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Poem
September 5, 1895
The Sioux County Journal
Harrison, Sioux County, Nebraska
What is this article about?
A playful poem personifying the six punctuation marks—period, semicolon, colon, comma, question mark, and exclamation point—as schoolchildren, describing their roles in writing and reading.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Punctuation Points.
Six little marks from school are we.
Very important all agree,
Filled to the brim with mystery,
Six little marks from school.
One little mark is round and small,
But where it stands the voice must fall;
At the close of a sentence, all
Place this little mark from school.
One little mark with a gown a-trailing,
Holds up the voice, never failing.
Tells you not long to pause when hailing
This little mark from school.
If out of breath you chance to meet
Two little dots, both round and neat,
Pause, and these tiny guardsmen greet—
These little marks from school.
When shorter pauses are your pleasure,
One trails his sword—takes half the measure.
Then speeds you on to seek new treasure,
This little mark from school.
One little mark, ear-shaped, implies
"Keep up the voice—await replies."
To gather information tries
This little mark from school.
One little mark with an exclamation,
Presents itself to your observation,
And leaves the voice at an elevation,
This little mark from school.
Six little marks! Be sure to heed us;
Carefully study, write, and read us:
For you can never cease to need us,
Six little marks from school.
—St. Nicholas.
Six little marks from school are we.
Very important all agree,
Filled to the brim with mystery,
Six little marks from school.
One little mark is round and small,
But where it stands the voice must fall;
At the close of a sentence, all
Place this little mark from school.
One little mark with a gown a-trailing,
Holds up the voice, never failing.
Tells you not long to pause when hailing
This little mark from school.
If out of breath you chance to meet
Two little dots, both round and neat,
Pause, and these tiny guardsmen greet—
These little marks from school.
When shorter pauses are your pleasure,
One trails his sword—takes half the measure.
Then speeds you on to seek new treasure,
This little mark from school.
One little mark, ear-shaped, implies
"Keep up the voice—await replies."
To gather information tries
This little mark from school.
One little mark with an exclamation,
Presents itself to your observation,
And leaves the voice at an elevation,
This little mark from school.
Six little marks! Be sure to heed us;
Carefully study, write, and read us:
For you can never cease to need us,
Six little marks from school.
—St. Nicholas.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What keywords are associated?
Punctuation Marks
Period
Semicolon
Colon
Comma
Question Mark
Exclamation Point
Grammar Lesson
Children's Verse
What entities or persons were involved?
—St. Nicholas.
Poem Details
Title
The Punctuation Points.
Author
—St. Nicholas.
Subject
Explaining Punctuation Marks
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Repetitive Refrain
Key Lines
Six Little Marks From School Are We.
Very Important All Agree,
Filled To The Brim With Mystery,
Six Little Marks From School.
One Little Mark Is Round And Small,
But Where It Stands The Voice Must Fall;
At The Close Of A Sentence, All
Place This Little Mark From School.
Six Little Marks! Be Sure To Heed Us;
Carefully Study, Write, And Read Us:
For You Can Never Cease To Need Us,
Six Little Marks From School.