And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. II. SUSPICION. Let me have men about me that are fat; I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, I rather tell thee what is to be feared, III. THE CHARACTER OF BRUTUS. This was the noblest Roman of them all: So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up, 23. SCROOGE'S CHRISTMAS. 1. "A merry Christmas, uncle! "Bah! humbug!" God save you!" "Christmas a humbug, uncle! You don't mean that, I am sure!" 2. "I do. Out upon merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books, and having every item in 'em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I had my will, every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!" 3. "Uncle!" "Nephew, keep Christmas time in your own way, and let me keep it in mine." "Keep it! But you don't keep it!" "Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!" 4. "There are many good things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come. round, -apart from the veneration due to its sacred origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable,. pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellowtravelers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good and will do me good, and I say, God bless it!" 5. "You're quite a powerful speaker, sir; I wonder you don't go into Parliament." "Don't be angry, uncle. Come! morrow." "I'll see you hanged first." Dine with us to "Because you fell in love!-Good-afternoon!" 6. "Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that happened. Why give it as a reason for not coming now?" "Good-afternoon!" "I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?" "Good-afternoon !” 7. "I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humor to the last. So, a merry Christmas, uncle!" "Good-afternoon!" "And a happy New-Year!" "Good-afternoon!" DICKENS'S Christmas Carol. SUPPLEMENTARY READING. If the Christmas Carol is in the library, let the class read extended extracts from that most delightful story. IV. VOCAL TRAINING.—RULES OF INFLECTION. Rule I. Direct questions that are answered by YES or NO, generally require the rising inflection, and their answers, the falling inflection. 1. Will you lend me a knife? No, I have none. 2. Have you recited your lesson? Yès, we have. 3. Armed', say you? Armed`, my lord. Require each pupil to find, in this book, two additional examples to illustrate this rule, and to read them in the class. Rule II. Indirect questions, or those that cannot be answered by YES or NO, generally require the falling inflection. 1. What is your name? Thòmas. 2. Where are you going? To Lòndon. 3. What are you doing? Reading. 4. Who's here so rude, that would not be a Ròman? 5. Who's here so vile, that will not love his country? Require each pupil to select and read in the class two additional illustrations of this rule. Rule III. Incomplete statements, or phrases and clauses that depend on something to follow, require the rising inflection. 1. There is no flock, however watched and ténded, There is no fireside howsoe'er defénded, 2. A peacock came with plumage gáy, Before a cottage door, one dáy, Beneath a little bird, whose song, From out his cage, had charmed the thròng. 3. When Freedom, from her mountain height, Unfurled her standard to the áir, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glòry there. 4. We wish that this column, rising toward héaven, among the pointed spires of so many temples dedicated to Gód, may contribute, also, to prodúce, in all mínds, a pious feeling of depèndence and gratitude. We wish, finally, that the last object on the sight of him who leaves his native shore, and the first to gladden his who revísits it, may be something which shall remind him of the liberty and the glóry of his coùntry. WEBSTER. Rule IV. Positive statements and strong emphasis incline the voice to the falling inflection. 1. The charge is utterly, tòtally, and meanly fàlse. 2. How beautiful is night! 3. Eloquence is àction,-nòble, sublime, gòdlike action. 4. For life, for life, their flight they ply. 5. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. The war is inevitable, and let it còme. I repeat it, sir, let it come. 6. Honor the charge they made, Noble six hundred. 7. Strike-till the last armed foe expires; 8. Go, ring the bèlls, and fire the guns, |