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’n’t lose myself, I know.

Emily.  Well, we’ve got flowers enough, and now I’m tired and want to go home.

Charles.  I don’t; but, if you are tired, we’ll go and find our baskets.

Emily.  Where do you think they are?  We’ve been looking a great while for them.  I know we are lost, for when we went after the flowers we only turned once, and coming back we have turned three times.

Charles.  Have we?  Well, never mind, I guess we shall find them.

Emily.  I’m afraid we sha’n’t.  Do let’s run.

Charles.  Well, so do.  Oh, Emily! here’s a brook, and I am sure we didn’t pass any brook going.

Emily.  Oh dear! we must be lost.  Hark!  Charles, didn’t you hear that dreadful noise just now?  Wasn’t it a bear?

Charles.  Poh!  I should love to see a bear here.  I guess, if he should come near me, I would give him one good slap that would make him feel pretty bad.  I could kill him at the first hit.

Emily.  I should like to see you taking hold of a bear.  Why, didn’t you know bears were stronger than men?  But only see how dark it grows; we sha’n’t see ma to-night, I’m afraid.

Charles.  So am I:  do let’s run some more.

Emily.  Oh, Charles, do you believe we shall ever find the way out of this dreadful long wood?

Charles.  Let’s scream, and see if somebody won’t come.

Emily.  Well (screaming), ma! ma!

Charles (screaming also).  Pa! pa!

Emily.  Oh dear! there’s the sun setting.  It will be dreadfully dark by-and-by, won’t it?

We have given enough for a specimen.  The composition, though faulty in many respects, illustrates the point we had in view.