ittle workman.

[Illustration]

LESSON LVIII.

_The Comma._

THE COMMA is a mark like this =,=

When you come to a comma in reading, you must generally make a short
pause. Sometimes you must use the falling inflection of the voice, when
you come to a comma; and sometimes you must keep your voice suspended,
as if some one had stopped you before you had read all that you
intended. The general rule, when you come to a comma, is, to stop just
long enough to count one.

EXAMPLES.

Diligence, industry, and proper improvement of time, are material duties
of the young.

He is generous, just, charitable, and humane.

By wisdom, by art, by the united strength of a civil community, men have
been enabled to subdue the whole race of lions, bears, and serpents.

[Sometimes a comma must be read like a question.]

Do you pretend to sit as high in school as Anthony? Did you read as
correctly, articulate as distinctly, speak as loudly, or behave as
well, as he?

Did he recite his lesson correctly, read audibly, and appear to
understand what he read?

Was his copy written neatly, his letters made handsomely, and did no
blot appear on his book?

Was his wealth stored fraudfully, the spoil of orphans wronged, and
widows who had none to plead their rights?

Have not you, too, gone about the earth like an evil genius, blasting
the fair fruits of peace and industry?

Is that a map which you have before you, with the leaves blotted with
ink?

Will you say that your time is your own, and that you have a right to
employ it in the manner you please?

[Sometimes a comma is to be read like a period, with
the falling inflection of the voice.]

The teacher directed him to take his seat, to study his lesson, and to
pass no more time in idleness.

It is said by unbelievers that religion is dull, unsocial, uncharitable,
enthusiastic, a damper of human joy, a morose intruder upon human
pleasure.

Charles has brought his pen instead of his pencil, his paper instead of
his slate, his grammar instead of his arithmetic.

Perhaps you have mistaken sobriety for dullness, equanimity for
moroseness, disinclination to bad company for aversion to society,
abhorrence of vice for uncharitableness, and piety for enthusiasm.

Henry was careless, thoughtless, heedless, and inattentive.

[Sometimes the comma is to be read like an
exclamation.]

O, how can you destroy those beautiful things which your