ll, 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 is 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 little children
really lost in the woods would use. While writing, therefore, her mind
was in pursuit of the natural and the simple, not of the eloquent.

TWO CHILDREN LOST IN THE WOODS.

_Emily_. Look here! see how many berries I've got. I don't believe
you've got so many.

_Charles_. Yes, I'm sure I have. My basket's almost full; and if we
hurry, we shall get ever so many before we go home. So pick away as fast
as you can, Emily.

_Emily_. There, mine is full. Now we'll go and find some flowers for
mother. You know somebody told us there were some red ones close to that
rock.

_Charles_. Well, so we will. We'll leave our baskets here, and come back
and get them.

_Emily_. But if we can't find our way back, what shall we do?

_Charles_. Poh! I can find the way back. I only want a quarter to seven
years old, and I sha