,illustration3 ,,story-,,telling ,,time ,george ,cruikshank ,,stories ,,to ,,tell ,,to ,,children ,,fifty-,,four ,,stories ,,with ,,some ,,suggestions ,,for ,,telling ,,by ,,sara ,,cone ,,bryant ,,author ,,of ,,how ,,to ,,tell ,,stories ,,to ,,children ,illustration ,,london ,,george ,g4 ,,harrap ,,co4 ,,ltd4 #b #c ,,portsmouth ,,street ,,kingsway ,w4,c4 #aiah ,,the ,,riverside ,,press ,,limited1 ,,edinburgh ,,great ,,britain ,,preface ,this little book came into being at the instance of my teaching friends4 ,their requests for more stories of the kind which were given in ,how to ,tell ,stories to ,children1 and especially their urging that the stories they liked1 in my telling1 should be set down in print1 seemed to justify the hope that the collection would be genuinely useful to them4 ,that it may be1 is the earnest desire with which it is offered4 ,i hope it will be found to contain some stories which are new to the teachers and friends of little children1 and some which are familiar1 but in an easier form for telling than is usual4 ,and ,i shall indeed be content if its value to those who read it is proportionate to the pleasure and mental stimulus which has come to me in the work among pupils and teachers which accompanied its preparation4 ,among the publishers and authors whose kindness enabled me to quote material are ,mr ,john ,murray and ,miss ,mary ,frere1 to whom ,i am indebted for the four stories of the ,little ,jackal2 ,messrs ,little1 ,brown ,company and the ,alcott heirs1 who allowed me the use of ,louisa ,alcott's poem1 ,my ,kingdom2 and ,dr ,douglas ,hyde1 whose letter of permission to use his ,irish material was in itself a literary treasure4 ,to the charming friend who gave me the outline of ,epaminondas1 as told her by her own ,mammy1 ,i owe a deeper debt1 for ,epaminondas has carried joy since then into more schools and homes than ,i dare to enumerate4 ,and to all the others1--friends in whom the child-heart lingers1--my thanks for the laughs we have had1 the discussions we have warmed to1 the helps you have given4 ,may you never lack the right story at the right time1 or a child to love you for telling it6 ,,sara ,,cone ,,bryant ,,contents ,,page ,,some ,,suggestions ,,for ,,the ,,story-,,teller ,additional ,suggestions for ,method--,two ,valuable ,types of ,story--,a ,graded ,list of ,stories to dramatise and retell #aa ,,story-,,telling ,,in ,,teaching ,,english ,importance of ,oral ,methods--,opportunity of the ,primary ,grades--,points to be observed in dramatising and retelling1 in connection with ,english #bg ,,stories ,,to ,,tell ,,to ,,children ,,two ,,little ,,riddles ,,in ,,rhyme #dc ,,the ,,little ,,yellow ,,tulip #dc ,,the ,,cock-,a-,,doo-,,dle-,,doo #de ,,the ,,cloud #df ,,the ,,little ,,red ,,hen #dh ,,the ,,gingerbread ,,man #di ,,the ,,little ,,jackals ,,and ,,the ,,lion #ee ,,the ,,country ,,mouse ,,and ,,the ,,city ,,mouse #eh ,,little ,,jack ,,rollaround #fb ,,how ,,brother ,,rabbit ,,fooled ,,the ,,whale ,,and ,,the ,,elephant #ff ,,the ,,little ,,half-,,chick #gj ,,the ,,blackberry-,,bush #gd ,,the ,,fairies #gh ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,the ,,little ,,field ,,mouse #hj ,,another ,,little ,,red ,,hen #hc ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,little ,,rid ,,hin #hg ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,epaminondas ,,and ,,his ,,auntie #ib ,,the ,,boy ,,who ,,cried ,,wolf6 #if ,,the ,,frog ,,king #ig ,,the ,,sun ,,and ,,the ,,wind #ii ,,the ,,little ,,jackal ,,and ,,the ,,alligator #ajj ,,the ,,larks ,,in ,,the ,,cornfield #ajf ,a ,,true ,,story ,,about ,a ,,girl 7,louisa ,alcott7 #ajh ,,my ,,kingdom #aac ,,piccola #aae ,,the ,,little ,,fir ,,tree #aaf ,,how ,,moses ,,was ,,saved #abb ,,the ,,ten ,,fairies #abf ,,the ,,elves ,,and ,,the ,,shoemaker #acj ,,who ,,killed ,,the ,,otter',s ,,babies8 #acc ,,early #acf ,,the ,,brahmin1 ,,the ,,tiger1 ,,and ,,the ,,jackal #acg ,,the ,,little ,,jackal ,,and ,,the ,,camel #add ,,the ,,gulls ,,of ,,salt ,,lake #adg ,,the ,,nightingale #aej ,,margery',s ,,garden #aei ,,the ,,little ,,cotyledons #aga ,,the ,,talkative ,,tortoise #agf ,,robert ,,of ,,sicily #agh ,,the ,,jealous ,,courtiers #ahe ,,prince ,,cherry #ahi ,,the ,,gold ,,in ,,the ,,orchard #aii ,,margaret ,,of ,,new ,,orleans #bjj ,,the ,,dagda',s ,,harp #bjd ,,the ,,tailor ,,and ,,the ,,three ,,beasts #bjh ,,how ,,the ,,sea ,,became ,,salt #bae ,,the ,,castle ,,of ,,fortune #bbj ,,david ,,and ,,goliath #bbg ,,the ,,shepherd',s ,,song #bcc ,,the ,,hidden ,,servants #bcf ,,little ,,gottlieb #bdc ,,how ,,the ,,fir ,,tree ,,became ,,the ,,christmas ,,tree #bdf ,,the ,,diamond ,,and ,,the ,,dewdrop #bdh ,,some ,,suggestions ,,for ,,the ,,story-,,teller ,concerning the fundamental points of method in telling a story1 ,i have little to add to the principles which ,i have already stated#a as necessary1 in my opinion1 in the book of which this is1 in a way1 the continuation4 ,but in the two years which have passed since that book was written1 ,i have had the happiness of working on stories and the telling of them1 among teachers and students in many parts1 and in that experience certain secondary points of method have come to seem more important1 or at least more in need of emphasis1 than they did before4 ,as so often happens1 ,i had assumed that those things are taken for granted2 whereas1 to the beginner or the teacher not naturally a story-teller1 the secondary or implied technique is often of greater difficulty than the mastery of underlying principles4 ,the few suggestions which follow are of this practical1 obvious kind4 ,take your story seriously4 ,no matter how riotously absurd it is1 or how full of inane repetition1 remember1 if it is good enough to tell1 it is a real story1 and must be treated with respect4 ,if you cannot feel so toward it1 do not tell it4 ,have faith in the story1 and in the attitude of the children toward it and you4 ,if you fail in this1 the immediate result will be a touch of shamefacedness1 affecting your manner unfavourably1 and1 probably1 influencing your accuracy and imaginative vividness4 ,perhaps ,i can make the point clearer by telling you about one of the girls in a class which was studying stories last winter2 ,i feel sure if she or any of her fellow-students recognises the incident1 she will not resent being made to serve the good cause1 even in the unattractive guise of a warning example4 ,a few members of the class had prepared the story of ,the ,fisherman and his ,wife4 ,the first girl called on was evidently inclined to feel that it was rather a foolish story4 ,she tried to tell it well1 but there were parts of it which produced in her the touch of shamefacedness to which ,i have referred4 ,when she came to the rhyme1-- ,o man of the sea1 come1 listen to me1 ,for ,alice1 my wife1 the plague of my life1 ,has sent me to beg a boon of thee1 she said it rather rapidly4 ,at the first repetition she said it still more rapidly2 the next time she came to the jingle she said it so fast and so low that it was unintelligible2 and the next recurrence was too much for her4 ,with a blush and a hesitating smile she said1 ,and he said that same thing1 you know6 ,of course everybody laughed1 and of course the thread of interest and illusion was hopelessly broken for everybody4 ,now1 anyone who chanced to hear ,miss ,shedlock8,a tell that same story will remember that the absurd rhyme gave great opportunity for expression1 in its very repetition2 each time that the fisherman came to the water's edge his chagrin and unwillingness were greater1 and his summons to the magic fish mirrored his feeling4 ,the jingle is foolish2 that is a part of the charm4 ,but if the person who tells it feels foolish1 there is no charm at all6 ,it is the same principle which applies to any assemblage3 if the speaker has the air of finding what he has to say absurd or unworthy of effort1 the audience naturally tends to follow his lead1 and find it not worth listening to4 ,let me urge1 then1 take your story seriously4 ,next1 take your time4 ,this suggestion needs explaining1 perhaps4 ,it does not mean license,a to dawdle4 ,nothing is much more annoying in a speaker than too great deliberateness,a or than hesitation of speech4 ,but it means a quiet,a realisation of the fact that the floor is yours1 everybody wants to hear you1 there is time,a enough for every point and shade of meaning1 and no one will think the story too long4 ,this mental attitude must underlie proper control of speed4 ,never hurry4 ,a business-like leisure is the true attitude of the story-teller4 ,and the result is best attained by concentrating one's attention on the episodes of the story4 ,pass lightly1 and comparatively swiftly1 over the portions between actual episodes1 but take all the time you need for the elaboration of those4 ,and above all1 do not feel hurried4 ,the next suggestion is eminently plain and practical1 if not an all too obvious one4 ,it is this3 if all your preparation and confidence fails you at the crucial moment1 and memory plays the part of traitor in some particular1--if1 in short1 you blunder on a detail of the story1 never admit it4 ,if it was an unimportant detail which you misstated1 pass right on1 accepting whatever you said1 and continuing with it2 if you have been so unfortunate as to omit a fact which was a necessary link in the chain1 put it in1 later1 as skilfully as you can1 and with as deceptive an appearance of its being in the intended order2 but never take the children behind the scenes1 and let them hear the creaking of your mental machinery4 ,you must be infallible4 ,you must be in the secret of the mystery1 and admit your audience on somewhat unequal terms2 they should have no creeping doubts as to your complete initiation into the secrets of the happenings you relate4 ,plainly1 there can be lapses of memory so complete1 so all-embracing1 that frank failure is the only outcome2 but these are so few as not to need consideration1 when dealing with so simple material as that of children's stories4 ,there are times1 too1 before an adult audience1 when a speaker can afford to let his hearers be amused with him over a chance mistake4 ,but with children it is most unwise to break the spell of the entertainment in that way4 ,consider1 in the matter of a detail of action or description1 how absolutely unimportant the mere accuracy is1 compared with the effect of smoothness and the enjoyment of the hearers4 ,they will not remember the detail1 for good or evil1 half so long as they will remember the fact that you did not know it4 ,so1 for their sakes1 as well as for the success of your story1 cover your slips of memory1 and let them be as if they were not4 ,and now ,i come to two points in method which have to do especially with humorous stories4 ,the first is the power of initiating the appreciation of the joke4 ,every natural humorist does this by instinct1 and the value of the power to a story-teller can hardly be overestimated4 ,to initiate appreciation does not mean that one necessarily gives way to mirth1 though even that is sometimes natural and effective2 one merely feels the approach of the humorous climax1 and subtly suggests to the hearers that it will soon be time to laugh4 ,the suggestion usually comes in the form of facial expression1 and in the tone4 ,and children are so much simpler1 and so much more accustomed to following another's lead than their elders1 that the expression can be much more outright and unguarded than would be permissible with a mature audience4 ,children like to feel the joke coming1 in this way2 they love the anticipation of a laugh1 and they will begin to dimple1 often1 at your first unconscious suggestion of humour4 ,if it is lacking1 they are sometimes afraid to follow their own instincts4 ,especially when you are facing an audience of grown people and children together1 you will find that the latter are very hesitant about initiating their own expression of humour4 ,it is more difficult to make them forget their surroundings then1 and more desirable to give them a happy lead4 ,often at the funniest point you will see some small listener in an agony of endeavour to cloak the mirth which he--poor mite--fears to be indecorous4 ,let him see that it is the thing to laugh1 and that everybody is going to4 ,having so stimulated the appreciation of the humorous climax1 it is important to give your hearers time for the full savour of the jest to permeate their consciousness4 ,it is really robbing an audience of its rights1 to pass so quickly from one point to another that the mind must lose a new one if it lingers to take in the old4 ,every vital point in a tale must be given a certain amount of time3 by an anticipatory pause1 by some form of vocal or repetitive emphasis1 and by actual time4 ,but even more than other tales does the funny story demand this4 ,it cannot be funny without it4 ,everyone who is familiar with the theatre must have noticed how careful all comedians are to give this pause for appreciation and laughter4 ,often the opportunity is crudely given1 or too liberally offered2 and that offends4 ,but in a reasonable degree the practice is undoubtedly necessary to any form of humorous expression4 ,a remarkably good example of the type of humorous story to which these principles of method apply1 is the story of ,epaminondas on page #ib4 ,it will be plain to any reader that all the several funny crises are of the perfectly unmistakable sort children like1 and that1 moreover1 these funny spots are not only easy to see2 they are easy to foresee4 ,the teller can hardly help sharing the joke in advance1 and the tale is an excellent one with which to practise for power in the points mentioned4 ,epaminondas is a valuable little rascal from other points of view1 and ,i mean to return to him1 to point a moral4 ,but at the moment ,i want space for a word or two about the matter of variety of subject and style in school stories4 ,there are two wholly different kinds of story which are equally necessary for children1 ,i believe1 and which ought to be given in about the proportion of one to three1 in favour of the second kind2 ,i make the ratio uneven because the first kind is more dominating in its effect4 ,the first kind is represented by such stories as ,the ,pig ,brother1#a which has now grown so familiar to teachers that it will serve for illustration without repetition here4 ,it is the type of story which specifically teaches a certain ethical or conduct lesson1 in the form of a fable or an allegory1--it passes on to the child the conclusions as to conduct and character1 to which the race has1 in general1 attained through centuries of experience and moralising4 ,the story becomes an inescapable part of the outfit of received ideas on manners and morals which is a necessary possession of the heir of civilisation4 ,children do not object to these stories in the least1 if the stories are good ones4 ,they accept them with the relish which nature seems ever to have for all truly nourishing material4 ,and the little tales are one of the media through which we elders may transmit some very slight share of the benefit received by us1 in turn1 from actual or transmitted experience4 ,the second kind has no preconceived moral to offer1 makes no attempt to affect judgment or to pass on a standard4 ,it simply presents a picture of life1 usually in fable or poetic image1 and says to the hearer1 ,these things are4 ,the hearer1 then1 consciously or otherwise1 passes judgment on the facts4 ,his mind says1 ,these things are good2 or1 ,this was good1 and that1 bad2 or1 ,this thing is desirable1 or the contrary4 ,the story of ,the ,little ,jackal and the ,alligator 7page #ajj7 is a good illustration of this type4 ,it is a character-story4 ,in the naive form of a folk tale1 it doubtless embodies the observations of a seeing eye1 in a country and time when the little jackal and the great alligator were even more vivid images of certain human characters than they now are4 ,again and again1 surely1 the author or authors of the tales must have seen the weak1 small1 clever being triumph over the bulky1 well-accoutred1 stupid adversary4 ,again and again they had laughed at the discomfiture of the latter1 perhaps rejoicing in it the more because it removed fear from their own houses4 ,and probably never had they concerned themselves particularly with the basic ethics of the struggle4 ,it was simply one of the things they saw4 ,it was life4 ,so they made a picture of it4 ,the folk tale so made1 and of such character1 comes to the child somewhat as an unprejudiced newspaper account of to-day's happenings comes to us4 ,it pleads no cause1 except through its contents2 it exercises no intentioned influence on our moral judgment2 it is there1 as life is there1 to be seen and judged4 ,and only through such seeing and judging can the individual perception attain to anything of power or originality4 ,just as a certain amount of received ideas is necessary to sane development1 so is a definite opportunity for first-hand judgments essential to power4 ,in this epoch of well-trained minds we run some risk of an inundation of accepted ethics4 ,the mind which can make independent judgments1 can look at new facts with fresh vision1 and reach conclusions with simplicity1 is the perennial power in the world4 ,and this is the mind we are not noticeably successful in developing1 in our system of schooling4 ,let us at least have its needs before our consciousness1 in our attempts to supplement the regular studies of school by such side-activities as story-telling4 ,let us give the children a fair proportion of stories which stimulate independent moral and practical decisions4 ,and now for a brief return to our little black friend4 ,epaminondas belongs to a very large1 very ancient type of funny story3 the tale in which the jest depends wholly on an abnormal degree of stupidity on the part of the hero4 ,every race which produces stories seems to have found this theme a natural outlet for its childlike laughter4 ,the stupidity of ,lazy ,jack1 of ,big ,claus1 of the ,good ,man1 of ,clever ,alice1 all have their counterparts in the folly of the small ,epaminondas4 ,evidently1 such stories have served a purpose in the education of the race4 ,while the exaggeration of familiar attributes easily awakens mirth in a simple mind1 it does more3 it teaches practical lessons of wisdom and discretion4 ,and possibly the lesson was the original cause of the story4 ,not long ago1 ,i happened upon an instance of the teaching power of these nonsense tales1 so amusing and convincing that ,i cannot forbear to share it4 ,a primary teacher who heard me tell ,epaminondas one evening1 told it to her pupils the next morning1 with great effect4 ,a young teacher who was observing in the room at the time told me what befell4 ,she said the children laughed very heartily over the story1 and evidently liked it much4 ,about an hour later1 one of them was sent to the board to do a little problem4 ,it happened that the child made an excessively foolish mistake1 and did not notice it4 ,as he glanced at the teacher for the familiar smile of encouragement1 she simply raised her hands1 and ejaculated1 ',for the law's sake6' ,it was sufficient4 ,the child took the cue instantly4 ,he looked hastily at his work1 broke into an irrepressible giggle1 rubbed the figures out1 without a word1 and began again4 ,and the whole class entered into the joke with the gusto of fellow-fools1 for once wise4 ,it is safe to assume that the child in question will make fewer needless mistakes for a long time because of the wholesome reminder of his likeness with one who ain't got the sense he was born with4 ,and what occurred so visibly in his case goes on quietly in the hidden recesses of the mind in many cases4 ,one ,epaminondas is worth three lectures4 ,i wish there were more of such funny little tales in the world's literature1 all ready1 as this one is1 for telling to the youngest of our listeners4 ,but masterpieces are few in any line1 and stories for telling are no exception2 it took generations1 probably1 to make this one4 ,the demand for new sources of supply comes steadily from teachers and mothers1 and is the more insistent because so often met by the disappointing recommendations of books which prove to be for reading only1 rather than for telling4 ,for the benefit of suggestion to teachers in schools where story-telling is newly or not yet introduced in systematic form1 ,i am glad to append the following list of additional stories which will be found to be equally tellable and likeable4 ,the list is not mine1 although it embodies some of my suggestions4 ,i offer it merely as a practical result of the effort to equalise and extend the story-hour throughout the schools4 ,the list is roughly graded in four groups4 ,stories in the present volume have been excluded4 ,,stories ,,for ,,reproduction ,,first ,,group ,the ,lion and the ,mouse1 ,a,esop ,the ,fox and the ,crow1 ,a,esop ,the ,hare and the ,tortoise1 ,a,esop ,the ,wolf and the ,kid1 ,a,esop ,the ,crow and the ,pitcher1 ,a,esop ,the ,fox and the ,grapes1 ,a,esop ,the ,dog and his ,shadow1 ,a,esop ,the ,hare and the ,hound1 ,a,esop ,the ,wolf and the ,crane1 ,a,esop ,the ,elf and the ,dormouse#a ,the ,three ,little ,pigs#a ,henny ,penny ,the ,three ,bears#a ,why the ,woodpecker's ,head is ,red#b ,little ,red ,riding-,hood ,the ,cat and ,the ,mouse1 ,grimm ,snow ,white and ,rose ,red1 ,grimm ,,second ,,group ,the ,boasting ,traveller1 ,a,esop ,the ,wolf and the ,fox1 ,a,esop ,the ,boy and the ,filberts1 ,a,esop ,hercules and the ,wagoner1 ,a,esop ,the ,shepherd ,boy and the ,wolf1 ,a,esop ,the ,star ,dollars#a ,the ,pied ,piper#a ,king ,midas#a ,raggylug#a ,peter ,rabbit1 ,b4 ,potter ,the ,tar-,baby1 ,joel ,chandler ,harris 7from ,uncle ,remus7 ,the ,tailor and the ,elephant ,the ,blind ,men and the ,elephant 7,harrap's ,dramatic ,readers1 ,book ,,ii47 ,the ,valiant ,blackbird1 ,wm4 ,canton 7from ,the ,true ,annals of ,fairyland7 ,the ,wolf and the ,goslings1 ,grimm ,the ,ugly ,duckling1 ,andersen ,the ,old ,woman and ,her ,pig#a ,the ,cat and the ,parrot#a ,,third ,,group ,little ,black ,sambo ,why the ,bear has a ,short ,tail#b ,why the ,fox has a ,white ,tip to his ,tail#b ,why the ,wren flies low#b ,jack and the ,beanstalk ,the ,golden ,fleece#c ,the ,pig ,brother#a ,the ,ugly ,duckling1 ,andersen ,how the ,mole became ,blind#b ,how ,fire was brought to the ,indians#b ,echo#d ,why the ,morning ,glory ,climbs#a ,the ,bay of ,winds#c ,pandora's ,box#d ,the ,little ,match ,girl1 ,andersen ,the ,story of ,wylie#a ,,fourth ,,group ,arachne#d ,the ,nuernberg ,stove#c ,clytie#c ,latona and the ,frogs#d ,dick ,whittington and his ,cat ,proserpine#d ,the ,bell of ,atri#e ,the ,land ,east of the ,sun and ,west of the ,moon1 ,edgar 7from ,stories from the ,earthly ,paradise7 ,the ,guardians of the ,door1 ,wm4 ,canton 7from ,a ,child's ,book of ,saints7 ,the ,little ,lame ,prince1 ,mrs ,craik ,narcissus#e ,the ,little ,hero of ,haarlem#f ,the ,bar of ,gold#e ,the ,golden ,fish#e ,saint ,christopher#e ,the ,four ,seasons#g ,a further source for excellent stories put into a form which is suggestive for purposes of retelling to children is the series of graded reading books known as ,harrap's ,dramatic ,readers4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,how to ,tell ,stories to ,children4 #b ,in ,how to ,tell ,stories to ,children1 page #ade4 #c ,how to ,tell ,stories to ,children4 #d ,nature ,myths1 ,florence ,holbrook4 #e ,favourite ,greek ,myths1 ,lilian ,s4 ,hyde4 #f ,legends of ,greece and ,rome1 ,g4,h4 ,kupfer4 #g ,folk ,tales from ,many ,lands1 ,lilian ,gask4 ,,story-,,telling ,,in ,,teaching ,,english ,i have to speak now of a phase of elementary education which lies very close to my warmest interest1 which1 indeed1 could easily become an active hobby if other interests did not beneficently tug at my skirts when ,i am minded to mount and ride too wildly4 ,it is the hobby of many of you who are teachers1 also1 and ,i know you want to hear it discussed4 ,i mean the growing effort to teach ,english and ,english literature to children in the natural way3 by speaking and hearing1--orally4 ,the structure of the language and the choice of words are dark matters to most of our young people2 this has long been acknowledged and struggled against4 ,but even darker1 and quite equally destructive to ,english expression1 is their state of mind regarding pronunciation1 enunciation1 and voice4 ,it is the essential connection of these elements with ,english speech that we have been so slow to realise4 ,we have felt that they were externals1 desirable but not necessary adjuncts--pretty tags of an exceptional gift or culture4 ,many an intelligent person will say1 ,i don't care much about how you say a thing2 it is what you say that counts4 ,he cannot see that voice and enunciation and pronunciation are essentials4 ,but they are4 ,you can no more help affecting the meaning of your words by the way you say them than you can prevent the expressions of your face from carrying a message2 the message may be perverted by an uncouth habit1 but it will no less surely insist on recognition4 ,the fact is that speech is a method of carrying ideas from one human soul to another1 by way of the ear4 ,and these ideas are very complex4 ,they are not unmixed emanations of pure intellect1 transmitted to pure intellect3 they are compounded of emotions1 thoughts1 fancies1 and are enhanced or impeded in transmission by the use of word-symbols which have acquired1 by association1 infinite complexities in themselves4 ,the mood of the moment1 the especial weight of a turn of thought1 the desire of the speaker to share his exact soul-concept with you1--these seek far more subtle means than the mere rendering of certain vocal signs2 they demand such variations and delicate adjustments of sound as will inevitably affect the listening mind with the response desired4 ,there is no what without the how in speech4 ,the same written sentence becomes two diametrically opposite ideas1 given opposing inflection and accompanying voice-effect4 ,he stood in the front rank of the battle can be made praiseful affirmation1 scornful scepticism1 or simple question1 by a simple varying of voice and inflection4 ,this is the more unmistakable way in which the how affects the what4 ,just as true is the less obvious fact4 ,the same written sentiment1 spoken by a ,lord ,rosebery and by a man from ,white chapel or an uneducated ploughman1 is not the same to the listener4 ,in one case the sentiment comes to the mind's ear with certain completing and enhancing qualities of sound which give it accuracy and poignancy4 ,the words themselves retain all their possible suggestiveness in the speaker's just and clear enunciation1 and have a borrowed beauty1 besides1 from the associations of fine habit betrayed in the voice and manner of speech4 ,and1 further1 the immense personal equation shows itself in the beauty and power of the vocal expressiveness1 which carries shades of meaning1 unguessed delicacies of emotion1 intimations of beauty1 to every ear4 ,in the other case1 the thought is clouded by unavoidable suggestions of ignorance and ugliness1 brought by the pronunciation and voice1 even to an unanalytical ear2 the meaning is obscured by inaccurate inflection and uncertain or corrupt enunciation2 but1 worst of all1 the personal atmosphere1 the aroma1 of the idea has been lost in transmission through a clumsy1 ill-fitted medium4 ,the thing said may look the same on a printed page1 but it is not the same when spoken4 ,and it is the spoken sentence which is the original and the usual mode of communication4 ,the widespread poverty of expression in ,english1 which is thus a matter of how1 and to which we are awakening1 must be corrected chiefly1 at least at first1 by the elementary schools4 ,the home is the ideal place for it1 but the average home in many districts is no longer a possible place for it4 ,the child of parents poorly educated and bred in limited circumstances1 the child of powerful provincial influences1 must all depend on the school for standards of ,english4 ,and it is the elementary school which must meet the need1 if it is to be met at all4 ,for the conception of ,english expression which ,i am talking of can find no mode of instruction adequate to its meaning1 save in constant appeal to the ear1 at an age so early that unconscious habit is formed4 ,no rules1 no analytical instruction in later development1 can accomplish what is needed4 ,hearing and speaking2 imitating1 unwittingly and wittingly1 a good model2 it is to this method we must look for redemption from present conditions4 ,i believe we are on the eve of a real revolution in ,english teaching1--only it is a revolution which will not break the peace4 ,it will introduce a larger proportion of oral work than has hitherto been contemplated in secondary school work4 ,it will recognise the fact that ,english is primarily something spoken with the mouth and heard with the ear4 ,and this recognition will have greatest weight in the systems of elementary teaching4 ,it is as an aid in oral teaching of ,english that story-telling in school finds its second value2 ethics is the first ground of its usefulness1 ,english the second1--and after these1 the others4 ,it is1 too1 for the oral uses that the secondary forms of story-telling are so available4 ,by secondary ,i mean those devices which ,i have tried to indicate1 as used by many teachers1 in the chapter on ,specific ,schoolroom ,uses1 in my earlier book4 ,they are retelling1 dramatisation1 and forms of seat-work4 ,all of these are a great power in the hands of a wise teacher4 ,if combined with much attention to voice and enunciation in the recital of poetry1 and with much good reading aloud by the teacher1 they will go far toward setting a standard and developing good habit4 ,but their provinces must not be confused or overestimated4 ,i trust ,i may be pardoned for offering a caution or two to the enthusiastic advocate of these methods1--cautions the need of which has been forced upon me1 in experience with schools4 ,a teacher who uses the oral story as an ,english feature with little children must never lose sight of the fact that it is an aid in unconscious development2 not a factor in studied1 conscious improvement4 ,this truth cannot be too strongly realised4 ,other exercises1 in sufficiency1 give the opportunity for regulated effort for definite results1 but the story is one of the play-forces4 ,its use in ,english teaching is most valuable when the teacher has a keen appreciation of the natural order of growth in the art of expression3 that art requires1 as the old rhetorics used often to put it1 a natural facility1 succeeded by an acquired difficulty4 ,in other words1 the power of expression depends1 first1 on something more fundamental than the art-element2 the basis of it is something to say1 accompanied by an urgent desire to say it1 and yielded to with freedom2 only after this stage is reached can the art-phase be of any use4 ,the why and how1 the analytical and constructive phases1 have no natural place in this first vital epoch4 ,precisely here1 however1 does the dramatising of stories and the paper-cutting1 etc41 become useful4 ,a fine and thoughtful principal of a great school asked me1 recently1 with real concern1 about the growing use of such devices4 ,he said1 ,paper-cutting is good1 but what has it to do with ,english8 ,and then he added1 ,the children use abominable language when they play the stories2 can that directly aid them to speak good ,english8 ,his observation was close and correct1 and his conservatism more valuable than the enthusiasm of some of his colleagues who have advocated sweeping use of the supplementary work4 ,but his point of view ignored the basis of expression1 which is to my mind so important4 ,paper-cutting is external to ,english1 of course4 ,its only connection is in its power to correlate different forms of expression1 and to react on speech-expression through sense-stimulus4 ,but playing the story is a closer relative to ,english than this4 ,it helps1 amazingly1 in giving the something to say1 the urgent desire to say it1 and the freedom in trying4 ,never mind the crudities1--at least1 at the time2 work only for joyous freedom1 inventiveness1 and natural forms of reproduction of the ideas given4 ,look for very gradual changes in speech1 through the permeating power of imitation1 but do not forget that this is the stage of expression which inevitably precedes art4 ,all this will mean that no corrections are made1 except in flagrant cases of slang or grammar1 though all bad slips are mentally noted1 for introduction at a more favourable time4 ,it will mean that the teacher will respect the continuity of thought and interest as completely as she would wish an audience to respect her occasional prosy periods if she were reading a report4 ,she will remember1 of course1 that she is not training actors for amateur theatricals1 however tempting her show-material may be2 she is simply letting the children play with expression1 just as a gymnasium teacher introduces muscular play1--for power through relaxation4 ,when the time comes that the actors lose their unconsciousness it is the end of the story-play4 ,drilled work1 the beginning of the art1 is then the necessity4 ,i have indicated that the children may be left undisturbed in their crudities and occasional absurdities4 ,the teacher1 on the other hand1 must avoid1 with great judgment1 certain absurdities which can easily be initiated by her4 ,the first direful possibility is in the choice of material4 ,it is very desirable that children should not be allowed to dramatise stories of a kind so poetic1 so delicate1 or so potentially valuable that the material is in danger of losing future beauty to the pupils through its present crude handling4 ,mother ,goose is a hardy old lady1 and will not suffer from the grasp of the seven-year-old2 and the familiar fables and tales of the ,goldilocks variety have a firmness of surface which does not let the glamour rub off2 but stories in which there is a hint of the beauty just beyond the palpable--or of a dignity suggestive of developed literature--are sorely hurt in their metamorphosis1 and should be protected from it4 ,they are for telling only4 ,another point on which it is necessary to exercise reserve is in the degree to which any story can be acted4 ,in the justifiable desire to bring a large number of children into the action one must not lose sight of the sanity and propriety of the presentation4 ,for example1 one must not make a ridiculous caricature1 where a picture1 however crude1 is the intention4 ,personally represent only such things as are definitely and dramatically personified in the story4 ,if a natural force1 the wind1 for example1 is represented as talking and acting like a human being in the story1 it can be imaged by a person in the play2 but if it remains a part of the picture in the story1 performing only its natural motions1 it is a caricature to enact it as a role4 ,the most powerful instance of a mistake of this kind which ,i have ever seen will doubtless make my meaning clear4 ,in playing a pretty story about animals and children1 some children in an elementary school were made by the teacher to take the part of the sea4 ,in the story1 the sea was said to beat upon the shore1 as a sea would1 without doubt4 ,in the play the children were allowed to thump the floor lustily1 as a presentation of their watery functions6 ,it was unconscionably funny4 ,fancy presenting even the crudest image of the mighty sea1 surging up on the shore1 by a row of infants squatted on the floor and pounding with their fists6 ,such pitfalls can be avoided by the simple rule of personifying only characters that actually behave like human beings4 ,a caution which directly concerns the art of story-telling itself1 must be added here4 ,there is a definite distinction between the arts of narration and dramatisation which must never be overlooked4 ,do not1 yourself1 half tell and half act the story2 and do not let the children do it4 ,it is done in very good schools1 sometimes1 because an enthusiasm for realistic and lively presentation momentarily obscures the faculty of discrimination4 ,a much loved and respected teacher whom ,i recently listened to1 and who will laugh if she recognises her blunder here1 offers a good bad example in this particular4 ,she said to an attentive audience of students that she had at last1 with much difficulty1 brought herself to the point where she could forget herself in her story3 where she could1 for instance1 hop1 like the fox1 when she told the story of the sour grapes4 ,she said1 ,it was hard at first1 but now it is a matter of course2 and the children do it too1 when they tell the story4 ,that was the pity6 ,i saw the illustration myself a little later4 ,the child who played fox began with a story3 he said1 ,once there was an old fox1 and he saw some grapes2 then the child walked to the other side of the room1 and looked at an imaginary vine1 and said1 ,he wanted some2 he thought they would taste good1 so he jumped for them2 at this-point the child did jump1 like his role2 then he continued with his story1 but he couldn't get them4 ,and so he proceeded1 with a constant alternation of narrative and dramatisation which was enough to make one dizzy4 ,the trouble in such work is1 plainly1 a lack of discriminating analysis4 ,telling a story necessarily implies non-identification of the teller with the event2 he relates what occurs or occurred1 outside of his circle of consciousness4 ,acting a play necessarily implies identification of the actor with the event2 he presents to you a picture of the thing1 in himself4 ,it is a difference wide and clear1 and the least failure to recognise it confuses the audience and injures both arts4 ,in the preceding instances of secondary uses of story-telling ,i have come some distance from the great point1 the fundamental point1 of the power of imitation in breeding good habit4 ,this power is less noticeably active in the dramatising than in simple retelling2 in the listening and the retelling1 it is dominant for good4 ,the child imitates what he hears you say and sees you do1 and the way you say and do it1 far more closely in the story-hour than in any lesson-period4 ,he is in a more absorbent state1 as it were1 because there is no preoccupation of effort4 ,here is the great opportunity of the cultured teacher2 here is the appalling opportunity of the careless or ignorant teacher4 ,for the implications of the oral theory of teaching ,english are evident1 concerning the immense importance of the teacher's habit4 ,this is what it all comes to ultimately3 the teacher of young children must be a person who can speak ,english as it should be spoken1--purely1 clearly1 pleasantly1 and with force4 ,it is a hard ideal to live up to1 but it is a valuable ideal to try to live up to4 ,and one of the best chances to work toward attainment is in telling stories1 for there you have definite material1 which you can work into shape and practise on in private4 ,that practice ought to include conscious thought as to one's general manner in the schoolroom1 and intelligent effort to understand and improve one's own voice4 ,i hope ,i shall not seem to assume the dignity of an authority which no personal taste can claim1 if ,i beg a hearing for the following elements of manner and voice1 which appeal to me as essential4 ,they will1 probably1 appear self-evident to my readers1 yet they are often found wanting in the public school teacher2 it is so much easier to say what were good to do than to do it6 ,three elements of manner seem to me an essential adjunct to the personality of a teacher of little children3 courtesy1 repose1 vitality4 ,repose and vitality explain themselves2 by courtesy ,i specifically do not mean the habit of mind which contents itself with drilling the children in ,good-mornings and in hat-liftings4 ,i mean the attitude of mind which recognises in the youngest1 commonest child the potential dignity1 majesty1 and mystery of the developed human soul4 ,genuine reverence for the humanity of the other fellow marks a definite degree of courtesy in the intercourse of adults1 does it not8 ,and the same quality of respect1 tempered by the demands of a wise control1 is exactly what is needed among children4 ,again and again1 in dealing with young minds1 the teacher who respects personality as sacred1 no matter how embryonic it be1 wins the victories which count for true education4 ,yet1 all too often1 we forget the claims of this reverence1 in the presence of the annoyances and the needed corrections4 ,as for voice3 work in schoolrooms brings two opposing mistakes constantly before me3 one is the repressed voice1 and the other1 the forced4 ,the best way to avoid either extreme1 is to keep in mind that the ideal is development of one's own natural voice1 along its own natural lines4 ,a quiet1 gentle voice is conscientiously aimed at by many young teachers1 with so great zeal that the tone becomes painfully repressed1 breathy1 and timid4 ,this is quite as unpleasant as a loud voice1 which is1 in turn1 a frequent result of early admonitions to speak up4 ,neither is natural4 ,it is wise to determine the natural volume and pitch of one's speaking voice by a number of tests1 made when one is thoroughly rested1 at ease1 and alone4 ,find out where your voice lies when it is left to itself1 under favourable conditions1 by reading something aloud or by listening to yourself as you talk to an intimate friend4 ,then practise keeping it in that general range1 unless it prove to have a distinct fault1 such as a nervous sharpness1 or hoarseness4 ,a quiet voice is good2 a hushed voice is abnormal4 ,a clear tone is restful1 but a loud one is wearying4 ,perhaps the common-sense way of setting a standard for one's own voice is to remember that the purpose of a speaking voice is to communicate with others2 their ears and minds are the receivers of our tones4 ,for this purpose1 evidently1 a voice should be1 first of all1 easy to hear2 next1 pleasant to hear2 next1 susceptible of sufficient variation to express a wide range of meaning2 and finally1 indicative of personality4 ,is it too quixotic to urge teachers who tell stories to little children to bear these thoughts1 and better ones of their own1 in mind8 ,not1 ,i think1 if it be fully accepted that the story hour1 as a play hour1 is a time peculiarly open to influences affecting the imitative faculty2 that this faculty is especially valuable in forming fine habits of speech2 and that an increasingly high and general standard of ,english speech is one of our greatest needs and our most instant opportunities in the schools of to-day4 ,and now we come to the stories6 ,,stories ,,to ,,tell ,,to ,,children ,,two ,,little ,,riddles ,,in ,,rhyme#h ,there's a garden that ,i ken1 ,full of little gentlemen2 ,little caps of blue they wear1 ,and green ribbons1 very fair4 7,flax47 ,from house to house he goes1 ,a messenger small and slight1 ,and whether it rains or snows1 ,he sleeps outside in the night4 7,the path47 ,,the ,,little ,,yellow ,,tulip ,once there was a little yellow ,tulip1 and she lived down in a little dark house under the ground4 ,one day she was sitting there1 all by herself1 and it was very still4 ,suddenly1 she heard a little tap1 tap1 tap1 at the door4 ,who is that8 she said4 ,it's the ,rain1 and ,i want to come in1 said a soft1 sad1 little voice4 ,no1 you can't come in1 the little ,tulip said4 ,by and by she heard another little tap1 tap1 tap on the window-pane4 ,who is there8 she said4 ,the same soft little voice answered1 ,it's the ,rain1 and ,i want to come in6 ,no1 you can't come in1 said the little ,tulip4 ,then it was very still for a long time4 ,at last1 there came a little rustling1 whispering sound1 all round the window3 rustle1 whisper1 whisper4 ,who is there8 said the little ,tulip4 ,it's the ,sunshine1 said a little1 soft1 cheery voice1 and ,i want to come in6 ,n--no1 said the little ,tulip1 you can't come in4 ,and she sat still again4 ,pretty soon she heard the sweet little rustling noise at the keyhole4 ,who is there8 she said4 ,it's the ,sunshine1 said the cheery little voice1 and ,i want to come in1 ,i want to come in6 ,no1 no1 said the little ,tulip1 you cannot come in4 ,by and by1 as she sat so still1 she heard tap1 tap1 tap1 and rustle1 whisper1 rustle1 up and down the window-pane1 and on the door and at the keyhole4 ,who is there8 she said4 ,it's the ,rain and the ,sun1 the ,rain and the ,sun1 said two little voices1 together1 and we want to come in6 ,we want to come in6 ,we want to come in6 ,dear1 dear6 said the little ,tulip1 if there are two of you1 ,i s'pose ,i shall have to let you in4 ,so she opened the door a little wee crack1 and in they came4 ,and one took one of her little hands1 and the other took her other little hand1 and they ran1 ran1 ran with her right up to the top of the ground4 ,then they said1-- ,poke your head through6 ,so she poked her head through2 and she was in the midst of a beautiful garden4 ,it was early springtime1 and few other flowers were to be seen2 but she had the birds to sing to her and the sun to shine upon her pretty yellow head4 ,she was so pleased1 too1 when the children exclaimed with pleasure that now they knew that the beautiful spring had come6 ,,footnotes3 #h ,these riddles were taken from the ,gaelic1 and are charming examples of the naive beauty of the old ,irish1 and of ,dr ,hyde's accurate and sympathetic modern rendering4 ,from ,beside the ,fire 7,david ,nutt74 ,,the ,,cock-,a-,,doo-,,dle-,,doo#i ,a very little boy made this story up out of his head1 and told it to his papa4 ,i think you littlest ones will like it2 ,i do4 ,once upon a time there was a little boy1 and he wanted to be a cock-a-doo-dle-doo4 ,so he was a cock-a-doo-dle-doo4 ,and he wanted to fly up into the sky4 ,so he did fly up into the sky4 ,and he wanted to get wings and a tail ,so he did get some wings and a tail4 ,,footnotes3 #i ,from ,the ,ignominy of being ,grown ,up1 by ,dr4 ,samuel ,m4 ,crothers1 in the ,atlantic ,monthly for ,july #aijf4 ,,the ,,cloud#aj ,one hot summer morning a little ,cloud rose out of the sea and floated lightly and happily across the blue sky4 ,far below lay the earth1 brown1 dry1 and desolate1 from drought4 ,the little ,cloud could see the poor people of the earth working and suffering in the hot fields1 while she herself floated on the morning breeze1 hither and thither1 without a care4 ,oh1 if ,i could only help the poor people down there6 she thought4 ,if ,i could but make their work easier1 or give the hungry ones food1 or the thirsty a drink6 ,and as the day passed1 and the ,cloud became larger1 this wish to do something for the people of earth was ever greater in her heart4 ,on earth it grew hotter and hotter2 the sun burned down so fiercely that the people were fainting in its rays2 it seemed as if they must die of heat1 and yet they were obliged to go on with their work1 for they were very poor4 ,sometimes they stood and looked up at the ,cloud1 as if they were praying1 and saying1 ,ah1 if you could help us6 ,i will help you2 ,i will6 said the ,cloud4 ,and she began to sink softly down toward the earth4 ,but suddenly1 as she floated down1 she remembered something which had been told her when she was a tiny ,cloud-child1 in the lap of ,mother ,ocean3 it had been whispered that if the ,clouds go too near the earth they die4 ,when she remembered this she held herself from sinking1 and swayed here and there on the breeze1 thinking1--thinking4 ,but at last she stood quite still1 and spoke boldly and proudly4 ,she said1 ,men of earth1 ,i will help you1 come what may6 ,the thought made her suddenly marvellously big and strong and powerful4 ,never had she dreamed that she could be so big4 ,like a mighty angel of blessing she stood above the earth1 and lifted her head and spread her wings far over the fields and woods4 ,she was so great1 so majestic1 that men and animals were awe-struck at the sight2 the trees and the grasses bowed before her2 yet all the earth-creatures felt that she meant them well4 ,yes1 ,i will help you1 cried the ,cloud once more4 ,take me to yourselves2 ,i will give my life for you6 ,as she said the words a wonderful light glowed from her heart1 the sound of thunder rolled through the sky1 and a love greater than words can tell filled the ,cloud2 down1 down1 close to the earth she swept1 and gave up her life in a blessed1 healing shower of rain4 ,that rain was the ,cloud's great deed2 it was her death1 too2 but it was also her glory4 ,over the whole country-side1 as far as the rain fell1 a lovely rainbow sprang its arch1 and all the brightest rays of heaven made its colours2 it was the last greeting of a love so great that it sacrificed itself4 ,soon that1 too1 was gone1 but long1 long afterward the men and animals who were saved by the ,cloud kept her blessing in their hearts4 ,,footnotes3 #aj ,adapted from the ,german of ,robert ,reinick's ,maerchen-1 ,lieder-und ,geschichtenbuch 7,velhagen und ,klasing1 ,bielefeld and ,leipsic74 ,,the ,,little ,,red ,,hen ,the little ,red ,hen was in the farmyard with her chickens1 when she found a grain of wheat4 ,who will plant this wheat8 she said4 ,not ,i1 said the ,goose4 ,not ,i1 said the ,duck4 ,i will1 then1 said the little ,red ,hen1 and she planted the grain of wheat4 ,when the wheat was ripe she said1 ,who will take this wheat to the mill8 ,not ,i1 said the ,goose4 ,not ,i1 said the ,duck4 ,i will1 then1 said the little ,red ,hen1 and she took the wheat to the mill4 ,when she brought the flour home she said1 ,who will make some bread with this flour8 ,not ,i1 said the ,goose4 ,not ,i1 said the ,duck4 ,i will1 then1 said the little ,red ,hen4 ,when the bread was baked1 she said1 ,who will eat this bread8 ,i will1 said the ,goose4 ,i will1 said the ,duck4 ,no1 you won't1 said the little ,red ,hen4 ,i shall eat it myself4 ,cluck6 cluck6 ,and she called her chickens to help her4 ,,the ,,gingerbread ,,man#aa ,once upon a time there was a little old woman and a little old man1 and they lived all alone in a little old house4 ,they hadn't any little girls or any little boys1 at all4 ,so one day1 the little old woman made a boy out of gingerbread2 she made him a chocolate jacket1 and put raisins on it for buttons2 his eyes were made of fine1 fat currants2 his mouth was made of rose-coloured sugar2 and he had a gay little cap of orange sugar-candy4 ,when the little old woman had rolled him out1 and dressed him up1 and pinched his gingerbread shoes into shape1 she put him in a pan2 then she put the pan in the oven and shut the door2 and she thought1 ,now ,i shall have a little boy of my own4 ,when it was time for the ,gingerbread ,boy to be done she opened the oven door and pulled out the pan4 ,out jumped the little ,gingerbread ,boy on to the floor1 and away he ran1 out of the door and down the street6 ,the little old woman and the little old man ran after him as fast as they could1 but he just laughed1 and shouted1-- ,run6 run6 as fast as you can6 ,you can't catch me1 ,i'm the ,gingerbread ,man6 ,and they couldn't catch him4 ,the little ,gingerbread ,boy ran on and on1 until he came to a cow1 by the roadside4 ,stop1 little ,gingerbread ,boy1 said the cow2 ,i want to eat you4 ,the little ,gingerbread ,boy laughed and said1-- ,i have run away from a little old woman1 ,and a little old man1 ,and ,i can run away from you1 ,i can6 ,and1 as the cow chased him1 he looked over his shoulder and cried1-- ,run6 run6 as fast as you can6 ,you can't catch me1 ,i'm the ,gingerbread ,man6 ,and the cow couldn't catch him4 ,the little ,gingerbread ,boy ran on1 and on1 and on1 till he came to a horse1 in the pasture4 ,please stop1 little ,gingerbread ,boy1 said the horse1 you look very good to eat4 ,but the little ,gingerbread ,boy laughed out loud4 ,oho6 oho6 he said1-- ,i have run away from a little old woman1 ,a little old man1 ,a cow1 ,and ,i can run away from you1 ,i can6 ,and1 as the horse chased him1 he looked over his shoulder and cried1-- ,run6 run6 as fast as you can6 ,you can't catch me1 ,i'm the ,gingerbread ,man6 ,and the horse couldn't catch him4 ,by and by the little ,gingerbread ,boy came to a barn full of threshers4 ,when the threshers smelt the ,gingerbread ,boy1 they tried to pick him up1 and said1 ,don't run so fast1 little ,gingerbread ,boy2 you look very good to eat4 ,but the little ,gingerbread ,boy ran harder than ever1 and as he ran he cried out1-- ,i have run away from a little old woman1 ,a little old man1 ,a cow1 ,a horse1 ,and ,i can run away from you1 ,i can6 ,and when he found that he was ahead of the threshers1 he turned and shouted back to them1-- ,run6 run6 as fast as you can6 ,you can't catch me1 ,i'm the ,gingerbread ,man6 ,and the threshers couldn't catch him4 ,then the little ,gingerbread ,boy ran faster than ever4 ,he ran and ran until he came to a field full of mowers4 ,when the mowers saw how fine he looked1 they ran after him1 calling out1 ,wait a bit6 wait a bit1 little ,gingerbread ,boy1 we wish to eat you6 ,but the little ,gingerbread ,boy laughed harder than ever1 and ran like the wind4 ,oho6 oho6 he said1-- ,i have run away from a little old woman1 ,a little old man1 ,a cow1 ,a horse1 ,a barn full of threshers1 ,and ,i can run away from you1 ,i can6 ,and when he found that he was ahead of the mowers1 he turned and shouted back to them1-- ,run6 run6 as fast as you can6 ,you can't catch me1 ,i'm the ,gingerbread ,man6 ,and the mowers couldn't catch him4 ,by this time the little ,gingerbread ,boy was so proud that he didn't think anybody could catch him4 ,pretty soon he saw a fox coming across a field4 ,the fox looked at him and began to run4 ,but the little ,gingerbread ,boy shouted across to him1 ,you can't catch me6 ,the fox began to run faster1 and the little ,gingerbread ,boy ran faster1 and as he ran he chuckled1-- ,i have run away from a little old woman1 ,a little old man1 ,a cow1 ,a horse1 ,a barn full of threshers1 ,a field full of mowers1 ,and ,i can run away from you1 ,i can6 ,run6 run6 as fast as you can6 ,you can't catch me1 ,i'm the ,gingerbread ,man6 ,why1 said the fox1 ,i would not catch you if ,i could4 ,i would not think of disturbing you4 ,just then1 the little ,gingerbread ,boy came to a river4 ,he could not swim across1 and he wanted to keep running away from the cow and the horse and the people4 ,jump on my tail1 and ,i will take you across1 said the fox4 ,so the little ,gingerbread ,boy jumped on the fox's tail1 and the fox began to swim the river4 ,when he was a little way from the bank he turned his head1 and said1 ,you are too heavy on my tail1 little ,gingerbread ,boy1 ,i fear ,i shall let you get wet2 jump on my back4 ,the little ,gingerbread ,boy jumped on his back4 ,a little farther out1 the fox said1 ,i am afraid the water will cover you1 there2 jump on my shoulder4 ,the little ,gingerbread ,boy jumped on his shoulder4 ,in the middle of the stream the fox said1 ,oh1 dear6 little ,gingerbread ,boy1 my shoulder is sinking2 jump on my nose1 and ,i can hold you out of water4 ,so the little ,gingerbread ,boy jumped on his nose4 ,the minute the fox reached the bank he threw back his head1 and gave a snap6 ,dear me6 said the little ,gingerbread ,boy1 ,i am a quarter gone6 ,the next minute he said1 ,why1 ,i am half gone6 ,the next minute he said1 ,my goodness gracious1 ,i am three quarters gone6 ,and after that1 the little ,gingerbread ,boy never said anything more at all4 ,,footnotes3 #aa ,i have tried to give this story in the most familiar form2 it varies a good deal in the hands of different story-tellers1 but this is substantially the version ,i was brought up on4 ,,the ,,little ,,jackals ,,and ,,the ,,lion#ab ,once there was a great big jungle2 and in the jungle there was a great big ,lion2 and the ,lion was king of the jungle4 ,whenever he wanted anything to eat1 all he had to do was to come up out of his cave in the stones and earth and roar4 ,when he had roared a few times all the little people of the jungle were so frightened that they came out of their holes and hiding-places and ran1 this way and that1 to get away4 ,then1 of course1 the ,lion could see where they were4 ,and he pounced on them1 killed them1 and gobbled them up4 ,he did this so often that at last there was not a single thing left alive in the jungle besides the ,lion1 except two little ,jackals1--a little father ,jackal and a little mother ,jackal4 ,they had run away so many times that they were quite thin and very tired1 and they could not run so fast any more4 ,and one day the ,lion was so near that the little mother ,jackal grew frightened2 she said1-- ,oh1 ,father ,jackal1 ,father ,jackal6 ,i b'lieve our time has come6 the ,lion will surely catch us this time6 ,pooh6 nonsense1 mother6 said the little father ,jackal4 ,come1 we'll run on a bit6 ,and they ran1 ran1 ran very fast1 and the ,lion did not catch them that time4 ,but at last a day came when the ,lion was nearer still and the little mother ,jackal was frightened almost to death4 ,oh1 ,father ,jackal1 ,father ,jackal6 she cried2 ,i'm sure our time has come6 ,the ,lion's going to eat us this time6 ,now1 mother1 don't you fret1 said the little father ,jackal2 you do just as ,i tell you1 and it will be all right4 ,then what did those cunning little ,jackals do but take hold of hands and run up towards the ,lion1 as if they had meant to come all the time4 ,when he saw them coming he stood up1 and roared in a terrible voice1-- ,you miserable little wretches1 come here and be eaten1 at once6 ,why didn't you come before8 ,the father ,jackal bowed very low4 ,indeed1 ,father ,lion1 he said1 we meant to come before2 we knew we ought to come before2 and we wanted to come before2 but every time we started to come1 a dreadful great lion came out of the woods and roared at us1 and frightened us so that we ran away4 ,what do you mean8 roared the ,lion4 ,there's no other lion in this jungle1 and you know it6 ,indeed1 indeed1 ,father ,lion1 said the little ,jackal1 ,i know that is what everybody thinks2 but indeed and indeed there is another lion6 ,and he is as much bigger than you as you are bigger than ,i6 ,his face is much more terrible1 and his roar far1 far more dreadful4 ,oh1 he is far more fearful than you6 ,at that the ,lion stood up and roared so that the jungle shook4 ,take me to this ,lion1 he said2 ,i'll eat him up and then ,i'll eat you up4 ,the little ,jackals danced on ahead1 and the ,lion stalked behind4 ,they led him to a place where there was a round1 deep well of clear water4 ,they went round on one side of it1 and the ,lion stalked up to the other4 ,he lives down there1 ,father ,lion6 said the little ,jackal4 ,he lives down there6 ,the ,lion came close and looked down into the water1--and a lion's face looked back at him out of the water6 ,when he saw that1 the ,lion roared and shook his mane and showed his teeth4 ,and the lion in the water shook his mane and showed his teeth4 ,the ,lion above shook his mane again and growled again1 and made a terrible face4 ,but the lion in the water made just as terrible a one1 back4 ,the ,lion above couldn't stand that4 ,he leaped down into the well after the other lion4 ,but1 of course1 as you know very well1 there wasn't any other lion6 ,it was only the reflection in the water6 ,so the poor old ,lion floundered about and floundered about1 and as he couldn't get up the steep sides of the well1 he was at last drowned4 ,and when he was drowned1 the little ,jackals took hold of hands and danced round the well1 and sang1-- ,the ,lion is dead6 ,the ,lion is dead6 ,we have killed the great ,lion who would have killed us6 ,the ,lion is dead6 ,the ,lion is dead6 ,ao6 ,ao6 ,ao6 ,,footnotes3 #ab ,the four stories of the little ,jackal1 in this book1 are adapted from stories in ,old ,deccan ,days1 by ,mary ,frere 7,john ,murray71 a collection of orally transmitted ,hindu folk tales1 which every teacher would gain by knowing4 ,in the ,hindu animal legends the ,jackal seems to play the role assigned in ,germanic lore to ,reynard the ,fox1 and to ,bre'r ,rabbit in the negro stories of ,southern ,america2 he is the clever and humorous trickster who usually comes out of an encounter with a whole skin1 and turns the laugh on his enemy1 however mighty he may be4,a ,,the ,,country ,,mouse ,,and ,,the ,,city ,,mouse#ac ,once a little mouse who lived in the country invited a little mouse from the city to visit him4 ,when the little ,city ,mouse sat down to dinner he was surprised to find that the ,country ,mouse had nothing to eat except barley and grain4 ,really1 he said1 you do not live well at all2 you should see how ,i live6 ,i have all sorts of fine things to eat every day4 ,you must come to visit me and see how nice it is to live in the city4 ,the little ,country ,mouse was glad to do this1 and after a while he went to the city to visit his friend4 ,the very first place that the ,city ,mouse took the ,country ,mouse to see was the kitchen cupboard of the house where he lived4 ,there1 on the lowest shelf1 behind some stone jars1 stood a big paper bag of brown sugar4 ,the little ,city ,mouse gnawed a hole in the bag and invited his friend to nibble for himself4 ,the two little mice nibbled and nibbled1 and the ,country ,mouse thought he had never tasted anything so delicious in his life4 ,he was just thinking how lucky the ,city ,mouse was1 when suddenly the door opened with a bang1 and in came the cook to get some flour4 ,run6 whispered the ,city ,mouse4 ,and they ran as fast as they could to the little hole where they had come in4 ,the little ,country ,mouse was shaking all over when they got safely away1 but the little ,city ,mouse said1 ,that is nothing2 she will soon go away and then we can go back4 ,after the cook had gone away and shut the door they stole softly back1 and this time the ,city ,mouse had something new to show3 he took the little ,country ,mouse into a corner on the top shelf1 where a big jar of dried prunes stood open4 ,after much tugging and pulling they got a large dried prune out of the jar on to the shelf and began to nibble at it4 ,this was even better than the brown sugar4 ,the little ,country ,mouse liked the taste so much that he could hardly nibble fast enough4 ,but all at once1 in the midst of their eating1 there came a scratching at the door and a sharp1 loud miaouw6 ,what is that8 said the ,country ,mouse4 ,the ,city ,mouse just whispered1 ,sh6 and ran as fast as he could to the hole4 ,the ,country ,mouse ran after1 you may be sure1 as fast as he could4 ,as soon as they were out of danger the ,city ,mouse said1 ,that was the old ,cat2 she is the best mouser in town1--if she once gets you1 you are lost4 ,this is very terrible1 said the little ,country ,mouse2 let us not go back to the cupboard again4 ,no1 said the ,city ,mouse1 ,i will take you to the cellar2 there is something specially fine there4 ,so the ,city ,mouse took his little friend down the cellar stairs and into a big cupboard where there were many shelves4 ,on the shelves were jars of butter1 and cheeses in bags and out of bags4 ,overhead hung bunches of sausages1 and there were spicy apples in barrels standing about4 ,it smelt so good that it went to the little ,country ,mouse's head4 ,he ran along the shelf and nibbled at a cheese here1 and a bit of butter there1 until he saw an especially rich1 very delicious-smelling piece of cheese on a queer little stand in a corner4 ,he was just on the point of putting his teeth into the cheese when the ,city ,mouse saw him4 ,stop6 stop6 cried the ,city ,mouse4 ,that is a trap6 ,the little ,country ,mouse stopped and said1 ,what is a trap8 ,that thing is a trap1 said the little ,city ,mouse4 ,the minute you touch the cheese with your teeth something comes down on your head hard1 and you're dead4 ,the little ,country ,mouse looked at the trap1 and he looked at the cheese1 and he looked at the little ,city ,mouse4 ,if you'll excuse me1 he said1 ,i think ,i will go home4 ,i'd rather have barley and grain to eat and eat it in peace and comfort1 than have brown sugar and dried prunes and cheese1--and be frightened to death all the time6 ,so the little ,country ,mouse went back to his home1 and there he stayed all the rest of his life4 ,,footnotes3 #ac ,the following story of the two mice1 with the similar fables of ,the ,boy who cried ,wolf1 ,the ,frog ,king1 and ,the ,sun and the ,wind1 are given here with the hope that they may be of use to the many teachers who find the over-familiar material of the fables difficult to adapt1 and who are yet aware of the great usefulness of the stories to young minds4 ,a certain degree of vividness and amplitude must be added to the compact statement of the famous collections1 and yet it is not wise to change the style-effect of a fable1 wholly4 ,i venture to give these versions1 not as perfect models1 of course1 but as renderings which have been acceptable to children1 and which ,i believe retain the original point simply and strongly4 ,,little ,,jack ,,rollaround#ad ,once upon a time there was a wee little boy who slept in a tiny trundle-bed near his mother's great bed4 ,the trundle-bed had castors on it so that it could be rolled about1 and there was nothing in the world the little boy liked so much as to have it rolled4 ,when his mother came to bed he would cry1 ,roll me around6 roll me around6 ,and his mother would put out her hand from the big bed and push the little bed back and forth till she was tired4 ,the little boy could never get enough2 so for this he was called ,little ,jack ,rollaround4 ,one night he had made his mother roll him about1 till she fell asleep1 and even then he kept crying1 ,roll me around6 roll me around6 ,his mother pushed him about in her sleep1 until her slumber became too sound2 then she stopped4 ,but ,little ,jack ,rollaround kept on crying1 ,roll around6 roll around6 ,by and by the ,moon peeped in at the window4 ,he saw a funny sight3 ,little ,jack ,rollaround was lying in his trundle-bed1 and he had put up one little fat leg for a mast1 and fastened the corner of his wee shirt to it for a sail2 and he was blowing at it with all his might1 and saying1 ,roll around6 roll around6 ,slowly1 slowly1 the little trundle-bed boat began to move2 it sailed along the floor and up the wall and across the ceiling and down again6 ,more6 more6 cried ,little ,jack ,rollaround2 and the little boat sailed faster up the wall1 across the ceiling1 down the wall1 and over the floor4 ,the ,moon laughed at the sight2 but when ,little ,jack ,rollaround saw the ,moon1 he called out1 ,open the door1 old ,moon6 ,i want to roll through the town1 so that the people can see me6 ,the ,moon could not open the door1 but he shone in through the keyhole1 in a broad band4 ,and ,little ,jack ,rollaround sailed his trundle-bed boat up the beam1 through the keyhole1 and into the street4 ,make a light1 old ,moon1 he said2 ,i want the people to see me6 ,so the good ,moon made a light and went along with him1 and the little trundle-bed boat went sailing down the streets into the main street of the village4 ,they rolled past the town hall and the schoolhouse and the church2 but nobody saw little ,jack ,rollaround1 because everybody was in bed1 asleep4 ,why don't the people come to see me8 he shouted4 ,high up on the church steeple1 the ,weather-vane answered1 ,it is no time for people to be in the streets2 decent folk are in their beds4 ,then ,i'll go to the woods1 so that the animals may see me1 said ,little ,jack4 ,come along1 old ,moon1 and make a light6 ,the good ,moon went along and made a light1 and they came to the forest4 ,roll6 roll6 cried the little boy2 and the trundle-bed went trundling among the trees in the great wood1 scaring up the squirrels and startling the little leaves on the trees4 ,the poor old ,moon began to have a bad time of it1 for the tree-trunks got in his way so that he could not go so fast as the bed1 and every time he got behind1 the little boy called1 ,hurry up1 old ,moon1 ,i want the beasts to see me6 ,but all the animals were asleep1 and nobody at all looked at ,little ,jack ,rollaround except an old ,white ,owl2 and all she said was1 ,who are you8 ,the little boy did not like her1 so he blew harder1 and the trundle-bed boat went sailing through the forest till it came to the end of the world4 ,i must go home now2 it is late1 said the ,moon4 ,i will go with you2 make a path6 said ,little ,jack ,rollaround4 ,the kind ,moon made a path up to the sky1 and up sailed the little bed into the midst of the sky4 ,all the little bright ,stars were there with their nice little lamps4 ,and when he saw them1 that naughty ,little ,jack ,rollaround began to tease4 ,out of the way1 there6 ,i am coming6 he shouted1 and sailed the trundle-bed boat straight at them4 ,he bumped the little ,stars right and left1 all over the sky1 until every one of them put his little lamp out and left it dark4 ,do not treat the little ,stars so1 said the good ,moon4 ,but ,jack ,rollaround only behaved the worse3 ,get out of the way1 old ,moon6 he shouted1 ,i am coming6 ,and he steered the little trundle-bed boat straight into the old ,moon's face1 and bumped his nose6 ,this was too much for the good ,moon2 he put out his big light1 all at once1 and left the sky pitch-black4 ,make a light1 old ,moon6 ,make a light6 shouted the little boy4 ,but the ,moon answered never a word1 and ,jack ,rollaround could not see where to steer4 ,he went rolling criss-cross1 up and down1 all over the sky1 knocking into the planets and stumbling into the clouds1 till he did not know where he was4 ,suddenly he saw a big yellow light at the very edge of the sky4 ,he thought it was the ,moon4 ,look out1 ,i am coming6 he cried1 and steered for the light4 ,but it was not the kind old ,moon at all2 it was the great mother ,sun1 just coming up out of her home in the sea1 to begin her day's work4 ,aha1 youngster1 what are you doing in my sky8 she said4 ,and she picked ,little ,jack ,rollaround up and threw him1 trundle-bed boat and all1 into the middle of the sea6 ,and ,i suppose he is there yet1 unless somebody picked him out again4 ,,footnotes3 #ad ,based on ,theodor ,storm's story of ,der ,kleine ,haewelmann 7,george ,westermann1 ,braunschweig74 ,very freely adapted from the ,german story4 ,,how ,,brother ,,rabbit ,,fooled ,,the ,,whale ,,and ,,the ,,elephant#ae ,one day little ,brother ,rabbit was running along on the sand1 lippety1 lippety1 when he saw the ,whale and the ,elephant talking together4 ,little ,brother ,rabbit crouched down and listened to what they were saying4 ,this was what they were saying3-- ,you are the biggest thing on the land1 ,brother ,elephant1 said the ,whale1 and ,i am the biggest thing in the sea2 if we join together we can rule all the animals in the world1 and have our way about everything4 ,very good1 very good1 trumpeted the ,elephant2 that suits me2 we will do it4 ,little ,brother ,rabbit sniggered to himself4 ,they won't rule me1 he said4 ,he ran away and got a very long1 very strong rope1 and he got his big drum1 and hid the drum a long way off in the bushes4 ,then he went along the beach till he came to the ,whale4 ,oh1 please1 dear1 strong ,mr ,whale1 he said1 will you have the great kindness to do me a favour8 ,my cow is stuck in the mud1 a quarter of a mile from here4 ,and ,i can't pull her out4 ,but you are so strong and so obliging1 that ,i venture to trust you will help me out4 ,the ,whale was so pleased with the compliment that he said1 ,yes1 at once4 ,then1 said the ,rabbit1 ,i will tie this end of my long rope to you1 and ,i will run away and tie the other end round my cow1 and when ,i am ready ,i will beat my big drum4 ,when you hear that1 pull very1 very hard1 for the cow is stuck very deep in the mud4 ,huh6 grunted the ,whale1 ,i'll pull her out1 if she is stuck to the horns4 ,little ,brother ,rabbit tied the rope-end to the ,whale1 and ran off1 lippety1 lippety1 till he came to the place where the ,elephant was4 ,oh1 please1 mighty and kindly ,elephant1 he said1 making a very low bow1 will you do me a favour8 ,what is it8 asked the ,elephant4 ,my cow is stuck in the mud1 about a quarter of a mile from here1 said little ,brother ,rabbit1 and ,i cannot pull her out4 ,of course you could4 ,if you will be so very obliging as to help me---- ,certainly1 said the ,elephant grandly1 certainly4 ,then1 said little ,brother ,rabbit1 ,i will tie one end of this long rope to your trunk1 and the other to my cow1 and as soon as ,i have tied her tightly ,i will beat my big drum4 ,when you hear that1 pull2 pull as hard as you can1 for my cow is very heavy4 ,never fear1 said the ,elephant1 ,i could pull twenty cows4 ,i am sure you could1 said the ,rabbit1 politely1 only be sure to begin gently1 and pull harder and harder till you get her4 ,then he tied the end of the rope tightly round the ,elephant's trunk1 and ran away into the bushes4 ,there he sat down and beat the big drum4 ,the ,whale began to pull1 and the ,elephant began to pull1 and in a jiffy the rope tightened till it was stretched as hard as could be4 ,this is a remarkably heavy cow1 said the ,elephant2 but ,i'll fetch her6 ,and he braced his forefeet in the earth1 and gave a tremendous pull4 ,dear me6 said the ,whale4 ,that cow must be stuck mighty tight2 and he drove his tail deep in the water1 and gave a marvellous pull4 ,he pulled harder2 the ,elephant pulled harder4 ,pretty soon the ,whale found himself sliding toward the land4 ,the reason was1 of course1 that the ,elephant had something solid to brace against1 and1 beside1 as fast as he pulled the rope in a little1 he took a turn with it round his trunk6 ,but when the ,whale found himself sliding toward the land he was so provoked with the cow that he dived head first1 down to the bottom of the sea4 ,that was a pull6 ,the ,elephant was jerked off his feet1 and came slipping and sliding to the beach1 and into the surf4 ,he was terribly angry4 ,he braced himself with all his might1 and pulled his best4 ,at the jerk1 up came the ,whale out of the water4 ,who is pulling me8 spouted the ,whale4 ,who is pulling me8 trumpeted the ,elephant4 ,and then each saw the rope in the other's hold4 ,i'll teach you to play cow6 roared the ,elephant4 ,i'll show you how to fool me6 fumed the ,whale4 ,and they began to pull again4 ,but this time the rope broke1 the ,whale turned a somersault1 and the ,elephant fell over backward4 ,at that1 they were both so ashamed that neither would speak to the other4 ,so that broke up the bargain between them4 ,and little ,brother ,rabbit sat in the bushes and laughed1 and laughed1 and laughed4 ,,footnotes3 #ae ,adapted from two tales included in the records of the ,american ,folk-,lore ,society4 ,,the ,,little ,,half-,,chick ,there was once upon a time a ,spanish ,hen1 who hatched out some nice little chickens4 ,she was much pleased with their looks as they came from the shell4 ,one1 two1 three1 came out plump and fluffy2 but when the fourth shell broke1 out came a little half-chick6 ,it had only one leg and one wing and one eye6 ,it was just half a chicken4 ,the ,hen-mother did not know what in the world to do with the queer little ,half-,chick4 ,she was afraid something would happen to it1 and she tried hard to protect it and keep it from harm4 ,but as soon as it could walk the little ,half-,chick showed a most headstrong spirit1 worse than any of its brothers4 ,it would not mind1 and it would go wherever it wanted to2 it walked with a funny little hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick1 and got along pretty fast4 ,one day the little ,half-,chick said1 ,mother1 ,i am off to ,madrid1 to see the ,king6 ,good-bye4 ,the poor ,hen-mother did everything she could think of to keep him from doing so foolish a thing1 but the little ,half-,chick laughed at her naughtily4 ,i'm for seeing the ,king1 he said2 this life is too quiet for me4 ,and away he went1 hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick1 over the fields4 ,when he had gone some distance the little ,half-,chick came to a little brook that was caught in the weeds and in much trouble4 ,little ,half-,chick1 whispered the ,water1 ,i am so choked with these weeds that ,i cannot move2 ,i am almost lost1 for want of room2 please push the sticks and weeds away with your bill and help me4 ,the idea6 said the little ,half-,chick4 ,i cannot be bothered with you2 ,i am off to ,madrid1 to see the ,king6 ,and in spite of the brook's begging1 he went away1 hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick4 ,a bit farther on1 the ,half-,chick came to a ,fire1 which was smothered in damp sticks and in great distress4 ,oh1 little ,half-,chick1 said the ,fire1 you are just in time to save me4 ,i am almost dead for want of air4 ,fan me a little with your wing1 ,i beg4 ,the idea6 said the little ,half-,chick4 ,i cannot be bothered with you2 ,i am off to ,madrid1 to see the ,king6 ,and he went laughing off1 hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick4 ,when he had hoppity-kicked a good way1 and was near ,madrid1 he came to a clump of bushes1 where the ,wind was caught fast4 ,the ,wind was whimpering1 and begging to be set free4 ,little ,half-,chick1 said the ,wind1 you are just in time to help me2 if you will brush aside these twigs and leaves1 ,i can get my breath2 help me1 quickly6 ,ho6 the idea6 said the little ,half-,chick ,i have no time to bother with you4 ,i am going to ,madrid1 to see the ,king4 ,and he went off1 hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick1 leaving the ,wind to smother4 ,after a while he came to ,madrid and to the palace of the ,king4 ,hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick1 the little ,half-,chick skipped past the sentry at the gate1 and hoppity-kick1 hoppity-kick1 he crossed the court4 ,but as he was passing the windows of the kitchen the ,cook looked out and saw him4 ,the very thing for the ,king's dinner6 she said4 ,i was needing a chicken6 ,and she seized the little ,half-,chick by his one wing and threw him into a kettle of water on the fire4 ,the ,water came over the little ,half-,chick's feathers1 over his head1 into his eyes4 ,it was terribly uncomfortable4 ,the little ,half-,chick cried out1-- ,water1 don't drown me6 ,stay down1 don't come so high6 ,but1 the ,water said1 ,little ,half-,chick1 little ,half-,chick1 when ,i was in trouble you would not help me1 and came higher than ever4 ,now the ,water grew warm1 hot1 hotter1 frightfully hot2 the little ,half-,chick cried out1 ,do not burn so hot1 ,fire6 ,you are burning me to death6 ,stop6 ,but the ,fire said1 ,little ,half-,chick1 little ,half-,chick1 when ,i was in trouble you would not help me1 and burned hotter than ever4 ,just as the little ,half-,chick thought he must suffocate1 the ,cook took the cover off1 to look at the dinner4 ,dear me1 she said1 this chicken is no good2 it is burned to a cinder4 ,and she picked the little ,half-,chick up by one leg and threw him out of the window4 ,in the air he was caught by a breeze and taken up higher than the trees4 ,round and round he was twirled till he was so dizzy he thought he must perish4 ,don't blow me so1 ,wind1 he cried1 let me down6 ,little ,half-,chick1 little ,half-,chick1 said the ,wind1 when ,i was in trouble you would not help me6 ,and the ,wind blew him straight up to the top of the church steeple1 and stuck him there1 fast6 ,there he stands to this day1 with his one eye1 his one wing1 and his one leg4 ,he cannot hoppity-kick any more1 but he turns slowly round when the wind blows1 and keeps his head toward it1 to hear what it says4 ,,the ,,blackberry-,,bush#af ,a little boy sat at his mother's knees1 by the long western window1 looking out into the garden4 ,it was autumn1 and the wind was sad2 and the golden elm leaves lay scattered about among the grass1 and on the gravel path4 ,the mother was knitting a little stocking2 her fingers moved the bright needles2 but her eyes were fixed on the clear evening sky4 ,as the darkness gathered1 the wee boy laid his head on her lap and kept so still that1 at last1 she leaned forward to look into his dear round face4 ,he was not asleep1 but was watching very earnestly a blackberry-bush1 that waved its one tall1 dark-red spray in the wind outside the fence4 ,what are you thinking about1 my darling8 she said1 smoothing his soft1 honey-coloured hair4 ,the blackberry-bush1 mamma2 what does it say8 ,it keeps nodding1 nodding to me behind the fence2 what does it say1 mamma8 ,it says1 she answered1 ',i see a happy little boy in the warm1 fire-lighted room4 ,the wind blows cold1 and here it is dark and lonely2 but that little boy is warm and happy and safe at his mother's knees4 ,i nod to him1 and he looks at me4 ,i wonder if he knows how happy he is6 ',see1 all my leaves are dark crimson4 ,every day they dry and wither more and more2 by and by they will be so weak they can scarcely cling to my branches1 and the north wind will tear them all away1 and nobody will remember them any more4 ,then the snow will sink down and wrap me close4 ,then the snow will melt again and icy rain will clothe me1 and the bitter wind will rattle my bare twigs up and down4 ',i nod my head to all who pass1 and dreary nights and dreary days go by2 but in the happy house1 so warm and bright1 the little boy plays all day with books and toys4 ,his mother and his father cherish him2 he nestles on their knees in the red firelight at night1 while they read to him lovely stories1 or sing sweet old songs to him1--the happy little boy6 ,and outside ,i peep over the snow and see a stream of ruddy light from a crack in the window-shutter1 and ,i nod out here alone in the dark1 thinking how beautiful it is4 ',and here ,i wait patiently4 ,i take the snow and the rain and the cold1 and ,i am not sorry1 but glad2 for in my roots ,i feel warmth and life1 and ,i know that a store of greenness and beauty is shut up safe in my small brown buds4 ,day and night go again and again2 little by little the snow melts all away2 the ground grows soft2 the sky is blue2 the little birds fly over1 crying1 ,it is spring6 it is spring6 ,ah6 then through all my twigs ,i feel the slow sap stirring4 ',warmer grow the sunbeams1 and softer the air4 ,the small blades of grass creep thick about my feet2 the sweet rain helps to swell my shining buds4 ,more and more ,i push forth my leaves1 till out ,i burst in a gay green dress1 and nod in joy and pride4 ,the little boy comes running to look at me1 and cries1 ,oh1 mamma6 the little blackberry-bush is alive and beautiful and green4 ,oh1 come and see6 ,and ,i hear2 and ,i bow my head in the summer wind2 and every day they watch me grow more beautiful1 till at last ,i shake out blossoms1 fair and fragrant4 ',a few days more1 and ,i drop the white petals down among the grass1 and1 lo6 there are the green tiny berries6 ,carefully ,i hold them up to the sun2 carefully ,i gather the dew in the summer nights2 slowly they ripen2 they grow larger and redder and darker1 and at last they are black1 shining1 delicious4 ,i hold them as high as ,i can for the little boy1 who comes dancing out4 ,he shouts with joy1 and gathers them in his dear hand2 and he runs to share them with his mother1 saying1 ,here is what the patient blackberry-bush bore for us3 see how nice1 mamma6 ',ah6 then indeed ,i am glad1 and would say1 if ,i could1 ,yes1 take them1 dear little boy2 ,i kept them for you1 held them long up to the sun and rain to make them sweet and ripe for you2 and ,i nod and nod in full content1 for my work is done4 ,from the window he watches me and thinks1 ,there is the little blackberry-bush that was so kind to me4 ,i see it and ,i love it4 ,i know it is safe out there nodding all alone1 and next summer it will hold ripe berries up for me to gather again4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,then the wee boy smiled1 and said he liked the little story4 ,his mother took him up in her arms1 and they went out to supper and left the blackberry-bush nodding up and down in the wind2 and there it is nodding yet4 ,,footnotes3 #af ,from ,celia ,thaxter's ,stories and ,poems for ,children4 ,,the ,,fairies#ag ,up the airy mountain1 ,down the rushy glen1 ,we daren't go a-hunting ,for fear of little men4 ,wee folk1 good folk1 ,trooping all together2 ,green jacket1 red cap1 ,and white owl's feather6 ,down along the rocky shore ,some make their home-- ,they live on crispy pancakes ,of yellow tide-foam2 ,some in the reeds ,of the black mountain-lake1 ,with frogs for their watch-dogs1 ,all night awake4 ,high on the hilltop ,the old ,king sits2 ,he is now so old and gray1 ,he's nigh lost his wits4 ,with a bridge of white mist ,columbkill he crosses1 ,on his stately journeys ,from ,slieveleague to ,rosses2 ,or going up with music ,on cold starry nights1 ,to sup with the ,queen ,of the gay ,northern ,lights4 ,they stole little ,bridget ,for seven years long2 ,when she came down again ,her friends were all gone4 ,they took her lightly back1 ,between the night and morrow2 ,they thought that she was fast asleep1 ,but she was dead with sorrow4 ,they have kept her ever since ,deep within the lake1 ,on a bed of flag-leaves1 ,watching till she wake4 ,by the craggy hillside1 ,through the mosses bare1 ,they have planted thorn-trees1 ,for pleasure here and there4 ,is any man so daring ,as dig them up in spite1 ,he shall find their sharpest thorns ,in his bed at night4 ,up the airy mountain1 ,down the rushy glen1 ,we daren't go a-hunting ,for fear of little men4 ,wee folk1 good folk1 ,trooping all together2 ,green jacket1 red cap1 ,and white owl's feather6 ,,footnotes3 #ag ,by ,william ,allingham4 ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,the ,,little ,,field ,,mouse ,once upon a time1 there was a little brown ,field ,mouse2 and one day he was out in the fields to see what he could find4 ,he was running along in the grass1 poking his nose into everything and looking with his two eyes all about1 when he saw a smooth1 shiny acorn1 lying in the grass4 ,it was such a fine shiny little acorn that he thought he would take it home with him2 so he put out his paw to touch it1 but the little acorn rolled away from him4 ,he ran after it1 but it kept rolling on1 just ahead of him1 till it came to a place where a big oak-tree had its roots spread all over the ground4 ,then it rolled under a big round root4 ,little ,mr ,field ,mouse ran to the root and poked his nose under after the acorn1 and there he saw a small round hole in the ground4 ,he slipped through and saw some stairs going down into the earth4 ,the acorn was rolling down1 with a soft tapping sound1 ahead of him1 so down he went too4 ,down1 down1 down1 rolled the acorn1 and down1 down1 down1 went the ,field ,mouse1 until suddenly he saw a tiny door at the foot of the stairs4 ,the shiny acorn rolled to the door and struck against it with a tap4 ,quickly the little door opened and the acorn rolled inside4 ,the ,field ,mouse hurried as fast as he could down the last stairs1 and pushed through just as the door was closing4 ,it shut behind him1 and he was in a little room4 ,and there1 before him1 stood a queer little ,red ,man6 ,he had a little red cap1 and a little red jacket1 and odd little red shoes with points at the toes4 ,you are my prisoner1 he said to the ,field ,mouse4 ,what for8 said the ,field ,mouse4 ,because you tried to steal my acorn1 said the little ,red ,man4 ,it is my acorn1 said the ,field ,mouse2 ,i found it4 ,no1 it isn't1 said the little ,red ,man1 ,i have it2 you will never see it again4 ,the little ,field ,mouse looked all about the room as fast as he could1 but he could not see any acorn4 ,then he thought he would go back up the tiny stairs to his own home4 ,but the little door was locked1 and the little ,red ,man had the key4 ,and he said to the poor mouse1-- ,you shall be my servant2 you shall make my bed and sweep my room and cook my broth4 ,so the little brown ,mouse was the little ,red ,man's servant1 and every day he made the little ,red ,man's bed and swept the little ,red ,man's room and cooked the little ,red ,man's broth4 ,and every day the little ,red ,man went away through the tiny door1 and did not come back till afternoon4 ,but he always locked the door after him1 and carried away the key4 ,at last1 one day he was in such a hurry that he turned the key before the door was quite latched1 which1 of course1 didn't lock it at all4 ,he went away without noticing1--he was in such a hurry4 ,the little ,field ,mouse knew that his chance had come to run away home4 ,but he didn't want to go without the pretty1 shiny acorn4 ,where it was he didn't know1 so he looked everywhere4 ,he opened every little drawer and looked in1 but it wasn't in any of the drawers2 he peeped on every shelf1 but it wasn't on a shelf2 he hunted in every closet1 but it wasn't in there4 ,finally1 he climbed up on a chair and opened a wee1 wee door in the chimney-piece1--and there it was6 ,he took it quickly in his forepaws1 and then he took it in his mouth1 and then he ran away4 ,he pushed open the little door2 he climbed up1 up1 up the little stairs2 he came out through the hole under the root2 he ran and ran through the fields2 and at last he came to his own house4 ,when he was in his own house he set the shiny acorn on the table4 ,i expect he set it down hard1 for all at once1 with a little snap1 it opened6--exactly like a little box4 ,and what do you think6 ,there was a tiny necklace inside6 ,it was a most beautiful tiny necklace1 all made of jewels1 and it was just big enough for a lady mouse4 ,so the little ,field ,mouse gave the tiny necklace to his little ,mouse-sister4 ,she thought it was perfectly lovely4 ,and when she wasn't wearing it she kept it in the shiny acorn box4 ,and the little ,red ,man never knew what had become of it1 because he didn't know where the little ,field ,mouse lived4 ,,another ,,little ,,red ,,hen#ah ,once upon a time there was a little ,red ,hen1 who lived on a farm all by herself4 ,an old ,fox1 crafty and sly1 had a den in the rocks1 on a hill near her house4 ,many and many a night this old ,fox used to lie awake and think to himself how good that little ,red ,hen would taste if he could once get her in his big kettle and boil her for dinner4 ,but he couldn't catch the little ,red ,hen1 because she was too wise for him4 ,every time she went out to market she locked the door of the house behind her1 and as soon as she came in again she locked the door behind her and put the key in her apron pocket1 where she kept her scissors and some sugar candy4 ,at last the old ,fox thought out a way to catch the little ,red ,hen4 ,early in the morning he said to his old mother1 ,have the kettle boiling when ,i come home to-night1 for ,i'll be bringing the little ,red ,hen for supper4 ,then he took a big bag and slung it over his shoulder1 and walked till he came to the little ,red ,hen's house4 ,the little ,red ,hen was just coming out of her door to pick up a few sticks for firewood4 ,so the old ,fox hid behind the wood-pile1 and as soon as she bent down to get a stick1 into the house he slipped1 and scurried behind the door4 ,in a minute the little ,red ,hen came quickly in1 and shut the door and locked it4 ,i'm glad ,i'm safely in1 she said4 ,just as she said it1 she turned round1 and there stood the ugly old ,fox1 with his big bag over his shoulder4 ,whiff6 how scared the little ,red ,hen was6 ,she dropped her apronful of sticks1 and flew up to the big beam across the ceiling4 ,there she perched1 and she said to the old ,fox1 down below1 ,you may as well go home1 for you can't get me4 ,can't ,i1 though6 said the ,fox4 ,and what do you think he did8 ,he stood on the floor underneath the little ,red ,hen and twirled round in a circle after his own tail4 ,and as he spun1 and spun1 and spun1 faster1 and faster1 and faster1 the poor little ,red ,hen got so dizzy watching him that she couldn't hold on to the perch4 ,she dropped off1 and the old ,fox picked her up and put her in his bag1 slung the bag over his shoulder1 and started for home1 where the kettle was boiling4 ,he had a very long way to go1 up hill1 and the little ,red ,hen was still so dizzy that she didn't know where she was4 ,but when the dizziness began to go off1 she whisked her little scissors out of her apron pocket1 and snip6 she cut a little hole in the bag2 then she poked her head out and saw where she was1 and as soon as they came to a good spot she cut the hole bigger and jumped out herself4 ,there was a great big stone lying there1 and the little ,red ,hen picked it up and put it in the bag as quick as a wink4 ,then she ran as fast as she could till she came to her own little farmhouse1 and she went in and locked the door with the big key4 ,the old ,fox went on carrying the stone and never knew the difference4 ,my1 but it bumped him well6 ,he was pretty tired when he got home4 ,but he was so pleased to think of the supper he was going to have that he did not mind that at all4 ,as soon as his mother opened the door he said1 ,is the kettle boiling8 ,yes1 said his mother2 have you got the little ,red ,hen8 ,i have1 said the old ,fox4 ,when ,i open the bag you hold the cover off the kettle and ,i'll shake the bag so that the ,hen will fall in1 and then you pop the cover on1 before she can jump out4 ,all right1 said his mean old mother2 and she stood close by the boiling kettle1 ready to put the cover on4 ,the ,fox lifted the big1 heavy bag up till it was over the open kettle1 and gave it a shake4 ,splash6 thump6 splash6 ,in went the stone and out came the boiling water1 all over the old ,fox and the old ,fox's mother6 ,and they were scalded to death4 ,but the little ,red ,hen lived happily ever after1 in her own little farmhouse4 ,,footnotes3 #ah ,adapted from the verse version1 by ,horace ,e4 ,scudder1 which follows this as an alternative4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,little ,,rid ,,hin ,there was once't upon a time ,a little small ,rid ,hin1 ,off in the good ould country ,where yees ha' nivir bin4 ,nice and quiet shure she was1 ,and nivir did any harrum2 ,she lived alane all be herself1 ,and worked upon her farrum4 ,there lived out o'er the hill1 ,in a great din o' rocks1 ,a crafty1 shly1 and wicked ,ould folly iv a ,fox4 ,this rashkill iv a ,fox1 ,he tuk it in his head ,he'd have the little ,rid ,hin3 ,so1 whin he wint to bed1 ,he laid awake and thaught ,what a foine thing 'twad be ,to fetch her home and bile her up ,for his ould marm and he4 ,and so he thaught and thaught1 ,until he grew so thin ,that there was nothin' left of him ,but jist his bones and shkin4 ,but the small ,rid ,hin was wise1 ,she always locked her door1 ,and in her pocket pit the key1 ,to keep the ,fox out shure4 ,but at last there came a schame ,intil his wicked head1 ,and he tuk a great big bag ,and to his mither said1-- ,now have the pot all bilin' ,agin the time ,i come2 ,we'll ate the small ,rid ,hin to-night1 ,for shure ,i'll bring her home4 ,and so away he wint ,wid the bag upon his back1 ,an' up the hill and through the woods ,saftly he made his track4 ,an' thin he came alang1 ,craping as shtill's a mouse1 ,to where the little small ,rid ,hin ,lived in her shnug ould house4 ,an' out she comes hersel'1 ,jist as he got in sight1 ,to pick up shticks to make her fire3 ,aha6 says ,fox1 all right4 ,begorra1 now1 ,i'll have yees ,widout much throuble more2 ,an' in he shlips quite unbeknownst1 ,an' hides be'ind the door4 ,an' thin1 a minute afther1 ,in comes the small ,rid ,hin1 ,an' shuts the door1 and locks it1 too1 ,an' thinks1 ,i'm safely in4 ,an' thin she tarns around ,an' looks be'ind the door2 ,there shtands the ,fox wid his big tail ,shpread out upon the floor4 ,dear me6 she was so schared ,wid such a wondrous sight1 ,she dropped her apronful of shticks1 ,an' flew up in a fright1 ,an' lighted on the bame ,across on top the room2 ,aha6 says she1 ye don't have me2 ,ye may as well go home4 ,aha6 says ,fox1 we'll see2 ,i'll bring yees down from that4 ,so out he marched upon the floor ,right under where she sat4 ,an' thin he whiruled around1 ,an' round an' round an' round1 ,fashter an' fashter an' fashter1 ,afther his tail on the ground4 ,until the small ,rid ,hin ,she got so dizzy1 shure1 ,wid lookin' at the ,fox's tail1 ,she jist dropped on the floor4 ,an' ,fox he whipped her up1 ,an' pit her in his bag1 ,an' off he started all alone1 ,him and his little dag4 ,all day he tracked the wood ,up hill an' down again2 ,an' wid him1 shmotherin' in the bag1 ,the little small ,rid ,hin4 ,sorra a know she knowed ,awhere she was that day2 ,says she1 ,i'm biled an' ate up1 shure ,an' what'll be to pay8 ,thin she betho't hersel'1 ,an' tuk her schissors out1 ,an' shnipped a big hole in the bag1 ,so she could look about4 ,an' 'fore ould ,fox could think ,she lept right out--she did1 ,an' thin picked up a great big shtone1 ,an' popped it in instid4 ,an' thin she rins off home1 ,her outside door she locks2 ,thinks she1 ,you see you don't have me1 ,you crafty1 shly ould ,fox4 ,an' ,fox he tugged away ,wid the great big hivy shtone1 ,thimpin' his shoulders very bad ,as he wint in alone4 ,an' whin he came in sight ,o' his great din o' rocks1 ,jist watchin' for him at the door ,he shpied ould mither ,fox4 ,have ye the pot a-bilin'8 ,says he to ould ,fox thin2 ,shure an' it is1 me child1 says she2 ,have ye the small ,rid ,hin8 ,yes1 jist here in me bag1 ,as shure as ,i shtand here2 ,open the lid till ,i pit her in3 ,open it--nivir fear4 ,so the rashkill cut the shtring1 ,an' hild the big bag over2 ,now when ,i shake it in1 says he1 ,do ye pit on the cover4 ,yis1 that ,i will2 an' thin ,the shtone wint in wid a dash1 ,an' the pot o' bilin' wather ,came over them ker-splash4 ,an' schalted 'em both to death1 ,so they couldn't brathe no more2 ,an' the little small ,rid ,hin lived safe1 ,jist where she lived before4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,epaminondas ,,and ,,his ,,auntie#ai ,epaminondas used to go to see his ,auntie 'most every day1 and she nearly always gave him something to take home to his ,mammy4 ,one day she gave him a big piece of cake2 nice1 yellow1 rich gold-cake4 ,epaminondas took it in his fist and held it all crunched up tight1 like this1 and came along home4 ,by the time he got home there wasn't anything left but a fistful of crumbs4 ,his ,mammy said1-- ,what you got there1 ,epaminondas8 ,cake1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas4 ,cake6 said his ,mammy4 ,epaminondas1 you ain't got the sense you was born with6 ,that's no way to carry cake4 ,the way to carry cake is to wrap it all up nice in some leaves and put it in your hat1 and put your hat on your head1 and come along home4 ,you hear me1 ,epaminondas8 ,yes1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas4 ,next day ,epaminondas went to see his ,auntie1 and she gave him a pound of butter for his ,mammy2 fine1 fresh1 sweet butter4 ,epaminondas wrapped it up in leaves and put it in his hat1 and put his hat on his head1 and came along home4 ,it was a very hot day4 ,pretty soon the butter began to melt4 ,it melted1 and melted1 and as it melted it ran down ,epaminondas' forehead2 then it ran over his face1 and in his ears1 and down his neck4 ,when he got home1 all the butter ,epaminondas had was on him4 ,his ,mammy looked at him1 and then she said1-- ,law's sake6 ,epaminondas1 what you got in your hat8 ,butter1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas2 ,auntie gave it to me4 ,butter6 said his ,mammy4 ,epaminondas1 you ain't got the sense you was born with6 ,don't you know that's no way to carry butter8 ,the way to carry butter is to wrap it up in some leaves and take it down to the brook1 and cool it in the water1 and cool it in the water1 and cool it in the water1 and then take it on your hands1 careful1 and bring it along home4 ,yes1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas4 ,by and by1 another day1 ,epaminondas went to see his ,auntie again1 and2 this time she gave him a little new puppy-dog to take home4 ,epaminondas put it in some leaves and took it down to the brook2 and there he cooled it in the water1 and cooled it in the water1 and cooled it in the water2 then he took it in his hands and came along home4 ,when he got home1 the puppy-dog was dead4 ,his ,mammy looked at it1 and she said1-- ,law's sake6 ,epaminondas1 what you got there8 ,a puppy-dog1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas4 ,a puppy-dog6 said his ,mammy4 ,my gracious sakes alive1 ,epaminondas1 you ain't got the sense you was born with6 ,that ain't the way to carry a puppy-dog6 ,the way to carry a puppy-dog is to take a long piece of string and tie one end of it round the puppy-dog's neck and put the puppy-dog on the ground1 and take hold of the other end of the string and come along home1 like this4 ,all right1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas4 ,next day ,epaminondas went to see his ,auntie again1 and when he came to go home she gave him a loaf of bread to carry to his ,mammy2 a brown1 fresh1 crusty loaf of bread4 ,so ,epaminondas tied a string around the end of the loaf and took hold of the end of the string and came along home1 like this4 7,imitate dragging something along the ground47 ,when he got home his ,mammy looked at the thing on the end of the string1 and she said1-- ,my laws a-massy6 ,epaminondas1 what you got on the end of that string8 ,bread1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas2 ,auntie gave it to me4 ,bread666 said his ,mammy4 ,o ,epaminondas1 ,epaminondas1 you ain't got the sense you was born with2 you never did have the sense you was born with2 you never will have the sense you was born with6 ,now ,i ain't gwine tell you any more ways to bring truck home4 ,and don't you go see your ,auntie1 neither4 ,i'll go see her my own self4 ,but ,i'll just tell you one thing1 ,epaminondas6 ,you see these here six mince pies ,i done make8 ,you see how ,i done set 'em on the doorstep to cool8 ,well1 now1 you hear me1 ,epaminondas1 you be careful how you step on those pies6 ,yes1 ,mammy1 said ,epaminondas4 ,then ,epaminondas' ,mammy put on her bonnet and her shawl and took a basket in her hand and went away to see ,auntie4 ,the six mince pies sat cooling in a row on the doorstep4 ,and then1--and then1--,epaminondas was careful how he stepped on those pies6 ,he stepped 7imitate7--right--in--the--middle--of--e very--one4 99 99 99 99 99 ,and1 do you know1 children1 nobody knows what happened next6 ,the person who told me the story didn't know2 nobody knows4 ,but you can guess4 ,,footnotes3 #ai ,a ,negro nonsense tale from the ,southern ,states of ,america4 ,,the ,,boy ,,who ,,cried ,,wolf6 ,there was once a shepherd-boy who kept his flock at a little distance from the village4 ,once he thought he would play a trick on the villagers and have some fun at their expense4 ,so he ran toward the village crying out1 with all his might1-- ,wolf6 ,wolf6 ,come and help6 ,the wolves are at my lambs6 ,the kind villagers left their work and ran to the field to help him4 ,but when they got there the boy laughed at them for their pains2 there was no wolf there4 ,still another day the boy tried the same trick1 and the villagers came running to help and got laughed at again4 ,then one day a wolf did break into the fold and began killing the lambs4 ,in great fright1 the boy ran for help4 ,wolf6 ,wolf6 he screamed4 ,there is a wolf in the flock6 ,help6 ,the villagers heard him1 but they thought it was another mean trick2 no one paid the least attention1 or went near him4 ,and the shepherd-boy lost all his sheep4 ,that is the kind of thing that happens to people who lie3 even when they tell the truth no one believes them4 ,,the ,,frog ,,king ,did you ever hear the old story about the foolish ,frogs8 ,the ,frogs in a certain swamp decided that they needed a king2 they had always got along perfectly well without one1 but they suddenly made up their minds that a king they must have4 ,they sent a messenger to ,jove and begged him to send a king to rule over them4 ,jove saw how stupid they were1 and sent a king who could not harm them3 he tossed a big log into the middle of the pond4 ,at the splash the ,frogs were terribly frightened1 and dived into their holes to hide from ,king ,log4 ,but after a while1 when they saw that the king never moved1 they got over their fright and went and sat on him4 ,and as soon as they found he really could not hurt them they began to despise him2 and finally they sent another messenger to ,jove to ask for a new king4 ,jove sent an eel4 ,the ,frogs were much pleased and a good deal frightened when ,king ,eel came wriggling and swimming among them4 ,but as the days went on1 and the eel was perfectly harmless1 they stopped being afraid2 and as soon as they stopped fearing ,king ,eel they stopped respecting him4 ,soon they sent a third messenger to ,jove1 and begged that they might have a better king1--a king who was worth while4 ,it was too much2 ,jove was angry at their stupidity at last4 ,i will give you a king such as you deserve6 he said2 and he sent them a ,stork4 ,as soon as the ,frogs came to the surface to greet the new king1 ,king ,stork caught them in his long bill and gobbled them up4 ,one after another they came bobbing up1 and one after another the stork ate them4 ,he was indeed a king worthy of them6 ,,the ,,sun ,,and ,,the ,,wind ,the ,sun and the ,wind once had a quarrel as to which was the stronger4 ,each believed himself to be the more powerful4 ,while they were arguing they saw a traveller walking along the country highway1 wearing a great cloak4 ,here is a chance to test our strength1 said the ,wind2 let us see which of us is strong enough to make that traveller take off his cloak2 the one who can do that shall be acknowledged the more powerful4 ,agreed1 said the ,sun4 ,instantly the ,wind began to blow2 he puffed and tugged at the man's cloak1 and raised a storm of hail and rain1 to beat at it4 ,but the colder it grew and the more it stormed1 the tighter the traveller held his cloak around him4 ,the ,wind could not get it off4 ,now it was the ,sun's turn4 ,he shone with all his beams on the man's shoulders4 ,as it grew hotter and hotter1 the man unfastened his cloak2 then he threw it back2 at last he took it off6 ,the ,sun had won4 ,,the ,,little ,,jackal ,,and ,,the ,,alligator ,the little ,jackal was very fond of shell-fish4 ,he used to go down by the river and hunt along the edges for crabs and such things4 ,and once1 when he was hunting for crabs1 he was so hungry that he put his paw into the water after a crab without looking first1--which you never should do6 ,the minute he put in his paw1 snap6--the big ,alligator who lives in the mud down there had it in his jaws4 ,oh1 dear6 thought the little ,jackal2 the big ,alligator has my paw in his mouth6 ,in another minute he will pull me down and gobble me up6 ,what shall ,i do8 what shall ,i do8 ,then he thought1 suddenly1 ,i'll deceive him6 ,so he put on a very cheerful voice1 as if nothing at all were the matter1 and he said1-- ,ho6 ho6 ,clever ,mr ,alligator6 ,smart ,mr ,alligator1 to take that old bulrush root for my paw6 ,i hope you'll find it very tender6 ,the old ,alligator was hidden away beneath the mud and bulrush leaves1 and he couldn't see anything4 ,he thought1 ,pshaw6 ,i've made a mistake4 ,so he opened his mouth and let the little ,jackal go4 ,the little ,jackal ran away as fast as he could1 and as he ran he called out1-- ,thank you1 ,mr ,alligator6 ,kind ,mr ,alligator6 ,so kind of you to let me go6 ,the old ,alligator lashed with his tail and snapped with his jaws1 but it was too late2 the little ,jackal was out of reach4 ,after this the little ,jackal kept away from the river1 out of danger4 ,but after about a week he got such an appetite for crabs that nothing else would do at all2 he felt that he must have a crab4 ,so he went down by the river and looked all around1 very carefully4 ,he didn't see the old ,alligator1 but he thought to himself1 ,i think ,i'll not take any chances4 ,so he stood still and began to talk out loud to himself4 ,he said1-- ,when ,i don't see any little crabs on the land ,i generally see them sticking out of the water1 and then ,i put my paw in and catch them4 ,i wonder if there are any fat little crabs in the water to-day8 ,the old ,alligator was hidden down in the mud at the bottom of the river1 and when he heard what the little ,jackal said1 he thought1 ,aha6 ,i'll pretend to be a little crab1 and when he puts his paw in1 ,i'll make my dinner of him4 ,so he stuck the black end of his snout above the water and waited4 ,the little ,jackal took one look1 and then he said1-- ,thank you1 ,mr ,alligator6 ,kind ,mr ,alligator6 ,you are exceedingly kind to show me where you are6 ,i will have dinner elsewhere4 ,and he ran away like the wind4 ,the old ,alligator foamed at the mouth1 he was so angry1 but the little ,jackal was gone4 ,for two whole weeks the little ,jackal kept away from the river4 ,then1 one day he got a feeling inside him that nothing but crabs could satisfy3 he felt that he must have at least one crab4 ,very cautiously1 he went down to the river and looked all around4 ,he saw no sign of the old ,alligator4 ,still1 he did not mean to take any chances4 ,so he stood quite still and began to talk to himself1--it was a little way he had4 ,he said1-- ,when ,i don't see any little crabs on the shore1 or sticking up out of the water1 ,i usually see them blowing bubbles from under the water2 the little bubbles go puff1 puff1 puff1 and then they go pop1 pop1 pop1 and they show me where the little juicy crabs are1 so ,i can put my paw in and catch them4 ,i wonder if ,i shall see any little bubbles to-day8 ,the old ,alligator1 lying low in the mud and weeds1 heard this1 and he thought1 ,pooh6 ,that's easy enough2 ,i'll just blow some little crab-bubbles1 and then he will put his paw in where ,i can get it4 ,so he blew1 and he blew1 a mighty blast1 and the bubbles rose in a perfect whirlpool1 fizzing and swirling4 ,the little ,jackal didn't have to be told who was underneath those bubbles3 he took one quick look1 and off he ran4 ,but as he went1 he sang1-- ,thank you1 ,mr ,alligator6 ,kind ,mr ,alligator6 ,you are the kindest ,alligator in the world1 to show me where you are1 so nicely6 ,i'll breakfast at another part of the river4 ,the old ,alligator was so furious that he crawled up on the bank and went after the little ,jackal2 but1 dear1 dear1 he couldn't catch the little ,jackal2 he ran far too fast4 ,after this1 the little ,jackal did not like to risk going near the water1 so he ate no more crabs4 ,but he found a garden of wild figs1 which were so good that he went there every day1 and ate them instead of shell-fish4 ,now the old ,alligator found this out1 and he made up his mind to have the little ,jackal for supper1 or to die trying4 ,so he crept1 and crawled1 and dragged himself over the ground to the garden of wild figs4 ,there he made a huge pile of figs under the biggest of the wild fig trees1 and hid himself in the pile4 ,after a while the little ,jackal came dancing into the garden1 very happy and free from care1--but looking all around4 ,he saw the huge pile of figs under the big fig tree4 ,h-m1 he thought1 that looks singularly like my friend1 the ,alligator4 ,i'll investigate a bit4 ,he stood quite still and began to talk to himself1--it was a little way he had4 ,he said1-- ,the little figs ,i like best are the fat1 ripe1 juicy ones that drop off when the breeze blows2 and then the wind blows them about on the ground1 this way and that2 the great heap of figs over there is so still that ,i think they must be all bad figs4 ,the old ,alligator1 underneath his fig pile1 thought1-- ,bother the suspicious little ,jackal6 ,i shall have to make these figs roll about1 so that he will think the wind moves them4 ,and straight-way he humped himself up and moved1 and sent the little figs flying1--and his back showed through4 ,the little ,jackal did not wait for a second look4 ,he ran out of the garden like the wind4 ,but as he ran he called back1-- ,thank you1 again1 ,mr ,alligator2 very sweet of you to show me where you are2 ,i can't stay to thank you as ,i should like3 good-bye6 ,at this the old ,alligator was beside himself with rage4 ,he vowed that he would have the little ,jackal for supper this time1 come what might4 ,so he crept and crawled over the ground till he came to the little ,jackal's house4 ,then he crept and crawled inside1 and hid himself there in the house1 to wait till the little ,jackal should come home4 ,by and by the little ,jackal came dancing home1 happy and free from care1--but looking all around4 ,presently1 as he came along1 he saw that the ground was all raked up as if something very heavy had been dragged over it4 ,the little ,jackal stopped and looked4 ,what's this8 what's this8 he said4 ,then he saw that the door of his house was crushed at the sides and broken1 as if something very big had gone through it4 ,what's this8 ,what's this8 the little ,jackal said4 ,i think ,i'll investigate a little6 ,so he stood quite still and began to talk to himself 7you remember1 it was a little way he had71 but loudly4 ,he said1-- ,how strange that my little ,house doesn't speak to me6 ,why don't you speak to me1 little ,house8 ,you always speak to me1 if everything is all right1 when ,i come home4 ,i wonder if anything is wrong with my little ,house8 ,the old ,alligator thought to himself that he must certainly pretend to be the little ,house1 or the little ,jackal would never come in4 ,so he put on as pleasant a voice as he could 7which is not saying much7 and said1-- ,hullo1 little ,jackal6 ,oh6 ,when the little ,jackal heard that1 he was frightened enough1 for once4 ,it's the old ,alligator1 he said1 and if ,i don't make an end of him this time he will certainly make an end of me4 ,what shall ,i do8 ,he thought very fast4 ,then he spoke out pleasantly4 ,thank you1 little ,house1 he said1 it's good to hear your pretty voice1 dear little ,house1 and ,i will be in with you in a minute2 only first ,i must gather some firewood for dinner4 ,then he went and gathered firewood1 and more firewood1 and more firewood2 and he piled it all up solid against the door and round the house2 and then he set fire to it6 ,and it smoked and burned till it smoked that old ,alligator to smoked herring6 ,,the ,,larks ,,in ,,the ,,cornfield ,there was once a family of little ,larks who lived with their mother in a nest in a cornfield4 ,when the corn was ripe the mother ,lark watched very carefully to see if there were any sign of the reapers' coming1 for she knew that when they came their sharp knives would cut down the nest and hurt the baby ,larks4 ,so every day1 when she went out for food1 she told the little ,larks to look and listen very closely to everything that went on1 and to tell her all they saw and heard when she came home4 ,one day when she came home the little ,larks were much frightened4 ,oh1 ,mother1 dear ,mother1 they said1 you must move us away to-night6 ,the farmer was in the field to-day1 and he said1 ',the corn is ready to cut2 we must call in the neighbours to help4' ,and then he told his son to go out to-night and ask all the neighbours to come and reap the corn to-morrow4 ,the mother ,lark laughed4 ,don't be frightened1 she said2 if he waits for his neighbours to reap the corn we shall have plenty of time to move2 tell me what he says to-morrow4 ,the next night the little ,larks were quite trembling with fear2 the moment their mother got home they cried out1 ,mother1 you must surely move us to-night6 ,the farmer came to-day and said1 ',the corn is getting too ripe2 we cannot wait for our neighbours2 we must ask our relatives to help us4' ,and then he called his son and told him to ask all the uncles and cousins to come to-morrow and cut the corn4 ,shall we not move to-night8 ,don't worry1 said the mother ,lark2 the uncles and cousins have plenty of reaping to do for themselves2 we'll not move yet4 ,the third night1 when the mother ,lark came home1 the baby ,larks said1 ,mother1 dear1 the farmer came to the field to-day1 and when he looked at the corn he was quite angry2 he said1 ',this will never do6 ,the corn is getting too ripe2 it's no use to wait for our relatives1 we shall have to cut this corn ourselves4' ,and then he called his son and said1 ',go out to-night and hire reapers1 and to-morrow we will begin to cut4' ,well1 said the mother1 that is another story2 when a man begins to do his own business1 instead of asking somebody else to do it1 things get done4 ,i will move you out to-night4 ,a ,,true ,,story ,,about ,a ,,girl ,once there were four little girls who lived in a big1 bare house1 in the country4 ,they were very poor1 but they had the happiest times you ever heard of1 because they were very rich in everything except money4 ,they had a wonderful1 wise father1 who knew stories to tell1 and who taught them their lessons in such a beautiful way that it was better than play2 they had a lovely1 merry1 kind mother1 who was never too tired to help them work or watch them play2 and they had all the great green country to play in4 ,there were dark1 shadowy woods1 and fields of flowers1 and a river4 ,and there was a big barn4 ,one of the little girls was named ,louisa4 ,she was very pretty1 and ever so strong2 she could run for miles through the woods and not get tired4 ,she had a splendid brain in her little head2 it liked study1 and it thought interesting thoughts all day long4 ,louisa liked to sit in a corner by herself1 sometimes1 and write thoughts in her diary2 all the little girls kept diaries4 ,she liked to make up stories out of her own head1 and sometimes she made verses4 ,when the four little sisters had finished their lessons1 and had helped their mother wash up and sew1 they used to go to the big barn to play2 and the best play of all was theatricals4 ,louisa liked theatricals better than anything4 ,they made the barn into a theatre1 and the grown-up people came to see the plays they acted4 ,they used to climb up on the hay-loft for a stage1 and the grown people sat in chairs on the floor4 ,it was great fun4 ,one of the plays they acted was ,jack and the ,beanstalk4 ,they had a ladder from the floor to the loft1 and on the ladder they tied a vine all the way up to the loft1 to look like the wonderful beanstalk4 ,one of the little girls was dressed up to look like ,jack1 and she acted that part4 ,when it came to the place in the story where the giant tried to follow ,jack1 the little girl cut down the beanstalk1 and down came the giant tumbling from the loft4 ,the giant was made out of pillows1 with a great1 fierce head of paper1 and funny clothes4 ,another story that they acted was ,cinderella4 ,they made a wonderful big pumpkin out of the wheelbarrow1 trimmed with yellow paper1 and ,cinderella rolled away in it1 when the fairy godmother waved her wand4 ,one other beautiful story they used to play4 ,it was the story of ,pilgrim's ,progress2 if you have never heard it1 you must be sure to read it as soon as you can read well enough to understand the old-fashioned words4 ,the little girls used to put shells in their hats for a sign they were on a pilgrimage1 as the old pilgrims used to do2 then they made journeys over the hill behind the house1 and through the woods1 and down the lanes2 and when the pilgrimage was over they had apples and nuts to eat1 in the happy land of home4 ,louisa loved all these plays1 and she made some of her own and wrote them down so that the children could act them4 ,but better than fun or writing ,louisa loved her mother1 and by and by1 as the little girl began to grow into a big girl1 she felt very sad to see her dear mother work so hard4 ,she helped all she could with the housework1 but nothing could really help the tired mother except money2 she needed money for food and clothes1 and someone grown up1 to help in the house4 ,but there never was enough money for these things1 and ,louisa's mother grew more and more weary1 and sometimes ill4 ,i cannot tell you how much ,louisa suffered over this4 ,at last1 as ,louisa thought about it1 she came to care more about helping her mother and her father and her sisters than about anything else in all the world4 ,and she began to work very hard to earn money4 ,she sewed for people1 and when she was a little older she taught some little girls their lessons1 and then she wrote stories for the papers4 ,every bit of money she earned1 except what she had to use1 she gave to her dear family4 ,it helped very much1 but it was so little that ,louisa never felt as if she were doing anything4 ,every year she grew more unselfish1 and every year she worked harder4 ,she liked writing stories best of all her work1 but she did not get much money for them1 and some people told her she was wasting her time4 ,at last1 one day1 a publisher asked ,louisa1 who was now a woman1 to write a book for girls4 ,louisa was not very well1 and she was very tired1 but she always said1 ,i'll try1 when she had a chance to work2 so she said1 ,i'll try1 to the publisher4 ,when she thought about the book she remembered the good times she used to have with her sisters in the big1 bare house in the country4 ,and so she wrote a story and put all that in it2 she put her dear mother and her wise father in it1 and all the little sisters1 and besides the jolly times and the plays1 she put the sad1 hard times in1--the work and worry and going without things4 ,when the book was written1 she called it ,little ,women1 and sent it to the publisher4 ,and1 children1 the little book made ,louisa famous4 ,it was so sweet and funny and sad and real1--like our own lives1--that everybody wanted to read it4 ,everybody bought it1 and much money came from it4 ,after so many years1 little ,louisa's wish came true3 she bought a nice house for her family2 she sent one of her sisters to ,europe1 to study2 she gave her father books2 but best of all1 she was able to see to it that the beloved mother1 so tired and so ill1 could have rest and happiness4 ,never again did the dear mother have to do any hard work1 and she had pretty things about her all the rest of her life4 ,louisa ,alcott1 for that was ,louisa's name1 wrote many beautiful books after this1 and she became one of the most famous women of ,america4 ,but ,i think the most beautiful thing about her is what ,i have been telling you3 that she loved her mother so well that she gave her whole life to make her happy4 ,,my ,,kingdom ,the little ,louisa ,i told you about1 who wrote verses and stories in her diary1 used to like to play that she was a princess1 and that her kingdom was her own mind4 ,when she had unkind or dissatisfied thoughts1 she tried to get rid of them by playing they were enemies of the kingdom2 and she drove them out with soldiers2 the soldiers were patience1 duty1 and love4 ,it used to help ,louisa to be good to play this1 and ,i think it may have helped make her the splendid woman she was afterward4 ,maybe you would like to hear a poem she wrote about it1 when she was only fourteen years old4#bj ,it will help you1 too1 to think the same thoughts4 ,a little kingdom ,i possess1 ,where thoughts and feelings dwell1 ,and very hard ,i find the task ,of governing it well2 ,for passion tempts and troubles me1 ,a wayward will misleads1 ,and selfishness its shadow casts ,on all my words and deeds4 ,how can ,i learn to rule myself1 ,to be the child ,i should1 ,honest and brave1 nor ever tire ,of trying to be good8 ,how can ,i keep a sunny soul ,to shine along life's way8 ,how can ,i tune my little heart ,to sweetly sing all day8 ,dear ,father1 help me with the love ,that casteth out my fear1 ,teach me to lean on ,thee1 and feel ,that ,thou art very near1 ,that no temptation is unseen1 ,no childish grief too small1 ,since ,thou1 with patience infinite1 ,doth soothe and comfort all4 ,i do not ask for any crown ,but that which all may win1 ,nor seek to conquer any world1 ,except the one within4 ,be ,thou my ,guide until ,i find1 ,led by a tender hand1 ,thy happy kingdom in myself1 ,and dare to take command4 ,,footnotes3 #bj ,from ,louisa ,m4 ,alcott's ,life1 ,letters and ,journals4 ,,piccola#ba ,poor1 sweet ,piccola6 ,did you hear ,what happened to ,piccola1 children dear8 ',tis seldom ,fortune such favour grants ,as fell to this little maid of ,france4 ',twas ,christmas-time1 and her parents poor ,could hardly drive the wolf from the door1 ,striving with poverty's patient pain ,only to live till summer again4 ,no gifts for ,piccola6 ,sad were they ,when dawned the morning of ,christmas-day2 ,their little darling no joy might stir1 ,st ,nicholas nothing would bring to her6 ,but ,piccola never doubted at all ,that something beautiful must befall ,every child upon ,christmas-day1 ,and so she slept till the dawn was gray4 ,and full of faith1 when at last she woke1 ,she stole to her shoe as the morning broke2 ,such sounds of gladness filled all the air1 ,twas plain ,st ,nicholas had been there6 ,in rushed ,piccola sweet1 half wild3 ,never was seen such a joyful child4 ,see what the good saint brought6 she cried1 ,and mother and father must peep inside4 ,now such a story who ever heard8 ,there was a little shivering bird6 ,a sparrow1 that in at the window flew1 ,had crept into ,piccola's tiny shoe6 ,how good poor ,piccola must have been6 ,she cried1 as happy as any queen1 ,while the starving sparrow she fed and warmed1 ,and danced with rapture1 she was so charmed4 ,children1 this story ,i tell to you1 ,of ,piccola sweet and her bird1 is true4 ,in the far-off land of ,france1 they say1 ,still do they live to this very day4 ,,footnotes3 #ba ,from ,celia ,thaxter's ,stories and ,poems for ,children4 ,,the ,,little ,,fir ,,tree ,when ,i was a very little girl some one1 probably my mother1 read to me ,hans ,christian ,andersen's story of the ,little ,fir ,tree4 ,it happened that ,i did not read it for myself or hear it again during my childhood4 ,one ,christmas ,day1 when ,i was grown up1 ,i found myself at a loss for the one more story called for by some little children with whom ,i was spending the holiday4 ,in the mental search for buried treasure which ensued1 ,i came upon one or two word-impressions of the experiences of the ,little ,fir ,tree1 and forthwith wove them into what ,i supposed to be something of a reproduction of the original4 ,the latter part of the story had wholly faded from my memory1 so that ,i made up to suit the tastes of my audience4 ,afterward ,i told the story to a good many children1 at one time or another1 and it gradually took the shape it has here4 ,it was not until several years later that1 in rereading ,andersen for other purposes1 ,i came upon the real story of the ,little ,fir ,tree1 and read it for myself4 ,then indeed ,i was amused1 and somewhat distressed1 to find how far ,i had wandered from the text4 ,i give this explanation that the reader may know ,i do not presume to offer the little tale which follows as an adaptation of ,andersen's famous story4 ,i offer it plainly as a story which children have liked1 and which grew out of my early memories of ,andersen's ,the ,little ,fir ,tree4 ,once there was a ,little ,fir ,tree1 slim and pointed1 and shiny1 which stood in the great forest in the midst of some big fir trees1 broad1 and tall1 and shadowy green4 ,the ,little ,fir ,tree was very unhappy because he was not big like the others4 ,when the birds came flying into the woods and lit on the branches of the big trees and built their nests there1 he used to call up to them1-- ,come down1 come down1 rest in my branches6 ,but they always said1-- ,oh1 no1 no2 you are too little6 ,when the splendid wind came blowing and singing through the forest1 it bent and rocked and swung the tops of the big trees1 and murmured to them4 ,then the ,little ,fir ,tree looked up1 and called1-- ,oh1 please1 dear wind1 come down and play with me6 ,but he always said1-- ,oh1 no2 you are too little1 you are too little6 ,in the winter the white snow fell softly1 softly1 and covered the great trees all over with wonderful caps and coats of white4 ,the ,little ,fir ,tree1 close down in the cover of the others1 would call up1-- ,oh1 please1 dear snow1 give me a cap1 too6 ,i want to play1 too6 ,but the snow always said1-- ,oh no1 no1 no2 you are too little1 you are too little6 ,the worst of all was when men came into the wood1 with sledges and teams of horses4 ,they came to cut the big trees down and carry them away4 ,whenever one had been cut down and carried away the others talked about it1 and nodded their heads1 and the ,little ,fir ,tree listened1 and heard them say that when you were carried away so1 you might become the mast of a mighty ship1 and go far away over the ocean1 and see many wonderful things2 or you might be part of a fine house in a great city1 and see much of life4 ,the ,little ,fir ,tree wanted greatly to see life1 but he was always too little2 the men passed him by4 ,but by and by1 one cold winter's morning1 men came with a sledge and horses1 and after they had cut here and there they came to the circle of trees round the ,little ,fir ,tree1 and looked all about4 ,there are none little enough1 they said4 ,oh6 how the ,little ,fir ,tree pricked up his needles6 ,here is one1 said one of the men1 it is just little enough4 ,and he touched the ,little ,fir ,tree4 ,the ,little ,fir ,tree was happy as a bird1 because he knew they were about to cut him down4 ,and when he was being carried away on the sledge he lay wondering1 so contentedly1 whether he should be the mast of a ship or part of a fine city house4 ,but when they came to the town he was taken out and set upright in a tub and placed on the edge of a path in a row of other fir trees1 all small1 but none so little as he4 ,and then the ,little ,fir ,tree began to see life4 ,people kept coming to look at the trees and to take them away4 ,but always when they saw the ,little ,fir ,tree they shook their heads and said1-- ,it is too little1 too little4 ,until1 finally1 two children came along1 hand in hand1 looking carefully at all the small trees4 ,when they saw the ,little ,fir ,tree they cried out1-- ,we'll take this one2 it is just little enough6 ,they took him out of his tub and carried him away1 between them4 ,and the happy ,little ,fir ,tree spent all his time wondering what it could be that he was just little enough for2 he knew it could hardly be a mast or a house1 since he was going away with children4 ,he kept wondering1 while they took him in through some big doors1 and set him up in another tub1 on the table1 in a bare little room4 ,very soon they went away1 and came back again with a big basket1 which they carried between them4 ,then some pretty ladies1 with white caps on their heads and white aprons over their blue dresses1 came bringing little parcels4 ,the children took things out of the basket and began to play with the ,little ,fir ,tree1 just as he had often begged the wind and the snow and the birds to do4 ,he felt their soft little touches on his head and his twigs and his branches4 ,when he looked down at himself1 as far as he could look1 he saw that he was all hung with gold and silver chains6 ,there were strings of white fluffy stuff drooping around him2 his twigs held little gold nuts and pink1 rosy balls and silver stars2 he had pretty little pink and white candles in his arms2 but last1 and most wonderful of all1 the children hung a beautiful white1 floating doll-angel over his head6 ,the ,little ,fir ,tree could not breathe1 for joy and wonder4 ,what was it that he was1 now8 ,why was this glory for him8 ,after a time every one went away and left him4 ,it grew dusk1 and the ,little ,fir ,tree began to hear strange sounds through the closed doors4 ,sometimes he heard a child crying4 ,he was beginning to be lonely4 ,it grew more and more shadowy4 ,all at once1 the doors opened and the two children came in4 ,two of the pretty ladies were with them4 ,they came up to the ,little ,fir ,tree and quickly lighted all the little pink and white candles4 ,then the two pretty ladies took hold of the table with the ,little ,fir ,tree on it and pushed it1 very smoothly and quickly1 out of the doors1 across a hall1 and in at another door4 ,the ,little ,fir ,tree had a sudden sight of a long room with many little white beds in it1 of children propped up on pillows in the beds1 and of other children in great wheeled chairs1 and others hobbling about or sitting in little chairs4 ,he wondered why all the little children looked so white and tired2 he did not know that he was in a hospital4 ,but before he could wonder any more his breath was quite taken away by the shout those little white children gave4 ,oh6 oh6 m-m6 m-m6 they cried4 ,how pretty6 ,how beautiful6 ,oh1 isn't it lovely6 ,he knew they must mean him1 for all their shining eyes were looking straight at him4 ,he stood as straight as a mast1 and quivered in every needle1 for joy4 ,presently one little weak child-voice called out1-- ,it's the nicest ,christmas tree ,i ever saw6 ,and then1 at last1 the ,little ,fir ,tree knew what he was2 he was a ,christmas tree6 ,and from his shiny head to his feet he was glad1 through and through1 because he was just little enough to be the nicest kind of tree in the world6 ,,how ,,moses ,,was ,,saved ,thousands of years ago1 many years before ,david lived1 there was a very wise and good man of his people who was a friend and adviser of the king of ,egypt4 ,and for love of this friend1 the king of ,egypt had let numbers of the ,israelites settle in his land4 ,but after the king and his ,israelitish friend were dead1 there was a new king1 who hated the ,israelites4 ,when he saw how strong they were1 and how many there were of them1 he began to be afraid that some day they might number more than the ,egyptians1 and might take his land from him4 ,then he and his rulers did a wicked thing4 ,they made the ,israelites slaves4 ,and they gave them terrible tasks to do1 without proper rest1 or food1 or clothes4 ,for they hoped that the hardship would kill off the ,israelites4 ,they thought the old men would die and the young men be so ill and weary that they could not bring up families1 and so the race would dwindle away4 ,but in spite of the work and suffering1 the ,israelites remained strong1 and more and more boys grew up1 to make the king afraid4 ,then he did the most wicked thing of all4 ,he ordered his soldiers to kill every boy baby that should be born in an ,israelitish family2 he did not care about the girls1 because they could not grow up to fight4 ,very soon after this wicked order1 a boy baby was born in a certain ,israelitish family4 ,when his mother first looked at him her heart was nearly broken1 for he was even more beautiful than most babies are1--so strong and fair and sweet4 ,but he was a boy6 ,how could she save him from death8 ,somehow1 she contrived to keep him hidden for three whole months4 ,but at the end of that time1 she saw that it would not be possible to keep him safe any longer4 ,she had been thinking all this time about what she should do1 and now she carried out her plan4 ,first1 she took a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it all over with pitch1 so that it was water-tight1 and then she laid the baby in it2 then she carried it to the edge of the river and laid it in the flags by the river's brink4 ,it did not show at all1 unless one were quite near it4 ,then she kissed her little son and left him there4 ,but his sister stood far off1 not seeming to watch1 but really watching carefully to see what would happen to the baby4 ,soon there was the sound of talk and laughter1 and a train of beautiful women came down to the water's edge4 ,it was the king's daughter1 come down to bathe in the river1 with her maidens4 ,the maidens walked along by the river side4 ,as the king's daughter came near to the water1 she saw the strange little basket lying in the flags1 and she sent her maid to bring it to her4 ,and when she had opened it1 she saw the child2 the poor baby was crying4 ,when she saw him1 so helpless and so beautiful1 crying for his mother1 the king's daughter pitied him and loved him4 ,she knew the cruel order of her father1 and she said at once1 ,this is one of the ,hebrews' children4 ,at that moment the baby's sister came to the princess and said1 ,shall ,i go and find thee a nurse from the ,hebrew women1 so that she may nurse the child for thee8 ,not a word did she say about whose child it was1 but perhaps the princess guessed2 ,i don't know4 ,at all events1 she told the little girl to go4 ,so the maiden went1 and brought her mother6 ,then the king's daughter said to the baby's mother1 ,take this child away and nurse it for me1 and ,i will give thee wages4 ,was not that a strange thing8 ,and can you think how happy the baby's mother was8 ,for now the baby would be known only as the princess's adopted child1 and would be safe4 ,and it was so4 ,the mother kept him until he was old enough to be taken to the princess's palace4 ,then he was brought and given to the king's daughter1 and he became her son4 ,and she named him ,moses4 ,but the strangest part of the whole story is1 that when ,moses grew to be a man he became so strong and wise that it was he who at last saved his people from the king and rescued them from the ,egyptians4 ,the one child saved by the king's own daughter was the very one the king would most have wanted to kill1 if he had known4 ,,the ,,ten ,,fairies#bb ,once upon a time there was a dear little girl1 whose name was ,elsa4 ,elsa's father and mother worked very hard and became rich4 ,but they loved ,elsa so much that they did not like her to do any work2 very foolishly1 they let her play all the time4 ,so when ,elsa grew up1 she did not know how to do anything2 she could not make bread1 she could not sweep a room1 she could not sew a seam2 she could only laugh and sing4 ,but she was so sweet and merry that everybody loved her4 ,and by and by1 she married one of the people who loved her1 and had a house of her own to take care of4 ,then1 then1 my dears1 came hard times for ,elsa6 ,there were so many things to be done in the house1 and she did not know how to do any of them6 ,and because she had never worked at all it made her very tired even to try2 she was tired before the morning was over1 every day4 ,the maid would come and say1 ,how shall ,i do this8 or ,how shall ,i do that8 and ,elsa would have to say1 ,i don't know4 ,then the maid would pretend that she did not know1 either2 and when she saw her mistress sitting about doing nothing1 she1 too1 sat about1 idle4 ,elsa's husband had a hard time of it2 he had only poor food to eat1 and it was not ready at the right time1 and the house looked all in a muddle4 ,it made him sad1 and that made ,elsa sad1 for she wanted to do everything just right4 ,at last1 one day1 ,elsa's husband went away quite cross2 he said to her1 as he went out of the door1 ,it is no wonder that the house looks so1 when you sit all day with your hands in your lap6 ,little ,elsa cried bitterly when he was gone1 for she did not want to make her husband unhappy and cross1 and she wanted the house to look nice4 ,oh1 dear1 she sobbed1 ,i wish ,i could do things right6 ,i wish ,i could work6 ,i wish--,i wish ,i had ten good fairies to work for me6 ,then ,i could keep the house6 ,as she said the words1 a great grey man stood before her2 he was wrapped in a strange grey cloak that covered him from head to foot2 and he smiled at ,elsa4 ,what is the matter1 dear8 he said4 ,why do you cry8 ,oh1 ,i am crying because ,i do not know how to keep the house1 said ,elsa4 ,i cannot make bread1 ,i cannot sweep1 ,i cannot sew a seam2 when ,i was a little girl ,i never learned to work1 and now ,i cannot do anything right4 ,i wish ,i had ten good fairies to help me6 ,you shall have them1 dear1 said the grey man1 and he shook his strange grey cloak4 ,pouf6 ,out hopped ten tiny fairies1 no bigger than that6 ,these shall be your servants1 ,elsa1 said the grey man2 they are faithful and clever1 and they will do everything you want them to1 just right4 ,but the neighbours might stare and ask questions if they saw these little chaps running about your house1 so ,i will hide them away for you4 ,give me your little useless hands4 ,wondering1 ,elsa stretched out her pretty1 little1 white hands4 ,now stretch out your little useless fingers1 dear6 ,elsa stretched out her pretty pink fingers4 ,the grey man touched each one of the ten little fingers1 and as he touched them he said their names3 ,little ,thumb2 ,forefinger2 ,thimble-finger2 ,ring-finger2 ,little ,finger2 ,little ,thumb2 ,forefinger2 ,thimble-finger2 ,ring-finger2 ,little ,finger6 ,and as he named the fingers1 one after another1 the tiny fairies bowed their tiny heads2 there was a fairy for every name4 ,hop6 hide yourselves away6 said the grey man4 ,hop1 hop6 ,the fairies sprang to ,elsa's knee1 then to the palms of her hands1 and then--whisk6 they were all hidden away in her little pink fingers1 a fairy in every finger6 ,and the grey man was gone4 ,elsa sat and looked with wonder at her little white hands and the ten useless fingers4 ,but suddenly the little fingers began to stir4 ,the tiny fairies who were hidden away there were not used to remaining still1 and they were getting restless4 ,they stirred so that ,elsa jumped up and ran to the cooking table1 and took hold of the bread board4 ,no sooner had she touched the bread board than the little fairies began to work3 they measured the flour1 mixed the bread1 kneaded the loaves1 and set them to rise1 quicker than you could wink2 and when the bread was done1 it was as nice as you could wish4 ,then the little fairy-fingers seized the broom1 and in a twinkling they were making the house clean4 ,and so it went1 all day4 ,elsa flew about from one thing to another1 and the ten fairies did the work1 just right4 ,when the maid saw her mistress working1 she began to work1 too2 and when she saw how beautifully everything was done1 she was ashamed to do anything badly herself4 ,in a little while the housework was going smoothly1 and ,elsa could laugh and sing again4 ,there was no more crossness in that house4 ,elsa's husband grew so proud of her that he went about saying to everybody1 ,my grandmother was a fine housekeeper1 and my mother was a fine housekeeper1 but neither of them could hold a candle to my wife4 ,she has only one maid1 but1 to see the work done1 you would think she had as many servants as she has fingers on her hands6 ,when ,elsa heard that1 she used to laugh1 but she never1 never told4 ,,footnotes3 #bb ,adapted from the facts given in the ,german of ,die ,zehn ,feen in ,maerchen und ,erzaehlungen1 ,zweiter ,teil1 by ,h4,a4 ,guerber4 ,,the ,,elves ,,and ,,the ,,shoemaker ,once upon a time there was an honest shoemaker1 who was very poor4 ,he worked as hard as he could1 and still he could not earn enough to keep himself and his wife4 ,at last there came a day when he had nothing left but one piece of leather1 big enough to make one pair of shoes4 ,he cut out the shoes1 ready to stitch1 and left them on the bench2 then he said his prayers and went to bed1 trusting that he could finish the shoes on the next day and sell them4 ,bright and early the next morning1 he rose and went to his work bench4 ,there lay a pair of shoes1 beautifully made1 and the leather was gone6 ,there was no sign of anyone having been there4 ,the shoemaker and his wife did not know what to make of it4 ,but the first customer who came was so pleased with the beautiful shoes that he bought them1 and paid so much that the shoemaker was able to buy leather enough for two pairs4 ,happily1 he cut them out1 and then1 as it was late1 he left the pieces on the bench1 ready to sew in the morning4 ,but when morning came1 two pairs of shoes lay on the bench1 most beautifully made1 and no sign of anyone who had been there4 ,the shoemaker and his wife were quite at a loss4 ,that day a customer came and bought both pairs1 and paid so much for them that the shoemaker bought leather for four pairs1 with the money4 ,once more he cut out the shoes and left them on the bench4 ,and in the morning all four pairs were made4 ,it went on like this until the shoemaker and his wife were prosperous people4 ,but they could not be satisfied to have so much done for them and not know to whom they should be grateful4 ,so one night1 after the shoemaker had left the pieces of leather on the bench1 he and his wife hid themselves behind a curtain1 and left a light in the room4 ,just as the clock struck twelve the door opened softly1 and two tiny elves came dancing into the room1 hopped on to the bench1 and began to put the pieces together4 ,they were quite naked1 but they had wee little scissors and hammers and thread4 ,tap6 tap6 went the little hammers2 stitch1 stitch1 went the thread1 and the little elves were hard at work4 ,no one ever worked so fast as they4 ,in almost no time all the shoes were stitched and finished4 ,then the tiny elves took hold of each other's hands and danced round the shoes on the bench1 till the shoemaker and his wife had hard work not to laugh aloud4 ,but as the clock struck two1 the little creatures whisked away out of the window1 and left the room all as it was before4 ,the shoemaker and his wife looked at each other1 and said1 ,how can we thank the little elves who have made us happy and prosperous8 ,i should like to make them some pretty clothes1 said the wife1 they are quite naked4 ,i will make the shoes if you will make the coats1 said her husband4 ,that very day they commenced their task4 ,the wife cut out two tiny1 tiny coats of green1 two weeny1 weeny waistcoats of yellow1 two little pairs of trousers1 of white1 two bits of caps1 bright red 7for every one knows the elves love bright colours71 and her husband made two little pairs of shoes with long1 pointed toes4 ,they made the wee clothes as dainty as could be1 with nice little stitches and pretty buttons2 and by ,christmas time1 they were finished4 ,on ,christmas eve1 the shoemaker cleaned his bench1 and on it1 instead of leather1 he laid the two sets of gay little fairy-clothes4 ,then he and his wife hid away as before1 to watch4 ,promptly at midnight1 the little naked elves came in4 ,they hopped upon the bench2 but when they saw the little clothes there1 they laughed and danced for joy4 ,each one caught up his little coat and things and began to put them on4 ,then they looked at each other and made all kinds of funny motions in their delight4 ,at last they began to dance1 and when the clock struck two1 they danced quite away1 out of the window4 ,they never came back any more1 but from that day they gave the shoemaker and his wife good luck1 so that they never needed any more help4 ,,who ,,killed ,,the ,,otter',s ,,babies8#bc ,once the ,otter came to the ,mouse-deer and said1 ,friend ,mouse-deer1 will you please take care of my babies while ,i go to the river1 to catch fish8 ,certainly1 said the ,mouse-deer1 go along4 ,but when the ,otter came back from the river1 with a string of fish1 he found his babies crushed flat4 ,what does this mean1 ,friend ,mouse-deer8 he said4 ,who killed my children while you were taking care of them8 ,i am very sorry1 said the ,mouse-deer1 but you know ,i am ,chief ,dancer of the ,war-dance1 and the ,woodpecker came and sounded the war-gong1 so ,i danced4 ,i forgot your children1 and trod on them4 ,i shall go to ,king ,solomon1 said the ,otter1 and you shall be punished4 ,soon the ,mouse-deer was called before ,king ,solomon4 ,did you kill the ,otter's babies8 said the king4 ,yes1 your ,majesty1 said the ,mouse-deer1 but ,i did not mean to4 ,how did it happen8 said the king4 ,your ,majesty knows1 said the ,mouse-deer1 that ,i am ,chief ,dancer of the ,war-dance4 ,the ,woodpecker came and sounded the war-gong1 and ,i had to dance2 and as ,i danced ,i trod on the ,otter's children4 ,send for the ,woodpecker1 said ,king ,solomon4 ,when the ,woodpecker came1 he said to him1 ,was it you who sounded the war-gong8 ,yes1 your ,majesty1 said the ,woodpecker1 but ,i had to4 ,why8 said the king4 ,your ,majesty knows1 said the ,woodpecker1 that ,i am ,chief ,beater of the ,war-gong1 and ,i sounded the gong because ,i saw the ,great ,lizard wearing his sword4 ,send for the ,great ,lizard1 said ,king ,solomon4 ,when the ,great ,lizard came1 he asked him1 ,was it you who were wearing your sword8 ,yes1 your ,majesty1 said the ,great ,lizard2 but ,i had to4 ,why8 said the king4 ,your ,majesty knows1 said the ,great ,lizard1 that ,i am ,chief ,protector of the ,sword4 ,i wore my sword because the ,tortoise came wearing his coat of mail4 ,so the ,tortoise was sent for4 ,why did you wear your coat of mail8 said the king4 ,i put it on1 your ,majesty1 said the ,tortoise1 because ,i saw the ,king-crab trailing his three-edged pike4 ,then the ,king-crab was sent for4 ,why were you trailing your three-edged pike8 said ,king ,solomon4 ,because1 your ,majesty1 said the ,king-crab1 ,i saw that the ,crayfish had shouldered his lance4 ,immediately the ,crayfish was sent for4 ,why did you shoulder your lance8 said the king4 ,because1 your ,majesty1 said the ,crayfish1 ,i saw the ,otter coming down to the river to kill my children4 ,oh1 said ,king ,solomon1 if that is the case1 the ,otter killed the ,otter's children4 ,and the ,mouse-deer cannot be blamed1 by the law of the land6 ,,footnotes3 #bc ,adapted from the story as told in ,fables and ,folk ,tales from an ,eastern ,forest1 by ,walter ,skeat4 ,,early#bd ,i like to lie and wait to see ,my mother braid her hair4 ,it is as long as it can be1 ,and yet she doesn't care4 ,i love my mother's hair4 ,and then the way her fingers go2 ,they look so quick and white1-- ,in and out1 and to and fro1 ,and braiding in the light1 ,and it is always right4 ,so then she winds it1 shiny brown1 ,around her head into a crown1 ,just like the day before4 ,and then she looks and pats it down1 ,and looks a minute more2 ,while ,i stay here all still and cool4 ,oh1 isn't morning beautiful8 ,,footnotes3 #bd ,from ,the ,singing ,leaves1 by ,josephine ,preston ,peabody4 ,,the ,,brahmin1 ,,the ,,tiger1 ,,and ,,the ,,jackal ,do you know what a ,brahmin is8 ,a ,brahmin is a very good and gentle kind of man who lives in ,india1 and who treats all the beasts as if they were his brothers4 ,there is a great deal more to know about ,brahmins1 but that is enough for the story4 ,one day a ,brahmin was walking along a country road when he came upon a ,tiger1 shut up in a strong iron cage4 ,the villagers had caught him and shut him up there for his wickedness4 ,oh1 ,brother ,brahmin1 ,brother ,brahmin1 said the ,tiger1 please let me out1 to get a little drink6 ,i am so thirsty1 and there is no water here4 ,but ,brother ,tiger1 said the ,brahmin1 you know if ,i should let you out1 you would spring on me and eat me up4 ,never1 ,brother ,brahmin6 said the ,tiger4 ,never in the world would ,i do such an ungrateful thing6 ,just let me out a little minute1 to get a little1 little drink of water1 ,brother ,brahmin6 ,so the ,brahmin unlocked the door and let the ,tiger out4 ,the moment he was out he sprang on the ,brahmin1 and was about to eat him up4 ,but1 ,brother ,tiger1 said the ,brahmin1 you promised you would not4 ,it is not fair or just that you should eat me1 when ,i set you free4 ,it is perfectly right and just1 said the ,tiger1 and ,i shall eat you up4 ,however1 the ,brahmin argued so hard that at last the ,tiger agreed to wait and ask the first five whom they should meet1 whether it was fair for him to eat the ,brahmin1 and to abide by their decision4 ,the first thing they came to1 to ask1 was an old ,banyan ,tree1 by the wayside4 7,a banyan tree is a kind of fruit tree47 ,brother ,banyan1 said the ,brahmin1 eagerly1 does it seem to you right or just that this ,tiger should eat me1 when ,i set him free from his cage8 ,the ,banyan ,tree looked down at them and spoke in a tired voice4 ,in the summer1 he said1 when the sun is hot1 men come and sit in the cool of my shade and refresh themselves with the fruit of my branches4 ,but when evening falls1 and they are rested1 they break my twigs and scatter my leaves1 and stone my boughs for more fruit4 ,men are an ungrateful race4 ,let the ,tiger eat the ,brahmin4 ,the ,tiger sprang to eat the ,brahmin1 but the ,brahmin said1-- ,wait1 wait2 we have asked only one4 ,we have still four to ask4 ,presently they came to a place where an old ,bullock was lying by the road4 ,the ,brahmin went up to him and said1-- ,brother ,bullock1 oh1 ,brother ,bullock1 does it seem to you a fair thing that this ,tiger should eat me up1 after ,i have just freed him from a cage8 ,the ,bullock looked up1 and answered in a deep1 grumbling voice1-- ,when ,i was young and strong my master used me hard1 and ,i served him well4 ,i carried heavy loads and carried them far4 ,now that ,i am old and weak and cannot work1 he leaves me without food or water1 to die by the wayside4 ,men are a thankless lot4 ,let the ,tiger eat the ,brahmin4 ,the ,tiger sprang1 but the ,brahmin spoke very quickly1-- ,oh1 but this is only the second1 ,brother ,tiger2 you promised to ask five4 ,the ,tiger grumbled a good deal1 but at last he went on again with the ,brahmin4 ,and after a time they saw an ,eagle1 high overhead4 ,the ,brahmin called up to him imploringly1-- ,oh1 ,brother ,eagle1 ,brother ,eagle6 ,tell us if it seems to you fair that this ,tiger should eat me up1 when ,i have just saved him from a frightful cage8 ,the ,eagle soared slowly overhead a moment1 then he came lower1 and spoke in a thin1 clear voice4 ,i live high in the air1 he said1 and ,i do no man any harm4 ,yet as often as they find my eyrie1 men stone my young and rob my nest and shoot at me with arrows4 ,men are a cruel breed4 ,let the ,tiger eat the ,brahmin6 ,the ,tiger sprang upon the ,brahmin1 to eat him up2 and this time the ,brahmin had very hard work to persuade him to wait4 ,at last he did persuade him1 however1 and they walked on together4 ,and in a little while they saw an old ,alligator1 lying half buried in mud and slime1 at the river's edge4 ,brother ,alligator1 oh1 ,brother ,alligator6 said the ,brahmin1 does it seem at all right or fair to you that this ,tiger should eat me up1 when ,i have just now let him out of a cage8 ,the old ,alligator turned in the mud1 and grunted1 and snorted2 then he said1-- ,i lie here in the mud all day1 as harmless as a pigeon2 ,i hunt no man1 yet every time a man sees me1 he throws stones at me1 and pokes me with sharp sticks1 and jeers at me4 ,men are a worthless lot4 ,let the ,tiger eat the ,brahmin6 ,at this the ,tiger was going to eat the ,brahmin at once4 ,the poor ,brahmin had to remind him1 again and again1 that they had asked only four4 ,wait till we've asked one more6 ,wait until we see a fifth6 he begged4 ,finally1 the ,tiger walked on with him4 ,after a time1 they met the little ,jackal1 coming gaily down the road toward them4 ,oh1 ,brother ,jackal1 dear ,brother ,jackal1 said the ,brahmin1 give us your opinion6 ,do you think it right or fair that this ,tiger should eat me1 when ,i set him free from a terrible cage8 ,beg pardon8 said the little ,jackal4 ,i said1 said the ,brahmin1 raising his voice1 do you think it is fair that the ,tiger should eat me1 when ,i set him free from his cage8 ,cage8 said the little ,jackal1 vacantly4 ,yes1 yes1 his cage1 said the ,brahmin4 ,we want your opinion4 ,do you think---- ,oh1 said the little ,jackal1 you want my opinion8 ,then may ,i beg you to speak a little more loudly1 and make the matter quite clear8 ,i am a little slow of understanding4 ,now what was it8 ,do you think1 said the ,brahmin1 it is right for this ,tiger to eat me1 when ,i set him free from his cage8 ,what cage8 said the little ,jackal4 ,why1 the cage he was in1 said the ,brahmin4 ,you see---- ,but ,i don't altogether understand1 said the little ,jackal4 ,you 'set him free1' you say8 ,yes1 yes1 yes6 said the ,brahmin4 ,it was this way3 ,i was walking along1 and ,i saw the ,tiger---- ,oh1 dear1 dear6 interrupted the little ,jackal2 ,i never can see through it1 if you go on like that1 with a long story4 ,if you really want my opinion you must make the matter clear4 ,what sort of cage was it8 ,why1 a big1 ordinary cage1 an iron cage1 said the ,brahmin4 ,that gives me no idea at all1 said the little ,jackal4 ,see here1 my friends1 if we are to get on with this matter you'd best show me the spot4 ,then ,i can understand in a jiffy4 ,show me the cage4 ,so the ,brahmin1 the ,tiger1 and the little ,jackal walked back together to the spot where the cage was4 ,now1 let us understand the situation1 said the little ,jackal4 ,friend ,brahmin1 where were you8 ,i stood just here by the roadside1 said the ,brahmin4 ,tiger1 and where were you8 said the little ,jackal4 ,why1 in the cage1 of course1 roared the ,tiger4 ,oh1 ,i beg your pardon1 ,father ,tiger1 said the little ,jackal1 ,i really am so stupid2 ,i cannot quite understand what happened4 ,if you will have a little patience1--how were you in the cage8 ,what position were you in8 ,i stood here1 said the ,tiger1 leaping into the cage1 with my head over my shoulder1 so4 ,oh1 thank you1 thank you1 said the little ,jackal1 that makes it much clearer2 but ,i still don't quite understand--forgive my slow mind--why did you not come out1 by yourself8 ,can't you see that the door shut me in8 said the ,tiger4 ,oh1 ,i do beg your pardon1 said the little ,jackal4 ,i know ,i am very slow2 ,i can never understand things well unless ,i see just how they were2 if you could show me now exactly how that door works ,i am sure ,i could understand4 ,how does it shut8 ,it shuts like this1 said the ,brahmin1 pushing it to4 ,yes2 but ,i don't see any lock1 said the little ,jackal1 does it lock on the outside8 ,it locks like this1 said the ,brahmin4 ,and he shut and bolted the door6 ,oh1 does it1 indeed8 said the little ,jackal4 ,does it1 indeed6 ,well1 ,brother ,brahmin1 now that it is locked1 ,i should advise you to let it stay locked6 ,as for you1 my friend1 he said to the ,tiger1 ,i think you will wait a good while before you'll find anyone to let you out again6 ,then he made a very low bow to the ,brahmin4 ,good-bye1 ,brother1 he said4 ,your way lies that way1 and mine lies this2 good-bye6 ,,the ,,little ,,jackal ,,and ,,the ,,camel ,all these stories about the little ,jackal that ,i have told you1 show how clever the little ,jackal was4 ,but you know--if you don't1 you will when you are grown up--that no matter how clever you are1 sooner or later you surely meet some one who is more clever4 ,it is always so in life4 ,and it was so with the little ,jackal4 ,this is what happened4 ,the little ,jackal was1 as you know1 exceedingly fond of shell-fish1 especially of river crabs4 ,now there came a time when he had eaten all the crabs to be found on his own side of the river4 ,he knew there must be plenty on the other side1 if he could only get to them1 but he could not swim4 ,one day he thought of a plan4 ,he went to his friend the ,camel1 and said1-- ,friend ,camel1 ,i know a spot where the sugar-cane grows thick2 ,i'll show you the way1 if you will take me there4 ,indeed ,i will1 said the ,camel1 who was very fond of sugar-cane4 ,where is it8 ,it is on the other side of the river1 said the little ,jackal2 but we can manage it nicely1 if you will take me on your back and swim over4 ,the ,camel was perfectly willing1 so the little ,jackal jumped on his back1 and the ,camel swam across the river1 carrying him4 ,when they were safely over1 the little ,jackal jumped down and showed the ,camel the sugar-cane field2 then he ran swiftly along the river bank1 to hunt for crabs2 the ,camel began to eat sugar-cane4 ,he ate happily1 and noticed nothing around him4 ,now1 you know1 a ,camel is very big1 and a ,jackal is very little4 ,consequently1 the little ,jackal had eaten his fill by the time the ,camel had barely taken a mouthful4 ,the little ,jackal had no mind to wait for his slow friend2 he wanted to be off home again1 about his business4 ,so he ran round and round the sugar-cane field1 and as he ran he sang and shouted1 and made a great hullabaloo4 ,of course1 the villagers heard him at once4 ,there is a ,jackal in the sugar-cane1 they said2 he will dig holes and destroy the roots2 we must go down and drive him out4 ,so they came down1 with sticks and stones4 ,when they got there1 there was no ,jackal to be seen2 but they saw the great ,camel1 eating away at the juicy sugar-cane4 ,they ran at him and beat him1 and stoned him1 and drove him away half dead4 ,when they had gone1 leaving the poor ,camel half killed1 the little ,jackal came dancing back from somewhere or other4 ,i think it's time to go home1 now1 he said2 don't you8 ,well1 you are a pretty friend6 said the ,camel4 ,the idea of your making such a noise1 with your shouting and singing6 ,you brought this upon me4 ,what in the world made you do it8 ,why did you shout and sing8 ,oh1 ,i don't know why said the little ,jackal1--,i always sing after dinner6 ,so8 said the ,camel4 ,ah1 very well1 let us go home now4 ,he took the little ,jackal kindly on his back and started into the water4 ,when he began to swim he swam out to where the river was the very deepest4 ,there he stopped1 and said1-- ,oh1 ,jackal6 ,yes1 said the little ,jackal4 ,i have the strangest feeling1 said the ,camel1--,i feel as if ,i must roll over4 ',roll over'6 cried the ,jackal4 ,my goodness1 don't do that6 ,if you do that1 you'll drown me6 ,what in the world makes you want to do such a crazy thing8 ,why should you want to roll over8 ,oh1 ,i don't know why1 said the ,camel slowly1 but ,i always roll over after dinner6 ,so he rolled over4 ,and the little ,jackal was drowned1 for his sins1 but the ,camel came safely home4 ,,the ,,gulls ,,of ,,salt ,,lake ,the story ,i am going to tell you is about something that really happened1 many years ago4 ,a brave little company of pioneers from the ,atlantic coast crossed the ,mississippi ,river and journeyed across the plains of ,central ,north ,america in big covered wagons with many horses1 and finally succeeded in climbing to the top of the great ,rockies and down again into a valley in the very midst of the mountains4 ,it was a valley of brown1 bare1 desert soil1 in a climate where almost no rain falls2 but the snow on the mountain-tops sent down little streams of pure water1 the winds were gentle1 and lying like a blue jewel at the foot of the western hills was a marvellous lake of salt water1--an inland sea4 ,so the pioneers settled there and built themselves huts and cabins for the first winter4 ,it had taken them many months to make the terrible journey2 many had died of weariness and illness on the way2 many died of hardship during the winter2 and the provisions they had brought in their wagons were so nearly gone that1 by spring1 they were living partly on roots1 dug from the ground4 ,all their lives now depended on the crops of grain and vegetables which they could raise in the valley4 ,they made the barren land fertile by spreading water from the little streams over it1--what we call irrigating2 and they planted enough corn and grain and vegetables for all the people4 ,every one helped1 and every one watched for the sprouting1 with hopes1 and prayers1 and careful eyes4 ,in good time the seeds sprouted1 and the dry1 brown earth was covered with a carpet of tender1 green1 growing things4 ,no farmer's garden could have looked better than the great garden of the desert valley4 ,and from day to day the little shoots grew and flourished till they were all well above the ground4 ,then a terrible thing happened4 ,one day1 the men who were watering the crops saw a great number of crickets swarming over the ground at the edge of the gardens nearest the mountains4 ,they were hopping from the barren places into the young1 green crops1 and as they settled down they ate the tiny shoots and leaves to the ground4 ,more came1 and more1 and ever more1 and as they came they spread out till they covered a big corner of the grain field4 ,and still more and more1 till it was like an army of black1 hopping1 crawling crickets1 streaming down the side of the mountain to kill the crops4 ,the men tried to kill the crickets by beating them down1 but the numbers were so great that it was like beating at the sea4 ,then they ran and told the terrible news1 and all the village came to help4 ,they started fires2 they dug trenches and filled them with water2 they ran wildly about in the fields1 killing what they could4 ,but while they fought in one place new armies of crickets marched down the mountain-sides and attacked the fields in other places4 ,and at last the people fell on their knees and wept and cried in despair1 for they saw starvation and death in the fields4 ,a few knelt to pray4 ,others gathered round and joined them1 weeping4 ,more left their useless struggles and knelt beside their neighbours4 ,at last nearly all the people were kneeling on the desolate fields praying for deliverance from the plague of crickets4 ,suddenly1 from far off in the air toward the great salt lake1 there was the sound of flapping wings4 ,it grew louder4 ,some of the people looked up1 startled4 ,they saw1 like a white cloud rising from the lake1 a flock of sea gulls flying toward them4 ,snow-white in the sun1 with great wings beating and soaring1 in hundreds and hundreds1 they rose and circled and came on4 ,the gulls6 the gulls6 was the cry4 ,what does it mean8 ,the gulls flew overhead1 with a shrill chorus of whimpering cries1 and then1 in a marvellous white cloud of outspread wings and hovering breasts1 they settled down over the cultivated ground4 ,oh6 woe6 woe6 cried the people4 ,the gulls are eating what the crickets have left6 they will strip root and branch6 ,but all at once1 someone called out1-- ,no1 no6 ,see6 they are eating the crickets6 ,they are eating only the crickets6 ,it was true4 ,the gulls devoured the crickets in dozens1 in hundreds1 in swarms4 ,they ate until they were gorged1 and then they flew heavily back to the lake1 only to come again with new appetite4 ,and when at last they finished1 they had stripped the fields of the army of crickets2 and the people were saved4 ,to this day1 in the beautiful city of ,salt ,lake1 which grew out of that pioneer village1 the little children are taught to love the sea gulls4 ,and when they learn drawing and weaving in the schools1 their first design is often a picture of a cricket and a gull4 ,,the ,,nightingale#be ,a long1 long time ago1 as long ago as when there were fairies1 there lived an emperor in ,china1 who had a most beautiful palace1 all made of crystal4 ,outside the palace was the loveliest garden in the whole world1 and farther away was a forest where the trees were taller than any other trees in the world1 and farther away1 still1 was a deep wood4 ,and in this wood lived a little ,nightingale4 ,the ,nightingale sang so beautifully that everybody who heard her remembered her song better than anything else that he heard or saw4 ,people came from all over the world to see the crystal palace and the wonderful garden and the great forest2 but when they went home and wrote books about these things they always wrote1 ,but the ,nightingale is the best of all4 ,at last it happened that the ,emperor came upon a book which said this1 and he at once sent for his ,chamberlain4 ,who is this ,nightingale8 said the ,emperor4 ,why have ,i never heard him sing8 ,the ,chamberlain1 who was a very important person1 said1 ,there cannot be any such person2 ,i have never heard his name4 ,the book says there is a ,nightingale1 said the ,emperor4 ,i command that the ,nightingale be brought here to sing for me this evening4 ,the ,chamberlain went out and asked all the great lords and ladies and pages where the ,nightingale could be found1 but not one of them had ever heard of him4 ,so the ,chamberlain went back to the ,emperor and said1 ,there is no such person4 ,the book says there is a ,nightingale1 said the ,emperor2 if the ,nightingale is not here to sing for me this evening ,i will have the court trampled upon1 immediately after supper4 ,the ,chamberlain did not want to be trampled upon1 so he ran out and asked everybody in the palace about the ,nightingale4 ,at last1 a little girl who worked in the kitchen to help the cook1 said1 ,oh1 yes1 ,i know the ,nightingale very well4 ,every night1 when ,i go to carry scraps from the kitchen to my mother1 who lives in the wood beyond the forest1 ,i hear the ,nightingale sing4 ,the ,chamberlain asked the maid to take him to the ,nightingale's home1 and many of the lords and ladies followed after4 ,when they had gone a little way1 they heard a cow moo4 ,ah6 said the lords and ladies1 that must be the ,nightingale2 what a large voice for so small a creature6 ,oh1 no1 said the little girl1 that is just a cow1 mooing4 ,a little farther on they heard some bullfrogs1 in a swamp4 ,surely that is the ,nightingale1 said the courtiers2 it really sounds like church-bells6 ,oh1 no1 said the little girl1 those are bullfrogs1 croaking4 ,at last they came to the wood where the ,nightingale was4 ,hush6 said the little girl1 she is going to sing4 ,and1 sure enough1 the little ,nightingale began to sing4 ,she sang so beautifully that you have never in all your life heard anything like it4 ,dear1 dear1 said the courtiers1 that is very pleasant2 does that little grey bird really make all that noise8 ,she is so pale that ,i think she has lost her colour for fear of us4 ,the ,chamberlain asked the little ,nightingale to come and sing for the ,emperor4 ,the little ,nightingale said she could sing better in her own greenwood1 but she was so sweet and kind that she came with them4 ,that evening the palace was all trimmed with the most beautiful flowers you can imagine1 and rows and rows of little silver bells1 that tinkled when the wind blew in1 and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of wax candles1 that shone like tiny stars4 ,in the great hall there was a gold perch for the ,nightingale1 beside the ,emperor's throne4 ,when all the people were there1 the ,emperor asked the ,nightingale to sing4 ,then the little grey ,nightingale filled her throat full1 and sang4 ,and1 my dears1 she sang so beautifully that the ,emperor's eyes filled up with tears6 ,and1 you know1 emperors do not cry at all easily4 ,so he asked her to sing again1 and this time she sang so marvellously that the tears came out of his eyes and ran down his cheeks4 ,that was a great success4 ,they asked the little ,nightingale to sing1 over and over again1 and when they had listened enough the ,emperor said that she should be made ,singer in ,chief to the ,court4 ,she was to have a golden perch near the ,emperor's bed1 and a little golden cage1 and was to be allowed to go out twice every day4 ,but there were twelve servants appointed to wait on her1 and those twelve servants went with her every time she went out1 and each of the twelve had hold of the end of a silken string which was tied to the little ,nightingale's leg6 ,it was not so very much fun to go out that way6 ,for a long1 long time the ,nightingale sang every evening to the ,emperor and his court1 and they liked her so much that the ladies all tried to sing like her2 they used to put water in their mouths and then make little sounds like this3 glu-glu-glug4 ,and when the courtiers met each other in the halls1 one would say ,night1 and the other would say ingale1 and that was supposed to be conversation4 ,at last1 one day1 there came a little package to the ,emperor1 on the outside of which was written1 ,the ,nightingale4 ,inside was an artificial bird1 something like a ,nightingale1 only it was made of gold1 and silver1 and rubies1 and emeralds1 and diamonds4 ,when it was wound up it played a waltz tune1 and as it played it moved its little tail up and down4 ,everybody in the court was filled with delight at the music of the new nightingale4 ,they made it sing that same tune thirty-three times1 and still they had not had enough4 ,they would have made it sing the tune thirty-four times1 but the ,emperor said1 ,i should like to hear the real ,nightingale sing1 now4 ,but when they looked about for the real little ,nightingale1 they could not find her anywhere6 ,she had taken the chance1 while everybody was listening to the waltz tunes1 to fly away through the window to her own greenwood4 ,what a very ungrateful bird6 said the lords and ladies4 ,but it does not matter2 the new nightingale is just as good4 ,so the artificial nightingale was given the real ,nightingale's little gold perch1 and every night the ,emperor wound her up1 and she sang waltz tunes to him4 ,the people in the court liked her even better than the old ,nightingale1 because they could all whistle her tunes1--which you can't do with real nightingales4 ,about a year after the artificial nightingale came1 the ,emperor was listening to her waltz tune1 when there was a snap and whir-r-r inside the bird1 and the music stopped4 ,the ,emperor ran to his doctor1 but he could not do anything4 ,then he ran to his clock-maker1 but he could not do much4 ,nobody could do much4 ,the best they could do was to patch the gold nightingale up so that it could sing once a year2 even that was almost too much1 and the tune was very shaky4 ,still1 the ,emperor kept the gold nightingale on the perch in his own room4 ,a long time went by1 and then1 at last1 the ,emperor grew very ill1 and was about to die4 ,when it was sure that he could not live much longer1 the people chose a new emperor and waited for the old one to die4 ,the poor ,emperor lay1 quite cold and pale1 in his great big bed1 with velvet curtains and tall candlesticks all about4 ,he was quite alone1 for all the courtiers had gone to congratulate the new emperor1 and all the servants had gone to talk it over4 ,when the ,emperor woke up1 he felt a terrible weight on his chest4 ,he opened his eyes1 and there was ,death1 sitting on his heart4 ,death had put on the ,emperor's gold crown1 and he had the gold sceptre in one hand1 and the silken banner in the other2 and he looked at the ,emperor with his great hollow eyes4 ,the room was full of shadows1 and the shadows were full of faces4 ,everywhere the ,emperor looked1 there were faces4 ,some were very1 very ugly1 and some were sweet and lovely2 they were all the things the ,emperor had done in his life1 good and bad4 ,and as he looked at them they began to whisper4 ,they whispered1 ,do you remember this8 ,do you remember that8 ,the ,emperor remembered so much that he cried out loud1 ,oh1 bring the great drum6 ,make music1 so that ,i may not hear these dreadful whispers6 ,but there was nobody there to bring the drum4 ,then the ,emperor cried1 ,you little gold nightingale1 can you not sing something for me8 ,i have given you gifts of gold and jewels1 and kept you always by my side2 will you not help me now8 ,but there was nobody to wind the little gold nightingale up1 and of course it could not sing4 ,the ,emperor's heart grew colder and colder where ,death crouched upon it1 and the dreadful whispers grew louder and louder1 and the ,emperor's life was almost gone4 ,suddenly1 through the open window1 there came a most lovely song4 ,it was so sweet and so loud that the whispers died quite away4 ,presently the ,emperor felt his heart grow warm1 then he felt the blood flow through his limbs again2 he listened to the song until the tears ran down his cheeks2 he knew that it was the little real ,nightingale who had flown away from him when the gold nightingale came4 ,death was listening to the song1 too2 and when it was done and the ,emperor begged for more1 ,death1 too1 said1 ,please sing again1 little ,nightingale6 ,will you give me the ,emperor's gold crown for a song8 said the little ,nightingale4 ,yes1 said ,death2 and the little ,nightingale bought the ,emperor's crown for a song4 ,oh1 sing again1 little ,nightingale1 begged ,death4 ,will you give me the ,emperor's sceptre for another song8 said the little grey ,nightingale4 ,yes1 said ,death2 and the little ,nightingale bought the ,emperor's sceptre for another song4 ,once more ,death begged for a song1 and this time the little ,nightingale obtained the banner for her singing4 ,then she sang one more song1 so sweet and so sad that it made ,death think of his garden in the churchyard1 where he always liked best to be4 ,and he rose from the ,emperor's heart and floated away through the window4 ,when ,death was gone1 the ,emperor said to the little ,nightingale1 ,oh1 dear little ,nightingale1 you have saved me from ,death6 ,do not leave me again4 ,stay with me on this little gold perch1 and sing to me always6 ,no1 dear ,emperor1 said the little ,nightingale1 ,i sing best when ,i am free2 ,i cannot live in a palace4 ,but every night when you are quite alone1 ,i will come and sit in the window and sing to you1 and tell you everything that goes on in your kingdom3 ,i will tell you where the poor people are who ought to be helped1 and where the wicked people are who ought to be punished4 ,only1 dear ,emperor1 be sure that you never let anybody know that you have a little bird who tells you everything4 ,after the little ,nightingale had flown away1 the ,emperor felt so well and strong that he dressed himself in his royal robes and took his gold sceptre in his hand4 ,and when the courtiers came in to see if he were dead1 there stood the ,emperor with his sword in one hand and his sceptre in the other1 and said1 ,good-morning6 ,,footnotes3 #be ,adapted from ,hans ,christian ,andersen4 ,,margery',s ,,garden#bf ,there was once a little girl named ,margery1 who had always lived in the city4 ,the flat where her mother and father lived was at the top of a big building1 and you couldn't see a great deal from the windows1 except chimney-pots on other people's roofs4 ,margery did not know much about trees and flowers1 but she loved them dearly2 whenever it was a fine ,sunday she used to go with her mother and father to the park and look at the lovely flower-beds4 ,they seemed always to be finished1 though1 and ,margery was always wishing she could see them grow4 ,one spring1 when ,margery was nine1 her father obtained a new situation and they removed to a little house with a nice big piece of ground a short distance outside the town where his new position was4 ,margery was delighted4 ,and the very first thing she said1 when her father told her about it1 was1 ,oh1 may ,i have a garden8 ,may ,i have a garden8 ,margery's mother was almost as eager for a garden as she was1 and ,margery's father said he expected to live on their vegetables all the rest of his life6 ,so it was soon agreed that the garden should be the first thing attended to4 ,behind the cottage were apple trees1 a plum tree1 and two or three pear trees2 then came a stretch of rough grass1 and then a stone wall1 with a gate leading into the fields4 ,it was on the grass plot that the garden was to be4 ,a big piece was to be used for wheat and peas and beans1 and a little piece at the end was to be given to ,margery4 ,what shall we have in it8 asked her mother4 ,flowers1 said ,margery1 with shining eyes1--blue1 and white1 and yellow1 and pink1--every kind of flower6 ,surely1 flowers1 said her mother1 and shall we not have a little salad garden in the middle8 ,what is a salad garden8 ,margery asked4 ,it is a garden where you have all the things that make nice salad1 said her mother1 laughing1 for ,margery was fond of salads2 you have lettuce1 and endive1 and mustard and cress1 and parsley1 and radishes1 and beetroot1 and young onions4 ,oh6 how good it sounds6 said ,margery4 ,i should love a salad garden4 ,that very evening1 ,margery's father took pencil and paper1 and drew out a plan for her garden2 first1 they talked it all over1 then he drew what they decided on2 it looked like the diagram on the next page4 ,the outside strip is for flowers1 said ,margery's father1 and next is a footpath1 all the way round the beds2 that is to let you get at the flowers to weed and to pick2 there is a wider path through the middle1 and the rest is for rows of salad vegetables4 ,papa1 it is glorious6 said ,margery4 ,papa laughed4 ,i hope you will still think it glorious when the weeding time comes1 he said1 for you know1 you and mother have promised to take care of this garden1 while ,i take care of the big one4 ,i wouldn't not take care of it for anything6 said ,margery4 ,i want to feel that it is my very own4 ,illustration ,her father kissed her1 and said it was certainly her very own4 ,two evenings after that1 when ,margery was called in from her first ramble in the fields1 she found the postman at the door4 ,something for you1 ,margery1 said her mother1 with the look she had when something nice was happening4 ,it was a box1 quite a big box1 with a label on it that said3-- ,,miss ,,margery ,,brown1 ,,primrose ,,cottage1 #ba ,,narcissus ,,road1 ,,colchester4 ,from ,seeds and ,plants ,company1 ,reading4 ,margery could hardly wait to open it4 ,it was filled with little packages1 all with printed labels2 and in the packages1 of course1 were seeds4 ,it made ,margery dance1 just to read the names1--nasturtium1 giant helianthus1 canariensis1 calendula1 ,canterbury bells3 more names than ,i can tell you2 and other packages1 bigger1 that said1 ,sweet ,peas1 ,french beans1 ,carrots1 ,wallflowers1 and such things6 ,margery could almost smell the posies1 she was so excited4 ,only1 she had seen so little of flowers that she did not know what all the names meant4 ,she did not know that a helianthus was a sunflower until her mother told her so1 and she had never seen the dear1 blue1 bell-shaped flowers that always grow in old-fashioned gardens1 and are called ,canterbury bells4 ,she thought the calendula must be a strange1 grand flower1 by its name2 but her mother told her it was the gay1 sturdy1 everydayish little flower called a marigold4 ,there was a great deal for a little city girl to be surprised about1 and it did seem as if morning was a long way off6 ,did you think you could plant them in the morning8 asked her mother4 ,you know1 dear1 the ground has to be made ready first2 it takes a little time1--it may be several days before you can plant4 ,that was another surprise4 ,margery had thought she could begin to sow the seed right off4 ,but this was what had happened4 ,early the next morning1 a man came driving up to the cottage with two strong white horses2 in his wagon was a plough4 ,i suppose you have seen ploughs1 but ,margery never had1 and she watched with great interest1 while the man and her father took the plough from the cart and harnessed the horses to it4 ,it was a great1 three-cornered piece of sharp steel1 with long handles coming up from it1 so that a man could hold it in place4 ,it looked like this3-- ,illustration ,i brought a two-horse plough because it's virgin soil1 the man said4 ,margery wondered what in the world he meant2 it had not been cultivated1 of course1 but what had that do with the kind of plough8 ,what does he mean1 father8 she whispered1 when she got a chance4 ,he means that this land has not been ploughed before2 it will be hard to turn the soil1 and one horse could not pull the plough1 said her father4 ,it took the man two hours to plough the little strip of land4 ,he drove the sharp end of the plough into the soil1 and held it firmly so1 while the horses drew it along in a straight line4 ,margery found it fascinating to watch the long line of dark earth and green grass come rolling up and turn over1 as the knife passed it4 ,she could see that it took real skill and strength to keep the line even1 and to avoid the stones4 ,sometimes the plough struck a hidden stone1 and then the man was jerked almost off his feet4 ,but he only laughed1 and said1 ,tough piece of land2 it will be a lot better next year4 ,when he had ploughed1 the man went back to his cart and unloaded another farm implement4 ,this one was like a three-cornered platform of wood1 with a long1 curved1 strong rake under it4 ,it was called a harrow1 and it looked like the diagram on the next page4 ,the man harnessed the horses to it1 and then he stood on the platform and drove all over the strip of land4 ,it was fun to watch1 but perhaps it was a little hard to do4 ,the man's weight kept the harrow steady1 and let the teeth of the rake scratch and cut the ground up1 so that it did not stay in ridges4 ,he scrambles the ground1 father6 said ,margery4 ,it needs 'scrambling1' laughed her father4 ,we are going to get more weeds than we want on this fresh soil1 and the more the ground is broken1 the fewer there will be4 ,illustration ,after the ploughing and harrowing1 the man drove off1 and ,margery's father said that he himself would do the rest of the work in the late afternoons1 when he came home from business2 they could not afford too much help1 he said1 and he had learned to take care of a garden when he was a boy4 ,so ,margery did not see any more done until the next day4 ,but the next day there was hard work for ,margery's father6 ,every bit of that ground had to be broken up still more with a spade1 and then the clods which were full of grass-roots had to be taken on a fork and shaken1 till the earth fell out2 when the grass was thrown to one side4 ,that would not have had to be done if the land had been ploughed in the autumn2 the grass would have rotted in the ground1 and would have made food for the plants4 ,now1 ,margery's father put the fertiliser on the top1 and then raked it into the earth4 ,at last1 it was time to make the place for the seeds4 ,margery and her mother helped4 ,father tied one end of a cord to a little stake1 and drove the stake in the ground at one end of the garden4 ,then he took the cord to the other end of the garden and pulled it tight1 tied it to another stake1 and drove that down4 ,that made a straight line4 ,then he hoed a trench1 a few inches deep1 the whole length of the cord1 and scattered fertiliser in it4 ,pretty soon the whole garden was lined with little trenches4 ,now for the seed1 said father4 ,margery ran and brought the seed box4 ,may ,i help8 she asked4 ,if you watch me sow one row1 ,i think you can do the next1 said her father4 ,so ,margery watched4 ,her father took a handful of peas1 and1 stooping1 walked slowly along the line1 letting the seed trickle through his fingers4 ,it was pretty to watch2 it made ,margery think of a photograph her teacher had1 a photograph of a famous picture called ,the ,sower4 ,perhaps you have seen it4 ,putting in the seed was not so easy to do as to watch2 sometimes ,margery dropped in too much1 and sometimes not enough2 but her father was patient with her1 and soon she did better4 ,they planted peas1 beans1 spinach1 carrots1 and parsnips4 ,and ,margery's father made a row of holes1 after that1 for the tomato plants4 ,he said those had to be transplanted2 they could not be sown from seed4 ,when the seeds were in the trenches they had to be covered up1 and ,margery really helped at that4 ,it is fun to do it4 ,you stand beside the little trench and walk backward1 and as you walk you hoe the loose earth back over the seeds2 the same earth that was hoed up you pull back again4 ,then you rake very gently over the surface1 with the back of a rake1 to even it all off4 ,margery liked it1 because now the garden began to look like a garden4 ,but best of all was the work next day1 when her own little particular garden was begun4 ,father ,brown loved ,margery and ,margery's mother so much that he wanted their garden to be perfect1 and that meant a great deal more work4 ,he knew very well that the old grass would begin to come through again on such soil1 and that it would make terribly hard weeding4 ,he was not going to have any such thing for his two little girls1 as he called them4 ,so he gave that little garden particular attention4 ,this is what he did4 ,after he had thrown out all the turf1 he shovelled clean earth on to the garden1--as much as three solid inches of it2 not a bit of grass was in that4 ,then it was ready for raking and fertilising1 and for the lines4 ,the little footpaths were marked out by ,father ,brown's feet2 ,margery and her mother laughed well at his actions1 for it looked like some kind of dance4 ,mr ,brown had seen gardeners do it when he was a little boy1 and he did it very nicely3 he walked along the sides of the square1 with one foot turned a little out1 and the other straight1 taking such tiny steps that his feet touched each other all the time4 ,this tramped out a path just wide enough for a person to walk4 ,the wider path was marked with lines and raked4 ,margery thought1 of course1 all the flowers would be put in as the vegetables were2 but she found that it was not so4 ,for some1 her father poked little holes with his finger2 for some1 he made very shallow trenches2 and some very small seeds were scattered lightly over the top of the ground4 ,margery and her mother had taken so much pains in thinking out the arrangement of the flowers1 that perhaps you will like to hear just how they designed that garden4 ,at the back were the sweet peas1 which would grow tall1 like a screen2 on the two sides1 for a kind of hedge1 were yellow sunflowers2 and along the front edge were the gay nasturtiums4 ,margery planned that1 so that she could look into the garden from the front1 but have it shut away from the vegetable patch by the tall flowers on the sides4 ,the two front corners had canariensis in them4 ,canariensis is a pretty creeper with golden blossoms1 very dainty and bright4 ,and then1 in little square patches all round the garden1 were planted ,london pride1 blue bachelor's buttons1 yellow marigolds1 tall larkspur1 many-coloured asters1 hollyhocks and stocks4 ,all these lovely flowers used to grow in our grandmothers' gardens1 and if you don't know what they look like1 ,i hope you can find out next summer4 ,between the flowers and the middle path went the seeds for that wonderful salad garden2 all the things ,mrs ,brown had named to ,margery were there4 ,margery had never seen anything more wonderful than the little round lettuce-seeds4 ,they were so tiny that it did not seem possible that green lettuce leaves could come from them4 ,but they surely would4 ,mother and father and ,margery were late to supper that evening4 ,but they were all so happy that it did not matter4 ,the last thing ,margery thought of1 as she went to sleep at night1 was the dear1 smooth little garden1 with its funny footpath1 and with the little sticks standing at the ends of the rows1 labelled lettuce1 beets1 helianthus1 and so on4 ,i have a garden6 ,i have a garden6 was ,margery's last thought as she went off to dreamland4 ,,footnotes3 #bf ,i have always been inclined to avoid1 in my work among children1 the how to make and how to do kind of story2 it is too likely to trespass on the ground belonging by right to its more artistic and less intentional kinsfolk4 ,nevertheless1 there is a legitimate place for the instruction-story4 ,within its own limits1 and especially in a school use1 it has a real purpose to serve1 and a real desire to meet4 ,children have a genuine taste for such morsels of practical information1 if the bites are not made too big and too solid4 ,and to the elementary teacher1 from whom so much is demanded in the way of practical instruction1 ,i know that these stories are a boon4 ,they must be chosen with care1 and used with discretion1 but they need never be ignored4 ,i venture to give some little stories of this type1 which ,i hope may be of use in the schools where country life and country work is an unknown experience to the children4 ,,the ,,little ,,cotyledons ,this is another story about ,margery's garden4 ,the next morning after the garden was planted1 ,margery was up and out at six o'clock4 ,she could not wait to look at her garden4 ,to be sure1 she knew that the seeds could not sprout in a single night1 but she had a feeling that something might happen at any moment4 ,the garden was just as smooth and brown as the night before1 and no little seedlings were in sight4 ,but a very few mornings after that1 when ,margery went out1 she saw a funny little crack opening up through the earth1 the whole length of the patch4 ,quickly she knelt down on the footpath1 to see4 ,yes6 ,tiny green leaves1 a whole row of them1 were pushing their way through the crust6 ,margery knew what she had put there3 it was the radish-row2 these must be radish leaves4 ,she examined them very closely1 so that she might know a radish next time4 ,the little leaves1 no bigger than half your little-finger nail1 grew in twos1--two on each tiny stem2 they were almost round4 ,margery flew back to her mother1 to say that the first seeds were up4 ,and her mother1 nearly as excited as ,margery1 came to look at the little crack4 ,each day1 after that1 the row of radishes grew1 till1 in a week1 it stood as high as your finger1 green and sturdy4 ,but about the third day1 while ,margery was stooping over the radishes1 she saw something very1 very small and green1 peeping above ground1 where the lettuce was planted4 ,could it be weeds8 ,no1 for on looking very closely she saw that the wee leaves faintly marked a regular row4 ,they did not make a crack1 like the radishes2 they seemed too small and too far apart to push the earth up like that4 ,margery leaned down and looked with all her eyes at the baby plants4 ,the tiny leaves grew two on a stem1 and were almost round4 ,the more she looked at them the more it seemed to ,margery that they looked exactly as the radish looked when it first came up4 ,do you suppose1 ,margery said to herself1 that lettuce and radish look alike while they are growing8 ,they don't look alike when they are on the table6 ,day by day the lettuce grew1 and soon the little round leaves were easier to examine2 they certainly were very much like radish leaves4 ,then1 one morning1 while she was searching for signs of other seeds1 ,margery discovered the beets4 ,in irregular patches on the row1 hints of green were coming4 ,the next day and the next they grew1 until the beet leaves were big enough to see4 ,margery looked4 ,then she looked again4 ,then she wrinkled her forehead4 ,can we have made a mistake8 she thought4 ,do you suppose we can have planted all radishes8 ,for those little beet leaves were almost round1 and they grew two on a stem1 precisely like the lettuce and the radish2 except for the size1 all three rows looked alike4 ,it was too much for ,margery4 ,she ran to the house and found her father4 ,her little face was so anxious that he thought something unpleasant had happened4 ,papa1 she said1 all out of breath1 do you think we could have made a mistake about my garden8 ,do you think we could have put radishes in all the rows8 ,father laughed4 ,what makes you think such a thing8 he asked4 ,papa1 said ,margery1 the little leaves all look exactly alike6 every plant has just two tiny leaves on it1 and shaped the same2 they are roundish1 and grow out of the stem at the same place4 ,papa's eyes began to twinkle4 ,many of the dicotyledonous plants look alike at the beginning1 he said1 with a little drawl on the big word4 ,that was to tease ,margery1 because she always wanted to know the big words she heard4 ,what's 'dicotyledonous'8 said ,margery1 carefully4 ,wait till ,i come home to-night1 dear1 said her father1 and ,i'll tell you4 ,that evening ,margery was waiting eagerly for him4 ,when her father finished his supper they went together to the garden1 and father examined the seedlings carefully4 ,then he pulled up a little radish plant and a tiny beet4 ,these little leaves1 he said1 are not the real leaves of the plant2 they are only little pockets to hold food for the plant to live on till it gets strong enough to push up into the air4 ,as soon as the real leaves come out and begin to draw food from the air1 these little substitutes wither up and fall off4 ,these two lie folded up in the little seed from the beginning1 and are full of plant food4 ,they don't have to be very special in shape1 you see1 because they don't stay on the plant after it is grown up4 ,then every plant looks like this at first8 said ,margery4 ,no1 dear1 not every one2 plants are divided into two kinds3 those which have two food leaves1 like these plants1 and those which have only one2 these are called dicotyledonous1 and the ones which have but one food leaf are monocotyledonous4 ,many of the dicotyledons look alike4 ,i think that is interesting1 said ,margery4 ,i always1 supposed the plants were different from the minute they began to grow4 ,indeed1 no1 said father4 ,even some of the trees look like this when they first come through2 you would not think a birch tree could look like a vegetable or a flower1 would you8 ,but it does1 at first2 it looks so much like these things that in the great nurseries1 where trees are raised for forests and parks1 the workmen have to be very carefully trained1 or else they would pull up the trees when they are weeding4 ,they have to be taught the difference between a birch tree and a weed4 ,how funny6 said ,margery1 dimpling4 ,yes1 it sounds funny1 said father2 but1 you see1 the birch tree is dicotyledonous1 and so are many weeds1 and the dicotyledons look so much alike at first4 ,i am glad to know that1 father1 said ,margery1 soberly4 ,i believe ,i shall learn a good deal from living in the country2 don't you think so8 ,margery's father took her in his arms4 ,i hope so1 dear1 he said2 the country is a good place for little girls4 ,and that was all that happened1 that day4 ,,the ,,talkative ,,tortoise#bg ,once upon a time1 a ,tortoise lived in a pond with two ,ducks1 who were her very good friends4 ,she enjoyed the company of the ,ducks1 because she could talk with them to her heart's content2 the ,tortoise liked to talk4 ,she always had something to say1 and she liked to hear herself say it4 ,after many years of this pleasant living1 the pond became very low1 in a dry season2 and finally it dried up4 ,the two ,ducks saw that they could no longer live there1 so they decided to fly to another region1 where there was more water4 ,they went to the ,tortoise to bid her good-bye4 ,oh1 don't leave me behind6 begged the ,tortoise4 ,take me with you2 ,i must die if ,i am left here4 ,but you cannot fly6 said the ,ducks4 ,how can we take you with us8 ,take me with you6 take me with you6 said the ,tortoise4 ,the ,ducks felt so sorry for her that at last they thought of a way to take her4 ,we have thought of a way which will be possible1 they said1 if only you can manage to keep still long enough4 ,we will each take hold of one end of a stout stick1 and do you take the middle in your mouth2 then we will fly up in the air with you and carry you with us4 ,but remember not to talk6 ,if you open your mouth1 you are lost4 ,the ,tortoise said she would not say a word2 she would not so much as move her mouth2 and she was very grateful4 ,so the ,ducks brought a strong little stick and took hold of the ends1 while the ,tortoise bit firmly on the middle4 ,then the two ,ducks rose slowly in the air and flew away with their burden4 ,when they were above the treetops1 the ,tortoise wanted to say1 ,how high we are6 ,but she remembered1 and kept still4 ,when they passed the church steeple she wanted to say1 ,what is that which shines8 ,but she remembered1 and held her peace4 ,then they came over the village square1 and the people looked up and saw them4 ,look at the ,ducks carrying a ,tortoise6 they shouted2 and every one ran to look4 ,the ,tortoise wanted to say1 ,what business is it of yours8 ,but she didn't4 ,then she heard the people shout1 ,isn't it strange6 ,look at it6 ,look6 ,the ,tortoise forgot everything except that she wanted to say1 ,hush1 you foolish people6 ,she opened her mouth1--and fell to the ground4 ,and that was the end of the ,tortoise4 ,it is a very good thing to be able to hold one's tongue6 ,,footnotes3 #bg ,very freely adapted from one of the ,fables of ,bidpai4 ,,robert ,,of ,,sicily#bh ,an old legend says that there was once a king named ,robert of ,sicily1 who was brother to the ,great ,pope of ,rome and to the ,emperor of ,allemaine4 ,he was a very selfish king1 and very proud2 he cared more for his pleasures than for the needs of his people1 and his heart was so filled with his own greatness that he had no thought for ,god4 ,one day1 this proud king was sitting in his place at church1 at vesper service2 his courtiers were about him1 in their bright garments1 and he himself was dressed in his royal robes4 ,the choir was chanting the ,latin service1 and as the beautiful voices swelled louder1 the king noticed one particular verse which seemed to be repeated again and again4 ,he turned to a learned clerk at his side and asked what those words meant1 for he knew no ,latin4 ,they mean1 ',he hath put down the mighty from their seats1 and hath exalted them of low degree1' answered the clerk4 ,it is well the words are in ,latin1 then1 said the king angrily1 for they are a lie4 ,there is no power on earth or in heaven which can put me down from my seat6 and he sneered at the beautiful singing1 as he leaned back in his place4 ,presently the king fell asleep1 while the service went on4 ,he slept deeply and long4 ,when he awoke the church was dark and still1 and he was all alone4 ,he1 the king1 had been left alone in the church1 to awake in the dark6 ,he was furious with rage and surprise1 and1 stumbling through the dim aisles1 he reached the great doors and beat at them1 madly1 shouting for his servants4 ,the old sexton heard some one shouting and pounding in the church1 and thought it was some drunken vagabond who had stolen in during the service4 ,he came to the door with his keys and called out1 ,who is there8 ,open6 open6 ,it is ,i1 the king6 came a hoarse1 angry voice from within4 ,it is a crazy man1 thought the sexton2 and he was frightened4 ,he opened the doors carefully and stood back1 peering into the darkness4 ,out past him rushed the figure of a man in tattered1 scanty clothes1 with unkempt hair and white1 wild face4 ,the sexton did not know that he had ever seen him before1 but he looked long after him1 wondering at his wildness and his haste4 ,in his fluttering rags1 without hat or cloak1 not knowing what strange thing had happened to him1 ,king ,robert rushed to his palace gates1 pushed aside the startled servants1 and hurried1 blind with rage1 up the wide stair and through the great corridors1 toward the room where he could hear the sound of his courtiers' voices4 ,men and women servants tried to stop the ragged man1 who had somehow got into the palace1 but ,robert did not even see them as he fled along4 ,straight to the open doors of the big banquet hall he made his way1 and into the midst of the grand feast there4 ,the great hall was filled with lights and flowers2 the tables were set with everything that is delicate and rich to eat2 the courtiers1 in their gay clothes1 were laughing and talking2 and at the head of the feast1 on the king's own throne1 sat a king4 ,his face1 his figure1 his voice were exactly like ,robert of ,sicily2 no human being could have told the difference2 no one dreamed that he was not the king4 ,he was dressed in the king's royal robes1 he wore the royal crown1 and on his hand was the king's own ring4 ,robert of ,sicily1 half naked1 ragged1 without a sign of his kingship on him1 stood before the throne and stared with fury at this figure of himself4 ,the king on the throne looked at him4 ,who art thou1 and what dost thou here8 he asked4 ,and though his voice was just like ,robert's own1 it had something in it sweet and deep1 like the sound of bells4 ,i am the king6 cried ,robert of ,sicily4 ,i am the king1 and you are an impostor6 ,the courtiers started from their seats1 and drew their swords4 ,they would have killed the crazy man who insulted their king2 but he raised his hand and stopped them1 and with his eyes looking into ,robert's eyes he said1 ,not the king2 you shall be the king's jester6 ,you shall wear the cap and bells1 and make laughter for my court4 ,you shall be the servant of the servants1 and your companion shall1 be the jester's ape4 ,with shouts of laughter1 the courtiers drove ,robert of ,sicily from the banquet hall2 the waiting-men1 with laughter1 too1 pushed him into the soldiers' hall2 and there the pages brought the jester's wretched ape1 and put a fool's cap and bells on ,robert's head4 ,it was like a terrible dream2 he could not believe it true1 he could not understand what had happened to him4 ,and when he woke next morning1 he believed it was a dream1 and that he was king again4 ,but as he turned his head1 he felt the coarse straw under his cheek instead of the soft pillow1 and he saw that he was in the stable1 with the shivering ape by his side4 ,robert of ,sicily was a jester1 and no one knew him for the king4 ,three long years passed4 ,sicily was happy and all things went well under the king1 who was not ,robert4 ,robert was still the jester1 and his heart grew harder and more bitter with every year4 ,many times1 during the three years1 the king1 who had his face and voice1 had called him to himself1 when none else could hear1 and had asked him the one question1 ,who art thou8 ,and each time that he asked it his eyes looked into ,robert's eyes1 to find his heart4 ,but each time ,robert threw back his head and answered1 proudly1 ,i am the king6 ,and the other king's eyes grew sad and stern4 ,at the end of three years1 the ,pope called the ,emperor of ,allemaine and the ,king of ,sicily1 his brothers1 to a great meeting in his city of ,rome4 ,the ,king of ,sicily went1 with all his soldiers and courtiers and servants1--a great procession of horsemen and footmen4 ,never had there been seen a finer sight than the grand train1 men in bright armour1 riders in wonderful cloaks of velvet and silk1 servants1 carrying marvellous presents to the ,pope4 ,and at the very end rode ,robert1 the jester4 ,his horse was poor and old1 many-coloured1 and the ape rode with him4 ,every one in the villages through which they passed ran after the jester1 and pointed and laughed4 ,the ,pope received his brothers and their trains in the square before ,saint ,peter's4 ,with music and flags and flowers he made the ,king of ,sicily welcome1 and greeted him as his brother4 ,in the midst of it1 the jester broke through the crowd and threw himself before the ,pope4 ,look at me6 he cried2 ,i am your brother1 ,robert of ,sicily6 ,this man is an impostor1 who has stolen my throne4 ,i am ,robert1 the king6 ,the ,pope looked at the poor jester with pity1 but the ,emperor of ,allemaine turned to the ,king of ,sicily1 and said1 ,is it not rather dangerous1 brother1 to keep a madman as jester8 ,and again ,robert was pushed back among the serving-men4 ,it was ,holy ,week1 and the king and the emperor1 with all their trains1 went every day to the great services in the cathedral4 ,something wonderful and holy seemed to make these services more beautiful than ever before4 ,all the people of ,rome felt it3 it was as if the presence of an angel were there4 ,men thought of ,god1 and felt ,his blessing on them4 ,but no one knew who it was that brought the beautiful feeling4 ,and when ,easter ,day came1 never had there been so lovely1 so holy a day3 in the great churches1 filled with flowers1 and sweet with incense1 the kneeling people listened to the choirs singing1 and it was like the voices of angels2 their prayers were more earnest than ever before1 their praise more glad2 there was something heavenly in ,rome4 ,robert of ,sicily went to the services with the rest1 and sat in the humblest place with the servants4 ,over and over again he heard the sweet voices of the choirs chant the ,latin words he had heard long ago3 ,he hath put down the mighty from their seat1 and hath exalted them of low degree4 ,and at last1 as he listened1 his heart was softened4 ,he1 too1 felt the strange blessed presence of a heavenly power4 ,he thought of ,god1 and of his own wickedness2 he remembered how selfish he had been1 and how little good he had done2 he realised1 that his power had not been from himself1 at all4 ,on ,easter night1 as he crept to his bed of straw1 he wept1 not because he was so wretched1 but because he had not been a better king when power was his4 ,at last all the festivities were over1 and the ,king of ,sicily went home to his own land again1 with his people4 ,robert the jester came home too4 ,on the day of their home-coming1 there was a special service in the royal church1 and even after the service was over for the people1 the monks held prayers of thanksgiving and praise4 ,the sound of their singing came softly in at the palace windows4 ,in the great banquet room1 the king sat1 wearing his royal robes and his crown1 while many subjects came to greet him4 ,at last1 he sent them all away1 saying he wanted to be alone2 but he commanded the jester to stay4 ,and when they were alone together the king looked into ,robert's eyes1 as he had done before1 and said1 softly1 ,who art thou8 ,robert of ,sicily bowed his head4 ,thou knowest best1 he said1 ,i only know that ,i have sinned4 ,as he spoke1 he heard the voices of the monks singing1 ,he hath put down the mighty from their seat1--and his head sank lower4 ,but suddenly the music seemed to change2 a wonderful light shone all about4 ,as ,robert raised his eyes1 he saw the face of the king smiling at him with a radiance like nothing on earth1 and as he sank to his knees before the glory of that smile1 a voice sounded with the music1 like a melody throbbing on a single string1-- ,i am an angel1 and thou art the king6 ,then ,robert of ,sicily was alone4 ,his royal robes were upon him once more2 he wore his crown and his royal ring4 ,he was king4 ,and when the courtiers came back they found their king kneeling by his throne1 absorbed in silent prayer4 ,,footnotes3 #bh ,adapted from ,longfellow's poem4 ,,the ,,jealous ,,courtiers#bi ,i wonder if you have ever heard the anecdote about the artist of ,duesseldorf and the jealous courtiers4 ,this is it4 ,it seems there was once a very famous artist who lived in the little town of ,duesseldorf4 ,he did such fine work that the ,elector1 ,prince ,johann ,wilhelm1 ordered a portrait statue of himself1 on horseback1 to be done in bronze4 ,the artist was overjoyed at the commission1 and worked early and late at the statue4 ,at last the work was done1 and the artist had the great statue set up in the public square of ,duesseldorf1 ready for the opening view4 ,the ,elector came on the appointed day1 and with him came his favourite courtiers from the castle4 ,then the statue was unveiled4 ,it was very beautiful1--so beautiful that the prince exclaimed in surprise4 ,he could not look enough1 and presently he turned to the artist and shook hands with him1 like an old friend4 ,herr ,grupello1 he said1 you are a great artist1 and this statue will make your fame even greater than it is2 the portrait of me is perfect6 ,when the courtiers heard this1 and saw the friendly hand-shake1 their jealousy of the artist was beyond bounds4 ,their one thought was1 how could they safely do something to humiliate him4 ,they dared not pick flaws in the portrait statue1 for the prince had declared it perfect4 ,but at last one of them said1 with an air of great frankness1 ,indeed1 ,herr ,grupello1 the portrait of his ,royal ,highness is perfect2 but permit me to say that the statue of the horse is not quite so successful3 the head is too large2 it is out of proportion4 ,no1 said another1 the horse is really not so successful2 the turn of the neck1 there1 is awkward4 ,if you would change the right hind-foot1 ,herr ,grupello1 said a third1 it would be an improvement4 ,still another found fault with the horse's tail4 ,the artist listened1 quietly4 ,when they had all finished1 he turned to the prince and said1 ,your courtiers1 prince1 find a good many flaws in the statue of the horse2 will you permit me to keep it a few days more1 to do what ,i can with it8 ,the ,elector assented1 and the artist ordered a temporary screen to be built around the statue1 so that his assistants could work undisturbed4 ,for several days the sound of hammering came steadily from behind the enclosure4 ,the courtiers1 who took care to pass that way1 often1 were delighted4 ,each one said to himself1 ,i must have been right1 really2 the artist himself sees that something was wrong2 now ,i shall have credit for saving the prince's portrait by my artistic taste6 ,once more the artist summoned the prince and his courtiers1 and once more the statue was unveiled4 ,again the ,elector exclaimed at its beauty1 and then he turned to his courtiers1 one after another1 to see what they had to say4 ,perfect6 said the first4 ,now that the horse's head is in proportion1 there is not a flaw4 ,the change in the neck was just what was needed1 said the second2 it is very graceful now4 ,the rear right foot is as it should be1 now1 said a third1 and it adds so much to the beauty of the whole6 ,the fourth said that he considered the tail greatly improved4 ,my courtiers are much pleased now1 said the prince to ,herr ,grupello2 they think the statue much improved by the changes you have made4 ,herr ,grupello smiled a little4 ,i am glad they are pleased1 he said1 but the fact is1 ,i have changed nothing6 ,what do you mean8 said the prince in surprise4 ,have we not heard the sound of hammering every day8 ,what were you hammering at then8 ,i was hammering at the reputation of your courtiers1 who found fault simply because they were jealous1 said the artist4 ,and ,i rather think that their reputation is pretty well hammered to pieces6 ,it was1 indeed4 ,the ,elector laughed heartily1 but the courtiers slunk away1 one after another1 without a word4 ,,footnotes3 #bi ,adapted from ,h4,a4 ,guerber's ,maerchen und ,erzaehlungen 7,d4,c4 ,heath ,co474 ,,prince ,,cherry#cj ,there was once an old king1 so wise and kind and true that the most powerful good fairy of his land visited him and asked him to name the dearest wish of his heart1 that she might grant it4 ,surely you know it1 said the good king2 it is for my only son1 ,prince ,cherry2 do for him whatever you would have done for me4 ,gladly1 said the great fairy2 choose what ,i shall give him4 ,i can make him the richest1 the most beautiful1 or the most powerful prince in the world2 choose4 ,none of those things are what ,i want1 said the king4 ,i want only that he shall be good4 ,of what use will it be to him to be beautiful1 rich1 or powerful1 if he grows into a bad man8 ,make him the best prince in the world1 ,i beg you6 ,alas1 ,i cannot make him good1 said the fairy2 he must do that for himself4 ,i can give him good advice1 reprove him when he does wrong1 and punish him if he will not punish himself2 ,i can and will be his best friend1 but ,i cannot make him good unless he wills it4 ,the king was sad to hear this1 but he rejoiced in the friendship of the fairy for his son4 ,and when he died1 soon after1 he was happy to know that he left ,prince ,cherry in her hands4 ,prince ,cherry grieved for his father1 and often lay awake at night1 thinking of him4 ,one night1 when he was all alone in his room1 a soft and lovely light suddenly shone before him1 and a beautiful vision stood at his side4 ,it was the good fairy4 ,she was clad in robes of dazzling white1 and on her shining hair she wore a wreath of white roses4 ,i am the ,fairy ,candide1 she said to the prince4 ,i promised your father that ,i would be your best friend1 and as long as you live ,i shall watch over your happiness4 ,i have brought you a gift2 it is not wonderful to look at1 but it has a wonderful power for your welfare2 wear it1 and let it help you4 ,as she spoke1 she placed a small gold ring on the prince's little finger4 ,this ring1 she said1 will help you to be good2 when you do evil1 it will prick you1 to remind you4 ,if you do not heed its warnings a worse thing will happen to you1 for ,i shall become your enemy4 ,then she vanished4 ,prince ,cherry wore his ring1 and said nothing to anyone of the fairy's gift4 ,it did not prick him for a long time1 because he was good and merry and happy4 ,but ,prince ,cherry had been rather spoiled by his nurse when he was a child2 she had always said to him that when he should become king he could do exactly as he pleased4 ,now1 after a while1 he began to find out that this was not true1 and it made him angry4 ,the first time that he noticed that even a king could not always have his own way was on a day when he went hunting4 ,it happened that he got no game4 ,this put him in such a bad temper that he grumbled and scolded all the way home4 ,the little gold ring began to feel tight and uncomfortable4 ,when he reached the palace his pet dog ran to meet him4 ,go away6 said the prince1 crossly4 ,but the little dog was so used to being petted that he only jumped up on his master1 and tried to kiss his hand4 ,the prince turned and kicked the little creature4 ,at the instant1 he felt a sharp prick in his little finger1 like a pin prick4 ,what nonsense6 said the prince to himself4 ,am ,i not king of the whole land8 ,may ,i not kick my own dog1 if ,i choose8 ,what evil is there in that8 ,a silver voice spoke in his ear3 ,the king of the land has a right to do good1 but not evil2 you have been guilty of bad temper and of cruelty to-day2 see that you do better to-morrow4 ,the prince turned sharply1 but no one was to be seen2 yet he recognised the voice as that of ,fairy ,candide4 ,he followed her advice for a little1 but presently he forgot1 and the ring pricked him so sharply that his finger had a drop of blood on it4 ,this happened again and again1 for the prince grew more self-willed and headstrong every day2 he had some bad friends1 too1 who urged him on1 in the hope that he would ruin himself and give them a chance to seize the throne4 ,he treated his people carelessly and his servants cruelly1 and everything he wanted he felt that he must have4 ,the ring annoyed him terribly2 it was embarrassing for a king to have a drop of blood on his finger all the time6 ,at last he took the ring off and put it out of sight4 ,then he thought he should be perfectly happy1 having his own way2 but instead1 he grew more unhappy as he grew less good4 ,whenever he was crossed1 or could not have his own way instantly1 he flew into a passion4 ,finally1 he wanted something that he really could not have4 ,this time it was a most beautiful young girl1 named ,zelia2 the prince saw her1 and loved her so much that he wanted at once to make her his queen4 ,to his great astonishment1 she refused4 ,am ,i not pleasing to you8 asked the prince in surprise4 ,you are very handsome1 very charming1 prince1 said ,zelia2 but you are not like the good king1 your father2 ,i fear you would make me very miserable if ,i were your queen4 ,in a great rage1 ,prince ,cherry ordered the young girl to be put in prison2 and the key of her dungeon he kept4 ,he told one of his friends1 a wicked man who flattered him for his own purposes1 about the thing1 and asked his advice4 ,are you not king8 said the bad friend4 ,may you not do as you will8 ,keep the girl in a dungeon till she does as you command1 and if she will not1 sell her as a slave4 ,but would it not be a disgrace for me to harm an innocent creature8 said the prince4 ,it would be a disgrace to you to have it said that one of your subjects dared disobey you6 said the courtier4 ,he had cleverly touched the prince's worst trait1 his pride4 ,prince ,cherry went at once to ,zelia's dungeon1 prepared to do this cruel thing4 ,zelia was gone4 ,no one had the key save the prince himself2 yet she was gone4 ,the only person who could have dared to help her1 thought the prince1 was his old tutor1 ,suliman1 the only man left who ever rebuked him for anything4 ,in fury1 he ordered ,suliman to be put in fetters and brought before him4 ,as his servants left him1 to carry out the wicked order1 there was a clash1 as of thunder1 in the room1 and then a blinding light4 ,fairy ,candide stood before him4 ,her beautiful face was stern1 and her silver voice rang like a trumpet1 as she said1 ,wicked and selfish prince1 you have become baser than the beasts you hunt2 you are furious as a lion1 revengeful as a serpent1 greedy as a wolf1 and brutal as a bull2 take1 therefore1 the shape of those beasts whom you resemble6 ,with horror1 the prince felt himself being transformed into a monster4 ,he tried to rush upon the fairy and kill her1 but she had vanished with her words4 ,as he stood1 her voice came from the air1 saying1 sadly1 ,learn to conquer your pride by being in submission to your own subjects4 ,at the same moment1 ,prince ,cherry felt himself being transported to a distant forest1 where he was set down by a clear stream4 ,in the water he saw his own terrible image2 he had the head of a lion1 with bull's horns1 the feet of a wolf1 and a tail like a serpent4 ,and as he gazed in horror1 the fairy's voice whispered1 ,your soul has become more ugly than your shape is2 you yourself have deformed it4 ,the poor beast rushed away from the sound of her words1 but in a moment he stumbled into a trap1 set by bear-catchers4 ,when the trappers found him they were delighted to have caught a curiosity1 and they immediately dragged him to the palace courtyard4 ,there he heard the whole court buzzing with gossip4 ,prince ,cherry had been struck by lightning and killed1 was the news1 and the five favourite courtiers had struggled to make themselves rulers1 but the people had refused them1 and offered the crown to ,suliman1 the good old tutor4 ,even as he heard this1 the prince saw ,suliman on the steps of the palace1 speaking to the people4 ,i will take the crown to keep in trust1 he said4 ,perhaps the prince is not dead4 ,he was a bad king2 we do not want him back1 said the people4 ,i know his heart1 said ,suliman1 it is not all bad2 it is tainted1 but not corrupt2 perhaps he will repent and come back to us a good king4 ,when the beast heard this1 it touched him so much that he stopped tearing at his chains1 and became gentle4 ,he let his keepers lead him away to the royal menagerie without hurting them4 ,life was very terrible to the prince1 now1 but he began to see that he had brought all his sorrow on himself1 and he tried to bear it patiently4 ,the worst to bear was the cruelty of the keeper4 ,at last1 one night1 this keeper was in great danger2 a tiger got loose1 and attacked him4 ,good enough6 ,let him die6 thought ,prince ,cherry4 ,but when he saw how helpless the keeper was1 he repented1 and sprang to help4 ,he killed the tiger and saved the keeper's life4 ,as he crouched at the keeper's feet1 a voice said1 ,good actions never go unrewarded6 ,and the terrible monster was changed into a pretty little white dog4 ,the keeper carried the beautiful little dog to the court and told the story1 and from then on1 ,cherry was carefully treated1 and had the best of everything4 ,but in order to keep the little dog from growing1 the queen ordered that he should be fed very little1 and that was pretty hard for the poor prince4 ,he was often half starved1 although so much petted4 ,one day he had carried his crust of bread to a retired spot in the palace woods1 where he loved to be1 when he saw a poor old woman hunting for roots1 and seeming almost starved4 ,poor thing1 he thought1 she is even more hungry than ,i2 and he ran up and dropped the crust at her feet4 ,the woman ate it1 and seemed greatly refreshed4 ,cherry was glad of that1 and he was running happily back to his kennel when he heard cries of distress1 and suddenly he saw some rough men dragging along a young girl1 who was weeping and crying for help4 ,what was his horror to see that the young girl was ,zelia6 ,oh1 how he wished he were the monster once more1 so that he could kill the men and rescue her6 ,but he could do nothing except bark1 and bite at the heels of the wicked men4 ,that did not stop them2 they drove him off1 with blows1 and carried ,zelia into a palace in the wood4 ,poor ,cherry crouched by the steps1 and watched4 ,his heart was full of pity and rage4 ,but suddenly he thought1 ,i was as bad as these men2 ,i myself put ,zelia in prison1 and would have treated her worse still1 if ,i had not been prevented4 ,the thought made him so sorry and ashamed that he repented bitterly the evil he had done4 ,presently a window opened1 and ,cherry saw ,zelia lean out and throw down a piece of meat4 ,he seized it and was just going to devour it1 when the old woman to whom he had given his crust snatched it away and took him in her arms4 ,no1 you shall not eat it1 you poor little thing1 she said1 for every bit of food in that house is poisoned4 ,at the same moment1 a voice said1 ,good actions never go unrewarded6 ,and instantly ,prince ,cherry was transformed into a little white dove4 ,with great joy1 he flew to the open palace window to seek out his ,zelia1 to try to help her4 ,but though he hunted in every room1 no ,zelia was to be found4 ,he had to fly away1 without seeing her4 ,he wanted more than anything else to find her1 and stay near her1 so he flew out into the world1 to seek her4 ,he sought her in many lands1 until one day1 in a far eastern country1 he found her sitting in a tent1 by the side of an old1 white-haired hermit4 ,cherry was wild with delight4 ,he flew to her shoulder1 caressed her hair with his beak1 and cooed in her ear4 ,you dear1 lovely little thing6 said ,zelia4 ,will you stay with me8 ,if you will1 ,i will love you always4 ,ah1 ,zelia1 see what you have done6 laughed the hermit4 ,at that instant1 the white dove vanished1 and ,prince ,cherry stood there1 as handsome and charming as ever1 and with a look of kindness and modesty in his eyes which had never been there before4 ,at the same time1 the hermit stood up1 his flowing hair changed to shining gold1 and his face became a lovely woman's face2 it was the ,fairy ,candide4 ,zelia has broken your spell1 she said to the prince1 as ,i meant she should1 when you were worthy of her love4 ,zelia and ,prince ,cherry fell at the fairy's feet4 ,but with a beautiful smile she bade them come to their kingdom4 ,in a trice1 they were transported to the prince's palace1 where ,king ,suliman greeted them with tears of joy4 ,he gave back the throne with all his heart1 and ,king ,cherry ruled again1 with ,zelia for his queen4 ,he wore the little gold ring all the rest of his life1 but never once did it have to prick him hard enough to make his finger bleed4 ,,footnotes3 #cj ,a shortened version of the familiar tale4 ,,the ,,gold ,,in ,,the ,,orchard#ca ,there was once a farmer who had a fine olive orchard4 ,he was very industrious1 and the farm always prospered under his care4 ,but he knew that his three sons despised the farm work1 and were eager to make wealth fast1 through adventure4 ,when the farmer was old1 and felt that his time had come to die1 he called the three sons to him and said1 ,my sons1 there is a pot of gold hidden in the olive orchard4 ,dig for it1 if you wish it4 ,the sons tried to get him to tell them in what part of the orchard the gold was hidden2 but he would tell them nothing more4 ,after the farmer was dead1 the sons went to work to find the pot of gold2 since they did not know where the hiding-place was1 they agreed to begin in a line1 at one end of the orchard1 and to dig until one of them should find the money4 ,they dug until they had turned up the soil from one end of the orchard to the other1 round the tree-roots and between them4 ,but no pot of gold was to be found4 ,it seemed as if some one must have stolen it1 or as if the farmer had been wandering in his wits4 ,the three sons were bitterly disappointed to have all their work for nothing4 ,the next olive season1 the olive trees in the orchard bore more fruit than they had ever given before2 the fine cultivating they had had from the digging brought so much fruit1 and of so fine a quality1 that when it was sold it gave the sons a whole pot of gold6 ,and when they saw how much money had come from the orchard1 they suddenly understood what the wise father had meant when he said1 ,there is gold hidden in the orchard2 dig for it4 ,,footnotes3 #ca ,an ,italian folk tale4 ,,margaret ,,of ,,new ,,orleans ,if you ever go to the beautiful city of ,new ,orleans1 somebody will be sure to take you down into the old business part of the city1 where there are banks and shops and hotels1 and show you a statue which stands in a little square there4 ,it is the statue of a woman1 sitting in a low chair1 with her arms around a child1 who leans against her4 ,the woman is not at all pretty3 she wears thick1 common shoes1 a plain dress1 with a little shawl1 and a sun-bonnet2 she is stout and short1 and her face is a square-chinned ,irish face2 but her eyes look at you like your mother's4 ,now there is something very surprising about this statue3 it was the first one that was ever made in ,america in honour of a woman4 ,even in ,europe there are not many monuments to women1 and most of the few are to great queens or princesses1 very beautiful and very richly dressed4 ,you see1 this statue in ,new ,orleans is not quite like anything else4 ,it is the statue of a woman named ,margaret4 ,her whole name was ,margaret ,haughery1 but no one in ,new ,orleans remembers her by it1 any more than you think of your dearest sister by her full name2 she is just ,margaret4 ,this is her story1 and it tells why people made a monument for her4 ,when ,margaret was a tiny baby1 her father and mother died1 and she was adopted by two young people as poor and as kind as her own parents4 ,she lived with them until she grew up4 ,then she married1 and had a little baby of her own4 ,but very soon her husband died1 and then the baby died1 too1 and ,margaret was all alone in the world4 ,she was poor1 but she was strong1 and knew how to work4 ,all day1 from morning until evening1 she ironed clothes in a laundry4 ,and every day1 as she worked by the window1 she saw the little motherless children from the orphan asylum1 near by1 working and playing about4 ,after a while1 there came a great sickness upon the city1 and so many mothers and fathers died that there were more orphans than the asylum could possibly take care of4 ,they needed a good friend1 now4 ,you would hardly think1 would you1 that a poor woman who worked in a laundry could be much of a friend to them8 ,but ,margaret was4 ,she went straight to the kind ,sisters who had the asylum and told them she was going to give them part of her wages and was going to work for them1 besides4 ,pretty soon she had worked so hard that she had some money saved from her wages4 ,with this1 she bought two cows and a little delivery cart4 ,then she carried her milk to her customers in the little cart every morning2 and as she went1 she begged the pieces of food left over from the hotels and rich houses1 and brought it back in the cart to the hungry children in the asylum4 ,in the very hardest times that was often all the food the poor children had4 ,a part of the money ,margaret earned went every week to the asylum1 and after a few years that was made very much larger and better4 ,margaret was so careful and so good at business that1 in spite of her giving1 she bought more cows and earned more money4 ,with this1 she built a home for orphan babies2 she called it her baby house4 ,after a time1 ,margaret had a chance to get a bakery1 and then she became a bread-woman instead of a milk-woman4 ,she carried the bread just as she had carried the milk1 in her cart4 ,and still she kept giving money to the asylum4 ,then the great war came1 the ,civil ,war4 ,in all the trouble and sickness and fear of that time1 ,margaret drove her cart of bread2 and somehow she had always enough to give the starving soldiers1 and for her babies1 beside what she sold4 ,and despite all this1 she earned enough so that when the war was over she built a big steam factory for her bread4 ,by this time everybody in the city knew her4 ,the children all over the city loved her2 the business men were proud of her2 the poor people all came to her for advice4 ,she used to sit at the open door of her office1 in a calico gown and a little shawl1 and give a good word to everybody1 rich or poor4 ,then1 by and by1 one day1 ,margaret died4 ,and when it was time to read her will1 the people found that1 with all her giving1 she had still saved a great deal of money1 and that she had left every penny of it to the different orphan asylums of the city1--each one of them was given something4 ,whether they were for white children or black1 for ,jews1 ,catholics1 or ,protestants1 made no difference2 for ,margaret always said1 ,they are all orphans alike4 ,and just think1 dears1 that splendid1 wise will was signed with a cross instead of a name1 for ,margaret had never learned to read or write6 ,when the people of ,new ,orleans knew that ,margaret was dead1 they said1 ,she was a mother to the motherless2 she was a friend to those who had no friends2 she had wisdom greater than schools can teach2 we will not let her memory go from us4 ,so they made a statue of her1 just as she used to look1 sitting in her own office door1 or driving in her own little cart4 ,and there it stands to-day1 in memory of the great love and the great power of plain ,margaret ,haughery1 of ,new ,orleans4 ,,the ,,dagda',s ,,harp ,you know1 dears1 in the old countries there are many fine stories about things which happened so very long ago that nobody knows exactly how much of them is true4 ,ireland is like that4 ,it is so old that even as long ago as four thousand years it had people who dug in the mines1 and knew how to weave cloth and to make beautiful ornaments out of gold1 and who could fight and make laws2 but we do not know just where they came from1 nor exactly how they lived4 ,these people left us some splendid stories about their kings1 their fights1 and their beautiful women2 but it all happened such a long time ago that the stories are mixtures of things that really happened and what people said about them1 and we don't know just which is which4 ,the stories are called legends4 ,one of the prettiest legends is the story ,i am going to tell you about the ,dagda's harp4 ,it is said that there were two quite different kinds of people in ,ireland3 one set of people with long dark hair and dark eyes1 called ,fomorians--they carried long slender spears made of golden bronze when they fought--and another race of people who were golden-haired and blue-eyed1 and who carried short1 blunt1 heavy spears of dull metal4 ,the golden-haired people had a great chieftain who was also a kind of high priest1 who was called the ,dagda4 ,and this ,dagda had a wonderful magic harp4 ,the harp was beautiful to look upon1 mighty in size1 made of rare wood1 and ornamented with gold and jewels2 and it had wonderful music in its strings1 which only the ,dagda could call out4 ,when the men were going out to battle1 the ,dagda would set up his magic harp and sweep his hand across the strings1 and a war song would ring out which would make every warrior buckle on his armour1 brace his knees1 and shout1 ,forth to the fight6 ,then1 when the men came back from the battle1 weary and wounded1 the ,dagda would take his harp and strike a few chords1 and as the magic music stole out upon the air1 every man forgot his weariness and the smart of his wounds1 and thought of the honour he had won1 and of the comrade who had died beside him1 and of the safety of his wife and children4 ,then the song would swell out louder1 and every warrior would remember only the glory he had helped win for the king2 and each man would rise at the great table1 his cup in his hand1 and shout ,long live the ,king6 ,there came a time when the ,fomorians and the golden-haired men were at war2 and in the midst of a great battle1 while the ,dagda's hall was not so well guarded as usual1 some of the chieftains of the ,fomorians stole the great harp from the wall1 where it hung1 and fled away with it4 ,their wives and children and some few of their soldiers went with them1 and they fled fast and far through the night1 until they were a long way from the battlefield4 ,then they thought they were safe1 and they turned aside into a vacant castle1 by the road1 and sat down to a banquet1 hanging the stolen harp on the wall4 ,the ,dagda1 with two or three of his warriors1 had followed hard on their track4 ,and while they were in the midst of their banqueting1 the door was suddenly burst open1 and the ,dagda stood there1 with his men4 ,some of the ,fomorians sprang to their feet1 but before any of them could grasp a weapon1 the ,dagda called out to his harp on the wall1 ,come to me1 ,o my harp6 ,the great harp recognised its master's voice1 and leaped from the wall4 ,whirling through the hall1 sweeping aside and killing the men who got in its way1 it sprang to its master's hand4 ,and the ,dagda took his harp and swept his hand across the strings in three great1 solemn chords4 ,the harp answered with the magic ,music of ,tears4 ,as the wailing harmony smote upon the air1 the women of the ,fomorians bowed their heads and wept bitterly1 the strong men turned their faces aside1 and the little children sobbed4 ,again the ,dagda touched the strings1 and this time the magic ,music of ,mirth leaped from the harp4 ,and when they heard that ,music of ,mirth1 the young warriors of the ,fomorians began to laugh2 they laughed till the cups fell from their grasp1 and the spears dropped from their hands1 while the wine flowed from the broken bowls2 they laughed until their limbs were helpless with excess of glee4 ,once more the ,dagda touched his harp1 but very1 very softly4 ,and now a music stole forth as soft as dreams1 and as sweet as joy3 it was the magic ,music of ,sleep4 ,when they heard that1 gently1 gently1 the ,fomorian women bowed their heads in slumber2 the little children crept to their mothers' laps2 the old men nodded2 and the young warriors drooped in their seats and closed their eyes3 one after another all the ,fomorians sank into sleep4 ,when they were all deep in slumber1 the ,dagda took his magic harp1 and he and his golden-haired warriors stole softly away1 and came in safety to their own homes again4 ,,the ,,tailor ,,and ,,the ,,three ,,beasts#cb ,there was once a tailor in ,galway1 and he started out on a journey to go to the king's court at ,dublin4 ,he had not gone far when he met a white horse1 and he saluted him4 ,god save you1 said the tailor4 ,god save you1 said the horse4 ,where are you going8 ,i am going to ,dublin1 said the tailor1 to build a court for the king and to get a lady for a wife1 if ,i am able to do it4 ,for1 it seems the king had promised his daughter and a great lot of money to anyone who should be able to build up his court4 ,the trouble was1 that three giants lived in the wood near the court1 and every night they came out of the wood and threw down all that was built by day4 ,so nobody could get the court built4 ,would you make me a hole1 said the old white garraun1 where ,i could go in to hide whenever the people come to fetch me to the mill or the kiln1 so that they won't see me2 for they tire me out doing work for them8 ,i'll do that1 indeed1 said the tailor1 and welcome4 ,he brought his spade and shovel1 and he made a hole1 and he asked the old white horse to go down into it so that he could see if it would fit him4 ,the white horse went down into the hole1 but when he tried to come up again1 he was not able4 ,make a place for me now1 said the white horse1 by which ,i can come up out of the hole here1 whenever ,i am hungry4 ,i will not1 said the tailor2 remain where you are until ,i come back1 and ,i'll lift you up4 ,the tailor went forward next day1 and the fox met him4 ,god save you1 said the fox4 ,god save you1 said the tailor4 ,where are you going8 said the fox4 ,i'm going to ,dublin1 to try to make a court for the king4 ,would you make a place for me where ,i can hide8 said the fox4 ,the rest of the foxes are always beating me1 and they will not allow me to eat anything with them4 ,i'll do that for you1 said the tailor4 ,he took his axe and his saw1 and he made a thing like a crate1 and he told the fox to get into it so that he could see whether it would fit him4 ,the fox went into it1 and when the tailor had him down1 he shut him in4 ,when the fox was satisfied at last that he had a nice place of it within1 he asked the tailor to let him out1 and the tailor answered that he would not4 ,wait there until ,i come back again1 said he4 ,the tailor went forward the next day1 and he had not walked very far when he met a lion2 and the lion greeted him4 ,god save you1 said the lion4 ,god save you1 said the tailor4 ,where are you going8 said the lion4 ,i'm going to ,dublin to make a court for the king if ,i am able to make it1 said the tailor4 ,if you were to make a plough for me1 said the lion1 ,i and the other lions could be ploughing and harrowing until we'd have a bit to eat in the harvest4 ,i'll do that for you1 said the tailor4 ,he brought his axe and his saw1 and he made a plough4 ,when the plough was made he put a hole in the beam of it1 and got the lion to go in under the plough so that he might see if he was any good as a ploughman4 ,he placed the lion's tail in the hole he had made for it1 and then clapped in a peg1 and the lion was not able to draw out his tail again4 ,loose me now1 said the lion1 and we'll fix ourselves and go ploughing4 ,the tailor said he would not loose him until he came back himself4 ,he left him there then1 and he came to ,dublin4 ,when he arrived1 he engaged workmen and began to build the court4 ,at the end of the day he had the workmen put a great stone on top of the work4 ,when the great stone was raised up1 the tailor put some sort of contrivance under it1 that he might be able to throw it down as soon as the giants came near to it4 ,the workpeople then went home1 and the tailor went in hiding behind the big stone4 ,when the darkness of the night was come1 he saw the three giants arriving1 and they began throwing down the court until they arrived at the place where the tailor was in hiding up above1 and one of them struck a blow with his sledge on the place where he was4 ,the tailor threw down the stone1 and it fell on him and killed him4 ,the other two went home then and left all of the court that was remaining without throwing it down1 since their companion was dead4 ,the workmen came again the next day1 and they were working until night1 and as they were going home the tailor told them to put up the big stone on the top of the work1 as it had been the night before4 ,they did that for him1 went home1 and the tailor went in hiding the same as he did the evening before4 ,when the people had all gone to rest1 the two giants came1 and they were throwing down all that was before them1 but as soon as they began1 the tailor commenced manoeuvring until he was able to throw down the great stone1 so that it fell upon the skull of the giant that was under him1 and it killed him4 ,after this there was only the one giant left1 and he never came again until the court was finished4 ,then when the work was over1 the tailor went to the king and told him to give him his wife and his money1 as he had the court finished2 and the king said he would not give him any wife until he had killed the other giant1 for he said that it was not by his strength he had killed the two giants before1 and that he would give him nothing now until he killed the other one for him4 ,then the tailor said that he would kill the other giant for him1 and welcome2 that there should be no delay at all about that4 ,the tailor went then till he came to the place where the other giant was1 and asked did he want a servant-boy4 ,the giant said he did want one1 if he could get one who would do everything that he would do himself4 ,anything that you will do1 ,i will do1 said the tailor4 ,they went to their dinner then1 and when they had eaten it1 the giant asked the tailor would he dare to swallow as much boiling broth as himself4 ,the tailor said1 ,i will certainly do that1 but you must give me an hour before we commence4 ,the tailor went out then1 and he got a sheepskin1 which he sewed up until he made a bag of it1 and he slipped it down under his coat4 ,he came in then and told the giant first to drink a gallon of the broth himself4 ,the giant drank that up while it was boiling4 ,i'll do that1 said the tailor4 ,he went on until it was all poured into the skin1 and the giant thought he had drunk it4 ,the giant drank another gallon then1 and the tailor let another gallon down into the skin1 but the giant thought he was drinking it4 ,i'll do a thing now that you will not dare to do1 said the tailor4 ,you will not1 said the giant4 ,what is it you would do8 ,make a hole and let out the broth again1 said the tailor4 ,do it yourself first1 said the giant4 ,the tailor gave a prod of the knife1 and he let the broth out of the skin4 ,now you do that1 said he4 ,i will1 said the giant1 giving such a prod of the knife into his own stomach that he killed himself4 ,that is the way the tailor killed the third giant4 ,he went to the king then1 and desired him to send him out his wife and his money1 saying that he would throw down the court again if he did not do so immediately4 ,they were afraid then that he would throw down the court1 and they sent the wife to him4 ,when the tailor was a day gone1 himself and his wife1 they repented and followed him to take his wife away from him again4 ,the people who went after him followed him until they came to the place where the lion was1 and the lion said to them1 ,the tailor and his wife were here yesterday4 ,i saw them going by1 and if you will loose me now1 ,i am swifter than you1 and ,i will follow them until ,i overtake them4 ,when they heard that1 they released the lion4 ,the lion and the people of ,dublin went on1 and pursued the tailor1 until they came to the place where the fox was1 and the fox greeted them1 and said1 ,the tailor and his wife were here this morning1 and if you will loose me1 ,i am swifter than you1 and ,i will follow them1 and overtake them4 ,they therefore set the fox free4 ,the lion and the fox and the army of ,dublin went on then1 trying to catch the tailor1 and they kept going until they came to the place where the old white garraun was1 and the old white garraun told them that the tailor and his wife were there in the morning1 and ,loose me1 said he2 ,i am swifter than you1 and ,i'll overtake them4 ,they released the old white garraun then1 and the old white garraun1 the fox1 the lion1 and the army of ,dublin pursued the tailor and his wife1 and it was not long before they came up with them4 ,when the tailor saw them coming1 he got out of the coach with his wife1 and he sat down on the ground4 ,when the old white garraun saw the tailor sitting on the ground1 he said1 ,that's the position he was in when he made the hole for me1 that ,i couldn't get out of1 when ,i went down into it4 ,i'll go no nearer to him4 ,no6 said the fox1 but that's the way he was when he was making the thing for me1 and ,i'll go no nearer to him4 ,no6 says the lion1 but that's the very way he had1 when he was making the plough that ,i was caught in4 ,i'll go no nearer to him4 ,they all left him then and returned4 ,the tailor and his wife came home to ,galway4 ,,footnotes3 #cb ,from ,beside the ,fire1 ,douglas ,hyde 7,david ,nutt74 ,,how ,,the ,,sea ,,became ,,salt ,this story was told long ago by our ,northern forefathers who brought it with them in their dragon ships when they crossed the ,north ,sea to settle in ,england4 ,in those days men were apt to invent stories to account for things about them which seemed peculiar1 and loving the sea as they did1 it is not strange that they had remarked the peculiarity of the ocean water and had found a reason why it is so different from the water in the rivers and steams4 ,this is not the only story that has come down to tell us how people of old accounted for the sea being salt4 ,there are many such stories1 each different from the other1 all showing that the same childlike spirit of inquiry was at work in different places1 striving to find an answer to this riddle of nature4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there sprang from the sons of ,odin a race of men who became mighty kings of the earth1 and one of these1 named ,frode1 ruled over the lands that are called ,denmark4 ,now about this time were found in ,denmark two great millstones1 so large that no one had the strength to turn them4 ,so ,frode sent for all the wise men of the land and bade them examine the stones and tell him of what use they were1 since no one could grind with them4 ,and after the wise men had looked closely at them and read the magic letters which were cut upon their edge1 they said that the millstones were precious indeed1 since they would grind out of nothing anything that the miller might wish4 ,so ,king ,frode sent messengers over the world to find for him two servants who would be strong enough to grind with the millstones1 and after a long1 long time his messengers found him two maid-servants1 who were bigger and stronger than anyone in ,denmark had ever seen4 ,but no one guessed that these were really ,giant-,maidens who bore a grudge against all of the race of ,odin4 ,directly the ,giant-,maidens were brought before ,frode1 and before they had rested after their long journey1 or satisfied their hunger1 he bade them go to the mill1 and grind for him gold and peace and happiness4 ,they sang and swung ,the swift mill stone1 ,and with loud voice ,they made their moan4 ',we grind for ,frode ,wealth and gold ,abundant riches ,he shall behold4' ,presently ,frode came into the mill to see that the new servants were performing their task diligently4 ,and as he watched them from the shadow by the door1 the maidens stayed their grinding for a while to rest4 ,the greedy man could not bear to see even an instant's pause1 and he came out of the shadow1 and bade them1 with harsh words1 go on grinding1 and cease not except for so long as the cuckoo was silent1 or while he himself sang a song4 ,now it was early summer-time1 and the cuckoo was calling all the day and most of the night4 ,so the ,giant-,maidens waxed very wroth with ,king ,frode1 and as they resumed their labours they sang a song of the hardness of their lot in the household of this pitiless ,king4 ,they had been grinding out wealth and happiness and peace1 but now they bade the magic stones to grind something very different4 ,presently1 as the great stones moved round and round1 ,frode1 who still stood by1 heard one chant in a low1 sing-song voice1-- ,i see a fire east of the town--the curlews awake and sound a note of warning4 ,a host approaches in haste1 to burn the dwelling of the king4 ,and the next took up her song1-- ,no longer will ,frode sit on his throne1 and rule over rings of red gold and mighty millstones4 ,now must we grind with all our might--and1 behold6 red warriors come forth--and revenge1 and bloodshed1 and ruin4 ,then ,frode shook from head to foot in his terror1 for he heard the tramp of a mighty host of warriors advancing from the sea4 ,and as he looked for a way of escape1 the braces of the millstones broke with the strong grinding1 and fell in two4 ,and the whole world shook and trembled with the mighty shock of that breaking4 ,but through the crash and din came the voices of the ,giant-,maidens1 loudly chanting1-- ,we have turned the stone round2 ,though weary the maidens1 ,see what they have ground6 ,and that same night a mighty sea-king came up and slew ,frode and plundered his city4 ,when he had sacked the city1 the sea-king took on board his ship the two ,giant-,maidens1 and with them the broken millstones4 ,and he bade them begin at once to grind salt1 for of this he had very scanty store4 ,so they ground and ground2 and in the middle of the night1 being weary1 they asked the sea-king if he had not got salt enough4 ,but the sea-king was hard of heart1 like ,frode1 and he roughly bade them go on grinding4 ,and the maidens did so1 and worked to such effect that within a short time the millstones had ground out so much salt that the weight of it began to sink the ship4 ,down1 down it sank1 ship and giants and millstones1 and in that spot1 in the very middle of the ocean1 arose a whirlpool1 from whence the salt is carried north and south1 east and west1 throughout the waters of the earth4 ,and that is how the sea became salt4 ,,the ,,castle ,,of ,,fortune#cc ,one lovely summer morning1 just as the sun rose1 two travellers started on a journey4 ,they were both strong young men1 but one was a lazy fellow and the other was a worker4 ,as the first sunbeams came over the hills1 they shone on a great castle standing on the heights1 as far away as the eye could see4 ,it was a wonderful and beautiful castle1 all glistening towers that gleamed like marble1 and glancing windows that shone like crystal4 ,the two young men looked at it eagerly1 and longed to go nearer4 ,suddenly1 out of the distance1 something like a great butterfly1 of white and gold1 swept toward them4 ,and when it came nearer1 they saw that it was a most beautiful lady1 robed in floating garments as fine as cobwebs and wearing on her head a crown so bright that no one could tell whether it was of diamonds or of dew4 ,she stood1 light as air1 on a great1 shining1 golden ball1 which rolled along with her1 swifter than the wind4 ,as she passed the travellers1 she turned her face to them and smiled4 ,follow me6 she said4 ,the lazy man sat down in the grass with a discontented sigh4 ,she has an easy time of it6 he said4 ,but the industrious man ran after the lovely lady and caught the hem of her floating robe in his grasp4 ,who are you1 and whither are you going8 he asked4 ,i am the ,fairy of ,fortune1 the beautiful lady said1 and that is my castle4 ,you may reach it to-day1 if you will2 there is time1 if you waste none4 ,if you reach it before the last stroke of midnight1 ,i will receive you there1 and will be your friend4 ,but if you come one second after midnight1 it will be too late4 ,when she had said this1 her robe slipped from the traveller's hand and she was gone4 ,the industrious man hurried back to his friend1 and told him what the fairy had said4 ,the idea6 said the lazy1 man1 and he laughed2 of course1 if we had a horse there would be some chance1 but walk all that way8 ,no1 thank you6 ,then good-bye1 said his friend1 ,i am off4 ,and he set out1 down the road toward the shining castle1 with a good steady stride1 his eyes straight ahead4 ,the lazy man lay down in the soft grass1 and looked rather wistfully at the far-away towers4 ,if only ,i had a good horse6 he sighed4 ,just at that moment he felt something warm nosing about at his shoulder1 and heard a little whinny4 ,he turned round1 and there stood a little horse6 ,it was a dainty creature1 gentle-looking1 and finely built1 and it was saddled and bridled4 ,hello6 said the lazy man4 ,luck often comes when one isn't looking for it6 ,and in an instant he had leaped on the horse1 and headed him for the castle of fortune4 ,the little horse started at a fine pace1 and in a very few minutes they overtook the other traveller1 plodding along on foot4 ,how do you like shank's pony8 laughed the lazy man1 as he passed his friend4 ,the industrious man only nodded1 and kept on with his steady stride1 eyes straight ahead4 ,the horse kept his good pace1 and by noon the towers of the castle stood out against the sky1 much nearer and more beautiful4 ,exactly at noon1 the horse turned aside from the road1 into a shady grove on a hill1 and stopped4 ,wise beast1 said his rider3 'haste makes waste1' and all things are better in moderation4 ,i'll follow your example1 and eat and rest a bit4 ,he dismounted and sat down in the cool moss1 with his back against a tree4 ,he had a lunch in his traveller's pouch1 and he ate it comfortably4 ,then he felt drowsy from the heat and the early ride1 so he pulled his hat over his eyes1 and settled himself for a nap4 ,it will go all the better for a little rest1 he said4 ,that was a sleep6 ,he slept like the seven sleepers1 and he dreamed the most beautiful things you could imagine4 ,at last1 he dreamed that he had entered the castle of fortune and was being received with great festivities4 ,everything he wanted was brought to him1 and music played while fireworks were set off in his honour4 ,the music was so loud that he awoke4 ,he sat up1 rubbing his eyes1 and behold1 the fireworks were the very last rays of the setting sun1 and the music was the voice of the other traveller1 passing the grove on foot6 ,time to be off1 said the lazy man1 and looked about him for the pretty horse4 ,no horse was to be found4 ,the only living thing near was an old1 bony1 grey donkey4 ,the man called1 and whistled1 and looked1 but no little horse appeared4 ,after a long while he gave it up1 and1 since there was nothing better to do1 he mounted the old grey donkey and set out again4 ,the donkey was slow1 and he was hard to ride1 but he was better than nothing2 and gradually the lazy man saw the towers of the castle draw nearer4 ,now it began to grow dark2 in the castle windows the lights began to show4 ,then came trouble6 ,slower1 and slower1 went the grey donkey2 slower1 and slower1 till1 in the very middle of a pitch-black wood1 he stopped and stood still4 ,not a step would he budge for all the coaxing and scolding and beating his rider could give4 ,at last the rider kicked him1 as well as beat him1 and at that the donkey felt that he had had enough4 ,up went his hind heels1 and down went his head1 and over it went the lazy man on to the stony ground4 ,there he lay groaning for many minutes1 for it was not a soft place1 ,i can assure you4 ,how he wished he were in a soft1 warm bed1 with his aching bones comfortable in blankets6 ,the very thought of it made him remember the ,castle of ,fortune1 for he knew there must be fine beds there4 ,to get to those beds he was even willing to bestir his poor limbs1 so he sat up and felt about him for the donkey4 ,no donkey was to be found4 ,the lazy man crept round and round the spot where he had fallen1 scratched his hands on the stumps1 tore his face in the briers1 and bumped his knees on the stones4 ,but no donkey was there4 ,he would have laid down to sleep again1 but he could hear now the howls of hungry wolves in the woods2 that it did not sound pleasant4 ,finally1 his hand struck against something that felt like a saddle4 ,he grasped it1 thankfully1 and started to mount his donkey4 ,the beast he took hold of seemed very small1 and1 as he mounted1 he felt that its sides were moist and slimy4 ,it gave him a shudder1 and he hesitated2 but at that moment he heard a distant clock strike4 ,it was striking eleven6 ,there was still time to reach the castle of fortune1 but no more than enough2 so he mounted his new steed and rode on once more4 ,the animal was easier to sit on than the donkey1 and the saddle seemed remarkably high behind2 it was good to lean against4 ,but even the donkey was not so slow as this2 the new steed was slower than he4 ,after a while1 however1 he pushed his way out of the woods into the open1 and there stood the castle1 only a little way ahead6 ,all its windows were ablaze with lights4 ,a ray from them fell on the lazy man's beast1 and he saw what he was riding3 it was a gigantic snail6 a snail as large as a calf6 ,a cold shudder ran over the lazy man's body1 and he would have got off his horrid animal then and there1 but just then the clock struck once more4 ,it was the first of the long1 slow strokes that mark midnight6 ,the man grew frantic when he heard it4 ,he drove his heels into the snail's sides1 to make him hurry4 ,instantly1 the snail drew in his head1 curled up in his shell1 and left the lazy man sitting in a heap on the ground6 ,the clock struck twice4 ,if the man had run for it1 he could still have reached the castle1 but1 instead1 he sat still and shouted for a horse4 ,a beast1 a beast6 he wailed1 any kind of a beast that will take me to the castle6 ,the clock struck three times4 ,and as it struck the third note1 something came rustling and rattling out of the darkness1 something that sounded like a horse with harness4 ,the lazy man jumped on its back1 a very queer1 low back4 ,as he mounted1 he saw the doors of the castle open1 and saw his friend standing on the threshold1 waving his cap and beckoning to him4 ,the clock struck four times1 and the new steed began to stir2 as it struck five1 he moved a pace forward2 as it struck six1 he stopped2 as it struck seven1 he turned himself about2 as it struck eight1 he began to move backward1 away from the castle6 ,the lazy man shouted1 and beat him1 but the beast went slowly backward4 ,and the clock struck nine4 ,the man tried to slide off1 then1 but from all sides of his strange animal great arms came reaching up and held him fast4 ,and in the next ray of moonlight that broke the dark clouds1 he saw that he was mounted on a monster crab6 ,one by one1 the lights went out1 in the castle windows4 ,the clock struck ten4 ,backward went the crab4 ,eleven6 ,still the crab went backward4 ,the clock struck twelve6 ,then the great doors shut with a clang1 and the castle of fortune was closed for ever to the lazy man4 ,what became of him and his crab no one knows to this day1 and no one cares4 ,but the industrious man was received by the ,fairy of ,fortune1 and made happy in the castle as long as he wanted to stay4 ,and ever afterward she was his friend1 helping him not only to happiness for himself1 but also showing him how to help others1 wherever he went4 ,,footnotes3 #cc ,adapted from the ,german of ,der ,faule und der ,fleissige1 by ,robert ,reinick4 ,,david ,,and ,,goliath#cd ,a long time ago1 there was a boy named ,david1 who lived in a country in the ,far ,east4 ,he was good to look upon1 for he had fair hair and a ruddy skin2 and he was very strong and brave and modest4 ,he was shepherd-boy for his father1 and all day--often all night--he was out in the fields1 far from home1 watching over the sheep4 ,he had to guard them from wild animals1 and lead them to the right pastures1 and care for them4 ,by and by1 war broke out between the people of ,david's country and a people that lived near at hand2 these men were called ,philistines1 and the people of ,david's country were named ,israelites4 ,all the strong men of ,israel went up to the battle1 to fight for their king4 ,david's three older brothers went1 but he was only a boy1 so he was left behind to care for the sheep4 ,after the brothers had been gone some time1 ,david's father longed very much to hear from them1 and to know if they were safe2 so he sent for ,david1 from the fields1 and said to him1 ,take now for thy brothers an ephah of this parched corn1 and these ten loaves1 and run to the camp1 where thy brothers are2 and carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand1 and see how thy brothers fare1 and bring me word again4 7,an ephah is about three pecks47 ,david rose early in the morning1 and left the sheep with a keeper1 and took the corn and the loaves and the cheeses1 as his father had commanded him1 and went to the camp of the ,israelites4 ,the camp stood on a mountain on the one side1 and the ,philistines stood on a mountain on the other side2 and there was a valley between4 ,david came to the place where the ,israelites were1 just as the host was going forth to the fight1 shouting for the battle4 ,so he left his gifts in the hands of the keeper of the baggage1 and ran into the army1 amongst the soldiers1 to find his brothers4 ,when he found them1 he saluted them and began to talk with them4 ,but while he was asking them the questions his father had commanded1 there arose a great shouting and tumult among the ,israelites1 and men came running back from the front line of battle2 everything became confusion4 ,david looked to see what the trouble was1 and he saw a strange sight3 down the slope of the opposite mountain came striding a ,philistine warrior1 calling out something in a taunting voice2 he was a gigantic man1 the largest ,david had ever seen1 and he was covered with armour1 that shone in the sun3 he had a helmet of brass upon his head1 and he was armed with a coat of mail1 and he had greaves of brass upon his legs1 and a target of brass between his shoulders2 his spear was so tremendous that the staff of it was like a weaver's beam1 and his shield so great that a man went before him1 to carry it4 ,who is that8 asked ,david4 ,it is ,goliath1 of ,gath1 champion of the ,philistines1 said the soldiers about4 ,every day1 for forty days1 he has come forth1 so1 and challenged us to send a man against him1 in single combat2 and since no one dares to go out against him alone1 the armies cannot fight4 7,that was one of the laws of warfare in those times47 ,what6 said ,david1 does none dare go out against him8 ,as he spoke1 the giant stood still1 on the hillside opposite the host of ,israel1 and shouted his challenge1 scornfully4 ,he said1 ,why are ye come out to set your battle in array8 ,am ,i not a ,philistine1 and ye servants of ,saul8 ,choose you a man1 and let him come down to me4 ,if he be able to fight with me1 and to kill me1 then will we be your servants2 but if ,i prevail against him1 and kill him1 then shall ye be our servants1 and serve us4 ,i defy the armies of ,israel this day2 give me a man1 that we may fight together6 ,when ,king ,saul heard these words1 he was dismayed1 and all the men of ,israel1 when they saw the man1 fled from him and were sore afraid4 ,david heard them talking among themselves1 whispering and murmuring4 ,they were saying1 ,have ye seen this man that is come up8 ,surely if anyone killeth him that man will the king make rich2 perhaps he will give him his daughter in marriage1 and make his family free in ,israel6 ,david heard this1 and he asked the men if it were so4 ,it was surely so1 they said4 ,but1 said ,david1 who is this ,philistine1 that he should defy the armies of the living ,god8 ,and he was stirred with anger4 ,very soon1 some of the officers told the king about the youth who was asking so many questions1 and who said that it was shame upon ,israel that a mere ,philistine should defy the armies of the living ,god4 ,immediately ,saul sent for him4 ,when ,david came before ,saul1 he said to the king1 ,let no man's heart fail because of him2 thy servant will go and fight with this ,philistine4 ,but ,saul looked at ,david1 and said1 ,thou art not able to go against this ,philistine1 to fight with him1 for thou art but a youth1 and he has been a man of war from his youth4 ,then ,david said to ,saul1 ,once ,i was keeping my father's sheep1 and there came a lion1 and a bear1 and took a lamb out of the flock2 and ,i went out after the lion1 and struck him2 and delivered the lamb out of his mouth1 and when he arose against me1 ,i caught him by the beard1 and struck him1 and slew him6 ,thy servant slew both the lion and the bear2 and this ,philistine shall be as one of them1 for he hath defied the armies of the living ,god4 ,the ,lord1 who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear1 he will deliver me out of the hand of this ,philistine4 ,go1 said ,saul1 and the ,lord be with thee6 ,and he armed ,david with his own armour1--he put a helmet of brass upon his head1 and armed him with a coat of mail4 ,but when ,david girded his sword upon his armour1 and tried to walk1 he said to ,saul1 ,i cannot go with these1 for ,i am not used to them4 ,and he put them off4 ,then he took his staff in his hand and went and chose five smooth stones out of the brook1 and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had2 and his sling was in his hand2 and he went out and drew near to the ,philistine4 ,and the ,philistine came on and drew near to ,david2 and the man that bore his shield went before him4 ,and when the ,philistine looked about and saw ,david1 he disdained him1 for ,david was but a boy1 and ruddy1 and of a fair countenance4 ,and he said to ,david1 ,am ,i a dog1 that thou comest to me with a cudgel8 ,and with curses he cried out again1 ,come to me1 and ,i will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air1 and to the beasts of the field4 ,but ,david looked at him1 and answered1 ,thou comest to me with a sword1 and with a spear1 and with a shield2 but ,i come to thee in the name of the ,lord of hosts1 the ,god of the armies of ,israel1 whom thou hast defied4 ,this day will the ,lord deliver thee into my hand1 and ,i will smite thee1 and take thy head from thee1 and ,i will give the carcasses of the host of the ,philistines this day unto the fowls of the air1 and to the wild beasts of the earth1 that all the earth may know that there is a ,god in ,israel6 ,and all this assembly shall know that the ,lord saveth not with sword and spear2 for the battle is the ,lord's1 and he will give you into our hands4 ,and then1 when the ,philistine arose1 and came1 and drew nigh to meet ,david1 ,david made haste and ran toward the army to meet the ,philistine4 ,and when he was a little way from him1 he put his hand in his bag1 and took from thence a stone1 and put it in his sling1 and slung it1 and smote the ,philistine in the forehead1 so that the stone sank into his forehead2 and he fell on his face to the earth4 ,and ,david ran1 and stood upon the ,philistine1 and took his sword1 and drew it out of its sheath1 and slew him with it4 ,then1 when the ,philistines saw that their champion was dead1 they fled4 ,but the army of ,israel pursued them1 and victory was with the men of ,israel4 ,and after the battle1 ,david was taken to the king's tent1 and made a captain over many men2 and he went no more to his father's house1 to herd the sheep1 but became a man1 in the king's service4 ,,footnotes3 #cd ,from the text of the ,revised ,version of the ,old ,testament1 with introduction and slight interpolations1 changes of order1 and omissions4 ,,the ,,shepherd',s ,,song ,david had many fierce battles to fight for ,king ,saul against the enemies of ,israel1 and he won them all4 ,then1 later1 he had to fight against the king's own soldiers1 to save himself1 for ,king ,saul grew wickedly jealous of ,david's fame as a soldier1 and tried to kill him4 ,twice1 when ,david had a chance to kill the king1 he forbore to harm him2 but even then1 ,saul continued trying to take his life1 and ,david was kept away from his home as if he were an enemy4 ,but when ,king ,saul died1 the people chose ,david for their king1 because there was no one so brave1 so wise1 or so faithful to ,god4 ,king ,david lived a long time1 and made his people famous for victory and happiness2 he had many troubles and many wars1 but he always trusted that ,god would help him1 and he never deserted his own people in any hard place4 ,after a battle1 or when it was a holiday1 or when he was very thankful for something1 ,king ,david used to make songs1 and sing them before the people4 ,some of these songs were so beautiful that they have never been forgotten4 ,after all these hundreds and hundred of years1 we sing them still2 we call them ,psalms4 ,often1 after ,david had made a song1 his chief musician would sing with him1 as the people gathered to worship ,god4 ,sometimes the singers were divided into two great choruses1 and went to the service in two processions2 then one chorus would sing a verse of ,david's song1 and the other procession would answer with the next1 and then both would sing together2 it was very beautiful to hear4 ,even now1 we sometimes do that with the songs of ,david in our churches4 ,one of his ,psalms that everybody loves is a song that ,david made when he remembered the days before he came to ,saul's camp4 ,he remembered the days and nights he used to spend in the fields with the sheep1 when he was just a shepherd-boy2 and he thought to himself that ,god had taken care of him just as carefully as he himself used to care for the little lambs4 ,it is a beautiful song2 ,i wish we knew the music that ,david made for it1 but we only know his words4 ,i will tell it to you now1 and then you may learn it1 to say for yourselves4 ,the ,lord is my shepherd2 ,i shall not want4 ,he maketh me to lie down in green pastures2 he leadeth me beside the still waters4 ,he restoreth my soul2 he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake4 ,yea1 though ,i walk through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will fear no evil3 for thou art with me2 thy rod and thy staff they comfort me4 ,thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies3 thou anointest my head with oil2 my cup runneth over4 ,surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life2 and ,i will dwell in the house of the ,lord for ever4 ,,the ,,hidden ,,servants#ce ,this is a legend about a hermit who lived long ago4 ,he lived high up on the mountainside in a tiny cave2 his food was roots and acorns1 a bit of bread given by a peasant1 or a cheese brought by a woman who wanted his prayers2 his work was praying1 and thinking about ,god4 ,for forty years he lived so1 preaching to the people1 praying for them1 comforting them in trouble1 and1 most of all1 worshipping in his heart4 ,there was just one thing he cared about3 it was to make his soul so pure and perfect that it could be one of the stones in ,god's great ,temple of ,heaven4 ,one day1 after the forty years1 he had a great longing to know how far along he had got with his work1--how it looked to the ,heavenly ,father4 ,and he prayed that he might be shown a man-- ,whose soul in the heavenly grace had grown ,to the selfsame measure as his own2 ,whose treasure on the celestial shore ,could neither be less than his nor more4 ,as he looked up from his prayer1 a white-robed angel stood in the path before him4 ,the hermit bowed before the messenger with great gladness1 for he knew that his wish was answered4 ,go to the nearest town1 the angel said1 and there1 in the public square1 you will find a mountebank 7a clown7 making the people laugh for money4 ,he is the man you seek2 his soul has grown to the selfsame stature as your own2 his treasure on the celestial shore is neither less than yours nor more4 ,when the angel had faded from sight1 the hermit bowed his head again1 but this time with great sorrow and fear4 ,had his forty years of prayer been a terrible mistake1 and was his soul indeed like a clown1 fooling in the market-place8 ,he knew not what to think4 ,almost he hoped he should not find the man1 and could believe that he had dreamed the angel vision4 ,but when he came1 after a long1 tiring walk to the village1 and the square1 alas6 there was the clown1 doing his silly tricks for the crowd4 ,the hermit stood and looked at him with terror and sadness1 for he felt that he was looking at his own soul4 ,the face he saw was thin and tired1 and though it kept a smile or a grin for the people1 it seemed very sad to the hermit4 ,soon the man felt the hermit's eyes2 he could not go on with his tricks4 ,and when he had stopped and the crowd had left1 the hermit went and drew the man aside to a place where they could rest2 for he wanted more than anything else on earth to know what the man's soul was like1 because what it was1 his was4 ,so1 after a little1 he asked the clown1 very gently1 what his life was1 what it had been4 ,and the clown answered1 very sadly1 that it was just as it looked1--a life of foolish tricks1 for that was the only way of earning his bread that he knew4 ,but have you never been anything different8 asked the hermit1 painfully4 ,the clown's head sank in his hands4 ,yes1 holy father1 he said1 ,i have been something else4 ,i was a thief6 ,i once belonged to the most wicked band of mountain robbers that ever tormented the land1 and ,i was as wicked as the worst4 ,alas6 ,the hermit felt that his heart was breaking4 ,was this how he looked to the ,heavenly ,father--like a thief1 a cruel mountain robber8 ,he could hardly speak1 and the tears streamed from his old eyes1 but he gathered strength to ask one more question4 ,i beg you1 he said1 if you have ever done a single good deed in your life1 remember it now1 and tell it to me2 for he thought that even one good deed would save him from utter despair4 ,yes1 one1 the clown said1 but it was so small1 it is not worth telling2 my life has been worthless4 ,tell me that one6 pleaded the hermit4 ,once1 said the man1 our band broke into a convent garden and stole away one of the nuns1 to sell as a slave or to keep for a ransom4 ,we dragged her with us over the rough1 long way to our mountain camp1 and set a guard over her for the night4 ,the poor thing prayed to us so piteously to let her go6 ,and as she begged1 she looked from one hard face to another1 with trusting1 imploring eyes1 as if she could not believe men could be really bad4 ,father1 when her eyes met mine something pierced my heart6 ,pity and shame leaped up1 for the first time1 within me4 ,but ,i made my face as hard and cruel as the rest1 and she turned away1 hopeless4 ,when all was dark and still1 ,i stole like a cat to where she lay bound4 ,i put my hand on her wrist and whispered1 ',trust me1 and ,i will take you safely home4' ,i cut her bonds with my knife1 and she looked at me to show that she trusted4 ,father1 by terrible ways that ,i knew1 hidden from the others1 ,i took her safe to the convent gate4 ,she knocked2 they opened2 and she slipped inside4 ,and1 as she left me1 she turned and said1 ',god will remember4' ,that was all4 ,i could not go back to the old bad life1 and ,i had never learned an honest way to earn my bread4 ,so ,i became a clown1 and must be a clown until ,i die4 ,no6 no6 my son1 cried the hermit1 and now his tears were tears of joy4 ,god has remembered2 your soul is in his sight even as mine1 who have prayed and preached for forty years4 ,your treasure waits for you on the heavenly shore just as mine does4 ,as yours8 ,father1 you mock me6 said the clown4 ,but when the hermit told him the story of his prayer and the angel's answer1 the poor clown was transfigured with joy1 for he knew that his sins were forgiven4 ,and when the hermit went home to his mountain1 the clown went with him4 ,he1 too1 became a hermit1 and spent his time in praise and prayer4 ,together they lived1 and worked1 and helped the poor4 ,and when1 after two years1 the man who had been a clown died1 the hermit felt that he had lost a brother more holy than himself4 ,for ten years more the hermit lived in his mountain hut1 thinking always of ,god1 fasting and praying1 and doing no least thing that was wrong4 ,then1 one day1 the wish once more came1 to know how his work was growing1 and once more he prayed that he might see a being-- ,whose soul in the heavenly grace had grown ,to the selfsame measure as his own2 ,whose treasure on the celestial shore ,could neither be less than his nor more4 ,once more his prayer was answered4 ,the angel came to him1 and told him to go to a certain village on the other side of the mountain1 and to a small farm in it1 where two women lived4 ,in them he should find two souls like his own1 in ,god's sight4 ,when the hermit came to the door of the little farm1 the two women who lived there were overjoyed to see him1 for everyone loved and honoured his name4 ,they put a chair for him on the cool porch1 and brought food and drink4 ,but the hermit was too eager to wait4 ,he longed greatly to know what the souls of the two women were like1 and from their looks he could see only that they were gentle and honest4 ,one was old1 and the other of middle age4 ,presently he asked them about their lives4 ,they told him the little there was to tell3 they had worked hard always1 in the fields with their husbands1 or in the house2 they had many children2 they had seen hard times1--sickness1 sorrow2 but they had never despaired4 ,but what of your good deeds1 the hermit asked1--what have you done for ,god8 ,very little1 they said1 sadly1 for they were too poor to give much4 ,to be sure1 twice every year1 when they killed a sheep for food1 they gave half to their poorer neighbours4 ,that is very good1 very faithful1 the hermit said4 ,and is there any other good deed you have done8 ,nothing1 said the older woman1 unless1 unless--it might be called a good deed---- ,she looked at the younger woman1 who smiled back at her4 ,what8 said the hermit4 ,still the woman hesitated2 but at last she said1 timidly1 ,it is not much to tell1 father1 only this1 that it is twenty years since my sister-in-law and ,i came to live together in the house2 we have brought up our families here2 and in all the twenty years there has never been a cross word between us1 or a look that was less than kind4 ,the hermit bent his head before the two women1 and gave thanks in his heart4 ,if my soul is as these1 he said1 ,i am blessed indeed4 ,and suddenly a great light came into the hermit's mind1 and he saw how many ways there are of serving ,god4 ,some serve him in churches and in hermits' cells1 by praise and prayer2 some poor souls who have been very wicked turn from their wickedness with sorrow1 and serve him with repentance2 some live faithfully and gently in humble homes1 working1 bringing up children1 keeping kind and cheerful2 some bear pain patiently1 for ,his sake4 ,endless1 endless ways there are1 that only the ,heavenly ,father sees4 ,and so1 as the hermit climbed the mountain again1 he thought1-- ,as he saw the star-like glow ,of light1 in the cottage windows far1 ,how many ,god's hidden servants are6 ,,footnotes3 #ce ,adapted1 with quotations1 from the poem in ,the ,hidden ,servants1 by ,francesca ,alexander4 ,,little ,,gottlieb#cf ,across the ,north ,sea1 in a country called ,germany1 lived a little boy named ,gottlieb4 ,his father had died when he was but a baby1 and although from early morning till late at night his mother sat plying her needle1 she found it difficult indeed to provide food and clothing and shelter for her little boy and herself4 ,gottlieb was not old enough to work1 but he would often sit on a small stool at his mother's feet and dream about the wonderful things he would do for his dear mother when he grew to be a man1 and she was comforted as she looked upon her boy1 and the thought that she was working for him often gave strength to her tired fingers4 ,but one night ,gottlieb saw that his mother was more than usually troubled4 ,every now and then she would sigh1 and a tear would trickle down her cheek4 ,the little boy had grown quick to read these signs of distress1 and he thought1 ,christmas will be here soon1 and dear mother is thinking of what a sad time it will be4 ,what would ,gottlieb have given to be able to comfort his mother6 ,he could only sit and brood1 while his young heart swelled and a lump rose in his throat at the thought that he could do nothing4 ,presently1 however1 a happy fancy came to him4 ,was not the ,christ ,child born on ,christmas ,day1 and did not ,he send good gifts to men on ,his birthday8 ,but then came the thought1 ,he will never find us4 ,our home is so mean and small4 ,it seemed foolish to hope1 but a boy is not long cast down1 and as ,gottlieb sat dreaming1 a happy inspiration came to him4 ,stealing softly from the room he took paper and pen1 for he had learnt to write1 and spelt out1 word after word1 a letter which he addressed to the ,christ ,child4 ,you may be sure that the postman was puzzled what to do with this letter when he sorted it out of the heap in the letter-box4 ,perhaps the ,burgomaster would know the right thing to do8 ,so the postman took the letter to the great burly man who lived in the big house and wore a gold chain round his neck4 ,the ,burgomaster opened the envelope1 and as he read the letter written in the trembling hand of a child1 tears came into his eyes4 ,but he spoke gruffly enough to the postman1 ,this must be a foolish boy2 a small one1 ,i have no doubt4 ,soon ,christmas morning dawned1 and ,gottlieb woke very early4 ,but others were up before him1 for1 to his surprise1 he saw a strange gentleman with his mother4 ,his wondering eyes soon perceived other unusual objects1 for the hearth was piled with wood1 and the table was loaded with food and dainties such as he had never even imagined4 ,gottlieb entered the room just as his mother threw herself at the stranger's feet to bless him for his generous goodness to the widow and orphan4 ,nay1 give me no thanks1 worthy dame1 said the visitor4 ,rather be grateful to your little son1 and to the good ,lord to whom he wrote for aid4 ,then he turned to ,gottlieb with a smile1 ,you see that although you wrote to the ,christ ,child1 your prayer for aid came only to the ,burgomaster4 ,the gifts you asked for are here1 but they come from my hand4 ,but ,gottlieb answered him humbly1 ,nay1 sir1 the ,christ ,child sent them1 for ,he put the thought in your heart4 ,,footnotes3 #cf ,adapted from the poem by ,phoebe ,gary1 in ,a ,treasury of ,verse1 ,part ,i41 ,m4,g4 ,edgar4 ,,how ,,the ,,fir ,,tree ,,became ,,the ,,christmas ,,tree#cg ,when you stand round the ,christmas tree and look longingly at the toys hanging from the prickly branches1 it does not occur to you to ask why it is always this particular tree that is so honoured at ,christmas4 ,the dark green ,fir looks so majestic when laden with bright toys and lit up by ,christmas candles1 that perhaps it is not easy to believe that it is the most modest of trees4 ,but so it is1 and because of its humility it was chosen to bear ,christmas gifts to the children4 ,this is the story3 ,when the ,christ ,child was born1 all people1 animals1 trees1 and other plants felt that a great happiness had come into the world4 ,and truly1 the ,heavenly ,father had sent with the ,holy ,babe ,his blessings of ,peace and ,goodwill to all4 ,every day people came to see the sweet ,babe1 bringing presents in their hands4 ,by the stable wherein lay the ,christ ,child stood three trees1 and as the people came and went under their spreading branches1 they thought that they1 too1 would like to give presents to the ,child4 ,said the ,palm1 ,i will choose my biggest leaf and place it as a fan beside the manger to waft soft air to the ,child4 ,and ,i1 said the ,olive1 ,i will sprinkle sweet-smelling oil over ,him4 ,what can ,i give to the ,child8 asked the ,fir4 ,you8 said the others4 ,you have nothing to offer4 ,your needles would prick the wee ,babe1 and your tears are sticky4 ,this made the poor ,fir very unhappy indeed1 and it said1 sadly1 ,yes1 you are right4 ,i have nothing that would be good enough to offer to the ,christ ,child4 ,now1 quite near to the trees had stood an ,angel1 who had heard all that had passed4 ,he was moved to pity the ,fir1 who was so lowly and without envy of the other trees1 and he resolved to help it4 ,high in the dark of the heavens the stars were beginning to twinkle1 and the ,angel begged some of the little ones to come down and rest upon the branches of the ,fir4 ,this they were glad to do1 and their silvery light shone among the branches just like ,christmas candles4 ,from where ,he lay the ,christ ,child could see the great dark evening world and the darker forms of the trees keeping watch1 like faithful guardians1 beside the open door of the stable2 and to its delight the ,fir ,tree saw the face of the ,babe illumined with a heavenly smile as ,he looked upon the twinkling lights4 ,the ,christ ,child did not forget the lovely sight1 and long afterward he bade that to celebrate ,his birthday there should be placed in every house a ,fir ,tree1 which might be lit up with candles to shine for the children as the stars shone for ,him on ,his first birthday4 ,was not the ,fir ,tree richly rewarded for its meekness8 ,surely there is no other tree that shines on so many happy faces6 ,,footnotes3 #cg ,from the ,german of ,hedwig ,levi4 ,,the ,,diamond ,,and ,,the ,,dewdrop#ch ,a costly ,diamond1 that had once sparkled in a lady's ring1 lay in a field amid tall grasses and oxeye daisies4 ,just above it1 was a big ,dewdrop that clung timidly to a nodding grass-blade4 ,overhead1 the blazing sun shone in all his noonday glory4 ,ever since the first pink blush of dawn1 the modest ,dewdrop had gazed fixedly down upon the rich gem1 but feared to address a person of such exalted consequence4 ,at last1 a large ,beetle1 during his rambles1 chanced to espy the ,diamond1 and he also recognised him to be some one of great rank and importance4 ,sire1 he said1 making a low bow1 permit your humble servant to offer you greeting4 ,tha--nks1 responded the ,diamond in languid tones of affectation4 ,as the ,beetle raised his head from his profound bow1 his gaze happened to alight upon the ,dewdrop4 ,a relative of yours1 ,i presume1 ,sire8 he remarked affably1 waving one of his feelers in the direction of the ,dewdrop4 ,the ,diamond burst into a rude1 contemptuous laugh4 ,quite too absurd1 ,i declare6 he exclaimed loftily4 ,but there1 what can you expect from a low1 grovelling beetle8 ,away1 sir1 pass on6 ,your very presence is distasteful to me4 ,the idea of placing ,,me upon the same level--in the same family1 as a low-born1 mean1 insignificant1 utterly valueless---- ,here the ,diamond fairly choked for breath4 ,but has he not beauty exactly like your own1 ,sire8 the ,beetle ventured to interpose1 though with a very timid air4 ,,beau--,,ty6 flashed the ,diamond1 with fine disdain--the impudent fellow merely apes and imitates ,,me4 ,however1 it is some small consolation to remember that ',imitation is the sincerest flattery4' ,but1 even allowing him to possess it1 mere beauty without rank is ridiculous and worthless4 ,a ,boat without water--a ,carriage1 but no horses--a ,well1 but never a winch3 such is beauty without rank and wealth6 ,there is no real worth apart from rank and wealth4 ,combine ,beauty1 ,rank1 and ,wealth1 and you have the whole world at your feet4 ,now you know the secret of the world worshipping ,,me4 ,and the ,diamond sparkled and gleamed with vivid1 violet flashes1 so that the ,beetle was glad to shade his eyes4 ,the poor ,dewdrop had listened silently to all that had passed1 and felt so wounded1 that at last he wished he never had been born4 ,slowly a bright tear fell and splashed the dust4 ,just then1 a ,skylark fluttered to the ground and eagerly darted his beak at the ,diamond4 ,alas6 he piped1 with a great sob of disappointment4 ,what ,i thought to be a precious dewdrop is only a worthless diamond4 ,my throat is parched for want of water4 ,i must die of thirst6 ,really8 ,the world will never get over your loss1 cruelly sneered the ,diamond4 ,but a sudden and noble resolve came to the ,dewdrop4 ,deeply did he repent his foolish wish4 ,he could now lay down his life that the life of another might be saved6 ,may ,i help you1 please8 he gently asked4 ,the ,lark raised his drooping head4 ,oh1 my precious1 precious friend1 if you will1 you can save my life6 ,open your mouth then4 ,and the ,dewdrop slid from the blade of grass1 tumbled into the parched beak1 and was eagerly swallowed4 ,ah--well1 well6 pondered the ,beetle as he continued his homeward way4 ,i've been taught a lesson that ,i shall not easily forget4 ,yes1 yes6 ,simple worth is far better than rank or wealth without modesty and unselfishness--and there is no true beauty where these virtues are absent6 ,,footnotes3 #ch ,by ,rev4 ,albert ,e4 ,sims4 ,transcriber's notes3 ,all words marked ,a in the original were presumed4 ,the text was not clear enough to make them out definitively4 ,marchen changed to ,maerchen to fit rest of text4 ,standarized punctuation4