Chapter I: Preface

The stories which are given in the following pages are for the most part those which I have found to be best liked by the children to whom I have told these and others. I have tried to reproduce the form in which I actually tell them,--although that inevitably varies with every repetition,--feeling that it would be of greater value to another story-teller than a more closely literary form.

For the same reason, I have confined my statements of theory as to method, to those which reflect my own experience; my "rules" were drawn from introspection and retrospection, at the urging of others, long after the instinctive method they exemplify had become habitual.

These facts are the basis of my hope that the book may be of use to those who have much to do with children.

It would be impossible, in the space of any pardonable preface, to name the teachers, mothers, and librarians who have given me hints and helps during the past few years of story-telling. But I cannot let these pages go to press without recording my especial indebtedness to the few persons without whose interested aid the little book would scarcely have come to be. They are: Mrs Elizabeth Young Rutan, at whose generous instance I first enlarged my own field of entertaining story-telling to include hers, of educational narrative, and from whom I had many valuable suggestions at that time; Miss Ella L. Sweeney, assistant superintendent of schools, Providence, R.I., to whom I owe exceptional opportunities for investigation and experiment; Mrs Root, children's librarian of Providence Public Library, and Miss Alice M. Jordan, Boston Public Library, children's room, to whom I am indebted for much gracious and efficient aid.

My thanks are due also to Mr David Nutt for permission to make use of three stories from _English Fairy Tales_, by Mr Joseph Jacobs, and _Raggylug_, from _Wild Animals I have Known_, by Mr Ernest Thompson Seton; to Messrs Frederick A. Stokes Company for _Five Little White Heads_, by Walter Learned, and for _Bird Thoughts_; to Messrs Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. Ltd. for _The Burning of the Ricefields_, from _Gleanings in Buddha-Fields_, by Mr Lafcadio Hearn; to Messrs H.R. Allenson Ltd. for three stories from _The Golden Windows_, by Miss Laura E. Richards; and to Mr Seumas McManus for _Billy Beg and his Bull_, from _In Chimney Corners_.

S.C.B.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION PAGE The Story-teller's Art Recent Revival The Difference between telling a Story and reading it aloud Some Reasons why the Former is more effective 11

CHAPTER I

THE PURPOSE OF STORY-TELLING IN SCHOOL

Its immediate Advantages to the Teacher Its ultimate Gifts to the Child 19

CHAPTER II

SELECTION OF STORIES TO TELL

The Qualities Children like, and why Qualities necessary for Oral Delivery Examples: _The Three Bears_, _The Three Little Pigs_, _The Old Woman and her Pig_ Suggestions as to the Type of Story especially useful in the several primary Grades Selected List of familiar Fairy Tales 43

CHAPTER III

ADAPTATION OF STORIES FOR TELLING

How to make a long Story short How to fill out a short Story General Changes commonly desirable Examples: _The Nürnberg Stove_, by Ouida; _The King of the Golden River_, by Ruskin; _The Red Thread of Courage_, _The Elf and the Dormouse_ Analysis of Method 67

CHAPTER IV

HOW TO TELL THE STORY

Essential Nature of the Story Kind of Appreciation necessary Suggestions for gaining Mastery of Facts Arrangement of Children The Story-teller's Mood A few Principles of Method, Manner and Voice, from the psychological Point of View 93