Another triumph was hers when the springtime came again. One day her uncle approached her and hesitatingly said, “Ellie, we're going to be awfully cramped when our new summer goods arrive. Guess I'd better have Hoan ride over and give me an estimate on an addition to the store.”
Ellie suppressed the desire to cry out, “I told you so!” Instead she said very calmly: “Why, that's a fine idea, Uncle. Business is picking up, and it would be nice to have more room. I'm glad you thought of it.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
- Why does the story begin so abruptly?
- What is the character of Job Lansing?
- What is the character of Ellie?
- How does the author explain that Ellie has views that do not harmonize with her uncle's views?
- What advantage does the author gain from the setting of the story?
- How does the author make the story seem real?
- Why did the author introduce subordinate characters?
- Divide the story into its component incidents.
- At what point is the reader's interest greatest?
- At what point is Ellie's success certain?
- Which incident has the greatest emphasis?
- How does the author make Ellie the principal character?
- What is the effect of the quick conclusion?
- How does the author make use of conversation as a means of telling events?
- On what one idea is the story founded?
SUBJECTS FOR WRITTEN IMITATION
| 1. Re-Arranging the House | 11. Our Piazza |
| 2. Fixing Up the Office | 12. The Flower Garden |
| 3. Increasing Sales | 13. Selling Hats |
| 4. The New Clerk | 14. Building Up Trade |
| 5. The Old Store Made New | 15. Father's Desk |
| 6. Our Dooryard | 16. Making Study Easy |
| 7. A Back-Yard Garden | 17. Making a Happy Kitchen |
| 8. Making Over the Library | 18. A Successful Charity Fair |
| 9. Father's Stable | 19. The Window Dresser |
| 10. Decorating the School Room | 20. A Good Advertisement |
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING
Write about a subject with which you are familiar, and with which your readers are familiar. Make your principal character a young person. Make your story concern the contrast of two methods of accomplishment, one of which will represent the old and least successful method; the other, the new and more successful. Write a series of three or four briefly told incidents that will lead to a climax. Make free use of conversation. Notice that the author of Getting Up to Date has left out much that might have been said, and has thereby made the story crisp and emphatic. Make your own story condensed and to the point. Pay particular attention to writing a strong ending.
THE LION AND THE MOUSE
By JOSEPH B. AMES