have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained,-we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms, and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us. 8. They tell us, sir, we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? 9. Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God, who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. strong alone; it is to Besides, sir, we have 10. The battle, sir, is not to the the vigilant, the active, the brave. no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains are, forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable; and, let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come! 11. It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may.cry, "Peace, peace;" but there is no peace. The war has actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that the gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains. and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but, as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! PATRICK HENRY. 37. THE CONSTITUTION AND UNION. Mark this extract for inflection and emphasis, and then require the boys of the class to memorize it for declamation. 1. For myself, I propose, sir, to abide by the principles and the purposes which I have avowed. I shall stand by the Union, and by all who stand by it. I shall do justice to the whole country, according to the best of my ability, in all I say, and act for the good of the whole country in all I do. I mean to stand upon the Constitution. I need no other platform. I shall know but one country. 2. The ends I aim at shall be my country's, my God's, and Truth's. I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me in that character to the end of my career. I mean to do this, with the absolute disregard of personal consequences. 3. What are personal consequences? What is the individual man, with all the good or evil that may betide him, in comparison with the good or evil which may befall a great country in a crisis like this, and in the midst of great transactions which concern that country's fate? Let the consequences be what they will. I am careless. No man can suffer too much, and no man can fall too soon, if he suffer or if he fall in defense of the liberties and Constitution of his country. WEBSTER. VII. VOCAL TRAINING.-PRONUNCIATION. Good pronunciation depends largely on the fullness and purity with which the vowel sounds are given. The marked provincialisms in our country, consist chiefly in the peculiar shades of sound given to certain vowels. The school is the proper place for training pupils to correct the faults of home or society pronunciation. It is the object of the following drill exercises to train the ear to the correct sound; the voice to correct enunciation; and the eye, to the meaning and use of the diacritical marks in the dictionary. In the following words give a its full, open, Italian sound. The teacher should first pronounce each word, and require the class to repeat, in concert, after him. |