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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Child's Story Garden, by Various
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Child's Story Garden
+
+Author: Various
+
+
+Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7868]
+This file was first posted on May 28, 2003
+Last Updated: May 14, 2013
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHILD'S STORY GARDEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+A CHILD'S STORY GARDEN
+
+[Illustration]
+
+TO THE LITTLE CHILDREN
+
+[Illustration]
+
+By Various
+
+Compiled by Elizabeth Heber
+
+
+
+
+NOTE
+
+These selected stories have been used by teachers of the kindergarten
+and primary grades in the Indianapolis Schools. This little book has
+been compiled for mothers and teachers with the purpose of meeting a
+demand for children's literature that will not only add to the child's
+literary culture, but will also suggest high ideals through the story
+form. For material used we gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to:
+Rev. Neil McPherson, Sarah L. Kirlin, Leonore D. Eldridge, Martha A.
+Gill, Bessie Brown Adkinson, Edith D. Wachstetter, Grace Erskine DeVere,
+Fords Hulburt Publishing Co., for the selections, "The Anxious Leaf" and
+"Coming and Going" from Henry Ward Beecher's, "Norwood."
+
+ELIZABETH HEBER
+
+Primary Teacher School No. 4 Indianapolis,--Indiana
+
+Illustrations by
+
+GRACE GARFIELD
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+Siegfried, the King's Son
+
+The Song of the Pine Tree
+
+A Christmas Story
+
+The Myth of Arachne
+
+The Birds of Killingworth
+
+The Myth of Pan
+
+The Bell of Atri
+
+The Anxious Leaf
+
+Coming and Going
+
+How the Dimples Came
+
+The Proud Little Apple Blossom
+
+The Brave Knight
+
+King Robert of Sicily
+
+The Great Stone Face
+
+The First Christmas Tree
+
+The Story of Abraham
+
+The Story of Moses
+
+The Story of David
+
+The Story of Joseph
+
+The Courtesy of the Spartan Boy
+
+Twenty-third Psalm
+
+
+
+
+SIEGFRIED, THE KING'S SON
+
+
+Siegfried was the son of the good King Siegmund. He lived in the great
+palace with his father and the gentle queen, his mother.
+
+Siegfried had everything his heart could desire. He was loved by every
+one about the palace. He had many servants to wait upon him, and
+beautiful clothes to wear at all times. More than this, the stables of
+the great palace were full of horses, and Siegfried could ride or drive
+whenever he wished to do so.
+
+Now, the king was as wise as he was good, and he knew that if Siegfried
+would grow to be a good king he must learn to work with his hands. The
+king and queen talked of it, and, although they disliked to part with
+their son, they decided to send Siegfried to Mimer, the wonderful
+blacksmith.
+
+Mimer was a queer little man. His back was bent and his hair was long
+and white. He had a long white beard and two very sharp, black eyes.
+Mimer's shop was out in the great, dark forest, and many boys came to
+learn of this wonderful master, for Mimer, you must know, was the best
+blacksmith in all the king's country.
+
+To this shop Siegfried was sent. At first he was very lonely and
+unhappy. There were no servants now to wait upon him. His soft,
+beautiful clothing had been exchanged for a suit of the coarsest
+material and a huge leather apron. There was no soft bed waiting for him
+at night, only a pile of straw in the corner. But Siegfried was a brave
+boy, and lost no time complaining. He worked patiently at his anvil, day
+after day, learning from his master to make strong chains of iron, as
+well as dainty chains of gold and silver, for the queen to wear. One day
+Mimer came into the shop and sat down beside Siegfried's anvil. The boys
+could see that he was troubled, and they left their anvils and came to
+the master, begging him to tell them what troubled him.
+
+Slowly he raised his head and looked at them all. Then he said: "A giant
+has come into the country, who says he is the most wonderful smith of
+all. He says he has made a coat of armor that no sword can pierce. I
+have worked day and night, and cannot make a strong sword. Who is
+willing to try for me?"
+
+The boys all hung their heads, for they knew not how to help Mimer. Then
+Siegfried stood before his master and said: "Let me try, oh, Mimer!" And
+the master was willing. Siegfried went to work at once, and for seven
+long days he did not leave his place at the anvil.
+
+At the end of the time he brought to Mimer a sword that was strong and
+bright. "We will try it," said Mimer, and called together all the boys,
+and took them to a little stream near the shop. Mimer then took a single
+thread of wool and threw it into the water. As it was carried along,
+Mimer took the sword and held it before the thread. The water carried
+the thread along until it reached the sword. Then one half of the thread
+passed to the right of the sword and the other to the left, and the
+thread was not moved from its course. "This is a good blade," said Mimer
+proudly. But Siegfried was not satisfied. He took the sword and broke it
+in pieces and put it into the fire again. For three long weeks Siegfried
+worked patiently at the anvil. Then he brought to Mimer a sword that was
+sharper and brighter and stronger than the first.
+
+Again the boys were taken to the little stream, and this time a handful
+of wool was thrown into the water. When it reached the edge of the sword
+half of the wool passed to the right and half to the left of the sword,
+and not one single thread was moved from its place. Siegfried, however,
+was not satisfied, and again broke the sword into pieces and put it back
+into the fire.
+
+Patiently and faithfully he worked for seven long weeks. The sword that
+he brought to Mimer now was stronger and brighter and more beautiful
+than either of the others. The handle was wound with flowers, and the
+edge was as bright as the lightning.
+
+This time, when the boys gathered at the little stream, a pack of wool
+was thrown into the water. When the wool reached the edge of the blade,
+half passed to one side and half to the other, and not one thread was
+moved from its place.
+
+"We will give it another trial," said Siegfried. He ran quickly to the
+shop and paused a moment before the great anvil. Then he swung the
+sword, once, twice, thrice, about his head, and then brought it down
+onto the iron. There was no noise, but the great anvil fell apart, and
+the sword was as sharp and bright as ever.
+
+"This is the best I can do," said Siegfried. "Good master, my sword is
+done!" Then Mimer sent his swiftest messenger to the king to tell him
+that he was ready to meet the giant.
+
+The day of the contest came. Mimer's friends sat on one side of the
+road, the giant's friends on the other. At the top of the hill the two
+masters were to meet, the giant with his armor, Mimer with his sword.
+Soon a mighty shout arose! The giant, wearing the wonderful coat of
+glittering steel, came up the hill. He sat down on a huge rock at the
+top of the hill. As the people waited, a queer little man was seen
+coming slowly up the hill. His back was bent, and his white hair hung
+about his shoulders. At his side he carried a sword so bright that the
+lightning seemed to play about its edge, as he walked.
+
+Slowly he went to the top of the hill and stood before the giant. It was
+Mimer, the master. He loosed the sword from his side and raised it above
+his head. "Are you ready?" he asked. "Yes; strike," said the giant,
+laughing, for he was not afraid. One, two, three times the sword flashed
+about Mimer's head. Then it fell again at his side. "I do not wish to
+hurt you," he said, "but if you will take off your armor and place it on
+that stone, I will show you what this wonderful blade can do." The giant
+only laughed again--laughed so loud and so long that the very earth
+seemed to tremble. Then he took off the armor and laid it on the rock.
+Mimer stepped back, raised the sword again, swung it about his head
+until the light seemed to blind the people. Then it came down. The
+people waited. There was no clash of iron. All was still.
+
+Then Mimer stepped up to the armor and touched it with his foot. It fell
+apart, and the rock beneath it fell apart, too. Half the rock started to
+roll down the hill. On, on it went, faster and faster, and fell with a
+mighty splash into the river at the foot of the hill, and if you should
+go to that far-away country you could see it lying there, far down below
+the surface of the water.
+
+Then a mighty shout arose! Mimer's friends, and the great king, too,
+joined in the applause. The giant, no longer boastful, stooped down,
+gathered up the two parts of the armor, and went with his friends into a
+far country. Mimer took the wonderful sword and went back to his place
+in the blacksmith shop, still the master of all the smiths.
+
+Very few people, however, knew that it was the king's own son,
+Siegfried, who had made the wonderful sword.
+
+
+
+
+THE SONG OF THE PINE TREE
+
+
+It was a wee pine tree in a very large forest. It could not see anything
+around it, for the other pine trees about it were so very tall. They
+could only tell the little pine tree what they saw. At night the little
+tree would often gaze at the sky and the stars that peeped out. And
+sometimes the big, round moon would pass over the sky. And all day long,
+all that the little pine tree could see above it was the blue sky, and
+the beautiful white clouds that went sailing by like so many ships on
+the sea. The little pine tree wished to grow and be tall, like the rest
+of the trees, for it wanted to see what was in the world outside of the
+forest. The tall pine trees would sing songs as the wind whistled
+through their branches, and the little pine tree waited day after day,
+so that it might be tall and sing songs, too. When summer came the birds
+would rest on the branches of this wee tree, but would not build nests,
+because it was too low. When winter came little white snowflakes came
+fluttering down and rested on the branches of the little pine tree.
+
+Year after year the little tree waited, but it grew all this time, and
+seemed to stretch higher and higher its beautiful green branches.
+
+One day, when the little snowflakes had fluttered down and made all the
+world white, and the wind was whistling a merry tune, the little pine
+tree heard some strange noises. The tall pine trees nodded their heads,
+for they knew who were coming. They were the woodmen. They had a sled
+with them, drawn by horses. The sight was strange to the pine tree, for
+it had never before seen woodmen, nor a sled, nor horses. But the old
+pine trees knew what it all meant, for they had seen the woodmen many
+times. They wondered which tree the woodmen would choose. Now, the
+little pine tree had grown, and it was not a wee tree any longer, but
+was a straight, strong, beautiful tree. The woodmen walked about with
+something very bright and shining in their hands. When they came to this
+pine tree they looked at it, shook it and sounded the ax against its
+trunk.
+
+How queer the pine tree felt! It wondered what they were going to do
+with it. Suddenly a sharp sound rang out in the air, and another, and
+still another one. And the pine tree felt itself swaying and swaying,
+and down it went, lower and lower, until its branches touched the soft
+white snow on the ground. The woodmen lifted the pine tree very
+carefully, placed it on the sled and drove the horses away. Pine Tree
+was happy now, for he was going to see something of the great, wonderful
+world.
+
+The woodmen drove the horses out of the forest into the beautiful white
+world. On and on they went until at last they came to a little village
+by the sea. They drove through the village and into a great shipyard,
+where saws were buzzing, hammers were pounding, and busy men were
+hurrying about. Pine Tree had never seen anything like this before. He
+was lifted from the sled and his beautiful branches were taken from the
+trunk. Then he lay with, many other logs for a long time, until one day
+the carpenters took him away, and he found that he was helping to make a
+part of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the busy carpenters worked
+day after day.
+
+At last the strong and stately ship was finished. It glided gracefully
+into the water and sailed away. Pine Tree was very happy now, for he was
+seeing new and strange things. The waves dashed carelessly against the
+ship. They seemed to have a song, too. Pine Tree had not forgotten the
+songs that the old pines used to sing. The waves did not always sing the
+same song--sometimes they would rush and roll against the ship very hard
+until they grew tired, and then they would roll on, and sing a quiet
+song again.
+
+Sometimes the ship would stop at strange countries, people would get
+off, other people would get on, and then the ship would sail off out
+into the sea again. Now, the pine tree had been a part of the ship for
+many years, when one night while the ship was sailing the seas the waves
+grew so high and strong that the parts of the ship could not stay
+together. So Pine Tree was thrown out upon the angry waves and was
+rocked all night long--very roughly at first, but gently afterwards.
+When the sunshine looked down upon the sand the next morning it saw Pine
+Tree. Pine Tree lay there many days.
+
+How lonesome Pine Tree was! He seemed to hear the songs of the old
+pines, and sometimes the songs of the waves. One day he heard another
+song. It was a new song to the pine tree, for the song was sung by some
+little children who were digging in the sand close by. They came here
+every day to play, and once a man came with them. When he saw Pine Tree
+lying upon the sand he said: "This is just what I have been looking for.
+I will use this for the ridge-pole for my little cottage." So he took
+Pine Tree away with him. After a time Pine Tree found himself a part of
+the man's cottage, and, of course, he could not hear the songs of the
+forest, nor the songs of the waves, but he heard new songs. They were
+rock-a-bye-baby songs that the mother in this little cottage would sing
+to her children in the evening, when it was time for them to go to
+sleep.
+
+Years passed, and the children grew to be men and women, and after a
+while all the songs Pine Tree heard were those of the grandmother, which
+were soft and low. At last these, too, were heard no more--the little
+cottage grew quiet and everything was still. Pine Tree wondered where
+everybody was. The only company he had were the birds that came in
+through the window and built nests in the attic. Now the cottage was no
+longer a home, but was used as a barn, and the gentle cows, the woolly
+sheep and the kind horses rested there at night. They, too, seemed to
+sing a song to Pine Tree, but by and by even their song could not be
+heard--nothing but the wind and the owls in the trees outside--because
+what had once been the cottage, and then a barn, was now a forsaken
+little hut.
+
+One day Pine Tree heard a man whistling. Oh! how he hoped he would come
+in, for he had not seen anybody nor heard any of the songs he had loved
+for so long. Pine Tree heard the whistle come nearer and nearer, and at
+last the man stepped through the doorway. He looked about him and saw
+the spider webs hanging in the corners and the birds flying in and out
+of the windows, and he wondered how long it had been since people had
+lived there. He looked up and saw the ridge-pole, which had once been
+Pine Tree. "Oh!" he said, "I have found what I have long been looking
+for." So he climbed up and loosened the boards and took Pine Tree out of
+his resting place. Now Pine Tree was going once more out into the world.
+The man carried him on and took him into a little shop. It was a queer
+shop, too, for there were many bright, shining things lying on the
+work-bench. They were tools, you know. The man had a kind face and he
+handled Pine Tree very carefully. He sawed and smoothed Pine Tree many
+days, and as he worked he whistled and sang, for he was happy. Sometimes
+he would whistle some of the songs that Pine Tree had heard when he
+lived in the forest, and then sometimes those he had heard on the ocean,
+and again he would whistle the songs that Pine Tree had heard in the
+home of the children.
+
+At last the man's work was finished. Pine Tree had been made into a
+wonderful musical instrument--a violin. The man took a bow and drew it
+across the strings, and as he did so he smiled and nodded his head, for
+the music was very sweet. The violin, which had once been Pine Tree, and
+then part of a ship, and the ridge-pole of the cottage and the barn,
+seemed to sing to the man the songs of the forest, the songs of the
+ocean, the songs of the home, and the songs of the lowly barn.
+
+One day the man put the violin in a case and took it away on a long
+journey. When the case was opened, the violin saw that they were in a
+strange hall full of people, and many of them were talking of this
+man--the violin-maker.
+
+The man lifted the violin from the case and went out upon a large
+platform before the people, and began playing for them. He seemed to say
+to the violin, "Sing for me," and as he drew the bow across the strings
+the violin sang. It sang to the people, first the very songs that the
+tall pines sang in the forest. The song changed, and the lap of the
+waters, and the dip of the oar could be heard as on a moonlight summer
+night; then the angry wind and the dash of the waves could be heard as
+in a fierce storm. Slowly this song died, and everything was quiet.
+Then, after a little while, the faraway sound of children's
+voices--their laughter and singing--was heard, and then came the sweet
+lullaby to the sleepy babes.
+
+These songs all died away, and the violin sang the songs of the birds in
+the summer-time, and the lowing of cattle, and the bleating of sheep in
+the cold winter-time.
+
+At last the violin could sing no longer the songs it knew, but a new
+song came forth which was also very beautiful, and which caused the
+people to bend forward and listen with eager faces, for it was the song
+that came from the heart of the old man who was master of the violin.
+
+
+
+
+A CHRISTMAS STORY
+
+
+It was so long ago that the whole world has forgotten the date and even
+the name of the little town in which lived a little boy whose name was
+Hans.
+
+Little Hans lived with his aunt, who was quite an old lady. She was not
+always kind to Hans, but this made no difference to him. He loved her
+just the same, and forgot that she was ever cross and very unkind to him
+at times.
+
+Hans went to school with many other boys, but he was not clothed as they
+were. He had to wear the same clothes both week days and Sundays; the
+same even in the summer that he wore in the winter.
+
+It was now midwinter, when everything was wrapped in snow and glazed
+with ice, while the north winds sang loud and whistled down the
+chimneys, played very roughly with the bare trees, and crept through
+every crack and crevice of the house. The frost, too, was busy pinching
+the cheeks and biting the toes of the boys, and making them run, jump
+and dance to keep warm.
+
+The children were wild with the excitement and the joy that was astir at
+this time. For there were secrets in the air. Every one was busy making
+gifts for some loved one.
+
+It was the night before Christmas, the one great birthday on which the
+whole world rejoiceth and when all endeavor to make their fellow men
+happy.
+
+The schoolmaster and all of his pupils started for the midnight worship
+and prayer at the church. All of the boys were well clothed, with heavy
+coats, fur caps, thick mittens, and very heavy and warm shoes. But
+little Hans had only a poor, plain, ragged suit, with no overcoat, no
+mittens, and his shoes were only wooden ones. It was a very cold night,
+and the boys and the schoolmaster had to walk very fast to keep warm.
+But little Hans did not mind the cold so much, because the stars smiled
+down upon him and seemed like so many diamonds set in a deep blue
+canopy, each one glittering and flashing in the darkness. The snow, too,
+was a sparkling mass, and Hans wondered if the stars could see
+themselves reflected in the tiny snow crystals which covered the earth.
+
+At last they reached the church, whose windows were shedding forth a
+soft, golden light on the stillness and darkness of the cold winter
+night. This little group of worshipers quietly passed into the church
+and sank noiselessly into their pews. It was a beautiful place to Hans.
+He loved it dearly, and was always happy to come here. The candles were
+all lighted, and they burned steadily brighter and brighter, filling the
+church with a beautiful mellow light. The grand old organ softly and
+clearly sent forth its tones, each one growing richer, deeper and
+sweeter, and gradually the voices of the choir boys and the tones of the
+organ filled the old church with such beautiful music that little Hans's
+heart seemed to bound within him, and his whole soul was enraptured,
+while there shone from his face a radiance that only a divine
+inspiration could bring forth.
+
+At length, after the people had sung, each one knelt and offered
+thanksgiving to the Heavenly Father, little Hans, too, knelt and offered
+thanks for the blessings which he had received during that year, and for
+the tender care of the Father of all.
+
+The people then quietly passed out of the warm church into the cold of
+the night. Hans was the last one out, and as he carefully made his way
+down the icy steps he noticed a little boy no larger than himself
+sitting on the steps, with his head resting against the church. He was
+fast asleep. His face was beautiful, and seemed clothed in a golden
+light. Beside him, tied in a cloth, were a square, a hammer, a saw and
+other tools of a carpenter. He had neither shoes nor stockings on his
+feet, although his clothing was spotless and of the purest white. It
+grieved Hans that the child should have no shoes, not even one to place
+for the Christ-child to fill with gifts.
+
+Hans stooped and took from his right foot the wooden shoe and placed it
+in front of the sleeping child, so that the Christ-child would not pass
+him by. Hans then limped along on the ice and snow, not feeling how cold
+it was, but only thinking of the poor child asleep out in the cold.
+
+The other boys were talking of the good things awaiting them at home, of
+the feasts, the plum pudding, the Christmas trees, and the many drums,
+wagons and blocks the Christ-child would put in their shoes that night.
+
+When Hans arrived home he found his aunt awaiting him, and when she saw
+that he had only one shoe, and he had told her all about the other one,
+she was very angry with him, and sent him to bed. Hans placed the wooden
+shoe from his left foot at the fireside, hoping that the Christ-child
+would remember him as he passed by.
+
+The first sunbeam that crept into Hans's bedroom and kissed him the next
+morning awoke him, and he bounded downstairs, and flew to the great open
+fireplace to find his shoe.
+
+Hans rubbed his eyes and caught his breath, for, to his great surprise,
+there were both of his wooden shoes, filled with beautiful toys; by the
+fireside he found warm clothing and many other things to make him
+comfortable and happy.
+
+Hearing loud voices, Hans went to the door. The people were standing in
+a crowd about the priest, who was talking to them. He told Hans that
+where he had seen the child asleep on the church steps there was now in
+the window above a beautiful crown set with precious jewels. He said
+that the child was the Christ-child, whom the Heavenly Father had again
+sent among men on earth for that night, and that it was He with whom
+Hans had shared his wooden shoes.
+
+The people bowed themselves before that miracle that the good God had
+seen fit to work, to reward the faith and charity of a child.
+
+Francois Coppee, [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE MYTH OF ARACHNE
+
+
+A long time ago there lived a maiden whose name was Arachne. She could
+weave the most beautiful fabrics that people had ever seen. She chose
+the most exquisite colors. They were the colors that were found in the
+flowers, the green of the trees and grass, and the varied, dainty tints
+and shades from the blue sky and its gorgeous sunsets.
+
+People had said that Arachne learned to weave from the birds, although
+some of them thought that Arachne had been taught to weave by the
+goddess Athena. When Arachne heard that the people thought that Athena
+had taught her to weave she became very angry. She declared that Athena
+had not taught her to weave; that no one had taught her. She said she
+would compete with the goddess Athena in weaving. The goddess Athena was
+a noble goddess. She was the Goddess of Wisdom, and of all the Arts and
+Crafts. When she heard what Arachne had declared she said: "It is very
+wrong that Arachne should be so proud and envious. I will go to see
+her."
+
+The goddess Athena disguised herself in humble apparel and visited
+Arachne. She talked with her about her weaving, and still Arachne
+boasted of the wonderful weaving she could do; but the goddess told her
+that she was foolish to be so boastful.
+
+This made Arachne angry, and she said: "I am not afraid at all, not of
+any one in the world." At this moment the goddess threw aside her plain
+garments and revealed herself the goddess Athena. This did not frighten
+Arachne. She looked calmly at Athena and told her that she would give up
+anything, even her life, to prove to the people that she could weave
+even better than the goddess.
+
+They then set about to arrange their looms, to select their threads, and
+to begin work. At last they began. Whirr! Whirr! went the shuttles.
+Spin! Spin! they sang, faster and faster, in and out, over and under,
+flew the shuttles.
+
+Arachne had chosen the most delicate, lovely threads that she could
+find, but while she wove these beautiful threads she was thinking of her
+revenge and other evil and wicked thoughts, while her skillful and swift
+fingers moved faster and faster.
+
+At the same time Athena was sitting in the sunlight, busily and
+carefully weaving over and under, and in and out, her dainty, beautiful
+silken threads, which seemed to have come from the very sunbeams
+themselves. The colors were most harmonious and exquisite. Even the
+rainbow was surpassed. Athena was thinking of the fleecy clouds, which
+were to her as white ships that sailed through the blue sea of the sky.
+She thought of the brown earth, with its emerald decking of trees and
+meadows; of the buttercups and daisies of gold, and the roses and lilies
+which dotted Mother Earth's carpet. She thought of the butterflies that
+flitted about, and of the birds, in coats of red, blue, glossy black,
+and dazzling gold.
+
+When Arachne looked at Athena's work she shuddered with shame, for,
+although her own work had been skillfully done, it was marred by the
+envy, malice and evil thoughts she had woven into it. While Athena's
+work was no more skillfully woven, it was by far the more beautiful. The
+azure sky, with fluffy white clouds; the meadows, dotted with flowers,
+and fields, with their shady green trees, filled with birds of gorgeous
+hues, all made a wonderful picture.
+
+Poor Arachne knew her fate. She hastened away and took with her the
+threads that she had been using in weaving, and wrapped them about her
+neck. She thought she would end her life by hanging to a tree. This made
+the beautiful and kind Athena sad, and she said to Arachne: "You must
+live--live on forever," and she touched Arachne and changed her form.
+Arachne gradually grew smaller and smaller, until she was no larger than
+a honeybee. She had many legs and wore a brown, fuzzy coat. Instead of
+hanging by the threads she had used she now hung from a dainty silken
+spider web, for Arachne was still a weaver, but not a weaver as of old.
+
+Today, perchance, if you should see a busy little spider, it might be
+one of Arachne's children, or perhaps Arachne herself. No one
+knows--neither you nor I.
+
+
+
+
+THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH
+
+
+It was spring, and the little town of Killingworth told of the joy of
+living again. Every little rivulet had broken from its frozen chain,
+which had held it fast during the long winter, and was rushing on,
+rejoicing at its freedom. The purple buds, holding wonderful secrets of
+things to come, were bursting forth from every tree and bush, while from
+the topmost boughs the birds called and sang to their mates: "Oh! be
+happy, be happy, for spring has come!"
+
+There were all the messengers of spring--the robin, the oriole, and the
+bluebird--filling the orchard with their glad melody. The little sparrow
+chirped in glee for the very joy of living, and the hungry crows, in
+great crowds, called loudly the tidings of spring. But not long could
+they stop to sing, for the homes must be made, and soon from every tree
+and bush could be seen these dainty, downy nests, and in every nest the
+eggs, and in every egg a wonderful secret about which all the happy
+birds twittered and sang together.
+
+The farmers, as they plowed their fields and made their gardens that
+spring, heard these tree-top concerts, and saw the multitude playing and
+working about them, and they shook their heads and said: "Never before
+have we had so many birds in Killingworth. We must surely do something,
+or they will eat up half of our crops, and take the grain and fruits
+that should go to feed our own children." Then it was decided to have a
+meeting. All in the town were free to come, and here they were to decide
+what was to be done with the troublesome birds. The meeting was held in
+the new town hall, and to it came all the great men of the town, and
+from far and near the farmers gathered. The great hall was crowded. The
+doors and windows were open, and through them came a beautiful flood of
+bird music, but the sturdy farmers and great men shook their heads as
+they heard it. And then they told how the birds were eating the grains
+and spoiling the fruit, and every one said the birds must go. There
+seemed to be not a single friend to the singers outside, until one man
+arose--the teacher in the town, much loved by the children, and himself
+loving everything that God had made. He looked sadly on the men around
+him, and then he said:
+
+"My friends, can you drive away these birds that God has made and sent
+to us, for a few handfuls of grain and a little fruit? Will you lose all
+this music that you hear outside? Think of the woods and orchard without
+the birds, and of the empty nests you will see. You say the birds are
+robbing you; but instead they are your greatest helpers. With their
+bright little eyes they see the little bugs and worms which destroy the
+fruit. Think who has made them. Who has taught them the songs and the
+secret of building their nests. You will be sorry when they are gone and
+will wish them back."
+
+But still the farmers shook their heads and said: "The birds must go."
+So the birds of Killingworth were driven away, until not a single note
+was heard, and only empty nests were left. The little children of the
+town were hoping each day to see their friends again, and a strange
+stillness and loneliness seemed to fill the little town, for the music
+in the air had ceased.
+
+The summer came, and never before had it been so hot. The little insects
+and worms which the little birds had always driven away covered every
+tree and bush, eating the leaves until nothing was left but the bare
+twigs. The streets were hot and shadeless. In the orchard the fruit
+dropped, scorched and dried by the sun. When the grains were gathered
+one-half of the crop had been destroyed by the insects. Now the old
+farmers said among themselves:
+
+"We have made a great mistake. We need the birds."
+
+One day in the early spring a strange sight was seen in the little town
+of Killingworth. A great wagon covered with green branches was driven
+down the main street, and among the branches were huge cages, and the
+cages were filled with birds. Oh! they were all there--the robin, the
+bluebird, the lark and the oriole--birds of every color and kind. When
+the great wagon reached the town hall it stopped. The cages were taken
+down from the branches of green, and little children, with eager hands
+and happy eyes, threw open the doors. Out came the birds and away they
+flew to field and orchard and wood, singing again and again:
+
+"Oh! we are glad to be here! We are glad to be here!"
+
+The little children sang, too, and the gray-haired farmers said: "The
+birds must always stay in Killingworth."
+
+Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE MYTH OF PAN
+
+
+In a very far-away country, a long time ago, there lived a man who loved
+music and little children and the birds and flowers. And the little
+children loved Pan--for that was his name--because he told them such
+beautiful stories and played on a set of pipes which he had made from
+the reeds which grew by the river. Every evening, when it was time for
+the sun to go to sleep and all the little stars to wake up, Pan would
+take his pipes, go down to the river side, and play all the songs he
+knew. Everybody could hear Pan's music for miles and miles, but many of
+them did not like his music, and wished that he would not play. Once
+some of these people gathered together and planned how they could stop
+Pan from playing his pipes, and while they were talking, some beetles
+near by heard their plans. Now, one of these beetles had hurt his wing
+at one time and had fallen down in the dust on the road, and could go no
+farther. It was a very hot day, and the poor little beetle was almost
+dead from the heat. Soon Pan came walking along and saw the beetle, and,
+picking it up very carefully, he carried it on some green leaves to a
+shady place, where he left it to rest and get well. The beetle had never
+forgotten Pan's kindness, and when he heard the plans these bad people
+had made he said: "Come, friends, and go with me, for we must hurry and
+tell Pan what the wicked people have planned, so that he will not be
+there when they go to push him into the river."
+
+The beetles had only one day in which to reach Pan, for the evil people
+were going to carry out their plans the next night, so they spread their
+wings and flew as fast as they could fly. They could not travel far at a
+time, because their wings grew very tired and their bodies were so
+heavy. When they could fly no longer they would walk, and when they were
+tired walking they would fly again. In this way they hurried on and on,
+for the day was growing into night, and they could hear Pan playing his
+beautiful songs way down by the river bank. They had almost reached him
+when they heard what seemed to be a crowd of people running through the
+bushes and among the trees, and it seemed that they were going toward
+the river. Next there was a big splash and many voices talking loudly,
+and after that--silence. When the beetles reached the place where Pan
+always sat they could not find him; but there in the river were his
+pipes, which he loved so well.
+
+The people had reached Pan before the beetles, and had pushed him into
+the river, and his pipes fell in, too, but Pan did not wait to get them.
+He climbed out and ran as fast as his feet would carry him. The people
+ran after him, but he leaped and bounded over the bushes and flowers,
+and ran on and on. Sometimes they were almost upon him, but he always
+out-ran them. He wished to hide, but could find no place. He could not
+climb the trees, for the people could climb trees, too, and he could not
+hide in the grass or under the bushes, for they would be sure to find
+him there.
+
+At last, along the river bank, he spied the little violets that had
+closed their eyes, but were still gazing at the stars. One little violet
+seemed to say to him, "I will hide you," and it folded its little petals
+around him. Pan was safe now, and from his hiding place he could hear
+the people searching for him. They looked for a long time, but they did
+not find him. He was happy and thankful, and, as he was very tired and
+the soft petals of the violets made a pleasant resting place, he was
+soon fast asleep.
+
+Away back on the river bank, where Pan always sat, were the beetles.
+They were very sorry that they had not reached him in time to tell him
+that the people were coming, and that they could not get his pipes out
+of the water, where they had fallen. And, though they never saw him
+again, they always remembered him and the beautiful music he used to
+play.
+
+One day some little children were picking violets by the river, and they
+found one little violet that had eyes just like Pan's eyes. They took it
+home and named it Pan's Eye, in memory of their old friend, but, as that
+was rather a hard name for the little children to say, they called it
+Pansy.
+
+
+
+
+THE BELL OF ATRI
+
+
+In the little town of Atri, which was nestled on the side of a wooded
+hill, there was a strange custom.
+
+The king had one day brought to the town a great bell, which he hung in
+the market place beneath a shed, protected from the sun and rain. Then
+he went forth with all his knightly train through the streets of Atri
+and proclaimed to all the people that whenever a wrong was done to any
+one, he should go to the market place and ring the great bell, and
+immediately the king would see that the wrong was righted.
+
+Many years had gone by. Many times the great bell had rung in the little
+town of Atri, and, as the king had said, the wrongs of which it told,
+were always righted.
+
+In time, however, the great rope by which the bell was rung, unraveled
+at the end and was unwound, thread by thread. For a long time it
+remained this way, while the great bell hung silent. But close by, a
+grape-vine grew, and, reaching upward, finally entwined its tendrils
+around the ragged end of the bell rope, making it strong and firm again
+as it grew around it, up toward the great bell itself.
+
+Now, in the town of Atri there lived a knight, who, in his younger days,
+had loved to ride and hunt; but as he grew old he cared no more for
+these things. He sold his lands, his horses and hounds, for he now loved
+only the gold which the sale of them brought to him. This he hoarded and
+saved, living poorly, that he might save the more.
+
+Only one thing he kept--his favorite horse, who had served him
+faithfully all his life. But even this faithful friend he kept in a poor
+old stable, often allowing him to go cold and hungry.
+
+Finally the old man said: "Why should I keep this beast now? He is old
+and lazy, and no longer of any use to me. Besides, his food costs me
+much that I might save for myself. I will turn him out and let him find
+food where he can."
+
+So the faithful old horse, who had served his master all his days, was
+turned out without a home. He wandered through the streets of the town,
+trying to find something to eat. Often the dogs barked at him, and the
+cold winds made him shiver as he wandered about, hungry and homeless,
+with no one to care for him.
+
+One summer afternoon, when all the drowsy little town seemed sleeping,
+the tones of the great bell rang out, loud and clear, waking the people
+from their naps and calling them forth to see who was ringing the bell
+of justice.
+
+The judge, with a great crowd following, hurried to the market place,
+but when they came near, they stopped in surprise. No man was near, who
+might have rung the bell; no one but a thin old horse, who stood quietly
+munching the vine which grew around the bell rope. He had spied the
+green leaves growing there, and, being hungry, had reached for them,
+thus ringing the great bell of Atri, and calling forth the judge and all
+the people.
+
+"'Tis the old knight's horse," the people cried. Then many told the tale
+of how the old horse had been turned out to starve, while his master
+hoarded and saved his gold.
+
+"The horse has rung the bell for justice, and justice he shall have,"
+said the judge. "Go, bring the old knight to me."
+
+The knight was hurried to the place, where, before all the people, the
+judge censured him for his cruel treatment of his faithful old horse,
+and asked him to give a reason for it.
+
+"The old beast is useless," said his master. "He is mine, and I have a
+right to do with him as I wish."
+
+"Not so," said the judge. "He has served you faithfully all his life. He
+can not speak to tell of his wrongs, so we must speak for him. Go, now;
+take him home. Build a new stable and care for him well."
+
+The old knight walked slowly home, while the horse was led behind by the
+crowd.
+
+So the Great Bell of Atri had righted one more wrong, for it was even as
+the judge had commanded. The faithful old horse lived in comfort all the
+rest of his life, for his master, in caring for him, learned to love him
+again, and treated him as only a faithful friend should be treated.
+
+When the king heard the story he said:
+
+"Surely, never will the bell ring in a better cause than in speaking for
+a suffering dumb creature who can not speak for himself."
+
+Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE ANXIOUS LEAF
+
+
+Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and cry, as leaves
+often do when a gentle wind is about. And the twig said: "What is the
+matter, little leaf?" And the leaf said: "The wind just told me that one
+day it would pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground!"
+
+The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told it
+to the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent
+back word to the leaf: "Do not be afraid. Hold on tightly, and you shall
+not go till you want to."
+
+And so the leaf stopped sighing, but went on nestling and singing. Every
+time the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branches
+shook themselves, and the little twig shook itself, and the little leaf
+danced up and down merrily, as if nothing could ever pull it off. And so
+it grew all summer long, till October.
+
+And when the bright days of autumn came the little leaf saw all the
+leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow and some
+scarlet, and some striped with both colors. Then it asked the tree what
+it meant. And the tree said: "All these leaves are getting ready to fly
+away, and they have put on these beautiful colors because of joy."
+
+Then the little leaf began to want to go, too, and grew very beautiful
+in thinking of it, and when it was very gay in color it saw that the
+branches of the tree had no bright color in them, and so the leaf said:
+"O branches! why are you lead-color and we golden?"
+
+"We must keep on our work-clothes, for our life is not done; but your
+clothes are for holiday, because your tasks are over," said the
+branches.
+
+Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go, without
+thinking of it, and the wind took it up and turned it over and over, and
+whirled it like a spark of fire in the air, and then it dropped gently
+down under the edge of the fence, among hundreds of leaves, and fell
+into a dream, and it never waked up to tell what it dreamed about.
+
+
+
+
+COMING AND GOING
+
+
+There came to our fields a pair of birds that had never built a nest nor
+seen a winter. How beautiful was everything! The fields were full of
+flowers and the grass was growing tall, and the bees were humming
+everywhere. Then one of the birds began singing, and the other bird
+said: "Who told you to sing?" And he answered: "The flowers told me, and
+the bees told me, and the winds and leaves told me, and the blue sky
+told me, and you told me to sing." Then his mate answered: "When did I
+tell you to sing?" And he said: "Every time you brought in tender grass
+for the nest, and every time your soft wings fluttered off again for
+hair and feathers to line the nest." Then his mate said: "What are you
+singing about?" And he answered: "I am singing about everything and
+nothing. It is because I am so happy that I sing."
+
+By and by five little speckled eggs were in the nest, and his mate said:
+"Is there anything in all the world as pretty as my eggs?" Then they
+both looked down on some people that were passing by and pitied them
+because they were not birds.
+
+In a week or two, one day, when the father bird came home, the mother
+bird said: "Oh, what do you think has happened?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"One of my eggs has been peeping and moving!" Pretty soon another egg
+moved under her feathers, and then another and another, till five little
+birds were hatched! Now the father bird sang louder and louder than
+ever. The mother bird, too, wanted to sing, but she had no time, and she
+turned her song into work. So hungry were these little birds that it
+kept both parents busy feeding them. Away each one flew. The moment the
+little birds heard their wings fluttering among the leaves, five little
+yellow mouths flew open wide, so that nothing could be seen but five
+yellow mouths!
+
+"Can anybody be happier?" said the father bird to the mother bird. "We
+will live in this tree always, for there is no sorrow here. It is a tree
+that always bears joy."
+
+Soon the little birds were big enough to fly, and great was their
+parents' joy to see them leave the nest and sit crumpled up upon the
+branches. There was then a great time, the two old birds talking and
+chatting to make the young ones go alone! In a little time they had
+learned to use their own wings, and they flew away and away, and found
+their own food, and built their own nests, and sang their own songs with
+joy.
+
+Then the old birds sat silent and looked at each other, until the mother
+bird said: "Why don't you sing?" And he answered: "I can't sing--I can
+only think and think." "What are you thinking of?" "I am thinking how
+everything changes. The leaves are falling off from this tree, and soon
+there will be no roof over our heads; the flowers are all going; last
+night there was a frost; almost all the birds have flown away. Something
+calls me, and I feel as if I would like to fly away."
+
+"Let us fly away together!"
+
+Then they arose silently, and, lifting themselves far up in the air,
+they looked to the north. Far away they saw the snow coming. They looked
+to the south. There they saw flowers and green leaves. All day they
+flew, and all night they flew and flew, till they found a land where
+there was no winter--where flowers always blossom, and birds always
+sing.
+
+
+
+
+HOW THE DIMPLES CAME
+
+
+One bright, beautiful spring day, when the earth was fresh in its new
+green dress decked with flowers, while the birds sang their sweetest
+songs, and the brooks babbled merrily on their way to the rivers, two
+wee dimples were sent by Mother Nature on a journey to find their work
+in the world.
+
+It was a delightful journey through the blue sky and past the fleecy
+white clouds.
+
+They played and danced with the sunbeams who led them on their way to
+the earth.
+
+The dimples could see nothing for them to do, so on they went,
+frolicking and playing.
+
+At last they found themselves among the trees and the bright flowers of
+the earth.
+
+They chased the sunbeams under the leaves, they rode on the butterflies'
+wings, they sipped the honey with the bees from the flowers. Still, they
+could find nothing to do. The sunbeams bade the dimples good-by and
+silently crept home. "Oh," said the dimples, "what shall we do? We have
+no place to rest tonight." "Here is a bird's nest; let us rest in this,"
+said one dimple. "No, that will never do," said the other dimple, "for
+there is the mother bird, who rests in her nest all night."
+
+Just then they spied a window swing open on its hinges. The tiny stars
+came out and peeped into the window, and the lady-moon sent silvery
+moonbeams down to help the dimples find a resting place. Then the
+dimples flew through the window, and there, close by, in her crib,
+curtained around with white, was a wee baby, rosy, sweet, and bright.
+
+"Oh," said one dimple, "I would love to rest on that rosy cheek." "So
+would I," said the other dimple. And they each took a rosy cheek for a
+couch, and here they rested the whole night long.
+
+The robins early in the dawn sat on the cheery boughs and sang loud and
+long, thus waking the dimples, who now knew not what to do. "But," said
+one dimple, "we have not yet found our work." The other dimple said:
+"Let us stay here. Baby's eyes are opening, and we must hide," and each
+dimple nestled away in baby's cheeks. Then her big, blue eyes opened
+wide, to see the sunbeams that had crept through the windows to her
+crib.
+
+The sunbeams coaxed the dimples to come out and play, but the dimples
+would only peep out, and when they did, they brought smiles around
+baby's rosy lips and sunny eyes.
+
+"So you have found your work at last," said the sunbeams. And they had,
+for they helped to bring out the smiles in baby's cheeks. If you look
+the next time you see baby you may see the dimples playing hide and
+seek.
+
+
+
+
+THE PROUD LITTLE APPLE BLOSSOM
+
+
+It was the month of May, but the wind still blew cool, for the sun was
+not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting earth.
+
+Yet some of the birds had come, and more were on their way, and many
+beautiful blossoms were already showing their pink and white blooms, so
+that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the glad cry, "Spring is
+here! Spring is here." Now, it happened that a young princess rode by a
+beautiful orchard in full bloom, and she stopped to pick a branch of
+apple blossoms to take to her palace. All who saw the apple blossom
+praised its beauty and fragrance until the blossom became proud, and
+thought that beauty was the only valuable thing in the world. But as the
+apple blossom looked out upon the field she thought: "Not all of the
+plants are rich and beautiful, as I am, some seem poor and plain." And
+she noticed a little, common, yellow flower, which seemed to lift up its
+sunny head and grow everywhere.
+
+The apple blossom said to the plain little flower, "What is your name?"
+
+"I am called the dandelion," replied the little flower.
+
+"Poor little plant," said the apple blossom. "It is not your fault; but
+how sad you must feel to be so plain and to bear such an ugly name."
+
+Before the little plant could reply a lovely little sunbeam came dancing
+along and said: "I see no ugly flowers. They are all beautiful alike to
+me." And he kissed the apple blossom; but he stooped low and lingered
+long to kiss the little yellow dandelion in the field.
+
+And then some little children came tripping across the field. The
+youngest laughed when they saw the dandelions and kissed them with
+delight. The older children made wreaths and dainty chains of them. They
+picked carefully those that had gone to seed, and tried to blow the
+feathery down off with one breath, making joyous wishes.
+
+"Do you see," said the sunbeam, "the beauty of the dandelion?"
+
+"Only to children are they beautiful," said the proud apple blossom.
+
+By and by an old woman came into the field. She gathered the roots of
+the dandelions, out of which she made tea for the sick, and she sold
+others for money to buy milk for the children.
+
+"But beauty is better than all this," still said the proud little apple
+blossom. Just then the princess came along. In her hand she carried
+something that seemed like a beautiful flower. She covered it carefully
+from the wind. What do you think it was? It was the feathery crown of
+the dandelion. "See!" she said, "how beautiful it is! I will paint it in
+a picture with the apple blossoms."
+
+Then the sunbeam kissed the apple blossom, and as he stooped low to kiss
+the dandelion the apple blossom blushed with shame.
+
+Hans Christian Andersen [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE BRAVE KNIGHT
+
+
+When Christ was on earth, He had a little band of disciples who loved
+him very much. The night before He went away from them, He took them to
+a little upstairs room and there had a supper with them. And it was said
+that at that supper, He used a beautiful golden cup in which He passed
+the wine to them, and when He went away from earth, the disciples loved
+everything He had touched, and they seemed to love most of all this
+golden cup. They called it the Holy Grail, and it was given to a very
+good man, who cared for it carefully, and for years it passed from one
+good man to another, for it was said that if it ever fell into the hands
+of a man who was not good and Christ-loving the cup would be lost.
+
+So for many years it was carefully kept, and people took long journeys
+to see the Holy Grail, which the Master himself used when He was on
+earth. But one day the cup passed into the hands of one who was not
+worthy, and, as it had been said, it was lost.
+
+They searched for it far and near, but it could not be found. Finally
+there came some men who called themselves knights. They were brave,
+strong men, who did many wonderful things for the king, and many of them
+said: "We will spend our lives hunting for the Holy Grail. We will take
+long pilgrimages until we find it." And so the knights searched over
+land and sea, over mountain and plain, hunting for the Holy Grail, but
+still they found it not. Then there came a knight whose name was Sir
+Launfal. He was very young--so young that he had never made a journey,
+nor worn an armor, nor had he ever done a wonderful deed. But he was
+brave, and said in his heart: "I will find the Holy Grail." So he went
+to the silversmith and had a beautiful silver armor and golden spurs
+made, and to the helmet-maker, who made him a helmet of shining silver.
+Next he chose from the stables the finest steed, and he was then ready
+for the journey, and Sir Launfal's heart was full of hope.
+
+On the night before the pilgrimage he lay in his room, and the armor
+hung on the wall before him, with the helmet beside it, and the horse
+stood ready in the stable. At the first ray of morning he was to begin
+his journey, and as he lay he slept, and dreamed a dream. He thought it
+was already morning--the morning of his pilgrimage. He had on his armor
+and his silver helmet, and was riding out of the castle gate on his
+beautiful steed. It was a June morning, and everything was beautiful.
+The very flowers and green grass beneath his feet seemed to bring Sir
+Launfal a message of hope. And as he rode his heart was very glad, and
+he said: "I shall find the Holy Grail." He was riding out of the great
+castle gate when he heard a voice which was tired and weak, and it said:
+"Will you please give me something?" Sir Launfal looked in surprise, and
+there, crouching beside the castle gate, was a beggar, poor and ragged
+and weak, and it was he who had asked in a tired voice, "Will you please
+give me something?" Sir Launfal looked at him and frowned, and said in
+his heart, "Why does this beggar lie at my castle gate to spoil the
+beauty of the morning?" But, because he was a knight and felt that he
+must give something, he took from his purse a piece of gold and threw it
+to the beggar. But the beggar looked at him and said, seeing his
+scornful frown: "I do not wish your gold that you give with scorn.
+Better to me a poor man's crust." But Sir Launfal rode proudly down the
+road on his way, for he felt that he could no longer listen to the poor
+beggar. Then he rode over land and sea, over mountain and plain,
+searching everywhere for the Holy Grail, and, although it sometimes
+seemed very near, he did not find it.
+
+He had now grown to be an old man. The helmet and armor were rusted, his
+clothes had become thin and ragged, he was stooped and gray, and his
+eyes had grown dim with the years, but still he searched, and said in
+his heart: "I will find the Holy Grail." Then he seemed to be near his
+old home one night, and he said to himself: "Before I go on my way I
+will once more look at my old home." And he entered the gate, and as he
+was walking up the path he heard a voice, tired and weak, and it said:
+"Will you please give me something?" He looked down, and there by his
+feet lay the beggar who had asked for something at his castle gate the
+morning he had started on his pilgrimage.
+
+This time Sir Launfal looked at him and smiled. Then he said: "I have
+only a crust of bread, but I will gladly share it with you." Then,
+taking from his pocket a single crust of bread, he stooped and gave the
+half to the beggar. Then Sir Launfal said: "I will get you water to
+quench your thirst," and he went to where the little spring ran merrily
+along in the twilight, and, taking from his pocket a little tin cup,
+battered and rusted from years of use, he filled it to the brim with
+clear, cold water, and returned with it to the beggar. As soon as the
+tin cup touched the beggar's hand it turned into a shining cup of gold,
+and behold! the beggar was no longer there, but in his place there stood
+a man, tall, strong and beautiful, wearing shining white garments, and
+around his head there seemed a radiant glow of light. The beautiful man
+looked at Sir Launfal, and he said, in a voice full of love and
+gentleness: "In your own castle yard you have found the Holy Grail by
+doing kindly service to one of my needy ones."
+
+The beautiful man was gone. Sir Launfal lay in his room. The morning
+sunlight came in through the window, telling him it was time to arise
+and go on his journey. And his helmet and armor still hung on the wall,
+ready for him; but Sir Launfal lay long in thought. There was no need of
+his long pilgrimage, for the poor and the needy were close to his door,
+and he stayed to help them with gifts of love.
+
+James Russell Lowell [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+KING ROBERT OF SICILY
+
+
+King Robert was ruler of all Sicily. Many lands and beautiful castles
+were his, and he had many servants, who obeyed his every word; but they
+obeyed not because they loved him, but because they feared him. He was a
+proud king, and haughty--that is, he would look over his lands, and he
+would say: "Surely, this is a great kingdom, and I am a great king!"
+
+One Easter Sunday morning, King Robert went to church. He wore his
+finest robes, and riding with him were all of his lords and ladies. The
+morning was beautiful, and everything seemed to bear a message of love
+and joy. The grass and flowers that grew by the roadside, the trees that
+waved their branches above, and the blue sky, all seemed to bear the
+same message.
+
+But King Robert saw nothing beautiful. He was thinking only of himself.
+They reached the church, and the sunlight came through the beautiful
+windows, seeming to speak of God above. The pure white lilies on the
+altar whispered to each other, "On this day Christ was risen!" The music
+from the organ seemed to reach every heart, but King Robert sat unmoved
+in his pew. When the minister spoke, the king heard nothing of the
+sermon until certain words caught his ear. The minister was saying these
+words: "The Lord can exalt the humble and can bring down the proud and
+mighty from their seats." The choir chanted the words again and again.
+
+As the king heard, he threw back his head and said: "Why do they teach
+such words as these? There is no power on earth or in heaven above that
+could take my throne."
+
+By and by the king fell asleep in his pew. He must have slept a long
+time, for when he awoke the great church was dark and the moonlight was
+streaming through the great glass windows. The king sprang to his feet
+in alarm, and said: "How dare they go away and leave me alone?" He
+rushed quickly to the door, but it was locked. He called loudly and
+knocked upon the door, and finally the old sexton, asleep on the
+outside, heard the noise and shouted: "Who is there?" And the king
+answered: "It is I--the king. Open the door!"
+
+The old sexton shook his head and murmured to himself: "It must be some
+madman locked in the church," but he unlocked the door, and the king
+rushed wildly out--on out in the street, where the moonlight fell upon
+him. Then suddenly he stopped and gazed at his clothes in amazement, for
+instead of wearing his royal robes he wore nothing but rags. His crown
+was gone, and he seemed a beggar, and he cried out: "How can these
+things be? Some one has robbed me while I have slept, and left me these
+rags."
+
+Then he rushed on to the great castle, and at the gate he again called:
+"Open! I, the king, am here." The great gate swung open and the king
+rushed on through the great castle halls, never pausing until he reached
+the throne room, and there he stopped and stood looking in surprise and
+amazement, for there on his throne sat another king, wearing his crown
+and wearing his robes, and holding in his hand his scepter. King Robert
+looked at the new king and cried: "Why do you sit on my throne, wearing
+my robes and my crown and my scepter?"
+
+The new king only smiled and said: "I am the king, and who art thou?"
+
+King Robert threw back his head haughtily and answered: "I am the king.
+You have no right on my throne."
+
+At these words the strange king smiled sadly, and replied: "I am the
+king, and thou shalt be my servant. Yes, thou shalt be the servant of
+all my servants, for thou shalt be court jester, and wear the cap and
+bells, and have for your companion the ugly ape."
+
+Before King Robert could say more, the servants came and hurried him
+through the castle halls, down to a little room, cold and bare, with
+nothing but a pile of straw in a corner, and there they left him alone,
+save for the ugly ape, which sat in the corner grinning at him. As King
+Robert looked down on the rough pile of straw he said: "It must surely
+be a dream, and I will awaken in the morning and find myself the king."
+
+The morning came, but when he awoke he heard the rustle of the straw
+beneath him, and there in the corner still sat the ugly ape. That day
+the new king called him to the throne, and, looking at him, said: "Art
+thou the king?" And King Robert proudly threw back his head as before
+and answered: "I am the king."
+
+And each day the new king sent for him and asked him the same question,
+and each day King Robert gave the same proud and haughty answer. One day
+there came a summons to the court--King Robert's brother, the Emperor of
+Rome, sent word for King Robert and all of his court to visit him at
+Easter-time, and great preparations were made for the journey. When the
+train was ready it formed a beautiful procession. The new king rode at
+its head, in his splendor, and all the beautiful ladies and the brave
+knights came riding behind in their gorgeous robes. At the last of this
+splendid train rode King Robert on a queer old mule. He had on the cap
+and bells, and behind him sat the ugly ape, and, as they passed along
+the street, the boys laughed and jeered; but King Robert said to
+himself: "They will not laugh long," because his heart was glad now, for
+they were going to Rome, where his own brother ruled, and now surely he
+would be restored to his rights, for his brother would see and know that
+the new king was an impostor. Thus the splendid train rode to Rome, and
+the emperor was there to meet them.
+
+When the emperor saw the strange king he went to him and embraced him
+and called him "brother." At this, King Robert rushed forward and cried
+out: "I am the king, thy brother. This man is an impostor. Do you not
+know me? I am the king." But the emperor only looked at him strangely,
+and, turning to the strange king, he said: "Why do you keep this madman
+at your court?" The new king only smiled, and made no answer.
+
+The visit ended, and again the splendid train passed back to Sicily, and
+King Robert still rode behind. His heart was very sad, because he
+thought: "If my own brother knows me not, what hope can there be?"
+
+When the new king came back to Sicily he changed many of the cruel laws,
+and the whole land was made glad and happy, as it had never been before.
+King Robert noticed the change and wondered at it.
+
+It was Easter-time again, and King Robert said in his heart, "I will go
+to church again this morning." Behind all the procession he rode, as
+usual, and took his seat in the back of the church, so that no one might
+see him. Everything was beautiful at this Easter-time. The church, the
+flowers, the music, all bore the Easter message. When the music began it
+crept into King Robert's heart, and as he listened the tears rolled down
+his cheek, and he bowed his head in prayer. The first words that he
+heard were the old, familiar ones: "The Lord can exalt the humble and
+bring down the proud and mighty from their seats." As poor King Robert
+listened he humbly bowed his head and said: "Ah, surely that is true;
+the Lord in heaven is mightiest of all. He is the king."
+
+When the king and his court had reached home again that day, the new
+king called King Robert immediately to his throne room, and upon his
+face there seemed to be a glorious light shining forth, and, looking at
+King Robert with a wondrous smile, he asked the old, old question: "Art
+thou the king?" But King Robert only bowed his head and said: "I know
+not who I am. I only know that I am the most humble and most unworthy of
+all men to be the king." To these words the new king replied: "Thou art
+indeed the king, and I--I am an angel sent from Heaven to help thee for
+a little while."
+
+When King Robert raised his head, behold! he was alone. The angel had
+gone. He again had on his own robes, his own crown, and was bearing his
+own scepter.
+
+That day, when the courtiers came to wait upon the king, they found him
+kneeling beside his throne in prayer.
+
+Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE GREAT STONE FACE
+
+
+One afternoon, when the sun was going down, a mother and her little boy
+sat at the door of their cottage talking together and watching the great
+mountains before them, as they changed with the tints of the setting
+sun, from gold to crimson, and then to deep purple, till finally the
+afterglow was gone, leaving only the bare mountains standing out in gray
+relief against the evening sky.
+
+"Mother," said the child, whose name was Ernest, "the Great Stone Face
+is smiling at us. I wish it could speak, for it looks so very kind that
+I know its voice is pleasant."
+
+And what was the Great Stone Face?
+
+Off in the distance one great mountain rose far up above the others, and
+stood like a great giant among its fellows. By some peculiar art the
+rocks had been thrown together in such a way as to make the mountain
+look almost exactly like a human face. There was the broad arch of the
+forehead, a hundred feet in length; the nose, with its long bridge, and
+the great lips, which, if they could have spoken, would surely have
+rolled thunder from one end of the valley to the other.
+
+It was a happy lot for children to grow up to manhood or womanhood with
+the Great Stone Face before their eyes, because all of its features were
+noble, so that just to look at it made one wish to be better.
+
+This, then, was what Ernest and his mother sat looking at long after the
+sun had sunk behind those great piles of stones.
+
+"Mother," said Ernest, "if I were to see a man with such a face I know I
+should love him."
+
+"If an old prophecy comes true," answered his mother, "we may see a man
+some time or other with exactly such a face as that."
+
+"Oh, tell me about it, mother. Will it really come true?" eagerly
+inquired Ernest.
+
+Then his mother told him a story which her mother had told to her when
+she was a child. No one knew who had heard it first. The Indians had
+known it years before, and they said it had been murmured by the
+mountain streams and whispered by the wind among the treetops. And the
+story was this: At some future day--no one knew when--a child would be
+born in the valley who would grow up to be the noblest and greatest man
+of his time, and his face would look exactly like the Great Stone Face
+which had gazed kindly down on the valley for so many years. Many of the
+people in the valley said this was only a foolish tale, never to come to
+pass, but a few still watched and waited, hoping for the great man to
+come, but as yet he had not appeared.
+
+When Ernest heard the story he clapped his hands, and said eagerly: "Oh,
+mother, dear mother, I do hope I shall live to see him."
+
+The mother smiled, and, putting her hand on the boy's head, said:
+"Perhaps you may."
+
+Ernest never forgot the story his mother told him. It was always in his
+mind whenever he looked upon the Great Stone Face. He spent his boyhood
+days in the humble little cottage, helping his mother with the simple
+household duties, and, as he grew older, working in the fields to earn
+their daily bread.
+
+Ernest was a quiet boy, but happy. There was no school in the little
+village, but a great teacher was there. After the day's toil was over
+Ernest would sit for hours watching the Great Stone Face, and to him it
+became the teacher of all that was good and noble. Many times, as the
+sunset rays tinted the side of the great mountain and lighted up all the
+features of the wonderful face, Ernest would imagine that it smiled on
+him, and perhaps it did. Who knows?
+
+Often a great longing would come to Ernest as he watched the Great Face,
+and he would say again, "Oh, I wish the great man would come."
+
+But the years passed by, and Ernest grew from a happy little child to a
+quiet, thoughtful boy, and still the great man did not appear.
+
+But one time a rumor went through all the valley that the great man had
+at last arrived. His early home had been in the quiet valley, but as a
+young man he had gone into the world to seek his fortune, and truly he
+had found it, for everything he attempted prospered exceedingly, till it
+might be said of him, as of Midas in the fable, that whatever his
+fingers touched changed at once to piles of gold. His name was Mr.
+Gathergold. All who saw him declared him to be the exact image of the
+Great Stone Face on the mountain side, and the man so long expected to
+fulfill the prophecy.
+
+The whole valley was in a state of great excitement, for the wonderful
+personage was coming back to his native home to spend his last days in
+peace and quiet. He sent before him a whole army of architects and
+workmen, who built for him a palace more beautiful and grand than
+anything the simple village people had ever before seen.
+
+The outside was of pure marble, dazzling white, while the interior was
+inlaid with solid gold and precious stones.
+
+Ernest watched the great palace grow, and his heart was glad, for
+finally his hopes were to come true. He waited eagerly for the great man
+himself to come. He spent more time than usual gazing at the face on the
+mountain side, that he might know exactly how Mr. Gathergold would look.
+
+Finally the day of the great man's arrival came. The whole village came
+out to see him. The rumbling of wheels was heard, and a carriage drawn
+by four horses dashed down the road.
+
+"Here he comes!" cried the people. "Here comes the great Mr.
+Gathergold!"
+
+As the carriage drew near the people pressed around, and there through
+the window they saw the great man. He was little and old, with a face as
+hard and yellow as the piles of gold he had gathered together. He had a
+low forehead, small, sharp eyes, puckered about with many wrinkles, and
+very sharp lips.
+
+"The very image of the Great Stone Face!" shouted the people. "Sure
+enough, the old prophecy is true, and here we have the great man come at
+last."
+
+By the roadside there chanced to be a poor woman and her two children,
+who, as the carriage passed, held out their hands and asked for help. A
+hand was thrust out of the window, and a few pennies were thrown on the
+ground. Then the carriage rolled on, and the people continued to shout,
+"He is the very image of the Great Stone Face."
+
+But Ernest stood apart from the crowd, nor did he join in the shout, for
+his heart was full of sorrow and disappointment. Through an opening in
+the trees he saw the Great Stone Face looking benignly down upon him,
+and the great lips seemed to say: "He will come. Fear not, Ernest. The
+man will come."
+
+The years went on, and Ernest ceased to be a boy. He had grown to be a
+young man now. He was not much noticed in the valley, for he was still
+quiet and modest. They saw nothing remarkable about his way of living,
+save that when the work of the day was done he loved to go apart and
+gaze upon the Great Stone Face.
+
+They knew not that it had become his greatest teacher, filling his heart
+and mind with thoughts and hopes far above earthly things.
+
+By this time poor old Mr. Gathergold was dead and buried, and the
+strange part about the matter was that when his wealth left him, as it
+did some time before he died, and he became a poor old man, the people
+seemed to forget that there ever had been a resemblance to the Great
+Stone Face. Indeed, they said it was all a mistake, and the great man
+was yet to come.
+
+Suddenly through the valley there ran another rumor. Years before a
+young man had left the valley, had gone into the world as a warrior, and
+finally had become a great commander. Such had been his character and
+life that the illustrious man was called by the name of Old
+Blood-and-Thunder. This old general, being worn out with warfare,
+decided to return to his native valley and spend his last days in peace.
+But the most wonderful thing about Old Blood-and-Thunder was the fact
+that all who knew him said that he was the man so long hoped for in the
+valley, for he looked exactly like the Great Stone Face.
+
+Great preparations, therefore, were made to receive the General--a
+banquet was to be given and speeches made in his honor. On the day of
+the festival Ernest, with all the others of the village, left their work
+and went to the woods, where the banquet was held. A great crowd
+surrounded the tables, so that Ernest at first could not see the great
+man for whom he had waited and hoped so long, so he contented himself
+with looking at the great face on the mountain side, which he could see
+plainly through the trees. Meanwhile he could hear those around him
+talking about Old Blood-and-Thunder and the Great Stone Face.
+
+"'Tis the same face, to a hair," cried one man, clapping his hands for
+joy.
+
+"Wonderfully like, that's a fact," said another.
+
+"Like! Why, I call it Old Blood-and-Thunder himself, in a monstrous
+looking-glass," cried a third.
+
+Just then a silence fell on the crowd, for the General rose to speak,
+and as he did so Ernest for the first time saw the hero. There he stood,
+head and shoulders above the crowd, with the golden epaulets glittering
+on his uniform. Long and eagerly Ernest gazed on his face, and then
+beyond, to the one on the mountain side. Were they, indeed, alike?
+Ernest saw in the warrior's face only cruelty and hardness, with none of
+the tender sympathy he knew so well in the other face.
+
+"This is not the man," sighed Ernest, as he turned sadly away. "Must we
+wait longer yet?"
+
+But as the great mountain rose before him, once again the lips seemed to
+say: "Fear not, Ernest; fear not. He will come."
+
+The years sped swiftly by. Ernest still lived in the valley, a quiet and
+gentle man, doing his work as best he knew. But gradually the people of
+the village had come to know and feel that Ernest knew more than they.
+Not a day passed by that the world was not better because this man,
+humble as he was, had lived. He would always help a neighbor in need,
+and the people had learned to know where to come for aid. His thoughts
+were of things good and noble, and so his deeds and words were always
+good.
+
+By this time the people had seen their mistake in thinking Old
+Blood-and-Thunder was the great man of prophecy; but now again there
+were reports saying that without doubt the great man had at last
+appeared. He, like Mr. Gathergold and Old Blood-and-Thunder, was a
+native of the valley, but had left it as a young man, and had now become
+a great man. He had not the rich man's wealth, nor the honor of the
+General, but he had a tongue which could speak more beautiful words than
+the world had ever heard before. Great crowds flocked to hear him from
+all parts of the country.
+
+The people of the village were proud to think that they could claim the
+great man, for it was said he bore an exact likeness to the Great Stone
+Face--so much so that they called him "Old Stony Phiz."
+
+And now the illustrious man was once more coming to visit his native
+land, and great preparations were made to receive him.
+
+With great eagerness and hope Ernest waited for his coming, and on the
+day appointed went with the crowd to meet him. The air was filled with
+music and the shouts of the people, for now they felt that surely the
+old prophecy was to be fulfilled.
+
+Then the great man's carriage came in view. There he sat, smiling and
+bowing to the people, while they threw up their hats in wild excitement
+and enthusiasm, and shouted: "Hoorah for Old Stony Phiz. The great man
+has come at last."
+
+Ernest looked long at the man as he sat in his carriage, but finally
+turned away sadly and slowly, and said: "The features are alike, but he
+has not the heart nor the love and sympathy which make a face beautiful.
+He is not the man, but he might have been, had he lived the best he
+knew."
+
+Then again he turned to his great teacher on the mountain side, and, as
+the late afternoon sun tinted all its features, it seemed to smile on
+Ernest, and once more the lips seemed to speak:
+
+"Lo, here I am, Ernest. I have waited longer than thou, and am not yet
+weary. Fear not. The man will come."
+
+The years hurried onward, and now they began to bring white hairs and
+scatter them over the head of Ernest. They made wrinkles across his
+forehead and furrows in his cheeks. He was an old man; but more than the
+white hairs on his head were the beautiful thoughts in his mind, and the
+loving words from his lips, and the kindly deeds from his hands. He was
+no longer unknown. Great men from far and near came to see and talk with
+him, and as they went away their hearts were better for having been with
+him. He had become a preacher, and often, just as the sun set, he would
+stand on a little knoll and talk with the people who crowded to hear the
+words he spoke.
+
+One evening, as Ernest sat at his doorstep, a friend came to talk with
+him. He was a poet, and wrote of things which God had made, in language
+so beautiful that one wished always to hear it. Ernest loved to read his
+words, and this evening, as they sat together, he looked long and
+earnestly at the poet and then up at the Great Stone Face, which seemed
+to be smiling down upon them. Then he sighed and shook his head sadly.
+
+"Why are you sad?" asked the poet.
+
+Then Ernest told him of the prophecy which he had longed all his life to
+see fulfilled. "And," he said, "when I read your beautiful words, I
+think surely you are worthy to be the man I have longed to see, and yet
+I see no likeness."
+
+The poet sadly shook his head, and said: "No, Ernest. I am not worthy.
+My words, indeed, may be beautiful, but my life has not been so great
+and good as the words I write."
+
+Then, as sunset drew near, the two walked to the little knoll where
+Ernest was to talk to the people.
+
+He stood in a little niche, with the mountains above him, and the glory
+of the evening sun shone around his silvered hair. At a distance could
+be seen the Great Stone Pace, surrounded by a golden light.
+
+As Ernest talked his face glowed with the depth of his feeling, and
+suddenly the poet threw his arms above his head and shouted:
+
+"Behold! Behold! Ernest is himself the likeness of the Great Stone
+Face!"
+
+Then all the people looked and saw that what the poet had said was true.
+The prophecy was fulfilled. The Great Man had come at last.
+
+Nathaniel Hawthorne [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE
+
+
+In a forest in the far, far East grew a great many pine trees. Most of
+them were tall trees, higher than the houses that we see, and with wide,
+strong branches. But there was one tree that was not nearly so tall as
+the others; in fact, it was no taller than some of the children in the
+kindergarten.
+
+Now, the tall trees could see far, far out over the hilltops and into
+the valleys, and they could hear all the noises that went on in the
+world beyond the forest, but the Little Tree was so small and the other
+trees grew so high and thick about it that it could not see nor hear
+these things at all; but the other trees were very kind, and they would
+stoop down and tell them to the Little Tree. One night in the winter
+time there seemed to be something strange happening in the little town
+among the hills, for the trees did not go to sleep after the sun went
+down, but put their heads together and spoke in strange, low whispers
+that were full of awe and wonder. The Little Tree, from its place close
+down to the ground, did not understand what it was all about. It
+listened awhile, and then lifted its head as high as ever it could and
+shouted to its tall neighbor: "Will you not stoop and tell me what is
+happening?" And the big tree stooped down and whispered: "The shepherds
+out on the hilltops are telling strange stories while they watch their
+sheep. The air is filled with sweet music, and there is a wonderful star
+coming up in the east, traveling westward always, and the shepherds say
+that they are waiting for it to stop and shine over a humble stable in
+their little town. I have not heard why it is going to stop there, but I
+will look again and listen." So the tall tree lifted up its head again,
+and reached far out so that it might hear more of the wonderful story.
+
+Bye and bye it stooped down again, and whispered to the Little Tree:
+"Oh, Little Tree, listen! There are angels among the shepherds on the
+hills, and they are all talking together. They seem to be awaiting the
+birth of a little child, who will be a king among the people, and the
+beautiful star will shine above the stable where the little king will be
+laid in a manger." The tree again raised its head to listen, and the
+Little Tree, much puzzled, thought within itself: "It is very strange,
+indeed. * * * Oh, how I wish that I could see it all!"
+
+It waited a little longer, and everything grew quiet, and a great peace
+came upon the forest. * * * Then suddenly the town, and even the forest
+was illuminated with a strange, white light that made everything as
+bright as day, and the air was filled with the flutter of angels' wings,
+and with music such as the world had never heard before.
+
+The people and the trees, even the stars in the heaven, lifted up their
+voices and sang together * * * and the whole world was filled with music
+and joy and love for the little Christ-child who had come to dwell upon
+the earth.
+
+The Little Tree was filled with fear and wonder, for so great was the
+excitement that the other trees had almost forgotten it, and it could
+not understand the mysterious sounds; but bye and bye its tall friend
+said: "Listen, listen, Little Tree! Such news I have to tell! The Christ
+has come--the King! And the whole world is singing such beautiful music.
+There are wise men coming from the East, bringing beautiful gifts to the
+Christ-child. The angels, too, are upon the earth, and they bear gifts
+of gold and rare, beautiful stones. Wait! I will tell you more."
+
+The tall tree had scarcely lifted up its head when it stooped again and
+whispered to the Little Tree: "Look! Look! Little Tree! They are coming
+this way; the angels are coming here, into our forest! Lift up your head
+high and you will see them as they pass."
+
+The Little Tree lifted up its head and saw the white flutter of angel
+robes and heard the weird, sweet voices of the heavenly host who came
+with precious gifts into the forest.
+
+"Oh," said the Little Tree, "they are coming here, toward me! What
+shall I do?" And in fear it bent its head so low that it almost touched
+the ground. But the music came nearer and nearer, and the Little Tree
+felt a tender hand upon its branches, and a soft, gentle voice said to
+it: "Arise, Little Tree, and come with us, for we have come into the
+forest to seek you. Yes, you, the very smallest among the trees, are to
+be our gift-bearer. Come; lift up your head."
+
+In fear and trembling the Little Tree did as the angel bade it. But when
+it looked into the angel's face and saw the love and kindness there, all
+fear was gone, and it said to the angel: "Yes; make me ready. I will
+come with you to the little Christ-child in the manger." So all the
+angels brought their gifts of precious jewels and shining gold, and
+fastened them upon the branches of the Little Tree. Then the leader of
+the angels' band took up the Little Tree from the ground and bore it,
+laden with its precious burden, to the feet of the Christ-child.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF ABRAHAM
+
+
+Long, long ago there lived in the far away land of Ur a man who was very
+wealthy. His name was Abraham. The country in which he lived was
+beautiful and very rich. The fields were not only well watered by rivers
+and streams, but were carefully cultivated. Corn, dates, apples and
+grapes grew there abundantly. Fine harvests were reaped from their
+farms. Splendid herds of cattle and flocks of sheep were pastured in the
+meadows. In the city were beautiful homes, for the people were
+prosperous. They painted fine pictures and cut beautiful figures out of
+marble blocks, and were fond of music. But Abraham was not so much
+interested in the city as in the country, for he belonged to a family of
+shepherds. He did not care so much for walled cities as for meadow
+lands, forest trees and running streams. When Abraham grew a little
+older he became very thoughtful, and began to dislike the ways of the
+people of Ur, for they were idolaters. So when some of the servants
+brought back from the city, idols into his father's home, he broke them.
+His one desire was to do right and to be good.
+
+One day, when he was herding his cattle not far from his father's home,
+he heard a strange Voice saying to him: "Get thee out of thy country and
+from thy kindred, and come unto a land which I shall show thee." He was
+greatly surprised, and looked around to find out who was speaking to
+him. He saw no man, so he thought that the Voice was only a fancy or a
+day dream. A few days after, when he was bringing home some wandering
+sheep, he heard the same Voice, the same words, and thought he saw a
+gleam of light. He felt that God was speaking to him, but the words made
+him very sad. If he obeyed the Voice he knew that he would have to leave
+his friends, the fields where he sported with his boy companions and
+loved ones, but something within him kept saying that he ought to obey
+the Voice, because it was God's Voice. So he resolved to take his
+nephew, Lot, with him, and set out for the Promised Land. The day for
+starting came. Great bundles of goods were put upon the camels and led
+off by the drivers. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle filled the
+morning air with their bleatings and their bellowings. Some of the
+people thought that Abraham was very foolish to undertake such a
+journey, and would certainly come to grief. His brother Nahor pleaded
+with Abraham not to go. He told Abraham about a great desert that he
+would have to cross. Even if he crossed it safely, the people in that
+far away country were very cruel, and would fight them and kill them,
+and make slaves of their children. Abraham listened to his brother, and
+said that he knew there were difficulties ahead of him, but he must obey
+the Voice of God. Then his face brightened, when he added that he felt
+sure God would watch over them all as a shepherd watches over his sheep.
+He looked brave and noble as he bade them all good-by and started off.
+
+At the close of the first day they halted beside a stream, where the
+cattle drank and rested until morning. The servants pitched a number of
+tents and made Abraham and his family comfortable. Abraham rolled
+together a few big stones and built an altar, and in the presence of his
+family and servants offered up an evening sacrifice and prayed that God
+should guide them and their little ones into the Promised Land. After
+many weary days and nights they reached Canaan. It was a beautiful
+country, full of vines and harvest fields, and pasture lands. The
+valleys were warm and the highlands were cool. Here and there on the
+hillsides they saw the oak, the sycamore, and the pine growing. Best of
+all, the people were kind to Abraham and his servants, and helped them
+to get settled in their new homes. Their new friends were not so rich as
+their old ones. They wore rough garments made of camel's hair and
+fastened round the waist with a belt. They lived in rough huts and rocky
+caves, and were warlike. But they treated Abraham generously and were
+very kind to the little children. Abraham was delighted with the
+Promised Land, although he passed through many a severe trial in it.
+
+There was one joy, however, that brightened his life--God had given him
+a beautiful son. The little boy had grown to be a strong, beautiful
+youth. His mother took loving care in making his little garments, and
+his father gave him a pet lamb, and often brought home to him a wild
+bird. Abraham was growing old, and thought of the day when his boy would
+be a strong man, caring for herds and flocks. Many a time he prayed to
+God for his boy, that he might be true and brave and good, and worthy of
+the promises that God had made to him concerning his people. But one
+day, when he was returning from a visit to his herdsmen and was resting
+beside a well in the grove which he had planted in Beersheba, he heard
+the Voice again saying: "Take thy son, thine only son Isaac, and offer
+him up for a sacrifice on a mount which I shall show thee." Abraham was
+grieved. He said to himself: "I have left Ur and the land of my brother
+and my father. I have endured many hardships, and surely I will not be
+called upon to sacrifice my only son, my sweet, loving boy. I can not
+bear it. His mother can not live when she hears of it." But the Voice
+said more earnestly than ever: "Take thy son, thine only son Isaac, and
+offer him up for a sacrifice on the mount that I shall show thee." He
+knew that it was the same Voice that had spoken to him many times, and
+that he must obey it. And there gradually came into his life strength
+and a willingness to obey the Voice. After necessary preparation
+Abraham, his son, and his servants set out for the mountain. For three
+days they journeyed under divine guidance, until they came to the foot
+of the mount. Then Abraham said to his servants: "Abide ye here, and I
+and the lad will go and worship yonder, and come unto you again." The
+young lad was happy over the coming sacrifice. He shouldered the bundle
+of wood and started off up the hillside. But he did not see the lamb,
+and, turning to his father, said: "Behold the fire and the wood, but
+where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" The question so innocently
+asked grieved the father's heart, for he knew that God had commanded him
+to offer up his son instead of a lamb. He felt that he could not tell
+his boy about it, so he said: "God Himself will provide a lamb for the
+burnt offering." At last they came to the spot where the sacrifice was
+to be offered. The father, very sad and broken-hearted, began rolling
+together some stones for an altar. Slowly he laid the wood in its place,
+and wept when he thought of the sacrifice. Then with a tearful voice he
+told the lad that he was to be the sacrifice. He laid the boy upon the
+altar and kissed him. At that moment he heard a Voice, louder than ever
+before, saying: "Abraham." He answered, "Here am I." The Voice said:
+"Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do any harm unto him, for now I
+know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son,
+thine only son, from me." With glad wonder Abraham looked around, and
+there, to his great surprise, a ram was caught in some thick bushes.
+Hurriedly he caught the ram, unbound his son, and offered up the ram as
+a sacrifice with great joy. And, kneeling beside the altar, the aged
+father thanked God, and homeward they returned with glad hearts and
+happy spirits.
+
+And Isaac grew to be a good and noble man, and the Lord prospered him.
+His father, Abraham, lived many years in the Promised Land, and when he
+died the whole country was full of grief, and with sorrow mingled with
+love they followed the aged saint to the sunny slopes of beautiful
+Macpelah and laid him in the tomb. Each whispered to the other that he
+was a good and brave man. Many a time they would visit the cave where
+the great man lay and tell one another about his wonderful life, his
+many trials, his noble faith, and how he always obeyed the Voice of God.
+
+On a rough stone beside the tomb a friend chiseled the words: "Abraham,
+the Friend of God."
+
+Bible [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF MOSES
+
+
+Many years ago, the Heavenly Father sent a baby boy into a home in a far
+country.
+
+When a baby comes to your home you want to tell every one you see, do
+you not?
+
+But in that little home it was very different. Miriam, the baby's
+sister, could not tell any one about the little brother, and the poor
+mother had to keep the baby hidden away. Shall I tell you why?
+
+In that country there lived a wicked king, who did not love little
+children, and whenever he heard that a boy baby had come into a house he
+sent his soldiers to take the baby away.
+
+This mother loved her baby dearly, and she wanted to keep him always.
+But when the baby began to grow, and to laugh and to cry, just as all
+babies do, the mother's heart was very sad, for she knew she could hide
+him no longer.
+
+One day she took the baby and went down to the river. There she gathered
+a great many of the tall grasses that grew on the river bank, and of
+these grasses she made a little basket, or ark, just large enough to
+hold the baby. She wove it carefully, and when it was finished she
+covered it over with pitch and slime, so that no water could come into
+it.
+
+Then she lifted her baby, put him into the queer little basket, carried
+the basket to the river and set it down carefully in the water. The tall
+rushes growing there held the little cradle, that the water might not
+wash it away.
+
+The mother turned and went quickly to her home. But do you think she
+left the baby alone? Ah, no. Among the tall grasses near the river's
+brim stood Miriam, the sister, patiently watching the queer cradle.
+
+While Miriam watched, the princess came to the river to bathe. The
+maidens who had come to help her walked along the river's side.
+
+Presently the princess saw the queer little basket and sent one of her
+maids to get it.
+
+When the princess opened the basket, the baby wakened and began to cry,
+and the princess felt very sorry for the little one.
+
+Miriam, who had watched so faithfully beside the river, now came to the
+princess.
+
+"Shall I go and find thee a woman who will take care of the child?" she
+said. And the princess said, "Go."
+
+What did Miriam do, do you think? She ran as fast as she could and
+brought the baby's own mother.
+
+When the princess saw the mother she did not know that it was the baby's
+own mother, and she said to her: "Take this child away and nurse it for
+me, and I will give thee thy wages."
+
+Do you not think that mother's heart was glad as she took her own baby
+home? The baby could run and play now, and laugh and crow as much as it
+liked, for the great princess loved him, and no harm could come to him.
+
+The mother called the baby's name "Moses," she said, "because I drew him
+out of the water," and in that far country that is what the name "Moses"
+means.
+
+Bible [Adapted]
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF DAVID
+
+
+Long, long ago, on the green hills of Bethlehem, a little shepherd boy
+tended his sheep.
+
+Ruddy and strong was little David, for the sun gave him rosy cheeks, and
+the bracing wind made him long to run races with his own shadow, just
+from pure happiness.
+
+Many a time he lay on the soft grass, gazing up at the blue sky, dotted
+with fleecy white clouds--white as his own lambs. Many a time, as he led
+his flock homeward at evening, he saw the sun sink in the gold and
+crimson west, and, as the dusk deepened, the great round moon rise above
+the hills, flooding the world with silvery light.
+
+With all this beauty around him, do you wonder that he was good and
+happy?
+
+One day, while David was watching his sheep in the field, Samuel, the
+High Priest of the Lord, appeared before Jesse, David's father.
+
+On a very wonderful errand had he come.
+
+He told David's father that the Lord had chosen one of his sons to be
+the new king of Israel, because Saul, the old king, was no longer fit to
+rule.
+
+"Call all your sons before me," said Samuel, "that I may anoint the
+Lord's chosen one."
+
+Oh, how proudly Jesse called his eldest son!
+
+Tall, and straight, and strong, he stood there, looking every inch a
+king.
+
+"Surely," thought Samuel, "I have found him!"
+
+But the Lord looked down into his heart--just as he looks into our
+hearts today--and saw that all was not right there, and so the Lord said
+to Samuel: "He is not the chosen one."
+
+Then Samuel asked Jesse to call his second son.
+
+But when the Lord read his thoughts He said to the priest: "No; I have
+not chosen this one."
+
+Jesse called his third son, but Samuel only shook his head. In haste,
+Jesse called all his other sons before the High Priest, but Samuel was
+forced to say sadly, "The Lord hath not chosen these." Almost in
+despair, he turned to Jesse, asking: "Are all thy children here?" And he
+answered: "There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the
+sheep."
+
+Joyfully Samuel cried: "Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down
+till he come hither." And he sent and brought him in.
+
+When Samuel looked into his pure, innocent face, he knew that now the
+chosen one of the Lord stood before him.
+
+Taking his horn of oil, he anointed him King of Israel, "and the spirit
+of the Lord came upon David from that day forward."
+
+When Samuel left him, David went quietly back to the field, and tended
+his sheep, just as of old.
+
+Day by day he tried to do every duty well, so that bye and bye he would
+be worthy to be a king.
+
+Meanwhile, up in his royal palace, King Saul was in deep trouble. In his
+distress he longed to hear the beautiful music of the harp. He therefore
+sent for David, that he might play for him. When David came he paused
+beside the throne, and Saul, looking up, saw before him a tall and
+handsome youth, bearing a golden harp.
+
+Bowing low, David begged permission to play for his King. Gladly Saul
+bade him begin.
+
+First, the young harpist struck a ringing chord that thrilled through
+the vast hall.
+
+Then he began to play a low, sweet melody!
+
+It sounded like the summer breeze sighing softly over a grassy meadow,
+and setting the dainty daisies and buttercups swaying on their stems.
+Suddenly the music swelled stronger, until it seemed like a flashing
+fountain, springing up in a burst of sparkling spray.
+
+Then the sweet tones slowly softened.
+
+Fainter they grew--and yet fainter--like the music of a dream--till at
+last they died away into silence.
+
+Spellbound sat King Saul when the player ceased.
+
+And David came to Saul and stood before him, and Saul loved him greatly,
+and he became his armor bearer.
+
+Long afterward David wore the crown of Israel.
+
+He was a wise and good king, for the Heavenly Father, who blessed his
+youth, watched over him all his days.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF JOSEPH
+
+
+Many years ago there lived a little lad named Joseph. He was comely, and
+his face was beautiful, because his heart was pure and good.
+
+Joseph had many brothers, but because of his gentleness and comeliness
+the old father loved him more than all the others. One time he gave
+Joseph a coat woven with many beautiful colors, as a token of his love
+for his favorite son.
+
+Now, when the older brothers saw this they were angry and jealous, and
+from that time on they sought to do him harm.
+
+Jacob, the father, owned many sheep, and the sons cared for them,
+sometimes leading them far from home to find the best pastures. Joseph
+often went with the brothers to tend the flocks, but he loved best to
+care for the tender little lambs, leading them into the greenest
+pastures and beside the quiet water.
+
+One time the brothers were far from home with the flocks, and the
+father, being anxious for them and longing to know how they fared, sent
+Joseph, the beloved son, with many provisions, to the place where his
+brothers were. The lad started on his journey with a light and merry
+heart, for all the world looked bright to him. He wore the beautiful
+coat of many colors, and the people often stopped to look at the lad,
+with his comely face and beautiful coat.
+
+As he approached the place where his brothers were they saw him when he
+was yet some distance away, but the anger and jealousy arose in their
+hearts, and they said: "Ah! Here comes the best beloved son. Let us do
+away with him. Then the love which our father gives to him may be
+bestowed upon us." So, as the lad drew nearer, they planned how they
+might destroy him. But one, the oldest brother, loved Joseph, and tried
+to save him from the hands of his evil brothers. So when they said, "Let
+us destroy him," Reuben, the eldest, said: "Nay, but let us cast him
+into a pit near by," thinking he would save him when the other brothers
+left.
+
+So when Joseph drew near they seized him, stripped him of his coat of
+many colors, and cast him into a pit, and left him there alone.
+
+Then they said: "Let us make a feast. See, our father hath sent us many
+things." And they sat down and made a feast with the things which their
+brother Joseph had brought to them.
+
+As they were eating they looked up, and, coming down the roadway, they
+saw a large company of merchantmen passing on their way to Egypt. Then
+an evil plan came to the mind of one brother, and he said: "It is going
+to bring us no gain to keep Joseph in the pit. Let us sell him to those
+men and gain money for ourselves." The brothers agreed, and Joseph, the
+beloved son, was sold into Egypt for twenty pieces of silver.
+
+When the brothers went home they took the coat of many colors to the old
+father, and said: "Is not this thy son's coat which we found? An evil
+beast hath surely destroyed him." And the old father wept for Joseph,
+his son, and would not be comforted.
+
+
+PART II.
+
+
+The great caravan moved toward Egypt, and there the boy was sold again
+into the hands of a very rich man, in whose sight he found great favor,
+and who placed him in a position of honor in his own household. And
+Joseph grew in comeliness and beauty, for his heart was pure and the
+Lord was his friend and helper, prospering him in all that he did. He
+grew in favor with his master, who in turn made him ruler over all his
+house.
+
+But Joseph had an enemy in the house, one who was jealous of his great
+honor and position, and she tried in every way to do Joseph harm. One
+day she falsely told the master of the house that Joseph had done a very
+evil thing. The master, being exceedingly angry, and thinking Joseph had
+betrayed his trust, stripped him of his fine garments and cast him into
+prison.
+
+But the Lord was still with Joseph in his great trouble, so that he
+found favor with the keeper of the prison, who treated him most kindly,
+and Joseph sought in many ways to relieve the suffering and sorrow of
+those in the prison with him.
+
+One day he helped two of the king's servants by telling them the meaning
+of two strange dreams they had, for dreams in those olden days were
+often sent to people by God to warn them, or prepare them for something
+which would happen, and God gave to Joseph the wisdom to understand the
+meaning and interpretation of those dreams. Thus, when the two servants
+were troubled because of their dreams, Joseph told them the meaning. One
+servant was released from the prison, and as he left, Joseph asked that
+he might remember him when he came before the king, that he, too, might
+be released. But the servant, when he was free, forgot the one who had
+helped him when in trouble.
+
+Two years passed away, and Joseph remained in prison, but he still
+trusted in his God.
+
+One night Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, was much troubled by his strange
+dreams. He called together all of his wise men and magicians, to know
+the interpretation of them, but none could tell the meaning. The king's
+trouble became known to his servants, and suddenly the one who had been
+in prison remembered Joseph, the man who had interpreted his own dream.
+He quickly told the king, who ordered Joseph to be brought immediately
+before him.
+
+When Joseph stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, he humbly bowed his
+head, and said: "The wisdom is not mine, but God in heaven shall tell
+thee the interpretation of thy dreams." And Joseph spoke to the king as
+God gave him wisdom, and told him the meaning of his dreams. And this
+was the meaning:
+
+There should be seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt, and after
+that, seven years of famine throughout the land.
+
+Then Joseph said: "Let Pharaoh, the king, choose a man, wise and
+discreet, who will sow and gather the harvest for the seven years of
+plenty, to fill the barns and storehouses with grain, so that when the
+seven years of famine come there will be grain enough and to spare in
+the land of Egypt."
+
+As Pharaoh, the king, looked upon Joseph and heard him speak, he loved
+him, and said: "In all Egypt there is no man so wise as thou. Gather the
+harvest, to fill the barns and storehouses, in the seven years of
+plenty. I will make thee ruler over all Egypt. Thou shalt dwell with me
+and all men shall obey thee."
+
+And Pharaoh took off the ring from his own hand and put it upon Joseph's
+hand, and dressed him in beautiful garments, and put a gold chain about
+his neck. And Joseph rode in the chariot next to the king of Egypt, and
+as they rode through the streets all the people bowed before Joseph and
+knew him as their ruler, and loved him.
+
+Then Joseph went throughout all Egypt and commanded the people to build
+great storehouses and barns, and to gather in the corn and grain, and
+fill them full, against the seven years of famine which were to come.
+When the seven years of plenty were passed, and the famine was over all
+the land, there was grain and to spare in all Egypt, because Joseph had
+gathered the storehouses full.
+
+When the people from other countries heard this they came to Egypt to
+buy bread, and the king sent them to Joseph. And Joseph opened the great
+storehouses, and sold grain to all who came. And the Lord was with
+Joseph and prospered him in all that he did.
+
+
+PART III.
+
+
+Now, Jacob, with his eleven sons, Joseph's brothers, still lived in the
+land of Canaan, and the famine was over all the land, so that there was
+no bread in the house to eat.
+
+Then Jacob, the father, called his sons to him and said: "I have heard
+that there is corn in Egypt. Go down there and buy for us, that we may
+live and not die."
+
+So Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, and Joseph was ruler
+over all Egypt, and sold grain to all who came. His brothers came before
+him and bowed their faces to the ground as they asked for food, for the
+famine was sore in their land. Now, Joseph knew his brothers when he saw
+them, but they knew not the little lad they had sold into the land of
+Egypt for twenty pieces of silver.
+
+Joseph did not make himself known to his brothers, but asked them about
+their country and their homes, if they had a father and other brothers;
+and when they spoke of the old father, Jacob, and the youngest brother,
+Benjamin, who had stayed with the old father, Joseph longed to tell them
+that he was the brother whom the father had mourned as lost; but he
+waited, and treated his brothers as strangers, for they knew him not.
+Then he sent them home with their sacks full of grain, and took no money
+for it. But when they returned the second time to Egypt, Joseph's heart
+yearned for them, and for his old father and youngest brother. When they
+were alone, he stood before his brothers, and, looking at them, said:
+"Do you not know me? I am your brother, Joseph, the little lad whom you
+sold into Egypt."
+
+But when his brothers heard this they were much afraid, and drew away
+from him, for they thought, now that he was ruler over all Egypt, he
+would surely punish them for their evil treatment of him. But Joseph
+said: "Come near me and do not be afraid, nor grieve that you sold me
+into Egypt, for God has been with me and kept me, and made me ruler, so
+that I have been able to save many people from the famine."
+
+Then the brothers drew near, and Joseph wept with them, for he loved
+them. Then he said: "Go back and bring my father, Jacob, and my youngest
+brother, Benjamin, that we may live together once more."
+
+And Joseph went to meet his father in a chariot, and brought him before
+Pharaoh, and the king was much pleased, for he loved Joseph and all his
+household.
+
+Then Joseph gave to his father and brothers houses and lands, so that
+they all lived together in peace in the land of Egypt.
+
+And the Lord was with Joseph and prospered him all the days of his life.
+
+
+
+
+THE COURTESY OF THE SPARTAN BOY
+
+
+There were, hundreds of years ago, two very large and grand cities,
+which strove to excel each other. The one city was Sparta, the other was
+Athens. These cities were not like our cities of today. They had
+beautiful, broad streets, but no street cars. They had magnificent
+buildings, but no electric lights. They did have schools, but they were
+unlike our schools. The boys in both Athens and Sparta were taken away
+to school when they were six years of age.
+
+In Athens the boys were taught that they must become very strong and
+manly. They had running, jumping, leaping, swimming, and racing
+exercises, to give them rigid muscles and strong, healthy bodies.
+Occasionally they were allowed to visit at their homes for a day or two.
+The boys were also taught to sing and to read.
+
+The Spartan boy was taught that he must become very strong and
+self-reliant. His schoolroom was very plain and bare. He was never
+allowed to go home to visit. He had to wear, in both summer and winter,
+the same plain, loose clothing. He slept out of doors in the
+summer-time, under the trees. In the wintertime he slept in a very open
+building, on a bed of reeds and rushes, which he had to gather from the
+river in the long, heated summer days for his winter bed. He had no
+bedclothing except the down which the wild ducks had shed, and which he
+had gathered in the forests. He learned to read, write, and to sing. He
+learned to run, to leap, to swim, and to throw the javelin.
+
+One time the boys from both Athens and Sparta were to meet in a great
+amphitheater to hear a very wise and learned old man speak. The boys had
+all gathered, and with them many other people. The amphitheater was
+full. Not a vacant seat was left, and the people were patiently waiting
+for the old man to appear. At last he came. He came in so quietly that
+he was not noticed, except by two boys, one on each side of the aisle.
+One was a Spartan boy and one was an Athenian. The Athenian boy and
+Spartan boy both rose immediately. The Athenian boy sat down, but the
+Spartan boy still stood. He insisted that the old man take his seat, but
+the old man gently refused, and passed on up the aisle to the place from
+which he was to address the people. Then the Spartan boy sat down. The
+old man recognized this act of courtesy, and, while talking to the boys,
+said that the Athenian boy knew what to do, but did not do it. The
+Spartan boy had the courage to do it.
+
+
+
+
+TWENTY-THIRD PSALM.
+
+
+  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
+
+  He maketh me to lie down in green
+   pastures: he leadeth me beside the
+   still waters.
+
+  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me
+   in paths of righteousness for his
+   name's sake.
+
+  Yea, though I walk through the valley
+   of the shadow of death, I will fear no
+   evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy
+   staff they comfort me.
+
+  Thou preparest a table before me in
+   the presence of mine enemies: thou
+   annointest my head with oil; my cup
+   runneth over.
+
+  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
+   me all the days of my life: and I will
+   dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Child's Story Garden, by Various
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