How to parse. ...

106

PREPARATORY [Par. 153, 154.

was;" so we place "little boy" last, and put in
the word "there," not to mean "in that place,"
but simply to make us feel that something is
coming: -
" Once there was a little boy."
When there is thus used, you may say " it prepares the way for the Subject, and is a Preparatory
Adverb."
EXERCISE XXVI. (SPECIMEN).
State the Subjects and Objects of the italicized
Verbs, and parse the italicized Nouns in the following Exercise: -
I53 Once there was a stag in a forest. Looking one day at the
reflection of his antlers in the water, he thought himself
the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, till his eyes
fell on the long, slim, shadows of his legs. " Why,"
cried he, " has not Providence made all my limbs ornaments to me? Why has not Heaven given me the legs of
the horse, which, though they do not carry him quite so
swiftly as I run, are nevertheless swift and beautiful at
the same time? It is certain that then I should 1 be the
king of the forest, and there would 1 be none to dispute
the title with me. But alas! my legs are mere sticks,
and make me the scarecrow of the forest. However,
complaints being unavailing, I must submit."
I54 Scarcely had he spoken, when there was a sound of the
huntsman's horn. Away flew the stag, through the thick
wood; but he was sadly hindered, his long antlers catch1 You need not state the Mood of this Verb.