quivering at the windows, and the great fields of waving corn, and the sail-dotted river. My room is up among the branches of the trees, and the birds and the butterflies fly in and out, and the green branches shoot in, at the open windows, and the lights and shadows of the clouds come and go with the rest of the company. The scent of the flowers, and indeed of everything that is growing for miles and miles, is most delicious. Ever, my dear Mrs. Fields, your most affectionate friend, CHARLES DICKENS. LETTER TO GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER1 ABRAHAM LINCOLN Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in a log cabin. He attended school all together one year. His direct, clear language which has become a model of pure English for writers of to-day, was acquired through his own persistent efforts, through reading and rereading such books as the Bible, The Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe, and Franklin's Autobiography. By his speeches in a series of debates with Stephen A. Douglas he won a national reputation, and was made president in 1861. Shortly after his second inauguration he was assassinated by a poor half-crazed creature. His best known speech is the Gettysburg Address. See also: Halleck's History of American Literature, pp. 343-345. Schurz's Abraham Lincoln. Nicolay's Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln. Baldwin's Abraham Lincoln. Tarbell's Life of Abraham Lincoln. Creelman's Why We Love Lincoln. GENERAL: January 26, 1863. I have placed you at the head of the army of the Potomac. Of course I have done this upon what appear to me to be sufficient reasons, and yet I think it best for you to know that there are some things in regard to which I am not quite 1 Used by courtesy of the Century Company. satisfied with you. I believe you to be a brave and skillful soldier, which of course I like. I also believe you do not mix politics with your profession, in which you are right. You have confidence in yourself, which is a valuable if not an indispensable quality. You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm; but I think that during General Burnside's command of the army you have taken counsel of your ambition and thwarted him as much as you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the army and the government needed a dictator. Of course it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. generals who gain success can set up dictators. ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship. The government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the army, of criticizing their commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can to put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit prevails in it; and now beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go forward and give us victories. Yours very truly, Only those What I now What did Lincoln think was the duty that an officer owed a superior officer? Does he criticize General Hooker's conduct? Has General Hooker criticized Lincoln's? Does this prevent Lincoln's conferring a great honor upon General Hooker? Does Lincoln show any fine trait at this point? What trait of his own may General Hooker have reason to fear in the soldiers under him? What are some of General Hooker's good traits? Which does Lincoln caution him about? A letter usually shows the writer's character. Does this show Lincoln's? Judging from the letter, what are some of Lincoln's traits? Three qualities are necessary for all letters; they must be expressed clearly, they must be written neatly, they must be written legibly. In social letter writing, one more valuable quality is - the letter should - be interesting. What qualities can you find in this group of letters? All of the writers are famous, yet note what subjects they thought were interesting to write about, and how simply they wrote. How does Lincoln's letter differ from the others? LETTER HINTS Explain as if to a blind child your method of writing a letter. Try to be as clear and exact as Helen Keller. Write a letter explaining every step in the making of some article, closing with an offer to write further details if your friend does not understand your description. Your friend intends giving a birthday party which you cannot attend. Write a letter expressing your regret that you cannot accept his invitation, and wishing him “many happy returns.” Write a letter full of good wishes to accompany a birthday gift. You intend giving a birthday party. Write inviting a friend to come, and saying whether it will be a formal or an informal affair. You have been visiting in another town. On your return home, write to your hostess (i.e. the mother of your friend), thanking her for your pleasant visit, and telling some incident of your journey that you think will be interesting. You have moved to a new home in another city. Write to your friends at the old home, describing the new house, and the new acquaintances that have been friendly. You have seen a special kind of pocket knife in a shop when visiting a friend. Write to him to buy the knife for you. Describe it. Tell him where it can be bought, how you want it sent. Be sure to state in what form you are sending the money, i.e. by stamps, or money order, and that you are adding your friend's street-car fare to the price of the knife. Close by expressing your regret at giving trouble, and your appreciation of his kindness in attending to the matter. You want to sell some weekly paper in your town. Write to the firm that publishes the paper, asking for the right. State your qualifications as to age, success, if any, in a similar line and your reasons for thinking you will succeed in this undertaking, then stop and sign yourself "Very truly yours," followed by your name on the line below. Write a letter to the principal of your school asking for a recommendation that you can use in applying for a position. Write thanking him for his letter of recommendation. A schoolmate is ill. Write expressing your sympathy, and offering your services. Close with the school news. You wish a friend to become a member of the literary society or club to which you belong, but some of the members have objected. Write to the committee on membership, admitting that your friend has faults, but showing that he has qualities that would make his election beneficial both for him and for the club. Write an imaginary reply by General Hooker to Lincoln's letter. SUGGESTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL READINGS Lincoln, the Great Commoner (verse). Edwin Markham. Letters from Colonial Children. Eva March Tappan. Life and Letters of Miss Alcott. E. D. Cheney. ANNABEL LEE EDGAR ALLAN POE [For biographical sketch see page 122.] It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of Annabel Lee; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea, But we loved with a love that was more than love, I and my Annabel Lee; With a love that the wingèd seraphs of heaven And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling To shut her up in a sepulcher In this kingdom by the sea. The angels, not half so happy in heaven, |