Stories And Story-Telling - free ebook by Angela M. (Angela Mary) Keyes

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Stories And Story-Telling

Angela M. (Angela Mary) Keyes

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STORIES AND STORY-TELLING

STORIES AND STORY-TELLING

STORIES AND STORY-TELLING BY ANGELA M. KEYES Head of the Department of English, Brooklyn Training School for Teachers NEW YORK AND LONDON D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1916 Copyright, 1911, by D. Appleton and Company Printed in the United States of America...

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PREFACE

PREFACE

All the stories in this book have been tested with children. Favorites easily available in other collections have been omitted. The seventy-five or more very short stories, intended to help young children to express their observations, experiences, and fancies, have been included at the request of many teachers. The writer hopes that by providing the busy teacher with “tellable” stories, she may help to win for story-telling the dignity of established scholastic place. With high esteem and full

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Kinds of Stories to Tell

Kinds of Stories to Tell

We appear to be coming to the agreement that we should tell the children many of the old, old stories and some of the new, many stories from the world of the imagination, some from the real world; stories that will aid them in interpreting their world, themselves, other children, some grown-ups, nature; stories that will direct aright the imagination, the sympathies, and the taste; playful stories and more serious, sensible and nonsensical; short stories and longer; stories to be told over and o

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The Principles of the Art of Telling Stories

The Principles of the Art of Telling Stories

Story-telling is one of the most spontaneous of the social arts. Yet it is an art, governed by at least partially discerned principles. Analysis of them will be helpful to the story-teller, but only in so far as he grasps the fundamental principle that story telling among the speech arts, like wood-carving among the manual arts, indeed, even to a greater degree, must be kept what it is by nature, apparently without art, naïve and unelaborate....

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Getting the Story

Getting the Story

The story-teller must wholly take into himself the life of which he speaks, must let it live and operate in himself freely. — Froebel. The story-teller must himself possess the story before attempting to give it to another. This sounds obvious, but it is not granted in practice. Much poor schoolroom story-telling is evidently “unprepared.” People born with a natural turn for story-telling, and those who in their childhood heard real story-telling, need to make less preparation than others; but a

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Telling the Story

Telling the Story

This is truly the stage of creation. No matter how familiar you made yourself with the story in the privacy of your studio, you will now find happening something surprising. The story will come to your own ears and stand revealed to your imagination with the joy of discovery. The truth is, it was made to be shared with another, and you hadn’t it at all until you gave it away. What spontaneity rewards you! How you find yourself rising to the occasion—your own latent capabilities, the expanding po

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The Child’s Part in Story-Telling

The Child’s Part in Story-Telling

Let us tabulate some of the things the child naturally does as his part in story-telling. The table will be incomplete, but it may be suggestive. What is the child’s part in story-telling? (1) It is listening. (2) It is remaining silent. (3) It is commenting. (4) It is joining in. (5) It is re-telling. (6) It is partial re-telling. (7) It is telling other stories. (8) It is inventing stories. (9) It is expressing sometimes story images in other media. (10) It is sometimes playing the stories. (1

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THE FAIRY HORSESHOE

THE FAIRY HORSESHOE

At midnight a long time ago an honest hard-working blacksmith heard someone in his shop hammering, hammering, hammering, for all the world like another blacksmith making a shoe. But the sound was very quick and light, more like tapping, tapping, tapping. And all the time, whoever it was was whistling the prettiest tune you ever heard, and singing between times: The blacksmith listened and thought, and listened and thought, and listened and thought. Then he sprang out of bed on tiptoe, crying sof

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THE MOUSE AND THE SAUSAGE

THE MOUSE AND THE SAUSAGE

Once upon a time a little mouse and a little sausage, who loved each other like sisters, decided to live together. They planned it so that every day one would go to walk in the fields, or to buy things in the town, and the other would stay at home to keep the house. One day, when the little sausage had prepared cabbage for dinner, the little mouse, who had come back from town with a good appetite, enjoyed it so heartily that she exclaimed: “How delicious the cabbage is to-day, my dear!” “Ah!” an

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THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOY AND THE LITTLE DOG

THE STORY OF THE LITTLE BOY AND THE LITTLE DOG

There was a little boy and there was a little dog. The two lived together and loved each other, and where one went the other followed. Now, all of a sudden, the little boy and his nurse moved away to another city, far, far off. This puzzled the little boy so much that for once he forgot the little dog. When he remembered him, it was the middle of the night. But, for all that, he got up and waked his nurse to ask her where the little dog could be. The nurse rubbed her sleepy eyes and said, Then s

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THE STORY OF THE TWO CAKES WHO LOVED EACH OTHER IN SILENCE

THE STORY OF THE TWO CAKES WHO LOVED EACH OTHER IN SILENCE

On the shop counter lay two gingerbread cakes. One was the shape of a man with a hat, the other of a maiden without a bonnet. Both their faces were on the side that was turned up, for they were to be looked at on that side, and not on the other. On the left the man wore a bitter almond—that was his heart. The maiden was honey-cake all over. As they were only samples, they stayed on the counter a long time. And, at last, they fell in love with each other. But neither told the other, as should hav

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HOW THE ROOSTER BUILT A HOUSE OF HIS OWN

HOW THE ROOSTER BUILT A HOUSE OF HIS OWN

One spring day a young rooster set out on his two stout legs to build a house of his own. On he went, a long, long way, and a long, long way farther, and a long, long way farther than that. Then he lifted up his voice and flapped his wings and crowed, At this out from somewhere stepped a bonny, wee white hen and fared along beside him. On went the young rooster and the bonny, wee white hen a long, long way, and a long, long way farther, and a long, long way farther than that. Then the young roos

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

( Arranged as a continued story ) Once a woman wished she had a very little child, but she did not know where to get one. So she went to an old witch and said, “I wish I had a very little child. Can you tell me where I might get one?” “Oh, that I can easily,” said the old witch. “Here is a barleycorn for you. It is not the kind that grows in everyone’s field and the chickens eat. Put it into a flower pot, and you shall see what you shall see.” “Thank you,” said the woman, and she gave the witch

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

One night as Thumbelina lay sleeping in her pretty walnut-shell cradle, there came creeping through the open window an old Toad. He hopped straight down the table where Thumbelina lay. “Ah, she would make a lovely wife for my son,” said he. So he picked up the cradle with Thumbelina in it, and hopped through the window and down the garden to the brook. Here he lived with his son. “What do you say to her for your bride, my son?” said he. “Croak! croak! brek-kek-kek!” was all the son could say. “H

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

Thumbelina sailed by many cities, and the little birds who sat in the bushes saw her, and said, “What a lovely little girl!” A white butterfly fluttered round her and at last alighted on the leaf with her. Thumbelina was glad of his company; she took her girdle and tied one end of it around the butterfly and the other to the leaf. On she went, faster than ever now. Soon there came a big May-bug flying toward her. When he saw her he thought her so pretty he clasped his claws round her waist, and

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

The whole summer through Thumbelina lived quite alone in the great wood. She wove herself a bed out of blades of grass, and hung it up under a shamrock to be sheltered from the rain. She scooped the honey out of the flowers for food, and she drank the dew that stood every morning on the leaves. So summer and autumn passed. Now came the winter, the long cold winter. All the sweet birds who used to sing to her flew away. The trees and flowers lost their leaves. The great shamrock she lived under s

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

One day when Thumbelina had tidied the house and made it look as neat as a new pin, she sat down to chat with the field-mouse. “My dear,” said the field-mouse, “we shall soon have a visit from my neighbor, the mole. He comes to see me once a week. Do you know, he would make you a good husband. He is rich. He lives in a much larger house than mine, and wears beautiful black velvet fur. When he comes you must tell him the prettiest stories you know.” And, sure enough, the mole came to see them, dr

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

Well, the mole had dug a long passage through the earth from his house to the field-mouse’s, and he told Thumbelina and the field-mouse they might walk in the passage whenever they chose. “Don’t be afraid of the dead bird lying there,” said he; “come with me and I’ll show you where it is.” He led the way with a bit of rotted wood in his mouth to light up the long dark passage. When he came to the place, he thrust his broad nose through the ceiling to make a hole so that the daylight might shine

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

“My dear,” said the field-mouse one day after the mole had paid her a visit, “the mole has asked me to give you to him for his wife. You are very fortunate, a poor child like you. You must be ready to marry him as soon as possible. Set to work at once on your wedding-dress.” So Thumbelina had to turn the spindle to make herself not only a wedding-dress but plenty of wool and linen, for the field-mouse said she would not have her go to the mole empty-handed, as if she were a beggar-girl. And the

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THUMBELINA

THUMBELINA

In the warm countries the sun shone so bright that in the ditches and on the hedges grew big juicy blue and green grapes, lemons and oranges hung in the woods, and the loveliest children ran about the roads chasing gorgeous butterflies. The swallow flew on until he came to a great palace with dazzling white marble pillars. “My house is at the top of one of those pillars,” said he, “but it is not good enough for you. It is not yet so well furnished as I should like it to be if you were to live in

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A VISIT FROM AN ELF

A VISIT FROM AN ELF

One evening, as a farmer was crossing a field to his home, what should he see sitting on a stone in the middle of it but a tiny creature! The little thing looked something like a very, very, very small, teeny, weeny, tiny little child. And it was blue and shivering with cold. The farmer saw that it must be an elf. He knew it would bring him good luck to be kind to it. Besides, he pitied it from his heart. So he took it home and placed it on a stool by the hearth, and fed it with sweet milk. Soon

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HOW THE CAT GOT ALL THE GRAIN

HOW THE CAT GOT ALL THE GRAIN

Once upon a time a Cat and a Parrot owned a field together. One day the Cat said to the Parrot, “Come, friend, ’tis time to till the field.” Said the Parrot, “I can’t come now, because I am whetting my bill on the branch of a mango-tree.” So the Cat went alone and plowed the field. When it was plowed the Cat went again to the Parrot and said, “Come, friend, let us sow the corn.” So the Cat went alone and sowed the corn. The corn took root, and sprouted, and put forth the blade, and the ear, and

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THE TABLE AND THE CHAIR

THE TABLE AND THE CHAIR

— Edward Lear...

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THE WONDERFUL SHIP

THE WONDERFUL SHIP

“Once upon a time,” said the stork, “and a very good time it was, there was a ship, a wonderful ship that could sail on land, dry land.” “Oh!” said the chicks. “This wonderful ship went on legs,” said the stork. “Long legs.” “Oh!” said the chicks and the ducklings. “It had a head, and a neck that came down and went up like a hook,” said the stork, “a big hook.” “Oh!” said the chicks and the ducklings and the little turkeys. “It had a hump on its back,” said the stork, “a hump or two.” “Oh!” said

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THE CLEVER GEESE

THE CLEVER GEESE

A long, long time ago when there were more foxes’ dens than cats’ cradles, there lived a very sly fox. Every evening this sly fox sneaked up through the tall grass and weeds and around the tree-trunks, pounced upon a plump young goose, and carried it off to his den. First, he had one hidden away, then two, then three, then four, then five, then six, and by and by as many more. Well, when he had a round dozen, he called them before him in a circle, fixed them with his bold sharp eyes, and said, “

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THE HAPPY PRINCE

THE HAPPY PRINCE

( Especially suitable in winter season ) High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt. “Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince?” asked a mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. “The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.” “I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy,” muttered a disappoin

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THE DWARF ROOTS’ STORY OF THE PUMPKIN SEED

THE DWARF ROOTS’ STORY OF THE PUMPKIN SEED

Did you ever hear the story of the Pumpkin Seed that made a feast of his insides, and found his outsides changed most surprisingly, and went down a pig’s throat and was happy? Ever since it happened the Dwarf Roots, who live below the ground, tell it to the pumpkin seeds. They say they heard it from the wind one day when the farmer’s spade laid the ground open and let the wind in. And the wind says he heard the farm children’s grandmother tell it. And she says she heard it from her grandmother.

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A HORSE’S STORY

A HORSE’S STORY

Here is a story told by Black Beauty, as pretty a little horse as ever wore a white star on his forehead. One day late in the autumn my master had a long journey to go on business. I was put to the dog-cart, and John, the coachman, drove. There had been a great deal of rain, and now the wind was very high and blew the dry leaves across the road in a shower. We went along merrily till we came to the toll-bar and the low wooden bridge. The river banks were rather high, and the bridge, instead of r

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A BEWITCHED DONKEY

A BEWITCHED DONKEY

There was once a little donkey who lived with a little old woman and her tabby cat and her rooster and his hens and their chicks in a little cottage out in the country. Every morning, after cropping the dewy grass, the little donkey used to poke his head in at the cottage window, as much as to say, “It’s time we were off,” and the little old woman used to say, “I’ll be with you in two shakes of Tabby’s tail.” Presently out she would bring two baskets of fresh-laid eggs from the hens and hang the

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THE STRAW, THE COAL, AND THE BEAN

THE STRAW, THE COAL, AND THE BEAN

( Tell with stick-figure blackboard illustrations. ) In a village there lived an old woman who one day gathered some beans from her garden to cook. She had a good fire on the hearth, but, to make it burn more quickly, she threw on a handful of straw. As she threw the beans into the pot to boil, one of them fell on the floor unseen by the old woman, not far from a wisp of straw. Suddenly a glowing coal bounced out of the fire, and fell close to them. They both started away, and exclaimed, “Dear f

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MOTHER HOLLE

MOTHER HOLLE

There was once a widow who had two daughters. One of them was pretty and industrious, but the other was ugly and idle. Now the mother was much fonder of the ugly and idle one, because this was her own daughter. She made the other do all the work, and be the Cinderella of the house. Every day the poor girl had to sit by a well, in the highway, and spin and spin till her fingers bled. One day as she worked the shuttle got marked with her blood, so she dipped it into the well, to wash the mark off.

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

( Arranged as a continued story ) Long, long ago, when good King Arthur ruled in Britain, there lived a magician named Merlin. He could change himself into anything he chose, and one day when he had changed himself into a beggar he stopped at a plowman’s cottage to ask for food. “Come in, poor fellow,” cried the plowman, “there’s always a bite for another.” And the plowman’s wife set on the table a bowl of milk and a platter heaped with sweet brown bread. Merlin was greatly pleased with the good

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

But as he got older he grew to be full of tricks. He used to play cherry-stones with the boys. When he had lost all his own stones, he would creep slyly into his playmates’ bags, quickly fill his pockets with their stones, creep out unseen, and join again in the game. One day as he did this the boy who owned the bag caught him at it. “Ah, ha! my little Tommy,” he cried, “at last I have caught you stealing my cherry-stones. I’ll teach you to stop that.” And he quickly drew the string, shutting To

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

A short time afterwards Tom’s mother was making a batter pudding for supper, and inquisitive little Tom must of course see how it was made. So he climbed up to the edge of the bowl; but unfortunately his foot slipped and in he plumped, head and ears, into the batter. His mother, poor woman, never caught sight nor light of him, so she stirred him into the batter and put it into the pot to boil. Now, the batter had filled Tom’s mouth and kept him from crying out to his mother. But when he felt the

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

Well, soon after the batter pudding mischief, Tom’s mother went to milk her cow in the meadow, and she took Tom along with her. As the wind was strong she was afraid he might be blown away, so she took out of her pocket a piece of fine thread and tied him to a thistle. Then she set about milking the cow. It wasn’t long before the cow caught sight of Tom’s oak leaf hat, and thrusting out her tongue she took in poor Tom and the thistle at a mouthful. Tom was terrified. But while the cow was chewin

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

One day when Tom went into the fields to drive the cattle with a whip of barley straw his father had given him, he slipped and rolled into one of the furrows. A raven flying overhead picked him up and flew with him to the top of a giant’s castle near the sea, and there left him. Tom did not know what to do. But this was not the worst of it. He heard a heavy tread, tramp! tramp! and out strode Grumbo, the giant who owned the castle. He saw Tom, picked him up and gulped him down in a twinkling, as

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

One day King Arthur asked Tom about his parents, whether they were as small as Tom, and whether they were rich or poor. Tom told the king his father and mother were as tall as any of the people at court but they were poor. At this the king took Tom into the treasury and told him to take home to his parents as much money as he could carry. Tom capered for joy. He ran off to get a purse, and into this he stuffed a silver threepenny piece. He had some trouble hoisting the bag of money on his back,

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

Well, Tom was never tired making fun for the king and queen and all the court. The courtiers laughed till their sides ached at his antics, and the king said to the queen, “Did you ever see the like?” And she said, “No, never!” But he did so much, he at last made himself ill. The whole court was filled with sorrow, for everyone feared the little fellow would die. The king came constantly to his bedside to ask how he was, and brought his cleverest physicians to cure him. But they could not. In the

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

Now, just as Tom came flying back to King Arthur’s court, the cook happened to be passing with the king’s great bowl of frumenty, a dish the king was very fond of. Unfortunately the little fellow fell plump into the middle of it, splashing the hot frumenty in the cook’s face. The cook, in a rage at Tom for frightening and scalding him, ran to tell the king that Tom had jumped into his Majesty’s favorite dish out of idle mischief. The king’s anger was terrible. He ordered Tom to be seized and tri

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

To reward Tom for his services to the court, the king made him a knight. He told Tom to kneel down. Then he struck him with his sword and said, “With this sword I dub thee knight. Arise, Sir Thomas Thumb.” As Tom’s clothes had suffered in the batter pudding, the frumenty, and the insides of the giant, the miller, and the fishes, the king ordered that the new knight should be given a handsome suit of clothes and a horse and sword. How proud Tom was and how splendid he looked! You shall hear about

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

Soon after, the queen of the fairies came to pay Tom a visit, and when she left she took Tom back with her to fairyland. There he stayed several years. While he was gone King Arthur and the queen and all the knights who knew Tom died, so when he came back he found a new king reigning, King Thunstone. All the courtiers flocked about the mannikin, and asked him who he was, and whence he came, and where he lived. Tom answered, The king was so charmed with this speech that he at once made Tom court

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TOM THUMB

TOM THUMB

But Tom did not live much longer. A large spider one day attacked him. Tom drew his sword and fought well, but at last the spider’s poisonous breath overcame him. Well, of course he had to die some time. King Thunstone and his whole court were so sorry that they went into mourning for him, and over his grave they raised a white marble monument. And the king’s engraver wrote this on it: — English folk tale...

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THE TWO BROTHERS

THE TWO BROTHERS

Once upon a time there were two brothers. Each had ten loaves of bread and nothing else. So they said, “Let us go and seek our fortune.” And they went. When they had gone a little way they were hungry. One brother said to the other, “Come, let us eat thy bread first, then we shall eat mine.” So they did and went on their way. When they had gone farther they were hungry again. The first brother said again to the other, “Come, let us eat thy bread, then we shall eat mine.” They did and went on the

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THE WOOING

THE WOOING

One morning bright and early a young cock from the next farm stepped into the barnyard where lived a certain young chick. “Good day, Father Rooster,” said he. “Many thanks, young sir,” said Father Rooster. “I’ve come a-wooing. May I have your fair daughter Peep for my bride?” “Ask Mother Hen, Brother Bantam, Sister Cluck, and fair Peep herself; and then we’ll see,” said Father Rooster. “Where is Mother Hen?” “She is sitting in the hay hatching her eggs.” “Good day, Mother Hen,” said he. “Many th

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JACK-THE-GIANT-KILLER

JACK-THE-GIANT-KILLER

When good King Arthur ruled the land, there lived near Land’s End in England, in a place called Cornwall, a farmer who had an only son named Jack. Jack was wide awake and ready of wit, so that nobody and nothing could worst him. In those days the Mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge giant named Cormoran. He was so fierce and frightful to look at that he was the terror of all the neighboring towns and villages. He lived in a cave in the side of the mount, and whenever he wanted food he waded over

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THE PIXIES’ THANKS

THE PIXIES’ THANKS

Once upon a time, and a long time ago, and a long, long time before that, a little old woman had a garden. And in this garden she planted a beautiful bed of tulips. The slim green stalks of them stood in the earth, tall and straight. And every other row of lovely cups they held was red and every other was yellow. At twilight the little old woman patted down the last of them, and went in to boil the kettle for her tea. Now, as soon as she was gone there came peeping and tripping from the field ne

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THE CAT AND THE PARROT

THE CAT AND THE PARROT

Once there was a cat and once there was a parrot. They agreed to invite each other to dinner, turn and turn about. The cat should ask the parrot to-day, and the parrot should ask the cat to-morrow. Well, it was the cat’s turn first. The cat went to market and bought nothing but a pennyworth of rice. The parrot could make no dinner on this meager fare. And what is more, the cat was so ill-mannered that he actually made the parrot cook the food himself. Of course the parrot was too well-bred to co

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LAMPBLACK

LAMPBLACK

A poor black paint lay very unhappy in its tube. It had tumbled out of an artist’s color-box and had lain unnoticed for a year. “I am only Lampblack,” he said to himself. “The master never looks at me: he says I am heavy, dull, lusterless, useless. I wish I could cake and dry up and die, as poor Flakewhite did.” But Lampblack could not die; he could only lie in his tin tube and pine, like a silly, sorrowful thing as he was, in company with some broken bits of charcoal and a rusty palette-knife.

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LAZY JACK

LAZY JACK

Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack. His mother was very poor, but she was hard-working and tried to get her living by spinning. Jack was so lazy he never did anything to help her. So, at last, she said that he should not eat his porridge unless he earned it. At this out shuffled Jack and hired himself to a farmer and got for his day’s labor a shining new penny. Home he went with it, but on the way let it slip out of his fingers into a brook, unknown to himself. When his mother

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THE TIME THAT WILL COME AGAIN

THE TIME THAT WILL COME AGAIN

One warm bright day in autumn, when the whole world was changing to brown and red and gold, a little squealing pig was sent by his mother to bring home some beechnuts to Piggikin, the baby. “They’re dropping now, tender and sweet, in the wood,” said Mother Sow. “Off with you and get some.” So Now, on the way he passed a boy and a girl sitting by the roadside, with their backs to him. And the boy was saying to the girl, “That’s very strange,” said the pig; “can it be true? I’ll ask the old witch

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THE OWL’S ANSWER TO TOMMY

THE OWL’S ANSWER TO TOMMY

One evening Tommy’s grandmother had been telling him and his little brother Johnny a story about a brownie who used to do all the work in a neighbor’s house before the family got up in the morning. But the maids caught sight of him one night, and they felt so sorry to see his ragged coat that the next night they laid near his bowl of bread and milk a new suit and a new linen shirt. Brownie put the things on and danced around the room, singing, And away he danced through the door and never came b

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THE STORY OF COQUERICO

THE STORY OF COQUERICO

Hear the story of this one. He was a queer-looking little creature. He came out in the brood of a handsome black Spanish hen. All his brothers and sisters were as pretty as you would see in a day’s walk, but he was very odd-looking. He had only one good eye, one good wing, and one good leg to carry him about, hippety-hop, hippety-hop. When his mother saw he was crippled, she at once loved him best, and gave him the splendid name of Coquerico. But hear about him. Maybe you think a one-eyed, one-a

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THE SCARECROW

THE SCARECROW

Once upon a time there was an old black crow, as old as the hills. And once there was a scarecrow, brand new to his business. The scarecrow was made of a corn stalk wearing the farmer’s cast-off hat and coat. The very first day he took up his post in the cornfield, the old black crow, flying over, laughed at his disguise. The scarecrow kept his temper and said nothing, and this looks as if he were clever. For the old crow had to take herself off without knowing what he was thinking of. Now the s

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OEYVIND AND MARIT

OEYVIND AND MARIT

There was once a boy named Oeyvind who lived in a hut at the foot of a steep rocky hill. On the roof of the hut walked a little goat. It was Oeyvind’s own. Oeyvind kept it there so that it should not go astray, and he carried up leaves and grass to it. But one fine day the goat leaped down, and away it went up the hill until it came where it never had been before. When Oeyvind ran out of the hut after dinner, he missed his little goat and at once thought of the fox. He looked all about, calling,

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BLUNDER

BLUNDER

Blunder was going to the Wishing-Gate, to wish for a pair of Shetland Ponies, and a little coach, like Tom Thumb’s. And of course you may have your wish, if you once get there. But the thing is, to find it; for it is not, as you imagine, a great gate, with a tall marble pillar on each side, and a sign over the top, like this, WISHING-GATE,—but just an old stile, made of three sticks. Put up two fingers, cross them on the top with another finger, and you have it exactly,—the way it looks, I mean,

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THE GOLDEN PEARS

THE GOLDEN PEARS

There was once a poor peasant of Bürs who had nothing in the world but three sons, and a pear-tree that grew in front of his cottage. But the pears were very fine, and the Kaiser was fond of the fruit, so he said to his sons, one day, that he would send the Kaiser a basket as a present. “Perhaps,” said he, “if the fruit please him he may help me and mine.” He plaited a krattle, or basket, and lined it with fresh leaves. Then he gathered the finest pears from the tree, large ones as yellow as gol

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THE PUPPY’S BARK

THE PUPPY’S BARK

Our puppy is so little that he can hardly stand up. But he wants the kitten to think him a big dog. So the other day he steadied himself on his legs and tried to give a loud bark. “Bow wow,” he said. And down he tumbled....

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WHITE KITTEN

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WHITE KITTEN

Once when a white kitten spied the tip of her tail, she tried to catch it. Round and round she went so fast that she turned into a white ball. But, of course, the tail went as fast as she did, so she couldn’t catch up with it. Soon she grew so dizzy that she had to stop. There she was back again, a sensible white kitten....

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A CONCEITED GRASSHOPPER

A CONCEITED GRASSHOPPER

The other day a very young grasshopper and an old rooster were out in the field together. “I can jump higher than anyone in this field,” cried the grasshopper. The rooster said nothing, but opened his mouth as if he meant to yawn. “Here I go,” cried the grasshopper, and she jumped so high that she landed in the rooster’s mouth. The rooster gobbled her up. And that was the end of her and her boasting....

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THE MOUSE’S ESCAPE

THE MOUSE’S ESCAPE

A little gray mouse lived in a hole in our kitchen closet. One day she smelled some cheese. “M-m,” she said, “how delicious!” She peeped out to see whether Tom, our cat, was in the kitchen. He wasn’t. Out she stole, sniffed about, and found the cheese. Just as she began to nibble it, along came Tom. The little mouse darted back into her safe hole....

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WHAT THE WHITE HEN DID FOR THE WORLD

WHAT THE WHITE HEN DID FOR THE WORLD

One morning the white hen went into the barn. The rooster saw her go, but he didn’t stop her. After a few minutes out she came, clucking to the whole world, “Cut-cut-cut-cut-cadah-cut! Cut-cut-cut-cut-cadah-cut!” And the whole world as well as the rooster knew she had laid an egg....

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THE GOLDEN GOOSE

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

Once a man owned a wonderful goose. Every morning when he said, “Lay,” it laid a golden egg. By and by the man grew so greedy that he wanted all the golden eggs at once. So he cut open the goose. There wasn’t one egg in it. And, of course, the goose couldn’t lay any more eggs now. The foolish man had killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. — Æsop...

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THE MOON AND HER MOTHER

THE MOON AND HER MOTHER

( This story may be accompanied by blackboard sketches of the phases of the moon. ) One day the moon asked her mother for a cloak that would fit her well. “How can I make a cloak that will fit you?” answered the mother. “You are always changing your size. One day you are a new moon. Another day you are a full moon. And another day you are neither.” So the little moon has to go without a cloak. — Old fable...

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MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKENS

MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKENS

One day in winter the snowflakes came down as soft and light and white as feathers. The little children looking out at the window sang, Down fell the snowflakes, thick and fast, and more and more and more, till they made a snowstorm. When they were all down the children brought out their sleds, and away they went coasting on Mother Carey’s chickens’ feathers....

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THE STORY OF THE WEE, WEE BONE

THE STORY OF THE WEE, WEE BONE

Once a wee, wee girl came across a wee, wee dog scratching a wee, wee hole to bury a wee, wee bone. When the wee, wee dog had buried the wee, wee bone, he trotted off on his wee, wee legs. And when he had gone a wee, wee way, the wee, wee girl dug her wee, wee fingers into the wee, wee hole, and took away the wee, wee bone. But the wee, wee dog smelled her out with his wee, wee nose and said, “Give me back my wee, wee bone; you can’t eat it and I can.” The wee, wee girl wouldn’t. Then the wee, w

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THE MISSING LAMB

THE MISSING LAMB

One evening a shepherd was turning away from the fold when one of the sheep bleated mournfully. “Is thy lamb missing, poor mother?” asked the shepherd. Just then he heard a loud bark, and there half a field away was Carlo, his dog, guiding home a frightened lamb. The little creature had strayed away from her mother to find the very sweetest bits of sheep sorrel. “Bow wow, master,” called Carlo, “don’t close up yet.” “Ba-a-a, ba-a-a-a,” cried the little lamb, “dear mother, where are you?” The mot

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THE ANT AND THE DOVE

THE ANT AND THE DOVE

Once an ant went to the bank of a river to quench her thirst. As she stooped to the water she fell in and was nearly drowned. A dove perched on a tree overhanging the river saw her and quickly dropped down a leaf to her. The ant climbed up on the leaf and it floated to the bank. She went ashore, safe and sound. Not long after this, a bird catcher stepped softly up to the tree to set a snare to catch the dove. The ant saw him and quickly stung him in the foot. The bird catcher’s cry at the pain s

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THE BOY AND THE NUTS

THE BOY AND THE NUTS

A boy put his hand into a jar to take some nuts. He grasped so many that there was no room for his hand to come out. In a great fright he burst into tears. “Be satisfied with half as many,” said a man who was watching him, “and your hand will come out easily.” The greedy boy dropped half, and at once out came his hand....

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DID SHE CATCH HIM?

DID SHE CATCH HIM?

One day a little girl said to her wisest aunt, “I wish I could catch that sparrow.” “The next time he comes,” said her wisest aunt, “shake some salt on his tail. But be sure not to let him see nor hear you.” The little girl went into the house and brought out some salt. Pretty soon the sparrow alighted near her. She tiptoed up behind him with the salt ready in her hand. Nearer and nearer she stole. Just as she stooped to shake the salt on his tail, the sparrow cocked his head at her and flew awa

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THE BEARS AT PLAY

THE BEARS AT PLAY

A small brown bear and a small black bear walked up to each other and rubbed noses. “Will you play with me if I play with you?” whispered the brown one to the other. And the other whispered, “I will.” The two trotted out to the center of the cage. The brown one turned a somersault and the black one turned a bigger somersault. After this they both turned somersaults together. When the play was over, they rubbed noses again and each went back to his own cave in the rocks....

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HOW THE GROCER PLAYED A TRICK ON KIT

HOW THE GROCER PLAYED A TRICK ON KIT

Kit was the grocer’s horse. One day as the grocer came up to her she whinnied and rubbed her nose against his pocket. “Ha, ha, ha, I’ve caught you this time; it isn’t in my pocket,” said the grocer; “here it is.” He held out to her a ripe red apple he had been hiding behind his back. Kit didn’t wait to laugh at the joke; she ate the apple in one big bite....

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THE SHORT TALE OF THE RABBITS WHO WENT OUT TO SEE THE WORLD

THE SHORT TALE OF THE RABBITS WHO WENT OUT TO SEE THE WORLD

Two white rabbits lived in a hutch in our back yard. One sunny morning said One to the Other, “Let us go out to see the world.” So they did. They went up the alley way to the front garden. Here the grass was growing fresh and green. “Ah,” said the Other to One, “the world was made for us. It is nothing but a big cabbage leaf. Taste it.” Just as they put their noses down to nibble a bit of it, a dog poked his nose through the railing and said, “Bow wow.” “Oh my, the world belongs to him,” they cr

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THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE POT AND THE KETTLE

THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE POT AND THE KETTLE

The pot said the kettle was black. And the kettle said the pot was black. And the pot said the kettle was black. And the kettle said the pot was black. And they kept it up. In the middle of the dispute in came two servants. One seized the pot and the other seized the kettle, and they scrubbed them both within an inch of their lives. So I suppose the servants thought both were black. What do you think?...

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HOW THE TURTLE GOT HIS DINNER

HOW THE TURTLE GOT HIS DINNER

It was the small black turtle’s dinner time. He drew in his head and watched. A bluebottle buzzed by, singing. Snap! out came the turtle’s head. The bluebottle’s song was over, the turtle was eating him for dinner. “A bluebottle is a delicious morsel,” said the turtle aloud to anyone who might happen to be passing. He dined that day on foolish bluebottles who didn’t know he had a head....

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THE CATERPILLAR CAUGHT IN THE RAIN

THE CATERPILLAR CAUGHT IN THE RAIN

The other day a caterpillar was out walking on a leaf, when it began to rain. He had no umbrella, but that did not bother him. He crawled under the leaf, and waited for the shower to be over. When the rain-drops stopped pattering over his head, he stuck out his head to see whether the sky had cleared. It had. A beautiful rainbow was just fading out of the sky. Up the caterpillar climbed, dry and comfortable, and went on with his walk....

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THE SONG THE COCKLE-SHELL SINGS

THE SONG THE COCKLE-SHELL SINGS

One day Anna Lucy held a cockle-shell to her ear. She listened and then began to smile. “Do you hear anything?” asked her little brother Frank. “Yes,” answered Anna Lucy, “you may hear it too.” She held the shell to Frank’s ear. Frank listened, then he began to smile. “What is it?” he whispered. “It is the song of the sea,” said Anna Lucy; “the shell sings it in her heart.”...

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THE WATER-SNAIL’S RIDE

THE WATER-SNAIL’S RIDE

A little water-snail with his house on his back floated on the top of the water. Suddenly he must have thought of something downstairs that he needed, for he drew himself into his house. Down it went to the bottom of the water. The water-snail stuck out his horns and head, and ate up a tiny bit of seaweed. So I suppose that is what he needed. In he drew himself again, and up went his house just as if it were an elevator. “You must find that house very convenient,” said I to him. But he said noth

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IT TAKES TIME TO GROW

IT TAKES TIME TO GROW

A toadstool sprang up in a night. But it fell to earth next day when the first passer-by touched it. An acorn took a hundred years to grow into an oak. But the oak is still standing, strong and tall....

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THE FRIGHT THEY HAD

THE FRIGHT THEY HAD

One day as a snail with his house on his back crawled up a vine he met a ladybug. The two stopped to chat about their children. All of a sudden a little girl, who was passing, cried out, Home flew Ladybug, pale with fright. “How thankful I am,” said the snail, “that I carry my house on my back!” But on second thought he too turned pale with fright. “Perhaps my darling children will crawl near poor Ladybug’s house to see the fire, and be burned to death.” He turned about and crawled home as fast

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HIMSELF

HIMSELF

“Who are you?” said Tom, to a small black shadow beside him. “Why, I’m you,” said the shadow; “don’t you know me?” “What, a little fellow like you!” cried Tom; “you’re very much mistaken.” And away he strode. “No, a big fellow like you,” said the shadow, as he shot out in front of Tom....

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WHY THE CANARY SANG IN HIS CAGE

WHY THE CANARY SANG IN HIS CAGE

A canary swung in his golden cage and sang joyously. The window was open, so a lark heard him as she rose into the air. She alighted on the window sill in wonder. “How can you sing shut up in a cage!” she exclaimed. “Come out into the free air and up into the sky with me.” The canary stopped his song to listen to the lark. “Why do you stop singing, little canary?” asked a sick boy, in a feeble voice. He was in a bed near the canary’s cage. The lark could not see him, but she heard him. “Your son

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WHO THE BIRD WAS

WHO THE BIRD WAS

One hot day in July a bird perched at the very top of a tall hemlock. The blazing sun shone on his scarlet body and made it glow like fire. “What a foolish bird to be out in the scorching sun,” cried Mother Robin to her husband. “He’ll be sunstruck.” She and Father Robin stood shading their eyes under the cool maple leaves to look up at him. “Who can he be?” “I think, my dear,” said Father Robin, “that I had better go up and tell him to come down.” “Oh,” cried Mother Robin, “what would the birdl

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HOW THE OLD TROUT SERVED TOM

HOW THE OLD TROUT SERVED TOM

Once a water-baby named Tom swam close to some little trout. He began tormenting them and trying to catch them. They slipped through his fingers and jumped dean out of the water in their fright. As Tom chased them he swam near a dark pool under an alder root. Out floushed a huge old brown trout ten times as big as he. She ran straight at Tom and knocked nearly all the breath out of his body. So it was Tom’s turn to be frightened. After that you may be sure he let the little trout alone. —From Ki

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A CLEVER COW

A CLEVER COW

A quick-witted old cow learned how to shake apples down from the trees. While rubbing herself against the tree she noticed that an apple sometimes fell. She rubbed a little harder, and more apples fell. Soon the farmer had to keep an eye on her to save his apples. —From Burroughs...

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THE SNOWMAN

THE SNOWMAN

When the sun got up one morning in winter he found a snowman staring at him rudely. “Don’t stare at me. If you do you’ll melt,” said the sun. “Indeed!” said the snowman. “A cat may look at a king. I’ll look at you if I like.” And he stared harder than ever. Pretty soon he felt the top of his head softening. “I feel very queer,” said he to himself. But he didn’t stop staring. “Ugh!” he shivered, “water is running down my back. My nose is going. My toes are going. I’m going.” And he went....

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THE RACE

THE RACE

The kitten lay curled up in a ball fast asleep. The pup was broad awake. He stole up to kitty, lifted his paw, and gave her a tap on the nose. Then he scampered off. Up started kitty, and round and round the kitchen went the pup with kitty after him. It made the kitchen clock so dizzy to watch them that she put up her long hand to steady her head.—“One,” rang the bell inside of her. “Time’s up,” cried the pup. And he and kitty sat down on the mat side by side and the pup put out his tongue and l

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BRAVE DAN

BRAVE DAN

Everybody was out. So of course Dan, the pup, was master of the house. He trotted proudly through the halls and poked his nose into every room, for burglars. In his master’s room he heard something say, “Tick, tick, tick, tick.” Dan pricked up his ears. Somebody was in the house. Who could it be? A glove lay on the floor near the mantel. Dan walked over and began to sniff at it. “One,” struck the clock on the mantelpiece. Dan scampered off as fast as his legs could carry him....

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THE WIND’S FROLIC

THE WIND’S FROLIC

“Down you go,” cried the wind to the leaves one morning in autumn. And down he blew them in crowds from the trees, brown ones, red ones, and yellow ones. Then he drove them scurrying before him up the street. At last he swirled them together in heaps, and left off to rest. So there we too shall let them lie....

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THE DEAD CANARY

THE DEAD CANARY

The little yellow canary that used to sing so sweetly grew sick and died. The children wept to see it. “Let us bury him under the apple-tree,” said Alice; “every spring it will cover his grave with white blossoms.” So Robert dug a small grave under the apple-tree, and Alice laid the canary gently in it. They covered him with the soft earth. Every spring the apple-tree sent down his white blossoms on the grave....

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THE SWAN’S MEAL

THE SWAN’S MEAL

One morning as a shining white swan sailed about on the lake he saw a boy on the bank, eating some bread. He swam over to the boy and thrust out his long white neck toward the bread. “The beautiful swan wants my bread,” cried the boy. He was delighted. He broke it and threw it bit by bit on a lily pad. The swan ate it, to the last crumb. Then he bent his head as if to thank the boy, and sailed away....

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THE BOY AND THE FROGS

THE BOY AND THE FROGS

Some boys at play near a pond began to pelt the frogs with stones, just for the fun of seeing them go under water. They killed several of them. At last one of the frogs lifted his head high out of the water, and cried out, “Pray stop, boys; what is fun for you is death to us.” “That is true,” said one of the boys; “let us leave the poor creatures in peace.” And they did. —From Æsop...

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SWEET PORRIDGE

SWEET PORRIDGE

There was a poor but good little girl who lived alone with her mother. One day they no longer had anything to eat. The child went out into the forest, and there an old woman gave her a wonderful little pot. When you said to it, “Cook, little pot, cook,” it would cook good sweet porridge. And when you said, “Stop, little pot, stop,” it would stop cooking. The girl took the pot home to her mother, and they were no longer hungry, but ate sweet porridge whenever they chose. Once when the girl had go

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FINDING A HOME

FINDING A HOME

Early in spring a couple of bluebirds set out to look for a home. “What do you think of this vacant dove-cote for our nest, sweet wife?” asked he. “The view from the top of the gable is beautiful.” “I am afraid of all these windows,” said she, peeping in at each. “The wind might prove too strong for our little ones when they come.” “Parents must think of that,” said he. And on they flew. Under the eaves of a barn they found an empty swallow’s nest. “The very thing for us,” they both cried, and a

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DID JIP DINE ON CHICKEN?

DID JIP DINE ON CHICKEN?

One day a dog named Jip went for a walk. He came to a yard where there was a hen with her brood of chicks. Said Jip to himself, “A downy little yellow chick would make a sweet dinner for a dog. I think I’ll have it.” He turned in at the gate. But Mother Hen had something to say about it. “Cluck, cluck,” she cried to her chicks, and spread out her wings to hide them. Then she lowered her head, stuck out her sharp beak, and made straight for Jip. He turned tail and fled home as fast as his legs wo

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THE DOG IN THE MANGER

THE DOG IN THE MANGER

Once when some oxen went to their manger to eat hay they found a small dog in it. The dog growled and snapped at the oxen and would not let them come near the hay. The stableman saw it all. “Get out of there, you selfish cur!” he cried to the dog. “You cannot eat the hay yourself and you will not let those who can.” He seized a whip and the dog was glad to run yelping away. —From Æsop...

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THE TWO APPLES

THE TWO APPLES

A real apple and a clay apple lay side by side. The real apple was jealous of the clay apple. A little girl had smoothed and pressed and patted the cheek of the clay apple, but she had only looked at him. Soon along came the little girl with her hat and coat on. She picked up the real apple. “Come, ripe red apple,” said she; “we’ll go visiting. I know a little lame boy who will like a bite of you. My clay apple would never do for that.” As she looked at him, the real apple felt himself turning a

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THE DOG AND THE SHADOW

THE DOG AND THE SHADOW

A dog was crossing a stream of water, with a piece of meat in his mouth. As he looked down, he thought he saw another dog with a larger piece of meat. Said the greedy fellow to himself, “I’ll have that too.” He dropped his own meat and sprang into the water after the shadow. The real meat fell into the water and floated away. — Æsop...

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THE QUARREL

THE QUARREL

One morning Tom’s right foot said to Tom’s left foot, “Let me go first.” “No,” said Tom’s left foot, “you let me go first.” “No,” said Tom’s right foot, “you let me go first.” And they began all over again. Suddenly Tom’s left ear remarked to Tom’s right ear, “Perhaps, the silly things will set out together.” “The very thing to do,” cried both feet, and they started off. This left Tom without a leg to stand on. So he fell down and bruised them both. They were black and blue for three whole days.

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WAX DOLL

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WAX DOLL

The wax doll went to visit the rag doll and sat in a sunny window, where the people passing might admire her. “How handsome you are,” said the rag doll. “I wish I had large blue eyes and red and white cheeks. That white silk dress is very becoming.” The wax doll only stared and smiled. “Towser, the dog, leads me a life of it,” went on the rag doll. She felt she must make conversation for her guest. “Why,” said she, “the other day he tore me almost to pieces, when—” She stopped suddenly. Somethin

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THE ROUTING OF TOM

THE ROUTING OF TOM

One morning Tom met the geese on their way to the pond, and for once the gander was not leading them. Tom made sure of this. Gander had once chased him half a mile for teasing the geese. “I’ll be master instead of the gander,” said he to the geese. “Shoo! back you go.” He spread out his arms to drive them back. When they turned to go, he ran around in front of them. “Shoo! forward you go,” said he. Once more the geese set off hopefully for the pond. “Shoo! back you go,” cried Tom. So he kept the

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MRS. VIXEN AND HER CUBS AT PLAY

MRS. VIXEN AND HER CUBS AT PLAY

Under a rock lay a great brown, sharp-nosed creature, with a white tip to her brush, and round her four or five little cubs, the funniest fellows you ever saw. It was Mrs. Vixen, a mother fox, and her children. The mother lay on her back, rolling about, and stretching out her legs and head and tail in the bright sunshine. The cubs jumped over her, and ran around her, and nibbled her paws, and lugged her about by the tail, and she enjoyed it mightily. But one selfish little fellow put an end to a

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THE FOOLISH HOOP

THE FOOLISH HOOP

“Why do you strike me and hold me in?” cried the hoop to the stick. “Shall I let you go?” asked the stick. “Do,” said the hoop; “I do not need your guidance.” “Very well,” said the stick. And she let him go. Down the street rolled the hoop. Fast and faster he went. He could not stop himself. A turn in the flags headed him straight toward the street. Out he plunged under the wheels of a passing wagon, and was crushed to pieces....

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HOW THE CLOCK CAME INTO THE STORY

HOW THE CLOCK CAME INTO THE STORY

Once a little round-faced clock lived on the desk of a man who wrote stories. The clock had a chance to hear most of the stories. For when the man finished a story he usually called a beautiful lady into the room and read it to her. The beautiful lady laughed at the fun in the story and the little clock’s face shone. But perhaps that is what a clean little clock’s face always does. One day the man read from the story, “The prince and the princess were married just as the clock struck”—“One!” ran

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BABY GOES ON A VOYAGE

BABY GOES ON A VOYAGE

The other day baby went on a voyage on the good ship Hands and Knees . She crept out into the hall so softly that mother did not hear her go. Out there was the cuckoo clock that said “R-r-r-r-.” Baby stopped and looked up at it. A door in the clock opened, and out came a little bird who cried, “Cuck-oo, cuck-oo, cuck-oo.” In he went again and the door shut. Baby gurgled with glee. “I tee oo,” she cried. She sat down to wait for the little bird to come out and play again. But mother found her, an

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THE RUNAWAYS

THE RUNAWAYS

One day four little white pigs and three little white geese met together near Rover’s kennel. But they were so full of themselves that they did not notice where they were. “We stole out while Mother Sow was dozing after dinner,” screamed the little pigs. They laughed so much they rolled on the ground. “We stole out while Mother Goose was gabbling with a neighbor,” giggled the little geese. And they hugged their sides to think how clever they were. “What’s this! what’s this!” growled Rover, comin

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THE NAIL

THE NAIL

A merchant had done good business at the fair; he had sold his wares, and filled his bag with gold and silver. Then he set out at once on his journey home, for he wished to be in his own house before night. He packed his bag with the money on his horse, and rode away. At noon he rested in a town; when he wanted to go on, the stable-boy brought out his horse, and said,— “A nail is wanting, sir, in the shoe of its left hind foot.” “Let it be wanting,” answered the merchant; “the shoe will stay on

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THE SOAP BUBBLES

THE SOAP BUBBLES

Anna Mary invited Dan, her dog, into the yard to see her make soap bubbles. She blew out a beautiful one shining with all the colors of the rainbow. Dan watched it as it floated on the air. “What can the lovely thing be?” thought he to himself. It passed close to him. He put out his paw to touch it. The delicate bubble was gone. There was nothing but a wet spot on Dan’s inquisitive nose. “Goosy Dan,” said Anna Mary, scolding him, “lovely moons floating in the air are not to be touched by clumsy

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THE PEACOCK’S TAIL

THE PEACOCK’S TAIL

The peacock pretended not to see anyone. He strutted about picking up corn. But he must have glanced out of the corner of his eye every time he stooped for another kernel. For when a crowd had gathered he left off eating and faced about in front of the people. He swelled out his chest till he could not see his ugly feet. Out he spread slowly his shining blue and green tail with its hundreds of eyes. It came up around his head like a gorgeous frame. All the little boys and girls in the crowd held

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HOW THE ROOSTER WAS DECEIVED

HOW THE ROOSTER WAS DECEIVED

The rooster with the reddest comb perched himself up on the gate-post to crow. As he stretched his neck he caught sight of another rooster higher up on the barn. “I’ll have no one in this barnyard higher than I,” said he; “I am master here.” And he flew up at the rooster. But his wings were so short that he barely reached the edge of the roof. Had he fallen he would have been disgraced before all the fowls in the barnyard. He was so furious at the thought that he rushed up the sloping roof and p

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THE SHOES THAT WALKED MOST

THE SHOES THAT WALKED MOST

The cobbler sat at his bench. The shoes stood in a row before him. “Which shall I mend first?” thought he to himself. “I know,” he said aloud; “I’ll begin with whichever pair has walked most.” At this out toddled baby’s shoes. The cobbler laughed at them. “Why,” said he, “baby has been in the world only two years at most. You can’t have walked far yet.” “Well,” said the shoe for the right foot, “baby’s mother says we never stop going until she takes us off at night. We notice that grown people s

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WHAT O’CLOCK?

WHAT O’CLOCK?

Mary and Anna Jane were playing in the fields. Suddenly Mary stopped and said, “I wonder what time it is. Mother said we should go home at four o’clock.” A dandelion spoke up politely. “My head will tell you what o’clock it is,” said he. “Blow it off, and, as you blow, count.” “You are very kind, sir,” said Anna Jane. Mary was too much astonished to speak. Anna Jane blew once. “One o’clock,” said she. “Go on,” cried the dandelion. “My head is at your service.” Anna Jane went on blowing and count

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THE WONDERFUL CHANGE

THE WONDERFUL CHANGE

It was time for the caterpillar to shut himself in and prepare for a new life. So he chose a low branch and began spinning his cocoon about him. He made it firm and strong, so that no one should break through it and disturb him. It wrapped him about like a shroud. The caterpillar lay down in it and waited. Days passed and a new day came. The caterpillar burst from the cocoon, changed most gloriously; no longer a crawling worm, but a splendid butterfly with wings. At first he tried his wings timi

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HOW NAN AND THE MOON WENT FOR A WALK

HOW NAN AND THE MOON WENT FOR A WALK

One evening as Nan started out for a walk the white moon in the sky went before her. “Why, the moon is coming, too,” said Nan, and she stood still, she was so surprised. The white moon stood still too. Nan walked on faster. The white moon went faster before her. At the corner Nan turned to go home. Now the white moon was behind, but it followed her even to the door. Nan looked up at it before going in, and the white moon looked down at Nan. That night before she jumped into bed Nan looked out of

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WHAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DID

WHAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DID

A great many years ago in far-off Italy lived Christopher Columbus. He did a wonderful thing. He and some companions and sailors set out in three small ships to cross the great wide ocean. The huge waves tossed the ships about and came up over their bows. The sailors were so terrified they begged Columbus to turn back. But he was too brave to do that. He kept on till he came to a new country. It was America, our country. Then he and all with him knelt on the shore and gave thanks to God....

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WHAT THE MOON SAW

WHAT THE MOON SAW

“Yesterday,” said the Moon to me, “I looked down into a small yard. There sat a clucking hen with eleven chicks, and a pretty little girl was running and jumping around them. The poor hen didn’t know what to make of it. She screamed and spread out her wings over her brood. The noise brought the girl’s father out. He scolded his daughter and sent her into the house. I glided on and thought no more about it. “But this evening, only a few minutes ago, I looked down into the same yard. The hen and h

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THE ELF WHO STAYED OUT TOO LATE

THE ELF WHO STAYED OUT TOO LATE

In a beautiful rose there dwelt a little elf. With a fairy microscope you could see his wings reaching from his shoulders to his feet. Without it you couldn’t see him at all. One day when he went out into the sunshine to play he had such fun that he forgot all about getting home in time. He flew from flower to flower. He danced on the wings of the passing butterfly. Best of all, he measured how many steps it would take to cross all the roads made of veins on the geranium leaf. It was this that d

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THE BOLD WEED

THE BOLD WEED

The weed smelled rank to heaven. But she looked out at everyone as bold as brass. “Hold up your heads,” she cried to the violets. “Push yourselves forward where people may see you.” But the violets held down their heads modestly. Along came Lucy looking for some flowers. “Ugh! what a rank smell that weed has!” she cried. She plucked it up by the root and threw it on a heap of rubbish. But she gathered a great bunch of the dewy violets for her grandmother’s birthday....

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ODDS AND ENDS

ODDS AND ENDS

There was once on a time a maiden who was pretty but very lazy and wasteful. When a little knot came in the flax she was spinning, she at once pulled out a whole heap of it and threw it away. Her servant gathered up the bits of flax that had been thrown away, cleaned them, spun them, and wove them into a piece of fine linen. Out of this she made herself a beautiful dress. Well, the maiden was to be married. On the eve of the wedding the servant was dancing about in the pretty dress she had made.

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S KINDNESS

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S KINDNESS

One day as Abraham Lincoln rode along on his horse he saw a pig struggling to keep herself from sinking into a deep place filled with mud. The poor thing was squealing in terror, because the mud was sucking her in. At first Lincoln rode by without stopping. But his kind heart could not forget the pig. He turned back, got down from his horse, and drew the pig out of the mud....

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THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

There was once a foolish little grasshopper that spent all her time playing. Through the long summer and autumn she did nothing but sing from morning till night. So when winter came and the snow covered the ground, she hadn’t a morsel of food stored away in her house. Soon she was so faint with hunger that she begged her neighbor, the ant, to give her something to eat. “I am starving,” she said; “give me a grain of wheat.” “Why did you not save some grain at harvest time?” asked the ant. “There

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THE DONKEY AND THE MULE

THE DONKEY AND THE MULE

A donkey and a mule set out with their master on a long journey. Each animal carried a load. As he climbed the steep path up a mountain the donkey felt his load heavier than he could bear. He begged the mule to help him. “Help me, brother,” he cried, “or I shall drop.” But the mule pretended not to hear. After struggling along a little farther the poor donkey fell dead. The master now placed the donkey’s load on the mule, giving him two loads to carry. And on top of both he piled the donkey. “It

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WHY THE MAGPIE’S NEST IS BADLY MADE

WHY THE MAGPIE’S NEST IS BADLY MADE

Once on a time, when the world was very young, the magpie was the only bird that did not know how to build a nest. She told her trouble to the other birds and they all met to teach her. “Place that stick there,” said the blackbird. He flew over and did it for her himself. “Oh,” said the magpie, “I knew that before.” “Place this stick here,” said the thrush, placing it for her. The wren and the robin, the goldfinch and the chaffinch, the lark and the swallow, and many other birds went on showing

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HOW BUTTERFLIES CAME

HOW BUTTERFLIES CAME

One day the flowers flew off their stalks high into the air. They waved their leaves for wings. Because they behaved themselves so well the fairies let them fly again and again, and they no longer had to sit still on their stalks and remain home from morning till night. So by and by their leaves became wings. The flowers had changed into butterflies, red, yellow, and white. —From Hans Christian Andersen...

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THE MONKEY DANCES

THE MONKEY DANCES

The organ-grinder called out to the monkey seated on his shoulder, “Dance for the children, Jacko, and I will play.” Jacko swung himself lightly to the sidewalk, pulled off his velvet cap, and bowed low. Then he put the cap on again, pressing it down firmly on his head, and held out his little red skirt with his paws. “Begin,” cried his master. And Jacko began to step and turn and slide in time to the music. The children clapped their hands. Faster and faster went the music and faster and faster

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AN APRIL FOOL STORY

AN APRIL FOOL STORY

One day all the rabbits were close together near a back fence, sitting up on their haunches. The rabbit in the middle was telling the others a story. It was about a rabbit. “So,” said he, going on with the story, “whenever the little rabbit was hungry all he had to say was And straightway a whole head of lettuce would grow up before him.” “Oh, my,” cried all the rabbits together, “how I wish that would happen to me!” And story-teller and all turned a somersault at the very thought of it. After t

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THE FOOLISH PUPPIES

THE FOOLISH PUPPIES

The biggest puppy said one day to the little puppies, “Let us jump up on the table and enjoy ourselves. There are plenty of bread-crumbs on it. Our mistress has gone out to pay some visits.” The little dogs said, “No, no, no, we will not go. If our mistress should hear of it she would beat us.” “She will know nothing about it,” said the other; “come on, the crumbs are fresh and sweet.” “Nay, nay, we must let them alone. We must not go,” said the little pups again. But the big one gave them no pe

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A GOLDEN STORY

A GOLDEN STORY

There was once a buttercup shining in the green grass. “You’re a little golden sun that turns everything into gold,” said a child who saw it; “perhaps you can tell a golden story.” And would you believe it? The buttercup began without waiting a single moment: “A certain old grandmother sits out of doors every afternoon in her chair. The hands resting in her lap are wrinkled and so is her face, and her hair is as white as the driven snow. All of a sudden two small smooth hands steal round from th

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HOW THE CLOCKS PLAYED SCHOOL

HOW THE CLOCKS PLAYED SCHOOL

Three little clocks sat in a row on the mantelpiece. The servant had put them there to wash their faces, but they made believe they had come to school. The tall grandfather clock from the hall was the teacher. The servant had wheeled him in to sweep behind him, but he too made believe he had come to school. “Be sure,”said Grandfather Clock to his scholars, “that you tell the right time. Everyone in the house looks to you for the time to get up, the time to eat, the time to work, the time to play

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HOW MOTHER TABBY PLAYED WITH HER KITTENS

HOW MOTHER TABBY PLAYED WITH HER KITTENS

Once three small black kittens begged their mother to play with them. Mother Tabby said nothing, but gave her tail a sly wag to one side. The kittens started back and looked at it. Mother Tabby whisked it over to the other side. “It is alive,” thought the kittens. They arched their backs, and the smallest kitten put out his paw to make it move again. Whack! went Mother Tabby’s tail on his nose. The little kitten scampered off. But he was back again in a minute, and the fun kept up until Mother T

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THE JOKE

THE JOKE

Last Hallowe’en a saucy red apple played a joke. When little Tom ducked for him he bobbed backward and forward so dizzily that little Tom lost his balance and toppled into the tub. The saucy red apple laughed as loudly as any apple can laugh. But what was that he heard Tom’s big brother saying? The big brother had pulled Tom out of the water before you could say “Jack Robinson,” and Tom was dripping wet and bawling with fright. What did the saucy red apple hear? It was Tom’s big brother saying,

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THE SISTERS

THE SISTERS

“You dirty black thing,” cried the diamond to the coal, “do not come near me.” “I will not indeed,” said the coal; “you are too beautiful for the likes of me. I might dim your brilliance.” When she heard this answer, the proud diamond was ashamed of herself. “Press close to me,” she said, “you are my own sister. I am only more highly polished.”...

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THE LION AND THE SHEPHERD

THE LION AND THE SHEPHERD

Once a lion roaming through the forest trod on a thorn and it stuck in his foot. In great pain he limped out to a shepherd and looked up at him beseechingly. The shepherd gently drew out the thorn. The lion fawned upon him and licked his hand to thank him. Not long after the shepherd was blamed for a wrong he had not done. The king said he must die. “Throw him to the lions and let him be torn to pieces,” commanded the king. The king’s officers seized the poor shepherd and threw him into the aren

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BALLOON

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BALLOON

One night a gorgeous balloon when his candle was lighted found himself beside a dull brown acorn. “What a stupid dolt you are to stay here where you cannot be seen!” he cried, as someone sent him up into the air. Higher and higher he mounted above the roofs of the houses. “Perhaps he will reach the stars,” said the acorn, gazing up after him. Just then the balloon turned giddy with pride. He reeled, caught fire, and his brief splendor was over. Years after, in the spot where the acorn had lain t

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