Exercise 5.

- Copy and complete these sentences, using

contractions in the blank spaces:

In writing a connected composition of any sort, whether it be a letter, a story, an essay, a newspaper article, or a description, it is necessary to divide it into paragraphs to make it appear better, and be more easily understood. All the sentences that relate to one particular point should be written consecutively to form a paragraph. A new paragraph is made when there is a change from one part of the subject to another.

A paragraph is also made in written conversations when a change is made in the person speaking.

Every paragraph line should have a small space left at the beginning. This is called indenting the line.

Exercise 1.- Study carefully the paragraphing in the following selections:

THE BATTLE OF THE ANTS

One day when I went out to my wood pile, or rather my pile of stumps, I observed two large ants, the one red, the other much larger, nearly half an inch long, and black, fiercely contending with each

other. Having once got hold they never let go, but struggled, and wrestled, and rolled on the chips incessantly.

Looking farther, I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants; that it was not a duel but a battle, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and frequently two red ones to one black.

The legions of these myrmidons covered all the hills and vales in my wood yard, and the ground was already strewn with the dead and dying, both red and black. It was the only battle which I had ever seen, the only battlefield I had ever trod while the battle was raging; internecine war - the red republicans on the one hand, and the black imperialists on the other.

On every side they were engaged in deadly combat, yet without any noise that I could hear, and human soldiers never fought so resolutely. I watched a couple that were fast locked in each other's embrace, in a little sunny valley amid the chips, now at noonday prepared to fight till the sun went down or life went out.

The smaller red champion had fastened himself like a vise to his adversary's front, and through all the tumblings on that field, never for an instant ceased to gnaw at one of his feelers near the root, having already caused the other to go by the board; while the stronger black one dashed him from side to side, and, as I saw on looking nearer, had already divested him of several of his members.

They fought with more pertinacity than bulldogs. Neither manifested the least disposition to retreat. It was evident that their battle cry was "Conquer or die!"— HENRY D. THOREAU.

Exercise 2.

Copy the following extracts and divide them into paragraphs, giving your reasons for the division:

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB

As a wolf was lapping the water at the head of a running brook, he spied a stray lamb paddling at some distance down the stream. Having made up his mind to seize her, he bethought himself how he might justify his violence. "Villain!" he cried, running up to her, "how dare you muddy the water that I am drinking?” "Indeed," said the lamb, humbly, "I do not see how I can disturb the water, since it runs from you to me, not from me to you." "Be that as it

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may,” replied the wolf, "it was but a year ago that you called me many ill names." "Oh, sir!" said the lamb, trembling, ago I was not born." 'Well," replied the wolf, "if it was not you, it was your father, and that is all the same; but it is no use trying to argue me out of my supper ; and without another word he fell upon the poor helpless lamb and tore her in pieces. — Æsop.

THE FORCE OF HABIT

pull around a sweep which He was kept at the business

There was once a horse that used to lifted dirt from the depths of the earth. for nearly twenty years, until he became old, blind, and too stiff in the joints for further use. So he was turned into a pasture, and left to crop the grass without any one to disturb or bother him. The odd thing about the old horse was that every morning, after grazing awhile, he would start on a tramp, going round and round in a circle, just as he had been accustomed to do for so many years. He would keep it up for hours, and people often stopped to look, and wondered what had gotten into the head of the venerable animal to make him walk around in such a solemn way when there was no earthly need of it. It was the force of habit. The boy who forms bad or good habits in his youth will be led by them when he becomes old, and will be miserable or happy accordingly. Habit is a cable, we weave a thread of it every day, and at last we cannot break it.

- HORACE MANN.

PETER'S DECLAMATION

A friend of mine, Peter by name, had selected for his speech that extract from Patrick Henry's famous oration, which begins with the words, "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience." Peter confidently mounted the rostrum. He shouted from the stage, "I have but one lamp-lamplamp—” and he could get no further. His speech had gone from his memory. He passed his left hand across his forehead in a vain effort to recall it, while with his right he pulled at his trousers as if he thought it might have slipped down into his pocket; but it came not. He began again, "I have but one lamp — lamp-lamp —.” The teacher, to the amusement of the school, said, "Come down, Peter; your lamp has gone out." ."-JOHN B. GORDON.

LESSON 105. - SOME STORIES TO WRITE

Finish these stories:

1. As John and Henry were going home late one night from a party, they heard a child's voice crying in a corner near by. It was cold and the child was little and evidently lost.

2. I awoke at night hearing a noise in the cellar. Quietly dressing, I took my pistol and crept down to the door. I listened attentively and heard . . .

3. We went hunting lions one time in India. I was riding a big elephant and was in front of the party, when suddenly .

4. We had been lying in the bushes all day watching for sign of a bear. Toward night, when we were about to give up in despair, a faint noise came through the woods, and then

5. A large party of us were once riding in a Pullman car out West, talking and enjoying ourselves, when a sudden and severe jolt .

The criminal was

6. The courtroom was crowded. brought in and stood up to hear his sentence. The judge asked him if he had anything to say. He looked up piteously and began to tell his story.

7. The cry of "fire" rang out in the inn. Seizing my hat, I ran at once to the factory and saw the building in a blaze. I thought of the workmen on the top floor and . .

8. Sally was playing with her dog near a pond one day. She ran along the edge, calling for the dog to follow her. Not noticing where she ran, her foot slipped.

LESSON 106.— CONVERSATIONS TO WRITE

In writing a conversation, be careful to note that every change of speaker begins a new line, and each speaker's words must be inclosed by certain marks called quotation marks. You can see these marks in the fable of “The Wolf and the Lamb" (page 192), and in the poem, "You are old, Father William" (page 196).

Exercise. Write an imaginary conversation as suggested by the following topics:

1. A cat caught a little mouse in the pantry. What did they say to each other?

2. A tramp was telling his story to the farmer's wife. What did they say to each other?

3. A fly was caught in the spider's web.

What excuse did the spider give for eating the fly? 4. A dog caught a rabbit in a cabbage patch. What did they say to each other?

5. A policeman found a little girl on the street.
What did she tell him? What did he say?
6. A little boy was talking to an old soldier.
Describe their conversation.

7. Santa Claus caught little Henry awake.
What happened and what did they say?
8. An old dog is about to be slain by his master.
Tell what the dog says in plea for his life.

9. Two boys quarrel over a game of marbles.
What do they say to each other?

10. Two women meet in the street car and talk hats. What do they say?