how to tell stories to children-第9节

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　a　chicken。

The　Hen…mother　did　not　know　what　in　the　world　to　do　with　the　queer　little　Half…　Chick。　　She　was　afraid　something　would　happen　to　it；　and　she　tried　hard　to　protect　it　and　keep　it　from　harm。　　But　as　soon　as　it　could　walk　the　little　Half…Chick　showed　a　most　headstrong　spirit；　worse　than　any　of　its　brothers。　　It　would　not　mind；　and　it　would　go　wherever　it　wanted　to；　it　walked　with　a　funny　little　hoppity…kick；　hoppity…　kick；　and　got　along　pretty　fast。

One　day　the　little　Half…Chick　said；　〃Mother；　I　am　off　to　Madrid；　to　see　the　King！　　Good…by。〃

The　poor　Hen…mother　did　everything　she　could　think　of；　to　keep　him　from　doing　so　foolish　a　thing；　but　the　little　Half…Chick　laughed　at　her　naughtily。　　〃I'm　for　seeing　the　King；〃　he　said；　〃this　life　is　too　quiet　for　me。〃　　And　away　he　went；　hoppity…kick；　hoppity…kick；　over　the　fields。

When　he　had　gone　some　distance　the　little　Half…Chick　came　to　a　little　brook　that　was　caught　in　the　weeds　and　in　much　trouble。

〃Little　Half…Chick；〃　whispered　the　Water；　〃I　am　so　choked　with　these　weeds　　that　I　cannot　move；　I　am　almost　lost；　for　want　of　room；　please　push　the　sticks　and　weeds　away　with　your　bill　and　help　me。〃

〃The　idea！〃　said　the　little　Half…Chick。　〃I　cannot　be　bothered　with　you；　I　am　off　for　Madrid；　to　see　the　King！〃　　And　in　spite　of　the　brook's　begging　he　went　away；　hoppity…kick；　hoppity…kick。

A　bit　farther　on；　the　Half…Chick　came　to　a　Fire；　which　was　smothered　in　damp　sticks　and　in　great　distress。

〃Oh；　little　Half…Chick；〃　said　the　Fire；　〃you　are　just　in　time　to　save　me。　　I　am　almost　dead　for　want　of　air。　　Fan　me　a　little　with　your　wing；　I　beg。〃

〃The　idea！〃　said　the　little　Half…Chick。　〃I　cannot　be　bothered　with　you；　I　am　off　to　Madrid；　to　see　the　King！〃　　And　he　went　laughing　off；　hoppity…kick；　hoppity…kick。

When　he　had　hoppity…kicked　a　good　way；　and　was　near　Madrid；　he　came　to　a　clump　of　bushes；　where　the　Wind　was　caught　fast。　　The　Wind　was　whimpering；　and　begging　to　be　set　free。

〃Little　Half…Chick；〃　said　the　Wind；　〃you　　are　just　in　time　to　help　me；　if　you　will　brush　aside　these　twigs　and　leaves；　I　can　get　my　breath；　help　me；　quickly！〃

〃Ho！　the　idea！〃　said　the　little　Half…　Chick。　　〃I　have　no　time　to　bother　with　you。　I　am　going　to　Madrid；　to　see　the　King。〃　And　he　went　off；　hoppity…kick；　hoppity…　kick；　leaving　the　Wind　to　smother。

After　a　while　he　came　to　Madrid　and　to　the　palace　of　the　King。　　Hoppity…kick；　hoppity…kick；　the　little　Half…Chick　skipped　past　the　sentry　at　the　gate；　and　hoppity…　kick；　hoppity…kick；　he　crossed　the　court。　But　as　he　was　passing　the　windows　of　the　kitchen　the　Cook　looked　out　and　saw　him。

〃The　very　thing　for　the　King's　dinner！〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　needing　a　chicken！〃　　And　she　seized　the　little　Half…Chick　by　his　one　wing　and　threw　him　into　a　kettle　of　water　on　the　fire。

The　Water　came　over　the　little　Half…　Chick's　feathers；　over　his　head；　into　his　eye；　It　was　terribly　uncomfortable。　　The　little　Half…Chick　cried　out；

〃Water；　don't　drown　me！　　Stay　down；　don't　come　so　high！〃

But　the　Water　said；　〃Little　Half…Chick；　　little　Half…Chick；　when　I　was　in　trouble　you　would　not　help　me；〃　and　came　higher　than　ever。

Now　the　Water　grew　warm；　hot；　hotter；　frightfully　hot；　the　little　Half…Chick　cried　out；　〃Do　not　burn　so　hot；　Fire！　　You　are　burning　me　to　death！　　Stop！〃

But　the　Fire　said；　〃Little　Half…Chick；　little　Half…Chick；　when　I　was　in　trouble　you　would　not　help　me；〃　and　burned　hotter　than　ever。

Just　as　the　little　Half…Chick　thought　he　must　suffocate；　the　Cook　took　the　cover　off；　to　look　at　the　dinner。　　〃Dear　me；〃　she　said；　〃this　chicken　is　no　good；　it　is　burned　to　a　cinder。〃　　And　she　picked　the　little　Half…Chick　up　by　one　leg　and　threw　him　out　of　the　window。

In　the　air　he　was　caught　by　a　breeze　and　taken　up　higher　than　the　trees。　　Round　and　round　he　was　twirled　till　he　was　so　dizzy　he　thought　he　must　perish。　　〃Don't　blow　me　so？　　Wind；〃　he　cried；　〃let　me　down！〃

〃Little　Half…Chick；　little　Half…Chick；〃　said　the　Wind；　〃when　I　was　in　trouble　you　would　not　help　me！〃　　And　the　Wind　　blew　him　straight　up　to　the　top　of　the　church　steeple；　and　stuck　him　there；　fast！

There　he　stands　to　this　day；　with　his　one　eye；　his　one　wing；　and　his　one　leg。　　He　cannot　hoppity…kick　any　more；　but　he　turns　slowly　round　when　the　wind　blows；　and　keeps　his　head　toward　it；　to　hear　what　it　says。



THE　LAMBIKIN＇1＇

＇1＇　From　Indian　Fairy　Tales。　　By　Joseph　Jacobs　（David　Nutt）。


Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　wee；　wee　Lambikin；　who　frolicked　about　on　his　little　tottery　legs；　and　enjoyed　himself　amazingly。

Now　one　day　he　set　off　to　visit　his　Granny；　and　was　jumping　with　joy　to　think　of　all　the　good　things　he　should　get　from　her；　when　whom　should　he　meet　but　a　Jackal；　who　looked　at　the　tender　young　morsel　and　said；　〃Lambikin！　　Lambikin！　I'll　EAT　YOU！〃

But　Lambikin　only　gave　a　little　frisk　and　said；

　〃To　Granny's　house　I　go；　　Where　I　shall　fatter　grow；　　Then　you　can　eat　me　so。〃


The　Jackal　thought　this　reasonable；　and　let　Lambikin　pass。

By　and　by　he　met　a　Vulture；　and　the　Vulture；　looking　hungrily　at　the　tender　morsel　before　him；　said；　〃Lambikin！　Lambikin！　　I'll　EAT　YOU！〃

But　Lambikin　only　gave　a　little　frisk；　and　said；

　〃To　Granny's　house　I　go；　　Where　I　shall　fatter　grow；　　Then　you　can　eat　me　so。〃


The　Vulture　thought　this　reasonable；　and　let　Lambikin　pass。

And　by　and　by　he　met　a　Tiger；　and　then　a　Wolf　and　a　Dog　and　an　Eagle；　and　all　these；　when　they　saw　the　tender　little　morsel；　said；　〃Lambikin！　　Lambikin！　I'll　EAT　YOU！〃

But　to　all　of　them　Lambikin　replied；　with　a　little　frisk；

　〃To　Granny's　house　I　go；　　Where　I　shall　fatter　grow；　　Then　you　can　eat　me　so。〃


At　last　he　reached　his　Granny's　house；　and　said；　all　in　a　great　hurry；　〃Granny；　dear；　I've　promised　to　get　very　fat；　so；　as　　people　ought　to　keep　their　promises；　please　put　me　into　the　corn…bin　AT　ONCE。〃

So　his　Granny　said　he　was　a　good　boy；　and　put　him　into　the　corn…bin；　and　there　the　greedy　little　Lambikin　stayed　for　seven　days；　and　ate；　and　ate；　and　ate；　until　he　could　scarcely　waddle；　and　his　Granny　said　he　was　fat　enough　for　anything；　and　must　go　home。　　But　cunning　little　Lambikin　said　that　would　never　do；　for　some　animal　would　be　sure　to　eat　him　on　the　way　back；　he　was　so　plump　and　tender。

〃I'll　tell　you　what　you　must　do；〃　said　Master　Lambikin；　〃you　must　make　a　little　drumikin　out　of　the　skin　of　my　little　brother　who　died；　and　then　I　can　sit　inside　and　trundle　along　nicely；　for　I'm　as　tight　as　a　drum　myself。〃

So　his　Granny　made　a　nice　little　drumikin　out　of　his　brother's　skin；　with　the　wool　inside；　and　Lambikin　curled　himself　up　snug　and　warm　in　the　middle　and　trundled　away　gayly。　　Soon　he　met　with　the　Eagle；　who　called　out；

　〃Drumikin！　　Drumikin！　　Have　you　seen　Lambikin？〃


And　Mr。　　Lambikin；　curled　up　in　his　soft；　warm　nest；　replied；

　〃Fallen　into　the　fire；　and　so　will　you　　On　little　Drumikin！　　Tum…pa；　tum…too！〃


〃How　very　annoying！〃　sighed　the　Eagle；　thinking　regretfully　of　the　tender　morsel　he　had　let　slip。

Meanwhile　Lambikin　trundled　along；　laughing　to　himself；　and　singing；

　〃Tum…pa；　tum…too；　　Tum…pa；　tum…too！〃


Every　animal　and　bird　he　met　asked　him　the　same　question；

　〃Drumikin！　　Drumikin！　　Have　you　seen　Lambikin？〃


And　to　each　of　them　the　little　slyboots　replied；

　〃Fallen　into　the　fire；　and　so　will　you　　On　little　Drumikin！　　Tum…pa；　tum…too！〃　　Tum…pa；　tum…too！　tum…pa；　tum…too！〃


Then　they　all　sighed　to　think　of　the　tender　little　morsel　they　had　let　slip。

At　last　the　Jackal　came　limping　along；　for　all　his　sorry　looks　as　sharp　as　a　needle；　and　he；　too；　called　out；

　〃Drumikin！　　Drumikin！　　Have　you　seen　Lambikin？〃


And　Lambikin；　curled　up　in　his　snug　little　nest；　replied　gayly；

　〃Fallen　into　the　fire；　and　so　will　you　　On　little　Drumikin！　　Tum…pa〃


But　he　never　got　any　further；　for　the　Jackal　recognized　his　voice　at　once；　and　cried；　〃Hullo！　you've　turned　yourself　inside　out；　have　you？　　Just　you　come　out　of　that！〃

Whereupon　he　tore　open　Drumikin　and　gobbled　up　Lambikin。



THE　BLACKBERRY…BUSH＇1＇

＇1＇　From　Celia　Thaxter's　Stories　and　Poems　for　Children。


A　little　boy　sat　at　his　mother's　knees；　by　the　long　western　window；　looking　out　into　the　garden。　　It　was　autumn；　and　the　wind　was　sad；　and　the　golden　elm　leaves　lay　scattered　about　among　the　grass；　and　on　the　gravel　path。　　The　mother　was　knitting　a　little　stocking；　her　fingers　moved　the　bright　needles；　but　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　clear　evening　sky。

As　the　darkness　gathered；　the　wee　boy　laid　his　head　on　her　lap　and　kept　so　still　　that；　at　last；　she　leaned　forward　to　look　into　his　dear　round　face。　　He　was　not　asleep；　but　was　watching　very　earnestly　a　blackberry…bush；　that　waved　its　one　tall；　dark…red　spray　in　the　wind　outside　the　fence。

〃What　are　you　thinking　about；　my　darling？〃　she　said；　smoothing　his　soft；　honey…colored　hair。

〃The　blackberry…bush；　mamma；　what　does　it　say？　　It　keeps　nodding；　nodding　to　me　behind　the　fence；　what　does　it　say；　mamma？〃

〃It　says；〃　she　answered；　‘I　see　a　happy　little　boy　in　the　warm；　fire…lighted　room。　The　wind　blows　cold；　and　here　it　is　dark　and　lonely；　but　that　little　boy　is　warm　and　happy　and　safe　at　his　mother's　knees。　I　nod　to　him；　and　he　looks　at　me。　　I　wonder　if　he　knows　how　happy　he