CHAPTER IX.

EFFECTS (continued)—THE THEme.

CHAPTERS FROM CUORE,* AN ITALIAN SCHOOL BOY'S JOURNAL.

BY EDMONDO DE AMICIS.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

To-day is the first day of school. These three months of vacation in the country have passed like a dream. This morning my mother conducted me to the Baretti schoolhouse to have me entered for the third elementary course; I was thinking of the country, and went unwillingly. All the streets were swarming with boys. The two book-shops were thronged with fathers and mothers who were purchasing bags, portfolios, and copy-books, and in front of the school so many people had collected, that the beadle and the policeman found it difficult to keep the entrance disencumbered. Near the door, I felt myself touched on the shoulder: it was my master of the second class, cheerful, as usual, and with his red hair ruffled, and he said to me: "So we are separated forever, Enrico?"

STUDIES.

I. What effect in "have passed like a dream"? 2. What effect in "my mother conducted me "? 3. In "I was thinking of the country"? In "went unwillingly"? 4. What effect in the word "touched"? 5. What effect in "cheerful as usual"? 6. What in "with his ruffled red hair"? 7. What effects in the words the master said?

I knew it perfectly well, yet these words pained me. We *Reprinted by permission. Copyright 1887. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., New York.

4. Give each object its due proportion of attention, neither more nor less. What will require most attention in the picture? What will be the next in order?

In this picture you will begin with the boy. You will tell (a) where he is (including attitude), and (b) what he is doing. If you mention his dress, describe that before telling what he is doing. Under what he is doing you will include his facial expression as well as the act of peeling the banana. Passing to the dog you will tell (a) where he is (locating him with reference to the boy as well), and (b) what he is doing. You will find your order better if you say, boy's right stands a box. boy as possible, sits, etc." cipal objects then take the each subordinate object with reference to the principal object to which it is nearest.

"At the Upon this, and as near the After describing the prinsubordinate objects. Locate

As to form, observe care concerning the following: Position-Where should it be placed?

Capitalization-What words should be capital

ized?

Punctuation-What mark is needed?

3. Paragraphs.

Capitalization-What is the rule?

Punctuation-What are the most important

rules?

Why paragraph? Where do you begin on the line?

When should you make a new paragraph? How many paragraphs should you have in this description?

What should you include in each?

The introduction and the conclusion should each occupy a paragraph.

III.-A DERVISH READING EFFECTS.

A dervish traveling in Arabia met two merchants who seemed to be in some sort of trouble.

"You have lost a camel?" said he to the merchants.