When two questions are united in one sentence, and connected by the com junction or, the first takes the rising, the second the falling inflection: as, 64 Does his conduct support discipline', or destroy it\"

The rising and falling inflections must not be confounded with emphasis Though they may often coincide, they are, in their nature, perfectly distinct. Emphasis sometimes controls those inflections.

The regular application of the rising and falling inflections, confers so much beauty on expression, and is so necessary to be studied by the young reader, that we shall insert a few more examples to induce him to pay greater attention to the subject. In these instances, all the inflections are not marked. Such only are distinguished, as are most striking, and will best serve to show the reader their utility and importance.

"Manufactures, trade, and agriculture', certainly employ more than nine teen parts in twenty of the human species."

"He who resigns the world has no temptation to envy', hatred, malice, an ger'; but is in constant possession of a serene mind: he who follows the plensures of it, which are in their very nature disappointing, is in constant search of care, solicitude', remorse', and confusior."

"To advise the ignorant, relieve the needy, comfort the afflicted', are duties that fall in our way almost every day of our lives."

"Those evil spirits, who, by long custom, have contracted in the body habits of lust' and sensuality`; malice', and revenge; an aversion to every thing that is good`, just`, and laudable', are naturally seasoned and prepared for pain and misery."

"I am persuaded, that neither death', nor life; nor angels', nor principalities" nor powers; nor things present', nor things to come; nor height', nor depth nor any other creature', shall be able to separate us from the love of God,"

The reader who would wish to see a minute and ingenious investigation of the nature of these inflections, and the rules by which they are governed, may consult Walker's Elements of Elocution.

SECTION VIII.

Manner of reading Verse.

When we are reading verse, there is a peculiar difficulty in making the pau ses justly. The difficulty arises from the melody of verse, which dictates to the ear pauses or rests of its own: and to adjust and compound these properly with the pauses of the sense, so as neither to hurt the ear, nor offend the understanding, is so very nice a matter, that it is no wonder we so seldom meet with good readers of poetry. There are two kinds of pauses that belong to the melody of verse: one is, the pause at the end of the line; and the other, the cæsural panse in or near the middle of it. With regard to the pause at the end of the line, which marks that strain or verse to be finished, rhyme renders this always sensible; and in some measure compels us to observe it in our pronunciation. In respect to blank verse, we ought also to read it so as to make every line sensi ble to the ear: for, what is the use of melody, or for what end has the poet composed in verse, if, in reading his lines, we suppress his numbers, by omitting the final pause; and degrade them, by our pronunciation, into mere prose? At the same time that we attend to this pause, every appearance of sing-song and tone must be carefully guarded against. The close of the line where it makes no pause in the meaning, ought not to be marked by such a tone as ʼn

used in finishing a sentence; but, without either fall or elevation of the voice, It should be denoted only by so slight a suspension of sound, as may distinguish the passage from one line to another, without injuring the meaning

The other kind of melodious pause, is that which falls somewhere about the middle of the verse, and divides it into two hemistichs; a pause, not so great as that which belongs to the close of the line, but still sensible to an ordinary ear. This, which is called the cæsural pause, mav fall, in English heroic verse, after the 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th syllable in the line. Where the verse is so con structed, that this cæsural pause coincides with the slightest pause or division in the sense, the line can be read easily; as in the two first verses of Pope's Messiah:

"Ye nymphs of Solyma! begin the song;

"To heav'nly themes, sublimer strains belong."

But if it should happen that words which have so strict and intimate a connexion, as not to bear even a momentary separation, are divided from one another by this casural pause, we then feel a sort of struggle between the sense and the sound, which renders it difficult to read such lines barmoniously. The rule of proper pronunciation in such cases, is to regard only the pause which the sense forms; and to read the line accordingly The neglect of the cæsural pause may make the line sound somewhat unharmoniously; but the effect would be much worse, if the sense were sacrificed to the sound. For instance, in the following line of Milton,

"What in me is dark,

"Illumine; what is low, raise and support,"

the sense clearly dictates the pause after illumine, at the end of the third sylla ble, which, in reading, ought to be made accordingly; though, if the melody only were to be regarded, illumine should be connected with what follows, and the pause not made till the fourth or sixth syllable. So in the following line of Pope's Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot,

"Isit, with sad civility I read, "

the ear plainly points out the casural pause as falling after sad, the fourth sylJable. But it would be very bad reading to make any pause there, so as to sepa rate sad and civility. The sense admits of no other pause than after the second syllable sit, which therefore must be the only pause made in reading this part of the sentence.

There is another mode of dividing some verses, by introducing what may be called demi-cæsuras, which require very slight pauses; and which the reader should manage with judgment, or he will be apt to fall into an affected sing song mode of pronouncing verses of this kind. The following lines exemplify the demi-cæsura:

"Warms' in the sun", refreshes' in the breeze,
"Glows' in the stars", and blossoms' in the trees;

"Lives' through ail lite"; extends' through al extent,
"Spreads' undivided", operates unspent.

"

Before the conclusion of this introduction, the Compiler takes the liberty recommend to teachers, to exercise their pupils in discovering and explaining the emphatic words, and the proper tones and pauses, of every portion assigned them to read, previously to their being called out to the performance. Thess preparatory lessons, in which they should be regularly examined, will unprove their judgment and taste; prevent the practice of reading without attention to the subject; and establish a habit of readily discovering the meaning, force, and beauty, of every sentence they peruse.

PART I.

PIECES IN PROSE.

CHAPTER I.

SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS.

SECTION I.

Dine, are material duties of the young.

ILIGENCE, industry, and proper improvement of

The acquisition of knowledge, is one of the most honourable occupations of youth.

Whatever useful or engaging endowments we possess, virtue is requisite, in order to their shining with proper lustre.

Virtuous youth gradually brings forward accomplished and flourishing manhood.

Sincerity and truth form the basis of every virtue.

Disappointments and distress, are often blessings in dis

guise.

Change and alteration, form the very essence of the world. True happiness is of a retired nature; an enemy to pomp and noise.

In order to acquire a capacity for happiness, it must be our first study to rectify inward disorders.

Whatever purifies, fortifies also the heart.

From our eagerness to grasp, we strangle and destroy pleasure.

A temperate spirit, and moderate expectations, are excellent safeguards of the mind, in this uncertain and changing

state.

NOTE.

In the first chapter, the compiler has exhibited sentences in a great variety of construction, and in all the diversity of punctuation. If well practised upon, he presumes they will fully prepare the young reader for the various pauses, inflections, and modulations of voice, which the succeeding pieces require The Author's "English Exercises," under the head of Punctuation, will afford the learner additional scope for improving himself in reading sentences and paragraphs variously constructed.

There is nothing, except simplicity of intention, and purity of principle, that can stand the test of near approach and strict examination.

The value of any possession, is to be chiefly estimated, by the relief which it can bring us, in the time of our greatest need. No person who has once yielded up the government of his mind, and given loose rein to his desires and passions, can tell how far they may carry him.

Tranquillity of mind, is always most likely to be attained, when the business of the world, is tempered with thoughtful and serious retreat.

He who would act like a wise man, and build his house on the rock, and not on the sand, should contemplate human life, not only in the sunshine, but in the shade.

Let usefulness and beneficence, not ostentation and vanity, direct the train of your pursuits.

To maintain a steady and unbroken mind, amidst all the shocks of the world, marks a great and noble spirit.

Patience, by preserving composure within, resists the mpression which trouble makes from without.

Compassionate affections, even when they draw tears from our eyes for human misery, convey satisfaction to the heart.

They who have nothing to give, can often afford relief to others, by imparting what they feel.

Our ignorance of what is to come, and of what is really good or evil, should correct anxiety about worldly success. The veil which covers from our sight the events of succeeding years, is a veil woven by the hand of mercy.

The best preparation for all the uncertainties of futurity, consists in a well-ordered mind, a good conscience, and a cheerful submission to the will of Heaven.

SECTION II.

HE chief misfortunes that befall us in life, can be traced

Were we to survey the chambers of sickness and distress, · we should often find them peopled with the victims of intemperance and sensuality, and with the children of vicious indolence and sloth.

To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very different, as rarely to coincide.

Man, in his highest earthly glory, is but a reed floating on the stream of time, and forced to follow every new direction of the current.