CHAPTER VI.

NARRATION AND DESCRIPTION COMBINED.

Although in narration there is often something of description, and in description something of narration, in the preceding lessons the effort has been, to emphasize one or the other. In the lessons of this chapter the pupil is to take either or both styles, according as the subject suggests.

The fields are stripped by this time and the trees stand bare. That rich murmur of a myriad insects is gone, and the silence, which distinguishes January from June even more than the heat, falls, the precursor of snow, upon the landscape. But, as if to resist the bitterness and sadness of the failing year, the most genial and kindly of all our festivals occurs at the end of November. Its very name, Thanksgiving, betrays its origin an origin unmixed with any prior tradition.

The great Christian festival of Christmas stretches backward to yule-logs and mistletoes, to Scandinavian and Briton heathenry; nor does it lose by the graceful,

happy association. But Thanksgiving is purely Puritan. It is the good, warm, human heart conquering the tough head and ascetic manner of the old Pilgrims.

In Elliot's New England History you may read that in 1623, after the harvest, Governor Bradstreet sent out a company to shoot game to furnish a dainty feast of rejoicing after the labors of the colony. Having followed the directions of the governor and the principle of the excellent Mrs. Glass, they cooked their game, and invited Massasoit and some ninety other savages, and all fell to and devoured the feast, thanking God "for the good world and the good things in it.” George William Curtis.

Christmas.

LIST OF SUBJECTS.

Derivation of name when first celebrated on present date why? Ancient festivals held at same time of year in Italy and Scandinavia. Our Christmas customs-Christmas tree- Christmas games-St. Nicholas - Santa Claus. Christmas customs in other countries - Christmas legends - Christmas stories.

New Year's Day.

Early Dutch customs-making calls observance of New Year here and in other countries.

Washington's Birthday.

Common observance of the day. Sketch of Washington — his life and achievements.

"Washington did the two greatest things which in politics it is permitted to man to attempt. He maintained by peace the independence of his country which he conquered by war." — - Guizot.

"You are the only being for whom I have an awful reverence." - Lord Erskine.

"Until time shall be no more, will a test of the progress which our race has made in wisdom and virtue be derived from the veneration paid to the immortal name of Washington." - Lord Brougham.

Easter.

A movable festival - feast of flowers commemorative of the resurrection of Christ. Easter legends - Easter emblems-Easter observances Easter poems.

THE SANDS O' DEE.

"Oh, Mary, go and call the cattle home,

And call the cattle home,

And call the cattle home,

Across the sands o' Dee!"

The western wind was wild and dank wi' foam,
And all alone went she.

The creeping tide came up along the sand,

And o'er and o'er the sand,

And round and round the sand,

As far as eye could see;

The blinding mist came down and hid the land:
And never home came she.

But still the boatmen hear her call the cattle home,
Across the sands o' Dee. Charles Kingsley.

SUGGESTIONS TO THE WRITER.

In this poem are really two stories, — one story that is told, another that is suggested. In order to tell the story that is suggested, you need to use your imagination. Imagine the fisherman's cottage; describe it; describe the family; tell what Mary was doing when she was called to go after the cows; whether she went willingly or not. Describe two ways that she might have gone, one around by a bridge, another across the sands-why she chose the sands. The fog-her confidence. her fear when she stepped into the water

her struggles to find the way.

Tell what happened at the cottage when she did not return — the frantic search — despair slowly settling on father and mother - finding of the body — the burial — the sailors' superstition.

"All things are beautiful to-night except myself,” said a dull creeping Mist that hovered over a swamp. "The moon and the stars are beautiful; the hills and the woods and the rivers are beautiful; but how hideous I

look. And what is my birth-place? A swamp which men hate and avoid." Thus bemoaning herself, the Mist continued to creep sluggishly over the surface of the marsh.

Suddenly an evening Breeze came dancing over the hills, fresh and full of life. At his approach the Mist began to rise, brightening as she rose, for the moon shone full upon her. The Breeze then laid hold of her, and bore her swiftly on his wings far up into the sky, and she became a cloud.

Meanwhile the sun rose, and men looked forth from their homes on the fields sparkling with dew - they looked also to the sky and saw a glorious Cloud sailing over the distant hills. "We may hope for rain to-day," they said, and went cheerfully to their labors. The heat increased, the men grew weary, the earth was dry and hard, and scarcely could their spades turn up the flinty soil. The Cloud meanwhile moved in beauty across the heavens, yet not with pride, for she remembered her lowly birth-place, and she longed to prove her gratitude by doing good.

The weary men looked upward. "Would," they said, "that yonder Cloud might bring us rain, for the streams are dry, and our cattle are in need of water." "O that I could help you!" exclaimed the Cloud. Scarcely had she spoken when the Breeze came back again, and hastening toward the cloud, said to her, "Thy wish is heard, but art thou willing to become a sacrifice?" The Cloud hesitated for a moment. She thought of her beauty and freedom. But again faint, beseeching voices from the earth reached her. "I am willing," said the Cloud.

Then the Wind drew near and drove her with haste across the heavens. Her beauty vanished, she became