deduce certain specific uses. The one most plainly intimated is that of a brief recreation period, a feature which has proved valuable in man
ic use which I have recently had the pleasure of seeing exemplifie
s my good fortune to be allowed to make suggestions for its development, and as the devices in question were those I had been accustomed to use as a pastime for children, I was able to take some slight hand in the formative work of its ad
al plan is the freeing and developing o
who is interested enough to observe. In elementary work, the most noticeable lack of natural expression is probably in the reading classes; the same drawback appears at
l. The method in use for this purpose in Providence (and probably elsewhere, as ideas usually germinate in more than one place at once) is a threefold giving
when asked if they can tell the story of The Red-Headed Woodpecker or The Little Red Hen, they
some time. Then that one which each has told especially well is allotted to h
orgetfulness of self. The main inflections and the general tenor of the language, however, remain imitative, as is natural with children. But this is a gain rather than otherwise, for it is useful in forming good habit. In no other part of her work,
erman, Russian, or Polish Jews, and where some of them had heard no English previous to that year,-it being then May. The joy that shone
y; all the children had learned something of the joy of creative effort. But one lit
old me the story of the Little Half Chick with an abandon and bodily emphasis which left no doubt of his sympathetic understanding of every word. The depth of moral reproach in his tone was qu
ional use of a chubby pointing finger, one could trace a vague reflection of the teacher's manner. It was not s
e Red-Headed Woodpecker, The Fox and the Grapes, and many other simple stories, and in
ount. In the discussion, in the teachers' remarks, and in the actual reading, there was a joyousness and an interest in the subject-matter which totally precluded that preoccupation with soun
imulus to growth is a kind of "seat-work." The children are allowed to m
LD WOMAN WHO L
simplest and most unconscious way possible, the small artists are developing the power of conceiving and
several of these illustrations. They are entirely original
e third form of reproduction of which I wish to speak. This third kind is taken entirely on the gro
told, and while the children are still athrill wit
s the teacher; up go the little girls' hand
nd the mother are also happily distributed, for in these little dramatic companie
ver in that corner,' Katie? Very well, Riding Hood shall liv
om, in fact. The wolf selects the spot where he will meet Red Riding Hood, and the woodchopper ch
s; each actor creates his part. Some children prove extremely expressive and faci
ge in that story, as was done with the retelling. When a child expresses a part badly, the teacher sometimes asks if anyone thinks of another way to do it; from different exa
it in Providence. Of them all, Red Riding Hood, The Fox and
ands. Her eyes were so full of dancing lights that when they met mine unexpectedly it was as if a chance reflection had dazzled me. When she was told that she might play, she came up for her riding
teacher's desk. There master wolf was waiting, and there the two held converse,-master wolf very crafty indeed, Red Riding Hood extremely polite. The wolf then darted on ahead and crouched down in the corner which represented grandmother's bed. Riding Hood tripped sedately to the imaginary door, and knocked. The fa
grave injunction as to future conduct in her ears, th
ed in the nick of time that we we
om, and had the fair colouring and sturdy frame which matched his Swedish name. He was naturally dramatic. It was easy to see tha
AND TH
ape-trellis the rea
e invisible bunch of grapes. "My gracious,"
jumped f
uttered, "I'll try agai
hen he stood still, looked up, shrugged his shoulders, and remarked in an ab
f grace; but it is no exaggeration to say that the child did w
room that I saw the lion
who crouched as small as she could beside him. (The mouse was by nature rather larger than the lion, but sh
oliloquised in precise language,-evidently remembered, "What is the matter with the lion? Oh, I see
d to me, little Mouse?
n I asked you," sai
se," answered the lion
view conclusively. The children of the schools where story-telling and "dramatising" were practised were startlingly better in reading, in attentiveness, and in general power of expression, than the pupils of
ain in vitality in all the rooms where stories were a part of the work. It had acted and reacted on pupils and teachers alike. The tel
ractice of story-telling, but it was in some measur
eloping, and as especially tending toward enlarged power of expression:
TED AND ADAPT
R KINDERGARTE
nkie runs thr
downstairs in
window, crying
their beds, for now
ed man, and he we
d sixpence agains
d cat, which caugh
together in a lit
onny, let d
ive thee a g
silk and a
let down th
ttle girl, where
ses to give t
ittle girl, wha
diamond as bi
eep has los
ell where t
one, and they
heir tails
peep fell
she heard t
awoke, she fo
hey all wer
took her l
d for to
deed, but it made
ft their tail
TLE WHIT
LTER
and Child-Song, Charl
e heads peeped o
s damp and the
heir way through t
oing to be mushro
me up, and the
ite heads were wi
faces, their p
ing but toadst
THOUG
Ib
rst in a l
d there
world was sm
of pale b
xt in a li
ded any
e world was
ded by m
luttered fr
hat I co
world is ma
een very
flew beyon
for grown-
w how the w
er do my
TO HAVE PI
y Miss Elizab
All the roses in the world were white. There weren't any red o
ooking at her. He stared so hard that the little white rosebud did not know wh
nd the little white rosebud blushed! She blushed pink.
GYL
ton's Wild Animals I have known. (Davi
was Molly Cottontail. Every morning, when Molly Cottontail went out to hunt for food, she said to Raggylug, "Now, Raggylug, lie still, and make no nois
lue-jay perched on a twig above him, and scolded someone very loudly; he kept saying, "Thief! thief!" But Raggylug never moved his nose, nor his paws; he lay still. Once a lady-bird took a walk down a
arm, and it w
Raggylug was interested. But he never moved his nose or his paws; he lay still. Then the sound came nearer, "rustle-rustle-rustle"; then grew fainter, then came nearer; in and out, nearer and
He stuck his head over the top of the nest, and looked-straight into the wicked eyes of a great big snake. "Mammy, Mammy!" screamed Raggylug. "Oh, Mammy, Mam-" But he couldn't scream a
tle cottontail rabbit then; she was a mother whose child was in danger. And when she came to Raggylug and the big snake, she took one look, and then hop! hop! she we
me she hurt him so that he twisted an
the snake's back with her sharp claws. Zzz! How she hurt! The snake dr
ran! Just as soon as he was out of the way his mother came too, and showed him where to go. When she ran, t
big snake could not find him, and there she made a new nest. And this
DEN COB
ELL BY THE C
t at home from the lips of a father of story-loving children for whom he often invented such little tales. The present adaptation has passed by
rful that happened to a Christmas Tree like this, ev
locked, so that the children should not see it before the proper time. But ever so many other little house-people had seen it. The big black pussy saw it with her great green eyes; the little grey kitty saw it with her
n't seen the Christmas tree.
as a great cleaning-up began in the house. The house-mother came sweeping and dusting and wiping and scrubbing, to make everything grand and clean for the Christ-child's birthday. Her broom went into all the corne
l there is to see, and these were very sad. So at las
they said; "but we, who are so domestic and so fond of bea
le spiders when he heard this, and he s
y was noticing, he let them all go i
ders, the baby ones. And then they looked! Round and round the tree they crawled, and looked and looked and looked. Oh, what a good time they had! They thought it was perfectly beautiful. And when they had looked at everything they could see from the
re was to see, you may be sure, and th
you suppose?-it was covered with cobwebs! Everywhere the little spiders had been they had left a spider-web; and you know they had been everywhere.
thers do not like cobwebs; it would never, never do t
d! Wasn't that a lovely trimming? They shone and shone, all over the beautiful
RNING-GLOR
ote it some years ago in a larger form, and who told it to me i
Wren was lame; he had a broken wing and couldn't fly. He stayed in the nest all day. But the mother Wren told him all about what she saw in the world, when she came flying home at night. She
ld see the Mornin
s at the foot of the tree where the little Wren lived. But she could not get any farther, because she did not know how to climb. At last she wanted to
Wren's nest, and put her sweet face over the e
e Morning-Glory
OF LITTLE
The Basket Woma
oy who lived with his father and mother near the Indian
to hunt every day; as soon as it was day, and light enough to see, he used to get up, and go to his hunting. But every
e me to the hunting, and makes so great a
other, "there is non
e footprints in the
nd the mighty stride were before him. The next morning he got up still e
aid Tavwots, for he was very cunning. So he made a sna
had caught the sun in his snare! All that part of
the tracks in my t
ome and set me free, before
ng. But the heat was so great that he ran back before he had done it; and when he ran back he was
Tavwots," c
heat was so great that he ran back before he had don
ckly," cried the sun, "or all
melted down to the size he is now! Only one thing is left of all his greatness: you may still see by the
G BROT
by Laura E. Richards. (H.R.
d his muddy shoes on the table; he put his fingers in the jam pots, and s
y Angel came in
really shocking. You must go out and stay with
rother!" sai
now him, but he will know you. Go out in the ga
said the child; but he went
rel came along, w
brother?" as
looked him ov
est is handsomely made, and in perfect order, and my young ones are
ff, and the
wren came
brother?" as
e whole garden. Not a feather is out of place, and my eggs are the wonder of all for smoothn
arge Tommy Ca
brother?" as
. I have been washing myself in the sun all the morning, while it is clear that no water has come ne
ing his tail, and
pig came tro
pig if he were his brother, but
rother!"
r brother!" s
t there is no mistaking the members of our family. Come along, and ha
o roll in mud!"
s and your shoes, and your pinafore! Come along, I say! You may h
sh!" said the child;
he Tidy Ang
it must stay. Now, will you go with the Pig Brother
ied the child; and he cl
Brother
e will be all the more wash
CA
by Laura E. Richards. (H.R.
with his brother on
cake!" sai
mine!" said
ld. "Give it to me this minute!" And
by an Angel who
you are beating?
rother," sa
" said the Ange
er, I tell you!
ty for you to tell an untruth, because that makes spots on
my cake!" sa
is your brother; and that seems a pity, too, for it does not look
PER OF HAME
rhymes from Browning's T
ouse, and at the bottom there was a big river, broad and slow. And the funniest thing about the little town was that all the shops had the same thing in them; bakers' shops, grocers' shops,
lin town is where the Pied Piper came," they told us; "surely you know about the Pied
The houses were full of them, the shops were full of them, the churches were full of the
he dogs and k
babies in
cheeses out
soup from the c
he kegs of s
nside men's
oiled the w
ing thei
eking and
ferent sharp
to the Mayor (you know what a mayor is?), "See here, what do we pay you your salary for? What are you good for, if you can't do a little thi
t to do he didn't know. He sat with his head in
poor old heart went pit-a-pat at anything like the sound of a rat. But it was
ue eyes, each like a pin; and he was dressed half in red and half in yellow-he really was the strangest fellow!-and round his neck he had a long re
said, "I hear you are trou
we were," groa
get rid of them? I
d the Mayor. "H
way to draw after me everything that walks, or flies, or
don't believe you can do it, but if you
id the Piper, "
stood, and put the long flute-like thing to his lips, and began
notes the p
s if an arm
ering grew t
ing grew to a
houses the rats
ll rats, lean r
ck rats, gray r
dders, gay yo
thers, uncl
s and pricki
by tens a
sters, husba
e Piper for
rats, brawny rats ... follow
big river, and there the piper turned sharply about and stepped aside, and all those rats tumbled hurry skurry, head over heels, down the bank into the r
uting for joy. The Mayor said they would have a big celebration, and build a tremendous bonf
very nice; but first, if you please
e of mine; of course that was a joke." (You see it is alw
iper very quietly; "my thou
l it wasn't worth sixpence to play a little tune li
e Piper; "for the last time,-will
hing good to eat, and call you lucky at
hts began dancing in his eyes, and he said to the Mayor very softly, "I kn
frighten me! Do your worst!" sa
, and began to play a little tune. It was quite a different little tune, this time, very
hat seemed li
justling at pitc
attering, wooden
ping and little t
a farmyard when ba
he childre
ttle boys
heeks and f
eyes and tee
skipping, ran
usic with shout
ople. "He is taking our ch
I will!" cried the Mayor, and
tied to the ground; they could not move a muscle. There they stood and saw the Piper move slowly down the street, playing his li
e the roof of a house. And just as they got to it, the mountain opened,-like two great doors, and the Piper went in through the opening, playing the little tune, and the children danced after him-and-just as they got through-the great
ced ... all but one little lame boy,
used to tell them, "My dears, when I heard that tune I thought I heard the moving aside of pickle-tub boards, and the leaving ajar of preserve cupboards, and I smelled the most de
an to play, I heard a voice that told of a wonderful country hard by, where the bees had no stings and the horses had wings, and the trees bore wonderful fruits, where
l that was left of the Piper and the rats was just the big street t
the end of
TREES KEEP THEIR L
Holbrook's A Book of Natur
, to wait for the spring. But one little bird had a broken wing and could not fly. He did not know what to do. He
l keep me warm through
g and fluttering with his broken wing. The f
ill you let me live in your warm br
o ask! I have to take care of my own leaves thr
th his broken wing until he came to the
d, "will you let me live in your warm
to ask! If you stay in my branches all win
with his broken wing till he came to t
le bird, "will you let me live in your w
illow-tree; "I never spe
and fluttered along with his broken wing. Presently the spruc
ees will not let me live with them, and
anches," said the spruce; "he
I stay al
pruce; "I shall l
hopping and fluttering with his broken wing, he said, "My branches are
off his house; then the juniper-tree saw what was going on, and said that she would give the littl
e in his warm nest sheltered from t
of the forest remarked
re of a strange bir
sk my acorns,"
said the willow. And the three t
es with his icy breath, and every leaf he touched fell to the ground. He w
af?" he said to his f
s which were kind to the bird with t
, the pine, and the juniper-tree kept their leaves th
AR DOL
from Grimms'
room to stay in, and no little bed to sleep in, and nothing more to eat except one piece of bread. So she said a p
the piece of bread in her hand, and said, "Will you give me your bread, little gir
am so cold!" said the child. "Won't you give me your little hood, to keep my head warm?" T
e cold, and she said to the little girl, "Won't you give me your jacket, li
o the other child. And now she had nothing left but her little shirt. It grew dark, and the wind was cold, and the little girl crept into the woods, to sleep for the night. But in the woods a child stood, weeping and nak
y were, on the ground, shining bright, and round. The little girl saw that they were silver dollars. And in the midst of them was the finest little s
AND THE
many parts of England. On one occasion it was told to an audience of ov
and wild beasts abound, the shades of night were once more de
s of the forest had sought their holes and resting-places; the last sound had rumbled its rumble, the last bee had mumbled his mumble, and the last bear had grumbled his grumble; even the gra
eyes, and was fast asleep. Darker, darker, darker became the night until the darkness could almost be felt, and over a
uddenly from the far away depths of the forest,
of his little senses, and his little heart went pit-a-pat. He rubbed his little eyes with his feelers,
rest slept, was out hunting for prey. He came rushing and crashing through the thick undergrowth of
at the tip of the waving grass-blade. Now the little Gnat was not
are you making that
hen backed slowly and reg
nsignificant creature you, how
which is always greater than might. Why don't you keep to your own part of the
s anger-he knew that to obtain mastery ov
do no wrong, for all the other creatures of the forest are afraid of me. I DO what I please, I SA
e King?" demanded the Gna
everyone acknowledges it-don't I tel
y don't say all, for I'm not afraid of you.
e Lion. He now worked hi
deny my rig
shall never be King until you
d a lion laugh cannot be laughed at lik
a lion fighting a gnat? Here, out of my way, you atom
great bellows, and then blew with all his might, he could n
but you won't move me. And if you dare leave this spot without fighting me, I'll tel
. "Very well, since you w
ions, then? The one who
Lion, for he expected an ea
te r
" roared
uddenly spread his wings and nimbly flew-where do you think?-right into one of the Lion's nostrils! And there he began to sting, sting, sting. The Lion wondered, and thundered, and blundered-but the Gnat went on stinging; he foamed
come DOWN, come DOWN! My nose, my NOSE, my NOSE!! You're King of the For
his waving grass-blade, while the Lion slunk away into the depths of
oudly plumed his wings. "I've beaten a lion-a lion! Dear me, I ough
ad bent the blade downward close to the ground, and then something caught it and held it fast and with it the victorious Gnat. Oh, the desperate struggles he made to get free! Alas! he became more entangled than ever. You can guess what it was-a sp
and what overc
web! He who had beaten the strong lion had been
FOR CLASSES
AND TH
to dinner, turn and turn about: first the cat should ask the parrot, the
cept a pint of milk, a little slice of fish, and a biscuit. The par
nd, best of all, he baked a whole clothes-basketful of little cakes!-little, brown, crispy, spicy cakes! Oh, I should say a
uit, and then he began on the pile of cakes. He ate all the four
aven't you any
, "here are my two cak
icked his chops and said, "I am beginning t
ou wish to eat me!" He thought the cat would be ashamed when he heard that-but the cat just loo
ad seen the whole thing, and she was shocked that the cat should eat his frie
e a great mind to eat you, too." And-before you could say "
on he met a man driving a donkey. The man was beating the donkey, to hurry him up, and when he
en five hundred cakes, I've eaten my friend the parrot, I've eaten an
le! down went the ol
h his newly married bride, and behind him were his soldiers, marching, and behind them were ever and ever so many elephants, walking two by two. The king felt
hundred cakes, I've eaten my friend the parrot, I've eaten an old woman,
ng; down went the queen; down went the s
at, now. But a little farther on he met two land-crabs, scuttlin
I've eaten my friend the parrot, I've eaten an old woman, a man with a donkey, a
obble! down went
. Near them were the men-at-arms, treading on one another's toes, and the elephants, still trying to form in twos,-but they couldn't, because there was not room. In the opposite
o make a little hole in the side, with their sharp claws. Snip, snap, s
o by two; out came the old man, beating his donkey; out walked the old woman, scolding the cat; and last
pend the whole day sewing
T PRIN
s story the voice should be changed for the Sun, Cloud, Wind, a
up, they would not let any of the rat princes come to visit her, and they decided at last that no one should marry her till they had found the most powerful person in the whole world; no one else was good enough. And the Father Rat started out to find the most powerful person in the whole world. The wises
tle brother?" the Sun
the hand of my daughter, the princess, because you are the mo
y kind, little brother, but if that is the case the princess is not for me;
the Sun without more words. The Sun laughed and winked to himself. And the Ra
le brother?" sighed the
said the Rat King, "because you are the most powerful person
l person," he said; "the Wind is stronger than I,-
d he started at once to find the Wind. He travelled and travelled across the
to offer him the Rat Princess's hand because he was the most powerful person in the world, the Wind shouted a great gusty shout, and said, "No, no,
d travelled and travelled across the earth till he c
le brother?" grumbled t
daughter, because you are the most powerful pers
who lives in the cellar is stronger than I. When he gnaws and gnaws at me
Rat King had to marry his daughter to a rat, after all; but the princes
OG AND
said he, "I have just seen the biggest animal in the world; it was as big a
x. He is not so very big. I could easily make myself as big as he
s that?" he aske
ger," said th
and blew again, and swelled
ger than th
gger," said th
rog. And once more he blew, and blew, and
leads to self
RE-BRI
The Basket Woma
t was long, long ago, when men and beasts talked together with un
n the creeks with their hands, and the women digging roots with sharp stones. This was in summer. But when winter came on, they saw the people runni
el it," said
d fur," said the Boy, "
hunt," said
a way to help my people against the cold
ack after a long time; he said he ha
Coyote told him that they must go to the Bu
t a flower; swift to run in the grass and to destroy, like a beast, yet no beast; fierce and
this fire,"
left the weakest of the runners, to wait; at the end of the second, the next stronger; at the end of the third, the next; and so for each of the hundred days of the journey; and the Boy was the strongest runner,
from it endlessly along the sky. At night, the Fire Spir
e a brand from the burning; be ready and right for running, for I shal
y were at their dance about the mountain, the Coyote stole the fire, and ran with it down the slope of the burning mountain. When the Fire Spirits saw what he had done they streamed out after him, red and a
nted down beside him, the Boy caught the brand from his jaws and was off, like an arrow from a bent bow. Out he shot on the homeward path, and the Fire Spirits snapped and sang behind him. But fast
snows; these they could not pass. Then the dark, sleek runners with the backward streaming brand bore it forward, shining sta
fed it with small sticks, as the Counsel
ote bore the sign of the bringing, for the fur along his flanks was si
G OF THE R
ields, by Lafeadio Hearn. (Kegan Paul,
t the mountain's foot. Mornings and evenings, the old man and his little grandson, who lived with him, used to look far down on the people at work in the village, and watch the blue sea which lay all round the land, so close t
ge far off where the sea and sky meet. Something like a great cloud was rising there, as if the sea were lifting itself high into the sky. The old man put his
uickly and brought the brand. The old man already had one, and was running for the ricefields. Yone ran after.
her!" screamed the little
rust your brand in!"
y stalks, red and yellow. In an instant, the field was ablaze, and thick black smoke began to pour up, on the mountain side. It rose like a cloud, black and fierce, and in no time the people b
utiful rice-crop all in flames, beyond help, they cried
ry solemnly; and the little grands
ld man, with "Why? Why?" he only turned
, so terrible was the sight. The wall of water rolled in on the land, passed quite over the place where the village had been, and broke, with an awful sound, on the
old man had done, they honoured him above all men for t
RY OF W
ab and his Friends
skinned bulldog, nor even a big shaggy fellow, but a slim, silky-haired, sharp-eared little dog, the prettiest thing you ca
for that. When the silly sheep got frightened and ran this way and that, hurting themselves and getting lost, Wylie knew exactly what to do,-round on one side she would run, barking and scolding, driving them back; then round
Wylie to two kind young men who lived in the nearest town; he knew they would be good to her. They grew very fond
y streets and houses, and she did not have to do any work at all,-s
They would look for her, call her,-no, she was gone. And she would be gone all night. But every Wednesday morning, there she was at the door, waiting to be let in. Her
ht. They tried to follow her to find out, but she always slipped away; they tried to shut her in
guess, so I am g
g was sold there, even live cows and sheep and hens. On Tuesday nights, the farmers used to come down from the hills with their shee
s grew afraid and wild, and gave the farmers and the sheepdogs a gre
armers would see a little silky, sharp-eared dog come t
th
were all safely in! All the other dogs together could not do as much as the little strange dog. She was a perfect wonder. And no one knew whose dog she was or where she came from. The farmers grew to
n as her work was done she was off and away like a fairy dog, no one knew where
The sheep farmers stopped short and stared at Wylie, and then they cried out, "Why, that's the dog!
have been telling you. But when they heard about the pretty strange dog who came to market all al
ancy she knew that the best people and the best dogs always work hard at something. Any way she did that sa
DAYLI
e Back of the North Wi
the wood near the palace, and there it was kept open, free from underbrush. But farther away it grew wilde
it was that nobody but the other fairies knew she was a fairy; people thought she was just an ugly old witch. The good fairies lived in the dearest little hou
bright and sweet. And of course they had a christening party. And of course they invited the fairies, because the good fairies
she was not invited,-which really pleased her, bec
gifts. The other two stood among the guests, so that no one noticed them. The swamp fairy thought there were no
ng a laugh with her toothless gums. "Will y
," said the bishop; "the
bad fairy. "I decree that she shall sleep all day." The
od fairy, who by arrangement with her sisters had remained in the backgro
shall wake all nigh
es me another chance." All the fairies started at once to say, "I beg your pardon!" But the bad fai
y this, and the bad fairy ha
I decree that she shall wax and w
ntil a prince shall kiss her without k
one good fairy, but she had not suspected it of two, and she c
n," they said to the good fairy who had spoken last. But the good fair
night, and slept all day? Little Daylight was as merry and bright all night as any baby in the world, but with the first sign of dawn she fell asleep, and slept like
while, altogether. Well, poor little Daylight waxed and waned with it. She was the rosiest, plumpest, merriest baby in the world when the moon was at the full; but as it began to wane her little cheeks grew paler, her tiny hands thinner, with every night, till she lay in her cradle like a shadow-baby, without sound or motion. At first they thought she was dead, wh
ar her. But she did not like to be watched, especially when she felt the bad time of waning coming on; so her ladies-in-waiting had to be very careful. When the moon waned she became shrunken and pale and bent, like an old, old wom
ather had a lovely little house of roses and vines built for her, there. It stood at the edge of a most beautiful open glade, inside the wood, where the moon shone best. There the princess lived with her ladies. And t
rom her father's. Wicked nobles murdered the king of the country and stole his throne, and wo
bout her. He wandered till night, and then he came to a queer little house. One of the good fairies lived there, and the minute she saw him she knew all about everything; but to him she looked only like a kind old woman. She gav
e had not found his way out of the wood, so he lay dow
oward it. But when he came to it, it was only an open space, surrounded with trees. It was so very lovely, in the white moonlight, that the prince stood a minute to look. A
thought the prince; and h
g and swaying in the moonlight. And as she ca
iden,-the loveliest maiden he had ever seen. Her hair was like yellow corn, and her smile made all t
self, as she lifted her face to the sky, that he was almost afraid to breathe. He had never seen anything so lovely. By the time she had
is weariness overcame him, and he fell asleep. And when he a
ve there, so he went round to the kitchen door and asked the kind cook for a drink of water, and while he was drinking it he asked who lived there. She told him it was the house of
d once more the lovely maiden floated toward him. He knew her name was the Princess Daylight, but this time she seemed to him much lovelier than before. She was all in blue like the blue of the sky in summer. (She really was more lovely, you know, because the moon was almost at
nd when he woke up in the evening and started off again she gave hi
hat she took the prince's breath away. Just think!-she was dressed in a gown that looked as if it were made of fireflies' wings, embroi
cess danced on. But another clap came louder, and then a sudden great flash of lightning that lit up the sky from end to end. The prince couldn't help shutt
you?" s
ered the prince, "
hing the matt
nce wen
he prince came. "I like you, you
should like to be,
ow better," sai
e went, m
. The prince came. "I think yo
said th
and you tell the truth. Will you
knows that," s
verybody," said the pr
"do you not look when yo
mbered that she was talking to a prince, and putting her hands over her face she walked swiftly away. The prince followed h
he prince from finding Daylight again. Night after night the poor prince wandered and wandered, and never could find the little dell. And when daytime came, of course, there was no princess to be seen. Finally, at the time that th
is wanting to
seemed in great distress. They were saying that the princess had wandered into the woods and was lost. The prince didn't know, of course, what it meant, but he did understand that the princess was lost somewh
ope. But when he lifted the cloak which was huddled about the form, he saw at once that it was not Daylight. A pinched, withered, white, little old woman's face
rying to find out what was the matter. But she only moaned, and her face was so terribly strange and white that the prince's tender heart ached for her. Remembering his little
two great tears stole out from the old woman'
e prince pityingly; and he stoop
ier and heavier; he could hardly carry her at all; and then she stirred, and at last he was obliged
yellow ray of the rising sun struck full upon her,-and it was the Princess Daylight! Her h
before her. But she gave hi
said the princess, "I'll kiss you now t
rned her face t
she said, "is
AILOR
by Laura E. Richards. (H.R.
ailor man, who lived beside the salt sea; and they foun
do?" asked t
you are the same. We heard that you had a boat, and we thought that perhaps you would
ake one of you if you are ready to learn. Meantime here are some ropes that need knotting; you might be doing
irst child ran to the
almost to the door of the house. They run up all white, like p
he second child. "
at. She is dancing like a lady at a ball;
he second child. "
the sailor man will take me, because I am the eldest and I know more about it. There
he sailor m
is over. What have you b
st child. "What a beauty she is! I shall have t
ng knots," said
out his hand to the second child. "I will take
he first child, "and I know a
but a person must learn to tie a knot
e a knot," cried the chil
l that?" asked
F JAIRUS'S
ing and comforting all with whom He came in close contact. The exact form of th
s man was a ruler in the synagogue, and he had just one little daughter about twelve years of age
people, and when he saw Him he fell down at Jesus feet and besought Him to come into his house, to heal his daughter. And Jesus said, Yes, he would go with him. But there were so many people begging to be healed, and so many looking t
, "Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made
er, who was dead. Jesus sent all the strangers away from the door, and only three of His disciples and the father and mother o
aughed Him to scorn, for t
aughter lay. And when He was there, alone, He went up to the bed where she w
again! And she lived, and g
FOR CLASSES
AND THE
from Sir T
ur, the rightful heir to the throne, of whom no one knew, for he had been taken away secretly while he was still a baby by a wise old man called Merlin, who had him brought up in the famil
solemn service was held, and prayer was made that some sign should be given, to show who was the rightful king. When the service was over, there appeared a strange stone in the churchyard, against the high altar. It was a great white stone, like marble, with
op himself came out and gave permission, many of the knights tried to pull the s
p, "that shall achieve the sword; bu
y when all should come together to try at the stone,-kings from far and near. In the mean
Allhallowmas, and when he found there was to be so fine a joust he wanted a sword, to join it. But he had left
en he came to the castle, the lady and all her household
ad seen in the churchyard. "I will to the churchyard," he said, "and take that sword with me." So he rode into the churchyar
the great sword by the hilt, and lightly
ight to Sir Kay,
stone; I must be king of the land." But Sir Ector asked him where he got the sword. And when Sir Kay said, "From my brother," he asked Arthu
e I?" sai
is sword but he that shall be rightwise king of this land. Now let me see
Arthur put t
but neither could stir it. Then Arthur pulled it out. Thereu
e own dear father and bro
r Ector was not truly his father, he was so sad at heart that he cared not greatly to be king. And he begged his father and bro
ted a day for the trial to be made in the sight of all men, and on that day the princes and knights came
and pulled it easi
re in particular had beaten them, and they refused to acknowled
his, and every time th
fore all the knights and the commons. And then the commons rose up and c
g of Britain, and al
RP
uter gate of the citadel of Rome. It was a time of war,-the Sabines
And sometimes she stayed about and let the strange men talk with her, because she liked to look at their bright silver or
day by day they talked with her, and showed her their silver rings, and tempted her. And at last Tarpeia made a bargain, to betray
, and silently unlocked the gate which protected the city. Outside, in the dark, stood the soldiers of the enemy, w
left arm. "Take thy reward!" he said, and as he spoke he hurled upon her that which he wore upon it. Down
neath it, t
the next; and his shield
ext- and the next-and the next; every
had claimed, and the Sabines marched past h
UCKWH
rom Hans Chri
nd the heaviest and richest ears bent lowest, in humility. Opposite the corn was a field
e river looked down on the fie
folded their leaves together, and bowed their h
as we do," called
ed to," said
golden wheat-ears; "the angel of the st
d my head," sai
look at the lightning when the cloud bursts. Even men cannot do that; the sight
Now I will look!" And he looked straight up
aised their drooping heads, clean and refreshed in the pure, sw
a weed in the field, scor
MENT OF
lk-Stories, by Josephine Pres
e sound of his reed-pipe was so sweet that he grew proud, and believed himself greater than the chief
Pan's vanity, and they chose the mountain Tmolus for
heir followers came with them, to hear, and one of
ees to get near; the squirrels came running from their holes; and the very trees swayed as if they wanted to dance. The faun
en he touched the strings of the lyre, such music stole upon the air as never god nor mortal heard before. The wild creatures of the wood crouched still as
feet and proclaimed the victory his. All but Midas. He a
its them." And he touched the ears of Midas. And straightway the dull ears grew long
so one day he went into the meadow, scooped a little hollow in the turf, and whispered the secret into the earth. Then he covered it up again, and went away. But, alas, a be
nodding together, they whisper, laugh- ing,
SEA IS
my mind, about the bare outline related to me by one of Mrs Rutan's hearers. What the original teller sai
the Poor Brother used to come to ask for things it annoyed him, and finally one day he said, "The
t wasn't any use to go to his brother; he must go Below for
urled up behind, and two ugly little horns just over his ears; and one foot was very queer indeed. And as soon as anyone came in the door, these men would catch him up and put him over one of the fires, and turn him on a spit. And then t
urn him round and round like the rest; and of course the Chief Man came up to him and said, "Eh, how do you feel now
" The Chief Man did not like this at all, because, of course, the whole object in life of the people Below was to make their victims uncomfortable. So he piled on more fuel and made the fire h
had never once had money enough to buy coal
ef Man could st
," he said, "y
said the Poor Brothe
home," said t
home," said th
o matter what they did they could not make the Poor Brother
ou take to
got?" said th
l go home quietly I'll give you the L
d of it?" said
at you want, you have only to name it, and say, 'Grind this, Little Mill, and grind q
it." And he took the Little Mill under his arm, and
quickly." And the Little Mill ground, and ground, and ground the finest house that ever was seen. It had fine big chimneys, and gable windows, and
ground, and ground, and ground, and out came great fat cows, and little woolly lambs, and fine little pigs; and just as the
his daughters, and everything else they wanted. At last he had eve
. The Poor Brother told him all about it. He said, "It all comes from that Little Mill behind my door. All I have to do when I want anythin
t to hear any more. "Will you l
id the Poor Br
"It is a waste of good time for them to come into the house; they shall have their porridge where they are." He called all the men to him, and made them bring their porridge-bowls. Then he set the Little Mill down on the ground, and said to it, "Gri
" said the Rich Brother. "Yo
nding, and stop quickly.'" But the Little Mill ground, and ground, faster than ever; and presently there was a regular pond of porridge, almost up to their knees. The Rich Brother said, "Stop grinding," in every kind of
neck, and it was horrid and sticky. His brother laughed when he heard the story, but he came with him, and they took a boat and rowed across
g into the ground, and nothing would ev
ill after this, so the Poor Brother took it home again and p
e Poor Brother said, "Oh, I daresay you have seen wonderful things, but I don't believ
l about that?" sa
have only to name it to the Little Mill and say, 'Grind that, Lit
ar another word. "Will you lend me
," and the Sea Captain took the Little Mill under h
f the food gave out. Worst of all, the salt gave out. It was dreadful, b
he said to the cook. "W
deck, put the salt box u
ttle Mill, and
op,'" said the Captain. But the Little Mill ground, and ground, faster than ever, and the salt was soon thick on the deck like snow. The Captain called the Little Mill names and told it to stop, in every language he knew, but the Little Mill went on grind
ttom of the sea. And it has
G AND HI
by the original, because I have found that the humour of the manner of it appeals quite as readily to the boys and girls of my acqu
ll was just as fond of him. And when the queen came to die, she put it as her last request to the king, that come what might, come what may, he'
he bull, seeing him and Billy so thick. So she asked the king to have the bull killed. But the king said
what she should do. "What will you give me," s
t all," sai
y sick with a complaint," said the
ng came to see what could be done for her. "I shall never be better
hat?" said
the blood of Bi
t," said the king, an
bull." And at last it looked as if she were going to die. So the king finally set a day for the bull to be killed. At that the queen was
looks. "What are you doitherin' about?" said the bull to him. So Billy told him
y," says he, "till I see what kind of a horseman you are!" Billy jumped on his back, and with that the bull leaped nine miles high and nine miles broad and came down with Billy sticking between his horns. Then away he ru
t I must fight, here, and he'll be hard to fight, but I'll be able for him. But first we must have dinner. Put your hand in my left
pkin, and spread it; and, sure enough, it was spread with all kin
reat roar, and out of the forest cam
the rocks into spring wells, and the spring wells into rocks. It was a terrible fight. But in th
ullock traces, the Cove o' Cork, and old Tom Fox with his bugle horn. And when he stopped he told Billy to put his hand in his left ear and pull out the napkin, because
of the forest. And the two bulls at it and fought. It was a terrible fight! They knocked the hard ground into soft, the soft into hard, t
and away,
r bull, the brother of the other two, and that this time the other b
your hand in my right ear, and you'll find a stick there, that will turn into a sword if you wave it three times round your head, and give you the st
than ever he heard, and a tremendous bull rushed out of the forest. Then came the worst fight of all.
and ate all kinds of eating and drinking. Then he put his hand in the right ear and pulled out the stick which was to turn into a sword if waved round his h
ntleman lived there. So Billy went up and kn
ting a boy?"
ix cows, six horses, six donkeys, and six goats to pasture e
he wages?"
in the wood by the pasture, and every day they drink up all the milk and kill the boy that l
, and he entered servic
pasture, and sat down by them. About noon he heard a kind of roaring from the
llow and not big enough for two; how would you like to die, then? By
k three times round his head, to give him the strength of a thousand men besides his own, and went for the
! Spare my life!"
id Billy; and he
y gave so much milk that all the dishes in the house were fil
tleman; "they never gave any milk befo
next morning he drove the six cows, six horse
rrific roar; and out of the wo
is six mouths, "and I'll very soon have your blood! Will
s stick three times round his head, he ran in and grappled the giant.
entleman!" cried the
aid Billy, and c
out of the house and made a stream, and turned a m
d the old gentleman; "did you se
e than myself
now, I only heard one of the giants roaring in the night,
illy; and with that he drove the six cows, six
d the brother of the two giants came out of the wood, with t
ne boy," cries he; "h
" says Bill
m up to his twelve necks in the ground. All twelve of the heads began begg
a lake, nine miles long, nine miles broad, and nine miles
said the gentleman, "a
ly was
sight. "What will it be?" said Billy. "The king's daughter is to be eaten by a fiery dragon," said his master,
nd chaises, in carriages and in wheelbarrows, all going to see the great sight. And
ssed himself in his master's best suit of clothes, took the
here. Down in the midst was the champion, walking up and down proudly, with two men behind him to carry his heavy s
the champion would fight the dragon for the princess's sake, when suddenly there was
em. And when the champion saw the creature, he never waited even to take his sword,-he turned and ran;
please, kind gentlemen, fight the dragon, some of you, and keep me from being eaten! Will no one
ead, to give him the strength of a thousand men besides his own, he walked up to the dragon, with easy gait. The princess and all the people were looking, you may be sure, and the
y Begs slips on the brown mare and is off and away before anyone has seen his face. But, quick as he was, he was not so quick but that the princess caught hold of him as he jumped on
nd a strange knight had come out of the clouds and killed the dragon, and before anyone could stop him had disap
ld come up to the king's town and try on the shoe which the princess had pulled from off the foot of the strange champion, that he whom it fitted should be known to be
ching, at last came
with me, and I'll give yo
poor raggedy man!" said
d he changed clothes with the
im come forward to try the shoe. But after all had tried, Billy spoke up that he wanted to try. They laughed at him, and pushe
ut on the shoe, and it fit
as a king's son. And they put a velvet suit on him, and hung a gold chain
princess, and was the
E HERO OF
ry of the story to
hing were not done to keep it out. But something is done. The people build great, thick walls all round the country, and the walls keep the sea out. You see how much depends on those walls,-the good crops, the houses, a
lay. They went a long way out of the town, and came to where there were no houses, but ever so many flowers and green fi
called out, "Oh, what a fu
here?" s
said the little brot
d down as fast as he could to
in the bank. Just an air-hole. A d
e dike!" cried Hans
w that the water would soon break a great gap, because that tiny hole gave it a chance. The town was so far away-if they ran
it fitted tight; and he said to his little brother, "Run, Dieting! Go to the town and tel
and he started for the town, as fast as his legs could run. Hans, kneeling with hi
as only a speck; then he was out of sight. H
he stones; and deep down under the slapping was
eping, up his arm; first his wrist, then his arm to the elbow, then his arm to the shoulder; how cold it was! And soon it began to ache. Ugly little cramp-pains streamed up his finger, up his palm, up his arm, till they reached into his shoulder, and down the
ard the voice of the great sea, mu
inst me. What are you, a little child, th
knocks. Would they never
ng, "I will come through, I will come through, I will
ered how much depended on him; if he pulled out his finger, the water would surely make the hole bigger, and at last break d
through!" he whisper
e coming! At last, they were coming. They came nearer, fast, and he could make out his own father, and the neighbours. Th
the dike, they gave a great cheer,-just as people do for soldiers back from war; and they lifted him up and rub
was carried high on their shoulders, because he was a hero. And to this d
ST LES
m the French of
and the sound of the Prussians drilling, down in the meadow behind the old sawmill. He would so much rather have played truant! Besides, this was the day for the lesson in the rule of part
e noticed a little crowd round it, looking at it. That was the place where the news of lost battles, the requisition for more troops, the demands for new taxes
amming of desk covers, the banging of books, the tapping of the master's cane and his "A little less noise, please,"-to let him slip quietly into his seat unnoticed. But no; he had to open the door and walk up the long aisle, in the midst of a silent room, wi
icular. And the master-he looked strange, too; why, he had on his fine lace jabot and his best coat, that he wore only on holidays, and his gold snuff-box in his hand. Certainly it was very odd. Little Franz looked all round, wondering. And there in the back of the room was the oddest t
ever teach you. The order has come from Berlin that henceforth nothing but German shall be taught in
cely knew how to read and write-why, then, he should never know how! He looked down at his books, all battered and torn at the corners; and suddenly his books seemed quite different to him, they seemed-somehow-like f
rule of p
tle; not at all the scolding voice he expected. And it said, "I'm not going to punish you, little Franz. Perhaps you are punished enough. And you are not alone in your fault. We all do the same thing,-we all put off our tasks till to-morrow. And-sometimes-to-morrow never comes.
and he said that no people could be hopelessly conquered so long as it kept its language, for the language was the key to its priso
just the same with the rest of the grammar lesson. I don't know whether little Franz liste
er was trying to put the whole French language into their heads in that one hour. It seemed as if
for this, quite new copies had been prepared. They we
e: Al
e: Al
hey hung out from the desks
e: Al
e: Al
,-not a sound could you hear but the sc
ir up and down strokes with their
ing lesson, and the little ones
blacksmith sat with a big ABC book open on his knees. It was his voice Franz had heard. He was saying the sounds with the little children,-ba, be, bi, bo, bu. His voice sounded so odd
uddenly, the town clock struck noon. And at the same time they
me to clo
y pale. Little Franz had never
Instead he turned and went to the blackboard and took up a piece of ch
n to them with his head,
RY OF C
fter a great many years, everything changed. The nation had no more strong kings, no more wise lawgivers; its armies were beaten in battle, and neighbouring tribes conquered the country and took the fruitful
cy. This prophecy was whispered in the homes of the poor, taught in the churches, repeated from father to son among the rich; it was like a deep, hidden well of comfort in a desert of suffering. The prophecy said that some time a deliverer should be born for the n
nd it happened, one year, that they had to take a little journey up to the town which was the nearest
small town, that every place was crowded. There was no room for them at the inn. Finally, the
here was no cradle to put Him in, the mother made a little warm nest of the hay in the big wooden manger
d as they watched, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto them! And the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. But the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great j
heavenly host, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God
come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." And they came, with haste, and they found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. An
ND; AND HOW
whether he makes his stories with pen or with tongue, should bring two qualities at least to the work-simplicity of language and a serious sincerity.
should bring to the child an equal interest in what is about to be told; an honest acceptance, for the time being, of the fairies, or the heroes, or the child
et perhaps out of one autobiography may be gleaned an anecdote, or a reminiscence which can be amplified into an absorbing tale. Almost every story-teller will find that the open eye and ear will serve him better than much arduous searching. No one boo
limit things for him, therefore anything is possible. It is the years of our life as they come which narrow our fancies and set a bound to our beliefs; for experience has taught us that for the most part a certain cause will produce a certain effect. The child, on the contrary, has but little knowledge of causes, and as yet bu
hem to the best of his ability. And "nothing," as Stevenson says, "can stagger a child's faith; he accepts the clumsiest substitutes and can swallow the most staring incongruities. The chair he has just been besieging as a castle is taken away for the acc
certing they may be. In dreams the wildest, most improbable and fantastic things happen, but they are not so to the dreamer. The veriest cynic amongst us must take his dreams seriously and without a sneer, whether he is forced to leap from the edge of a precipice, whether he finds himself utterly
giants, fir-trees may be filled with ambitions. A chair may become a horse, a chest of drawers a coach and six, a hearthrug a battlefi
oafing propensities of the immaculate Mrs Fairchild, who never does a hand's turn of good work for anyone from cover to cover, the hard piety, the snobbishness, the brutality of taking the children to the old gallows and seating them before the dangling remains of a murderer, while the lesson of brothe
th two versions; for the infant of eighteen months can follow the narrative of the joys and troubles, errors and kindnesses of Robin, Dicky, Flopsy and Pecksy; while the child of five
n's Pilgrim's Progress and Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, and from many another old friend, stories may be gathered, but the story-teller will find that in almost all cases adaptation is a necessity. The joy of the hunt, howe
r, all yielding either good original material for adaptation, o
in A History of Story-tellin
BI
SE'S MELOD
Kate Douglas Wigg
KINDERGART
AZINE, bound vo
bound volume
, edited by Prof. Charle
ITTLEST ONES, by Sara
, by Maud Lind
RIES, by Maud L
'S F
CHILDREN, by Sara C
OR THE STORY-TELLER,
THE LITTLE ONES, by Go
th an ethical bearing), by E.L
RY HOUR, by Ada M.
TORY HOUR, by Nanni
E HOUR, by R. Brimle
TO CHILDREN, by H. Wadd
by Florence Du
INOGION
RELIQUES
THE AGES SERI
E AND ROME, by G
EEK MYTHS, b
BIN HOOD, by
NG ARTHUR, by
EK HISTORY, by H
WAGNER, by J.
ld English and Celtic sources),
selected from "Tales of a Grand
EK TRAGEDY, by H
ARTHLY PARADISE, b
CHAUCER, by J
OLD TESTAMENT,
om the Norse eddas and sagas), b
N QUIXOTE, by H
D THE PEERS OF CHARLEM
dded. The material is precisely the right kind for the story-teller, since the stories have come to us from distant days when, as the nati
ENGLISH, by F
RIES, by Josephine
, by S.R. Cro
F SAINTS, by Wm.
D OF ULSTER, by Ele
INN, by T.W. Rolles
EPIC, by H.A. Gu
E AND ROME, by H.A
SEMEN, by H.A. G
THE MIDDLE AGES, by H
F THE BRITISH RACE, by M
SY OF THE SC
FIELDS, by Lafcadio
S, by Laura E. Ri
RSEN'S FA
S FAIR
ALES, by Joseph
ANY LANDS, by Lil
LES, by Joseph
LES, by Joseph
S, by W.H. Barker and
LES, by R. Nisbe
LES, by R. Nisbe
NCE, by Oscar
TALES, by Se
ORNERS, by S
ABIAN
(and others), by And
by John Finnemo
FAIRY BOOK.
translated by Susan Bollar
LD'S WORLD
IRYLAND, by Hol
EN RIVER, by John Ru
BOOK, by Jenkyn
ORTH WIND, by George
ABOUT ANIMALS, by C.
UT GREAT DISCOVERIES, b
Joel Chandler Ha
LAYS OF A
, by Sir Thomas M
RT, by Henry Newb
TE, by Susan Cun
, by Rudyard Kip
by Rudyard Kipl
Richard Jefferi
PEOPLE, by Clara D.
OPLE, by Clara D.
EOPLE, by Clara D.
BOOK, by Andrew
KNOWN, by Ernest Tho
YTHS, by Florence
THS, by F.V. F
ATURE, by Mrs A
ILS, by W.J.
ILD, by Chas. G.D. R
FRIENDS, by
VERSES, by R.L. St
TLE CHILDREN, compiled by M
S AND GIRLS, compiled by Ma
, compiled by Madalen
y Ouida.
SPEARE, by Dr Thom
IE QUEENE, by Laurenc
Maria Edgewort