6. VARIETY OF EXPRESSION AND STRUCTURE.

Exercise 38.

Vary both the expression and the structure of the following

sentences:-

EXAMPLE.

A wolf let into the sheepfold will devour the sheep. A wolf being let into the sheepfold, the sheep will be devoured. If we let a wolf into the fold, the sheep will be devoured. The wolf will devour the sheep, if the sheepfold be left open. If the fold be not shut, the wolf will devour the sheep. Slaughter will be made amongst the sheep, if the wolf get into the fold.

1. He who lives always in the bustle of the world, lives in a perpetual warfare.

2. The spirit of true religion breathes gentleness and affability.

3. Industry is not only the instrument of improvement, but the foundation of pleasure.

4. The advantages of this world, even when innocently gained, are uncertain blessings.

5. Charity consists not in speculative ideas of general benevolence, floating in the head, and leaving the heart, as speculations too often do, untouched and cold.

6. The squadron, if it merit that name, consisted of no more than three small vessels, having on board ninety men, mostly sailors, together with a few adventurers. The admiral steered directly for the Canary Islands, and then, holding his course due west, left the usual track of navigation, and stretched into unfrequented and unknown seas. The first day, as it was very calm, he made but little way; but on the second he lost sight of land; and many of the sailors, already dejected and dismayed, began to beat their breasts and to shed tears. Columbus comforted them with the assurance of success, and the prospect of vast wealth in

those opulent regions whither he was conducting them. After a voyage of four weeks, the presages of land became so numerous and promising, that, having offered up public prayers for success, he ordered the sails to be furled, and strict watch to be kept, lest the ships should be driven ashore in the night. A little after midnight the joyful sound of land, land, was heard from the mast-head; and, as soon as morning dawned, they beheld an island about two leagues to the north, whose flat and verdant fields, well stored with wood, and watered with many rivulets, presented to them the aspect of a delightful country. As soon as the sun arose, all the boats were manned and armed, and they rowed towards the coast with their colours displayed, warlike music, and other martial pomp. Columbus was the first European who set foot in the New World which he had discovered: he landed in a rich dress, and with a naked sword in his hand. His men followed, and kneeling down, they all kissed the ground they had so long desired to see. They next erected a crucifix, and, prostrating themselves ➡before it, returned thanks to God for conducting their voyage to such a happy issue.

PART III.—THE PARAGRAPH.

A Paragraph is a series of sentences relating to the same subject.

The chief qualities to be attended to in the construction of a paragraph are Completeness and Continaity.

Completeness requires that everything necessary to the full understanding of the subject of the paragraph should be clearly expressed. It also requires the omission of everything which does not bear directly on that subject.

Continuity requires that the ideas should be so arranged, and that the sentences should be so constructed, as to carry the line of thought naturally and suggestively through the paragraph.

A paragraph may be Descriptive, setting forth the nature of particular objects or ideas; or Narrative, detailing a course of events. Description deals with objects at rest; Narration, with objects in motion.

SECTION I.-DESCRIPTION.

A Descriptive Paragraph should explain what an object is, whether it be a person, a place, a substance, or a quality. It should embrace everything which it is necessary to know in order to form a clear conception of its nature. It should therefore specify the class or genus to which it belongs, its properties, its character, and the uses to which it is applied.

1. COMBINATION OF WOrds.

Exercise 39.

Let one Pupil name a subject, and each of the others successively give an appropriate word or phrase; and let these be embodied in sentences, so as to make a connected paragraph:

EXAMPLE.

Name a subject. The horse. A noun common to the horse and all other animals of the same kind? Quadruped. An adjective descriptive of some property in the horse?

Beautiful. An adverb to increase the signification of beautiful? Most. Is the horse the most beautiful of quadrupeds? He appears to be so.

The horse, quadruped, beautiful, most, appears.

A noun which refers to the largeness or smallness of the horse? Size. A noun applicable to his skin? Smoothness. A noun applicable to his motions? Ease. A noun applicable to his shape? Symmetry. Adjectives descriptive of the horse, to qualify these nouns? Fine, glossy, graceful, exact. What do all these properties entitle the horse to? Distinction.

Size, skin, smoothness, motions, ease, shape, symmetry, fine, glossy, graceful, exact, entitle, distinction.

Of all quadrupeds the horse appears to be the most beautiful. His fine size, the glossy smoothness of his skin, the graceful ease of his motions, and the exact symmetry of his shape, entitle him to this distinction.

Let the Teacher propose a subject, and each Pupil express an idea upon it; and let these be embodied in sentences, so as to make a connected paragraph :—

EXAMPLE.

It is

Where is it

Write about Silver. Name some of its properties. brilliant. It is sonorous. It is ductile.

found? 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.

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.

1. Iron. 4. Silkworm. | 7. Tiger.

10. Pyramids.

Let the Pupil write from the following hints, expressing the ideas in sentences of his own construction and arrangement:

EXAMPLE.

The Reindeer; in what countries found; importance to the inhabitants; what animals it supplies the place of; in what respects; what got from it; what trained to draw; mode of travelling.

The reindeer is a native of the icy regions of the north, where, by a wise and bountiful arrangement of Providence, it exists for the support and comfort of a race of men, who would find it impossible to subsist among their frozen lakes and snowy mountains, without the advantages which they derive from this inestimable animal. To the Laplanders, the horse, the cow, and the sheep, are unknown; but the reindeer supplies the place of them all. It supplies the place of the horse, in carrying them over tracts that would otherwise be impassable; that of the cow, in affording them milk; and that of the sheep, in clothing them. Its flesh affords excellent food; its very sinews supply them with thread; and there is scarcely any part of the animal that is not, in some way, conducive to their comfortable existence. The reindeer are, at an early age, taught to draw the sledge,