CAPITALS.

Capitals should be used in the following cases:

1. At the beginning of any writing, book, chapter, paragraph, and at the beginning of every line in poetry.

2. The first word after a period or full-stop also, the pronoun I, and interjection O!

3. The names applied to the Deity; as God, Jehovah, Almighty, Lord, Eternal: also, to proper names; as George, London, the Alps, the Thames, the Victory, (the name of a ship,) England, France.

4. Adjectives derived from proper names; as Grecian Roman, English, Italian.

5. Words of importance; as, the Reformation, the Revo lution.

THE MARKS AND STOPS USED IN READING.

The six principal ones are the following :—

POETRY.

ODE ON PROVIDENCE.

ADDISON.

How are thy servants blest, O Lord,
How sure is their defence;
Eternal Wisdom is their guide;
Their help Omnipotence.

In foreign realms and lands remote,
Supported by thy care,

Through burning climes I pass'd unhurt,
And breath'd in tainted air.

Thy mercy sweeten'd ev'ry toil,
Made ev'ry region please,
The hoary Alpine hills it warm'd,
And smooth'd the Tyrrhene seas.

Think, O my soul, devoutly think,
How, with affrighted eyes,
Thou saw'st the wide extended deep
In all its horrors rise.

Confusion dwelt in ev'ry face,

And fear in ev'ry heart,

When waves on waves, and gulfs on gulfs,

O'ercame the pilot's art.

Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord,

Thy mercy set me free,

Whilst, in the confidence of pray'r,

My soul took hold on thee.

For though in dreadful whirls we hung,
High on the broken wave,

I knew Thou wast not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

The storm was laid, the winds retir'd, Obedient to thy will;

The sea, that roar'd at thy command, At thy command was still.

In midst of dangers, fears, and death, Thy goodness I'll adore;

And praise Thee for thy mercies past,
And humbly hope for more.

My life, if Thou preserv'st my life,
Thy sacrifice shall be;

And death, if death must be my doom,
Shall join my soul to Thee.

SPEAK GENTLY.

ANON.

SPEAK gently-it is better far
To rule by love than fear :
Speak gently-let no harsh word mar
The good we might do here!

Speak gently-love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind!
And gently friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child,
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild:
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young, for they

Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this life as best they may, "Tis full of anxious care!