The Shasta courier., 1867-09-21
SH ASIA COURIER
MODE AND TENSE.
A GOOD STORY.

A GOOD STORY.
Father was equity, and often detained
from the Office for weeks together. Some
times he was in very pleasant and genial
humOr, and sometimes extremely touchy
sometimes in mood to pour over his musty
old law books, sometimes engaged with his
pen, and occasionally, not very often indeed,
disposed for little conversation with Gus
three" as we prepared our school tasks
around the library table. Now and then he
would lend US a helping suggestion in regard
to some puzzling example in arithmetic, or
an explanatory remark on some Latin con-
struction or French idiom, but he did not
hold, he said, to getting lessons for scholars,
nor to the modern custom of having every.
thing so simplifed for them that no mental
effort was necessary; so we generally had
to solve our difficulties as best we could, by
continuous and patient application.
One morning the poor man was more rest
less and fretful than usual. He had bad
night and kept mother awake so much that
she had gone to her room to get an hour s
nap while we studied our lessons and wait.
ed upon father. But he could hardly be
patient with us wAile we did it, lest our
skirts should swing against his muffled
feet
- Be careful, girls, be careful" he cried,
deprecatingly, and his hands all about
him. Its sore all round here.n
We laughed at the idea, but understood
his precautionary device, and tucked our
drapery into the very smallest possible com.
pass whenever we went to hand him any,
thing.
- Poor papa" said Rebecca, as she Slip
ped behind his easy chair where there was
no danger of him, and tried to soothe him bv
stroking his hair, and stealthily pressing her
rich red lips to the shiny bald spot on the top
of his head
This medicine seldom failed of a happy
effect.
THANK you, dear, thank you," he said
tenderly. Now get your comb and comb
me to sleep for a few minutes, if you're not
too busy with your books. That comb has
a magnetic effect upon me, you know"
Rebecca was never too busy TO do his bid
ding. and by few passes of her soft fingers
and the favorite comb through his thin locks,
now changed to an iron gray. she soon
had him. if not asleep, combed into quiet
humor
By this time Maria Jane and l were
vawning.
" How stupid this grammar is" said
Maria Jane. Nothing but mode and
tense, mode and tense, for twenty pages
here. don't see much in mode and tense );
| wish there wasn't any,"
"Mode and tenseP' spoke up my father
suddenly. Don't see anything in mode
and tense? am afraid you are very dull
girl. Mode and tense? Why, there's every.
thing in mode and tense !"
Maria Jane blushed like a peony, not
having the least idea that he noticed what
she said and when he broke out so abrupt.
ly. and so earnestly, she was all ready to
recant everything, and to assent to any
propo ition he might make especially that
she was very dull girl, and that grammar
was an immeasurably interesting and en-.
livening study, particularly its department
of mode and tense and she was preparing
to submit to critical catechism on verbs in
general, with all their belongings while the
apprehension of divers blunders flashed out
from her black eyes, when father began
again.
You, girls" he said, addressing us col
lectively, to the great relief of poor Mary
Jane, - there's a great deal in mode and
tense much deep philosophy, many profit
how that can be?"
We were obliged to say we did not under.
stand
"Well, Isuppose not" said father. " But
what is meant by mode and tense?"
All of us began at once:
Mode is the particular form of the verb
in which"
"Pshaw y interrupted he. 81 don't
want any of your grammar book definitions
It's the general idea | am after"
We were posed and silenced for if there
were any other idea, particular or general,
than the grammar book sets forth, we were
guiltless of its acquisition.
Manner and time, manner and time
girls" cried he, impatiently 50 that's the
meaning of mode and tense, in plain Eng
lish. Why, what in the world is all 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 circumstances, events, actions,
men and things. as to language? Do you
not see this? I'm afraid not"
That we looked blank enough to confirm
such fear there is no doubt; but we had no
answer to give, for we had never dreamed
OF such free translation of those words
" mode and tense"
Well, we'll, father went on, "perbans
| ought not to expect it at your age: but 7
trust the time will come when YOU will he
able to perceive and apply principles wbetb.
er found IN books or anywhere else: in
short, to generalize, aud not to be forever
examining your heads with particulars and
details. But now, as have sadly pernlered
you all, | must tell you q story to make mn
for it, as well as to illustrate the importance
of mode and tense according to nv more on.
larged application of it. Aha that briobt.
ems you up at once, | see. WE'LL shut un
your grammars, and you, Rebecca, lust
move my footstep a little; mind you don't
touch my toes. Mercy Well, / suppose
you couldn't help it. Oh -"
Did l hurt you, dear papa ?" said Re-
becca. piteously; g tried not to, indeed y
Il know it," answered the father kindly ::
" and now pay attention and I'll tell you nv
story of mode and tense; it is a short one.
but it is all true, and affords very inter.
esting reminiscence to your father"