proverb implies that if you accustom your servants or other folks, to make too frequent use of what is yours, they will think, at last, that they have acquired a right to it.

LIX.

OUTLINES IN NARRATIVE.

A simple story is here related, with outlines of the same story in different language, which the student may fill out so as to present the same story, with all the circumstances.

Examples.

When the city of Troy was taken by the Greeks, after the first fury of plunder was over, the conquerors, pitying the misfortunes of their captives caused it to be proclaimed, that every free citizen had the liberty of taking away any one thing which he valued most: upon which Æneas, neglecting every thing else, only carried away with him his household gods. The Greeks, delighted with his piety, gave him permission to carry away with him any other thing he had the greatest regard for; and immediately he took upon his shoulders his aged father, who had grown de crepit, and was carrying him out of the town. The Greeks, struck with his filial duty, gave him leave to take every thing that belonged to him; declaring that Nature itself would not suffer them to be enemies to such as shewed so great piety to the gods, and so great reverence to their parents.

The city of Troy having been captured by the Greeks, when their thirst for plunder was partly satiated, commiserating the misfortunes of their captives

they made proclamation throughout the unfortunate city that every free born citizen might select from the ruins any one thing which he prized the most. Eneas, disregarding his houses, his goods, and valuable possessions, took only his household gods. The Greeks pleased with his regard for the objects of his religious worship, gave him permission to add any other thing among his possessions to these objects of his primary regard; upon which he immediately took his aged and venerable father upon his shoulders, who, from the infirmi ties of age, was unable to escape without assistance. While the pious son wa thus carrying his father from the ruins, the Greeks, admiring his disinterested filial reverence for his helpless parent, gave him permission to add to what he had already taken, every thing that he owned, declaring that Nature itself would not permit them to be ungenerous to one who had exhibited such respect to the dead and such filial regard for the being to whom he owed his existence.

Facercises.

1.

Sir William Gascoigne was the Chief Justice of England in the reign of Henry 4th. His presence of mind and his great dignity were most nobly exhibited when the Prince of Wales determined to rescue one of his servants, who was on trial before the Judge, presumed to interrupt and even to strike the Chief Justice. Gascoigne supported the character of his station against the bold aggression, and committed the prince to prison, to await the pleasure of the King his father. The King heard of the circumstance with becoming propriety, and thanked God that he had given him a judge who knew how to administer justice, and a son who could obey it.

A painter was desirous of drawing an elephant in an unusual attitude with his trunk erect, and his mouth open; and, in order to induce the beast to show himself to more advantage, engaged a person to stand by, and throw fruit into his mouth. The person, however, partly to deceive the unsuspecting animal, often kept in his hand the fruit which he pretended to give to the elephant; who, not liking the mockery, and supposing the innocent painter to be the cause, threw out of his trunk such a quantity of water upon his paper, as entirely spoiled his sketch. and prevented him from proceeding in his work.

A gentleman, residing at Gosport, England, was, when visiting Portsmouth, usually accompanied by his dog, in the ferry-boat. One day, it so happened, that the dog lost his master somewhere in Portsmouth, and surmising that he had re-crossed the water for Gosport, sped his way to the house of a bookseller in High street, and by every possible means intimated his misfortune. "What," exclaimed the shopman, “you have lost your master, have you? Well, here is a penny, for your fare across the water." The dog snatched up the coin, ran directly to Point Beach, dropped the penny into the hand of the waterman, and was ferried across with the other passengers.

A resident at ― wherever he went

was

attended

who

missing

with him. and supposing

It chanced returned

speedily

and by

? Well

that instinct some money

Have you lost seizing

made

and paying

was conveyed

LX.

CONNECTED NARRATIVE, FROM SCATTERED FACTS.

The selection of incidents to be presented in a narration or a description, requires some taste as well as judgment. The union of such incidents in a connected narrative is not altogether a mechanical exertion. The order of time should be strictly observed. Subordinate to the order of time, is the order of the circumstances themselves. It is perhaps a good general rule, as in the case of the arrangement of the members of a sentence, to reserve the most important for the last. But the application of this rule must be submitted to the taste and judgment, as well as the design of the writer.

Exercises.

1.

[The following particulars are presented to be united in a connected narrative. The expressions may be changed, as it may be necessary to weave the circumstances together in one continued narration.]

History furnishes no parallel to the character of Washington. Washington died, after a short illness, on the 14th of December, 1799 He captured Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, in 1781.

This event established the independence of the United States.

On the 25th of December, 1776, he crossed the Delaware, and soon gained the important battles of Trenton and Princeton.

He was elected President of the United States in 1789

He was President for eight years.

He was again chosen Commander-in-chief of the American army in

1798.

His abilities were first exercised by Dinwiddie in 1753.

He was the Aid-de-camp of Gen. Braddock in 1755.

After resigning the Presidency he retired to Mount Vernon, where he devoted himself to the pursuits of agriculture.

He was born in 1732, in the county of Fairfax, in Virginia.

He was descended from an English family, which emigrated from Cheshire about 1630.

He received his education from a private tutor

2.

William Penn lost his wife in 1694, and was much afflicted by the

event.

He married again in about two years, and employed himself in travelling over Ireland as a preacher of the peculiar doctrines of his sect.

In 1699 he visited America with his wife and family, and returned to England in 1701.

He died at Rushcomb, near Twyford, in Berks, July 30th, 1718.
He was buried at Jordan, near Beaconsfield, Bucks.

His character was truly benevolent and humane, and his labors were exerted for the good of mankind.

The long prosperity of Pennsylvania furnishes the best evidence of his wisdom as a legislator.

He was born in London in 1644.

He was expelled from College on account of his religious opinions. His religious opinions differed widely from those of the Established Church.

The College was of the same religious sentiments with the Established

Church.

His father left him an estate worth 1500 pounds per annum.

Charles 2d, King of England, granted him a province of North America, then called New Netherlands; but now, from William Penn, called Pennsylvania.

When he was in College, he withdrew from the national forms of wor

hip with other students, who, like himself, had listened to the preaching of Thomas Loe, a quaker of eminence.

In 1672 he married a lady of principles similar to his own, and fixed his residence at Rickmansworth, where he labored hard to disseminate the principles of his sect both by his preachings and his writings.

In 1682 he came out to America for the first time, and laid out the city of Philadelphia, where he invited settlers from all parts of England, and held out to them a greater degree of religious liberty under his constitution than had ever before been enjoyed by any sect or people.

LXI.

NARRATION EXPANDED.*

Example.

At the battle of Philippi, Lucilius wishing to give his intimate friend Brutus an opportunity to escape, pretended himself to be Brutus, and being led before Anthony, boldly avowed the artifice. Anthony, admiring his fidelity to his friend, informed him of the death of Brutus, and offered him his friendship. Lucilius accepted the offer, and continued his faithful friend.

Same story expanded.

At the battle of Philippi, when Brutus, after the route of his army, was in danger of falling into the hands of his enemies, his bosom friend Lucilius gave him an opportunity to escape, calling out, "I am Brutus! lead me to Anthony!" Being conducted to Anthony, he spoke with great resolution: "I have employed this artifice," said he, "that Brutus might not fall alive into the hands of his enemies. The gods will never permit that fortune shall triumph so far over virtue. In spite of fortune, Brutus will always be found, dead or alive, in a situation worthy of his courage." Anthony, admiring the firmness of Lucilius, said to him, “you merit a greater recompense than it is in my power to bestow. I have been just now informed of the death of Brutus; and as your fidelity to him is now at an end, I beg earnestly to be received in his place; love me as you did him, I wish no more." Luciluis embraced the offer, engaged himself

*The plan in narrative writing is simply the statement of events in the order of their occurrence; and the expansion is the mention, with varying degrees of minuteness of their statement, of the different circumstances connected with these events, accompanied by incidental remarks and re flections.