EXAMPLES.

This restlessness of the human mind, when dealing with mere phenomena; this conception, that there must be causes and laws; this firm conviction, that science is gained, when the causes and laws are determined; and this quick satisfaction in the result; all show the working of the philosophic idea. To acquire a thorough knowledge of our own hearts; to restrain every irregular inclination; to subdue every rebellious passion; to purify the motives of our conduct; to form ourselves to that temperance which no pleasure can seduce; to that meeknees which no provocation cap ruffle; to that patience which no affliction can overwhelm; and to that integrity which no interest can shake; this is the task which is assigned to us,-a task which can not be performed without the utmost diligence and

care.

4. A semicolon is usually placed after a comprehensive plural, followed by several explanatory terms, enumerating particulars.

EXAMPLE.

Substantives have four cases; nominative, possessive, objective, and absolute.

III. COLON.

The colon is to separate those parts of a compound sentence, that are so far removed from each other as to readily admit the period.

RULES.

1. When the sense is complete in itself, but is followed by an explanatory clause, the colon or semicolon may be used.

EXAMPLES.

Beware of usurpation: God is the Judge of all.

The lips of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

2. When a sentence contains several propositions, or members, separated by a semicolon, the colon is usually used before the last one is introduced.

When the gay and smiling aspect of things has begun to leave the passages to a man's heart thus thoughtlessly unguarded; when kind and caressing looks of every object without, that can flatter his senses, have conspired with the enemy within, to betray him and put him off his defense; when music likewise hath lent her aid, and tried her power upon his passions; when the voice of singing men, and the voice of singing women, with the sound of the viol and the lute, have broken in upon his soul, and, in some tender notes, have touched the secret springs of rapture: that moment let us direct our look into his heart, and see how vain, how weak, how empty a thing it is!

J

3. Quotations, when added by way of example or illus tration, may be preceded by a colon or semicolon.

EXAMPLES.

He died praying for his persecutors: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Such are our Saviour's instructions: "Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." Remember the ancient maxim: "Know thyself."

REMARK.-Instead of the semicolon, or colon, the comma may be used, followed by a dash; or, perhaps, the semicolon may be used, followed by a dash, instead of the colon.

EXAMPLES.

The firmest works of man, too, are,, gradually, giving way,-the ivy clings to the mouldering tower, the brier hangs out from the shattered window, and the wall-flower springs from the disjointed stones.

A stone, perhaps, may tell some wanderer where we lie,-when we came here,-when we went away: but even that will, soon, refuse to bear us record.

IV. PERIOD.

The period denotes either a completion of the whole subject, or a completion of grammatical construction.

RULES.

1. A period must be placed at the close of every sen

tence.

EXAMPLES.

Write three or four sentences.

Give the first rule for the use of the period.

A good education is that which prepares us for our future sphere of action.

No scholar can be said to have accomplished any thing valuable for himself, till he thoroughly understands what he studies, and perceives the application.

2. The period must follow all abbreviations.

EXAMPLES.

A. D. 1848.

Mr. J. C. Spencer is one of the most accurate business men in this country.

Alfred, Allegany Co., N. Y.

Charles Anthon, L.L.D., Prof. of Languages in Columbia College, N. Y.

V. DASH.

The dash is used to denote some sudden transition of thought, to set off some parenthetic clause, or in indicating a considerable pause, longer than those usually used would imply. It is, also, used to indicate an ellipsis of some word, or part of a sentence, or the omission of most of the letters of a word.

EXAMPLES.
(1.)

Here lies the great-false marble, where?
Nothing but sordid dust lies here.

(2.)

The soldiers perished in a moment; but high up in the cliffs, above the sweep of destruction, were the Covenanters,-men, women, and children,-uttering praises to God.

The hand that played this invisible piano,-if it was a piano,had a firm, bold touch, with an admirable mixture of judgment and passion.

(3.)

Then he which (who) had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:-And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.- His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,-thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed:-Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and at my coming, I should have received mine own with usury. Take, therefore, the talent from him, and give it to him which (who) hath ten talents. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(4.)

-Piety has found

Friends in the friends of science; and true prayer
Has flowed from lips wet with Castalian dews

(5.)

His name is J-h.

VI. STARS.

Instead of the dash, a number of stars is sometimes used to denote that a considerable amount of the composition has been omitted.

VII. SECTION.

The section is used to denote the divisions of a chapter or book.

VIII. PARAGRAPH.

The paragraph is used, chiefly in the Bible, to denote the beginning of a new subject.

$94. ELOCUTION.

DEFINITION 1.-By elocution is meant the pronunciation of words separately or collectively.

SPECIFICATION 1.-Hence it embraces both orthoepy and rhetorical delivery.

DEFINITION 2.—Orthoepy is the pronunciation of words in accordance with established usage.

DEFINITION 3.-Rhetorical delivery is the art of speaking with propriety, elegance, and force.

REMARK.-It is intended to give a few general items only, on the subject of elocution, which shall serve merely to review the scholar in this important branch of a good education. The principles of elocution must be gathered, first, from our elementary reading books, and, secondly, by studying, very attentively, works that treat that subject exclusively.

SPECIFICATION 2.-Correct orthoepy requires a knowledge of all the elementary sounds used in the formation of words, and their combinations, the seat of the accent, and the quantity of syllables.

§ 95. ELEMENTARY SOUNDS.

DEFINITION.-An elementary sound is a simple sound, not made up of component parts.

SPECIFICATION.-There are, in the English language, thirty-seven elementary sounds, all embraced in two general classes, vowels and consonants.