“And there I learned _to wheel_ about And jump Jim Crow.”
In general, the preposition _to_ is used before the latter of two verbs; but sometimes it is more properly omitted: as, “I saw you _take_ it, young fellow; come along with me.” “Let me _get_ hold of you, that’s all!” “Did I hear you _speak_?” “I’ll let you _know_!” “You dare not _hit_ me.” “Bid me _discourse_.” “You need not _sing_.”
The preposition _for_ is sometimes unnecessarily intruded into a sentence, in addition to the preposition _to_, before an infinitive mood: as, “How came you _for_ to think, _for_ to go, _for_ to do such a thing?” “Do you want me _for_ to punch your head?”
Adjectives, substantives, and participles, often govern the infinitive mood: as, “Miss Hopkins, I shall be happy to dance the next set with you.” “Oh! Sir, it is impossible to refuse you.” “Have you an inclination to waltz?” “I shall be delighted in endeavouring to do so.”
The infinitive mood is frequently made absolute, that is, independent of the rest of the sentence: as, “To say the truth, I was rather the worse for liquor.” “Not to mince matters, Miss, I love you.” “To begin at the right end.” “To cut a long tale short,” &c.
The relation which words and phrases bear to each other in point of time, should always be duly marked: instead of saying, “Last night I intended to have made strong love to her,” we should say, “Last night I intended to make strong love to her;” because, although the intention of making strong love may have been abandoned (on reflection) this morning, and is now, therefore, a thing which is _past_, yet it is undoubtedly, when last night and the thoughts connected with it are brought back, again present to the mind.
Participles have the same power of government with that of the verbs from which they are derived: as, “Oh, what an exquisite singer Rubini is! I am so fond of _hearing him_.” “Look at that horrid man; I declare he is _quizzing us_!” “No, he is only _taking snuff_.” “See, how that thing opposite keeps _making eyes_.” “Yes, she is _ogling Lumley_; I should so like to pinch her!” “How fond they all are of _wearing mustaches_! Don’t you like it?” “Oh, yes! there is no _resisting them_.” “Heigho! I am _dying to have_ an ice--”