off from his noble brow his
dark eyes lighted with unnatural brightness and contrasting strongly
with the pallid hue which marked him as an expectant of the dread
messenger.

[COALS FIRST BROUGHT TO LONDON A.D. 1357.]

207. With Punctuation.

The same sentence, properly pointed, and with capital letters placed;
after full-points, according to the adopted rule, may be easily read
and understood:

Death waits not for storm nor sunshine. Within a dwelling in one of
the upper streets, respectable in appearance, and furnished with
such conveniences as distinguish the habitations of those who rank
among the higher classes of society, a man of middle age lay on his
last bed, momently awaiting the final summons. All that the most
skilful medical attendance--all that love, warm as the glow that
fires an angel's bosom, could do, had been done; by day and night,
for many long weeks, had ministering spirits, such as a devoted
wife; and loving children are, done all within their power to ward
off the blow. But there he lay, his raven hair smoothed off from his
noble brow, his dark eyes lighted with unnatural brightness, and
contrasting strongly with the pallid hue which marked him as an
expectant of the dread messenger.

208. The Apostrophe '

is used to indicate the combining of two words in one,--as John's
book, instead of John, his book; or to show the omission of parts of
words, as Glo'ster, for Gloucester--tho' for though. These
abbreviations should be avoided as much as possible. Cobbett says the
apostrophe "ought to be called the mark of _laziness_ and
vulgarity." The first use, however, of which we gave an example, is a
necessary and proper one.

209. The Hyphen, or conjoiner -

is used to unite words which, though they are separate
and distinct, have so close a connection as almost to become one word,
as water-rat, wind-mill, &c. It is also used in writing and printing,
at the end of a line, to show where a word is divided and continued in
the next line. Look down the ends of the lines in this column, and you
will notice the hyphen in several places.

210. The Note of Interrogation ?

indicates that the sentence to which it is put asks a question; as,
"What is the meaning of that assertion? What am I to do?"

211. The Note of Exclamation or of admiration !

indicates su