In an examination the pupil may be asked to make
a Précis of several letters in the form of a connected
narrative. First make abstracts as above, and combine
them into a continuous narrative.

EXERCISE.

1. Make an abstract of a chapter, or reign in English
history.

2. Write an abstract of an anecdote, a biography, or
a letter.

ESSAY WRITING.

"How few can say a thing as it ought to be said! All of us
try; but how many men in any generation can make a clear
statement, or write anything well."-Friends in Council.

"For a man to write well, there are required three necessa-
ries; let him read the best authors; observe the best speakers;
and have much exercise of his own style."-Ben Jonson.

General Directions.

Although a knowledge of rules will not necessarily make a good writer, yet the pupil must know them to avoid mistakes.

1. Get a thorough knowledge of the subject you are going to write about.

2. Then make an outline of it; the briefer the better. 3. Keep the outline before you when you write.

4. Do not write in a hurry, but give yourself time to form clear notions on the subject.

5. Express yourself as clearly as possible.

6. Do not aim at using fine words. Write as you would speak.

7. Avoid long sentences.

"Periods are beautiful

when they are not too long."-(Ben Jonson.)

8. Avoid tautology; but if clearness is gained by repeating the same word in the same sentence, repeat it. 9. Vary the beginnings of your sentences.

10. Keep to your subject.

Grammatical Hints.

1. Be sure that every Pronoun you use represents the Noun you mean it to represent.

2. Let Adverbs be placed as near as possible to the word or words they modify.

3. Avoid using the conjunction and too freely.

4. Let each sentence have only one principal subject.

Grammar is a

"Grammar teaches us to speak and write accurately; composition clearly, impressively, efficiently. means; composition the end."-Dr. Angus.

SUBJECTS FOR ESSAYS.

EXERCISE I.

Write an essay on Exercise, making use of the following hints:

Exercise-why it is needed. Health everything. Man made to be active. Difficulties in the way of taking exercise. Pressed for time. Feel no interest in it. Too fatiguing. The best exercise for the student. Exercise should be regular and agreeable. Should be increased at convenient seasons. Illustrious men have laboured with the hands. Advantage of exercise. Mind strengthened; life probably prolonged; more enjoyment with it than without it; adds to the enjoyment of others.

EXERCISE II.
On Reading.

Show the necessity of reading. "Books are the medicine of the mind." In all cases of distress of mind good books are great cures. How to read to advantage. More got from one book thoroughly studied than from a whole library skimmed over. Ancients had but few books. What authors to read. Read no poor books. How to read an author with the greatest profit. What we read with inclination makes a stronger impression." Reading furnishes the mind with materials of knowledge. Pleasure of reading. Conclude by showing the advantages of reading.

[See Exercise iv, page 8.]

EXERCISE III.

On Habits.

Man's whole character comprehended in the term habits. Habits, easily formed; especially bad ones. "Have a work for every moment, and mind the moment's work." Acquire the habit of untiring industry. It is related of Demosthenes that he copied Thucydides' History eight times, merely to make himself familiar with the style of that great man. Cul

tivate perseverance. The man who perpetually hesitates which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. Cultivate punctuality-"For want of it many people live in a constant fever, and put all about them in a fever too." Early risingDean Swift says," he never knew any man come to greatness and eminence, who lay in bed of a morning." Acquire the habit of doing every thing well: " Euripides composed but three lines, while a contemporary composed three hundredone wrote for immortality, the other for the day."

Injurious habits must be subdued.

Conclude by showing the deep influence of habits; the fearful power they may acquire over the whole moral character.

In writing the life of a great man, mention

1. His birth and early life.

2. Literary, military, or parliamentary career. 3. His works, or deeds.

4. His death, and character.

NOTE.-These heads are merely intended to give the pupil an idea what a short biography should contain. The order may be deviated from if necessary.

1. The causes.

Wars and Battles.

2. Contending parties.

3. Events.-Time and place of battles. 4. Results.

Animals.

1. Description of animal.

2. Where found.

3. Its habits.

4. Its uses.

LIST OF MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

1. A visit to the country, or sea-side.

2. A fire, shipwreck, or accident.

3. A cricket-match, or boat-race.

4. An anecdote.'

5. A voyage.

6. The Exhibition.

7. The pleasures of bathing, boating, riding, fishing. 8. A winter day.

9. History of railways, telegraphs, newspapers. 10. Invention and use of gunpowder.

11. Coal, iron, gold, silver.

12. The pleasures and advantages of keeping a dog.

FIGURES OF SPEECH.

1. A Simile (L. similis, like) is a comparison founded on resemblance; e. g.

"They melt like mist, the solid lands,

Like clouds, they shape themselves and go."
Tennyson.

"His words 'fell soft like snow upon the ground."

Homer.

Comparisons should be apt; they should be true.

2. A Metaphor (Gk, metaphora, a transferring) shows similitude without the sign of comparison. The sign of