pared. The hen covered her chickens with her wings. The wall was covered with pictures.

What change, if any, do you observe between the words in the first column and those in the third? Examine the Nouns in the second column, and state what change they have under✩ gone. Hence we have these Rules:

RULE I.-In English, the Nominative and the Objective are alike in form, except in the case of Pronouns, and can be recognized only by their position in the sentence.

RULE II.-The Possessive singular is formed by adding an apostrophe (') and s to the Nominative.

RULE III-When the Nominative ends in s, or in the sound of s, and the Noun following begins with s, the Possessive is formed by simply adding an apostrophe (').

RULE IV. The Possessive plural is generally formed by adding an apostrophe (') to the Nominative plural.

RULE V. When the Nominative plural does not end in s, the Possessive plural is formed like the Possessive singular.

LESSON XX.

Tell the number, gender, and case of each Noun in the following Exercise :

Under a spreading chestnut tree

The village smithy stands :
The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands,
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.

The children coming home from school
Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

LESSON XXI.

Tell the number, gender, and case of each Noun in your

reading-lesson.

LESSON XXII.

Tell the number, gender, and case of each Noun in the following Exercise:

We walked with Charles, the boys, and Vicky to the river side above the bridge, where all our tenants were assembled with long poles and spears for catching salmon. They all went into the river, walking up it, and then back again, poking about under all the stones to bring fish up to where the men stood with the net. It had a pretty effect.

LESSON XXIII.

Tell the number, gender, and case of each Noun in the following Exercise :—

O for a lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade,
Where rumour of oppression and deceit,

Of unsuccessful or successful war,

Might never reach me more! My ear is pained,
My heart is sick with every day's report

Of wrong and outrage with which Earth is filled.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart:

It does not feel for man; the natural bond

Of brotherhood is severed as the flax
That falls asunder at the touch of fire.

THE VERB.-PERSON.

LESSON XXIV.

In the following Exercise, point out all the words that form Nominatives; tell whether they are Nouns or Pronouns. If Pronouns, of what Person are they?

We

threw some They went

I gave John an apple. The man rides on horseback. Thou lovest the praise of men. Peter loves to learn his lesson. stones after the dog. Ye are now full of care and anxiety. away the day after we arrived. Horses are useful to the farmer. Ploughs are now generally made of iron. We ran after the gig, but we were unable to overtake it. George shut the door in his face. The wind blew down the lofty trees. I come, I come; ye have called

me long. He comes laden with blessings. Thou comest like the sun in his strength. We come anon. Dogs bark and make a noise.

DEFINITION I.-When the Nominative to a Verb is a Pronoun of the first person, the Verb is said to be of the FIRST PERSON.

DEFINITION II.-When the Nominative to a Verb is a Pronoun of the second person, the Verb is said to be of the SECOND PERSON.

DEFINITION III.-When the Nominative to a Verb is a Noun or a Pronoun of the third person, the Verb is said to be of the THIRD PERSON.

LESSON XXV.

Tell the Person of each Verb in the following Exercise, and give in each case a reason for your answer :

Clouds of smoke issued from the furnace. The lambs play in the meadows. The birds sing among the branches. She went away sore displeased. Ye have been long in coming. I remember, I remember the house where I was born. lowed the army into Spain. his sister to the circus: she shouldst not torment the cat. much labour to work that sum. when I please.

He ran with all his might. They fol-
Kings are fond of war. John brought
was delighted with her visit. Thou
We ought ever to learn. It cost him
We are fond of swimming. I can go

THE VERB.-NUMBER.

LESSON XXVI.

Point out the Nominatives in the following Exercise, and tell whether they are singular or plural:

These distinguished gentlemen were reclining on a couple of sofas. The horse drew the heavy cart along the road. The little maid arranged the table. They sat down on a grassy knoll. He left home last evening. This threat broke up the party. I bring fresh showers for the thirsty flowers. We expected the parcel long ago. The river flows on for ever. Men may come, and men may go. A thousand suns shall shine on thee; a thousand moons shall quiver. The young lady sung very beautifully, Boys enjoy the sea. Pictures are useful. The garden was covered with flowers. You told the same story yesterday. The manager clapped his hands as a signal to proceed.

DEFINITION I. When the Nominative to a Verb is singular, the Verb is said to be SINGULAR.

DEFINITION II.-When the Nominative to a Verb is plural, the Verb is said to be PLURAL.

LESSON XXVII.

In the following Exercise, tell the Number of each Verb, and give in each case the reason for your answer :—

The trees were bare of foliage. Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo. Different men have different opinions. Martha proceeded to tell her story. The young larks have just left their nests: they cannot fly far. The corn waves in the wind. He fell asleep on the battle-field. King John signed the Great Charter. Various officers fell in that engagement. The soldiers fought with great bravery. The king ordered the cavalry to charge: they immediately obeyed. We are never weary of beholding nature. Her face is ever fresh.

LESSON XXVIII.

Tell the Number of each Verb in your reading-lesson.

LESSON XXIX.

Tell the Person and Number of each Verb in the following Exercise :

You cannot get honey if you are frightened at bees. If the cat sits long enough at the hole, she will catch the mouse. They sell the best goods at the lowest prices. We must try to state the truth. Selfpraise is no recommendation. Boasters are never worth a button with the shank off. Every man should leave a monument behind him. When I see a young lady with a flower-garden on her head, I am sure she must be very ignorant. The sheep know when the rain is coming. Albany had now reached the object of his ambition. The king came in with a frown upon his face. The English placed their standard in the centre. I fear that you have forgotten your lesson.

LESSON XXX.

Tell the Person and Number of each Verb in the following Exercise :

(330)

They grew in beauty side by side,

They filled one home with glee:
Their graves are severed far and wide,
By mount, and stream, and sea.

4

I flew to the pleasant fields traversed so oft

In life's morning march, when my bosom was young;
I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft,

And knew the sweet strain that the corn-reaper sung.

The curling waves with awful roar

A gallant bark assailed;

And pallid fear's distracting power
O'er all on board prevailed.

If you're waking, call me early,
Call me early, mother dear;
For I would see the sun rise
Upon the glad New Year:
It is the last New Year
That I shall ever see;

Then you may lay me low in the mould,

And think no more of me.

THE VERB.-TENSE.

LESSON XXXI.

Examine the Verbs in the following Exercise, and tell whether the action expressed by the Verb is now going on, is past, or is yet to be done :

The boy learns his lesson. The boy learned his lesson yesterday. The boy will learn his lesson to-morrow. The child loves its mother. The child loved the story. The child will love the book in after years. The horse runs fast. The horse ran fast. The horse will run fast in the race. The man sells pins. The man sold all his goods. The man will sell the whole to-morrow. You sleep soundly. You slept soundly. You shall sleep soundly. He rises from his seat. They rose when the king entered. They shall rise, and call thee blessed. The girls dance prettily. The girl danced prettily. The girl will dance prettily some day. The dog barks. The dog barked at the beggar. The dog will bark at the gate. You shall go away to-morrow.

DEFINITION I. To denote the Time at which the action expressed by the Verb takes place, the Verb undergoes an inflection or change of form. This inflection or change of form is called TENSE.

Tense simply means time.

DEFINITION II.—When the action expressed by the Verb is represented as actually going on, the Verb is said to be in the PRESENT TENSE.