how to tell stories to children-第21章

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oul　has　become　more　ugly　than　your　shape　is；　you　yourself　have　deformed　it。〃

The　poor　beast　rushed　away　from　the　sound　of　her　words；　but　in　a　moment　he　stumbled　into　a　trap；　set　by　bear…catchers。　When　the　trappers　found　him　they　were　delighted　to　have　caught　a　curiosity；　and　they　immediately　dragged　him　to　the　palace　courtyard。　　There　he　heard　the　whole　court　buzzing　with　gossip。　　Prince　Cherry　had　been　struck　by　lightning　and　killed；　was　the　news；　and　the　five　favorite　courtiers　had　struggled　to　make　themselves　　rulers；　but　the　people　had　refused　them；　and　offered　the　crown　to　Suliman；　the　good　old　tutor。

Even　as　he　heard　this；　the　prince　saw　Suliman　on　the　steps　of　the　palace；　speaking　to　the　people。　　〃I　will　take　the　crown　to　keep　in　trust；〃　he　said。　　〃Perhaps　the　prince　is　not　dead。〃

〃He　was　a　bad　king；　we　do　not　want　him　back；〃　said　the　people。

〃I　know　his　heart；〃　said　Suliman；　〃it　is　not　all　bad；　it　is　tainted；　but　not　corrupt；　perhaps　he　will　repent　and　come　back　to　us　a　good　king。〃

When　the　beast　heard　this；　it　touched　him　so　much　that　he　stopped　tearing　at　his　chains；　and　became　gentle。　　He　let　his　keepers　lead　him　away　to　the　royal　menagerie　without　hurting　them。

Life　was　very　terrible　to　the　prince；　now；　but　he　began　to　see　that　he　had　brought　all　his　sorrow　on　himself；　and　he　tried　to　bear　it　patiently。　　The　worst　to　bear　was　the　cruelty　of　the　keeper。　　At　last；　one　night；　this　keeper　was　in　great　danger；　a　tiger　got　loose；　and　attacked　him。　　〃Good　enough！　　Let　him　die！〃　thought　Prince　　Cherry。　　But　when　he　saw　how　helpless　the　keeper　was；　he　repented；　and　sprang　to　help。　　He　killed　the　tiger　and　saved　the　keeper's　life。

As　he　crouched　at　the　keeper's　feet；　a　voice　said；　〃Good　actions　never　go　unrewarded！〃　　And　the　terrible　monster　was　changed　into　a　pretty　little　white　dog。

The　keeper　carried　the　beautiful　little　dog　to　the　court　and　told　the　story；　and　from　then　on；　Cherry　was　carefully　treated；　and　had　the　best　of　everything。　　But　in　order　to　keep　the　little　dog　from　growing；　the　queen　ordered　that　he　should　be　fed　very　little；　and　that　was　pretty　hard　for　the　poor　prince。　　He　was　often　half　starved；　although　so　much　petted。

One　day　he　had　carried　his　crust　of　bread　to　a　retired　spot　in　the　palace　woods；　where　he　loved　to　be；　when　he　saw　a　poor　old　woman　hunting　for　roots；　and　seeming　almost　starved。

〃Poor　thing；〃　he　thought；　〃she　is　even　hungrier　than　I；〃　and　he　ran　up　and　dropped　the　crust　at　her　feet。

The　woman　ate　it；　and　seemed　greatly　refreshed。

Cherry　was　glad　of　that；　and　he　was　running　happily　back　to　his　kennel　when　he　heard　cries　of　distress；　and　suddenly　he　saw　some　rough　men　dragging　along　a　young　girl；　who　was　weeping　and　crying　for　help。　　What　was　his　horror　to　see　that　the　young　girl　was　Zelia！　　Oh；　how　he　wished　he　were　the　monster　once　more；　so　that　he　could　kill　the　men　and　rescue　her！　　But　he　could　do　nothing　except　bark；　and　bite　at　the　heels　of　the　wicked　men。　　That　could　not　stop　them；　they　drove　him　off；　with　blows；　and　carried　Zelia　into　a　palace　in　the　wood。

Poor　Cherry　crouched　by　the　steps；　and　watched。　　His　heart　was　full　of　pity　and　rage。　　But　suddenly　he　thought；　〃I　was　as　bad　as　these　men；　I　myself　put　Zelia　in　prison；　and　would　have　treated　her　worse　still；　if　I　had　not　been　prevented。〃　　The　thought　made　him　so　sorry　and　ashamed　that　he　repented　bitterly　the　evil　he　had　done。

Presently　a　window　opened；　and　Cherry　saw　Zelia　lean　out　and　throw　down　a　piece　of　meat。　　He　seized　it　and　was　just　going　to　devour　it；　when　the　old　woman　to　whom　　he　had　given　his　crust　snatched　it　away　and　took　him　in　her　arms。　　〃No；　you　shall　not　eat　it；　you　poor　little　thing；〃　she　said；　〃for　every　bit　of　food　in　that　house　is　poisoned。〃

At　the　same　moment；　a　voice　said；　〃Good　actions　never　go　unrewarded！〃　　And　instantly　Prince　Cherry　was　transformed　into　a　little　white　dove。

With　great　joy；　he　flew　to　the　open　palace　window　to　seek　out　his　Zelia；　to　try　to　help　her。　　But　though　he　hunted　in　every　room；　no　Zelia　was　to　be　found。　He　had　to　fly　away；　without　seeing　her。　He　wanted　more　than　anything　else　to　find　her；　and　stay　near　her；　so　he　flew　out　into　the　world；　to　seek　her。

He　sought　her　in　many　lands；　until　one　day；　in　a　far　eastern　country；　he　found　her　sitting　in　a　tent；　by　the　side　of　an　old；　white…haired　hermit。　　Cherry　was　wild　with　delight。　　He　flew　to　her　shoulder；　caressed　her　hair　with　his　beak；　and　cooed　in　her　ear。

〃You　dear；　lovely　little　thing！〃　said　Zelia。　　〃Will　you　stay　with　me？　　If　you　will；　I　will　love　you　always。〃

〃Ah；　Zelia；　see　what　you　have　done！〃　laughed　the　hermit。　　At　that　instant；　the　white　dove　vanished；　and　Prince　Cherry　stood　there；　as　handsome　and　charming　as　ever；　and　with　a　look　of　kindness　and　modesty　in　his　eyes　which　had　never　been　there　before。　　At　the　same　time；　the　hermit　stood　up；　his　flowing　hair　changed　to　shining　gold；　and　his　face　became　a　lovely　woman's　face；　it　was　the　Fairy　Candide。　〃Zelia　has　broken　your　spell；〃　she　said　to　the　Prince；　〃as　I　meant　she　should；　when　you　were　worthy　of　her　love。〃

Zelia　and　Prince　Cherry　fell　at　the　fairy's　feet。　　But　with　a　beautiful　smile　she　bade　them　come　to　their　kingdom。　　In　a　trice；　they　were　transported　to　the　Prince's　palace；　where　King　Suliman　greeted　them　with　tears　of　joy。　　He　gave　back　the　throne；　with　all　his　heart；　and　King　Cherry　ruled　again；　with　Zelia　for　his　queen。

He　wore　the　little　gold　ring　all　the　rest　of　his　life；　but　never　once　did　it　have　to　prick　him　hard　enough　to　make　his　finger　bleed。



THE　GOLD　IN　THE　ORCHARD＇1＇

＇1＇　An　Italian　folk　tale。


There　was　once　a　farmer　who　had　a　fine　olive　orchard。　　He　was　very　industrious；　and　the　farm　always　prospered　under　his　care。　　But　he　knew　that　his　three　sons　despised　the　farm　work；　and　were　eager　to　make　wealth　fast；　through　adventure。

When　the　farmer　was　old；　and　felt　that　his　time　had　come　to　die；　he　called　the　three　sons　to　him　and　said；　〃My　sons；　there　is　a　pot　of　gold　hidden　in　the　olive　orchard。　　Dig　for　it；　if　you　wish　it。〃

The　sons　tried　to　get　him　to　tell　them　in　what　part　of　the　orchard　the　gold　was　hidden；　but　he　would　tell　them　nothing　more。

After　the　farmer　was　dead；　the　sons　went　to　work　to　find　the　pot　of　gold；　since　they　did　not　know　where　the　hiding…place　was；　they　agreed　to　begin　in　a　line；　at　one　end　of　the　orchard；　and　to　dig　until　one　of　them　should　find　the　money。

They　dug　until　they　had　turned　up　the　　soil　from　one　end　of　the　orchard　to　the　other；　round　the　tree…roots　and　between　them。　　But　no　pot　of　gold　was　to　be　found。　It　seemed　as　if　some　one　must　have　stolen　it；　or　as　if　the　farmer　had　been　wandering　in　his　wits。　　The　three　sons　were　bitterly　disappointed　to　have　all　their　work　for　nothing。

The　next　olive　season；　the　olive　trees　in　the　orchard　bore　more　fruit　than　they　had　ever　given；　the　fine　cultivating　they　had　had　from　the　digging　brought　so　much　fruit；　and　of　so　fine　a　quality；　that　when　it　was　sold　it　gave　the　sons　a　whole　pot　of　gold！

And　when　they　saw　how　much　money　had　come　from　the　orchard；　they　suddenly　understood　what　the　wise　father　had　meant　when　he　said；　〃There　is　gold　hidden　in　the　orchard；　dig　for　it。〃



MARGARET　OF　NEW　ORLEANS


If　you　ever　go　to　the　beautiful　city　of　New　Orleans；　somebody　will　be　sure　to　take　you　down　into　the　old　business　part　of　the　city；　where　there　are　banks　　and　shops　and　hotels；　and　show　you　a　statue　which　stands　in　a　little　square　there。　It　is　the　statue　of　a　woman；　sitting　in　a　low　chair；　with　her　arms　around　a　child；　who　leans　against　her。　　The　woman　is　not　at　all　pretty：　she　wears　thick；　common　shoes；　a　plain　dress；　with　a　little　shawl；　and　a　sun…bonnet；　she　is　stout　and　short；　and　her　face　is　a　square…chinned　Irish　face；　but　her　eyes　look　at　you　like　your　mother's。

Now　there　is　something　very　surprising　about　this　statue：　it　was　the　first　one　that　was　ever　made　in　this　country　in　honor　of　a　woman。　　Even　in　old　Europe　there　are　not　many　monuments　to　women；　and　most　of　the　few　are　to　great　queens　or　princesses；　very　beautiful　and　very　richly　dressed。　You　see；　this　statue　in　New　Orleans　is　not　quite　like　anything　else。

It　is　the　statue　of　a　woman　named　Margaret。　　Her　whole　name　was　Margaret　Haughery；　but　no　one　in　New　Orleans　remembers　her　by　it；　any　more　than　you　think　of　your　dearest　sister　by　her　full　name；　she　is　just　Margaret。　　This　is　her　story；　and　it　tells　why　people　made　a　monument　for　her。

When　Margaret　was　a　tiny　baby；　her　father　and　mother　died；　and　she　was　adopted　by　two　young　people　as　poor　and　as　kind　as　her　own　parents。　　She　lived　with　them　until　she　grew　up。　　Then　she　married；　and　had　a　little　baby　of　her　own。　　But　very　soon　her　husband　died；　and　then　the　baby　died；　too；　and　Margaret　was　all　alone　in　the　world。　　She　was　poor；　but　she　was　strong；　and　knew　how　to　work。

All　day；　from　morning　until　evening；　she　ironed　clothes　in　a　laundry。　　And　every　day；　as　she　worked　by　the　window；　she　saw　the　little　motherless　children　from　the　orphan　asylum；　near　by；　working　and　playing　about。　　After　a　while；　there　came　a　great　sickness　upon　the　city；　and　so　many　mothers　and　fathers　died　that　there　were　more　orphans　than　the　asylum　could　possibly　take　care　of。　　They　needed　a　good　friend；　now。　　You　would　hardly　think；　would　you；　that　a　poor　woman　who　worked　in　a　laundry　could　be　much　of　a　friend　to　them？　　But　Margaret　was。　　She　went　straight　to　the　kind　Sisters　who　had　the　asylum　and　told　them　she　was　going　to　give　them　part　of　her　wages　and　was　　going　to　work　for　them；　besides。　　Pretty　soon　she　had　worked　so　hard　that　she　had　some　money　saved　from　her　wages。　　With　this；　she　bought　two　cows　and　a　little　delivery　cart。　　Then　she　carried　her　milk　to　her　customers　in　the　little　cart　every　morning；　and　as　she　went；　she　begged　the　left…over　food　from　the　hotels　and　rich　houses；　and　brought　it　back　in　the　cart　to　the　hungry　children　in　the　asylum。　　In　the　very　hardest　times　that　was　often　all　the　food　the　children　had。

A　part　of　the　money　Margaret　earned　went　every　week　to　the　asylum；　and　after　a　few　years　that　was　made　very　much　larger　and　better。　　And　Margaret　was　so　careful　and　so　good　at　business　that；　in　spite　of　her　giving；　she　bought　more　cows　and　earned　more　money。　　With　this；　she　built　a　home　for　orphan　babies；　she　called　it　her　baby　house。

After　a　time；　Margaret　had　a　chance　to　get　a　bakery；　and　then　she　became　a　bread…woman　instead　of　a　milk…woman。　She　carried　the　bread　just　as　she　had　carried　the　milk；　in　her　cart。　　And　still　she　kept　giving　money　to　the　asylum。　　Then　　the　great　war　came；　our　Civil　War。　　In　all　the　trouble　and　sickness　and　fear　of　that　time；　Margaret　drove　her　cart　of　bread；　and　somehow　she　had　always　enough　to　give　the　starving　soldiers；　and　for　her　babies；　besides　what　she　sold。　　And　despite　all　this；　she　earned　enough　so　that　when　the　war　was　over　she　built　a　big　steam　factory　for　her　bread。　　By　this　time　everybody　in　the　city　knew　her。　　The　children　all　over　the　city　loved　her；　the　business　men　were　proud　of　her；　the　poor　people　all　came　to　her　for　advice。　　She　used　to　sit　at　the　open　door　of　her　office；　in　a　calico　gown　and　a　little　shawl；　and　give　a　good　word　to　everybody；　rich　or　poor。

Then；　by　and　by；　one　day；　Margaret　died。　　And　when　it　was　time　to　read　her　w