Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/506

 SOUTHERN LIFE IN SOUTHERN LITERATURE contraction of the words a by itself, a. It was usual, when either of the vowels constituted a syllable of a word, to pronounce it, and denote its independent character by the words just mentioned, thus: a by it self &amp;lt;2, c-o-r-n, corn, acorn. The character which stands for the word and (&) was probably pronounced by the same accompaniment but in terms borrowed from the Latin language, thus: & per se (by itself) &. Hence anpersants." Mrs. Trollope: an English writer who, after visiting the United States, wrote a very grossly exaggerated and unfavorable account of the American people. school-butter: the author s note on this expres sion is as follows: "I have never been able to satisfy myself clearly as to the literal meaning of these terms. They were considered an unpar donable insult to a country school, and always justified an attack by the whole fraternity upon the person who used them in their hearing."

QUESTIONS, i. What characteristics of the schoolmaster are brought

out? of the boys? 2. Comment on the democratic relation of school master and pupils shown by this incident.

WILLIAM TAPPAN THOMPSON

The selection here given is from "Major Jones s Courtship," which consists of a series of letters describing the courtship of Mary Stallings by Major Joseph Jones, who is a typical countryman and small planter of the middle class in Georgia a vigorous and uneducated product of plantation life. Although both Mary and the Major are tenderly inclined towards each other and the old folks are willing to the match, yet it is only after various amusing situations that their love attains a happy cul mination. The book is natural and faithful in its picture of country life in more primitive times, and is full of lively and wholesome humor.

MAJOR JONES S COURTSHIP (PAGE 170)

Miss Carline and Miss Kesiah: older sisters of the Major s sweet heart, Mary Stallings, whose widowed mother owns the plantation ad joining the Major s. old Miss Stallins: Mary Stallings s mother. The designation "Mrs." is often pronounced Miss among country peo ple in the South. jice: joist. ager: ague, chill. Cato: a common name for negroes.

QUESTIONS, i. Give in your own words an account of the incident.

2. Comment on the character of the humor.