how to tell stories to children-第13章

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ired；　he　did　not　know　that　he　was　in　a　hospital。　But　before　he　could　wonder　any　more　his　　breath　was　quite　taken　away　by　the　shout　those　little　white　children　gave。

〃Oh！　oh！　m…m！　m…m！〃　they　cried。

〃How　pretty！　　How　beautiful！　　Oh；　isn't　it　lovely！〃

He　knew　they　must　mean　him；　for　all　their　shining　eyes　were　looking　straight　at　him。　　He　stood　as　straight　as　a　mast；　and　quivered　in　every　needle；　for　joy。　　Presently　one　little　weak　child…voice　called　out；

〃It's　the　nicest　Christmas　tree　I　ever　saw！〃

And　then；　at　last；　the　Little　Fir　Tree　knew　what　he　was；　he　was　a　Christmas　tree！　　And　from　his　shiny　head　to　his　feet　he　was　glad；　through　and　through；　because　he　was　just　little　enough　to　be　the　nicest　kind　of　tree　in　the　world！



HOW　MOSES　WAS　SAVED


Thousands　of　years　ago；　many　years　before　David　lived；　there　was　a　very　wise　and　good　man　of　his　people　who　was　a　friend　and　adviser　of　the　king　of　Egypt。　And　for　love　of　this　friend；　the　king　of　Egypt　had　let　numbers　of　the　Israelites　　settle　in　his　land。　　But　after　the　king　and　his　Israelitish　friend　were　dead；　there　was　a　new　king；　who　hated　the　Israelites。　　When　he　saw　how　strong　they　were；　and　how　many　there　were　of　them；　he　began　to　be　afraid　that　some　day　they　might　number　more　than　the　Egyptians；　and　might　take　his　land　from　him。

Then　he　and　his　rulers　did　a　wicked　thing。　　They　made　the　Israelites　slaves。　And　they　gave　them　terrible　tasks　to　do；　without　proper　rest；　or　food；　or　clothes。　For　they　hoped　that　the　hardship　would　kill　off　the　Israelites。　　They　thought　the　old　men　would　die　and　the　young　men　be　so　ill　and　weary　that　they　could　not　bring　up　families；　and　so　the　race　would　vanish　away。

But　in　spite　of　the　work　and　suffering；　the　Israelites　remained　strong；　and　more　and　more　boys　grew　up；　to　make　the　king　afraid。

Then　he　did　the　wickedest　thing　of　all。　He　ordered　his　soldiers　to　kill　every　boy　baby　that　should　be　born　in　an　Israelitish　family；　he　did　not　care　about　the　girls；　because　they　could　not　grow　up　to　fight。

Very　soon　after　this　evil　order；　a　boy　baby　was　born　in　a　certain　Israelitish　family。　　When　his　mother　first　looked　at　him　her　heart　was　nearly　broken；　for　he　was　even　more　beautiful　than　most　babies　are；so　strong　and　fair　and　sweet。　　But　he　was　a　boy！　　How　could　she　save　him　from　death？

Somehow；　she　contrived　to　keep　him　hidden　for　three　whole　months。　　But　at　the　end　of　that　time；　she　saw　that　it　was　not　going　to　be　possible　to　keep　him　safe　any　longer。　　She　had　been　thinking　all　this　time　about　what　she　should　do；　and　now　she　carried　out　her　plan。

First；　she　took　a　basket　made　of　bulrushes　and　daubed　it　all　over　with　pitch　so　that　it　was　water…tight；　and　then　she　laid　the　baby　in　it；　then　she　carried　it　to　the　edge　of　the　river　and　laid　it　in　the　flags　by　the　river's　brink。　　It　did　not　show　at　all；　unless　one　were　quite　near　it。　　Then　she　kissed　her　little　son　and　left　him　there。　But　his　sister　stood　far　off；　not　seeming　to　watch；　but　really　watching　carefully　to　see　what　would　happen　to　the　baby。

Soon　there　was　the　sound　of　talk　and　　laughter；　and　a　train　of　beautiful　women　came　down　to　the　water's　edge。　　It　was　the　king's　daughter；　come　down　to　bathe　in　the　river；　with　her　maidens。　　The　maidens　walked　along　by　the　river's　side。

As　the　king's　daughter　came　near　to　the　water；　she　saw　the　strange　little　basket　lying　in　the　flags；　and　she　sent　her　maid　to　bring　it　to　her。　　And　when　she　had　opened　it；　she　saw　the　child；　the　poor　baby　was　crying。　　When　she　saw　him；　so　helpless　and　so　beautiful；　crying　for　his　mother；　the　king's　daughter　pitied　him　and　loved　him。　　She　knew　the　cruel　order　of　her　father；　and　she　said　at　once；　〃This　is　one　of　the　Hebrews'　children。〃

At　that　moment　the　baby's　sister　came　to　the　princess　and　said；　〃Shall　I　go　and　find　thee　a　nurse　from　the　Hebrew　women；　so　that　she　may　nurse　the　child　for　thee？〃　Not　a　word　did　she　say　about　whose　child　it　was；　but　perhaps　the　princess　guessed；　I　don't　know。　　At　all　events；　she　told　the　little　girl　to　go。

So　the　maiden　went；　and　brought　her　mother！

Then　the　king's　daughter　said　to　the　　baby's　mother；　〃Take　this　child　away　and　nurse　it　for　me；　and　I　will　give　thee　wages。〃

Was　not　that　a　strange　thing？　　And　can　you　think　how　happy　the　baby's　mother　was？　　For　now　the　baby　would　be　known　only　as　the　princess's　adopted　child；　and　would　be　safe。

And　it　was　so。　　The　mother　kept　him　until　he　was　old　enough　to　be　taken　to　the　princess's　palace。　　Then　he　was　brought　and　given　to　the　king's　daughter；　and　he　became　her　son。　　And　she　named　him　Moses。

But　the　strangest　part　of　the　whole　story　is；　that　when　Moses　grew　to　be　a　man　he　became　so　strong　and　wise　that　it　was　he　who　at　last　saved　his　people　from　the　king　and　conquered　the　Egyptians。　　The　one　child　saved　by　the　king's　own　daughter　was　the　very　one　the　king　would　most　have　wanted　to　kill；　if　he　had　known。



THE　TEN　FAIRIES＇1＇

＇1＇　Adapted　from　the　facts　given　in　the　German　of　Die　Zehn　｛Feeen？｝；　by　H。　A。　Guerber。


Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　dear　little　girl；　whose　name　was　Elsa。　　Elsa's　father　and　mother　worked　very　hard　and　became　rich。　　But　they　loved　Elsa　so　much　that　they　did　not　like　to　have　her　do　any　work；　very　foolishly；　they　let　her　play　all　the　time。　　So　when　Elsa　grew　up；　she　did　not　know　how　to　do　anything；　she　could　not　make　bread；　she　could　not　sweep　a　room；　she　could　not　sew　a　seam；　she　could　only　laugh　and　sing。　　But　she　was　so　sweet　and　merry　that　everybody　loved　her。　　And　by　and　by；　she　married　one　of　the　people　who　loved　her；　and　had　a　house　of　her　own　to　take　care　of。

Then；　then；　my　dears；　came　hard　times　for　Elsa！　　There　were　so　many　things　to　be　done　in　the　house；　and　she　did　not　know　how　to　do　any　of　them！　　And　because　she　had　never　worked　at　all　it　made　her　very　tired　even　to　try；　she　was　tired　before　the　morning　was　over；　every　day。　　The　maid　would　come　and　say；　〃How　shall　I　do　this？〃　or　〃How　shall　I　do　that？〃　And　Elsa　would　have　to　say；　〃I　don't　know。〃　　Then　the　maid　would　pretend　that　she　did　not　know；　either；　and　when　she　saw　her　mistress　sitting　about　doing　nothing；　she；　too；　sat　about；　idle。

Elsa's　husband　had　a　hard　time　of　it；　he　did　not　have　good　things　to　eat；　and　they　were　not　ready　at　the　right　time；　and　the　house　looked　all　in　a　clutter。　　It　made　him　sad；　and　that　made　Elsa　sad；　for　she　wanted　to　do　everything　just　right。

At　last；　one　day；　Elsa's　husband　went　away　quite　cross；　he　said　to　her；　as　he　went　out　the　door；　〃It　is　no　wonder　that　the　house　looks　so；　when　you　sit　all　day　with　your　hands　in　your　lap！〃

Little　Elsa　cried　bitterly　when　he　was　gone；　for　she　did　not　want　to　make　her　husband　unhappy　and　cross；　and　she　wanted　the　house　to　look　nice。　　〃Oh；　dear；〃　she　sobbed；　〃I　wish　I　could　do　things　right！　　I　wish　I　could　work！　　I　wishI　wish　I　had　ten　good　fairies　to　work　for　me！　Then　I　could　keep　the　house！〃

As　she　said　the　words；　a　great　gray　man　stood　before　her；　he　was　wrapped　in　a　strange　gray　cloak　that　covered　him　from　head　to　foot；　and　he　smiled　at　Elsa。　〃What　is　the　matter；　dear？〃　he　said。　　〃Why　do　you　cry？〃

〃Oh；　I　am　crying　because　I　do　not　know　how　to　keep　the　house；〃　said　Elsa。　　〃I　　cannot　make　bread；　I　cannot　sweep；　I　cannot　sew　a　seam；　when　I　was　a　little　girl　I　never　learned　to　work；　and　now　I　cannot　do　anything　right。　　I　wish　I　had　ten　good　fairies　to　help　me！〃

〃You　shall　have　them；　dear；〃　said　the　gray　man；　and　he　shook　his　strange　gray　cloak。　　Pouf！　　Out　hopped　ten　tiny　fairies；　no　bigger　than　that！

〃These　shall　be　your　servants；　Elsa；〃　said　the　gray　man；　〃they　are　faithful　and　clever；　and　they　will　do　everything　you　want　them　to；　just　right。　　But　the　neighbors　might　stare　and　ask　questions　if　they　saw　these　little　chaps　running　about　your　house；　so　I　will　hide　them　away　for　you。　　Give　me　your　little　useless　hands。〃

Wondering；　Elsa　stretched　out　her　pretty；　little；　white　hands。

〃Now　stretch　out　your　little　useless　fingers；　dear！〃

Elsa　stretched　out　her　pretty　pink　fingers。

The　gray　man　touched　each　one　of　the　ten　little　fingers；　and　as　he　touched　them　he　said　their　names：　　〃Little　Thumb；　Fore…　finger；　Thimble…finger；　Ring…finger；　　Little　Finger；　Little　Thumb；　Forefinger；　Thimble…finger；　Ring…finger；　Little　Finger！〃　And　as　he　named　the　fingers；　one　after　another；　the　tiny　fairies　bowed　their　tiny　heads；　there　was　a　fairy　for　every　name。

〃Hop！　hide　yourselves　away！〃　said　the　gray　man。

Hop；　hop！　　The　fairies　sprang　to　Elsa's　knee；　then　to　the　palms　of　her　hands；　and　then…whisk！　they　were　all　hidden　away　in　her　little　pink　fingers；　a　fairy　in　every　finger！　　And　the　gray　man　was　gone。

Elsa　sat　and　looked　with　wonder　at　her　little　white　hands　and　the　ten　useless　fingers。　　But　suddenly　the　little　fingers　began　to　stir。　　The　tiny　fairies　who　were　hidden　away　there　weren't　used　to　staying　still；　and　they　were　getting　restless。　They　stirred　so　that　Elsa　jumped　up　and　ran　to　the　cooking　table；　and　took　hold　of　the　bread　board。　　No　sooner　had　she　touched　the　bread　board　than　the　little　fairies　began　to　work：　they　measured　the　flour；　mixed　the　bread；　kneaded　the　loaves；　and　set　them　to　rise；　quicker　than　you　could　wink；　and　when　the　bread　was　done；　　it　was　the　nicest　you　could　wish。　　Then　the　little　fairy…fingers　seized　the　broom；　and　in　a　twinkling　they　were　making　the　house　clean。　　And　so　it　went；　all　day。　　Elsa　flew　about　from　one　thing　to　another；　and　the　ten　fairies　did　it　all；　just　right。

When　the　maid　saw　her　mistress　working；　she　began　to　work；　too；　and　when　she　saw　how　beautifully　everything　was　done；　she　was　ashamed　to　do　anything　badly　herself。　　In　a　little　while　the　housework　was　going　smoothly；　and　Elsa　could　laugh　and　sing　again。

There　was　no　more　crossness　in　that　house。　　Elsa's　husband　grew　so　proud　of　her　that　he　went　about　saying　to　everybody；　〃My　grandmother　was　a　fine　housekeeper；　and　my　mother　was　a　fine　housekeeper；　but　neither　of　them　could　hold　a　candle　to　my　wife。　　She　has　only　one　maid；　but；　to　see　the　work　done；　you　would　think　she　had　as　many　servants　as　she　has　fingers　on　her　hands！〃

When　Elsa　heard　that；　she　used　to　laugh；　but　she　never；　never　told。



THE　ELVES　AND　THE　SHOEMAKER


Once　upon　a　time　there　was　an　honest　shoemaker；　who　was　very　poor。　　He　worked　as　hard　as　he　could；　and　still　he　could　not　earn　enough　to　keep　himself　and　his　wife。　At　last　there　came　a　day　when　he　had　nothing　left　but　one　piece　of　leather；　big　enough　to　make　one　pair　of　shoes。　　He　cut　out　the　shoes；　ready　to　stitch；　and　left　them　on　the　bench；　then　he　said　his　prayers　and　went　to　bed；　trusting　that　he　could　finish　the　shoes　on　the　next　day　and　sell　them。

Bright　and　early　the　next　morning；　he　rose　and　went　to　his　work…bench。　　There　lay　a　pair　of　shoes；　beautifully　made；　and　the　leather　was　gone！　　There　was　no　sign　of　any　one's　having　been　there。　　The　shoemaker　and　his　wife　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　it。　　But　the　first　customer　who　came　was　so　pleased　with　the　beautiful　shoes　that　he　bought　them；　and　paid　so　much　that　the　shoemaker　was　able　to　buy　leather　enough　for　two　pairs。

Happily；　he　cut　them　out；　and　then；　as　it　was　late；　he　left　the　pieces　on　the　bench；　ready　to　sew　in　the　morning。　　But　when　morning　came；　two　pairs　of　shoes　lay　on　the　bench；　most　beautifully　made；　and　no　sign　o