CHAPTER V.

PERSONAL NARRATIVES.

ANOTHER class of exercises, well suited to develop invention, as well as to break up the stiff formality to which beginners are liable, is that of Personal Narratives. These narratives may either be real, giving an account of something which the writer has experienced, such as an excursion, a trip into the country, and the like; or they may be fictitious, giving an account of some imaginary adventure. These narratives, whether real or fictitious, should be in the first person, and the writers should be encouraged to give the narrative, when practicable, something of the dramatic form, introducing dialogue, telling what was said by the several parties introduced. Some examples will be given, as the best way of illustrating what is meant. They are from writers of various degrees of maturity.

Examples. Subject, How I SPENT MY VACATION.

1. By a Boy of thirteen.

The vacation was the third week in April, and I enjoyed it very much. The greatest fault I had to find with it was that it was too short. Only to think of it! We had been cooped up in boardingschool ever since Christmas, and then to have but one short week to ourselves! But the school broke up on Friday, and we did not have to return until Monday of the week following vacation, so that we had several days over the exact week, and we all made the most of every minute. At least, I did for one. It seemed as if the locomotive could not take me fast enough, although it did go thirty miles an hour. My wishes went faster than old Mr. Steam, and in my thoughts I was home before I started. Why don't they get some machine to go by telegraph, for boys that are in a hurry to go home from boarding-school? All schoolboys, I'm sure, would take the lightning train. Well, I reached the station at last, and there stood Bob, the driver, smiling as a basket of chips, with old Sorrel and the light wagon, ready to whirl us home; and as soon as the train was 27* 313

off, we jumped into the wagon, and in about ten minutes, there we were at the door! I don't think I'll tell you what was the first thing done when I met mother and sister Julia, because only girls talk about such things. But after that was over, what do you think was the next thing I did? Well, you'll say I went with brother Ben to see the new colt. No, you are out there. Well, then, you guess we went to the barn-yard to see the fine brood of chickens that Tom had been writing about. Wrong again. Well, I'll tell you. You see, I had not been home since Christmas, and during that time an important young stranger had made his appearance in the house, and I was anxious to see those cunning bright eyes and funny little pink toes that sister Julia had been writing about in her letters, and my first visit was made to the cradle in mother's room. And, sure enough, there he was, the dearest little brother that any schoolboy could wish to see. But I have reached the end of my paper, and have not yet got through the first day of my vacation. So you will have to guess the rest. Only, I had a real good time and lots of fun. But I was right glad to see the boys again when school reopened.

2. Also by a Boy.

First, I spent it, that is, I spent every particle of it, so that when I arrived back here at Trenton, I had not a large enough piece left to put out at interest, but I had to go to work to earn more. As to the mode of spending it, I spent part in travel, part in play, and the third part in work. As I am studying book-keeping, I suppose you would like to have a bill of particulars.

Commenced business this day, April 9th, 1870, with eight days in hand as paid-up capital.

Set out from Trenton at quarter of nine, arrived at Lambertville, changed cars for Flemington, at which place I arrived at eleven o'clock, took a stroll through the town, saw quite a number of things, returned to the depot in time for the train, and was soon travelling in the direction of Somerville. Arriving at that place, went through the same performances as at Flemington, and at halfpast two was again travelling at the fast rate of four miles an hour, and arrived at my destination at five o'clock. And now for my travels back to Trenton. Reverse this, minus a few jokes, plus a large quantity of rain, and you have the items for which I gave of my vacation.

Play, the next item, or, in other words, Sundries, to include rest, sleep, and play, which last consisted in gathering wild flowers, pull

ing up stones to find shells, and best of all, hunting for salamanders through the marsh without getting my feet wet. The price of this item was of my vacation.

Next item work, for which I gave 3 of my vacation.

These are all the items that are necessary in journalizing the transaction.

3. By a Miss of twelve.

Here it is the very first week of school, and we have to write a composition! Our teacher says we must write about "how I spent my vacation." I spent mine just as I often spend my money, and I have no good of it after it is all gone.

I thought that we would go away just as soon as school broke up, and I told all the girls that they would not see me again until after vacation was over; but we did not go for ever so long. My Ma and my big sisters did not get all of their dresses finished in time. They had been getting ready, it seems to me, for a year, and they had seamstresses and sewing-machines in the house for I don't know how long. But it does take so long now to make anything, when ladies' dresses, and little girls' too, are puffed, and ruffled, and tucked so much, to say nothing of double skirts and panniers. How I did wish they would go and take me to the country with just my old school-frocks! Of course, my young-lady sisters thought I was a foolish little girl, and I suppose I was; but then I know what I want. After they were all ready to go, it was so late in the season that when we arrived at Saratoga, all the good rooms were taken, and we had to be put up at the top of the house in a little bit of a hot room. There was no place to put our beautiful new dresses, or to dress ourselves in. I did not care so much for that; but my sisters were real cross, for they like to see themselves when they dress, and not to have a little bit of a looking-glass that was not much bigger than your face. I had to be dressed up so much, while we stayed at Saratoga, that I could not play and run about as I wanted to, for Ma said I would spoil my new dresses that cost so much money, and had so much work on them. After we left Saratoga we were to visit an aunt of my father's, who lives in the real country. I was so glad when I heard that! for I was sure that I would have some fun there. It was a large house, and the orchards and fields and everything were ever so nice; but it rained almost all the time we had to stay there, and I could not be out of doors hardly any. If I had had real thick boots, and calico dresses, I might have gone out some days when it did not rain; but the ground was wet, and I had to stay in the house

almost all the time: so I did not have much more fun at the farm than I did at Saratoga.

We reached home only the day before school began, and that makes me feel as if I had spent my vacation and had no good of it.

4. By a Miss of thirteen.

Well, it was vacation at last. I thought it would never come. I was going down to Delaware County to spend a week with Aunt Maria. I thought it would be fine fun to travel by myself, but father hunted up a solemn old minister, who engaged to see me safely halfway there, and into the right path for reaching my destination. So he called for me, and off we trotted as gay as two old grasshoppers. Mr. Featherstone was not half so solemn inside as he was out, and by the time we reached the depot I felt quite pleased with him. He bought the tickets and checked the baggage, and when we reached the junction, where I changed cars- - but he went on-he gave me my ticket and a check, and wished me good-by.

I stuck my finger through the leather loop of the check, and held my ticket as tight as a vice, seated myself in the train, and was soon whisking away at a rapid rate. At last the cars stopped at my station, and out I jumped, but never a sign of a carriage of any description awaited my coming, and it slowly dawned on my benighted vision that they had made a mistake. However, there I was, and there I must be. So off I started for the depot-master, keeping one eye roving around in search of my baggage, but it did not appear. However, the man did, and I thrust my check in his face, and demanded my baggage. "Here, Miss," he answered, and dragged forward a rusty old valise, marked M. R. F. Horror of horrors! the old minister had made a mistake, and there was my new blue-silk dress whisking off to Iowa with him, and here was I with his old shirts and pantaloons, and sermons. Catch me making such a mistake as that! Thought I could n't travel alone, did he? Well, I would n't have changed baggage with an old minister, anyhow. Precious lot of good all my bows and ruffles will do him! I felt like making a bonfire of all his sermons, and him too.

But it was of no use to scold the depot-master. He soon comprehended the joke, and almost laughed himself into convulsions.

After that, he said he would get me a wagon and drive me over. Just then I felt in my pocket for my portemonnaie. It was not there, and then flashed across my mind a distinct notion of my putting it down by my plate while I ate my breakfast. I tried to

explain matters to the man, but he only laughed the harder. At last, a nice-looking young gentleman, with a black moustache, came along in a light wagon, and very kindly took me over to Aunt Maria's.

He was very kind, for he telegraphed to Mr. Featherstone about my baggage, and sent his on to him. When we reached aunt's we found them just starting to meet the next train.

Aunt Maria shortened a nice My baggage never came until

Well, I had a good time, after all. gingham wrapper for me to wear. the day before I left for home; but Mr. Frank Linden, the young man with the black moustache, took me back, so there were no more mistakes.

Example.-Subject, A TRIP BY RAIL.

The following narrative is a specimen of the manner in which one may be supposed to write who is more mature, and has had more experience in writing. It is intended to show how many instructive things one may see in the course of an hour's travel by railroad in any direction, or at any hour of the day, if he will only keep his eyes open, and let his mind work upon what he sees. Even though he goes over the same route every day in the year, he may every day see something new. The writer describes a ride in the cars from Philadelphia to Trenton.

By an Adult.

The last time I took my seat in the cars at the Kensington depot, all the passengers were startled by a loud and angry altercation in the adjoining car. Fears of personal violence, perhaps of homicide, began to be excited. A young man, dressed as a gentleman, had forced his way rudely into the car known as the "Ladies' Car," and insisted on remaining there, though not accompanied by a lady. He said, on presenting himself at the entrance, that he had a lady in company who was a little behind him, and having uttered this deliberate falsehood for the purpose of tricking the doorkeeper, coolly walked in and took a seat. The official, faithful to his trust, and finding himself deceived, followed the man into the car, acquainted him civilly with the positive nature of the orders under which the conductors acted, and requested him to leave the car. Then followed the loud bluster and bravado which had attracted the attention of even those in the next car. He never would leave the car alive, NEVER! "Just try to put me out, if you dare! I'd like to see you raise