Mr. George McWhirter Fotheringay doesn’t believe in miracles.
At least, that’s what H. G. Wells tells us in his short story “The Man Who Could Work Miracles.” First published in 1898, it tells of a man who didn’t believe in miracles but ended up doing some anyway.
One day, Mr. Fotheringay argues his case in a local tavern. He defines a miracle as “something contrariwise to the course of nature done by the power of Will, something that couldn’t happen without being specially willed.”
While arguing against miracles, he ends up doing one. 
The oil lamp turns upside down and keeps burning. Later, still shocked, he tells his candle to light itself. It does. Then he speaks into existence a pair of diamond cufflinks at work. He decides to speak them out of existence so people won’t get suspicious.
He eventually gets into a lot of trouble because he doesn’t know how to use his “powerful gift—and an extremely powerful gift.”
Now it’s your turn: Choose any one of the options below.
1. Write a definition of a miracle and then write a paragraph to give examples.
2. Write what you think happened to Mr. Fotheringay. In other words, finish his story.
3. Write to answer this question: “If you could have the power to work a miracle, what would it be and for whom would you do it?” You can write a paragraph, essay, short story in the form of a diary entry, or any other written method of answering the question.
4. Write a short story about a character who has the power to do a miracle.
5. If you asked God for a miracle right now, what would it be?
Teachers, connect with Sharon on Facebook or Pinterest!
Are your writers struggling? Do you wish you could figure out why your children won’t write? Would you love to have a peaceful writing class experience?
Help your struggling writers—and you!—by identifying five hurdles to writing. Then learn practical actions you can take against those hurdles.
This article by me in The Old Schoolhouse magazine is also loaded with links to other helpful posts that will give you and your writers some welcome relief.
Click here to drain some of the tension from your writing class
Frustrated that your students don’t finish an essay or don’t know the steps to complete one? Worry no more! Click here for my latest article in The Informer about a super-practical writing schedule you WILL use!
