extent of their similarity, we can easily put them into various groups. Now words are treated by the grammarian in the same way. All words agree so far, that each calls up some idea. But the ideas vary greatly in kind. Thus, one word calls up the idea of a real object or thing, while another suggests some action, quality, or relation. Hence we obtain the several parts of speech, for the right use of which some common rules may be applied. Another part of grammar deals with the changes which words undergo, to express the minor differences of meaning. Thus, a noun may be used so as to stand for one thing of the kind, or more than one,—that is, it may differ as to number. In like manner, the same noun may differ as to person, gender, or case. So too the verbs show by certain changes in their form, or by additions, the varying time or manner of an action. All these changes are called the inflection of words and, by having them put out in order, we can far more readily learn them than if we study the changes of each individual word. But not only does grammar teach us how to group words into classes, and how to modify them to express the shade of meaning intended; but it also supplies us with rules by which words of different sorts may be arrranged together so as to agree or harmonise with each other. Thus, we have seen that a noun may stand for one object or for many, and an action likewise may be expressed so as to show either oneness or plurality; and these must be so arranged as to agree with each other: thus, when the subject of a sentence conveys a plural idea, the action being also plural, the verb which expresses that action must be in its plural form too. This is the most important rule to be observed in the formation of sentences. It is sometimes called the First Concord. The Second Concord or agreement is that between the adjective and the noun which it qualifies. But as our adjectives are not declinable as regards person, number, and gender, the agreement is rather understood than expressed. The Third Concord is that between the relative and its antecedent. As our relative is not subject to change on account of number or person, it follows that the concord can only apply to gender and case. Thus, in the phrase, “The man, whom you saw, said," etc., man is the nominative of said, you is the nominative of saw, and whom is the accusative governed by the verb saw. EXERCISE 1.-Define :-Arbitrary, grammar, laws, considering, treatment, acclimatised, soil, climate, animal, plant, prefixes, affixes, person, number, gender, and case. EXERCISE 2.-Name the Concords, and give an example of each. Note. This lesson goes over old, and it may be familiar, ground. It was thought well, however, here to review, in a less technical form than can be done in a text-book, the broad principles of our language, and show how its rules are formed, before entering upon the subject of style and supplying examples of our best standard English writers. -0 MEMOIR OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH. Narrative, an account of what Manuscript, a written document. Fictitious, existing in fancy and not in fact. Apprentice, one bound to an other to learn a trade or craft. Rhyming, having somewhat similar line-endings. Alienate, to become strange. Adventure, something that has happened. Bishop, one who superintends a number of churches. Medicine, the study of diseases and their remedies. Demanded, called for with authority. Imagination, the power by which ideas are formed. Literati, men of learning. Or our English writers of narrative, whether real or fictitious, few, if any, have excelled Oliver Goldsmith, the author of the "Vicar of Wakefield," the "Deserted Village," histories of England, Rome, and Greece, together with a description of animated nature, and several comedies, all of which became more or less popular. Oliver, who was born in 1728, was one of the younger sons of a good but poor Irish clergyman. At the village school to which he was sent, he was known as rather a dull boy, and at an early age his friends thought to apprentice him to some trade. As he grew up, however, it was seen that he had both a ready wit and a happy knack of rhyming, which led an uncle to undertake the charge of having him educated at Dublin University. Here he spent so much time in youthful follies, and in merely light and desultory reading, that he took his B.A. degree two years later than was usual, and never took the higher degree at all. By this time Goldsmith's father had died; but his good uncle, the Rev. T. Contarine, supplied the place of his lost parent, and undertook to support young Oliver during the remaining period necessary to prepare himself to enter the Church. The kind uncle's hopes, however, were frustrated; for on applying to the bishop for orders, he was refused, probably on account of some irregularities in his conduct at college. Young Goldsmith then took the post of private tutor; but soon wearying of that occupation, he threw up the appointment in disgust. These disappointments did not wholly alienate his uncle Contarine, who now sent his nephew to London to study the law; but the money provided for this purpose the weak and unstable young man lost over the gaming table in Dublin. The same patient patron now sent him to Edinburgh to study medicine, where he gave attendance at the usual lectures; but at the end of two years he appears to have had but very small prospect of success in a line of life which demanded an amount of steady application which poor Oliver was either incapable of, or unwilling to give. : After so many failures at home, Goldsmith crossed the North Sea, and having for about a year studied chemistry and anatomy under two most able professors at Leyden, he started to make " the grand tour" on foot. During these wanderings he met with many strange scenes, companions, and adventures, some of which he reproduced in such vivid colours in his various prose and verse compositions. The following passage from his "Vicar of Wakefield " was drawn from memory rather than from imagination : "I had some knowledge of music, with a tolerable voice; and I now turned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence. I passed among the helpless peasants of Flanders, and among such of the French as were poor enough to be merry, for I ever found them sprightly in proportion to their wants. Whenever I approached a peasant's house toward nightfall, I played one of my merry tunes; and that procured me, not only a lodging, but subsistence for the next day." In this way a year was spent, during which time our once student, but now wandering minstrel, had traversed. Flanders, various States of Germany, Switzerland, the north of Italy, and some parts of France; when, hearing of the death of his uncle he returned, to England in 1756. Repairing to London, he first became usher in a private school, then assistant to an apothecary, and afterwards he practised as a physician: in all of which callings he failed, at least as regards the money returns; for he was obliged to eke out a scanty living by the proceeds of his pen. He thus became known to one or two London publishers, and was employed to write for the Monthly Review, in which periodical he produced an article on the State of Literature in Europe." Goldsmith now became known to Dr. Samuel Johnson, who was the most influential man of letters of the day, and by whom he was greatly befriended. It was when Goldsmith was under arrest for debt that Johnson, finding he had nothing to meet the demand save his manuscript of the "Vicar of Wakefield," obtained £60 for it, with which he obtained the unfortunate author's release. For such a paltry sum was one of the richest gems of fiction in our own or any language bartered. Still occasional gleams of prosperity and happiness fell upon poor Goldy, and he was never slow to enjoy them. Seldom indeed did his hard lot and scanty means so far affect him as to cut him off from the enjoyments of social life. He was ever a favourite with the wits and literati of his day. It not seldom occurred that the poet, invited to the house of some rich admirer or patron, was busy obtaining on credit or hire such attire as would make him appear the fop of the party. This weakness for gay clothing often exposed him to the ridicule even of his friends. "Poor Goldy," as he was familiarly called by his associates, died very poor, at the early age of 45. His monument stands in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, bearing a Latin inscription by his friend Dr. Johnson. EXERCISE 1.-Define :-Popular, refused, irregularities, tutor, occupation, nephew, Leyden, companions, vivid, reproduced, peasants, Flanders, fiction, bartered. EXERCISE 2.-Give a brief outline of the life of Oliver Goldsmith. |