is sometimes used before viz., to wit, i. e., or that is, when it precedes an example or an enumeration of particulars.

RULE V.-Additional Clauses.-An additional clause which assigns a reason, draws an inference, or presents a contrast, may be cut off by a semicolon.

Ex. Never pride yourself on your riches; for this is a sign of a weak mind.

RULE VI.-Yes or No.-Yes or no, when forming part of an answer and followed by a proposition, is cut off by a semicolon.

Ex.-No; he shall never be admitted.

RULE VII.—Successive Clauses.-A semicolon is used to separate several successive clauses in a complex sentence when they have a common dependence on a principal clause.

Ex. When my heart shall have ceased to throb; when my life

shall have passed away; when my body shall have been consigned to the tomb; then shall all these things be remembered in my favor.

Exercise.

Punctuate the following where necessary:

1. Reasoning implies doubt and uncertainty and therefore God does not reason.

2. Our first object is to obtain knowledge our second to make a proper application of it.

3.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods
There is a rapture on the lonely shore
There is society where none intrudes

By the deep sea and music in its roar

4. Give the definition of material of materiel of synchronism of ameliorate.

5. Honesty is the best policy but he who acts on that principle is not an honest man.

6. The true order of learning should be first what is necessary second what is useful and third what is ornamental.

7.

The day is cold and dark and dreary

8.

9.

10.

11.

Be what thou seemest live thy creed
Hold up to earth the torch divine
Be what thou prayest to be made

Let the great Master's steps be thine.

Errors like straws upon the surface flow

He who would seek for pearls must dive below.

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever

Its loveliness increases it will never

Pass into nothingness.

The firefly only shines when on the wing
So is it with the mind when once we rest
We darken