things and circumstances in action; evolving, or bringing about a certain result; that is, acting and re-acting upon each other in a certain way, until a certain definite consequence results; solving the problem by degrees; making as it were a knot, or tangle, which is gradually unravelled.

The Conclusion shows the Solution; the last threads of the knot, or tangle, gathered up and (as it were) neatly finished off; the Problem solved. The French, defining this final process, call it the Dénouement; which is a better, because a more descriptive, word than ours.

That

Next,

Thus, we may liken the process of telling a story to a man holding a tangled skein of coloured threads, which he unravels before us. First, he displays the skein, points out and names the threads, and shows in what manner they cross and intertwine. answers to the Introduction, or Statement. he unravels the tangle, thread by thread. Sometimes he begins by artfully twisting the threads into a knot before he disentangles them. But always he must disentangle them before he has done. That answers to the Action, noud, or knot, or Evolution. The French word, one remarks, describes the thing itself. Our word describes what is done to the thing. Taken together, the words give a clear idea of what the middle of a story really consists Last of all, the man with the skein gathers up the loose ends and ties them neatly together; and that answers to the Conclusion, or Solution.

C

EXERCISES AND EXAMPLES.

The pupil should be set to write a short Story— or Description, or Dialogue, or Letter, or Essay, as the case may be upon the same subject as that treated of in the Example adduced. He should be encouraged to begin by fixing his attention upon the Subject selected, and allowing his Imagination to have free play. At the same time, he should accustom himself to jot down in his rough note-book the ideas that occur to him. The teacher should then-not before-discuss with him the notion he proposes to work out, giving him hints as to its proper treatment, and, if necessary, advising him as to what books, or other sources of information, he may find useful. The pupil may then be left to work out his subject as best he can; and, when he has finished the first draft, the teacher may go through his work with him, pointing out defects, and the reason why they are defects, and suggesting improvements. The pupil should then make his corrections, which should be submitted to the teacher. The pupil should then write the fair copy of his composition in his record note-book. The teacher, after inspecting the fair copy with an eye to neatness, caligraphy and spelling, and making final comments, should assist the pupil to compare his work with the Example; showing him in what manner his work falls short of the merits of the model.

The Examples are chosen from the work of writers,

who, in their several ways, are masters of their art; in order that the study of classic work should cultivate the taste of the pupil, and endow him with a standard of excellence; by which he will insensibly learn both to measure his own performances, and the mass of modern literature that invites his attention.

As this method of teaching is intended to be followed in taking the pupil through the course of the Five Orders of Composition, it is needless to repeat its explanation.

And, as it is impossible, lacking the work of the pupil, to draw that comparison between his work and the model, which is a chief element of value in this method of tuition; I have confined myself to such brief observations upon the Subjects and their Examples, as practical experience has shown to be most useful to the teacher, and most likely to meet the wants of the pupil. And experience has also taught that the faults committed by any given number of beginners, are all much of the same pattern.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ADVERSARY.

John Bunyan. (1628-1688.)

The Pilgrim's Progress.

BUT now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend coming over the field to meet

EXAMPLE 9

:

him his name is Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts; therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to stand.

So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now, the monster was hideous to behold: he was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride; he had wings like a dragon and feet like a bear, and out of his belly came fire and smoke; and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him:

APOLLYON. Whence come you, and whither are you bound?

CHRISTIAN. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all evil, and am going to the City of Zion.

APOLLYON. By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects; for all that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope that thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground.

CHRISTIAN. I was indeed born in your dominions; but your service was hard, and your wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is death (Rom. vi. 23); therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other considerate persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself.

APOLLYON. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, neither will I as yet lose thee; but, since

thou complainest of thy service and wages, be content to go back, and what our country will afford I do here promise to give thee.

CHRISTIAN. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes; and how can I with fairness go back with thee?

APOLLYON. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, 'I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate His person, His laws, and people. I am come out on purpose

to withstand thee.'

CHRISTIAN. Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the King's highway, the way of holiness: therefore take heed to yourself.

APOLLYON. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said, 'I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die; for I swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no farther: here will I spill thy soul.' And, with that, he threw a flaming dart at his breast; but Christian held a shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that.

Then did Christian draw, for he saw it was time to bestir him; and Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail, by the which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a little back; Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted for above half a day, even till Christian was almost quite spent. For you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and weaker.

Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and, wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and, with that, Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, 'I am sure of