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its close; as, "Fear God." "Honor the king." "Have charity towards all men.”

False Punctuation.

The resources of virtue remain entire when the days of trouble come with us in sickness as in health in poverty as in the midst of riches in our dark and solitary hours no less than when surrounded with friends and cheerful society the mind of a good man is a kingdom to him and he can always enjoy it.

RULE II.

The period is often placed at the close of a sentence, which has a general connection, expressed by a pronoun, conjunction or adverb; as, "He who lifts himself up to the observation and notice of the world, is, of all men, the least likely to avoid censure. For he draws upon himself a thousand eyes, that will narrowly inspect him in every part."

False Punctuation.

Recreations, though they may be of an innocent nature require steady government to keep them under control or within a due and limited province but such as are of an irregular and vicious kind are not to be governed but to be banished from every well regulated mind.

RULE III.

The period is placed after initials; as, M. T. C. for Marcus Tullius Cicero. A. D. Anno Domini. And also after abbreviations; as, Croc. Anglic. for Crocus Anglicanus. Scc. for secretary.

False Punctuation.

Constantine the great was advanced to the sole dominion of the Roman world A D 325 and soon after openly professed the Christian faith. The last edition of that valuable work was carefully compared with the original MS. The general P O is in a sad condition.

DASH.

§ 278. The dash denotes an emphatic or abrupt pause of indefinite length.

RULE I.

The dash is used when there is an unexpected turn of sentiment; as,

"Here lies the great-false marble where?

Nothing but sordid dust lies here."-Young.

"If thou art he-but how fallen!

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Beauty and Strength combined with Virtue and Piety how lovely in the sight of men how pleasing because with every Temptation to deviate they voluntarily walk in the path of duty.

RULE II.

The dash after a stop, requires a longer pause than when it is used alone.

RULE III.

The sense alone can determine the length of the time which should be employed in the use of the dash.

RULE IV.

The dash is sometimes used instead of a parenthesis; as, "Every planet-the Creator has made nothing in vain-is most probably inhabited."

NOTE OF INTERROGATION.

$279. The note of interrogation denotes a question. RULE I.

All questions asked directly are followed by the note of interrogation; as, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity ?"

REMARK. This rule comprehends questions which one may ask himself, as well as those he may ask others; as, “Who adorned the heavens with such exquisite beauty?"

False Punctuation.

Gripus has long been ardently endeavoring to fill his chest

and lo it is now full Is he happy and does he use it Does he gratefully think of the Giver of all good Things Does he distribute to the Poor Alas these Interests have no Place in his breast

RULE II.

When a compound sentence contains two or more questions closely united, they may be separated by a comma or semicolon, and a note of interrogation is put after the last one; as, "Who is the king, or what has he done?"

False Punctuation.

What is there in all the pomp of the world the Enjoyments of Luxury the Gratification of Passion comparable to the tranquil delight of a good Conscience.

RULE III.

The note of interrogation. should not be used when a question is only said to be asked, and where the words are not used as a question; as, "The Cyprians asked me why I wept."

RULE IV.

In all cases in which a question is not put directly, the note of interrogation should not be used; as, "I know not why he should abuse me thus." Such an example is called an indirect question.

NOTE OF EXCLAMATION.

280. The note of exclamation is used to denote strong or sudden emotion of the mind; as,

"Oh! had we both our humble state maintained,

And safe in peace and poverty remained!"

"Hear me,

O Lord! for thy kindness is great!"

RULE I.

When an interrogative sentence expresses a strong or vehement emotion, the note of exclamation is put at its close; "Who can fully express the goodness of our Creator!" "How much vanity in the pursuits of men!"

False Punctuation.

On the one Hand are the Divine Approbation and immortal Honor on the other remember and beware are the stings of Conscience and endless infamy

"The bliss of man could pride that blessing find

Is not to act or think beyond mankind”

"Or why so long in life if long can be
Lent Heav'n a parent to the poor and me"

PARENTHESIS.

281. The parenthesis includes a clause or sentence which contains some useful information, and which may be omitted without injury to the grammatical construction; as,

"Know then this truth, (enough for me to know,)
Virtue alone is happiness below."

"And was the ransom paid? It was; and paid-
(What can extol his bounty more,) for thee."

REMARK. The clause or sentence included in the parenthesis, should be uttered more rapidly and with a lower tone than the principal sentence.

RULE I.

The parenthesis ends with the same kind of stop which the member has that precedes it, the note of interrogation and exclamation excepted. The point should be included within the parenthesis; as, "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" "While they wish to please, (and why should they not wish it,) they disdain dishonorable means."

False Punctuation.

"To gain a posthumous reputation is to save four or five letters for what is a name besides from oblivion." "He found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy." "It was represented by an analogy oh how inadequate which was borrowed from the religion of paganism."

OTHER CHARACTERS.

RULE I.

§ 282. ['] The apostrophe is a comma placed above a word and denotes either the possessive case of nouns, or the elision of one or more letters of a word; as, "A man's property;" 99 "A woman's ornament.' 'Tis, for it is. 'Twas, for it was. Condemn'd, for condemned. Thro' for through. E'er, for ever.

A

RULE II.

[^] A caret resembles an inverted v, and shows where a letter, word or sentence should be inserted which has been accidentally omitted; as, "I am de

this

lighted with, book."

RULE III.

[^] The circumflex, like the caret, is an inverted v, and denotes that the vowel over which it is placed, has a broad sound; as, "Eclât."

RULE IV.

[-] The hyphen is a short dash, and unites the simple parts of a compound word; as, pre-existence; singsong. Placed at the end of a line either in writing or printing, it shows that one or more syllables of a word are carried forward to the next line.

[

RULE V.

] or [****] The ellipsis is a long dash or a number of stars placed in succession, and denotes the omission of some letters or words; as, The k

for, the king.

RULE VI.

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[{] The brace unites a triplet, or separate terins that have the same common relation.

[] The section marks the smaller divisions of a book or chapter.

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