The clay upon so much of Mr. Pickwick's coat as was yet
visible bore testimony to the accuracy of this statement; 10
and as the fears of the spectators were still further relieved
by the fat boy's suddenly recollecting that the water was
nowhere more than five feet deep, prodigies of valor were
performed to get him out. After a vast quantity of splashing,
and cracking, and struggling, Mr. Pickwick was at 15
length fairly extricated from his unpleasant position and
once more stood on dry land.

--_Pickwick Papers._

1. The members of the Pickwick Club herein
presented are Mr. Pickwick, a heavy, pompous,
dignified gentleman, and three friends, Messrs.
Snodgrass, Winkle, and Tupman. Characterize each.
Weller is a guide-valet. _Pickwick Papers_ records
the experiences of the Club during a series of
tours.

2. How many episodes are related?

3. Why didn't Winkle admit his inability to skate?
What do you consider the funniest part of the
Winkle story?

4. What is ludicrous about Pickwick's sliding? When
he fell into the water, why was there so little
assistance offered at first, and so much later?

5. If you have had a funny experience of your own
on ice, tell it to the class.

DARIUS GREEN AND HIS FLYING MACHINE

BY JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE

If ever there lived a Yankee lad,
Wise or otherwise, good or bad,
Who, seeing the birds fly, didn't jump
With flapping arms from stake or stump,
Or spreading the tail 5
Of his coat for a sail,
Take a soaring leap from post or rail,
And wonder why
_He_ couldn't fly,
And flap and flutter and wish and try-- 10
If ever you knew a country dunce
Who didn't try that as often as once--
All I can say is, that's a sign
He never would do for a hero of mine.

An aspiring genius was D. Green: 15
The son of a farmer--age fourteen;
His body was long and lank and lean--
Just right for flying, as will be seen;
He had two eyes as bright as a bean,
And a freckled nose that grew between, 20
A lit