how to tell stories to children-第6章

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〃Now；　mother；　don't　you　fret；〃　said　the　little　father　Jackal；　〃you　do　just　as　I　tell　you；　and　it　will　be　all　right。〃

Then　what　did　those　cunning　little　Jackals　do　but　take　hold　of　hands　and　run　up　towards　the　Lion；　as　if　they　had　meant　　to　come　all　the　time。　　When　he　saw　them　coming　he　stood　up；　and　roared　in　a　terrible　voice；

〃You　miserable　little　wretches；　come　here　and　be　eaten；　at　once！　　Why　didn't　you　come　before？〃

The　father　Jackal　bowed　very　low。

〃Indeed；　Father　Lion；〃　he　said；　〃we　meant　to　come　before；　we　knew　we　ought　to　come　before；　and　we　wanted　to　come　before；　but　every　time　we　started　to　come；　a　dreadful　great　lion　came　out　of　the　woods　and　roared　at　us；　and　frightened　us　so　that　we　ran　away。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　roared　the　Lion。　〃There's　no　other　lion　in　this　jungle；　and　you　know　it！〃

〃Indeed；　indeed；　Father　Lion；〃　said　the　little　Jackal；　〃I　know　that　is　what　everybody　thinks；　but　indeed　and　indeed　there　is　another　lion！　　And　he　is　as　much　bigger　than　you　as　you　are　bigger　than　I！　　His　face　is　much　more　terrible；　and　his　roar　far；　far　more　dreadful。　　Oh；　he　is　far　more　fearful　than　you！〃

At　that　the　Lion　stood　up　and　roared　so　that　the　jungle　shook。

〃Take　me　to　this　lion；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　eat　him　up　and　then　I'll　eat　you　up。〃

The　little　Jackals　danced　on　ahead；　and　the　Lion　stalked　behind。　　They　led　him　to　a　place　where　there　was　a　round；　deep　well　of　clear　water。　　They　went　round　on　one　side　of　it；　and　the　Lion　stalked　up　to　the　other。

〃He　lives　down　there；　Father　Lion！〃　said　the　little　Jackal。　　〃He　lives　down　there！〃

The　Lion　came　close　and　looked　down　into　the　water；and　a　lion's　face　looked　back　at　him　out　of　the　water！

When　he　saw　that；　the　Lion　roared　and　shook　his　mane　and　showed　his　teeth。　　And　the　lion　in　the　water　shook　his　mane　and　showed　his　teeth。　　The　Lion　above　shook　his　mane　again　and　growled　again；　and　made　a　terrible　face。　　But　the　lion　in　the　water　made　just　as　terrible　a　one；　back。　The　Lion　above　couldn't　stand　that。　　He　leaped　down　into　the　well　after　the　other　lion。

But；　of　course；　as　you　know　very　well；　there　wasn't　any　other　lion！　　It　was　only　the　reflection　in　the　water！

So　the　poor　old　Lion　floundered　about　and　floundered　about；　and　as　he　couldn't　get　up　the　steep　sides　of　the　well；　he　was　drowned　dead。　　And　when　he　was　drowned　the　little　Jackals　took　hold　of　hands　and　danced　round　the　well；　and　sang；

〃The　Lion　is　dead！　The　Lion　is　dead！

〃We　have　killed　the　great　Lion　who　would　have　killed　us！

〃The　Lion　is　dead！　　The　Lion　is　dead！

〃Ao！　Ao！　Ao！〃



THE　COUNTRY　MOUSE　AND　THE　CITY　MOUSE＇1＇

＇1＇　The　following　story　of　the　two　mice；　with　the　similar　fables　of　The　Boy　who　cried　Wolf；　The　Frog　King；　and　The　Sun　and　the　Wind；　are　given　here　with　the　hope　that　they　may　be　of　use　to　the　many　teachers　who　find　the　over…familiar　material　of　the　fables　difficult　to　adapt；　and　who　are　yet　aware　of　the　great　usefulness　of　the　stories　to　young　minds。　　A　certain　degree　of　vividness　and　amplitude　must　be　added　to　the　compact　statement　of　the　famous　collections；　and　yet　it　is　not　wise　to　change　the　style…effect　of　a　fable；　wholly。　　I　venture　to　give　these　versions；　not　as　perfect　models；　surely；　but　as　renderings　which　have　been　acceptable　to　children；　and　which　I　believe　retain　the　original　point　simply　and　strongly。


Once　a　little　mouse　who　lived　in　the　country　invited　a　little　Mouse　from　the　city　to　visit　him。　　When　the　little　City　Mouse　　sat　down　to　dinner　he　was　surprised　to　find　that　the　Country　Mouse　had　nothing　to　eat　except　barley　and　grain。

〃Really；〃　he　said；　〃you　do　not　live　well　at　all；　you　should　see　how　I　live！　　I　have　all　sorts　of　fine　things　to　eat　every　day。　　You　must　come　to　visit　me　and　see　how　nice　it　is　to　live　in　the　city。〃

The　little　Country　Mouse　was　glad　to　do　this；　and　after　a　while　he　went　to　the　city　to　visit　his　friend。

The　very　first　place　that　the　City　Mouse　took　the　Country　Mouse　to　see　was　the　kitchen　cupboard　of　the　house　where　he　lived。　　There；　on　the　lowest　shelf；　behind　some　stone　jars；　stood　a　big　paper　bag　of　brown　sugar。　　The　little　City　Mouse　gnawed　a　hole　in　the　bag　and　invited　his　friend　to　nibble　for　himself。

The　two　little　mice　nibbled　and　nibbled；　and　the　Country　Mouse　thought　he　had　never　tasted　anything　so　delicious　in　his　life。　　He　was　just　thinking　how　lucky　the　City　Mouse　was；　when　suddenly　the　door　opened　with　a　bang；　and　in　came　the　cook　to　get　some　flour。

〃Run！〃　whispered　the　City　Mouse。　And　they　ran　as　fast　as　they　could　to　the　little　hole　where　they　had　come　in。　　The　little　Country　Mouse　was　shaking　all　over　when　they　got　safely　away；　but　the　little　City　Mouse　said；　〃That　is　nothing；　she　will　soon　go　away　and　then　we　can　go　back。〃

After　the　cook　had　gone　away　and　shut　the　door　they　stole　softly　back；　and　this　time　the　City　Mouse　had　something　new　to　show：　he　took　the　little　Country　Mouse　into　a　corner　on　the　top　shelf；　where　a　big　jar　of　dried　prunes　stood　open。　　After　much　tugging　and　pulling　they　got　a　large　dried　prune　out　of　the　jar　on　to　the　shelf　and　began　to　nibble　at　it。　　This　was　even　better　than　the　brown　sugar。　　The　little　Country　Mouse　liked　the　taste　so　much　that　he　could　hardly　nibble　fast　enough。　But　all　at　once；　in　the　midst　of　their　eating；　there　came　a　scratching　at　the　door　and　a　sharp；　loud　MIAOUW！

〃What　is　that？〃　said　the　Country　Mouse。　　The　City　Mouse　just　whispered；　〃Sh！〃　and　ran　as　fast　as　he　could　to　the　hole。　　The　Country　Mouse　ran　after；　you　may　be　sure；　as　fast　as　HE　could。　　As　soon　as　they　were　out　of　danger　the　City　Mouse　　said；　〃That　was　the　old　Cat；　she　is　the　best　mouser　in　town；if　she　once　gets　you；　you　are　lost。〃

〃This　is　very　terrible；〃　said　the　little　Country　Mouse；　〃let　us　not　go　back　to　the　cupboard　again。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　City　Mouse；　〃I　will　take　you　to　the　cellar；　there　is　something　especial　there。〃

So　the　City　Mouse　took　his　little　friend　down　the　cellar　stairs　and　into　a　big　cupboard　where　there　were　many　shelves。　　On　the　shelves　were　jars　of　butter；　and　cheeses　in　bags　and　out　of　bags。　　Overhead　hung　bunches　of　sausages；　and　there　were　spicy　apples　in　barrels　standing　about。　　It　smelled　so　good　that　it　went　to　the　little　Country　Mouse's　head。　　He　ran　along　the　shelf　and　nibbled　at　a　cheese　here；　and　a　bit　of　butter　there；　until　he　saw　an　especially　rich；　very　delicious…smelling　piece　of　cheese　on　a　queer　little　stand　in　a　corner。　He　was　just　on　the　point　of　putting　his　teeth　into　the　cheese　when　the　City　Mouse　saw　him。

〃Stop！　stop！〃　cried　the　City　Mouse。　〃That　is　a　trap！〃

The　little　Country　Mouse　stopped　and　said；　〃What　is　a　trap？〃

〃That　thing　is　a　trap；〃　said　the　little　City　Mouse。　　〃The　minute　you　touch　the　cheese　with　your　teeth　something　comes　down　on　your　head　hard；　and　you're　dead。〃

The　little　Country　Mouse　looked　at　the　trap；　and　he　looked　at　the　cheese；　and　he　looked　at　the　little　City　Mouse。　　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　I　will　go　home。　　I'd　rather　have　barley　and　grain　to　eat　and　eat　it　in　peace　and　comfort；　than　have　brown　sugar　and　dried　prunes　and　cheese；and　be　frightened　to　death　all　the　time！〃

So　the　little　Country　Mouse　went　back　to　his　home；　and　there　he　stayed　all　the　rest　of　his　life。



LITTLE　JACK　ROLLAROUND＇1＇

＇1＇　Based　on　Theodor　Storm's　story　of　Der　Kleine　Hawelmanu　（George　Westermann；　Braunschweig）。　　Very　freely　adapted　from　the　German　story。


Once　upon　a　time　there　was　a　wee　little　boy　who　slept　in　a　tiny　trundle…bed　near　his　mother's　great　bed。　　The　trundle…bed　had　castors　on　it　so　that　it　could　be　rolled　about；　and　there　was　nothing　in　the　world　the　little　boy　liked　so　much　as　to　have　it　rolled。　　When　his　mother　came　to　bed　he　would　cry；　〃Roll　me　around！　roll　me　around！〃　　And　his　mother　would　put　out　her　hand　from　the　big　bed　and　push　the　little　bed　back　and　forth　till　she　was　tired。　The　little　boy　could　never　get　enough；　so　for　this　he　was　called　〃Little　Jack　Rollaround。〃

One　night　he　had　made　his　mother　roll　him　about；　till　she　fell　asleep；　and　even　then　he　kept　crying；　〃Roll　me　around！　roll　me　around！〃　　His　mother　pushed　him　about　in　her　sleep；　until　she　fell　too　soundly　aslumbering；　then　she　stopped。　　But　Little　Jack　Rollaround　kept　on　crying；　〃Roll　around！　roll　around！〃

By　and　by　the　Moon　peeped　in　at　the　window。　　He　saw　a　funny　sight：　Little　Jack　Rollaround　was　lying　in　his　trundle…　bed；　and　he　had　put　up　one　little　fat　leg　for　a　mast；　and　fastened　the　corner　of　his　wee　shirt　to　it　for　a　sail；　and　he　was　blowing　at　it　with　all　his　might；　and　saying；　〃Roll　around！　roll　around！〃　　Slowly；　　slowly；　the　little　trundle…bed　boat　began　to　move；　it　sailed　along　the　floor　and　up　the　wall　and　across　the　ceiling　and　down　again！

〃More！　more！〃　cried　Little　Jack　Rollaround；　and　the　little　boat　sailed　faster　up　the　wall；　across　the　ceiling；　down　the　wall；　and　over　the　floor。　　The　Moon　laughed　at　the　sight；　but　when　Little　Jack　Rollaround　saw　the　Moon；　he　called　out；　〃Open　the　door；　old　Moon！　I　want　to　roll　through　the　town；　so　that　the　people　can　see　me！〃

The　Moon　could　not　open　the　door；　but　he　shone　in　through　the　keyhole；　in　a　broad　band。　　And　Little　Jack　Rollaround　sailed　his　trundle…bed　boat　up　the　beam；　through　the　keyhole；　and　into　the　street。

〃Make　a　light；　old　Moon；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　the　people　to　see　me！〃

So　the　good　Moon　made　a　light　and　went　along　with　him；　and　the　little　trundle…　bed　boat　went　sailing　down　the　streets　into　the　main　street　of　the　village。　　They　rolled　past　the　town　hall　and　the　schoolhouse　and　the　church；　but　nobody　saw　little　Jack　Rollaround；　because　everybody　was　in　bed；　asleep。

〃Why　don't　the　people　come　to　see　me？〃　he　shouted。

High　up　on　the　church　steeple；　the　Weather…vane　answered；　〃It　is　no　time　for　people　to　be　in　the　streets；　decent　folk　are　in　their　beds。〃

〃Then　I'll　go　to　the　woods；　so　that　the　animals　may　see　me；〃　said　Little　Jack。　〃Come　along；　old　Moon；　and　make　a　light！〃

The　good　Moon　went　along　and　made　a　light；　and　they　came　to　the　forest。　　〃Roll！　roll！〃　cried　the　little　boy；　and　the　trundle…　bed　went　trundling　among　the　trees　in　the　great　wood；　scaring　up　the　chipmunks　and　startling　the　little　leaves　on　the　trees。　　The　poor　old　Moon　began　to　have　a　bad　time　of　it；　for　the　tree…trunks　got　in　his　way　so　that　he　could　not　go　so　fast　as　the　bed；　and　every　time　he　got　behind；　the　little　boy　called；　〃Hurry　up；　old　Moon；　I　want　the　beasts　to　see　me！〃

But　all　the　animals　were　asleep；　and　nobody　at　all　looked　at　Little　Jack　Rollaround　except　an　old　White　Owl；　and　all　she　said　was；　〃Who　are　you？〃

The　little　boy　did　not　like　her；　so　he　blew　harder；　and　the　trundle…bed　boat　went　sailing　through　the　forest　till　it　came　to　the　end　of　the　world。

〃I　must　go　home　now；　it　is　late；〃　said　the　Moon。

〃I　will　go　with　you；　make　a　path！〃　said　Little　Jack　Rollaround。

The　kind　Moon　made　a　path　up　to　the　sky；　and　up　sailed　the　little　bed　into　the　midst　of　the　sky。　　All　the　little　bright　Stars　were　there　with　their　nice　little　lamps。　　And　when　he　saw　them；　that　naughty　Little　Jack　Rollaround　began　to　tease。　　〃Out　of　the　way；　there！　　I　am　coming！〃　he　shouted；　and　sailed　the　trundle…bed　boat　straight　at　them。　　He　bumped　the　little　Stars　right　and　left；　all　over　the　sky；　until　every　one　of　them　put　his　little　lamp　out　and　l