how to tell stories to children-第24章

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ean　against。　　But　even　the　donkey　was　not　so　slow　as　this；　the　new　steed　was　slower　than　he。　　After　a　while；　however；　he　pushed　his　way　out　of　the　woods　into　the　open；　and　there　stood　the　castle；　only　a　little　way　ahead！　　All　its　windows　were　ablaze　with　lights。　　A　ray　from　them　fell　on　the　lazy　man's　beast；　and　he　saw　what　he　was　riding：　it　was　a　gigantic　snail！　a　snail　as　large　as　a　calf！

A　cold　shudder　ran　over　the　lazy　man's　body；　and　he　would　have　got　off　his　horrid　animal　then　and　there；　but　just　then　the　clock　struck　once　more。　　It　was　the　first　of　the　long；　slow　strokes　that　mark　mid…　night！　　The　man　grew　frantic　when　he　heard　it。　　He　drove　his　heels　into　the　snail's　sides；　to　make　him　hurry。　　Instantly；　the　snail　drew　in　his　head；　curled　up　in　his　shell；　and　left　the　lazy　man　sitting　in　a　heap　on　the　ground！

The　clock　struck　twice。　　If　the　man　had　run　for　it；　he　could　still　have　reached　the　castle；　but；　instead；　he　sat　still　and　shouted　for　a　horse。

〃A　beast；　a　beast！〃　he　wailed；　〃any　kind　of　a　beast　that　will　take　me　to　the　castle！〃

The　clock　struck　three　times。　　And　as　it　struck　the　third　note；　something　came　rustling　and　rattling　out　of　the　darkness；　something　that　sounded　like　a　horse　with　harness。　　The　lazy　man　jumped　on　its　back；　a　very　queer；　low　back。　　As　he　mounted；　he　saw　the　doors　of　the　castle　open；　and　saw　his　friend　standing　on　the　threshold；　waving　his　cap　and　beckoning　to　him。

The　clock　struck　four　times；　and　the　new　steed　began　to　stir；　as　it　struck　five；　he　moved　a　pace　forward；　as　it　struck　six；　he　stopped；　as　it　struck　seven；　he　　turned　himself　about；　as　it　struck　eight；　he　began　to　move　backward；　away　from　the　castle！

The　lazy　man　shouted；　and　beat　him；　but　the　beast　went　slowly　backward。　　And　the　clock　struck　nine。　　The　man　tried　to　slide　off；　then；　but　from　all　sides　of　his　strange　animal　great　arms　came　reaching　up　and　held　him　fast。　　And　in　the　next　ray　of　moonlight　that　broke　the　dark　clouds；　he　saw　that　he　was　mounted　on　a　monster　crab！

One　by　one；　the　lights　went　out；　in　the　castle　windows。　　The　clock　struck　ten。　Backward　went　the　crab。　　Eleven！　　Still　the　crab　went　backward。　　The　clock　struck　twelve！　　Then　the　great　doors　shut　with　a　clang；　and　the　castle　of　fortune　was　closed　forever　to　the　lazy　man。

What　became　of　him　and　his　crab　no　one　knows　to　this　day；　and　no　one　cares。　But　the　industrious　man　was　received　by　the　Fairy　of　Fortune；　and　made　happy　in　the　castle　as　long　as　he　wanted　to　stay。　And　ever　afterward　she　was　his　friend；　helping　him　not　only　to　happiness　for　himself；　but　also　showing　him　how　to　help　others；　wherever　he　went。



DAVID　AND　GOLIATH＇1＇

＇1＇　From　the　text　of　the　King　James　version　of　the　Old　Testament；　with　introduction　and　slight　interpolations；　changes　of　order；　and　omissions。


A　long　time　ago；　there　was　a　boy　named　David；　who　lived　in　a　country　far　east　of　this。　　He　was　good　to　look　upon；　for　he　had　fair　hair　and　a　ruddy　skin；　and　he　was　very　strong　and　brave　and　modest。　He　was　shepherd…boy　for　his　father；　and　all　dayoften　all　nighthe　was　out　in　the　fields；　far　from　home；　watching　over　the　sheep。　　He　had　to　guard　them　from　wild　animals；　and　lead　them　to　the　right　pastures；　and　care　for　them。

By　and　by；　war　broke　out　between　the　people　of　David's　country　and　a　people　that　lived　near　at　hand；　these　men　were　called　Philistines；　and　the　people　of　David's　country　were　named　Israel。　　All　the　strong　men　of　Israel　went　up　to　the　battle；　to　fight　for　their　king。　　David's　three　older　brothers　went；　but　he　was　only　a　boy；　so　he　was　left　behind　to　care　for　the　sheep。

After　the　brothers　had　been　gone　some　time；　David's　father　longed　very　much　to　　hear　from　them；　and　to　know　if　they　were　safe；　so　he　sent　for　David；　from　the　fields；　and　said　to　him；　〃Take　now　for　thy　brothers　an　ephah　of　this　parched　corn；　and　these　ten　loaves；　and　run　to　the　camp；　where　thy　brothers　are；　and　carry　these　ten　cheeses　to　the　captain　of　their　thousand；　and　see　how　thy　brothers　fare；　and　bring　me　word　again。〃　　（An　ephah　is　about　three　pecks。）

David　rose　early　in　the　morning；　and　left　the　sheep　with　a　keeper；　and　took　the　corn　and　the　loaves　and　the　cheeses；　as　his　father　had　commanded　him；　and　went　to　the　camp　of　Israel。

The　camp　was　on　a　mountain；　Israel　stood　on　a　mountain　on　the　one　side；　and　the　Philistines　stood　on　a　mountain　on　the　other　side；　and　there　was　a　valley　between　them。　　David　came　to　the　place　where　the　Israelites　were；　just　as　the　host　was　going　forth　to　the　fight；　shouting　for　the　battle。　So　he　left　his　gifts　in　the　hands　of　the　keeper　of　the　baggage；　and　ran　into　the　army；　amongst　the　soldiers；　to　find　his　brothers。　When　he　found　them；　he　saluted　them　and　began　to　talk　with　them。

But　while　he　was　asking　them　the　questions　his　father　had　commanded；　there　arose　a　great　shouting　and　tumult　among　the　Israelites；　and　men　came　running　back　from　the　front　line　of　battle；　everything　became　confusion。　　David　looked　to　see　what　the　trouble　was；　and　he　saw　a　strange　sight：　on　the　hillside　of　the　Philistines；　a　warrior　was　striding　forward；　calling　out　something　in　a　taunting　voice；　he　was　a　gigantic　man；　the　largest　David　had　ever　seen；　and　he　was　all　dressed　in　armor；　that　shone　in　the　sun：　he　had　a　helmet　of　brass　upon　his　head；　and　he　was　armed　with　a　coat　of　mail；　and　he　had　greaves　of　brass　upon　his　legs；　and　a　target　of　brass　between　his　shoulders；　his　spear　was　so　tremendous　that　the　staff　of　it　was　like　a　weaver's　beam；　and　his　shield　so　great　that　a　man　went　before　him；　to　carry　it。

〃Who　is　that？〃　asked　David。

〃It　is　Goliath；　of　Gath；　champion　of　the　Philistines；〃　said　the　soldiers　about。　〃Every　day；　for　forty　days；　he　has　come　forth；　so；　and　challenged　us　to　send　a　man　against　him；　in　single　combat；　and　since　no　one　dares　to　go　out　against　him　alone；　　the　armies　cannot　fight。〃　　（That　was　one　of　the　laws　of　warfare　in　those　times。）

〃What！〃　said　David；　〃does　none　dare　go　out　against　him？〃

As　he　spoke；　the　giant　stood　still；　on　the　hillside　opposite　the　Israelitish　host；　and　shouted　his　challenge；　scornfully。　　He　said；　〃Why　are　ye　come　out　to　set　your　battle　in　array？　　Am　I　not　a　Philistine；　and　ye　servants　of　Saul？　　Choose　you　a　man　for　you；　and　let　him　come　down　to　me。　　If　he　be　able　to　fight　with　me；　and　to　kill　me；　then　will　we　be　your　servants；　but　if　I　prevail　against　him；　and　kill　him；　then　shall　ye　be　our　servants；　and　serve　us。　　I　defy　the　armies　of　Israel　this　day；　give　me　a　man；　that　we　may　fight　together！〃

When　King　Saul　heard　these　words；　he　was　dismayed；　and　all　the　men　of　Israel；　when　they　saw　the　man；　fled　from　him　and　were　sore　afraid。　　David　heard　them　talking　among　themselves；　whispering　and　murmuring。　　They　were　saying；　〃Have　ye　seen　this　man　that　is　come　up？　　Surely　if　any　one　killeth　him　that　man　will　the　king　make　rich；　perhaps　he　will　give　him　　his　daughter　in　marriage；　and　make　his　family　free　in　Israel！〃

David　heard　this；　and　he　asked　the　men　if　it　were　so。　　It　was　surely　so；　they　said。

〃But；〃　said　David；　〃who　is　this　Philistine；　that　he　should　defy　the　armies　of　the　living　God？〃　　And　he　was　stirred　with　anger。

Very　soon；　some　of　the　officers　told　the　king　about　the　youth　who　was　asking　so　many　questions；　and　who　said　that　a　mere　Philistine　should　not　be　let　defy　the　armies　of　the　living　God。　　Immediately　Saul　sent　for　him。　　When　David　came　before　Saul；　he　said　to　the　king；　〃Let　no　man's　heart　fail　because　of　him；　thy　servant　will　go　and　fight　with　this　Philistine。〃

But　Saul　looked　at　David；　and　said；　〃Thou　art　not　able　to　go　against　this　Philistine；　to　fight　with　him；　for　thou　art　but　a　youth；　and　he　has　been　a　man　of　war　from　his　youth。〃

Then　David　said　to　Saul；　〃Once　I　was　keeping　my　father's　sheep；　and　there　came　a　lion　and　a　bear；　and　took　a　lamb　out　of　the　flock；　and　I　went　out　after　the　lion；　and　struck　him；　and　delivered　the　lamb　　out　of　his　mouth；　and　when　he　arose　against　me；　I　caught　him　by　the　beard；　and　struck　him；　and　slew　him！　　Thy　servant　slew　both　the　lion　and　the　bear；　and　this　Philistine　shall　be　as　one　of　them；　for　he　hath　defied　the　armies　of　the　living　God。　　The　Lord；　who　delivered　me　out　of　the　paw　of　the　lion　and　out　of　the　paw　of　the　bear；　he　will　deliver　me　out　of　the　hand　of　this　Philistine。〃

〃Go；〃　said　Saul；　〃and　the　Lord　be　with　thee！〃

And　he　armed　David　with　his　own　armor；　he　put　a　helmet　of　brass　upon　his　head；　and　armed　him　with　a　coat　of　mail。　　But　when　David　girded　his　sword　upon　his　armor；　and　tried　to　walk；　he　said　to　Saul；　〃I　cannot　go　with　these；　for　I　am　not　used　to　them。〃　　And　he　put　them　off。

Then　he　took　his　staff　in　his　hand　and　went　and　chose　five　smooth　stones　out　of　the　brook；　and　put　them　in　a　shepherd's　bag　which　he　had；　and　his　sling　was　in　his　hand；　and　he　went　out　and　drew　near　to　the　Philistine。

And　the　Philistine　came　on　and　drew　near　to　David；　and　the　man　that　bore　his　　shield　went　before　him。　　And　when　the　Philistine　looked　about　and　saw　David；　he　disdained　him；　for　David　was　but　a　boy；　and　ruddy；　and　of　a　fair　countenance。　　And　he　said　to　David；　〃Am　I　a　dog；　that　thou　comest　to　me　with　a　cudgel？〃　　And　with　curses　he　cried　out　again；　〃Come　to　me；　and　I　will　give　thy　flesh　unto　the　fowls　of　the　air；　and　to　the　beasts　of　the　field。〃

But　David　looked　at　him；　and　answered；　〃Thou　comest　to　me　with　a　sword；　and　with　a　spear；　and　with　a　shield；　but　I　come　to　thee　in　the　name　of　the　Lord　of　hosts；　the　God　of　the　armies　of　Israel；　whom　thou　hast　defied。　　This　day　will　the　Lord　deliver　thee　into　my　hand；　and　I　will　smite　thee；　and　take　thy　head　from　thee；　and　I　will　give　the　carcasses　of　the　host　of　the　Philistines　this　day　unto　the　fowls　of　the　air；　and　to　the　wild　beasts　of　the　earth；　that　all　the　earth　may　know　that　there　is　a　God　in　Israel！　　And　all　this　assembly　shall　know　that　the　Lord　saveth　not　with　sword　and　spear；　for　the　battle　is　the　Lord's；　and　he　will　give　you　into　our　hands。〃

And　then；　when　the　Philistine　arose；　and　came；　and　drew　nigh　to　meet　David；　　David　hasted；　and　ran　toward　the　army　to　meet　the　Philistine。　　And　when　he　was　a　little　way　from　him；　he　put　his　hand　in　his　bag；　and　took　thence　a　stone；　and　put　it　in　his　sling；　and　slung　it；　and　smote　the　Philistine　in　the　forehead；　so　that　the　stone　sank　into　his　forehead；　and　he　fell　on　his　face　to　the　earth。

And　David　ran；　and　stood　upon　the　Philistine；　and　took　his　sword；　and　drew　it　out　of　its　sheath；　and　slew　him　with　it。

Then；　when　the　Philistines　saw　that　their　champion　was　dead；　they　fled。　　But　the　army　of　Israel　pursued　them；　and　victory　was　with　the　men　of　Israel。

And　after　the　battle；　David　was　taken　to　the　king's　tent；　and　made　a　captain　over　many　men；　and　he　went　no　more　to　his　father's　house；　to　herd　the　sheep；　but　became　a　man；　in　the　king's　service。



THE　SHEPHERD'S　SONG


David　had　many　fierce　battles　to　fight　for　King　Saul　against　the　enemies　of　Israel；　and　he　won　them　all。　　Then；　later；　he　had　to　fight　against　the　king's　own　soldiers；　to　save　himself；　for　King　Saul　grew　wickedly　jealous　of　David's　fame　as　a　soldier；　and　tried　to　kill　him。　　Twice；　when　David　had　a　chance　to　kill　the　king；　he　let　him　go　safe；　but　even　then；　Saul　kept　on　trying　to　take　his　life；　and　David　was　kept　away　from　his　home　and　land　as　if　he　were　an　enemy。

But