Try to write a theme in which uneducated people talk as they do in real life; as far as possible, fit every person's speech to his character. Below are given some suggestions for this work: Mrs. Wicks borrows Mrs. Hall's flat-irons. Two or three country children quarrel over a hen's nest. The family get ready to go to the Sunday School picnic. Sammie tells his parents that he has been whipped at school. Two old men talk about the crops. One of the pigs gets out of the pen. Two boys go hunting. The farmer has just come back from town. Mrs. Robbins describes the moving-picture show. =An Intelligent Dog=:--Tell who owns the dog, and how much you have had opportunity to observe him. Describe him as vividly as possible. Give some incidents that show his intelligence. Perhaps you can make a story out of this, giving the largest amount of space to an event in which the dog accomplished some notable thing, as protecting property, bringing help in time of danger, or saving his master's life. In this case, try to tell some of the story by means of conversation, as Miss Jewett does. =An Interesting Old Lady=:--Tell where you saw the old lady; or, if you know her well, explain the nature of your acquaintance with her. Describe her rather fully, telling how she looks and what she wears. How does she walk and talk? What is her chief occupation? If possible, quote some of her remarks in her own words. Tell some incidents in which she figures. Try to bring out her most interesting qualities, so that the reader can see them for himself. COLLATERAL READINGS