themselves" is implied in the former predicate, "the most humble" the second predicate is subordinate to the first, as being merely a repetition of the same idea in different words. The next sentence is subordinate to the preceding, because the fact it states is advanced in illustration of what was said in the former sentence. "So," '—a connective adverb; very emphatic, because marking the correspondence or analogy between the facts of the two sentences: "those boughs," the subject: "and branches of trees," another subject to the predicate "bend," the leading clausular accent falls on the word "trees," because if it were on "branches," it would imply antithesis between that word and "boughs," but the leading subjective emphasis is on boughs," because that word implies" of trees:" which are most richly laden with fruit,' -a relative sentence limiting the subject, and therefore a first-class subordinate: "bend downwards," the predicate; the leading accent on "bend," because that word, referring to richly laden boughs, implies "downwards:" "and hang lowest," -another predicate to the subject "boughs," the leading accent on "lowest," because all boughs "richly laden with fruit," must "hang." We use the following marks to denote the comparative elevation or depression of subordinate clauses :-Elevate, [ Depress, L. This mark (1) shows the end of the modulated clause; it is used also to separate unconnected clauses. The full modulative and accentual notation of the above sentence would then be the following: Generally speak'ing, | those | who have' the most' grace" | and' the great'est gifts," and are' of the great'est usefulness, "are' the most' hum"ble, and think' the most mean"ly of themselves'. So those' boughs" | and branches of trees" | which' are most rich'ly la'den with fruit," | bend" down'wards, | and hang' low"est. In the two following Extracts, the Subjects and Predicates are printed in italics in the subsequent illustrations, the clausular divisions and the relative modulations are also marked. In reading these Exercises, note, 1st, When the Subject and Predicate stand together, they must (unless when they are without emphasis) be uttered with that deliberation and intervening pause which denote what is most weighty and worthy of attention. 2nd, When they are separated by any clause or clauses, these subordinate parts must be so pronounced as not to interfere with the inflexion and modulation of the principal members; they must be removed from the main level of the sentence -changed to a different key-note; but whether raised to a higher, or depressed to a lower, their syntactical subordination must be distinctly shown, in their more limited inflexions, feebler force, and (generally) quicker time. 3rd, When subordinate clauses precede the subject, though they may be inflected downwards, they cannot terminate with a completive fall; their inflexion must be either of that modified kind which we call Continuative, or else its more emphatic descent must be finished by a slightly rising connecting link. 4th, The Subject must be uttered with such a progression of voice, as plainly to denote the closeness of connexion that exists between it and the Predicate as members which are mutually necessary to the expression of sense; and the voice must be kept up, or at least kept from making a completive fall at the end of any clause that may intervene between it and the predicate :—if there are several intervening clauses, the last must be pronounced with such an elevation of voice as may premonstrate the coming conclusion. 5th, When subordinate clauses follow the predicate, though they form part of the same period, they must not be allowed to deprive the utterance of the predicate of its completive effect: unless when connexion is purposely maintained by a rise,— -as when the subordinate clauses are intended to limit the acceptation of the predicate,the latter must have a perfect fall, however far from the end of the sentence it may occur. 6th, When Principal Connectives are not immediately followed by the words which they unite in sense, but by some subordinate clause, they must be kept apart in utterance, by a pause and modulative change after them. 7th, The Clausular Accentuations and Relative Emphasis (and, consequently, the arrangement of the Inflexions) must be regulated by the judgement. And, by opposing, | end them?—To die?—to sleep— To sleep? perchance to dream!—ay, there's the rub! Must give us pause! There's the respect, That makes calamity of so long life! For, who would bear the whips and scorns of time, | The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, | The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes- | With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, To groan and sweat under a weary life, * The italics in this and the following similarly printed passages, do not indicate emphasis, but, as stated on the preceding page, denote the principal constructive words in the several sentences. These, whether emphatic or subordinate to the sense, should always be distinctively uttered. The effect and object of the notation will be best seen by first reading the italicised words alone. But that the dread of something after Death— THE POWER OF HABIT. Whatever action, either good or bad, | has been done once, is done a second time with more ease, and with a better liking; and a frequent repetition heightens the ease and pleasure of the performance without limit. By virtue of this property of the mind, having done any thing once becomes a motive to doing it again; having done it twice is a double motive; and [so many times the act is repeated, so many times the motive to doing it once more, is multiplied. To this principle, habit owes its wonderful force, [of which it is usual to hear men complain,—[as of something external that enslaves the will. But the complaint in this instance, as in every other in which man presumes to arraign the ways of Providence, is rash and unreasonable. The fault is in man himself, if a principle, implanted in him for his good, becomes, by negligence and mismanagement, | the instrument of his ruin. It is owing to this principle that every faculty of the understanding, and every sentiment of the heart, is capable of being improved by exercise. It is the leading principle | in the whole system of the human constitution; [modifying both the physical qualities of the body, and the moral and intellectual endowments of the mind. 3 Come and stand round! | the widow with her child, | As when she first forgot her tears and smiled! They who watch by him | see not; | but he sees, *Sees | and exults! | -were ever dreams like these? 3 They who watch by him | hear not; | but he hears! "Tis past! that hand we grasped, [alas! [in vain! 2 The words so precious | which we heard to-night; Then | was the drama ended. | Not till then, That opes the portals of eternity. When by a good man's grave I muse | alone, Like those of old, [on that thrice-hallowed night, It is almost as difficult to make a man unlearn his errors | as his knowledge. Mal-information is more hopeless than non-information; 8 for, error is always [on which we may 3 more busy than ignorance. Ignorance is a blank sheet, write; but error is a scribbled one, [from which we must first erase. Ignorance is contented to stand still | with her back to the truth; but error is more presumptuous, | *and proceeds in the backward direction. Ignorance has no light, but error follows a false one: the consequence is, that error [when she retraces her footsteps, has farther to go before she can arrive at the truth than ignorance. Man's uncertain life Is like a rain-drop [hanging on the bough *The actions of each day are, [for the most part, | links [which follow each other in the chain of custom. Hence the great effort of practical wisdom, is to imbue the mind with right tastes, affections, and habits; [the elements of character | and masters of actions. Oh, 'twas a gladdening, glorious thing, To see the sun [in pity [fling On the poor weeping trees [his ray, To wipe their falling tears away. Say what impels, amidst surrounding snow 2 The God of Seasons, [whose pervading power Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower; He bids each flower his quickening word obey | Or to each lingering bloom | enjoins delay. If thou desire happiness, | desire not to be rich: sesses much, but he that covets no more; enjoys little, [but he that wants too much: the contented mind wants nothing that it hath not, | 'the covetous mind wants [not only what it hath not, but likewise what it hath. Proud minion of a little hour, The page of history scan: [Although the mighty million fling he is rich, [not who posand he is poor, [not that A name upon thee, |—call thee king | See how beneath the moonbeam's smile, Rises on Time's eventful sea; |