The knowledge that pupils usually have of pronunciation, will enable them, in most cases, to determine which syllable of a word should have the greatest force or stress of utterance upon it; but, in cases where there is doubt, reference must be made to the dictionary, in which the accented syllables are all marked.

NOTE. The meaning of a word is sometimes changed by changing the place of accent.

[Let the student point out, or name each word in the following exercise, having the accent on the first syllable; as in Soc'ra-tes, vi'o-lent, &c.]

1. Leander, the eldest son of Socrates, a fell into a violent passion with his mother. Socrates was witness to this shameful misbehavior, and attempted the correction of it, in the following gentle and rational manner:

2. "Come hither, son," said he; "have you never heard of men who are called ungrateful?" "Yes, frequently," answered the youth. "And what is ingratitude?" demanded Socrates. "It is to receive a kindness," said Leander, "without making a proper return, when there is a favorable

• Socrates, a celebrated heathen philosopher, who was put to death by the Athenians, on a false charge of atheism, 400, B. C.

opportunity." "Ingratitude is, therefore, a species of injus tice," said Socrates.

3. "I should think so," answered Leander. "If, then," pursued Socrates, "ingratitude be injustice, does it not follow, that the degree of it must be proportionate to the magnitude of the favors which have been received?" Leander admitted the inference; and Socrates thus pursued his interrogations. "Can there subsist higher obligations than those which children owe to their parents, from whom life is derived and supported, and by whose good offices it is rendered honorable, useful, and happy?"

4. "I acknowledge the truth of what you say," replied Leander, "but who could suffer, without resentment, the ill-humors of such a mother as I have?" "What strange thing has she done to you?" said Socrates. "She has a tongue," replied Leander, "that no mortal can bear." "How much more," said Socrates, "has she endured from your wrangling, fretfulness, and incessant cries, in the period of infancy! What anxieties has she suffered from the levities, capriciousness, and follies, of your childhood and youth! What affliction has she felt, what toil and watching has she sustained, your illness!

in

5. "These, and various other powerful motives to filial duty and gratitude, have been recognized by the legislators of our republic. For if any one be disrespectful to his parents, he is not permitted to enjoy any post of trust or honor. It is believed that a sacrifice, offered by an impious hand, can neither be acceptable to heaven, nor profitable to the state; and that an undutiful son cannot be capable of performing any great action, or of executing justice with impartiality. Therefore, my son, if be wise, you you will pray to Heaven to pardon the offenses committed against your mother.

6. "Let no one discover the contempt with which you have treated her; for the world will condemn, and abandon you for such behavior. And if it be even suspected, that you repay with ingratitude the good offices of your parents, you will inevitably forego the kindness of others; because no man will suppose that you have a heart to requite either his favors or his friendship."

7. HOME! 'tis the sacred depot of all that man holds dear in earthly existence- the blessed spot where the unalloyed affections of the heart take root, spring up and flourish. Home! 't is where innocence and childhood, untainted by crime, and uncontaminated with the follies of the world, can luxuriate in the consciousness of chastity and goodness. Home! 't is where the love of the devoted wife is hallowed by a faithful discharge of those marital duties which enchain the husband of her choice in the heavenly bond of unity. Home! 't is that endeared bright speck on the heart of man wherever he may

roam.

EXERCISE II.

ORIGINAL THINKING.-H. EATON.

[In the following exercise, the pupil may point out such words as are accented on the second syllable; as in mys-te'-ri-ous, unless' &c.]

1. The principle by which mind acts on mind, is mysterious and inexplicable. The fact is obvious, that the world is ruled by mental power. There are intellectual as well as physical forces. A strong mind when encountering a weaker, will as naturally move it, as a strong force in the material world will overcome a weaker. It is an old adage, passed into an unquestioned axiom, that "Knowledge is power." This is

but a partial and imperfect expression of a great truth. Knowledge is not power, unless wielded by an intelligent agent, who knows how to use and apply it.

2. A man may have stuffed into his head all the contents of the Bodlean Library, and his memory may be the treasurehouse of all the facts in science, and yet be comparatively a weak man, who may pass through the world and die, without permanently influencing or changing the course of any individual. A mere acquaintance with facts, however extensive, does not give power. It is the comprehension of principles, and the ability to apply them in the varied circumstances in which he may be placed, which make a strong man intellectually.

3. Now a principle cannot be apprehended without thought. We may confidently assert, that mental power is generally obtained by hard thinking; and he alone possesses it, who has been accustomed to bring the power of his understanding to bear with such intensity of heat upon the subjects submitted to its action, as either to dissipate them in thin air, if they are intrinsically worthless, or to fuse them, and remold them. into forms better suited to his purpose.

4. Such a man will be strong in himself; his power over others is irresistible. While esisting or modifying all influences, however mighty and sweeping, coming in upon him from abroad, he sends out a strong and modifying influence over the exciting elements raging around him. He is himself an original source of influence. He stands firmly upon the adamantine rock of his own clear convictions, against which the turbulent waves of human opinion dash harmlessly, and break, and foam, and retire.

Bodlean Library, in Oxford, England, said to number from 250,000 to 500,000 volumes c books, and about 30,000 manuscripts.

5. But from this immovable stand, he utters a voice which the elements hear and obey. Such a man, with respect to other men, is neither planetary nor reflective, but fixed and self-luminous. He pours a light abroad from the living fountains of his own intelligence. Who does not envy power like this? It is truly the only power worth desiring or possessing.

6. What true dignity and sublimity encircles the brow of the mighty ruler of mind! Olympian Jove, shaking the material heavens and earth with his nod, and hurling his thunders upon the aghast and discomfited giants, does not, with half that kingly majesty, dilate our strong conception, as a simple man, swaying to and fro a vast multitude of intelligent minds by the breath of his lofty eloquence, and demolishing, the citadels of error by the might of his irresistible logic.

EXERCISE III.

The Primary and Secondary Accents.

Besides the primary accent, which has been illustrated in the preceding exercises, there is another kind that usually occurs in words of more than two syllables, called the secondary accent. It is less forcible than the primary, and is marked thus (";) as in com"po-si'tion.

In this exercise, let the pupil point out the words having

QUESTIONS. What kind of accent has been illustrated in the two preceding exercises? What other kind have some words? How is secondary accent distinguished from the primary? How is it marked? What is the design of exercise third ?