Chapter I: Part 1

STORY HOUR READERS

THIRD YEAR

BOOK THREE

BY

IDA COE, Pd.M.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PUBLIC SCHOOLS CITY OF NEW YORK

AND

ALICE J. CHRISTIE

PRIMARY TEACHER. PUBLIC SCHOOLS CITY OF NEW YORK

CONTENTS

THE LAND OF STORY BOOKS _Robert Louis Stevenson_ HANSEL AND GRETEL _Fairy Tale_ THE EAGLE AND THE FOX _Fable_ HIAWATHA'S BROTHERS _Henry W. Longfellow_ THE BEAVERS' LODGE _Indian Folklore_ MANITOU AND THE SQUIRRELS _Indian Folklore_ THE SWIFT RUNNER _Indian Folklore_ BROTHER RABBIT _Indian Folklore_ QUEEN MAB _Thomas Hood_ CINDERELLA _Fairy Tale_ THE WIND _Robert Louis Stevenson_ THE BAG OF WINDS _Greek Mythology_ DIANA AND APOLLO _Greek Mythology_ THE TREE _Adapted from Bjornson_ THE FAIRY TREE _Fairy Tale_ HIAWATHA'S SAILING _Henry W. Longfellow_ GRAY MOLE AND THE INDIAN _Indian Folklore_ THE WATER LILIES _Indian Folklore_ WHERE GO THE BOATS? _Robert Louis Stevenson_ WHY THE SEA IS SALT _Northern Folklore_ SENNIN THE HERMIT _From the Japanese_ GREAT AND LITTLE BEAR _Greek Mythology_ THE BOY AND THE SHEEP _Ann Taylor_ THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF _Aesop_ THE LION'S SHARE _Aesop_ ROBIN REDBREAST _William Allingham_ THORN ROSE _Fairy Tale_ THE WOLVES AND THE DEER _Fable_ THE CORNFIELDS _Henry W. Longfellow_ THE GIFT OF CORN _Indian Folklore_ A BOY'S SONG _James Hogg_ THE FROGS' TRAVELS _From the Japanese_ THE MERCHANT'S CARAVAN _East Indian Tale_ QUEEN HULDA AND THE FLAX _European Folklore_ ALADDIN'S LAMP _Ida Coe_ ALADDIN AND THE MAGIC LAMP _Arabian Nights_ THE WHITING AND THE SNAIL _Lewis Carroll_ THE BONFIRE IN THE SEA _Australian Folklore_ ROBINSON CRUSOE _Daniel Defoe_ THE WONDERFUL WORLD THE MAGIC GIRDLE _The Brothers Grimm_

THE LAND OF STORY BOOKS

At evening when the lamp is lit, Around the fire my parents sit; They sit at home and talk and sing, And do not play at anything.

Now with my little gun I crawl, All in the dark, along the wall. And follow round the forest track Away behind the sofa back.

There in the night, where none can spy, All in my hunter's camp I lie, And play at books that I have read, Till it is time to go to bed.

* * * * *

So, when my nurse comes in for me, Home I return across the sea, And go to bed with backward looks At my dear Land of Story Books.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

HANSEL AND GRETEL

In a little cottage at the edge of a forest in Germany, lived Peter, a poor broom maker, and his wife Gertrude. They had two children, Hansel and Gretel.

One day Hansel and Gretel were left alone at home. Their father had gone to the village to sell brooms. Their mother was away, too.

The children were left busily at work. The boy was mending brooms, the girl knitting stockings.

After a time they became tired of their hard work.

"Come, Gretel, let us have some fun!" cried Hansel.

As he spoke, he threw the broom upon the floor, and pulled the stocking from his sister's hand.

"Oh, yes!" said Gretel. "I will teach you a song, and you can learn the steps of the dance."

Hansel and Gretel danced about the room. Gretel sang, while she and Hansel danced,

"First your foot you tap, tap, tap,
Then your hands you clap, clap, clap;
Right foot first, left foot then,
Round about and back again."

Presently the mother returned home. She entered the room and found Hansel and Gretel at play.

"You lazy children!" she exclaimed. "Why have you not finished your work?"

Taking the broom that Hansel had thrown upon the floor, the mother started to punish him, but the boy was too quick for her.

Hansel ran nimbly about, and as she was trying to catch him, the mother upset a jug of milk. It was all the food there was in the house.

"Oh, mother!" cried Gretel. "You have spilled the milk, and we shall have nothing to eat."

"Go out into the woods and gather some strawberries. Do not return until you have filled the basket to the brim," commanded the mother. "Hansel, help your sister pick the berries, and hurry back, both of you, for there is nothing else for supper."

Towards evening the father returned from the village.

"Ho, ho, good wife!" called Peter. "I have had great luck to-day, and have sold all my brooms. Now for a good supper! See here--bread and butter, some potatoes, ham and eggs. But where are the children?"

"They have gone to the woods to gather strawberries," replied Gertrude.

"It is growing dark. Hansel and Gretel should have been here long ago," said Peter anxiously.

The wife began to prepare supper. The husband went to the door of the cottage and looked out into the darkness.

"Alas, my children!" cried Peter. "I fear that the terrible Witch of the Forest may find them, and that we shall never see them again!"

Meanwhile Hansel and Gretel had filled the basket with strawberries, and then had wandered into the forest. They sat down upon a mossy bank under a fir tree, to rest.

"Here is a fine strawberry! Taste it," said Gretel.

She put a berry into Hansel's mouth and took one for herself.

"I am so hungry! Give me another berry," said Hansel.

The children tasted another and another of the strawberries, until all were gone.

"Oh, Hansel! We have eaten all of the strawberries," cried Gretel. "We must fill the basket again."

The children began to hunt for more berries, but it was now growing dark, and they could find none. To make matters worse, they had lost their way.

Gretel began to cry, but Hansel tried to be very brave.

"I will take care of you, sister," said he.

"Hark!" said Gretel.

They could hear soft voices among the trees. The children became more frightened than before.

"What is that, near the dark bushes?" whispered Gretel.

"It is only the stump of a tree," replied Hansel.

"It is making faces at me!" said Gretel.

Hansel made faces back again, trying to drive the strange form away.

Suddenly a light came toward them.

"Oh, here are father and mother looking for us!" cried Gretel.

But no, it was only the light of the will-o'-the-wisp.

Hansel called, "Who is there?"

Echo answered, "Who is there?"

Poor Babes in the Wood! They fled in terror, back to the mossy bank under the fir tree. There they huddled close together.

Presently a little man with a long white beard stood before them. He was dressed in gray clothes, and he carried a gray sack upon his back.

Hansel and Gretel were not afraid of the little man, for he seemed very friendly.

The little man sang softly,

"Golden slumbers close your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty darlings, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Lullaby, lullaby, the Sandman am I."

Then the Sandman threw into their tired eyes the sand of sleep. Soon the children had gone safely to Slumberland.

At midnight a little elf, whose home was deep in the heart of an oak tree, came forth and rang a fairy bell. He sang,

"Twelve small strokes on my tinkling bell--
'Twas made of the white snail's pearly shell;--
Midnight comes, and all is well!
Hither, hither, wing your way,
'Tis the dawn of the fairy day!"

At the last stroke of twelve, a troop of fairies and wood nymphs appeared. They danced merrily to the tune of the flower bells, forming a ring around the children.

When the sun's rays began to shine through the branches of the trees, the fairies tripped away. Only the Dew Fairy remained. She sprinkled dew upon the children's faces with her magic wand.

The Dew Fairy sang,

"Awake you, O children dear,
Wake you and rise!
The sun glowing brightly, peeps
Into your eyes!"

Then the Dew Fairy departed.

"O Hansel! Hear the birds singing! Where are we?" exclaimed Gretel. "Come, Hansel, wake up!"

The children looked about them in wonder. The giant trees had disappeared, and near them stood a little house.

"What a pretty cottage!" said Hansel. "Why, it is a candy house! The roof is chocolate, and the windows are sugar plums. What a queer fence! It is gingerbread!"

Soon they heard some one say, in a squeaky voice,

"Nibble, nibble, little mouse,
Who is nibbling my sweet house?"

The children only ate and sang and laughed.

Suddenly the door of the house flew open. An old witch came out. On her head she wore a pointed hat, and in her hand she carried a stick.

The candy cottage belonged to the Witch of the Forest.

"Oh, ho!" cried the witch. "You dear children, who led you here? Come in, and I will give you candies, cakes, apples, and nuts--all that you wish to eat!"

Hansel and Gretel were frightened. They started to run away, but the old witch waved her Elder Bush above her head. It cast a spell over the children. They could not move.

Then the witch put Hansel into a cage. She brought from the cottage a basket of sugar plums, candies, and nuts. She gave him the sweets to eat.

"You will soon be fat enough to cook," she muttered. "I will bake the girl first."

Grasping the little girl's arm, she shook her roughly, saying, "Go into the house and set the table while I build a fire."

The old witch gathered some wood. As she threw it upon the fire, she said, "Now for a ride through the air on my broom, while the oven is heating!"

Astride her big broom, the witch rode high above the cottage. She circled around like a huge bird, over the trees and back again, while she sang a strange song.

Hansel, shut up in the cage, watched her in terror.

At last the witch flew down to the ground, on her broom. She alighted close beside the oven, which stood in the front yard.

Calling the little girl out of the house she said, "Open the oven door. Then creep inside and see if it is hot enough to bake the bread."

But Gretel guessed that the witch meant to shut the door upon her, so she said, "I am afraid to creep into the oven."

"Silly child!" said the witch. "The door is wide enough. Why, even I could pass through!"

As she spoke, she popped her head into the oven.

Gretel sprang toward her and shut the oven door. That was the end of the old witch!

Then Gretel ran and unfastened the door of the cage.

"We are saved, Hansel!" she exclaimed. Then she danced about, singing merrily,

"First your foot you tap, tap, tap,
Then your hands you clap, clap, clap;
Right foot first, left foot then,
Round about and back again."

Then, taking the Elder Bush, Gretel waved it above her head as the witch had done.

Instantly the candy house became a log cabin. Sunflowers and morning-glories were growing in the front yard, where the witch's cage and the oven had stood.

Soon voices were heard. The sounds came nearer, and the father and mother clasped their children in their arms.

Peter and Gertrude lived with the two children in the log cabin in the forest, for many happy years. And the fairies always took good care of both Hansel and Gretel.

THE EAGLE AND THE FOX

One morning the fox said to his children, "I will find some eggs for breakfast."

Then he went to the woods.

The fox saw an eagle's nest in the top branch of a tree. "How can I reach those eggs?" thought he. "Ha, ha! Now I have a plan."

He put some grass stalks into his ears and knocked on the tree with them.

"Throw an egg to me," cried the fox. "If you do not throw an egg to me, I will knock this great tree over with these grass stalks."

The eagle was terribly frightened, and she threw an egg down to the fox.

"Throw another egg down to me at once," demanded the fox, when he saw that he had frightened the eagle.

"One egg is enough," said the eagle. "I shall not throw down any more eggs."

"Throw another egg to me, or I shall knock the tree over with these grass stalks, and take all your eggs," said the fox.

The eagle was still more frightened, and she threw down another egg.

Then the fox laughed and said, "How could I knock down a great tree with these small grass stalks?"

The eagle became very angry. She flew down from her nest and grasped the fox with her talons.

Then she lifted the fox up and flew with him far out to sea. She dropped him upon a lonely island.

The fox was left on the lonely island. One day he said to himself, "Am I going to die on this island?"

Then the fox began to sing softly. Seals, walruses, porpoises, and whales swam near the island.

"What are you singing about?" asked the sea people.

"This is what I am singing about," said the fox. "Are there more large animals in the waters of the sea, or on dry land?"

"Certainly there are more animals in the waters of the sea than on dry land," replied the sea people.

"Well, then, prove it to me!" said the fox. "Come up to the surface of the water and form a raft that will reach from this island to the mainland. Then I can walk over all of you, and I shall be able to count you."

So the large sea people--seals, walruses, porpoises, and whales--came up to the surface of the water.

The sea people formed a great raft, that reached from the island across to the mainland.

This was what the fox wanted. He ran over the great raft, pretending to count the animals.

When at last the fox reached the mainland, he jumped ashore and hastened home.

HIAWATHA'S BROTHERS

Of all beasts he learned the language, Learned their names and all their secrets, How the beavers built their lodges, Where the squirrels hid their acorns, How the reindeer ran so swiftly, Why the rabbit was so timid, Talked with them whene'er he met them, Called them "Hiawatha's Brothers."

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

THE BEAVERS' LODGE

Big Chief had traveled a long distance through the forest. At last he reached the shore of a lake.

He was very tired, so he sat down upon a rock to rest.

Suddenly a large beaver came up from the water and stood before Big Chief.

"Who are you, that you dare to enter my kingdom?" demanded the beaver.

"I am Big Chief," replied the Indian. "The Great Spirit has given me power over all the animals. Who are you?"

"I am Master Beaver. All the beavers follow me and obey my commands. We are busy people. We always have plenty to do."

Big Chief was not afraid. He showed Master Beaver his bow and arrows and his wampum belt, saying, "These gifts were bestowed upon me by the Great Spirit. I am ruler over the animals of field and forest, over the birds, and over the fish."

When Master Beaver saw the bow and arrows and the wampum belt, he knew that the Indian was very powerful. So he said, less proudly, "Will you come with me and see how the beavers build their lodges?"

Big Chief followed Master Beaver for a short distance along the shore of the lake. He saw many beavers at work cutting down trees with their sharp teeth.

Some of the trees had fallen across the water and reached to an island in the lake.

On the island, other beavers were plastering the spaces between the trees with mud and leaves.

Master Beaver said that this was the way the beavers built a dam.

Then he led Big Chief to the beavers' village on the island. Here were many lodges, built of sticks, grass and moss, and plastered with clay.

At last Master Beaver paused before one of the lodges.

"Enter! This is my home. You are welcome, Big Chief," said Master Beaver.

The Indian followed the beaver through a long, winding tunnel. They came to a large room. The floor of the room was covered with grass and bark.

Big Chief admired the dainty house with its dome-shaped roof.

Master Beaver's wife and his daughter gave the stranger a hearty welcome. They at once prepared a meal of poplar, birch and willow bark, and roots of water lilies.

This was choice food for beavers, but it was not the kind of dinner that Big Chief liked. Nevertheless he was very happy.

Master Beaver's daughter waited upon her father and his guest. She was so very fair that she won the heart of Big Chief.

He no longer wished to live alone. He asked Master Beaver to give the maiden to him, to be his bride. This pleased Master Beaver very much, for he liked Big Chief.

All the beavers and their neighbors were invited to the wedding. The next morning, some of the beavers arrived bringing clay. Then came otters, each carrying a large fish in his mouth as a present for the bride.

They were followed by the weasels, the minks, and the muskrats.

The guests enjoyed the wedding breakfast in the lodge of Master Beaver.

After the feast, the beavers invited the other animals to meet them on the bank of the lake. There they held a council.

They said, "We will build a lodge, which shall be the wedding gift of the beavers."

Then they chose a place under the birch trees that grew near the shore of the lake. Here the beavers began to build a lodge, of sticks of wood and the clay which they had brought with them. Soon the cozy lodge was finished.

Now came the greatest wonder of all. It pleased the Great Spirit to change the bride into a beautiful woman--a wife suited to the noble and handsome Big Chief.

Amid the cheers of their friends, Master Beaver led the happy couple to the cozy lodge near the lake. There they made their home.

MANITOU AND THE SQUIRRELS

"Please tell me one more story about the great Manitou, Grandmother," begged the little Indian boy.

The grandmother liked to tell stories to the boy. She sat down facing him and told him the story of the great Manitou and the squirrels.

This was the story she told:

Once upon a time, there was scarcely any food to be found. The great Manitou and his wife had fasted for many days, and they were very hungry.

"We must have meat," said Manitou.

Then he thought of a plan.

He lifted his bow and aimed a magic arrow through the door of the wigwam.

The arrow sped onward in the forest, until it passed through the body of a bear. It held the bear fast to a tree.

Manitou and his wife went into the forest together. There they found the bear.

Then Manitou said, "We will have a feast and invite our friends."

The birds and beasts were glad to accept the invitation. A large company arrived.

The woodpecker was the first to taste the food. He began to eat greedily, for he was very hungry.

When he put the meat into his mouth, it turned to ashes.

The woodpecker began to cough. "This is very impolite; I must not let Manitou hear me cough," thought he.

The fox was the next to taste the meat. It turned to ashes, and he began to cough.

All the other guests began to cough as soon as they had tasted the meat. They tried very hard not to let Manitou hear them.

They kept on tasting, but the more they tasted the harder they coughed.

At last Manitou became very angry.

"I will make you remember this," said he.

In an instant, the woodpecker, the fox, and all the other guests had disappeared. In their place were many squirrels, running up and down the trees and coughing as squirrels always do when taken by surprise.

To this day, squirrels do not eat meat, but instead they nibble acorns and nuts.

"If you have sharp eyes," added the grandmother, "you will find hollow places in the trees, where the squirrels hide their acorns and nuts."

THE SWIFT RUNNER

In the olden times, the animals were fond of sports. They often held contests, with prizes for those that won.

Once a prize was offered for the animal who could prove himself the swiftest runner.

The reward was to be a pair of great antlers. Each animal was to carry the antlers on his head, while running the race. The animal that should win, would have the antlers for his own.

A path through the woods was chosen for the race course. There were many bushes and brambles along the way.

All the animals gathered at the place of meeting. They chose Black Bear to be judge of the race. It was decided that the rabbit and the deer alone should try for the prize.

"They are the best runners. None of the rest of us could hope to win," said the other animals.

White Rabbit was given the first chance.

"I am willing to try for the prize," White Rabbit said, "but I would like first to look over the ground where I am to run."

So White Rabbit disappeared in the woods. He was gone so long that Red Fox was sent to look for him.

Red Fox found the rabbit hard at work, cutting off twigs to clear a path along which to run.

Red Fox went back and told the other animals what White Rabbit was doing.

Pretty soon White Rabbit came out of the woods. He was all ready to put on the antlers and begin the race for the great prize.

"Oh, no!" said Judge Bear. "We cannot allow you to enter the great race. You are too fond of gnawing twigs. You may keep on gnawing twigs instead of trying for the prize."

So little White Rabbit was not allowed to run for the prize.

Red Fox placed the horns upon the head of the deer and said, "It is your turn to try to win the race."

Then the animals gave three loud cheers and told the deer to do his best.

The deer ran swiftly along the woodland path. He carried the antlers so skillfully that they were not once caught in the bushes.

When the deer returned to the place of meeting, Judge Bear proclaimed him winner of the race.

As Black Bear gave the prize to the deer, he said, "Henceforth you shall wear the antlers on your head. You shall always be called the Swift Runner."

BROTHER RABBIT

One autumn day in the long ago, Eagle Eye, the great Indian chief, was very sad.

All summer long there had been no rain. The prairie grass was crisp and brown. The little streams were dry.

The animals, finding neither water nor green grass, had gone to the mountains many miles away. The Indians of the plains had no food to eat.

"I will go and search for the place where the animals have gone, so that I may tell my hunters and save the lives of my people," said Eagle Eye.

So, carrying his canoe to the river, Eagle Eye paddled up the stream for many days and nights. He watched to see if any of the animals came to the river to drink, but there was not even a squirrel.

One night the clouds hung low in the sky.

"There will be snow before morning," said Eagle Eye.

Then the great chief hauled his canoe up the river bank. He made a shelter with branches of trees. Here he slept through the night.

In the morning, the ground was covered with snow.

"The Great Spirit is kind," said Eagle Eye. "Now I shall see the footprints of some of the animals, and I can follow them."

Soon he found the footprints of deer that had been to the river to drink. Eagle Eye followed the footprints for many miles. At last he found where the animals lived.

Eagle Eye marked some trees, so that he might find the place again.

Then he started to return to the river bank where he had left his canoe.

Snow had fallen, and everything was white. Eagle Eye could not find the canoe.

"I am lost!" cried Eagle Eye. "If only there were some way of finding my canoe!"

Just then he saw a rabbit peering out from behind the stump of a tree.

"O Brother Rabbit!" called Eagle Eye. "How glad I am to see you! I am lost. I cannot find the river bank."

"Let me lead the way," Brother Rabbit replied. "If you will watch my dark fur against the snow, you can easily follow close behind me."

So Brother Rabbit hopped along, and Eagle Eye, watching the dark fur against the snow, followed close behind.

At last they reached the river bank, and there they found Eagle Eye's canoe.

Eagle Eye pushed the canoe into the water and stepped in.

Before he paddled away he said, "You have saved my life, Brother Rabbit. Hereafter your brown fur shall be white when the cold winter comes. Then no one will see your body against the snow, and you will always be safe."

The rabbit turned pure white.

He looked like a ball of snow beside the bushes.

Then Eagle Eye smiled.

"Your enemies will have a long chase after this," he said, "before they will find Brother Rabbit!"

After many days, Eagle Eye reached his home once more.

The chief told his people that he had followed the footprints of deer, and had found where the animals lived.

The Indians went with Eagle Eye after the deer, and soon they had plenty of food.

QUEEN MAB

A little fairy comes at night,
Her eyes are blue, her hair is brown,
With silver spots upon her wings,
And from the moon she flutters down.

She has a little silver wand,
And when a good child goes to bed,
She waves her hand from right to left,
And makes a circle round its head.

And then it dreams of pleasant things--
Of fountains filled with fairy fish,
And trees that bear delicious fruit,
And bow their branches at a wish.

Of arbors filled with dainty scents
From lovely flowers that never fade;
Bright flies that glitter in the sun,
And glowworms shining in the shade.

And talking birds with gifted tongues,
For singing songs and telling tales,
And pretty dwarfs to show the way
Through fairy hills and fairy dales.

But when a bad child goes to bed,
From left to right she weaves her rings,
And then it dreams all through the night
Of only ugly, horrid things!

Then lions come with glaring eyes,
And tigers growl, a dreadful noise,
And ogres draw their cruel knives,
To shed the blood of girls and boys.

Then stormy waves rush on to drown,
Or raging flames come scorching round,
Fierce dragons hover in the air,
And serpents crawl along the ground.

Then wicked children wake and weep,
And wish the long black gloom away;
But good ones love the dark, and find
The night as pleasant as the day.

THOMAS HOOD.

CINDERELLA

Once upon a time, there was a proud, selfish woman who had three daughters. The youngest was prettier than her sisters, and they were jealous of her beauty. They made her do all the housework, while they went to parties and balls.

The girl washed the dishes and swept the floors. She tended the fire and fed the parrot whose cage hung by the kitchen window. She spent so much time among the ashes and cinders, that her sisters called her Cinderella.

Now it happened that the king was to give a ball, in honor of the young prince. Cinderella's mother and sisters were invited.

How pleased they were to receive the invitation! They could think of nothing but the fine clothes they intended to wear.

They sent for the best dressmaker they could find. The oldest sister chose a pink silk gown. "I shall wear my red satin cloak trimmed with swan's-down," said she.

The second sister chose a gown of green velvet, saying, "The green velvet will show my diamonds to advantage."

The night of the great ball came at last. Cinderella helped her sisters to dress.

"Do you not wish that you were going to the ball?" said one of them.

"Yes, indeed!" sighed poor Cinderella.

But her sisters only laughed.

Cinderella watched them from the kitchen window as they drove away in their fine carriage. Then she sat down by the fire and began to cry.

"Why are you crying, Cinderella?" said some one gently.

There stood her Fairy Godmother.

"I wish I could--I wish I could--" sobbed Cinderella.

"You wish that you could go to the prince's ball," said the Fairy Godmother.

"Yes," nodded Cinderella.

"Stop crying and you may go," said the Fairy Godmother. "Run into the garden and bring me the largest pumpkin that you can find."

Cinderella could not think how a pumpkin would help her to go, but she obeyed.

The Fairy Godmother scooped out the inside of the pumpkin, leaving only the rind. She carried it to the kitchen door. Then she touched the rind with her wand. Instantly there stood a great coach covered with gold.

"Where shall we find horses for such a great coach?" cried Cinderella.

"Bring the mouse trap from the cellar," the Fairy Godmother replied.

"Here are six live mice in the trap," said Cinderella breathlessly.

The Fairy Godmother lifted the door of the trap. She touched each of the mice with her wand as it ran out. The mice became six beautiful white horses standing before the coach.

"Where shall we find a coachman to drive the horses?" asked Cinderella.

"Bring the rat trap to me," replied the Fairy Godmother.

Cinderella brought the rat trap, and in it was a large gray rat.

At a touch of the wand, the rat was changed into a coachman. He sat in state upon the coach.

"Now run into the garden again. You will find two lizards behind the watering pot. Bring them to me."

The Fairy Godmother touched the lizards with her wand. In their place stood two footmen in splendid livery.

They stepped to the back of the coach as if they had been footmen all their lives.

Then the kind Fairy Godmother touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand. The rags became a beautiful costume of satin, covered with pearls. In place of her old shoes were glass slippers that had been made by the fairies. They were the very prettiest little slippers in the world.

Never had Cinderella been so happy!

"Now you may go to the ball, but do not fail to leave before midnight," said the Fairy Godmother.

"If you stay until the clock strikes twelve," added the Fairy Godmother, "your coach will again become a pumpkin; your horses will be mice; your coachman will be a rat; your footmen will be lizards, and your beautiful dress will become rags."

Cinderella stepped into the coach. A few minutes later, the white horses dashed into the royal courtyard.

The door of the coach was flung open, and Cinderella stepped out.

As Cinderella entered the ball room, the prince hastened to meet her.

"Never," said he to himself, "have I seen anyone so lovely!"

Cinderella was so beautiful, so elegantly dressed, and she danced so well, that the prince fell in love with her. He would dance with no one else.

The evening passed away like a dream. Suddenly Cinderella heard a clock chime three quarters past eleven.

She bade the prince good-night and was soon on her way home in the pumpkin coach.

When Cinderella reached home, she found her Fairy Godmother waiting to hear about the ball.

"It was fine!" said Cinderella. "The prince has invited me to attend the ball to be given to-morrow night. Oh, how I wish that I might go!"

"You may certainly go to the prince's ball to-morrow night. I wish to make you very happy, dear child," said the Fairy Godmother.

By the time the mother and sisters had returned home from the ball, the Fairy Godmother had disappeared.

Cinderella was sitting by the kitchen fire in her rags.

"Do you not wish that you had been to the ball?" asked the sisters. "There was a wonderful princess there. The prince would dance with no one else."

"Who was she?" asked Cinderella.

"That we cannot say," answered the two sisters. "She would not tell her name, though the prince, on bended knee, begged her to do so."

The next night, as soon as the mother and sisters had started in their carriage to attend the ball, the Fairy Godmother appeared once more.

Again, at the touch of her wand, the pumpkin became a coach; the mice became horses; the rat became a coachman, and the lizards became footmen.

The Fairy Godmother touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand, and this time her rags became a beautiful costume of silver cloth, covered with rubies. In place of the worn-out shoes were the wonderful glass slippers.

"Whatever you do, remember to leave before the clock strikes twelve," said the Fairy Godmother, as Cinderella drove away.

When Cinderella arrived at the king's palace, the prince met her at the door. He would dance with no one else.

Cinderella was very happy. The hours passed swiftly away, but she left the palace before the clock struck twelve.

The king gave another ball the third night. This time Cinderella wore a costume of gold cloth, covered with sparkling diamonds; and on her feet were the wonderful glass slippers.

The prince met her at the door. He led her to the ball room and again would dance with no one else.

This time Cinderella was enjoying the ball so much that she forgot the warning of the Fairy Godmother.

Suddenly the clock began to strike twelve. With a cry of alarm she fled from the ball room, dropping one of her glass slippers in her haste.

The prince hurried after her, but by the time he reached the royal courtyard the beautiful maiden had disappeared.

As Cinderella arrived at her own gate, the coach became a pumpkin; the horses became mice; the coachman became a rat and the footmen lizards.

Cinderella was again clothed in rags, but in her hand she carried one of the glass slippers that she had worn at the prince's ball.

The mother and sisters came home soon afterwards. They could talk of nothing but the sudden disappearance of the beautiful princess.

On the following morning, there was a noise of trumpets and drums.

The king's messengers passed through the town, crying, "The king's son will marry the fair maiden whose foot the glass slipper exactly fits."

The prince rode behind in his coach. He was followed by a company of attendants, who carried the glass slipper upon a velvet cushion.

At last the procession arrived at the home of Cinderella.

The mother and sisters saw the prince coming.

They at once hid pretty Cinderella under a tub in the kitchen.

The prince tried to fit the glass slipper to the foot of the oldest daughter. The foot was too long and too thin at the heel.

"You can pare off the heel," said the mother.

But the prince only laughed.

He tried the glass slipper on the foot of the second daughter. Her foot was too short and too fat at the toe.

"You can pare off the toe," said the mother.

But the prince only laughed.

Suddenly the parrot called, from his cage by the kitchen window,

"You may pare off the heels,
Or pare off the toes,
But under the tub
The slipper goes."

The prince ordered his attendants to lift the tub. Crouching under it sat Cinderella, clothed in rags but wearing on one foot the mate to the glass slipper.

The prince knelt upon the velvet cushion, and tried on Cinderella's foot the little glass slipper which he had found in the ball room. It fitted exactly. It was like the slipper that Cinderella had on the other foot.

At that moment, the Fairy Godmother appeared. She touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand.

There stood Cinderella, dressed in a costume even more beautiful than those she had worn at the palace.

Then the prince saw that Cinderella was indeed the lovely maiden for whom he was searching. He arose and kissed her, and begged her to become his wife.

The prince and Cinderella were married, and in time they became king and queen. They ruled the kingdom long and well.

THE WIND

I saw yon toss the kites on high And blow the birds about the sky; And all around I heard you pass, Like ladies' skirts across the grass-- O wind, a-blowing all day long! O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you hid. I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all-- O wind, a-blowing all day long! O wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold, O blower, are you young or old? Are you a beast of field and tree, Or just a stronger child than me? O wind, a-blowing all day long! O wind, that sings so loud a song!

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

THE BAG OF WINDS

The great caves of an island, far away in the midst of the sea, were the home of the Winds.

Eolus was ruler of the Winds. He kept them imprisoned in the caves. Sometimes he allowed them to go free for a time, to have a frolic or take exercise.

Although the Winds were often unruly and were fond of mischief, they always obeyed the voice of Eolus.

North Wind was the roughest of all. He would go from his cave on the wildest errands.

Sometimes he would pile the waves mountains high and would lash them into a tempest. He would tear the sails and break the masts of the vessels. He would uproot the forest trees and tear the roofs from the houses.

But at the command of Eolus, North Wind would cease his roaring and would go sullenly back to his cave.

"South Wind!" Eolus would call. "Send a gentle, playful breeze among the flowers. Bring gay sunshine and soft showers. Sing a song of spring.

"West Wind! Blow steadily against the sails of the ships and speed them on their journey.

"East Wind! Go forth in a jolly, merry mood. Whirl the leaves over the ground and scatter the seeds far and wide.

"North Wind! Cover the earth with a blanket of snow. Freeze the waters of the lakes and rivers."

Thus Eolus would command the Winds, and they would do his bidding.

One day a ship stopped near the island of the Winds, and anchored. The captain of the ship and the sailors went ashore.

Eolus treated the visitors very kindly.

When the sailors discovered that they had come to the home of the Winds, they cried, "O Eolus! Tell West Wind to blow and help us reach home quickly:"

Then Eolus took a leather bag and put into it all the unruly Winds. He tied the end of the bag with a silver string. Giving the bag to the captain, he said, "Fasten the bag to the mast of your ship. Do not open it, or trouble will follow."

Then Eolus called West Wind from his island cave.

The captain and the sailors thanked Eolus and started off in the ship. West Wind blew gently, and the ship sailed over smooth waters day and night. Each day found them nearer home.

At last, on the evening of the ninth day, they saw the shores of their own land.

The captain cried, "Land, ahoy! We shall anchor in the harbor to-morrow."

Tired with long watching, and thinking that the ship was safe, he went to sleep.

Then the sailors began to whisper softly to each other.

"What do you suppose there is in the bag?" said one.

"It is tied with a silver cord. I am sure that it is full of gold," said another.

Then they planned to rob the captain of his treasure.

One of the sailors untied the bag.

Out rushed the angry Winds! They raged and roared. A storm arose, and the ship was sent far out of its course. The captain begged West Wind to help the sailors, but he could not.

At last the ship was driven back to the home of the Winds.

Eolus was surprised when he saw the ship again.

"Why have you returned?" asked Eolus.

"The sailors untied the silver cord at the end of the bag and set the unruly Winds free," replied the captain. "Please call them back to their caves and help us."

"Depart!" cried Eolus angrily. "I will show you no more favors."

Sadly they sailed away, and no kind West Wind helped them.

They toiled for many days and nights, and they suffered great hardship before they came once more in sight of their own land.

DIANA AND APOLLO

On an island in the sea, there lived a beautiful woman who had two children, twins. The girl's name was Diana, the boy's Apollo.

It was a floating island. Neptune, the king of the sea, had placed four marble pillars under it, and had fastened it with heavy chains.

The two children grew rapidly. Diana became tall and graceful. Jupiter, king of heaven and earth, saw that she was very fair.

One day as Diana was walking through the forest, Jupiter met her and spoke to her, saying, "Fair Diana, hereafter you shall be called Queen of the Woods."

Diana, followed by her maids the wood nymphs, often wandered through the forest. She took care of the deer and all helpless creatures, but she hunted fierce animals.

Apollo, also, grew to be fair and strong.

Jupiter bestowed many gifts upon the youth. He gave Apollo a pair of swans and a golden chariot, so that the boy could go anywhere, on land or sea.

The most wonderful present that Jupiter gave to Apollo was a silver bow, with sharp arrows which never missed the mark. Apollo prized the bow so highly and used it so very skillfully, that he came to be called "Master of the Silver Bow."

THE TREE

Green stood the Tree,
With its leaves tender bright.
"Shall I take them?" said Frost,
As he breathed thro' the night.
"Oh! pray let them be,
Till my blossoms you see!"
Begged the Tree, as she shivered
And shook in affright.

Sweet sang the birds
The fair blossoms among.
"Shall I take them?" said Wind,
As he swayed them and swung.
"Oh! pray let them be,
Till my berries you see!"
Begged the Tree, as its branches
All quivering hung.

Bright grew the berries
Beneath the sun's heat.
"Shall I take them?" said Lassie
So young and so sweet.
"Ah! take them, I crave!
Take all that I have!"
Begged the Tree, as it bent
Its full boughs to her feet.

ADAPTED.

THE FAIRY TREE

Long, long ago, on an island in the sea, lived a family of seven sisters. The oldest girl ruled the household, and her sisters obeyed her commands. Flora, the youngest sister, was sent to the forest each day, to gather wood for the kitchen fire.

Near the edge of the forest was a cave under some rocks. A stream of water fell over the rocks into a basin in the cave.

This was a delightfully cool spot, and Flora often rested here on her way home after gathering wood in the forest. She would lie on the mossy bank of the stream, for hours, and dream.

One morning as Flora ran along the grassy path that led to the cave, she saw a little fish in the stream. Its scales flashed out all the colors of the rainbow.

"I am going to keep the fish for a pet," said the girl to herself. "I will call him Rainbow."

So she caught the pretty fish and put him into the basin in the cave.

The next day Flora went to the forest for wood. She carried some crumbs of bread which she had saved from her breakfast.

On the way home she stopped at the cave. The fish was waiting for her. He came to the edge of the basin, and she fed the crumbs to him.

How delighted the girl was! She had been so lonely, and now she had a playfellow!

Every morning, instead of eating the bread which her sister gave to her, Flora would save it and feed the crumbs to her pet. The fish would leap to catch them.

"Here are some crumbs, Rainbow," she would say. "This is all to-day, but I shall come again to-morrow."

Then she would sing a little song.

Flora began to grow thin, and her sisters wondered what could be the matter.

One day the oldest sister followed her to the cave and saw her feed the crumbs of bread to the fish.

While Flora was away in the forest, the oldest sister caught the fish, carried him home and baked him for supper.

The bones were buried under the kitchen fire.

The next morning, Flora went to the cave as usual, but no fish was there. She sang her little song, and still he did not come.

"Rainbow cannot be dead," she said, "for I do not see him in the water."

Then Flora hastened home. She threw herself upon her bed and was soon fast asleep.

The following morning, a rooster flew up to Flora's window and crowed,

"Cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo!
The bones of Rainbow wait for you,
Under the kitchen fire, too."

Flora arose at once and went downstairs. There, under the kitchen fire, she found the bones of her pet. She wept as she gathered the bones and placed them in a box.

She went to the forest and buried the box near the cave.

Then Flora sat down on a mossy bank near the cave and sang this song:

"Rainbow, Rainbow, hear my cry,
My great wish do not deny.
If you can't come back to me,
Pray, O pray, become a tree!"

As the last words of the song echoed through the cave, there sprang up beside the girl a wonderful Fairy Tree.

Its trunk was of ivory. Its leaves were of silver fringed with pearls. Its flowers were gold, and its fruit gems from which sparkled the bright colors of the rainbow.

One day the summer breeze carried a leaf from the Fairy Tree across the sea to another island. It fell at the feet of the king.

He picked up the wonderful leaf, saying, "I shall never rest until I find the tree from which this leaf came."

The king set sail with his attendants. He soon landed on the island where the seven sisters lived.

As the king and his men were marching through the forest, they found the Fairy Tree growing at the entrance to the cave.

The king tried to pick some of the leaves, but he could not.

Then he heard the sweet voice of a girl. She was singing,

"Rainbow, Rainbow, speak to me!
Bend your branches, Fairy Tree!"

And Flora came tripping along the grassy path that led to the cave.

The king said, "Fair maiden, if you can pick a leaf or a flower from this tree, you shall be my queen."

As Flora reached to pick a flower, the tree bowed low, and every leaf trembled with delight.

The maiden at once presented the flower to the king.

As he took the flower, the king exclaimed,

"To you belongs the Fairy Tree;
Pray be my bride and rule with me."

Flora thought she must be dreaming, but they were married next day, beneath the branches of the Fairy Tree.

Adapted from "The Lilac Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang

HIAWATHA'S SAILING

Thus the Birch Canoe was builded In the valley, by the river, In the bosom of the forest; And the forest life was in it, All its mystery and its magic, All the lightness of the birch tree, All the toughness of the cedar, All the larch's supple sinews; And it floated on the river Like a yellow leaf in autumn, Like a yellow water lily.

HENRY W LONGFELLOW

GRAY MOLE AND THE INDIAN

An Indian was once wandering across the prairie. He was tired, and hungry, and very lonely. He had traveled many miles.

At last he came to a brook, in a meadow at the foot of a hill.

"I will rest here until noon," thought the Indian. He sat down upon the mossy bank beside the brook.

Presently he heard some one whisper, "Lift me up and carry me with you, and I will be your friend."

The Indian looked carefully about him, to find who was speaking. He saw a small, gray animal peeping from out of the moss.

"Ha, ha, Gray Mole!" laughed the Indian. "Why should I carry you?"

"I am far from my island home. If you will carry me to the cliff near the Place of Breaking Light, I can then reach my burrow safely," replied Gray Mole.

The Indian placed Gray Mole in his large wampum belt.

"Very well, little friend," he said. "You may travel with me, but I shall rest here for a time before starting on the journey."

Then, covering himself with his deerskin robe, he lay down upon the moss. He was soon fast asleep.

At about noon Sun passed overhead. Sun traveled so close to the earth that his rays scorched and shriveled the deerskin robe.

When the Indian awoke, he found that his deerskin robe had been scorched and shriveled by Sun. He was furiously angry.

"I will follow Sun and punish him," said the Indian.

Sun had traveled far beyond the meadow and was now fast disappearing behind the hill. The Indian started to follow.

At last the Indian reached the summit of the hill and could look down the other side. Sun could no longer be seen. He had hidden in his cave beyond the Western Sea.

The Indian traveled until he came to the edge of a cliff. The Shining Big Sea Water beat high against the rocks, and in the distance he could see the Place of Breaking Light.

"We have come to the cliff, little friend. Jump out of my wampum belt," said the Indian. "But how are you going to reach your burrow on the island yonder?"

"I shall wait here with you until the break of day," replied Gray Mole.

Many trees grew near the cliff. East Wind blew gently through their branches, rustling the leaves and carrying messages to the Indian.

Oak Tree said proudly, "I am King of the Forest. The Great Chief summons his warriors beneath my boughs. Here he holds his councils. Of my branches the strong arrows are made."

Ash Tree whispered, "My pliant branches make the bows which speed the arrows in their flight."

Maple Tree said softly, "I am the food of the Great Chief. My sap is sweet and wholesome. People of all nations delight to show me honor."

Red Willow bowed low and said, "My bark is used for the peace pipe of the Great Chief. Of my branches the women weave baskets and mats for their wigwams."

Marsh Reeds, growing near Red Willow, chimed sweetly, "Our stalks are used for the stems of the peace pipes."

Linden Tree swayed to and fro, saying, "I am used for the cradles in which the children are rocked."

Pine Tree said gently, "My sweet singing lulls the children to sleep." And she murmured a soft lullaby.

Birch Tree was standing near the path.

"Of what use are you, O Birch Tree?" said the Indian.

Birch Tree replied, "My bark covers the canoes that sail upon the lakes and rivers. I am used also for the picture-writing of the people."

East Wind again blew gently, stirring the leaves of the trees.

Then Cedar Tree said, "My pliant branches make the canoes strong and steady."

Larch Tree whispered, "I give my fibrous roots to bind the parts together."

Fir Tree said, "My rosin closes the seams of the canoes, to make them safe."

Then the Indian looked at a cluster of alder trees growing near a stream of water.

"Of what use are you, O Alder Trees?"

The Alder Trees replied, "The Indian Chief comes here to fish in the cool stream. He finds shelter, beneath our branches, from the hot rays of Sun!"

All this time, Gray Mole had been busily gathering fibrous roots from the larch tree. He had made a rope to snare Sun.

Then Gray Mole called to the Indian to look toward the Place of Breaking Light. There, in a little bay on Gray Mole's island, stood a birch canoe. Soon the canoe floated to where the Indian stood.

"Follow me," said Gray Mole. "Step into the magic canoe. We will go to the island and there set a snare for Sun."

The magic canoe carried them safely over the water, and they soon reached the island. Then the Indian set the snare for Sun.

Presently Sun came out of his cave and was at once caught in the snare.