directions given? What is the test of a good exposition? Tell in your own words how to play the game. Mention some games you like to play. Following this outline, tell how to play one of them: 1. Preparation. 2. Directions for playing. 3. The enjoyment gotten when the rules are followed. II. Written Composition Write your composition. Read it over and see whether you have omitted anything that is necessary to the explanation. Make corrections. III. Correction Exercise Follow in imagination the directions your classmate gives in his composition, and see where his explanation is good and where it is faulty. V. ORIGINAL COMPOSITION Description of a Person A Spanish Muleteer I had not been long seated by the fire when the tinkling of mule bells, the clatter of hoofs, and the hoarse voice of a muleteer in the outer apartment announced the arrival of new guests. A few moments afterward the To the teacher.-Both a poor and a good composition should be dramatized to show the value of clear exposition. kitchen door opened, and a person entered whose appearance strongly arrested my attention. It was a tall, athletic figure, with the majestic carriage of a grandee, and a dark, sunburnt countenance, that indicated an age of about fifty years. His dress was singular, and such as I had not seen before. He wore a round hat with wide, flapping brim, from beneath which his long, black hair hung in curls upon his shoulders; a leather jerkin, with cloth sleeves, descended to his hips; around his waist was closely buckled a leather belt, with a cartouch-box on one side; a pair of loose trousers of black serge hung in ample folds to the knees, around which they were closely gathered by embroidered garters of blue silk; and black broadcloth leggings, buttoned close to the calves, and strapped over a pair of brown leather shoes, completed the singular dress of the stranger. He doffed his hat as he entered, and, saluting the company, took a seat by the fire, and entered into conversation with those around him. As my curiosity was not a little excited by the peculiar dress of this person, I inquired of a traveling companion who sat at my elbow, who and what this newcomer was. From him I learned that he was a muleteer of the Maragateria―a name given to a cluster of small towns which lie in the mountainous country between Astorga and Villafranca. "Nearly every province in Spain," said he, "has its peculiar costume, as you will see when you have advanced farther into our country." HENRY W. LONGFELLOW. From Outremer. I. Oral Composition What kind of composition is this? Why do you suppose Longfellow selected the muleteer to describe? Show how you can get from this description a good mental picture of "A Spanish Muleteer." Study the first paragraph and show what there is about it that makes it so attractive. Give the outline. Give the meaning of―muleteer; majestic; grandee; countenance; indicated; singular; jerkin; cartouch-box; ample; doffed. Give other expressions for-arrested my attention; majestic carriage; completed the singular dress; entered into conversation; my curiosity was not a little excited. Mention some people other than those met every day-who might attract unusual attention. SUGGESTIONS: A Swiss Peasant; A Russian Peddler; A Dakota Indian; A Daring Cowboy. Following this outline, describe one of those you have mentioned. 1. Introduction of person. When and where met. 2. Detailed description. Bearing; face; age; dress; actions. 3. Who and what he was. II. Written Composition Write your composition. Describe the person so well, and in such detail, that one may be able to form a clear mental picture of him. Write an attractive introduction, such as is given in the model. III. Correction Exercise In correcting the work of your classmates, attempt to give them better descriptive words and better expressions than those they have used. VI. ORIGINAL COMPOSITION An Historical Account The Merrimac and the Monitor The Confederates rebuilt an old United States frigate called the "Merrimac," turned it into an ironclad ram, and renamed her the "Virginia." All of the boat that appeared above the water was encased in heavy iron plates, so that all sorts of shot and shell would rebound or glance off and do no harm. This new and strange sea monster steamed out of Norfolk Harbor on the 8th of March, 1862, and attacked the United States fleet of war vessels lying in Hampton Roads. That day she sank the "Cumberland," attacked the "Congress," forced her to surrender, set her on fire, and as darkness was coming on steamed back to Norfolk. Early the next morning, she proudly steamed forth again out of the harbor to finish her work of destroying the Union ships still remaining in Hampton Roads. As the "Merrimac" sailed onward towards the "Minnesota," which was fast in the mud, a small boat suddenly appeared upon the surface of the water, which |