Canute, called the Great, was a famous king of England, nine hundred years ago; glee'men, singers, minstrels; lam'preys, a rare and costly kind of fish; im pair', harm; prith'ee, I pray thee; lack'eys, servants; court'iers, gentlemen at the court; "The Jewish captain" was Joshua (see Joshua x. 12).

1. How much can you learn from the poem about the king, what kind of a man he was, how long he had reigned, etc.? 2. Which lines show that he realized that even a great king's power is limited? Read them aloud. 3. Why is the ocean called sullen? 4. Why did he never wear his golden crown again? 5. What is a gleeman? What word, meaning the same, is used to describe Orpheus in The Story of Jason? 6. Why is That in the last stanza written with a capital?

Punctuation: The Comma in a Series. What words are used in a series in the first stanza of King Canute? In the fourth stanza? Notice the use of the comma in these series.

Written Exercise. Copy the following sentences, inserting commas where they are needed:—

1. Toiling rejoicing sorrowing

Onward through life he goes. 2. Matthew Mark Luke and John Guard the bed that I lie on. 3. Joy temperance and repose

Slam the door on the doctor's nose. 4. Cæsar came saw and conquered.

5. I slip I slide I gloom I glance
Among my skimming swallows.

6. Great rats small rats lean rats brawny rats

Brown rats black rats gray rats tawny rats

Brothers sisters husbands wives

Followed the piper for their lives.

7. Ripe in wisdom was he, but patient and simple and childlike

Read the following business letters care

Written Composition. fully. Copy them exactly as they are printed, being sure to place each punctuation mark where it belongs.

THE CENTURY COMPANY,

Union Square,

New York City, N.Y.

STERN BROTHERS,
West 23d St.,

DEAR SIRS,

Inclosed you will find a post office money order for $3.00 for a year's subscription to St. Nicholas. Please begin my subscription with the new volume.

Yours truly,

400 IRVING PLACE,
ALBANY, N.Y.
Dec. 1, 1904.

New York, N.Y.

WILLIAM REED.

1140 AMSTERDAM Avenue,

NEW YORK, N.Y.
Dec. 22, 1904.

DEAR SIRS,

Please send me as promptly as possible 5 yards of serge like the sample inclosed. Send the goods C.O.D. and oblige

Yours truly,

(Mrs.) MARY C. SCOTT.

You will notice that Mrs. in the signature of the second letter is inclosed in a parenthesis. Why is this? How does the complimentary close of these letters differ from the complimentary close of friendly letters?

Write a letter to some coal dealer in your town, either inquiring the price of coal or ordering some. Do not forget that the business man's address, as well as your own, is necessary. Tell him definitely what kind of coal you want and how much and when. Read these class letters aloud, and decide who has written the clearest and most businesslike one.

M.

A.M.

P.M.

B.C.

A.D.

In writing business letters, in addressing envelopes, etc., it is customary to abbreviate certain words. Those most often abbreviated are given below. Study them until you can write them from dictation. Notice that an abbreviation always ends with a pericd, and that it usually begins with a capital letter.

ABBREVIATIONS IN COMMON USE

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

May, June, July, are not ab

breviated.

5

10

15

20

40

TUBAL CAIN

OLD Tubal Cain was a man of might,

In the days when the earth was young;
By the fierce red light of his furnace bright,
The strokes of his hammer rung:

And he lifted high his brawny hand

On the iron glowing clear,

Till the sparks. rushed out in scarlet showers,
As he fashioned the sword and the spear.
And he sang: "Hurrah for
"Hurrah for my handiwork!

Hurrah for the Spear and the Sword!

Hurrah for the hand that shall wield them well,
For he shall be king and lord!"

To Tubal Cain came many a one,

As he wrought by his roaring fire,

And each one prayed for a strong steel blade
As the crown of his desire.

And he made them weapons sharp and strong,
Till they shouted loud for glee,

And gave him gifts of pearls and gold,
And spoils of the forest free.

And they sang: "Hurrah for Tubal Cain,
Who hath given us strength anew!
Hurrah for the smith, hurrah for the fire,
And hurrah for the metal true!"

But a sudden change came o'er his heart,

Ere the setting of the sun,

And Tubal Cain was filled with pain

For the evil he had done;

He saw that men, with rage and hate,

Made war upon their kind;

That the land was red with the blood they shed,
In their lust for carnage blind.

And he said: "Alas! that ever I made,

Or that skill of mine should plan,

The spear and the sword for men whose joy
Is to slay their fellow-man!"

And for many a day old Tubal Cain
Sat brooding o'er his woe;

And his hand forbore to smite the ore,
And his furnace smoldered low.
But he rose at last with a cheerful face.
And a bright, courageous eye,

And bared his strong right arm for work,
While the quick flames mounted high.
And he sang: "Hurrah for my handiwork!"
As the red sparks lit the air;

"Not alone for the blade was the bright steel made,”
As he fashioned the first plowshare.

And men, taught wisdom from the past,
In friendship joined their hands,