how to tell stories to children-第17节

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read。　　Tap！　tap！　went　the　little　hammers；　stitch；　stitch；　went　the　thread；　and　the　little　elves　were　hard　at　work。　　No　one　ever　worked　so　fast　as　they。　　In　almost　no　time　all　the　shoes　were　stitched　and　finished。　　Then　the　tiny　elves　took　hold　of　each　other's　hands　and　danced　round　the　shoes　on　the　bench；　till　the　shoemaker　and　his　wife　had　hard　work　not　to　laugh　aloud。　But　as　the　clock　struck　two；　the　little　creatures　whisked　away　out　of　the　window；　and　left　the　room　all　as　it　was　before。

The　shoemaker　and　his　wife　looked　at　each　other；　and　said；　〃How　can　we　thank　the　little　elves　who　have　made　us　happy　and　prosperous？〃

〃I　should　like　to　make　them　some　pretty　clothes；〃　said　the　wife；　〃they　are　quite　naked。〃

〃I　will　make　the　shoes　if　you　will　make　the　coats；〃　said　her　husband。

That　very　day　they　set　about　it。　　The　wife　cut　out　two　tiny；　tiny　coats　of　green；　two　weeny；　weeny　waistcoats　of　yellow；　two　little　pairs　of　trousers；　of　white；　two　　bits　of　caps；　bright　red　（for　every　one　knows　the　elves　love　bright　colors）；　and　her　husband　made　two　little　pairs　of　shoes　with　long；　pointed　toes。　　They　made　the　wee　clothes　as　dainty　as　could　be；　with　nice　little　stitches　and　pretty　buttons；　and　by　Christmas　time；　they　were　finished。

On　Christmas　eve；　the　shoemaker　cleaned　his　bench；　and　on　it；　instead　of　leather；　he　laid　the　two　sets　of　gay　little　fairy…　clothes。　　Then　he　and　his　wife　hid　away　as　before；　to　watch。

Promptly　at　midnight；　the　little　naked　elves　came　in。　　They　hopped　upon　the　bench；　but　when　they　saw　the　little　clothes　there；　they　laughed　and　danced　for　joy。　Each　one　caught　up　his　little　coat　and　things　and　began　to　put　them　on。　　Then　they　looked　at　each　other　and　made　all　kinds　of　funny　motions　in　their　delight。　At　last　they　began　to　dance；　and　when　the　clock　struck　two；　they　danced　quite　away；　out　of　the　window。

They　never　came　back　any　more；　but　from　that　day　they　gave　the　shoemaker　and　his　wife　good　luck；　so　that　they　never　needed　any　more　help。



WHO　KILLED　THE　OTTER'S　BABIES＇1＇？


＇1＇　Adapted　from　the　story　as　told　in　Fables　and　Folk　Tales　From　an　Eastern　Forest；　by　Walter　Skeat。


Once　the　Otter　came　to　the　Mouse…deer　and　said；　〃Friend　Mouse…deer；　will　you　please　take　care　of　my　babies　while　I　go　to　the　river；　to　catch　fish？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　the　Mouse…deer；　〃go　along。〃

But　when　the　Otter　came　back　from　the　river；　with　a　string　of　fish；　he　found　his　babies　crushed　flat。

〃What　does　this　mean；　Friend　Mouse…　deer？〃　he　said。　　〃Who　killed　my　children　while　you　were　taking　care　of　them？〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　said　the　Mouse…deer；　〃but　you　know　I　am　Chief　Dancer　of　the　War…dance；　and　the　Woodpecker　came　and　sounded　the　war…gong；　so　I　danced。　I　forgot　your　children；　and　trod　on　them。〃

〃I　shall　go　to　King　Solomon；〃　said　the　Otter；　〃and　you　shall　be　punished。〃

Soon　the　Mouse…deer　was　called　before　King　Solomon。

〃Did　you　kill　the　Otter's　babies？〃　said　the　king。

〃Yes；　your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Mouse…　deer；　〃but　I　did　not　mean　to。〃

〃How　did　it　happen？〃　said　the　king。

〃Your　Majesty　knows；〃　said　the　Mouse…　deer；　〃that　I　am　Chief　Dancer　of　the　War…dance。　　The　Woodpecker　came　and　sounded　the　war…gong；　and　I　had　to　dance；　and　as　I　danced　I　trod　on　the　Otter's　children。〃

〃Send　for　the　Woodpecker；〃　said　King　Solomon。　　And　when　the　Woodpecker　came；　he　said　to　him；　〃Was　it　you　who　sounded　the　war…gong？〃

〃Yes；　your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Woodpecker；　〃but　I　had　to。〃

〃Why？〃　said　the　king。

〃Your　Majesty　knows；〃　said　the　Woodpecker；　〃that　I　am　Chief　Beater　of　the　War…gong；　and　I　sounded　the　gong　because　I　saw　the　Great　Lizard　wearing　his　sword。〃

〃Send　for　the　Great　Lizard；〃　said　King　Solomon。　　When　the　Great　Lizard　came；　he　asked　him；　〃Was　it　you　who　were　wearing　your　sword？〃

〃Yes；　your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Great　Lizard；　〃but　I　had　to。〃

〃Why？〃　said　the　king。

〃Your　Majesty　knows；〃　said　the　Great　Lizard；　〃that　I　am　Chief　Protector　of　the　Sword。　　I　wore　my　sword　because　the　Tortoise　came　wearing　his　coat　of　mail。〃

So　the　Tortoise　was　sent　for。

〃Why　did　you　wear　your　coat　of　mail？〃　said　the　king。

〃I　put　it　on；　your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Tortoise；　〃because　I　saw　the　King…crab　trailing　his　three…edged　pike。〃

Then　the　King…crab　was　sent　for。

〃Why　were　you　trailing　your　three…　edged　pike？〃　said　King　Solomon。

〃Because；　your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Kingerab；　〃I　saw　that　the　Crayfish　had　shouldered　his　lance。〃

Immediately　the　Crayfish　was　sent　for。

〃Why　did　you　shoulder　your　lance？〃　said　the　king。

〃Because；　your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Crayfish；　〃I　saw　the　Otter　coming　down　to　the　river　to　kill　my　children。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　King　Solomon；　〃if　that　is　　the　case；　the　Otter　killed　the　Otter's　children。　And　the　Mouse…deer　cannot　be　held；　by　the　law　of　the　land！〃



EARLY＇1＇

＇1＇　From　The　singing　Leaves；　by　Josephine　Preston　Peabody　（Houghton；　Mifflin　and　Co。）。

　I　like　to　lie　and　wait　to　see　　　　My　mother　braid　her　hair。　　It　is　as　long　as　it　can　be；　　　　And　yet　she　doesn't　care。　　I　love　my　mother's　hair。

　And　then　the　way　her　fingers　go；　　　　They　look　so　quick　and　white；　　In　and　out；　and　to　and　fro；　　　　And　braiding　in　the　light；　　And　it　is　always　right。

　So　then　she　winds　it；　shiny　brown；　　Around　her　head　into　a　crown；　　　　Just　like　the　day　before。　　And　then　she　looks　and　pats　it　down；　　　　And　looks　a　minute　more；　　While　I　stay　here　all　still　and　cool。　　Oh；　isn't　morning　beautiful？



THE　BRAHMIN；　THE　TIGER；　AND　THE　JACKAL


Do　you　know　what　a　Brahmin　is？　　A　Brahmin　is　a　very　good　and　gentle　kind　of　man　who　lives　in　India；　and　who　treats　all　the　beasts　as　if　they　were　his　brothers。　There　is　a　great　deal　more　to　know　about　Brahmins；　but　that　is　enough　for　the　story。

One　day　a　Brahmin　was　walking　along　a　country　road　when　he　came　upon　a　Tiger；　shut　up　in　a　strong　iron　cage。　　The　villagers　had　caught　him　and　shut　him　up　there　for　his　wickedness。

〃Oh；　Brother　Brahmin；　Brother　Brahmin；〃　said　the　Tiger；　〃please　let　me　out；　to　get　a　little　drink！　　I　am　so　thirsty；　and　there　is　no　water　here。〃

〃But　Brother　Tiger；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　〃you　know　if　I　should　let　you　out；　you　would　spring　on　me　and　eat　me　up。〃

〃Never；　Brother　Brahmin！〃　said　the　Tiger。　　〃Never　in　the　world　would　I　do　such　an　ungrateful　thing！　　Just　let　me　out　a　little　minute；　to　get　a　little；　little　drink　of　water；　Brother　Brahmin！〃

So　the　Brahmin　unlocked　the　door　and　let　the　Tiger　out。　　The　moment　he　was　out　he　sprang　on　the　Brahmin；　and　was　about　to　eat　him　up。

〃But；　Brother　Tiger；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　〃you　promised　you　would　not。　　It　is　not　fair　or　just　that　you　should　eat　me；　when　I　set　you　free。〃

〃It　is　perfectly　right　and　just；〃　said　the　Tiger；　〃and　I　shall　eat　you　up。〃

However；　the　Brahmin　argued　so　hard　that　at　last　the　Tiger　agreed　to　wait　and　ask　the　first　five　whom　they　should　meet；　whether　it　was　fair　for　him　to　eat　the　Brahmin；　and　to　abide　by　their　decision。

The　first　thing　they　came　to；　to　ask；　was　an　old　Banyan　Tree；　by　the　wayside。　（A　banyan　tree　is　a　kind　of　fruit　tree。）

〃Brother　Banyan；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　eagerly；　〃does　it　seem　to　you　right　or　just　that　this　Tiger　should　eat　me；　when　I　set　him　free　from　his　cage？〃

The　Banyan　Tree　looked　down　at　them　and　spoke　in　a　tired　voice。

〃In　the　summer；〃　he　said；　〃when　the　sun　is　hot；　men　come　and　sit　in　the　cool　of　my　shade　and　refresh　themselves　with　the　　fruit　of　my　branches。　　But　when　evening　falls；　and　they　are　rested；　they　break　my　twigs　and　scatter　my　leaves；　and　stone　my　boughs　for　more　fruit。　　Men　are　an　ungrateful　race。　　Let　the　Tiger　eat　the　Brahmin。〃

The　Tiger　sprang　to　eat　the　Brahmin；　but　the　Brahmin　said；

〃Wait；　wait；　we　have　asked　only　one。　We　have　still　four　to　ask。〃

Presently　they　came　to　a　place　where　an　old　Bullock　was　lying　by　the　road。　　The　Brahmin　went　up　to　him　and　said；

〃Brother　Bullock；　oh；　Brother　Bullock；　does　it　seem　to　you　a　fair　thing　that　this　Tiger　should　eat　me　up；　after　I　have　just　freed　him　from　a　cage？〃

The　Bullock　looked　up；　and　answered　in　a　deep；　grumbling　voice；

〃When　I　was　young　and　strong　my　master　used　me　hard；　and　I　served　him　well。　　I　carried　heavy　loads　and　carried　them　far。　　Now　that　I　am　old　and　weak　and　cannot　work；　he　leaves　me　without　food　or　water；　to　die　by　the　wayside。　　Men　are　a　thankless　lot。　　Let　the　Tiger　eat　the　Brahmin。〃

The　Tiger　sprang；　but　the　Brahmin　spoke　very　quickly：

〃Oh；　but　this　is　only　the　second；　Brother　Tiger；　you　promised　to　ask　five。〃

The　Tiger　grumbled　a　good　deal；　but　at　last　he　went　on　again　with　the　Brahmin。　And　after　a　time　they　saw　an　Eagle；　high　overhead。　　The　Brahmin　called　up　to　him　imploringly；

〃Oh；　Brother　Eagle；　Brother　Eagle！　Tell　us　if　it　seems　to　you　fair　that　this　Tiger　should　eat　me　up；　when　I　have　just　saved　him　from　a　frightful　cage？〃

The　Eagle　soared　slowly　overhead　a　moment；　then　he　came　lower；　and　spoke　in　a　thin；　clear　voice。

〃I　live　high　in　the　air；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　do　no　man　any　harm。　　Yet　as　often　as　they　find　my　eyrie；　men　stone　my　young　and　rob　my　nest　and　shoot　at　me　with　arrows。　Men　are　a　cruel　breed。　　Let　the　Tiger　eat　the　Brahmin！〃

The　Tiger　sprang　upon　the　Brahmin；　to　eat　him　up；　and　this　time　the　Brahmin　had　very　hard　work　to　persuade　him　to　wait。　　At　last　he　did　persuade　him；　how