Chapter II: Preparation

An old woman gave the child something of great use. What could it be?

Narration.

THE WONDERFUL POT.

The little girl thought, “Is there not something I can do to help my sick mother?” She did not sit down with her hands in her lap and wait for something to eat to come to her. She said to herself, “I must work. What can I do? I am too small to wash clothes. I am too small to scrub floors. But I can go out into the woods. I will find herbs there and berries. I can gather them and sell them. Then I will buy bread, and we need not be hungry any more.”

So the little girl went out into the woods. There she found ripe berries. She began to pick them and put them into her little basket. An old, old woman saw her. She stood and watched the child. She saw her poor, thin little face, and that the child did not jump about and laugh and sing as other children did when they came to the woods. She saw, too, that this child did not eat even the smallest berry. As fast as she picked them she dropped them into her small basket.

The old woman’s heart was full of pity for the poor little child. She said, “My child, I will help you.” Then she gave her a little earthen pot. It seemed a queer thing to give to this child who had so many empty pots at home. But this was a wonderful pot. The old woman told the child all about it. She said, “My child, this little pot will cook very sweet and good rice porridge for you, and you need not put anything into it at all. Just say, “Little Pot, Cook!” and it will begin to cook the sweet rice porridge. When you have enough say, “Little Pot, Stop!” and it will stop.” The little girl thanked the kind old woman and ran home with the wonderful pot.

Suggestions.

Rice, its uses, preparation for food. Where obtained. Explain _earthen pot_. _Pottery._

Helping one’s self. Children tell of ways in which they can help themselves.

III.

Preparation.

The child carries the pot home. Recall the old woman’s directions.

Narration.

THE MOTHER WELL AGAIN.

The little girl ran home as fast as she could run. “O dear mother,” she said, “see what a good old woman gave me. It is such a wonderful pot. All we need do is to say, ‘Little Pot, Cook!’ and it will cook rice porridge for us. When we have enough, we must say, ‘Little Pot, Stop!’ and it will stop cooking.”

Then the little girl set the pot on the hearthstone. The mother called out. “Little Pot. Cook!” Her voice was weak, but the little pot heard and began to cook. Soon it was full up to the very top with rice porridge. Then the mother called out, “Little Pot, Stop!” and the wonderful little pot stopped.

Oh, how quickly the little girl ran to the cupboard! She brought out plates and spoons, and soon she and the poor sick mother were eating sweet rice.

Suggestions.

Different kinds of berries. Where they grow.

Explain _self-help_.