children. No. 25, No. 26, and No. 27, Plate 13, suggests useful sketches.

Such topics as the clouds, the mountains, the plain, the valley, the brook, the waterfall, the beach, the ocean, the cliff, and innumerable others are easily and quickly illustrated in this manner. The teacher who in a few moments can take advantage of this graphic language finds the lessons a delight to himself and to the class.

Animal drawing is an extremely interesting lesson for the children, at the same time a rather difficult one for many teachers. On Plate 14 will be found a few drawings suggesting how few lines will indicate the general outline and how few strokes of the side of the chalk will suggest the surface.

There are special days, seasons, or occasions when blackboard drawings may be used to advantage for illustration.

Thanksgiving stories are anticipated by the children, and Thanksgiving pictures as well. These old, old scenes, ever new, appeal to us all whether pupils or teachers. There are the settlement of New England, the first Thanksgiving, the harvest time, the family gathering, and numerous events which suggest illustration. In many schools there is the delightful custom of remembering some unfortunate family. The children bring to the school gifts of clothing, groceries, vegetables, etc., and assist the teacher in packing these good things, and great is their joy in giving.

Larger Image

Plate 15. This drawing will answer as an illustration of harvest time, or perhaps the gift itself to be packed and sent away. Our lesson in object drawing may be from these or similar objects. In this sketch a few vertical strokes give the background and box, similar curving strokes the barrel, and horizontal strokes the floor. The vegetables are drawn by using the suggestions found in No. 9, Plate 3. The kernels of corn are represented by the use of a very small piece of chalk and stroke No. 10, and the husks by using No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7, Plate 2. The details are added with the point of the chalk, and charcoal is used in the shadows.

Larger Image

Christmas time of all seasons in the year is the one the children most love, and there are innumerable stories and Christmas lessons for the little ones. Let me give you a few verses I heard in the first grade and the illustration used.

Christmas-day was coming, Christmas-eve drew near;
Fir-trees they were talking low, at midnight cold and clear,
And this is what the fir-tree said, all in the pale moonlight,
“Now which of us shall chosen be to grace the ‘Holy Night’?”

The tall