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?
What the possessive? Whose the slap
That taught you not to spill your pap.
Or to avoid a like mishap?
And shall I the objective show?
What do I hear where'er I go?
How is your?—whom they mean I know,
My mother!
PLURAL.
Who are the anxious watchers o'er