Grammar of English Grammars), take their names from the parts of discourse or of a sentence which are distinguished by them. The Period, or circuit, is a complete round of words, often consisting of several clauses or members, and always bringing out full sense at the close. The Colon, or member, is the greatest division or limb of a period, and is the chief constructive part of a compound sentence. The Semicolon, half-member or half-limb, is the greatest division of a colon, and is properly a smaller constructive part of a compound sentence. The Comma, or segment, is a small part of a clause cut off, and is properly the least constructive part of a compound sentence. A simple sentence is sometimes a whole period, sometimes a chief member, sometimes a half member, sometimes a segment, and sometimes, perhaps, even less. Hence it may require the period, the colon, the semicolon, the comma, or even no point, according to the manner in which it is used. A sentence whose relatives and adjuncts are all taken in a restrictive sense, may be considerably complex, and yet require no division by points; as,

"Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge

On you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd."

THE COMMA.

MILTON.

Authors and printers differ considerably in the frequency of the use of this point, and hence the rules ordinarily given are not uniformly followed. Those will now be given which are deemed most useful and important.

RULE I.—In a simple sentence, when short, no comma is needed, and no point except a period (.) at the end; but when the subject is largely modified, and thus rendered long, it should be followed by a comma (,); as,

"The region possessed a harbor." discovered, possessed a good harbor."

"The region which Hudson had

The comma is generally designed to separate only those parts of a sentence-those words, phrases, or clauses-which in themselves make imperfect sense. It separates the simple sentences, of which a compound consists; as,

"Man proposes, and God disposes." "He neither was brave, nor was he generous."

RULE II.-Expressions used in direct address, and the words of others introduced, though not as a quotation, are separated from other parts of the sentence by the comma; as,

"I thank you, my friends, for your kind offices."

"Will you go, sir?"

"Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." "It hurts a man's pride to say, I do not know."

RULE III.-Two or more nouns following each other in the same construction, are separated by a comina; as,

"The husband, wife, and children perished." "He is supported by his father, his uncle, and his elder brother."

When, however, two nouns are closely connected by a conjunc tion, the comma is omitted between them; as,

"Virtue and vice are in strong contrast." "Libertines call religion either bigotry or superstition." But if the parts of the sentence thus connected are long, the comma may be used; as, "Romances may be said to be miserable rhapsodies, or dangerous incentives to evil."

RULE IV.-Two or more adjectives modifying the same subject, are separated from each other by commas; as,

"He was a brave, gentle, dignified man." "The most innocent pleasures are the sweetest, the most rational, the most affecting, and the most lasting."

Two adjectives, however, immediately connected by a conjunction, are not separated by a comma; as,

"Truth is fair and artless, simple and sincere, uniform and consistent." "We must be wise or foolish."

Words used in pairs should be separated in pairs, as in the last example but one.

This Rule (4th) may be applied to two or more adverbs in immediate succession, without or with a connective; as, He conducted himself bravely and decorously.

EXERCISES.

Apply the rules given above to the following sentences requiring commas, by writing and punctuating them:

It is folly presumption wickedness to attempt to supplement God's means of saving souls by man's.-Man the greatest of men Whitefield Wesley yea Peter Paul and John are but instruments and as instruments must do the Master's work in the Master's way.-Howard's was mercy to the body Whitefield's to the soul.-This is very definite and very explicit and since there is no limitation caution or reserve it seems intended to apply to all times places and persons and to be set forth as Gol's method to be used by man for saving souls down to the end of time.

LESSON XLVIII.

PUNCTUATION.-THE COMMA.

RULE V.-Two or more verbs or participles in succession, related to the same subject, are separated by the comma; as,

"In a letter, we may advise, exhort, comfort, request, and discuss." "Virtue supports in adversity, moderates in prosperity."

When the verbs are immediately connected by a conjunction, they are not separated by the comma; as,

"The study of natural history expands and elevates the mind." "Whether we eat or drink, labor or sleep, we should be moderate."

Here the pairs of verbs are separated as pairs by the comma. So with the participle; as,

"A man, fearing, serving, and loving his Creator." "By being admired and flattered, we are often corrupted."

When participles are followed by modifying words, they are generally separated by a comma from other parts of the sentence; as,

"The king, approving the plan, put it in execution." "All mankind compose one family, assembled under the eye of one common Father."

RULE VI.-Grammatical ellipsis, particularly of the verb or connective, often requires to be indicated by a comma; as,

"Industry, steadily, prudently, and vigorously pursued, leads to wealth." "Love, joy, peace, and blessedness are reserved for the good." "From law arises security; from security, curiosity; from curiosity, knowledge." RULE VII. In a complex sentence, the dependent clause is separated by a comma from the principal clause; as,

"When our vices leave us, we flatter ourselves that we leave them." "The temperate man's pleasures are durable, because they are regular."

RULE VIII.-An absolute (or independent) phrase, whether participial or infinitive, and other clauses and phrases involved in sentences, must be separated by a comma from other parts of a sentence; as,

"To confess the truth, I was in fault." "The messenger has returned, his business being accomplished." "The messenger, his business being accomplished, has returned." "It is, in many cases, apparent."

RULE IX.-Several infinitive phrases succeeding each other, either as subjects or objects of a verb, are separated by a comma; as,

"To relieve the indigent, to comfort the afflicted, to protect the innocent, to reward the deserving, are humane and noble employments."

EXERCISES.

Supply commas in the following sentences, according to the rules already given:

Of all our faculties that of speech is perhaps least cultivated yet is most susceptible of cultivation and pays best the pains bestowed upon it.-Love sincere earnest practical supreme continuous everlasting is due to our Creator. The teacher arriving at this moment put a stop to our folly.—We should regard pity succor defend the poor.-By being flattered praised and exalted he ceased to be humble.-When we go to the city we part with the pleasures of the country.-The clock striking three we hastened home.-Six hours sleep for a man; seven for a woman; eight for a child; and nine for a pig.-John assisted Thomas Thomas William William Henry and thus they all made their way in the world.-The babe becomes a boy the boy a youth the youth a man of full growth.-David Evans Morgan Williams along with their wives and children are to join us this evening in our festivities.

LESSON XLIX.

PUNCTUATION.-THE COMMA.

RULE X.-A single noun in apposition with another, is not separated from other words by a comma; but when it is modified by several words, then the phrase requires a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence: as,

"The apostle Peter." "Peter, the apostle, preached to the Jews." "Peter, the apostle of the circumcision, preached to the Jews."

RULE XI. The two members of a comparative sentence, if they re long, are distinguished by a commu; but if short, not: thus, "As the hart panteth after the water-brook, so doth my soul pant after

thee."

"Better is a dinner of herbs with love, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." "Mankind act oftener from caprice than reason."

RULE XII. The comma is used to indicate contrast, opposition, or remarkable points in a sentence, and sometimes separates words closely connected in construction.

"Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;

Strong, without rage; without o'er£owing, full.”

"A good man will love himself too well to lose, and his neighbor too well to win, an estate by gaming." "Not only in union with, but in opposition to, the views and conduct of one another."

RULE XIII.-Adverbs, adverbial, and prepositional phrases, unless closely connected with some particular word in the sentence, are separated by a comma from the rest of the sentence; as,

Finally, once more, however, in short, above all, besides, in my opinion, first, secondly, &c. "It is, however, the task of criticism to establish principles."

So conjunctions, when several words intervene between them and the clause to which they belong, are followed by a comma; as,

"Yet, though I hastened, I could not overtake him."

A comma sometimes follows an Interjection; as, “Behold, thy time is at hand."

RULE XIV. Where a finite verb is omitted, its place is supplied by a comma; as, John reads Homer; Peter, Virgil.

EXERCISES.

Write, and punctuate with the comma, the following

sentences:

He travelled to Boston; she to Portland.-He who wants to catch fish however must not mind a wetting. He who threatens to strike and does not is afraid.-Hush woman I knew all that before.-Better straw than nothing.-Better There he goes than There he hangs.-Better the child cry than the mother sigh.-He who builds a house or marries is left with a lank purse.-Though profound he is not clear.-Though rich he is not liberal. As there is a hollow worldly happiness so there is a foolish worldly wisdom.-Though poetry is an art that addresses the imagination it is not the only one.-He will come no doubt if you send for him.-Above ail remember your promises.-Men like trees lose their sap with age.