The Walnut1., Two children found a walnut under a large tree 2 near their village. "It is mine," said Charles, "because it was I who saw it first." "No, it belongs to me," replied Anthony, "for it was 13 who picked it up." Thereupon 5 a quarrel arose between them 6. "I will bring you to an agreement7," said a young man who was just passing by 8. He placed himself between the two children. broke the walnut and said to them: "One of the shells belongs to him who saw the walnut first, the other is for the one who picked it up; as to the kernel, I will keep it in payment for the decision I have given 10. This,” added he, laughing, "is the usual issue 11 of lawsuits 12." 7 5 8 1 la noix; 2 arbre; 3 c'est moi; l'ai ramassée ; là-dessus; 6 une querelle s'engage entre eux; vous mettre d'accord; par là; coquilles ; pour prix du jugement que j'ai porté ; dénouement habituel; procès. 9 10 12 11 A Slow Poison1. A physician was trying to prove before Fontenelle that coffee was 2 a slow poison. Ah! very slow, doctor," replied the academician; “for I have been taking it eighty years, and I am still living 3.' Study and conjugate an impersonal verb. Study and conju gate a passive verb. Bypar, de (de for feelings). I am loved by my mother. He is punished by his father. Je suis aimé de ma mère. Il est puni par son père. Verbs essentially unipersonal take avoir as an auxiliary. Verbs occasionally unipersonal take être as an auxiliary. Are you acquainted with General Connaissez-vous le général M. ? M.? I became acquainted with him J'ai fait sa connaissance derlately. To know how to do a thing. That child knows how (can) to read. I know how to swim. nièrement. Savoir faire une chose. Cet enfant sait lire. Je sais nager. EXAMPLES. Does it not snow? he is ruined. Ne neige-t-il pas ? J'ai fait sa connaissance hier soir. What has become of those two little Que sont devenues ces deux I'll take you to my shoemaker's, Je vous conduirai chez mon cor What has become of our cabinet- Qu'est devenu le fils de notre maker's son? He has turned hatter. He now knows how to make hats. ébéniste ? Il s'est fait chapelier. Maintenant il sait faire les chapeaux. CONVERSATION. M. E. n'est-il pas fabricant? Que sont devenus ses deux fils? Pourriez-vous m'indiquer (tell) un bon papetier? Où pourrais-je trouver de bons gants? Votre cousin n'est-il pas dentiste? Notre domestique ne s'est-il pas fait forgeron? Que deviendrez-vous si vous n'étudiez pas? Que deviendront ces hommes s'ils ne travaillent pas du tout? Pensez-vous qu'il pleuve aujourd'hui ? A-t-il gelé la nuit dernière? Qu'est devenu votre vieil ami J.? Quand avez-vous fait sa connaissance? Votre petite fille sait-elle écrire ? Sait-elle lire le français? Connaissez-vous ce bijoutier ? Pourriez-vous m'indiquer un bon relieur? 9. I am going to my architect's; do you wish to accompany me? I should go with pleasure, but I have to be at the printer's at three o'clock; so that I can not have the pleasure of going with you.-I need a hat; will you be so kind as to give me the address (adresse) of your hatter? Here it is. — What has become of your gray hat? It has fallen into the river (rivière). Did it not thunder about (vers) midday? It thundered for (pendant) half an hour, and it hailed. What has become of the three Englishmen who were at your house? They have left for (pour) Nice. - Do you know whether your cabinetmaker has some good arm-chairs to sell? He always has some to sell. Let us go and see him; have you time? Don't you see it snows? That will not prevent us from going out; let us take our umbrellas. Have you become acquainted with Mrs. C.? Yes, and we are to go to her house, my wife and I; (on) they are to (y) dance. What has become of her son Anthony? He is in England, to learn English. — Has he been there long? About four months. It is said that it rains very often in England. It is true; and sometimes it rains very long. - Henry is liked by every body. - Charles has been punished by his professor. — I have several books to be bound (à faire relier); will you be kind enough to send for the bookbinder? Paul, go to the bookbinder's, and tell him to come for Mr. V.'s books. - Does he charge much (est-il cher)? No; and he binds very well. Napoleon and the Prussian Officer'. While Napoleon was only an officer of artillery, a Prussian officer said in his presence, with much self-conceit 2: "The Prussians never fight3 but for glory, while the French fight for money." "You are right," answered Bonaparte; "every one fights to acquire what he needs." 1 officier; 2 de suffisance; 3 4 An Obliging Offer'. A man having had a quarrel in a theater with a very proud young nobleman2, the latter threatened to have his servants give him twenty blows3. "Sir," said the first, "I have no servants, but if you will step out, I will have the honor of giving them to you myself." I offre ; 2 gentilhomme; 3 4 SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVE. 1. The Adjective has, of itself, neither gender nor number; but it assumes the gender and number of the noun to which it relates. 2. An adjective relating to two substantives of the same gender agrees with them in gender, and is put in the plural; as: My husband and my son are tall. Mon mari et mon fils sont grands. My wife and my daughter are very Ma femme et ma fille sont trèshappy. heureuses. 3. An adjective relating to two or more nouns of different genders is put in the masculine plural; as: Mary, Caroline, and Charles are fatigued. Our house and garden are large. Marie, Caroline, et Charles sont fatigués. Notre maison et notre jardin sont grands. 4. However, the adjective assumes the gender and number of the last noun only when the nouns are somewhat synonymous; when the writer wishes to qualify only the last; when the mind is more particularly occupied with the last noun; when there is a gradation in the words; and usually when the nouns are separated by ou; as: |