CHAPTER VI.

NARRATIVE-WRITING.

I. NARRATIVES OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

[To the Teacher.- The pupil should be allowed to describe only what he has actually seen, or heard, or felt.

In order that the narration may be clear and fairly complete, it is important that the pupil be trained to arrange in a reasonable way the topics upon which he is to write, before he begins the actual work of composition. Memoranda must of course be made in the order in which experiences or ideas present themselves, but in every case the writing should follow a definite plan. This plan, or outline, particularly in the earlier exercises, should be submitted first to the teacher.

After some proficiency has been gained in the arrangement of the thoughts to be expressed, the proper grouping of related thoughts into paragraphs should be made clear. A brief study of paragraphs as actually employed in simple narratives will be the readiest way of doing this.]

68. An orderly and connected account of what has sometime taken place may be called a Narrative.

Exercise 14. - Narrate your experience with some pet animal, -a dog, a cat, a horse, a bird, or rabbits, etc. Observe this order, and make a connected whole :

1. What pet; kind or breed, name. 2. Size, color, age, value. 3. How and when obtained. 4. When or where kept. 5. Food; what, how often, by whom. 6. Habits, day and night. 7. Friends and enemies, or likes and dislikes. 8. Intelligence; tricks, anecdotes. 9. What became of it, how much affection you have for it, or why it was worth petting.

Exercise 15. Observe carefully the events of a day or half-day in your school, making notes of what happens if need be. Next day narrate these events in the form of a letter to your uncle or aunt, following the order in which they occurred.

Say most about what is most important, but omit nothing that is needed to make the account complete. Try to make it clear and interesting.

Mail this letter if your teacher approves and thinks it is well enough written.

69. Directions. In writing a narrative of any kind,

1. Do not begin a sentence until you have thought it through and know just how it is to end.

2. Keep the order in which the events occurred, unless you have a good reason for following some other method.

3. Mention every point that is needed to give the reader a clear idea of what happened.

4. Say most about what is most important or interesting, and omit useless details.

5. Make the narrative a connected whole, but do not string sentences together with "ands."

6. Write naturally, as you would talk, and use no words whose meaning you do not know.

7. Arrange your thoughts by topics, and make a separate paragraph for each distinct topic.

8. Try to punctuate carefully as you write.

Exercise 16. - Tell how you spent your last pleasant holiday. The following outline may help you.

1. Your subject. 2. Pleasant expectations; what preparation made; what hoped for. 3. The night before. 4. The morning; first occupation; plans for the day; company. 5. The afternoon; where; with whom. 6. The dinner. 7. The evening; all details. 8. Feelings; surprises; disappointments; enjoyment.

Exercise 17.- Each of the following may be the subject of a narrative about your personal experiences. Begin by making an outline similar to those provided in previous exercises.*

1. The Fourth of July. 2. Christmas. 3. A Saturday afternoon. 4. A Day in the Country. 5. An Evening at the Fair. 6. A Shopping Expedition.

7. A Visit to the Museum. 8. How I helped on the Farm. Seaside. 10. The Surprise Party. 11. A Base-ball Match. gan Slide. 13. A Candy-pull. 14. A Day in the Kitchen.

9. A Day at the

12. The Tobog15. A Journey.

*To the Teacher..-- Five ten-line exercises in a week will be found much more valuable than one of fifty lines.

16. A Rainy Day.

17.

An Out-of-door Geography Lesson. 18. A Fire. 19. Caught in the Rain. 20. My Experience with the Toothache. 21. An Eventful Day. 22. My First Disobedience. 23. A Day on my Bicycle.

Exercise 18-Under the direction of your teacher, visit with a companion some one of the following in the neighborhood of your school. Then make an outline, and write an account of your visit.

A Cotton Mill.

A Shoe Factory.

A Grist Mill.

The Custom House.
A Machine Shop.
A Bookbinder's.

The Poor House.

The County Jail.
The Old Mill.

The Telephone Exchange.
The Ship Yard.

A Newspaper Press Room.

A Cemetery.
The Old Fort.
The Lighthouse.
The Falls.

A Brick Yard.

A Woodland Road.

II. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Exercise 19.-1. What is a biography ?

2. Write a biography of your father, or brother, or some acquaintance. 3. What is an autobiography? Write one, using these suggestions. Your name birthplace and date-names and occupation of parentsplace of residence schools attended - different studies-out-of-school lessons, such as music or dancing - other occupation or pursuits-habits of rising -work to do fondness for work - sports books read kind of reading preferred-friends-plans for future education for business — object in life

natural disposition — is it best to be noble or rich or good or wise?

70. In collecting materials this may serve as an

OUTLINE FOR A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

I. Introduction. Name, and how best known.

II. Birth. Time, place, and — generally — ancestry.

II1. Childhood and Youth. Education; preparation and training for life-work; early pursuits, habits, disposition.

IV. Chief Events of Life, public and private, in their order.

V. Death. Time, place, circumstances.

VI. Characteristics.

Personal appearance and bearing; mental and

moral qualities; likes and dislikes, ability and culture.

VII. Results of Life. Development of self; example to others; service to individuals, to the country, to the world.

71. Outline and notes for a sketch of the life of

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

I. Introduction. Sixteenth Pres. of U. S., during Civil War. Savior of country.

II. Birth. Ky., Feb. 12, 1809. Ancestors from England with Wm. Penn. Father could neither read nor write. Mother remarkable woman.

III. Childhood and Youth. Had but a few months' schooling. Toiled all day on farm, read by light of log-fire at night. The Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, Esop's Fables his favorites. Borrowed law-books at night to study, returned them in the morning.

IV. The Chief Events of Life. In 1816 his father moved to Indiana. At 11, he met a great loss in death of mother. At 19, on a flatboat to New Orleans. At 21, moved to Illinois, helped build log cabin, split 3000 rails for fence. Then successively clerk, captain in Black Hawk war, bookkeeper, postmaster, surveyor, and lawyer. At 25, in Legislature. Home in Springfield. Married in 1842. In Congress, 1846. Candidate for U.S. Senator in 1858. Defeated. President, 1861 till death. Condition of country and conduct of war a great Emancipated slaves, 1863.

anxiety and responsibility.

V. Death. Assassinated April 14, 1865. Mourned at home and abroad. VI. Characteristics. Tall, awkward, ungainly. Common sense, honesty, fidelity, kindness, patriotism. "Plain man of the people." One of the great

men of history.

VII. Results of Life.

Wise conduct of great war.

Saved the Union.
Next to Wash-

Freed the slaves. Remembered with affection and gratitude. ington.

Exercise 20. Make a study of the Life of Lincoln as you find it given in books, and then write a biographical sketch. Use the preceding notes, and follow the directions given in § 70.

Try to express the facts you get in your own language without dependence upon the words of the books that you may consult, and remember that the quality of what you write is of more importance than the quantity.

Exercise 21. - Prepare notes according to the plan given, and write sketches of one or more of these

Exercise 22.- Write a sketch of the Life of Longfellow, using any facts that you can remember from your reading. Those suggested here will not be enough.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the best beloved of American poets - Feb. 27, 1807, Portland, Me. - Bowdoin College at 14, graduated at 18 chosen Professor of Modern Languages at Harvard at 28 — his home, a house occupied by Washington in 1775-76 - Charles Kingsley said of his face that it was the most beautiful he had ever seen His - Poems noted for sweetness and purity courteous, pure, beautiful life the best poem of all -- Died March 24, 1882 The inheritance of his writings.

Exercise 23.- Prepare outline notes, as in § 71, and write a sketch of the life of one or more of these

Exercise 24. Study the life of Joan of Arc until you can write something more than is given in these notes.

Born 1412 - daughter of a peasant could spin and sew, not read nor write strong, beautiful, poetic, fond of adventure, of great piety. At 16 understood cause of war between France and England-resolved to deliver France. Friendless-poor-trained to horseback riding. Laughed at by the great believed in by the common people. Persistent approved by King -led many to battle-won victory. Accused of heresy - burned at stake.