how to tell stories to children-第10章

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Epaminondas　wrapped　it　up　in　leaves　and　put　it　in　his　hat；　and　put　his　hat　on　his　head；　and　came　along　home。　　It　was　a　very　hot　day。　　Pretty　soon　the　butter　began　to　melt。　　It　melted；　and　melted；　and　as　it　melted　it　ran　down　Epaminondas'　forehead；　then　it　ran　over　his　face；　and　in　his　ears；　and　down　his　neck。　　When　he　got　home；　all　the　butter　Epaminondas　had　was　ON　HIM。　　His　Mammy　looked　at　him；　and　then　she　said；

〃Law's　sake！　Epaminondas；　what　you　got　in　your　hat？〃

〃Butter；　Mammy；〃　said　Epaminondas；　〃Auntie　gave　it　to　me。〃

〃Butter！〃　said　his　Mammy。　　〃Epaminondas；　you　ain't　got　the　sense　you　was　born　with！　　Don't　you　know　that's　no　way　to　carry　butter？　　The　way　to　carry　butter　is　to　wrap　it　up　in　some　leaves　and　take　it　down　to　the　brook；　and　cool　it　in　the　water；　and　cool　it　in　the　water；　and　cool　it　in　the　water；　and　then　take　it　on　your　hands；　careful；　and　bring　it　along　home。〃

〃Yes；　Mammy；〃　said　Epaminondas。

By　and　by；　another　day；　Epaminondas　went　to　see　his　Auntie　again；　and　this　time　she　gave　him　a　little　new　puppy…dog　to　take　home。

Epaminondas　put　it　in　some　leaves　and　took　it　down　to　the　brook；　and　there　he　cooled　it　in　the　water；　and　cooled　it　in　the　water；　and　cooled　it　in　the　water；　then　he　took　it　in　his　hands　and　came　along　home。　When　he　got　home；　the　puppy…dog　was　dead。　　His　Mammy　looked　at　it；　and　she　said；

〃Law's　sake！　Epaminondas；　what　you　got　there？〃

〃A　puppy…dog；　Mammy；〃　said　Epaminondas。

〃A　PUPPY…DOG！〃　said　his　Mammy。　　〃My　gracious　sakes　alive；　Epaminondas；　you　ain't　got　the　sense　you　was　born　with！　That　ain't　the　way　to　carry　a　puppy…dog！　The　way　to　carry　a　puppy…dog　is　to　take　a　long　piece　of　string　and　tie　one　end　of　it　round　the　puppy…dog's　neck　and　put　the　puppy…dog　on　the　ground；　and　take　hold　of　the　other　end　of　the　string　and　come　along　home；　like　this。〃

〃All　right；　Mammy；〃　said　Epaminondas。

Next　day；　Epaminondas　went　to　see　his　Auntie　again；　and　when　he　came　to　go　home　she　gave　him　a　loaf　of　bread　to　carry　to　his　Mammy；　a　brown；　fresh；　crusty　loaf　of　bread。

So　Epaminondas　tied　a　string　around　the　end　of　the　loaf　and　took　hold　of　the　end　of　the　string　and　came　along　home；　like　this。　（Imitate　dragging　something　along　the　ground。）　　When　he　got　home　his　Mammy　looked　at　the　thing　on　the　end　of　the　string；　and　she　said；

〃My　laws　a…massy！　Epaminondas；　what　you　got　on　the　end　of　that　string？〃

〃Bread；　Mammy；〃　said　Epaminondas；　〃Auntie　gave　it　to　me。〃

〃Bread！！！〃　said　his　Mammy。　　〃O　Epaminondas；　Epaminondas；　you　ain't　got　the　sense　you　was　born　with；　you　never　did　have　the　sense　you　was　born　with；　you　never　will　have　the　sense　you　was　born　with！　　Now　I　ain't　gwine　tell　you　any　more　ways　to　bring　truck　home。　　And　don't　you　go　see　your　Auntie；　neither。　　I'll　go　see　her　my　own　self。　　But　I'll　just　tell　you　one　thing；　Epaminondas！　　You　see　these　here　six　mince　pies　I　done　make？　　You　see　how　I　done　set　'em　on　the　doorstep　to　cool？　Well；　now；　you　hear　me；　Epaminondas；　YOU　BE　CAREFUL　HOW　YOU　STEP　ON　THOSE　PIES！〃

〃Yes；　Mammy；〃　said　Epaminondas。

Then　Epaminondas'　Mammy　put　on　her　bonnet　and　her　shawl　and　took　a　basket　in　her　hand　and　went　away　to　see　Auntie。　　The　six　mince　pies　sat　cooling　in　a　row　on　the　doorstep。

And　then；and　then；Epaminondas　WAS　careful　how　he　stepped　on　those　pies！

He　stepped　（imitate）rightin　themiddleofeveryone。　　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　And；　do　you　know；　children；　nobody　knows　what　happened　next！　　The　person　who　told　me　the　story　didn't　know；　nobody　knows。　But　you　can　guess。



THE　BOY　WHO　CRIED　〃WOLF！〃


There　was　once　a　shepherd…boy　who　kept　his　flock　at　a　little　distance　from　the　village。　　Once　he　thought　he　would　play　a　trick　on　the　villagers　and　have　some　fun　at　their　expense。　　So　he　ran　toward　the　village　crying　out；　with　all　his　might；

〃Wolf！　　Wolf！　　Come　and　help！　　The　wolves　are　at　my　lambs！〃

The　kind　villagers　left　their　work　and　ran　to　the　field　to　help　him。　　But　when　they　got　there　the　boy　laughed　at　them　for　their　pains；　there　was　no　wolf　there。

Still　another　day　the　boy　tried　the　same　trick；　and　the　villagers　came　running　to　help　and　got　laughed　at　again。　Then　one　day　a　wolf　did　break　into　the　　fold　and　began　killing　the　lambs。　　In　great　fright；　the　boy　ran　for　help。　　〃Wolf！　　Wolf！〃　he　screamed。　　〃There　is　a　wolf　in　the　flock！　Help！〃

The　villagers　heard　him；　but　they　thought　it　was　another　mean　trick；　no　one　paid　the　least　attention；　or　went　near　him。　　And　the　shepherd…boy　lost　all　his　sheep。

That　is　the　kind　of　thing　that　happens　to　people　who　lie：　even　when　they　tell　the　truth　no　one　believes　them。



THE　FROG　KING


Did　you　ever　hear　the　old　story　about　the　foolish　Frogs？　　The　Frogs　in　a　certain　swamp　decided　that　they　needed　a　king；　they　had　always　got　along　perfectly　well　without　one；　but　they　suddenly　made　up　their　minds　that　a　king　they　must　have。　They　sent　a　messenger　to　Jove　and　begged　him　to　send　a　king　to　rule　over　them。

Jove　saw　how　stupid　they　were；　and　sent　a　king　who　could　not　harm　them：　he　tossed　a　big　log　into　the　middle　of　the　pond。

At　the　splash　the　Frogs　were　terribly　　frightened；　and　dove　into　their　holes　to　hide　from　King　Log。　　But　after　a　while；　when　they　saw　that　the　king　never　moved；　they　got　over　their　fright　and　went　and　sat　on　him。　　And　as　soon　as　they　found　he　really　could　not　hurt　them　they　began　to　despise　him；　and　finally　they　sent　another　messenger　to　Jove　to　ask　for　a　new　king。

Jove　sent　an　eel。

The　Frogs　were　much　pleased　and　a　good　deal　frightened　when　King　Eel　came　wriggling　and　swimming　among　them。　　But　as　the　days　went　on；　and　the　eel　was　perfectly　harmless；　they　stopped　being　afraid；　and　as　soon　as　they　stopped　fearing　King　Eel　they　stopped　respecting　him。

Soon　they　sent　a　third　messenger　to　Jove；　and　begged　that　they　might　have　a　better　king；a　king　who　was　worth　while。

It　was　too　much；　Jove　was　angry　at　their　stupidity　at　last。　　〃I　will　give　you　a　king　such　as　you　deserve！〃　he　said；　and　he　sent　them　a　Stork。

As　soon　as　the　Frogs　came　to　the　surface　to　greet　the　new　king；　King　Stork　caught　them　in　his　long　bill　and　gobbled　them　up。　One　after　another　they　came　bobbing　up；　and　one　after　another　the　stork　ate　them。　He　was　indeed　a　king　worthy　of　them！


THE　SUN　AND　THE　WIND


The　Sun　and　the　Wind　once　had　a　quarrel　as　to　which　was　the　stronger。　　Each　believed　himself　to　be　the　more　powerful。　While　they　were　arguing　they　saw　a　traveler　walking　along　the　country　highway；　wearing　a　great　cloak。

〃Here　is　a　chance　to　test　our　strength；〃　said　the　Wind；　〃let　us　see　which　of　us　is　strong　enough　to　make　that　traveler　take　off　his　cloak；　the　one　who　can　do　that　shall　be　acknowledged　the　more　powerful。〃

〃Agreed；〃　said　the　Sun。

Instantly　the　Wind　began　to　blow；　he　puffed　and　tugged　at　the　man's　cloak；　and　raised　a　storm　of　hail　and　rain；　to　beat　at　it。　　But　the　colder　it　grew　and　the　more　it　stormed；　the　tighter　the　traveler　held　his　cloak　around　him。　　The　Wind　could　not　get　it　off。

Now　it　was　the　Sun's　turn。　　He　shone　　with　all　his　beams　on　the　man's　shoulders。　As　it　grew　hotter　and　hotter；　the　man　unfastened　his　cloak；　then　he　threw　it　back；　at　last　he　took　it　off！　　The　Sun　had　won。



THE　LITTLE　JACKAL　AND　THE　ALLIGATOR


The　little　Jackal　was　very　fond　of　shell…　fish。　　He　used　to　go　down　by　the　river　and　hunt　along　the　edges　for　crabs　and　such　things。　　And　once；　when　he　was　hunting　for　crabs；　he　was　so　hungry　that　he　put　his　paw　into　the　water　after　a　crab　without　looking　first；which　you　never　should　do！　　The　minute　he　put　in　his　paw；　SNAP！　the　big　Alligator　who　lives　in　the　mud　down　there　had　it　in　his　jaws。

〃Oh；　dear！〃　thought　the　little　Jackal；　〃the　big　Alligator　has　my　paw　in　his　mouth！　　In　another　minute　he　will　pull　me　down　and　gobble　me　up！　　What　shall　I　do？　what　shall　I　do？〃　　Then　he　thought；　suddenly；　〃I'll　deceive　him！〃

So　he　put　on　a　very　cheerful　voice；　as　if　nothing　at　all　were　the　matter；　and　he　said；

〃Ho！　ho！　Clever　Mr。　Alligator！　　Smart　Mr。　Alligator；　to　take　that　old　bulrush　root　for　my　paw！　　I'll　hope　you'll　find　it　very　tender！〃

The　old　Alligator　was　hidden　away　beneath　the　mud　and　bulrush　leaves；　and　he　couldn't　see　anything。　　He　thought；　〃Pshaw！　　I've　made　a　mistake。〃　　So　he　opened　his　mouth　and　let　the　little　Jackal　go。

The　little　Jackal　ran　away　as　fast　as　he　could；　and　as　he　ran　he　called　out；

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Alligator！　　Kind　Mr。　Alligator！　　SO　kind　of　you　to　let　me　go！〃

The　old　Alligator　lashed　with　his　tail　and　snapped　with　his　jaws；　but　it　was　too　late；　the　little　Jackal　was　out　of　reach。

After　this　the　little　Jackal　kept　away　from　the　river；　out　of　danger。　　But　after　about　a　week　he　got　such　an　appetite　for　crabs　that　nothing　else　would　do　at　all；　he　felt　that　he　must　have　a　crab。　　So　he　went　down　by　the　river　and　looked　all　around；　very　carefully。　　He　didn't　see　the　old　Alligator；　but　he　thought　to　himself；　〃I　think　I'll　not　take　any　chances。〃　　So　　he　stood　still　and　began　to　talk　out　loud　to　himself。　　He　said；

〃When　I　don't　see　any　little　crabs　on　the　land　I　most　generally　see　them　sticking　out　of　the　water；　and　then　I　put　my　paw　in　and　catch　them。　　I　wonder　if　there　are　any　fat　little　crabs　in　the　water　today？〃

The　old　Alligator　was　hidden　down　in　the　mud　at　the　bottom　of　the　river；　and　when　he　heard　what　the　little　Jackal　said；　he　thought；　〃Aha！　　I'll　pretend　to　be　a　little　crab；　and　when　he　puts　his　paw　in；　I'll　make　my　dinner　of　him。〃　　So　he　stuck　the　black　end　of　his　snout　above　the　water　and　waited。

The　little　Jackal　took　one　look；　and　then　he　said；

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Alligator！　　Kind　Mr。　Alligator！　　You　are　EXCEEDINGLY　kind　to　show　me　where　you　are！　　I　will　have　dinner　elsewhere。〃　　And　he　ran　away　like　the　wind。

The　old　Alligator　foamed　at　the　mouth；　he　was　so　angry；　but　the　little　Jackal　was　gone。

For　two　whole　weeks　the　little　Jackal　　kept　away　from　the　river。　　Then；　one　day　he　got　a　feeling　inside　him　that　nothing　but　crabs　could　satisfy；　he　felt　that　he　must　have　at　least　one　crab。　　Very　cautiously；　he　went　down　to　the　river　and　looked　all　around。　　He　saw　no　sign　of　the　old　Alligator。　　Still；　he　did　not　mean　to　take　any　chances。　　So　he　stood　quite　still　and　began　to　talk　to　himself；it　was　a　little　way　he　had。　　He　said；

〃When　I　don't　see　any　little　crabs　on　the　shore；　or　sticking　up　out　of　the　water；　I　usually　see　them　blowing　bubbles　from　under　the　water；　the　little　bubbles　go　PUFF；　PUFF；　PUFF；　and　then　they　go　POP；　POP；　POP；　and　they　show　me　where　the　little　juicy　crabs　are；　so　I　can　put　my　paw　in　and　catch　them。　　I　wonder　if　I　shall　see　any　little　bubbles　to…day？〃

The　old　Alligator；　lying　low　in　the　mud　and　weeds；　heard　this；　and　he　thought；　〃Pooh！　　THAT'S　easy　enough；　I'll　just　blow　some　little　crab…bubbles；　and　then　he　will　put　his　paw　in　where　I　can　get　it。〃

So　he　blew；　and　he　blew；　a　mighty　blast；　and　the　bubbles　rose　in　a　perfect　whirlpool；　fizzing　and　swirling。

The　little　Jackal　didn't　have　to　be　told　who　was　underneath　those　bubbles：　he　took　one　quick　look；　and　off　he　ran。　　But　as　he　went；　he　sang；

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Alligator！　　Kind　Mr。　Alligator！　　You　are　the　kindest　Alligator　in　the　world；　to　show　me　where　you　are；　so　nicely！　　I'll　breakfast　at　another　part　of　the　river。〃

The　old　Alligator　was　so　furious　that　he　crawled　up　on　the　bank　a