account of the poor hare, that was now quite spent, and almost within the reach of her enemies; when the huntsman getting forward, threw down his pole before the dogs.  They were now within eight yards of that game which they had been pursuing for almost as many hours; yet on the signal before mentioned they all made a sudden stand, and though they continued opening as much as before, durst not once attempt to pass beyond the pole.  At the same time Sir Roger rode forward, and alighting, took up the hare in his arms; which he soon after delivered up to one of his servants with an order, if she could be kept alive, to let her go in his great orchard; where it seems he has several of these prisoners of war, who live together in a very comfortable captivity.  I was highly pleased to see the discipline of the pack, and the good nature of the knight, who could not find in his heart to murder a creature that had given him so much diversion.

—­Budgell:  Sir Roger de Coverley Papers.

+Theme XXXIX.+—­Explain one of the following by the use of general narration:—­

1.  Baking bread. 2.  How paper is made. 3.  How to play tennis (or some other game). 4.  Catching trout. 5.  Life at school. 6.  How to pitch curves.

(Have you arranged your details with reference to their proper time-order?  Have you introduced unnecessary details?  Have your paragraphs unity?  Underscore then each time you have used it.)

+69.  Argument.+—­Especially in argument is it evident that language presupposes an audience.  The fact that we argue implies that some one does not agree with us.  The purpose of our argument is to convince some one else of the truth of a proposition which we ourselves believe, and he who wishes to succeed in this must give careful attention to his audience.  The question which must always be in the mind of the writer is, What facts shall I select and in what order shall I present them in order to convince my reader?  The various ways of arguing are more fully treated in a later chapter, but a few of them are given here.

+70.  The Use of Explanation in Argument.+—­In preparing an argument we must consider first the amount of explanation that it will be necessary to make.  We cannot expect one to believe a proposition the meaning of which he does not understand.  Often the explanation alone is sufficient to convince the hearer.  Suppose you are trying to gain your parents’ consent to take some course of study.  They ask for an explanation of the different courses, and when they know what each contains they are already convinced as to which is best for you.