A Busy Year at the Old Squire's

Name: A Busy Year at the Old Squire's
Author: Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury)

Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury)

Domestic fiction, American; Farm life -- Maine -- Fiction; Maine -- Social life and customs -- Fiction

"Sure!" Master Pierson cried. "The old Romans spoke it. So can we. And
that's just what I will do. I will get up a book of conversational
Latin--enough to make a Common Language for every-day use." And in point
of fact that was what old Joel was doing, for four or five weeks
afterwards. He had Theodora and Catherine copy out page after page of
it--as many as twenty pages. He wanted us each to have a copy of it; and
for a time at least, he intended to have it printed.

A few days ago I came upon some of those faded, yellow pages, folded up
in an old text book of AEsop's Latin Fables--the one Tom and I were then
using; and I will set down a few of the sentences here, to illustrate
what Master Pierson thought might be done with Latin as a universal
language.

     Master Pierson's Universal Language in Latin, which he named _Dic_
     from _dico_, meaning to speak.

    1 It is time to get up.            = Surgendi tempus est.
    2 The sun is up already.           = Sol jamdudum ortus.
    3 Put on your shoes.               = Indue tibi ocreas.
    4 Comb your head.                  = Pecte caput tuum.
    5 Light a candle and build a fire. = Accende lucernum, et fac ut
                                         luceat faculus.
    6 Carry the lantern. We must water = Vulcanum in cornu geras.
      the horses.                        Equi aquatum agenda sunt.
    7 It is a very hot day.            = Dies est ingens aestus.
    8 Let's go to the barn.            = Jam imus horreum.
    9 Grind the axes.                  = Acuste ascias.
    10 It is near twelve o'clock.      = Instat hora duodecima.
    11 It is time for dinner.          = Prandenti tempus adest.
    12 Please take dinner with us.     = Quesso nobiscum hodie sumas
                                         prandiolum.
    13 Make a good fire.               = Instruas optimum focum.
    14 This chimney smokes.            = Male fumat hic caminus.
    15 The wood is green.              = Viride est hoc lignum.
    16 Fetch kindling wood.            = Affer fomitem.
    17 Lay the table cloth.            = Sterne mappam.
    18 Dinner is ready.                = Cibus est appositus.
    19 Don't spoil it by delay.        = Ne corrumpatur mora vestra.
    20 Sit down.                       = Accumbe.
    21 This is my place.               = Hic mihi locus.
    22 Let him sit next me.            = Assideat mihi.
    23 Say grace, or ask a blessing.   = Recita consecrationem.
    24 Give me brown bread.            = Da mihi panem atrum.
    25 I am going to school.           = Eo ad scholam.
    26 What time is it?                = Quota est hora?
    27 It is past seven.               = Praeteriit hora septima.
    28 The bell has rung.              = Sonuit tintinnabulum.
    29 Go with me.                     = Vade mecum.
    30 The master will soon be here.   = Brevi praeceptor aderit.
    31 I am very cold.                 = Valde frigeo.
    32 My hands are numb.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

A Busy Year at the Old Squire's

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