to pay it, and each farmer had to sell his house to make up the necessary sum.

Write a story of your own in imitation of that of "The Two Goats."

Exercise II.

THE DIVISION OF A NUT.

Each

Two boys found a nut, and both wanted it. grew quite angry because he could not have it all. At last a man came by to whom they gave the nut to divide He gave each boy half of the shell, and kept the kernel himself.

for them.

Tell a similar story about two chickens, a worm, and an old hen.

Tell such a story about two cats, a monkey, and a piece of cheese.

Exercise III.

THE WOODPECKER AND THE DOVE.

A woodpecker and a dove had just returned from a visit to a peacock. The woodpecker said to his companion, "I don't see why the peacock should be so proud. He has neither fine feet nor a fine voice." The dove answered, "I confess I did not pay any attention to them, for I was occupied in admiring his handsome head, the beauty of his feathers, and his majestic tail."

Imitate this fable by writing the conversation of two girls who have returned from a visit to a friend.

Exercise IV.

Write imitations of the fables of "The Fox and the Grapes," "The Monkey and the Cat," "The Farmer and the Fox," and any other fables which you may know.

Exercise V.

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE Squirrel.

The mountain and the squirrel

Had a quarrel,

And the former called the latter "Little Prig."

Bun replied:

"You are doubtless very big;

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together

To make up a year,

And a sphere;

And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.

If I'm not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.

I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track.

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put ;

If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can you crack a nut."

R. W. EMERSON.

Write in your own words a somewhat similar speech which a bird might be supposed to make to a tree with which he had quarreled.

Exercise VI.

THE REED AND THE OAK.

Write an imaginary conversation between a little reed and a huge oak, in which the oak boasts of its superior strength.

A violent wind destroys the oak, but leaves the reed unharmed. Give the reason for this, and add the words

of the reed after the wind has ceased.

a tree and threw it to the bee, which was thus saved. How?

A short time after, a hunter was taking aim to shoot the bird, when the bee saved the bird's life.

Write another story in imitation of this.

Exercise VIII.

THE WASP AND THE BEE.

How?

A wasp met a bee that was just buzzing by,
And he said, "Little cousin, can you tell me why
You are loved so much better by people than I?
"My back shines as bright and as yellow as gold,
And my shape is most elegant, too, to behold!
And yet, for all that, no one likes me, I'm told."

'Ah, cousin," the bee said, "'t is all very true;

But were I even half as much mischief to do,

Then, I'm sure, they would love me no better than you.

"You have a fine shape and a delicate wing,

And they say you are handsome, but then there's one thing

They never can put up with, and that is your sting.

My coat is quite homely and plain, as you see,

Yet nobody ever is angry with me,

Because I'm a harmless and diligent bee."

Selected.

What is the lesson to be drawn from this story?

What proverb could you use as its title?

Write a somewhat similar conversation between a hawk and a hen.

II. STORIES TO BE WRITTEN.

Tell the story of :

I. An old clock, a silver spoon, a cradle, or any other article that has had a history.

2. A family horse.

3. The chestnut tree over the shop of "The Village Blacksmith."

4. The armchair made of the chestnut tree.

5. Bryant's "The Planting of the Apple Tree."

6. The Washington Elm. Let the tree tell its own story of the Virginia officer's coming in 1775 to take command of the American Army. (Read Lowell's poem "Under the Old Elm.")

7. Bunker Hill.

8. A famous tea party.

9. Roger Williams.

10. Some hero of history, some great poet, or some great artist.

II. A lost child.

12. A broken pitcher.

13. Two grains of sand, one from the Allegheny Mountains and the other from the Rocky Mountains, meeting in the Mississippi River. Their account of their starting places and of what they saw

way.

14. A bad bargain.

15. A piece of coal.

16. The making of a sheet of paper. 17. Louisa M. Alcott.

18. John G. Whittier.

on the

Write illustrations of the following proverbs :

1. Shoemaker, stick to your last. 2. A burnt child dreads the fire. 3. Look before you leap. 4. One swallow does not make a summer. 5. A stitch in time saves nine. 6. Cut your coat according to your cloth. 7. Birds of a feather flock together. 8. Strike while the iron is hot. 9. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 10. Necessity is the mother of invention.

III. DIALOGUES.

Study the following conversation between two girls, about "Descriptive Words and Expressions":—