colossal grasshopper would strike the low ceiling of the gun deck, then fall back on its four wheels like a tiger upon its four claws, and dart anew on the man. He, supple, agile, adroit, would glide like a snake from the reach of these lightning-like movements. - VICTOR HUGO.

12. There were a Fox and a Sheridan, the English Demosthenes and the English Hyperides.

13. When a leafless tree is clothed with ice from the bottom to the top, that is as bright and clear as crystal, every bough and twig is strung with icebeads, frozen dewdrops, and the whole tree sparkles cold and white like the Shah of Persia's diamond plume.

14. A good summer storm is a rain of riches. Every drop is silver going to the mint. The roots are machinery, and. catching the willing drops, they assay them, refine them, roll them, stamp them, and turn them out coined berries, apples, grains, and grasses. — HENRY WARD Beecher.

15. O Rome! Rome! thou hast been a tender nurse to me. Thou hast given to that poor, gentle, timid shepherd lad, who never knew a harsher tone than a flute note, muscles of iron and a heart of flint. - Kellogg.

16. "A doubtful throne is ice on summer seas."

17. "Memory, like a purse, if it be overfull that it cannot shut, all will drop out of it."

18. The most beautiful thing I have seen at sea is the trail of a shoal of fish through the phosphorescent water. It is like the flight of silver rockets or the streaming of northern lights through the silent nether heaven.

Or like the silver crimson shroud
That Phoebus' smiling looks doth grace;
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline!

Her lips are like two budded roses
Whom ranks of lilies neighbor nigh.

- LODGE.

II. Using the material in the following for the statement of resemblances, make similes and metaphors when possible:

1. The air was filled with the fragrance of thousands of blossoms and flowers.

2. In October there are days when the migrating birds depart in great numbers for a warmer clime.

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3. The owl reminds me of some men I have had the misfortune to know, - silent and sinister by day, or when exposed to the scrutiny of their fellows; but by night demons in thought, purpose, and action.”

4. The first chipmunk as well as the first bluebird and the first robin is welcomed as a sure token of spring.

5. "The mad mass has the bounds of a panther, the weight of the elephant, the agility of the mouse, the obstinacy of the ox, the rapidity of lightning, the deafness of the tomb."

6. "All of us lift our heads higher, because those of our countrymen, whose trade it is to meet danger, have met it well and bravely."

7. There stood the ruin, old and gray, and magnificent in its decay.

8. Winding slowly down through the valley, the river, silver-white in the distance, flowed peacefully on toward the sea.

9. The mountains lifted their giant heads above the clouds.

10. The twinkling stars came out, brightening the heavens with their innumerable lights.

Personification. - Another form in which an imaginary resemblance between unlike objects may be expressed is by giving to an object without life an attribute or quality of

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something having life. Thus we say, "the waves dance," "the sun smiles," ""the river runs." The waves cannot really dance, the sun smile, or the river run, but something they can do suggests to us the actions named, and hence we attribute to them these imaginary powers. Many attributes are so commonly associated with certain inaminate objects, that we have come to regard them as actually belonging to these objects quite as much as to the animate objects which really possess them, and with which comparison was originally made. For example, we speak of the water as murmuring, the wind as sighing, without any thought of the figurative language we are using.

The figure which represents inanimate objects and animals as having life and reasoning powers is called personification. It is much used; partly because ascribing the attributes of persons to objects which do not possess them makes these objects seem more real, and thus satisfies a natural desire on our part; and partly because of our deliberate wish to give vigor and life to language by dealing with living beings, even though they are such only in the imagination. Children unconsciously personify the things about which they talk, the writers of fables have always represented inanimate things as thinking and talking like persons, and poets find personification the means through which they can present their thoughts most effectively and beautifully.

The wind weeps and moans through the livelong day..
The golden sun salutes the morn.

In these sentences, by means of personification, two commonplace facts are presented with more vigor and beauty than they could be by the mere statement of the facts.

Personification, like simile and metaphor, should be the

result of resemblances that are suggested naturally from the nature of the subject. It never should be forced into thought expression when it seems unnatural and out of harmony with the subject, and hence does not add to the effectiveness of its presentation. Personification should not be too much used, or it will tend to weaken language, and thus by overdoing defeat the very purpose for which it is used. Do not, however, be afraid to use personification. when, by so doing, you can make your language more effective; but be careful that the personification is always in harmony with the subject and that it is not overworked.

Exercises

Select the personifications in the following and explain the resemblance upon which each is based. Explain any other figure of speech which these quotations contain.

1.

2.

Now Nature hangs her mantle green
On every blooming tree,

And spreads her sheets o' daisies white
Out o'er the grassy lea.

-BURNS.

Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose.

-MILTON.

3. Night was drawing and closing her curtain up above the world and down beneath it.

4. Time rushes on silently, swiftly, ceaselessly. He never waits for any one, and if once you fall behind, the chances are that you will never overtake him again.

5. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places

of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as to him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. — PROVERBS OF SOLOMON.

6. To him who in the love of Nature holds

7.

8.

Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language: for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings with a mild
And healing sympathy that steals away
Their sharpness ere he is aware.

- BRYANT.

Now glowed the firmament
With living sapphires. Hesperus, that led
The starry host, rode brightest, till the Moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length,
Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light,
And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.

Uprose the wild old winter-king,
And shook his beard of snow;

"I hear the first young harebell ring,
'Tis time for me to go!

Northward o'er the icy rocks,

Northward o'er the sea,

My daughter comes with sunny locks:

This land's too warm for me!"

- MILTON.

9. To no man does Fortune throw open all the kingdoms of this world, and say, "It is thine; choose where thou wilt dwell."

I bring fresh showers for the thirsty flowers,
From the seas and the streams;

I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.

From my wings are shaken the dews that awaken
The sweet buds every one,