ashion to aim not at striking thoughts, simply and clearly expressed,
but at splendid language, glowing imagery, and magnificent periods. It
arises, perhaps, from the fact that public speaking is the almost
universal object of ambition, and consequently, both at school and at
college, nothing is thought of but oratory. Vain attempts at oratory,
result in nine cases out of ten, in grandiloquence and empty
verbiage;--common thoughts expressed in pompous periods.

The teacher should guard against this, and assign to children such
subjects as are within the field of childish observation. A little skill
on his part will soon determine the question which kind of writing shall
prevail in his school. The following specimens, both written with some
skill, will illustrate the two kinds of writing alluded to. Both were
written by pupils of the same age, twelve; one a boy, the other a girl.
The subjects were assigned by the teacher. I need not say that the
following was the writer's first attempt at composition, and that it is
printed without alteration.

THE PAINS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

The joyful sailor embarks on board of his ship, the sails are
spread to catch the playful gale, swift as an arrow he cuts the
rolling wave. A few days thus sporting on the briny wave, when
suddenly the sky is overspread with clouds, the rain descends in
torrents, the sails are lowered, the gale begins, the vessel is
carried with great velocity, and the shrouds unable to support the
tottering mast, gives way to the furious tempest; the vessel is
drove among the rocks, is sprung aleak, the sailor works at the
pumps, till, faint and weary, is heard from below, six feet of
water in the hold, the boats are got ready, but before they are
into them, the vessel dashed against a reef of rocks, some in
despair throw themselves into the sea, others get on the rocks
without any clothes or provisions, and linger a few days, perhaps
weeks or months, living on shell fish or perhaps taken up by some
ship. Others get on pieces of the wreck, and perhaps be cast on
some foreign country, where perhaps he may be taken by the natives,
and sold into slavery where he never more returns.

In regard to the following specimen, it should be stated that when the
subject was assigned, the pupil was directed to see how precisely she
could imitate the language and conversation which two l