McGuffeys Sixth Eclectic Reader | Page 9

perfection in the Creator.
REMARK.--Some elocutionists prefer to give the falling inflection to
the last member of a commencing series.
Exception.--In a commencing series, forming a climax, the last term
usually requires the falling inflection.
EXAMPLES. (29)
1. Days', months', years', and ages', shall circle away, And still the vast
waters above thee shall roll.
2. Property', character', reputation', everything', was sacrificed.
3. Toils', sufferings', wounds', and death' was the price of our liberty.

RULE X.--All the members of a concluding series, when not at all
emphatic, usually require the falling inflection.
EXAMPLES. (29)
1. It is our duty to pity', to support', to defend', and to relieve' the
oppressed.
2. At the sacred call of country, they sacrifice property', ease', health',
applause' and even life'.
3. I protest against this measure as cruel', oppressive', tyrannous', and
vindictive'.
4. God was manifest in the flesh', justified in the Spirit', seen of angels',
preached unto the Gentiles', believed on in the world', received up into
glory'.
5. Charity vaunteth not itself', is not puffed up', doth not behave itself
unseemly', seeketh not her own', is not easily provoked', thinketh no
evil'; beareth' all things, believeth' all things, hopeth' all things,
endureth' all things.
REMARK.--Some authors give the following rule for the reading of a
concluding series: "All the particulars of a concluding series, except the
last but one, require the falling inflection." Exception l.--When the
particulars enumerated in a concluding series are not at all emphatic, all
except the last require the rising inflection.
EXAMPLES (30)
He was esteemed for his kindness', his intelligence', his self-denial', and
his active benevolence'.
Exception 2.--When all the terms of a concluding series are strongly
emphatic, they all receive the falling inflection.
EXAMPLES. (30)

1. They saw not one man', not one woman', not one child', not one
four-footed beast'.
2. His hopes', his happiness', his life', hung upon the words that fell
from those lips,
3. They fought', they bled', they died', for freedom.

PARENTHESIS. (30)
RULE XI.--A parenthesis should be read more rapidly and in a lower
key than the rest of the sentence, and should terminate with the same
inflection that next precedes it. If, however, it is complicated, or
emphatic, or disconnected from the main subject, the inflections must
be governed by the same rules as in the other cases.
REMARK.--A smooth and expressive reading of a parenthesis is
difficult of acquisition, and can be secured only by careful and
persistent training.
EXAMPLES. (30)
1. God is my witness' (whom I serve with my spirit, in the gospel of his
Son'), that, without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my
prayers; making request' (if, by any means, now at length, I might have
a prosperous journey by the will of God'), to come unto you.
2. When he had entered the room three paces, he stood still; and laying
his left hand upon his breast' (a slender, white staff with which he
journeyed being in his right'), he introduced himself with a little story
of his convent.
3. If you, AEschines, in particular, were persuaded' (and it was no
particular affection for me, that prompted you to give up the hopes, the
appliances, the honors, which attended the course I then advised; but
the superior force of truth, and your utter inability to point any course
more eligible') if this was the case, I say, is it not highly cruel and

unjust to arraign these measures now, when you could not then propose
a better?
4. As the hour of conflict drew near' (and this was a conflict to be
dreaded even by him'), he began to waver, and to abate much of his
boasting.

CIRCUMFLEX. (31)
RULE XII.--The circumflex is used to express irony, sarcasm,
hypothesis, or contrast.
NOTE.--For the reason that the circumflex always suggests a double or
doubtful meaning, it is appropriate for the purposes expressed in the
rule. It is, also, frequently used in sportive language; jokes and puns are
commonly given with this inflection.
EXAMPLES. (31)
1. Man never is, but always to be, blest.
2. They follow an adventurer whom they fear; we serve a monarch
whom we love. They boast, they come but to improve our state, enlarge
our thoughts, and free us from the yoke of error. Yes, they will give
enlightened freedom to our minds, who are themselves the slaves of
passion, avarice, and pride. They offer us their protection: yes, such
protection as vultures give to lambs, covering and devouring them.

MONOTONE. (32)
RULE XIII.--The use of the monotone is confined chiefly to grave and
solemn subjects. When carefully and properly employed, it gives great
dignity to delivery.
EXAMPLES. (32)

1. The unbeliever! one who can gaze upon the sun, and moon, and stars,
and upon the unfading and imperishable