The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-08-28
gar the g(ante Gltfle,
laWIDE AMID TENSE.
AS EASY BUT IMPORTANT LESSON FOR THE
YOUNG FOLKS.

YOUNG FOLKS.
Father was equity, and often detalnea
from the Office for weeks together. poan:-
times he was in a very pleasant anu genl-
al humor, and sometimes eNtremeiy
touehy; sometimes in mood 10 pore
over his old musty law books, sometimes
enraoed with his pen, and occasionally,
nof yerv often, indeed, disposed for ALT
tle conversation with aus three" as we
mr.. .nrenared our school tasks around the Ii
brarv table. Now and then he would
lend helping suggestion in regard to
some puzzling example in arithmetic, or
an explanatory remark on some Latin
construction, or French idiom; but he dld
not hold, he said, to getting Lessons lor
scholars, nor to the modern custom VI VI
having everything so simplltied Tor them
that:no mental effort was necessary; SO
we. generally had to solve our dlfhcuities
as we W could by continuous and patient
application: ,,oro
restless and fretful than usual. lie had
had q bad night, and kept mother awake
so much that she had gone to her room to
get an fhour's nap while we studied our
lessons and waited upon father. But he
could hardly be patient with US while we
did it, lest our skirts should swing against
his mufied feet. :;
aBei careful, girls, be CAREFUL" he cried,
deprecatiDgly, and fourishing his hands
all about him. OTIS sore all round"
We laughed at the idea, but understood
his precautionary advice, and tucked our
drapery into the very smallest possible
compass whenever we went near to hand
him anything.
aPoor papa," said Rebecca, as she
slipped behind his easy chair where there
was no danger of hurting him, and tried
to soothe him by stroking his hair and
stealthily pressing her rich led lips to the
shiny bald spot on the top of his head.
This medicine seldom failed of happy
effect.
aThank you,- dear, thank you," he said
tenderly. s"Now get your comb and
comb me to sleep for few minutes, If
you are not too busy with your books.
That comb has magnetic effect upon me,
you know"
Rebecca was never too busy to do his
bidding; and by a few passes of her soft
fingers and the favorite comb through MS
thin locks, now changing to an iron gray,
she soon had him. il not asleep, yet
eombed into quiet humor.
BY this time Maria Jane and l were
yawning over our lessons.
;."How stupid this grammar is" said
Maria Jane. 'sNothing but mode and
tense. for twenty pages here. / don't sec
see much in mode and tense; / wish there
wasn't any"
aMode and tense y spoke up father,
suddenly. sasDon't see anything in mode
and tense? All, .I'm afraid you are. @
very dull girl. Mode and tense.2 Why,
there's -everything in modo and tense"
Maria Jane blushed like a peony, not
having tho least idea that he noticed what
she said; and when he broke out so
abruptly, and yet so earnestly, she was
all ready to recant everything, and to as
sent to any proposition he might make ;
especially that she was very dull girl,
and that grammar was an immeasurably
interesting and enlivening study, particu-
hrly it's mode and tense + And she was
preparing to submit to critical catechi-
sing on verbs in general, with all their
belongings. while the apprehension Of
divers blunders flashed out from her black
eyes, when father began again.
eyes, girls he said, addressing us
collectively, to the great relief Of poor
Maria Jane, "there'sa a great deal in mode
and tense; much deep philosophy, many
profitable and practical suggestions. Do
You see how that can be Z"
We were obliged to say. we did net un-
derstand
"Well Isuppose not" said father: "But
what is meant by mode and tense Z"
All of us began at once, "Mode is the
particular form of the verb in which"
aPshaww interrupted father, "I don't
want any of your grammar book defni:
tions.. It's the general idea am after.'
We were posed and silenccd; for if
there were any other idea, particular OF
general, than the grammar book set forth,
we were guitless of it's acquisition.
aMannor and time-manner and time,
girls" cried he, impatiently; "that is the
meaning of mode and tense, in plain Eng
lish. Why, what in the world is your
schooling good for if you can't tell that
yet? Don't you see now that mode and
tense need not belong exclusively to
verbs, or even grammar itself That it
may belong just as properly to circum-
stances, events, actions, men and things,
as to language? Do you sec this! I'm
afraid not, indeed"
That we looked blank enough to con-
firm such q fear there is no doubt; but
wo had no answer to give, for we had
never dreamed of such a free translation
of those blind words "mode and tense"
aWell, well" father went on, perhaps
7 ought not to expect it at your age; but
trust the time may come when you will