Talking in low excited voices we would walk rapidly back toward town under the rustle of September leaves, in cool streets just grayed now with that still, that unearthly and magical first light of day which seems suddenly to rediscover the great earth out of darkness, so that the earth emerges with an awful, a glorious sculptural stillness.

At the sculptural still square where at one corner, just emerging into light, my father's shabby little marble shop stood with a ghostly strangeness and familiarity, my brother and I would "catch" the first street-car of the day bound for the "depot" where the circus was--or sometimes we would meet some one we knew, who would give us a lift in his automobile.

Then, having reached the dingy, grimy, and rickety depot section, we would get out, and walk rapidly across the tracks of the station yard, where we could see great flares and steamings from the engines, and hear the crash ahd bump of shifting freight cars, the swift sporadic thunders of a shifting engine, the tolling of bells, the sounds of great trains on the rails.

And to all these familiar sounds, filled with their exultant propheticies of flight, the voyage, morning, and the the shining cities--to all the sharp and thrilling odors of the trains--the smell of cinders, acrid smoke, of musty, rusty freight cars, the clean pine-board of crated produce, and the smells of fresh stored food--oranges, coffee, tangerines and bacon, ham and flour and beef--there would be added now, with an unforgettable magic and familiarity, all the strange sounds and smells of the coming circus.

ESTABLISH TONE IN YOUR WRITING.   In conversation the tone of your voice often indicates the real meaning of the words by emphasizing  your attitude. In writing, conveying tone is often more difficult because you do not have voice or expression.  Do not mistake tone for mood.  While they may  occasionally be the same, depending on what you're writing, mood   generally refers to the writer;  while tone refers to the writing.

Tone is made up of many elements including your choice of words, the details you include, the impressions you try to make and the emotion you want to convey. This is why it is extremly important that you carefully read your own writing, as well as the writing of others to make sure you are clear about  the tone; a hurried reading can  produce misunderstanding.

CHOOSE WORDS THAT CONVEY TONE.  The words you choose are very important in establishing tone. If you choose words that are unpleasant in meaning and connotation, the whole tone of your writing will take on the color of these words.  Conversely, notice how Wolfe conveys a tone of pleasure simply by using words that a boy might in describing a circus. Throughout his writing, Wolfe maintains a tone that illustrates his attitude toward his subject.

ASSIGNMENT    For each topic listed, write one paragraph that expresses the tone indicated. Remember to choose words which appeal to sensory impressions to help you establish a particular tone.

1. A solemn school event (such as a Christmas pageant) that is broken by a humorous incident.  (humorous)
2, A student missionary who's just returned from a year abroad, speaking about their experiences. (excited, joyous)
3. A eulogy for your favorite Religion professor. (respectful, affectionate, humorous)
4. A letter home to your parents describing your first sermon (excited, enthusiastic) or your Homiletics grade (worried, depressed)