LESSON XVII

I. The Correct Use of the Parts of Speech in the Expression of Ideas. The Verbs lie or lay, may or can, might or could.

1. Lie (to recline) is intransitive and therefore takes no object. The principal parts of the verb are lie, lay, lain.

She is going to lie down for a little time.

She lay quietly on the couch.

She has lain there a long time.

2. Lay (to place) is transitive and therefore takes an object. The principal parts of the verb are lay, laid, laid.

Lay the book on the table.

John laid the book on the table.

John has laid the book on the table.

3. Use can in speaking of what is possible to do; may in speaking of what is permissible to do.

"Can I play in your yard?"

"I don't know whether you can or not."

"Well, may I play in it?"

"Yes, you may."

4. Might and could follow the usages of may and can. He might have gone, but on account of his business he could not.

Exercise 1. Give the rule for the use of the italicized verbs in the following sentences:

1. I paused to contemplate a tomb on which lay the effigy of a knight in complete armor.

2. Their struggle has long been over-they have gone down amidst the roar of the tempest-their bones lie whitening among the caverns of the deep.

3. For some time Rip lay musing on this scene.

4. Poor old Carlo lay under the crib when they would let him, sometimes rising up to look in with an earnest, sorrowful face.

5. Nevertheless the most domestic cat, which has lain on a rug all her days, appears quite at home in the woods, and, by her sly and stealthy behavior, proves herself more native there than the regular inhabitants.

6. As the route of the friends lay in the same direction, they agreed to perform the rest of their journey together.

7. He lays aside his distance and reserve, and is glad to waive the distinctions of rank, and to enter into the honest, heartfelt enjoyments of common life.

8. To perform the experiment, lay bare your arm and stretch it straight.

9. "Ask your mamma if you may go home with me,' said Mary. Mary ran home and presently came back crying, "She says I may, and that I may stay until tomorrow."

10. How can she bear poverty? she has been brought up in all the refinements of opulence. How can she bear neglect? she has been the idol of society.

11. He who can turn churlishly away from contemplating the felicity of his fellow-beings, and can sit down darkling and repining in his loneliness when all around is joyful, may have his moments of strong excitement and selfish gratification, but he wants the genial and social sympathies which constitute the charm of a merry Christmas.

12. A spray could not tremble in the breeze-a leaf could not rustle to the ground-a diamond drop could not patter in the stream- -a fragrance could not exhale from the humble violet, nor a daisy unfold its crimson tints to the morning, but it has been noticed by these impassioned and delicate observers, and wrought up into some beautiful morality.

13. He might travel, if he wished, he might go to all the countries in the world, but he prefers to remain at home.

Exercise 2. Copy the following sentences, using the proper form of the verb in the parentheses:

1. Mother has (lie, lay) down on the sofa.

2. The rain has (lie, lay) the dust.

3. Two men (lie, lay) under the haystack all yesterday morning. They must have (lie, lay) there all night.

4. After he (lie, lay) down he remembered that he had left his pocket-book (lie, lay)-ing by the open window.

5. He has (lie, lay) himself down for a while after dinner.

6. I have (lie, lay) down for a while, and I feel better.

7. You (may, can) come to see me whenever you (may, can) find time.

8. You (may, can) go to the concert, but I doubt whether you (may, can) find a seat.

9. (May, can) I have some more lemonade?

10. "Mother, (may, can) I go out skating?" "Yes, you (may, can) if you will avoid the thin ice."

II. Expression of Ideas in Composition.

1.

Read the following compositions:

Wasp was a dark brindled terrier, as pure in blood as Cruiser or Wild Dayrell. She was brought by my brother from Otley, in the West Riding. She was very handsome, fierce, and gentle, with a small, compact, finely-shaped head, and a pair of wonderful eyes,as full of fire and of softness as Grisi's; indeed she had to my eye a curious look of that wonderful genius-at once wild and fond. It was a fine sight to see her on the prowl across Bowden Moor, now cantering with her nose down, now gathered up on the top of a dyke, and with erect ears, looking across the wild like a moss-trooper out on business, keen and fell. She could do everything it became a dog to do, from killing an otter or a polecat, to watching and playing with a baby, and was as docile to her master as she was surly to all else. She was not quarrelsome, but "being in," she would have pleased Polonius as much, as in being "ware of entrance." She was never

beaten, and she killed on the spot several of the country bullies who came out upon her when following her master in his rounds. She generally sent them off howling with one snap, but if this was not enough, she made an end of it.-Dr. John Brown: Our Dogs.

2.

Carlo was a full-blooded mastiff,—and his beauty, if he had any, consisted in his having all the good points of his race. He was a dog of blood, come of real old mastiff lineage; his stiff, wiry hair, his big, rough paws, and great, brawny chest, were all made for strength rather than beauty; but for all that, he was a dog of tender sentiments. Yet, if any one intruded on his rights and dignities, Carlo showed that he had hot blood in him; his lips would go back, and show a glistening row of ivories that one would not like to encounter, and if any trenched on his privileges, he would give a deep warning growl, as much as to say, "I am your slave for love, but you must treat me well, or I shall be dangerous." A blow he would not bear from any one: the fire would flash from his great yellow eyes, and he would snap like a rifle; yet he would let his own Prince Charley pound on his ribs with both baby fists, and pull his tail till he yelped, without even a show of resistance.-Harriet Beecher Stowe: Our Dog Carlo. From Our Young Folks.

3.

Toby was for weeks in the house unbeknown to any one but ourselves two and the cook, and from my grandmother's love of tidiness and hatred of dogs and of dirt I believe she would have expelled "him whom we saved from drowning," had not he, in his straightforward way, walked into my father's bedroom one night when he was bathing his feet, and introduced himself with a wag of his tail, intimating a general willingness to be happy. My father laughed most heartily, and at last Toby, having got his way to his bare feet, and having begun to lick his soles and between his toes with his small rough tongue, my father gave such an unwonted shout of laughter that wegrandmother, sisters, and all of us-went in. Grandmother might argue with all her energy and skill, but as surely as the pressure of Tom Jones' infantile fist upon Mr. Allworthy's forefinger undid all the arguments of his sister, so did Toby's tongue and fun prove too many for grandmother's eloquence. I somehow think Toby

must have been up to all this, for I think he had a peculiar love for my father ever after, and regarded grandmother from that hour with a careful and cool eye.-Dr. John Brown: Our Dogs.

Class discussion.

1. What is the purpose of the above compositions,to describe, or to set forth characteristics? 2. Note that though the animals are not famous for their beauty, they are attractive. Why? 3. Note that the authors' method of setting forth characteristics is first to make a statement about the animal and then to substantiate this statement by use of illustration or anecdote. 4. Find comparisons which make the pictures vivid. 5. Find some examples of specific or especially forcible words.

Subjects for written composition.

Choose one of the following subjects and give the characteristics of your subject. In giving these characteristics, make them clear by the use of explanation, illustration, anecdote, comparison, or dialogue:

1. Tabby (or whatever name your cat is called).
2. Rover (or whatever name your dog is called).
3. Dobbin (or whatever name your horse is called).
4. Chirp (or whatever name your canary is called).
5. My little brother (or sister).

Subjects for oral composition.

1. Come into the class prepared to tell the story of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp; or the story of Cinderella and the Slipper; or of Jack and the Beanstalk; or of Little Red Riding Hood; or of Little Goldilocks; or of Sinbad, the Sailor.