how to tell stories to children-第15章

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Finally；　the　Tiger　walked　on　with　him。

After　a　time；　they　met　the　little　Jackal；　coming　gayly　down　the　road　toward　them。

〃Oh；　Brother　Jackal；　dear　Brother　Jackal；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　〃give　us　your　　opinion！　　Do　you　think　it　right　or　fair　that　this　Tiger　should　eat　me；　when　I　set　him　free　from　a　terrible　cage？〃

〃Beg　pardon？〃　said　the　little　Jackal。

〃I　said；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　raising　his　voice；　〃do　you　think　it　is　fair　that　the　Tiger　should　eat　me；　when　I　set　him　free　from　his　cage？〃

〃Cage？〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　vacantly。

〃Yes；　yes；　his　cage；〃　said　the　Brahmin。　〃We　want　your　opinion。　　Do　you　think〃

〃Oh；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃you　want　my　opinion？　　Then　may　I　beg　you　to　speak　a　little　more　loudly；　and　make　the　matter　quite　clear？　　I　am　a　little　slow　of　understanding。　　Now　what　was　it？〃

〃Do　you　think；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　〃it　is　right　for　this　Tiger　to　eat　me；　when　I　set　him　free　from　his　cage？〃

〃What　cage？〃　said　the　little　Jackal。

〃Why；　the　cage　he　was　in；〃　said　the　Brahmin。　　〃You　see〃

〃But　I　don't　altogether　understand；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃You　‘set　him　free；'　you　say？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　yes！〃　said　the　Brahmin。

〃It　was　this　way：　　I　was　walking　along；　and　I　saw　the　Tiger〃

〃Oh；　dear；　dear！〃　interrupted　the　little　Jackal；　〃I　never　can　see　through　it；　if　you　go　on　like　that；　with　a　long　story。　　If　you　really　want　my　opinion　you　must　make　the　matter　clear。　　What　sort　of　cage　was　it？〃

〃Why；　a　big；　ordinary　cage；　an　iron　cage；〃　said　the　Brahmin。

〃That　gives　me　no　idea　at　all；〃　said　the　little　Jackal。　　〃See　here；　my　friends；　if　we　are　to　get　on　with　this　matter　you'd　best　show　me　the　spot。　　Then　I　can　understand　in　a　jiffy。　　Show　me　the　cage。〃

So　the　Brahmin；　the　Tiger；　and　the　little　Jackal　walked　back　together　to　the　spot　where　the　cage　was。

〃Now；　let　us　understand　the　situation；〃　said　the　little　Jackal。　　〃Brahmin；　where　were　you？〃

〃I　stood　here　by　the　roadside；〃　said　the　Brahmin。

〃Tiger；　where　were　you？〃　said　the　little　Jackal。

〃Why；　in　the　cage；　of　course；〃　roared　the　Tiger。

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；　Father　Tiger；〃　　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃I　really　am　SO　stupid；　I　cannot　QUITE　understand　what　happened。　If　you　will　have　a　little　patience；HOW　were　you　in　the　cage？　　What　position　were　you　in？〃

〃I　stood　here；〃　said　the　Tiger；　leaping　into　the　cage；　〃with　my　head　over　my　shoulder；　so。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　thank　you；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃that　makes　it　MUCH　clearer；　but　I　still　don't　QUITE　understandforgive　my　slow　mindwhy　did　you　not　come　out；　by　yourself？〃

〃Can't　you　see　that　the　door　shut　me　in？〃　said　the　Tiger。

〃Oh；　I　do　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　the　little　Jackal。　　〃I　know　I　am　very　slow；　I　can　never　understand　things　well　unless　I　see　just　how　they　were　if　you　could　show　me　now　exactly　how　that　door　works　I　am　sure　I　could　understand。　　How　does　it　shut？〃

〃It　shuts　like　this；〃　said　the　Brahmin；　pushing　it　to。

〃Yes；　but　I　don't　see　any　lock；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃does　it　lock　on　the　outside？〃

〃It　locks　like　this；〃　said　the　Brahmin。　And　he　shut　and　bolted　the　door！

〃Oh；　does　it；　indeed？〃　said　the　little　Jackal。　　〃Does　it；　INDEED！　　Well；　Brother　Brahmin；　now　that　it　is　locked；　I　should　advise　you　to　let　it　stay　locked！　　As　for　you；　my　friend；〃　he　said　to　the　Tiger；　〃I　think　you　will　wait　a　good　while　before　you'll　find　any　one　to　let　you　out　again！

Then　he　made　a　very　low　bow　to　the　Brahmin。

〃Good…by；　Brother；〃　he　said。　　〃Your　way　lies　that　way；　and　mine　lies　this；　good…by！〃



THE　LITTLE　JACKAL　AND　THE　CAMEL


All　these　stories　about　the　little　Jackal　that　I　have　told　you；　show　how　clever　the　little　Jackal　was。　　But　you　knowif　you　don't；　you　will　when　you　are　grown　up　that　no　matter　how　clever　you　are；　sooner　or　later　you　surely　meet　some　one　who　is　cleverer。　　It　is　always　so　in　life。　　And　it　was　so　with　the　little　Jackal。　　This　is　what　happened。

The　little　Jackal　was；　as　you　know；　exceedingly　fond　of　shell…fish；　especially　of　river　crabs。　　Now　there　came　a　time　when　he　had　eaten　all　the　crabs　to　be　found　on　his　own　side　of　the　river。　　He　knew　there　must　be　plenty　on　the　other　side；　if　he　could　only　get　to　them；　but　he　could　not　swim。

One　day　he　thought　of　a　plan。　　He　went　to　his　friend　the　Camel；　and　said；

〃Friend　Camel；　I　know　a　spot　where　the　sugar…cane　grows　thick；　I'll　show　you　the　way；　if　you　will　take　me　there。〃

〃Indeed　I　will；〃　said　the　Camel；　who　was　very　fond　of　sugar…cane。　　〃Where　is　it？〃

〃It　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃but　we　can　manage　it　nicely；　if　you　will　take　me　on　your　back　and　swim　over。〃

The　Camel　was　perfectly　willing；　so　the　little　Jackal　jumped　on　his　back；　and　the　Camel　swam　across　the　river；　carrying　him。　When　they　were　safely　over；　the　little　Jackal　jumped　down　and　showed　the　Camel　the　sugar…cane　field；　then　he　ran　swiftly　along　the　river　bank；　to　hunt　for　crabs；　　the　Camel　began　to　eat　sugar…cane。　　He　ate　happily；　and　noticed　nothing　around　him。

Now；　you　know；　a　Camel　is　very　big；　and　a　Jackal　is　very　little。　　Consequently；　the　little　Jackal　had　eaten　his　fill　by　the　time　the　Camel　had　barely　taken　a　mouthful。　The　little　Jackal　had　no　mind　to　wait　for　his　slow　friend；　he　wanted　to　be　off　home　again；　about　his　business。　　So　he　ran　round　and　round　the　sugar…cane　field；　and　as　he　ran　he　sang　and　shouted；　and　made　a　great　hullabaloo。

Of　course；　the　villagers　heard　him　at　once。

〃There　is　a　Jackal　in　the　sugar…cane；〃　they　said；　〃he　will　dig　holes　and　destroy　the　roots；　we　must　go　down　and　drive　him　out。〃　　So　they　came　down；　with　sticks　and　stones。　　When　they　got　there；　there　was　no　Jackal　to　be　seen；　but　they　saw　the　great　Camel；　eating　away　at　the　juicy　sugar…　cane。　　They　ran　at　him　and　beat　him；　and　stoned　him；　and　drove　him　away　half　dead。

When　they　had　gone；　leaving　the　poor　Camel　half　killed；　the　little　Jackal　came　dancing　back　from　somewhere　or　other。

〃I　think　it's　time　to　go　home；　now；〃　he　said；　〃don't　you？〃

〃Well；　you　ARE　a　pretty　friend！〃　said　the　Camel。　　〃The　idea　of　your　making　such　a　noise；　with　your　shouting　and　singing！　You　brought　this　upon　me。　　What　in　the　world　made　you　do　it？　　Why　did　you　shout　and　sing？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　WHY；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；〃I　always　sing　after　dinner！〃

〃So？〃　said　the　Camel；　〃Ah；　very　well；　let　us　go　home　now。〃

He　took　the　little　Jackal　kindly　on　his　back　and　started　into　the　water。　　When　he　began　to　swim　he　swam　out　to　where　the　river　was　the　very　deepest。　　There　he　stopped；　and　said；

〃Oh；　Jackal！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　little　Jackal。

〃I　have　the　strangest　feeling；〃　said　the　Camel；〃I　feel　as　if　I　must　roll　over。〃

〃‘Roll　over'！〃　cried　the　Jackal。　　〃My　goodness；　don't　do　that！　　If　you　do　that；　you'll　drown　me！　　What　in　the　world　makes　you　want　to　do　such　a　crazy　thing？　　Why　should　you　want　to　roll　over？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　WHY；〃　said　the　Camel　　slowly；　〃but　I　always　roll　over　after　dinner！〃

So　he　rolled　over。

And　the　little　Jackal　was　drowned；　for　his　sins；　but　the　Camel　came　safely　home。



THE　GULLS　OF　SALT　LAKE


The　story　I　am　going　to　tell　you　is　about　something　that　really　happened；　many　years　ago；　when　most　of　the　mothers　and　fathers　of　the　children　here　were　not　born；　themselves。　　At　that　time；　nearly　all　the　people　in　the　United　States　lived　between　the　Atlantic　Ocean　and　the　Mississippi　River。　　Beyond　were　plains；　reaching　to　the　foot　of　the　mighty　Rocky　Mountains；　where　Indians　and　wild　beasts　roamed。　　The　only　white　men　there　were　a　few　hunters　and　trappers。

One　year　a　brave　little　company　of　people　traveled　across　the　plains　in　big　covered　wagons　with　many　horses；　and　finally　succeeded　in　climbing　to　the　top　of　the　great　Rockies　and　down　again　into　a　valley　in　the　very　midst　of　the　mountains。　　It　was　a　valley　of　brown；　bare；　desert　soil；　　in　a　climate　where　almost　no　rain　falls；　but　the　snows　on　the　mountain…tops　sent　down　little　streams　of　pure　water；　the　winds　were　gentle；　and　lying　like　a　blue　jewel　at　the　foot　of　the　western　hills　was　a　marvelous　lake　of　salt　water；an　inland　sea。　So　the　pioneers　settled　there　and　built　them　huts　and　cabins　for　the　first　winter。

It　had　taken　them　many　months　to　make　the　terrible　journey；　many　had　died　of　weariness　and　illness　on　the　way；　many　died　of　hardship　during　the　winter；　and　the　provisions　they　had　brought　in　their　wagons　were　so　nearly　gone　that；　by　spring；　they　were　living　partly　on　roots；　dug　from　the　ground。　　All　their　lives　now　depended　on　the　crops　of　grain　and　vegetables　which　they　could　raise　in　the　valley。　　They　made　the　barren　land　good　by　spreading　water　from　the　little　streams　over　it；what　we　call　〃irrigating；〃　and　they　planted　enough　corn　and　grain　and　vegetables　for　all　the　people。　　Every　one　helped；　and　every　one　watched　for　the　sprouting；　with　hopes；　and　prayers；　and　careful　eyes。

In　good　time　the　seeds　sprouted；　and　the　dry；　brown　earth　was　covered　with　a　　carpet　of　tender；　green；　growing　things。　No　farmer's　garden　at　home　in　the　East　could　have　looked　better　than　the　great　garden　of　the　desert　valley。　　And　from　day　to　day　the　little　shoots　grew　and　flourished　till　they　were　all　well　above　the　ground。

Then　a　terrible　thing　happened。　　One　day　the　men　who　were　watering　the　crops　saw　a　great　number　of　crickets　swarming　over　the　ground　at　the　edge　of　the　gardens　nearest　the　mountains。　　They　were　hopping　from　the　barren　places　into　the　young；　green　crops；　and　as　they　settled　down　they　ate　the　tiny　shoots　and　leaves　to　the　ground。　More　came；　and　more；　and　ever　more；　and　as　they　came　they　spread　out　till　they　covered　a　big　corner　of　the　grain　field。　　And　still　more　and　more；　till　it　was　like　an　army　of　black；　hopping；　crawling　crickets；　streaming　down　the　side　of　the　mountain　to　kill　the　crops。

The　men　tried　to　kill　the　crickets　by　beating　the　ground；　but　the　numbers　were　so　great　that　it　was　like　beating　at　the　sea。　Then　they　ran　and　told　the　terrible　news；　and　all　the　village　came　to　help。　　They　started　fires；　they　dug　trenches　and　filled　　them　with　water；　they　ran　wildly　about　in　the　fields；　killing　what　they　could。　　But　while　they　fought　in　one　place　new　armies　of　crickets　marched　down　the　mountain…　sides　and　attacked　the　fields　in　other　places。　And　at　last　the　people　fell　on　their　knees　and　wept　and　cried　in　despair；　for　they　saw　starvation　and　death　in　the　fields。

A　few　knelt　to　pray。　　Others　gathered　round　and　joined　them；　weeping。　　More　left　their　useless　struggles　and　knelt　beside　their　neighbors。　　At　last　nearly　all　the　people　were　kneeling　on　the　desolate　fields　praying　for　deliverance　from　the　plague　of　crickets。

Suddenly；　from　far　off　in　the　air　toward　the　great　salt　lake；　there　was　the　sound　of　flapping　wings。　　It　grew　louder。　　Some　of　the　people　looked　up；　startled。　　They　saw；　like　a　white　cloud　rising　from　the　lake；　a　flock　of　sea　gulls　flying　toward　them。　Snow…white　in　the　sun；　with　great　wings　beating　and　soaring；　in　hundreds　and　hundreds；　they　rose　and　circled　and　came　on。

〃The　gulls！　the　gulls！〃　was　the　cry。　〃What　does　it　mean？〃

The　gulls　flew　overhead；　with　a　shrill　　chorus　of　whimpering　cries；　and　then；　in　a　marvelous　white　cloud　of　spread　wings　and　hovering　breasts；　they　settled　down　over　the　seeded　ground。

〃Oh！　woe！　woe！〃　cried　the　people。　〃The　gulls　are　eating　what　the