But when the plural ends in s, the apostrophe only is retained, and the other s is omitted: as, "The Ministers' Step;"—"The Rogues' March;"—"Crocodiles' tears;"—"Butchers' mourning."
When the singular terminates in ss, the letter s is sometimes, in like manner, dispensed with: as, "For goodness' sake!"—"For righteousness' sake!" Nevertheless, we have no objection to "Burgess's" Stout.
The Objective Case follows a verb active, and expresses the object of an action, or of a relation: as "Spring beat Bill;" that is, Bill or "William Neate." Hence, perhaps, the phrase, "I'll lick you elegant."
The Objective Case is also used with a preposition: as, "You are in a mess."
English substantives may be declined in the following manner:
SINGULAR.
What is the nominative case
Of her who used to wash your face,
Your hair to comb, your boots to lace?
A mother!
What the possessive? Whose the slap
That taught you not to spill your pap.
Or to avoid a like mishap?
A mother's!
And shall I the objective show?
What do I hear where'er I go?
How is your?—whom they mean I know,
PLURAL.
Who are the anxious watchers o'er
