d. To form the possessive case plural, the apostrophe, with an s after it, is added to the nominative plural, when it does not end in that letter; as, "Men's passions; women's tenderness; children's joys."

e. The possessive case of pronouns is formed without an apostrophe; as,

Some grammarians would use the apostrophe before the s in ours, yours, hers, its, theirs. But the impropriety of this is evident from the mode in which the other pronouns in the possessive case are always written; namely, mine, his, and whose; which exhibit the case without the mark in question.

ORAL EXERCISES.

State the reason for the insertion and position of the apostrophe in these sentences:

A man's manners not unfrequently indicate his morals.

On eagles' wings he seemed to soar. — - Our enemies' resistance. The shepherd-swain on Scotia's mountains fed his little flock. And the Persians' gems and gold were the Grecians' funeral pyre. We will not shrink from life's severest due.. Woman's rights. Few columns rose to mark her patriots' last repose.

The sun is the poet's, the invalid's, and the hypochondriac's friend.
The ladies' gloves and shawls were exceedingly handsome.
Phillippa was the name of Edward the Third's queen.

O majestic Night, Nature's great ancestor, Day's elder born!
He must strike the second heat upon the Muses' anvil.
Mother's wag, pretty boy, father's sorrow, father's joy.
Spirit of Good! on this week's verge I stand.

Bid them in duty's sphere as meekly move.

Why is that sleeper laid to rest in manhood's pride?

Who loves not spring's voluptuous hours, or summer's splendid reign? Is sparkling wit the world's exclusive right?

The Turk awoke: he woke to hear his sentry's shriek.

The people's shouts were long and loud. - Thy mercies' monument

A friend should bear a friend's infirmities. The ox's hide.

Show how the Rule or the Remarks (pp. 204–5) are applicable to the possessive case in the following phrases and sentences : —

Adam's book, not Adams's: the book did not belong to Adams.
John Quincy Adams's death was no common bereavement.
Sir Humphrey Davy's safety-lamp. Davis's Straits.
Josephus's "History of the Jews" is a very interesting work.
Andrew's hat, not Andrews's. Andrews's "Latin Reader."
For quietness' sake, the man would not enter into any dispute.
Col. Matthews's delivery. - Matthew's Gospel, not Matthews's.
The witness's testimony agreed with the facts of the case.
Let Temperance' smile the cup of gladness cheer.

Nor roamed Parnassus' heights nor Pindus' hallowed shade.
There is no impropriety in speaking of the cockatrice's den.
I oft have sat on Thames' sweet bank to hear my friend.
Like the silver crimson shroud, that Phoebus' smiling looks doth grace.
Faustus' offence [the offence of Faustus] can never be pardoned.
After two years, Porcius Festus came into Felix's room.

EXERCISE TO BE WRITTEN.

Agreeably to the Rule and the Remarks, insert apostrophes in, or annex them to, the nouns in the possessive case which occur in the following sentences; but let the pronouns remain unmarked:

The traveller went to lodge, not in Mr. Jacobs house, but in Mr. Jacobss. (Rule, and Remark b.)

I am going to the booksellers [sing.] to purchase Popes Homer and Drydens Virgil. (Rule.)

Procrustes bed. - Hortensius influence. Achilles shield.-Pocahontas father. Sophocles Greek Grammar. (Remark a.) The precepts of wisdom form the good mans interest and happiness. (Rule.)

Robert Burnss prose as well as poetical writings are astonishing productions. (Remark b.)

Fames proud temple shines afar.- - From mens experience do thou learn wisdom. (Rule, and Remark d.)

They applauded that conduct of his, but condemned hers and yours. The reason of its being done I cannot tell. (Remark e.)

He had the surgeons [sing.], the physicians [sing.], and the apothecarys advice. (Rule.)

The tendency of Dickenss genius, both in delineating the actual and the natural, is to personify, to individualize. (Remark b.)

Goethes "Wilhelm Meister" was the rich result of ten years labor. (Rule.)

John Parrys children played with David Parriss. — Williams wig was purchased at Mr. Williamss shop. (Rule, and Remark b.)

I would rather have arrived at one profound conclusion of the sages meditation in his dim study, than to win that gaze of the multitude. (Rule.)

Should you have occasion to refer, in writing or in print, to Burns sermons, meaning the sermons of Burn, you must be careful to put the apostrophe in its right place. (Rule, and comp. Rem. b.)

A drunkard once reeled up to him with the remark, "Mr. Whitefield, I am one of your converts."-"I think it very likely was the reply; "for I am sure you are none of Gods." (Rule.)

I was surprised to see so many young idle sparks listening quietly and attentively to Dr. David Sparkss lecture on Drusius, Grotius, and Michaelis theological works. (Remarks b, a.)

And still the Greek rushed on, beneath the fiery fold,

Till, like a rising sun, shone Xerxes tent of gold.

(Remark a.)

Education does not commence with the alphabet: it begins with a mothers look; with a fathers nod of approbation, or a sign of reproof; with a sisters gentle pressure of the hand, or a brothers noble act of forbearance; with handfuls of flowers in green dells, on hills and daisy meadows; with birds nests admired, but not touched; with humming bees and glass hives; with pleasant walks in shady lanes; with thoughts directed, in sweet and kindly tones and words, to nature, to beauty, to acts of benevolence, to deeds of virtue, to the sense of all good, and to God himself. (Rule.)

Behold Affections garden, whose sweet flowers —

A blending of all odors, forms, and hues -
Were nursed by Fancy and the gentle Muse,
In heaven-born Poesys delightful bowers.
Ye who appreciate the poets powers,
And love the bright creations of his mind,
Come, linger here awhile, and ye shall find
A noble solace in your milder hours:
Here Byrons genius like an eagle towers,
In dread sublimity; while Rogers lute,

Moores native harp, and Campbells classic flute,
Mingle in harmony, as beams with showers.
Can their high strains of inspiration roll,
Nor soothe the heart, nor elevate the soul?

(Rule.)

The HYPHEN [ - ] is sometimes employed to join the constituent parts of compound and derivative words. It is also used to divide words into syllables, for the purpose either of exhibiting the pronunciation, or of showing the simple portions into which words of more than one syllable may be resolved.

REMARKS.

99 66

a. From this explanation, it will be seen that the hyphen is used for two very different purposes, -to join and to separate. As a mark of junction, it is inserted between the simple words of which certain compounds are formed; and, in peculiar circumstances, between a preposition, or a portion of a word, and the word to which it is prefixed; as, "the inhuman and fiendish slave-trade; a man of pre-eminence;" ""the Neo-Platonic philosophers." As a mark of separation, it is employed by lexicographers and by writers or printers to analyze words, and to divide them into syllables; by the former to show as accurately as possible the pronunciation, and by the latter to disunite portions of words that cannot be brought into a line of manuscript or of letterpress.

b. The distinction between a compound and a derivative word is, that the former consists of two or more simple words which are separately and commonly used in English; whereas the latter is made up of simple words, or portions of words, which are not each separately current in the language; as, pseudo-apostle. — See page 23, Def. XII.

c. But the simple words which make up compounds and derivatives are not always united by the hyphen; a few only of the latter being thus distinguished, and a very considerable number of the former, particularly those which form compound nouns, having coalesced so closely in pronunciation as to require them to be

presented to the eye as one word. It is, therefore, a matter of importance to ascertain when it will be proper to join the parts of compounds with the hyphen, and when to unite them without this connecting mark. The mode of using the hyphen in syllabication is also attended with difficulties, which may, in a great measure, be obviated by an appeal to certain principles.

RULE I.

Compound Words.

§ I. When each of the words of which a compound is formed retains its original accent, they should be united by a hyphen.

§ II. But, when the compound word has only one accent, its parts are consolidated; being written or printed without the hyphen.

a. The words "all-wise" and "incense-breathing," "bookseller" and "nobleman," are compounds, because they severally represent not two separate ideas, but one compound idea. The primitives which enter into the composition of "all-wise'" and "in'cense-breath'ing" retain the same accents as they had before these compounds were formed; but, as they could not be readily distinguished if written or printed closely together, the only mode of showing that they are compound is by inserting a hyphen between them. On the other hand, the simple words forming the compounds "bookseller" and "nobleman" do not both retain the accents which are heard in the phrases, "a seller of books," "a man who is noble," but so perfectly coalesce in pronunciation as to form one unbroken, continuous word,