Mankind is a common noun, collective, of the third person, conveying the idea of plurality, masculine gender, and objective case. 1.  A noun is the name of any person, place, or thing, that can be known or mentioned. 2.  A collective noun, or noun of multitude, is the name of many individuals together. 3.  The third person is that which denotes the person or thing merely spoken of. 4.  The plural number is that which denotes more than one. 5.  The masculine gender is that which denotes persons or animals of the male kind. 6.  The objective case is that form or state of a noun or pronoun, which usually denotes the object of a verb, participle, or preposition.

LESSON I.—­PARSING.

“Wisely, therefore, is it ordered, and agreeably to the system of Providence, that we should have nature for our instructor.”—­Kames, El. of Crit., i, 358.

“It is surprising, how quickly, and for the most part how correctly, we judge of character from external appearance.”—­Id., ib., i, 359.

“The members of a period connected by proper copulatives, glide smoothly and gently along, and are a proof of sedateness and leisure in the speaker.”—­Id., ib., ii, 33.

“Antithesis ought only to be occasionally studied, when it is naturally demanded by the comparison or opposition of objects.”—­Jamieson’s Rhet., p. 102.

“Did men always think clearly, and were they at the same time fully masters of the language in which they write, there would be occasion for few rules.”—­Ib., 102.  “Rhetoric, or oratory, is the art of speaking justly, methodically, floridly, and copiously, upon any subject, in order to touch the passions, and to persuade.”—­Bradley’s Literary Guide, p. 155.

“The more closely we follow the natural order of any subject we may be investigating, the more satisfactorily and explicitly will that subject be opened to our understanding.”—­Gurney’s Essays, p. 160.

   “Why should we doubt of that, whereof our sense
    Finds demonstration from experience? 
    Our minds are here, and there, below, above;
    Nothing that’s mortal, can so swiftly move.”—­Denham.

LESSON II.—­PARSING.

“If we can discern particularly and precisely what it is, which is most directly obedience or disobedience to the will and commands of God; what is truly morally beautiful, or really and absolutely deformed; the question concerning liberty, as far as it respects ethics, or morality, will be sufficiently decided.”—­West, on Agency, p. xiii.

“Thus it was true, historically, individually, philosophically, and universally, that they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.”—­Cox, on Christianity, p. 327.

“We refer to Jeremiah Evarts and Gordon Hall.  They had their imperfections, and against them they struggled discreetly, constantly, successfully, until they were fitted to ascend to their rest.”—­N.  Y. Observer, Feb. 2d, 1833.