iness.

It is scarcely necessary to say that many of these latter comments and
suggestions are as applicable to reading other kinds of literature as
they are to the reading of stories, but stories form so large a part of
a child's reading that it has seemed best to place them in this
connection. Many essays contain something of narration, and not
infrequently an incident forms the basis of a beautiful lyric. In print
these studies may appear formal and forbidding, but where they are
presented in a conversational manner, they become attractive and
inspiring.

Completed Studies

_The Hare and the Tortoise_

(Volume I, page 71)

A. _The Plot._ The slow Tortoise and the speedy Hare ran a race. The
Hare, full of conceit, loitered and slept by the way, while the Tortoise
won in his plodding fashion.

Incidents:

1. The Hare derides the Tortoise.
2. The Tortoise challenges the Hare.
3. The Fox becomes judge and holds the stakes.
4. The race begins in heat and dust.
5. The Hare takes a rest and a nap.
6. The Tortoise in comfort passes the Hare.
7. The Hare awakes, thinks the Tortoise behind, and stops to eat.
8. The Hare discovers that the Tortoise has passed and begins his
pursuit.
9. The Hare finds the Tortoise at the brook.
10. The Fox awards the money to the Tortoise.

B. _The Persons._ There are three characters in the story: the Hare, the
Tortoise and the Fox.

1. The Hare. He is a small, long-legged animal, who can leap long
distances and run like the wind. In character he is unkind, impudent,
proud and lazy.

2. The Tortoise. He is a clumsy, short-legged turtle, who carries a
heavy box-shell around his body. He cannot jump at all, and he moves
very slowly, flat on the ground, even his tail dragging in the dust.
But he is wise, steady, not easily discouraged, and sticks to his task
till it is done.

3. The Fox. He is a wise old judge, who cannot let the loser go without
a word of advice.

C. _The Scene._ The race takes place along a dusty road on a hot day.
There is a big clover patch, where the Hare rests, and at the end of the
course is a cool and delightful brook or river.

D. _The Author's Purpose and the Lesson._ The author of this old fable
intended to teach the lesson that he puts into the last sentence,
"Steady-going wins the race."

E. _The Method and Style of the Author._ His method is to teach a truth
by means of an interesting story. His style is gr