Graded Lessons in English Part 46

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION.

[Cursive: Concord, N. H.

Jan. 10, 1888.

George Chapman, Esq., Portland, Conn.

My dear Friend,

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you my friend, Mr. Alpheus Crane. Any attention you may be able to show him I shall esteem as a personal favor.

Sincerely yours,

Peter Cooper.]

A LETTER OF FRIENDs.h.i.+P.

[Cursive: 21 Dean St., Toledo, Ohio.

Dec. 16, 1887.

My dear Mother,

I cannot tell you how I long to be at home again and in my old place. In my dreams and in my waking hours, I am often back at the old homestead; my thoughts play truant while I pore over my books, and even while I listen to my teacher in the cla.s.s-room. I would give so much to know what you are all doing--so much to feel that now and then I am in your thoughts, and that you do indeed miss me at home.

Everything here is as pleasant as it need be or can be, I suppose. I am sure I shall enjoy it all by and by, when I get over this fit of homesickness. My studies are not too hard, and my teachers are kind and faithful.

Do write me a long letter as soon as you get this and tell me everything.

Much love to each of the dear ones at home.

Your affectionate son,

Henry James.

[Footnote: In familiar (and official) letters, the Address may stand, you will remember, at the bottom.] Mrs. Alexander James, Tallmadge, Ohio.]

[Ill.u.s.tration of Envelope: Mrs. Alexander James, Tallmadge, Summit Co.

Ohio.]

+_To the Teacher_+.--Have your pupils write complete letters and notes of all kinds. You can name the persons to whom these are to be addressed.

Attend minutely to al1 the points. Letters of introduction should have the word _Introducing_ (followed by the name of the one introduced) at the lower left-hand corner of the envelope. This letter should not be sealed.

The receiver may seal it before handing it to the one addressed.

Continue this work of letter-writing until the pupils have mastered all the details, and are able easily and quickly to write any ordinary letter.

A SUMMARY OF THE RULES OF SYNTAX.

I. A noun or p.r.o.noun used as subject or as attribute complement of a predicate verb, or used independently, is in the nominative case.

II. The attribute complement of a participle or an infinitive is in the same case (Nom. or Obj.) as the word to which it relates.

III. A noun or p.r.o.noun used as possessive modifier is in the possessive case.

IV. A noun or p.r.o.noun used as object or objective complement, or as the princ.i.p.al word of a prepositional phrase, is in the objective case.

V. A noun or p.r.o.noun used as explanatory modifier is in the same case as the word explained.

VI. A p.r.o.noun agrees with its antecedent in person, number, and gender.

With two or more antecedents connected by _and_, the p.r.o.noun is plural.

With two or more singular antecedents connected by _or_ or _nor_, the p.r.o.noun is singular.

VII. A verb agrees with its subject in person and number.

With two or more subjects connected by _and_, the verb is plural.

With two or more singular subjects connected by _or_ or _nor_, the verb is singular.

VIII. A participle a.s.sumes the action or being, and is used like an adjective or a noun.

IX. An infinitive is generally introduced by _to_, and with it forms a phrase used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

X. Adjectives modify nouns or p.r.o.nouns.

XI. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.

XII. A preposition introduces a phrase modifier, and shows the relation, in sense, of its princ.i.p.al word to the word modified.

XIII. Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.

XIV. Interjections are used independently.

+PROOF-MARKS+.

+Remark+.--The following are some of the marks used in correcting proof-sheets for the printer:--

[Symbol: dele] De-le = Strike out.

[^] Ca-ret = Something to be inserted.

[/] This calls attention to points or letters placed in the margin as corrections.

[Symbol: dotted circle] This calls attention to the period.

[tr.] Transpose.

[Symbol: para] Begin a new paragraph with the word preceded by [.