McGuffeys Sixth Eclectic Reader | Page 5

W.H. McGuffey
be dropped or incorrectly sounded are italicized.
He attended divine service regularly.
This is my particular request.
She is universally esteemed.
George is sensible of his fault.
This calculation is incorrect.
What a terrible calamity.
His eye through vast immensity can pierce.
Observe these nice dependencies.
He is a formidable adversary.
He is generous to his friends.
A tempest desolated the land.
He preferred death to servitude.
God is the author of all things visible and invisible.

3. Suppressing the final subvocals or aspirates.
EXAMPLE (16)
John an' James are frien's o' my father.
Gi' me some bread.
The want o' men is occasioned by the want o' money.
We seldom fine' men o' principle to ac' thus.
Beas' an' creepin' things were foun' there.

EXERCISES. (17)
He learned to write.
The masts of the ship were cast down.
He entered the lists at the head of his troops.
He is the merriest fellow in existence.
I regard not the world's opinion.
He has three assistants.
The depths of the sea.
She trusts too much to servants.
His attempts were fruitless.
He chanced to see a bee hovering over a flower.
4. Omitting or mispronouncing whole syllables.
EXAMPLES.
Correct is improperly pronounced
Lit'er-ar-ry lit-rer-ry
co-tem'po-ra-ry co-tem-po-ry
het-er-o-ge'ne-ous het-ro-ge-nous
in-quis-i-to'ri-al in-quis-i-to-ral
mis'er-a-ble mis-rer-ble
ac-com'pa-ni-ment ac-comp-ner-ment
EXERCISE
He devoted his attention chiefly to literary pursuits.
He is a miserable creature.
His faults were owing to the degeneracy of the times.
The manuscript was undecipherable.
His spirit was unconquerable.
Great industry was necessary for the performance of the task.

5. Blending the end of one word with the beginning of the next.
EXAMPLES
I court thy gif sno more.
The grove swere God sfir stemples.
My hear twas a mirror, that show' devery treasure.
It reflecte deach beautiful blosso mof pleasure.
Han d'me the slate.
This worl dis all a fleeting show,
For man' sillusion given.
EXERCISES. (18)
The magistrates ought to arrest the rogues speedily.
The whirlwinds sweep the plain.
Linked to thy side, through every chance I go.
But had he seen an actor in our days enacting Shakespeare.
What awful sounds assail my ears?
We caught a glimpse of her.
Old age has on their temples shed her silver frost.
Our eagle shall rise mid the whirlwinds of war,
And dart through the dun cloud of battle his eye.
Then honor shall weave of the laurel a crown,
That beauty shall bind on the brow of the brave.

II. INFLECTION. (18)
Inflection is a bending or sliding of the voice either upward or downward.
The upward or rising inflection is an upward slide of the voice, and is marked by the acute accent, thus, ('); as,
Did you call'? Is he sick'?
The downward or falling inflection is a downward slide of the voice, and is marked by the grave accent, thus, ('); as,
Where is London'? Where have you been'?
Sometimes both the rising and falling inflections are given to the same sound. Such sounds are designated by the circumflex, thus, (v) or thus, (^). The former is called the rising circumflex; the latter, the falling circumflex; as,
But nobody can bear the death of Clodius.
When several successive syllables are uttered without either the upward or downward slide, they are said to be uttered in a monotone, which is marked thus, (--); as,
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean--roll
EXAMPLES. (19)
Does he read correctly' or incorrectly'?
In reading this sentence, the voice should slide somewhat as represented in the following diagram:
Does he read cor-rectly or incorrect-ly?
If you said vinegar, I said sugar,
To be read thus:
If you said vinegar, I said sugar,
If you said yes, I said no.
To be read thus:
If you said yes, I said no.
What! did he say no?
To be read thus:
What! did he say no?
He did'; he said no',
To be read thus;
He did; he said no.
Did he do it voluntarily', or involuntarily'?
To be read thus:
Did he do it voluntarily, or involuntarily?
He did it voluntarily', not involuntarily',
To be read thus:
He did it voluntarily, not involuntarily.

EXERCISES. (20)
Do they act prudently', or imprudently'?
Are they at home', or abroad'?
Did you say Europe', or Asia'?
Is he rich', or poor'?
He said pain', not pain'.
Are you engaged', or at leisure'?
Shall I say plain', or pain'?
He went home' not abroad'.
Does he say able', or table'?
He said hazy' not lazy'?
Must I say flat', or flat'?
You should say flat' not flat'.
My father', must I stay'?
Oh! but he paused upon the brink.
It shall go hard with me, but I shall use the weapon.
Heard ye those loud contending waves,
That shook Cecropia's pillar'd state'?
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
Look up', and tremble at your fate'?

First' Fear', his hand, its skill to try',
Amid the chords bewildered laid';
And back recoiled', he knew not why'
E'en at the sound himself had made'.
Where be your gibes' now? your gambols'? your songs'? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar'?
Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; "I dwell in the high and holy place."

FALLING INFLECTION. (21)
RULE I.--Sentences, and parts of sentences which make complete sense in themselves, require the falling inflection.
EXAMPLES. (21)
1. By virtue we secure happiness'.
2. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven': I will exalt my throne above the stars of God':
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code

 / 165
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.