A CHILD'S STORY GARDEN [Illustration] TO THE LITTLE CHILDREN [Illustration] Elizabeth Heber NOTE These selected stories have been used by teachers of the kindergartenand primary grades in the Indianapolis Schools. This little book hasbeen compiled for mothers and teachers with the purpose of meeting ademand for children's literature that will not only add to the child'sliterary culture, but will also suggest high ideals through the storyform. For material used we gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to:Rev. Neil McPherson, Sarah L. Kirlin, Leonore D. Eldridge, Martha A. Gill, Bessie Brown Adkinson, Edith D. Wachstetter, Grace Erskine DeVere, Fords Hulburt Publishing Co. , for the selections, "The Anxious Leaf" and"Coming and Going" from Henry Ward Beecher's, "Norwood. " . .. Compiled by . .. ELIZABETH HEBER Primary Teacher School No. 4 Indianapolis, --Indiana Illustrations by GRACE GARFIELD CONTENTS Siegfried, the King's Son The Song of the Pine Tree A Christmas Story The Myth of Arachne The Birds of Killingworth The Myth of Pan The Bell of Atri The Anxious Leaf Coming and Going How the Dimples Came The Proud Little Apple Blossom The Brave Knight King Robert of Sicily The Great Stone Face The First Christmas Tree The Story of Abraham The Story of Moses The Story of David The Story of Joseph The Courtesy of the Spartan Boy Twenty-third Psalm SIEGFRIED, THE KING'S SON Siegfried was the son of the good King Siegmund. He lived in the greatpalace with his father and the gentle queen, his mother. Siegfried had everything his heart could desire. He was loved by everyone about the palace. He had many servants to wait upon him, andbeautiful clothes to wear at all times. More than this, the stables ofthe great palace were full of horses, and Siegfried could ride or drivewhenever he wished to do so. Now, the king was as wise as he was good, and he knew that if Siegfriedwould grow to be a good king he must learn to work with his hands. Theking and queen talked of it, and, although they disliked to part withtheir son, they decided to send Siegfried to Mimer, the wonderfulblacksmith. Mimer was a queer little man. His back was bent and his hair was longand white. He had a long white beard and two very sharp, black eyes. Mimer's shop was out in the great, dark forest, and many boys came tolearn of this wonderful master, for Mimer, you must know, was the bestblacksmith in all the king's country. To this shop Siegfried was sent. At first he was very lonely andunhappy. There were no servants now to wait upon him. His soft, beautiful clothing had been exchanged for a suit of the coarsestmaterial and a huge leather apron. There was no soft bed waiting for himat night, only a pile of straw in the corner. But Siegfried was a braveboy, and lost no time complaining. He worked patiently at his anvil, dayafter day, learning from his master to make strong chains of iron, aswell as dainty chains of gold and silver, for the queen to wear. One dayMimer came into the shop and sat down beside Siegfried's anvil. The boyscould see that he was troubled, and they left their anvils and came tothe master, begging him to tell them what troubled him. Slowly he raised his head and looked at them all. Then he said: "A gianthas come into the country, who says he is the most wonderful smith ofall. He says he has made a coat of armor that no sword can pierce. Ihave worked day and night, and cannot make a strong sword. Who iswilling to try for me?" The boys all hung their heads, for they knew not how to help Mimer. ThenSiegfried stood before his master and said: "Let me try, oh, Mimer!" Andthe master was willing. Siegfried went to work at once, and for sevenlong days he did not leave his place at the anvil. At the end of the time he brought to Mimer a sword that was strong andbright. "We will try it, " said Mimer, and called together all the boys, and took them to a little stream near the shop. Mimer then took a singlethread of wool and threw it into the water. As it was carried along, Mimer took the sword and held it before the thread. The water carriedthe thread along until it reached the sword. Then one half of the threadpassed to the right of the sword and the other to the left, and thethread was not moved from its course. "This is a good blade, " said Mimerproudly. But Siegfried was not satisfied. He took the sword and broke itin pieces and put it into the fire again. For three long weeks Siegfriedworked patiently at the anvil. Then he brought to Mimer a sword that wassharper and brighter and stronger than the first. Again the boys were taken to the little stream, and this time a handfulof wool was thrown into the water. When it reached the edge of the swordhalf of the wool passed to the right and half to the left of the sword, and not one single thread was moved from its place. Siegfried, however, was not satisfied, and again broke the sword into pieces and put it backinto the fire. Patiently and faithfully he worked for seven long weeks. The sword thathe brought to Mimer now was stronger and brighter and more beautifulthan either of the others. The handle was wound with flowers, and theedge was as bright as the lightning. This time, when the boys gathered at the little stream, a pack of woolwas thrown into the water. When the wool reached the edge of the blade, half passed to one side and half to the other, and not one thread wasmoved from its place. "We will give it another trial, " said Siegfried. He ran quickly to theshop and paused a moment before the great anvil. Then he swung thesword, once, twice, thrice, about his head, and then brought it downonto the iron. There was no noise, but the great anvil fell apart, andthe sword was as sharp and bright as ever. "This is the best I can do, " said Siegfried. "Good master, my sword isdone!" Then Mimer sent his swiftest messenger to the king to tell himthat he was ready to meet the giant. The day of the contest came. Mimer's friends sat on one side of theroad, the giant's friends on the other. At the top of the hill the twomasters were to meet, the giant with his armor, Mimer with his sword. Soon a mighty shout arose! The giant, wearing the wonderful coat ofglittering steel, came up the hill. He sat down on a huge rock at thetop of the hill. As the people waited, a queer little man was seencoming slowly up the hill. His back was bent, and his white hair hungabout his shoulders. At his side he carried a sword so bright that thelightning seemed to play about its edge, as he walked. Slowly he went to the top of the hill and stood before the giant. It wasMimer, the master. He loosed the sword from his side and raised it abovehis head. "Are you ready?" he asked. "Yes; strike, " said the giant, laughing, for he was not afraid. One, two, three times the sword flashedabout Mimer's head. Then it fell again at his side. "I do not wish tohurt you, " he said, "but if you will take off your armor and place it onthat stone, I will show you what this wonderful blade can do. " The giantonly laughed again--laughed so loud and so long that the very earthseemed to tremble. Then he took off the armor and laid it on the rock. Mimer stepped back, raised the sword again, swung it about his headuntil the light seemed to blind the people. Then it came down. Thepeople waited. There was no clash of iron. All was still. Then Mimer stepped up to the armor and touched it with his foot. It fellapart, and the rock beneath it fell apart, too. Half the rock started toroll down the hill. On, on it went, faster and faster, and fell with amighty splash into the river at the foot of the hill, and if you shouldgo to that far-away country you could see it lying there, far down belowthe surface of the water. Then a mighty shout arose! Mimer's friends, and the great king, too, joined in the applause. The giant, no longer boastful, stooped down, gathered up the two parts of the armor, and went with his friends into afar country. Mimer took the wonderful sword and went back to his placein the blacksmith shop, still the master of all the smiths. Very few people, however, knew that it was the king's own son, Siegfried, who had made the wonderful sword. THE SONG OF THE PINE TREE It was a wee pine tree in a very large forest. It could not see anythingaround it, for the other pine trees about it were so very tall. Theycould only tell the little pine tree what they saw. At night the littletree would often gaze at the sky and the stars that peeped out. Andsometimes the big, round moon would pass over the sky. And all day long, all that the little pine tree could see above it was the blue sky, andthe beautiful white clouds that went sailing by like so many ships onthe sea. The little pine tree wished to grow and be tall, like the restof the trees, for it wanted to see what was in the world outside of theforest. The tall pine trees would sing songs as the wind whistledthrough their branches, and the little pine tree waited day after day, so that it might be tall and sing songs, too. When summer came the birdswould rest on the branches of this wee tree, but would not build nests, because it was too low. When winter came little white snowflakes camefluttering down and rested on the branches of the little pine tree. Year after year the little tree waited, but it grew all this time, andseemed to stretch higher and higher its beautiful green branches. One day, when the little snowflakes had fluttered down and made all theworld white, and the wind was whistling a merry tune, the little pinetree heard some strange noises. The tall pine trees nodded their heads, for they knew who were coming. They were the woodmen. They had a sledwith them, drawn by horses. The sight was strange to the pine tree, forit had never before seen woodmen, nor a sled, nor horses. But the oldpine trees knew what it all meant, for they had seen the woodmen manytimes. They wondered which tree the woodmen would choose. Now, thelittle pine tree had grown, and it was not a wee tree any longer, butwas a straight, strong, beautiful tree. The woodmen walked about withsomething very bright and shining in their hands. When they came to thispine tree they looked at it, shook it and sounded the ax against itstrunk. How queer the pine tree felt! It wondered what they were going to dowith it. Suddenly a sharp sound rang out in the air, and another, andstill another one. And the pine tree felt itself swaying and swaying, and down it went, lower and lower, until its branches touched the softwhite snow on the ground. The woodmen lifted the pine tree verycarefully, placed it on the sled and drove the horses away. Pine Treewas happy now, for he was going to see something of the great, wonderfulworld. The woodmen drove the horses out of the forest into the beautiful whiteworld. On and on they went until at last they came to a little villageby the sea. They drove through the village and into a great shipyard, where saws were buzzing, hammers were pounding, and busy men werehurrying about. Pine Tree had never seen anything like this before. Hewas lifted from the sled and his beautiful branches were taken from thetrunk. Then he lay with, many other logs for a long time, until one daythe carpenters took him away, and he found that he was helping to make apart of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the busy carpenters workedday after day. At last the strong and stately ship was finished. It glided gracefullyinto the water and sailed away. Pine Tree was very happy now, for he wasseeing new and strange things. The waves dashed carelessly against theship. They seemed to have a song, too. Pine Tree had not forgotten thesongs that the old pines used to sing. The waves did not always sing thesame song--sometimes they would rush and roll against the ship very harduntil they grew tired, and then they would roll on, and sing a quietsong again. Sometimes the ship would stop at strange countries, people would getoff, other people would get on, and then the ship would sail off outinto the sea again. Now, the pine tree had been a part of the ship formany years, when one night while the ship was sailing the seas the wavesgrew so high and strong that the parts of the ship could not staytogether. So Pine Tree was thrown out upon the angry waves and wasrocked all night long--very roughly at first, but gently afterwards. When the sunshine looked down upon the sand the next morning it saw PineTree. Pine Tree lay there many days. How lonesome Pine Tree was! He seemed to hear the songs of the oldpines, and sometimes the songs of the waves. One day he heard anothersong. It was a new song to the pine tree, for the song was sung by somelittle children who were digging in the sand close by. They came hereevery day to play, and once a man came with them. When he saw Pine Treelying upon the sand he said: "This is just what I have been looking for. I will use this for the ridge-pole for my little cottage. " So he tookPine Tree away with him. After a time Pine Tree found himself a part ofthe man's cottage, and, of course, he could not hear the songs of theforest, nor the songs of the waves, but he heard new songs. They wererock-a-bye-baby songs that the mother in this little cottage would singto her children in the evening, when it was time for them to go tosleep. Years passed, and the children grew to be men and women, and after awhile all the songs Pine Tree heard were those of the grandmother, whichwere soft and low. At last these, too, were heard no more--the littlecottage grew quiet and everything was still. Pine Tree wondered whereeverybody was. The only company he had were the birds that came inthrough the window and built nests in the attic. Now the cottage was nolonger a home, but was used as a barn, and the gentle cows, the woollysheep and the kind horses rested there at night. They, too, seemed tosing a song to Pine Tree, but by and by even their song could not beheard--nothing but the wind and the owls in the trees outside--becausewhat had once been the cottage, and then a barn, was now a forsakenlittle hut. One day Pine Tree heard a man whistling. Oh! how he hoped he would comein, for he had not seen anybody nor heard any of the songs he had lovedfor so long. Pine Tree heard the whistle come nearer and nearer, and atlast the man stepped through the doorway. He looked about him and sawthe spider webs hanging in the corners and the birds flying in and outof the windows, and he wondered how long it had been since people hadlived there. He looked up and saw the ridge-pole, which had once beenPine Tree. "Oh!" he said, "I have found what I have long been lookingfor. " So he climbed up and loosened the boards and took Pine Tree out ofhis resting place. Now Pine Tree was going once more out into the world. The man carried him on and took him into a little shop. It was a queershop, too, for there were many bright, shining things lying on thework-bench. They were tools, you know. The man had a kind face and hehandled Pine Tree very carefully. He sawed and smoothed Pine Tree manydays, and as he worked he whistled and sang, for he was happy. Sometimeshe would whistle some of the songs that Pine Tree had heard when helived in the forest, and then sometimes those he had heard on the ocean, and again he would whistle the songs that Pine Tree had heard in thehome of the children. At last the man's work was finished. Pine Tree had been made into awonderful musical instrument--a violin. The man took a bow and drew itacross the strings, and as he did so he smiled and nodded his head, forthe music was very sweet. The violin, which had once been Pine Tree, andthen part of a ship, and the ridge-pole of the cottage and the barn, seemed to sing to the man the songs of the forest, the songs of theocean, the songs of the home, and the songs of the lowly barn. One day the man put the violin in a case and took it away on a longjourney. When the case was opened, the violin saw that they were in astrange hall full of people, and many of them were talking of thisman--the violin-maker. The man lifted the violin from the case and went out upon a largeplatform before the people, and began playing for them. He seemed to sayto the violin, "Sing for me, " and as he drew the bow across the stringsthe violin sang. It sang to the people, first the very songs that thetall pines sang in the forest. The song changed, and the lap of thewaters, and the dip of the oar could be heard as on a moonlight summernight; then the angry wind and the dash of the waves could be heard asin a fierce storm. Slowly this song died, and everything was quiet. Then, after a little while, the faraway sound of children'svoices--their laughter and singing--was heard, and then came the sweetlullaby to the sleepy babes. These songs all died away, and the violin sang the songs of the birds inthe summer-time, and the lowing of cattle, and the bleating of sheep inthe cold winter-time. At last the violin could sing no longer the songs it knew, but a newsong came forth which was also very beautiful, and which caused thepeople to bend forward and listen with eager faces, for it was the songthat came from the heart of the old man who was master of the violin. A CHRISTMAS STORY It was so long ago that the whole world has forgotten the date and eventhe name of the little town in which lived a little boy whose name wasHans. Little Hans lived with his aunt, who was quite an old lady. She was notalways kind to Hans, but this made no difference to him. He loved herjust the same, and forgot that she was ever cross and very unkind to himat times. Hans went to school with many other boys, but he was not clothed as theywere. He had to wear the same clothes both week days and Sundays; thesame even in the summer that he wore in the winter. It was now midwinter, when everything was wrapped in snow and glazedwith ice, while the north winds sang loud and whistled down thechimneys, played very roughly with the bare trees, and crept throughevery crack and crevice of the house. The frost, too, was busy pinchingthe cheeks and biting the toes of the boys, and making them run, jumpand dance to keep warm. The children were wild with the excitement and the joy that was astir atthis time. For there were secrets in the air. Every one was busy makinggifts for some loved one. It was the night before Christmas, the one great birthday on which thewhole world rejoiceth and when all endeavor to make their fellow menhappy. The schoolmaster and all of his pupils started for the midnight worshipand prayer at the church. All of the boys were well clothed, with heavycoats, fur caps, thick mittens, and very heavy and warm shoes. Butlittle Hans had only a poor, plain, ragged suit, with no overcoat, nomittens, and his shoes were only wooden ones. It was a very cold night, and the boys and the schoolmaster had to walk very fast to keep warm. But little Hans did not mind the cold so much, because the stars smileddown upon him and seemed like so many diamonds set in a deep bluecanopy, each one glittering and flashing in the darkness. The snow, too, was a sparkling mass, and Hans wondered if the stars could seethemselves reflected in the tiny snow crystals which covered the earth. At last they reached the church, whose windows were shedding forth asoft, golden light on the stillness and darkness of the cold winternight. This little group of worshipers quietly passed into the churchand sank noiselessly into their pews. It was a beautiful place to Hans. He loved it dearly, and was always happy to come here. The candles wereall lighted, and they burned steadily brighter and brighter, filling thechurch with a beautiful mellow light. The grand old organ softly andclearly sent forth its tones, each one growing richer, deeper andsweeter, and gradually the voices of the choir boys and the tones of theorgan filled the old church with such beautiful music that little Hans'sheart seemed to bound within him, and his whole soul was enraptured, while there shone from his face a radiance that only a divineinspiration could bring forth. At length, after the people had sung, each one knelt and offeredthanksgiving to the Heavenly Father, little Hans, too, knelt and offeredthanks for the blessings which he had received during that year, and forthe tender care of the Father of all. The people then quietly passed out of the warm church into the cold ofthe night. Hans was the last one out, and as he carefully made his waydown the icy steps he noticed a little boy no larger than himselfsitting on the steps, with his head resting against the church. He wasfast asleep. His face was beautiful, and seemed clothed in a goldenlight. Beside him, tied in a cloth, were a square, a hammer, a saw andother tools of a carpenter. He had neither shoes nor stockings on hisfeet, although his clothing was spotless and of the purest white. Itgrieved Hans that the child should have no shoes, not even one to placefor the Christ-child to fill with gifts. Hans stooped and took from his right foot the wooden shoe and placed itin front of the sleeping child, so that the Christ-child would not passhim by. Hans then limped along on the ice and snow, not feeling how coldit was, but only thinking of the poor child asleep out in the cold. The other boys were talking of the good things awaiting them at home, ofthe feasts, the plum pudding, the Christmas trees, and the many drums, wagons and blocks the Christ-child would put in their shoes that night. When Hans arrived home he found his aunt awaiting him, and when she sawthat he had only one shoe, and he had told her all about the other one, she was very angry with him, and sent him to bed. Hans placed the woodenshoe from his left foot at the fireside, hoping that the Christ-childwould remember him as he passed by. The first sunbeam that crept into Hans's bedroom and kissed him the nextmorning awoke him, and he bounded downstairs, and flew to the great openfireplace to find his shoe. Hans rubbed his eyes and caught his breath, for, to his great surprise, there were both of his wooden shoes, filled with beautiful toys; by thefireside he found warm clothing and many other things to make himcomfortable and happy. Hearing loud voices, Hans went to the door. The people were standing ina crowd about the priest, who was talking to them. He told Hans thatwhere he had seen the child asleep on the church steps there was now inthe window above a beautiful crown set with precious jewels. He saidthat the child was the Christ-child, whom the Heavenly Father had againsent among men on earth for that night, and that it was He with whomHans had shared his wooden shoes. The people bowed themselves before that miracle that the good God hadseen fit to work, to reward the faith and charity of a child. Francois Coppee, [Adapted] THE MYTH OF ARACHNE A long time ago there lived a maiden whose name was Arachne. She couldweave the most beautiful fabrics that people had ever seen. She chosethe most exquisite colors. They were the colors that were found in theflowers, the green of the trees and grass, and the varied, dainty tintsand shades from the blue sky and its gorgeous sunsets. People had said that Arachne learned to weave from the birds, althoughsome of them thought that Arachne had been taught to weave by thegoddess Athena. When Arachne heard that the people thought that Athenahad taught her to weave she became very angry. She declared that Athenahad not taught her to weave; that no one had taught her. She said shewould compete with the goddess Athena in weaving. The goddess Athena wasa noble goddess. She was the Goddess of Wisdom, and of all the Arts andCrafts. When she heard what Arachne had declared she said: "It is verywrong that Arachne should be so proud and envious. I will go to seeher. " The goddess Athena disguised herself in humble apparel and visitedArachne. She talked with her about her weaving, and still Arachneboasted of the wonderful weaving she could do; but the goddess told herthat she was foolish to be so boastful. This made Arachne angry, and she said: "I am not afraid at all, not ofany one in the world. " At this moment the goddess threw aside her plaingarments and revealed herself the goddess Athena. This did not frightenArachne. She looked calmly at Athena and told her that she would give upanything, even her life, to prove to the people that she could weaveeven better than the goddess. They then set about to arrange their looms, to select their threads, andto begin work. At last they began. Whirr! Whirr! went the shuttles. Spin! Spin! they sang, faster and faster, in and out, over and under, flew the shuttles. Arachne had chosen the most delicate, lovely threads that she couldfind, but while she wove these beautiful threads she was thinking of herrevenge and other evil and wicked thoughts, while her skillful and swiftfingers moved faster and faster. At the same time Athena was sitting in the sunlight, busily andcarefully weaving over and under, and in and out, her dainty, beautifulsilken threads, which seemed to have come from the very sunbeamsthemselves. The colors were most harmonious and exquisite. Even therainbow was surpassed. Athena was thinking of the fleecy clouds, whichwere to her as white ships that sailed through the blue sea of the sky. She thought of the brown earth, with its emerald decking of trees andmeadows; of the buttercups and daisies of gold, and the roses and lilieswhich dotted Mother Earth's carpet. She thought of the butterflies thatflitted about, and of the birds, in coats of red, blue, glossy black, and dazzling gold. When Arachne looked at Athena's work she shuddered with shame, for, although her own work had been skillfully done, it was marred by theenvy, malice and evil thoughts she had woven into it. While Athena'swork was no more skillfully woven, it was by far the more beautiful. Theazure sky, with fluffy white clouds; the meadows, dotted with flowers, and fields, with their shady green trees, filled with birds of gorgeoushues, all made a wonderful picture. Poor Arachne knew her fate. She hastened away and took with her thethreads that she had been using in weaving, and wrapped them about herneck. She thought she would end her life by hanging to a tree. This madethe beautiful and kind Athena sad, and she said to Arachne: "You mustlive--live on forever, " and she touched Arachne and changed her form. Arachne gradually grew smaller and smaller, until she was no larger thana honeybee. She had many legs and wore a brown, fuzzy coat. Instead ofhanging by the threads she had used she now hung from a dainty silkenspider web, for Arachne was still a weaver, but not a weaver as of old. Today, perchance, if you should see a busy little spider, it might beone of Arachne's children, or perhaps Arachne herself. No oneknows--neither you nor I. THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH It was spring, and the little town of Killingworth told of the joy ofliving again. Every little rivulet had broken from its frozen chain, which had held it fast during the long winter, and was rushing on, rejoicing at its freedom. The purple buds, holding wonderful secrets ofthings to come, were bursting forth from every tree and bush, while fromthe topmost boughs the birds called and sang to their mates: "Oh! behappy, be happy, for spring has come!" There were all the messengers of spring--the robin, the oriole, and thebluebird--filling the orchard with their glad melody. The little sparrowchirped in glee for the very joy of living, and the hungry crows, ingreat crowds, called loudly the tidings of spring. But not long couldthey stop to sing, for the homes must be made, and soon from every treeand bush could be seen these dainty, downy nests, and in every nest theeggs, and in every egg a wonderful secret about which all the happybirds twittered and sang together. The farmers, as they plowed their fields and made their gardens thatspring, heard these tree-top concerts, and saw the multitude playing andworking about them, and they shook their heads and said: "Never beforehave we had so many birds in Killingworth. We must surely do something, or they will eat up half of our crops, and take the grain and fruitsthat should go to feed our own children. " Then it was decided to have ameeting. All in the town were free to come, and here they were to decidewhat was to be done with the troublesome birds. The meeting was held inthe new town hall, and to it came all the great men of the town, andfrom far and near the farmers gathered. The great hall was crowded. Thedoors and windows were open, and through them came a beautiful flood ofbird music, but the sturdy farmers and great men shook their heads asthey heard it. And then they told how the birds were eating the grainsand spoiling the fruit, and every one said the birds must go. Thereseemed to be not a single friend to the singers outside, until one manarose--the teacher in the town, much loved by the children, and himselfloving everything that God had made. He looked sadly on the men aroundhim, and then he said: "My friends, can you drive away these birds that God has made and sentto us, for a few handfuls of grain and a little fruit? Will you lose allthis music that you hear outside? Think of the woods and orchard withoutthe birds, and of the empty nests you will see. You say the birds arerobbing you; but instead they are your greatest helpers. With theirbright little eyes they see the little bugs and worms which destroy thefruit. Think who has made them. Who has taught them the songs and thesecret of building their nests. You will be sorry when they are gone andwill wish them back. " But still the farmers shook their heads and said: "The birds must go. "So the birds of Killingworth were driven away, until not a single notewas heard, and only empty nests were left. The little children of thetown were hoping each day to see their friends again, and a strangestillness and loneliness seemed to fill the little town, for the musicin the air had ceased. The summer came, and never before had it been so hot. The little insectsand worms which the little birds had always driven away covered everytree and bush, eating the leaves until nothing was left but the baretwigs. The streets were hot and shadeless. In the orchard the fruitdropped, scorched and dried by the sun. When the grains were gatheredone-half of the crop had been destroyed by the insects. Now the oldfarmers said among themselves: "We have made a great mistake. We need the birds. " One day in the early spring a strange sight was seen in the little townof Killingworth. A great wagon covered with green branches was drivendown the main street, and among the branches were huge cages, and thecages were filled with birds. Oh! they were all there--the robin, thebluebird, the lark and the oriole--birds of every color and kind. Whenthe great wagon reached the town hall it stopped. The cages were takendown from the branches of green, and little children, with eager handsand happy eyes, threw open the doors. Out came the birds and away theyflew to field and orchard and wood, singing again and again: "Oh! we are glad to be here! We are glad to be here!" The little children sang, too, and the gray-haired farmers said: "Thebirds must always stay in Killingworth. " Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted] THE MYTH OF PAN In a very far-away country, a long time ago, there lived a man who lovedmusic and little children and the birds and flowers. And the littlechildren loved Pan--for that was his name--because he told them suchbeautiful stories and played on a set of pipes which he had made fromthe reeds which grew by the river. Every evening, when it was time forthe sun to go to sleep and all the little stars to wake up, Pan wouldtake his pipes, go down to the river side, and play all the songs heknew. Everybody could hear Pan's music for miles and miles, but many ofthem did not like his music, and wished that he would not play. Oncesome of these people gathered together and planned how they could stopPan from playing his pipes, and while they were talking, some beetlesnear by heard their plans. Now, one of these beetles had hurt his wingat one time and had fallen down in the dust on the road, and could go nofarther. It was a very hot day, and the poor little beetle was almostdead from the heat. Soon Pan came walking along and saw the beetle, and, picking it up very carefully, he carried it on some green leaves to ashady place, where he left it to rest and get well. The beetle had neverforgotten Pan's kindness, and when he heard the plans these bad peoplehad made he said: "Come, friends, and go with me, for we must hurry andtell Pan what the wicked people have planned, so that he will not bethere when they go to push him into the river. " The beetles had only one day in which to reach Pan, for the evil peoplewere going to carry out their plans the next night, so they spread theirwings and flew as fast as they could fly. They could not travel far at atime, because their wings grew very tired and their bodies were soheavy. When they could fly no longer they would walk, and when they weretired walking they would fly again. In this way they hurried on and on, for the day was growing into night, and they could hear Pan playing hisbeautiful songs way down by the river bank. They had almost reached himwhen they heard what seemed to be a crowd of people running through thebushes and among the trees, and it seemed that they were going towardthe river. Next there was a big splash and many voices talking loudly, and after that--silence. When the beetles reached the place where Panalways sat they could not find him; but there in the river were hispipes, which he loved so well. The people had reached Pan before the beetles, and had pushed him intothe river, and his pipes fell in, too, but Pan did not wait to get them. He climbed out and ran as fast as his feet would carry him. The peopleran after him, but he leaped and bounded over the bushes and flowers, and ran on and on. Sometimes they were almost upon him, but he alwaysout-ran them. He wished to hide, but could find no place. He could notclimb the trees, for the people could climb trees, too, and he could nothide in the grass or under the bushes, for they would be sure to findhim there. At last, along the river bank, he spied the little violets that hadclosed their eyes, but were still gazing at the stars. One little violetseemed to say to him, "I will hide you, " and it folded its little petalsaround him. Pan was safe now, and from his hiding place he could hearthe people searching for him. They looked for a long time, but they didnot find him. He was happy and thankful, and, as he was very tired andthe soft petals of the violets made a pleasant resting place, he wassoon fast asleep. Away back on the river bank, where Pan always sat, were the beetles. They were very sorry that they had not reached him in time to tell himthat the people were coming, and that they could not get his pipes outof the water, where they had fallen. And, though they never saw himagain, they always remembered him and the beautiful music he used toplay. One day some little children were picking violets by the river, and theyfound one little violet that had eyes just like Pan's eyes. They took ithome and named it Pan's Eye, in memory of their old friend, but, as thatwas rather a hard name for the little children to say, they called itPansy. THE BELL OF ATRI In the little town of Atri, which was nestled on the side of a woodedhill, there was a strange custom. The king had one day brought to the town a great bell, which he hung inthe market place beneath a shed, protected from the sun and rain. Thenhe went forth with all his knightly train through the streets of Atriand proclaimed to all the people that whenever a wrong was done to anyone, he should go to the market place and ring the great bell, andimmediately the king would see that the wrong was righted. Many years had gone by. Many times the great bell had rung in the littletown of Atri, and, as the king had said, the wrongs of which it told, were always righted. In time, however, the great rope by which the bell was rung, unraveledat the end and was unwound, thread by thread. For a long time itremained this way, while the great bell hung silent. But close by, agrape-vine grew, and, reaching upward, finally entwined its tendrilsaround the ragged end of the bell rope, making it strong and firm againas it grew around it, up toward the great bell itself. Now, in the town of Atri there lived a knight, who, in his younger days, had loved to ride and hunt; but as he grew old he cared no more forthese things. He sold his lands, his horses and hounds, for he now lovedonly the gold which the sale of them brought to him. This he hoarded andsaved, living poorly, that he might save the more. Only one thing he kept--his favorite horse, who had served himfaithfully all his life. But even this faithful friend he kept in a poorold stable, often allowing him to go cold and hungry. Finally the old man said: "Why should I keep this beast now? He is oldand lazy, and no longer of any use to me. Besides, his food costs memuch that I might save for myself. I will turn him out and let him findfood where he can. " So the faithful old horse, who had served his master all his days, wasturned out without a home. He wandered through the streets of the town, trying to find something to eat. Often the dogs barked at him, and thecold winds made him shiver as he wandered about, hungry and homeless, with no one to care for him. One summer afternoon, when all the drowsy little town seemed sleeping, the tones of the great bell rang out, loud and clear, waking the peoplefrom their naps and calling them forth to see who was ringing the bellof justice. The judge, with a great crowd following, hurried to the market place, but when they came near, they stopped in surprise. No man was near, whomight have rung the bell; no one but a thin old horse, who stood quietlymunching the vine which grew around the bell rope. He had spied thegreen leaves growing there, and, being hungry, had reached for them, thus ringing the great bell of Atri, and calling forth the judge and allthe people. "'Tis the old knight's horse, " the people cried. Then many told the taleof how the old horse had been turned out to starve, while his masterhoarded and saved his gold. "The horse has rung the bell for justice, and justice he shall have, "said the judge. "Go, bring the old knight to me. " The knight was hurried to the place, where, before all the people, thejudge censured him for his cruel treatment of his faithful old horse, and asked him to give a reason for it. "The old beast is useless, " said his master. "He is mine, and I have aright to do with him as I wish. " "Not so, " said the judge. "He has served you faithfully all his life. Hecan not speak to tell of his wrongs, so we must speak for him. Go, now;take him home. Build a new stable and care for him well. " The old knight walked slowly home, while the horse was led behind by thecrowd. So the Great Bell of Atri had righted one more wrong, for it was even asthe judge had commanded. The faithful old horse lived in comfort all therest of his life, for his master, in caring for him, learned to love himagain, and treated him as only a faithful friend should be treated. When the king heard the story he said: "Surely, never will the bell ring in a better cause than in speaking fora suffering dumb creature who can not speak for himself. " Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted] THE ANXIOUS LEAF Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and cry, as leavesoften do when a gentle wind is about. And the twig said: "What is thematter, little leaf?" And the leaf said: "The wind just told me that oneday it would pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground!" The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told itto the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sentback word to the leaf: "Do not be afraid. Hold on tightly, and you shallnot go till you want to. " And so the leaf stopped sighing, but went on nestling and singing. Everytime the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branchesshook themselves, and the little twig shook itself, and the little leafdanced up and down merrily, as if nothing could ever pull it off. And soit grew all summer long, till October. And when the bright days of autumn came the little leaf saw all theleaves around becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow and somescarlet, and some striped with both colors. Then it asked the tree whatit meant. And the tree said: "All these leaves are getting ready to flyaway, and they have put on these beautiful colors because of joy. " Then the little leaf began to want to go, too, and grew very beautifulin thinking of it, and when it was very gay in color it saw that thebranches of the tree had no bright color in them, and so the leaf said:"O branches! why are you lead-color and we golden?" "We must keep on our work-clothes, for our life is not done; but yourclothes are for holiday, because your tasks are over, " said thebranches. Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go, withoutthinking of it, and the wind took it up and turned it over and over, andwhirled it like a spark of fire in the air, and then it dropped gentlydown under the edge of the fence, among hundreds of leaves, and fellinto a dream, and it never waked up to tell what it dreamed about. COMING AND GOING There came to our fields a pair of birds that had never built a nest norseen a winter. How beautiful was everything! The fields were full offlowers and the grass was growing tall, and the bees were hummingeverywhere. Then one of the birds began singing, and the other birdsaid: "Who told you to sing?" And he answered: "The flowers told me, andthe bees told me, and the winds and leaves told me, and the blue skytold me, and you told me to sing. " Then his mate answered: "When did Itell you to sing?" And he said: "Every time you brought in tender grassfor the nest, and every time your soft wings fluttered off again forhair and feathers to line the nest. " Then his mate said: "What are yousinging about?" And he answered: "I am singing about everything andnothing. It is because I am so happy that I sing. " By and by five little speckled eggs were in the nest, and his mate said:"Is there anything in all the world as pretty as my eggs?" Then theyboth looked down on some people that were passing by and pitied thembecause they were not birds. In a week or two, one day, when the father bird came home, the motherbird said: "Oh, what do you think has happened?" "What?" "One of my eggshas been peeping and moving!" Pretty soon another egg moved under herfeathers, and then another and another, till five little birds werehatched! Now the father bird sang louder and louder than ever. Themother bird, too, wanted to sing, but she had no time, and she turnedher song into work. So hungry were these little birds that it kept bothparents busy feeding them. Away each one flew. The moment the littlebirds heard their wings fluttering among the leaves, five little yellowmouths flew open wide, so that nothing could be seen but five yellowmouths! "Can anybody be happier?" said the father bird to the mother bird. "Wewill live in this tree always, for there is no sorrow here. It is a treethat always bears joy. " Soon the little birds were big enough to fly, and great was theirparents' joy to see them leave the nest and sit crumpled up upon thebranches. There was then a great time, the two old birds talking andchatting to make the young ones go alone! In a little time they hadlearned to use their own wings, and they flew away and away, and foundtheir own food, and built their own nests, and sang their own songs withjoy. Then the old birds sat silent and looked at each other, until the motherbird said: "Why don't you sing?" And he answered: "I can't sing--I canonly think and think. " "What are you thinking of?" "I am thinking howeverything changes. The leaves are falling off from this tree, and soonthere will be no roof over our heads; the flowers are all going; lastnight there was a frost; almost all the birds have flown away. Somethingcalls me, and I feel as if I would like to fly away. " "Let us fly away together!" Then they arose silently, and, lifting themselves far up in the air, they looked to the north. Far away they saw the snow coming. They lookedto the south. There they saw flowers and green leaves. All day theyflew, and all night they flew and flew, till they found a land wherethere was no winter--where flowers always blossom, and birds alwayssing. HOW THE DIMPLES CAME One bright, beautiful spring day, when the earth was fresh in its newgreen dress decked with flowers, while the birds sang their sweetestsongs, and the brooks babbled merrily on their way to the rivers, twowee dimples were sent by Mother Nature on a journey to find their workin the world. It was a delightful journey through the blue sky and past the fleecywhite clouds. They played and danced with the sunbeams who led them on their way tothe earth. The dimples could see nothing for them to do, so on they went, frolicking and playing. At last they found themselves among the trees and the bright flowers ofthe earth. They chased the sunbeams under the leaves, they rode on the butterflies'wings, they sipped the honey with the bees from the flowers. Still, theycould find nothing to do. The sunbeams bade the dimples good-by andsilently crept home. "Oh, " said the dimples, "what shall we do? We haveno place to rest tonight. " "Here is a bird's nest; let us rest in this, "said one dimple. "No, that will never do, " said the other dimple, "forthere is the mother bird, who rests in her nest all night. " Just then they spied a window swing open on its hinges. The tiny starscame out and peeped into the window, and the lady-moon sent silverymoonbeams down to help the dimples find a resting place. Then thedimples flew through the window, and there, close by, in her crib, curtained around with white, was a wee baby, rosy, sweet, and bright. "Oh, " said one dimple, "I would love to rest on that rosy cheek. " "Sowould I, " said the other dimple. And they each took a rosy cheek for acouch, and here they rested the whole night long. The robins early in the dawn sat on the cheery boughs and sang loud andlong, thus waking the dimples, who now knew not what to do. "But, " saidone dimple, "we have not yet found our work. " The other dimple said:"Let us stay here. Baby's eyes are opening, and we must hide, " and eachdimple nestled away in baby's cheeks. Then her big, blue eyes openedwide, to see the sunbeams that had crept through the windows to hercrib. The sunbeams coaxed the dimples to come out and play, but the dimpleswould only peep out, and when they did, they brought smiles aroundbaby's rosy lips and sunny eyes. "So you have found your work at last, " said the sunbeams. And they had, for they helped to bring out the smiles in baby's cheeks. If you lookthe next time you see baby you may see the dimples playing hide andseek. THE PROUD LITTLE APPLE BLOSSOM It was the month of May, but the wind still blew cool, for the sun wasnot yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting earth. Yet some of the birds had come, and more were on their way, and manybeautiful blossoms were already showing their pink and white blooms, sothat from bush and tree, field and flower, came the glad cry, "Spring ishere! Spring is here. " Now, it happened that a young princess rode by abeautiful orchard in full bloom, and she stopped to pick a branch ofapple blossoms to take to her palace. All who saw the apple blossompraised its beauty and fragrance until the blossom became proud, andthought that beauty was the only valuable thing in the world. But as theapple blossom looked out upon the field she thought: "Not all of theplants are rich and beautiful, as I am, some seem poor and plain. " Andshe noticed a little, common, yellow flower, which seemed to lift up itssunny head and grow everywhere. The apple blossom said to the plain little flower, "What is your name?" "I am called the dandelion, " replied the little flower. "Poor little plant, " said the apple blossom. "It is not your fault; buthow sad you must feel to be so plain and to bear such an ugly name. " Before the little plant could reply a lovely little sunbeam came dancingalong and said: "I see no ugly flowers. They are all beautiful alike tome. " And he kissed the apple blossom; but he stooped low and lingeredlong to kiss the little yellow dandelion in the field. And then some little children came tripping across the field. Theyoungest laughed when they saw the dandelions and kissed them withdelight. The older children made wreaths and dainty chains of them. Theypicked carefully those that had gone to seed, and tried to blow thefeathery down off with one breath, making joyous wishes. "Do you see, " said the sunbeam, "the beauty of the dandelion?" "Only to children are they beautiful, " said the proud apple blossom. By and by an old woman came into the field. She gathered the roots ofthe dandelions, out of which she made tea for the sick, and she soldothers for money to buy milk for the children. "But beauty is better than all this, " still said the proud little appleblossom. Just then the princess came along. In her hand she carriedsomething that seemed like a beautiful flower. She covered it carefullyfrom the wind. What do you think it was? It was the feathery crown ofthe dandelion. "See!" she said, "how beautiful it is! I will paint it ina picture with the apple blossoms. " Then the sunbeam kissed the apple blossom, and as he stooped low to kissthe dandelion the apple blossom blushed with shame. Hans Christian Andersen [Adapted] THE BRAVE KNIGHT When Christ was on earth, He had a little band of disciples who lovedhim very much. The night before He went away from them, He took them toa little upstairs room and there had a supper with them. And it was saidthat at that supper, He used a beautiful golden cup in which He passedthe wine to them, and when He went away from earth, the disciples lovedeverything He had touched, and they seemed to love most of all thisgolden cup. They called it the Holy Grail, and it was given to a verygood man, who cared for it carefully, and for years it passed from onegood man to another, for it was said that if it ever fell into the handsof a man who was not good and Christ-loving the cup would be lost. So for many years it was carefully kept, and people took long journeysto see the Holy Grail, which the Master himself used when He was onearth. But one day the cup passed into the hands of one who was notworthy, and, as it had been said, it was lost. They searched for it far and near, but it could not be found. Finallythere came some men who called themselves knights. They were brave, strong men, who did many wonderful things for the king, and many of themsaid: "We will spend our lives hunting for the Holy Grail. We will takelong pilgrimages until we find it. " And so the knights searched overland and sea, over mountain and plain, hunting for the Holy Grail, butstill they found it not. Then there came a knight whose name was SirLaunfal. He was very young--so young that he had never made a journey, nor worn an armor, nor had he ever done a wonderful deed. But he wasbrave, and said in his heart: "I will find the Holy Grail. " So he wentto the silversmith and had a beautiful silver armor and golden spursmade, and to the helmet-maker, who made him a helmet of shining silver. Next he chose from the stables the finest steed, and he was then readyfor the journey, and Sir Launfal's heart was full of hope. On the night before the pilgrimage he lay in his room, and the armorhung on the wall before him, with the helmet beside it, and the horsestood ready in the stable. At the first ray of morning he was to beginhis journey, and as he lay he slept, and dreamed a dream. He thought itwas already morning--the morning of his pilgrimage. He had on his armorand his silver helmet, and was riding out of the castle gate on hisbeautiful steed. It was a June morning, and everything was beautiful. The very flowers and green grass beneath his feet seemed to bring SirLaunfal a message of hope. And as he rode his heart was very glad, andhe said: "I shall find the Holy Grail. " He was riding out of the greatcastle gate when he heard a voice which was tired and weak, and it said:"Will you please give me something?" Sir Launfal looked in surprise, andthere, crouching beside the castle gate, was a beggar, poor and raggedand weak, and it was he who had asked in a tired voice, "Will you pleasegive me something?" Sir Launfal looked at him and frowned, and said inhis heart, "Why does this beggar lie at my castle gate to spoil thebeauty of the morning?" But, because he was a knight and felt that hemust give something, he took from his purse a piece of gold and threw itto the beggar. But the beggar looked at him and said, seeing hisscornful frown: "I do not wish your gold that you give with scorn. Better to me a poor man's crust. " But Sir Launfal rode proudly down theroad on his way, for he felt that he could no longer listen to the poorbeggar. Then he rode over land and sea, over mountain and plain, searching everywhere for the Holy Grail, and, although it sometimesseemed very near, he did not find it. He had now grown to be an old man. The helmet and armor were rusted, hisclothes had become thin and ragged, he was stooped and gray, and hiseyes had grown dim with the years, but still he searched, and said inhis heart: "I will find the Holy Grail. " Then he seemed to be near hisold home one night, and he said to himself: "Before I go on my way Iwill once more look at my old home. " And he entered the gate, and as hewas walking up the path he heard a voice, tired and weak, and it said:"Will you please give me something?" He looked down, and there by hisfeet lay the beggar who had asked for something at his castle gate themorning he had started on his pilgrimage. This time Sir Launfal looked at him and smiled. Then he said: "I haveonly a crust of bread, but I will gladly share it with you. " Then, taking from his pocket a single crust of bread, he stooped and gave thehalf to the beggar. Then Sir Launfal said: "I will get you water toquench your thirst, " and he went to where the little spring ran merrilyalong in the twilight, and, taking from his pocket a little tin cup, battered and rusted from years of use, he filled it to the brim withclear, cold water, and returned with it to the beggar. As soon as thetin cup touched the beggar's hand it turned into a shining cup of gold, and behold! the beggar was no longer there, but in his place there stooda man, tall, strong and beautiful, wearing shining white garments, andaround his head there seemed a radiant glow of light. The beautiful manlooked at Sir Launfal, and he said, in a voice full of love andgentleness: "In your own castle yard you have found the Holy Grail bydoing kindly service to one of my needy ones. " The beautiful man was gone. Sir Launfal lay in his room. The morningsunlight came in through the window, telling him it was time to ariseand go on his journey. And his helmet and armor still hung on the wall, ready for him; but Sir Launfal lay long in thought. There was no need ofhis long pilgrimage, for the poor and the needy were close to his door, and he stayed to help them with gifts of love. James Russell Lowell [Adapted] KING ROBERT OF SICILY King Robert was ruler of all Sicily. Many lands and beautiful castleswere his, and he had many servants, who obeyed his every word; but theyobeyed not because they loved him, but because they feared him. He was aproud king, and haughty--that is, he would look over his lands, and hewould say: "Surely, this is a great kingdom, and I am a great king!" One Easter Sunday morning, King Robert went to church. He wore hisfinest robes, and riding with him were all of his lords and ladies. Themorning was beautiful, and everything seemed to bear a message of loveand joy. The grass and flowers that grew by the roadside, the trees thatwaved their branches above, and the blue sky, all seemed to bear thesame message. But King Robert saw nothing beautiful. He was thinking only of himself. They reached the church, and the sunlight came through the beautifulwindows, seeming to speak of God above. The pure white lilies on thealtar whispered to each other, "On this day Christ was risen!" The musicfrom the organ seemed to reach every heart, but King Robert sat unmovedin his pew. When the minister spoke, the king heard nothing of thesermon until certain words caught his ear. The minister was saying thesewords: "The Lord can exalt the humble and can bring down the proud andmighty from their seats. " The choir chanted the words again and again. As the king heard, he threw back his head and said: "Why do they teachsuch words as these? There is no power on earth or in heaven above thatcould take my throne. " By and by the king fell asleep in his pew. He must have slept a longtime, for when he awoke the great church was dark and the moonlight wasstreaming through the great glass windows. The king sprang to his feetin alarm, and said: "How dare they go away and leave me alone?" Herushed quickly to the door, but it was locked. He called loudly andknocked upon the door, and finally the old sexton, asleep on theoutside, heard the noise and shouted: "Who is there?" And the kinganswered: "It is I--the king. Open the door!" The old sexton shook his head and murmured to himself: "It must be somemadman locked in the church, " but he unlocked the door, and the kingrushed wildly out--on out in the street, where the moonlight fell uponhim. Then suddenly he stopped and gazed at his clothes in amazement, forinstead of wearing his royal robes he wore nothing but rags. His crownwas gone, and he seemed a beggar, and he cried out: "How can thesethings be? Some one has robbed me while I have slept, and left me theserags. " Then he rushed on to the great castle, and at the gate he again called:"Open! I, the king, am here. " The great gate swung open and the kingrushed on through the great castle halls, never pausing until he reachedthe throne room, and there he stopped and stood looking in surprise andamazement, for there on his throne sat another king, wearing his crownand wearing his robes, and holding in his hand his scepter. King Robertlooked at the new king and cried: "Why do you sit on my throne, wearingmy robes and my crown and my scepter?" The new king only smiled and said: "I am the king, and who art thou?" King Robert threw back his head haughtily and answered: "I am the king. You have no right on my throne. " At these words the strange king smiled sadly, and replied: "I am theking, and thou shalt be my servant. Yes, thou shalt be the servant ofall my servants, for thou shalt be court jester, and wear the cap andbells, and have for your companion the ugly ape. " Before King Robert could say more, the servants came and hurried himthrough the castle halls, down to a little room, cold and bare, withnothing but a pile of straw in a corner, and there they left him alone, save for the ugly ape, which sat in the corner grinning at him. As KingRobert looked down on the rough pile of straw he said: "It must surelybe a dream, and I will awaken in the morning and find myself the king. " The morning came, but when he awoke he heard the rustle of the strawbeneath him, and there in the corner still sat the ugly ape. That daythe new king called him to the throne, and, looking at him, said: "Artthou the king?" And King Robert proudly threw back his head as beforeand answered: "I am the king. " And each day the new king sent for him and asked him the same question, and each day King Robert gave the same proud and haughty answer. One daythere came a summons to the court--King Robert's brother, the Emperor ofRome, sent word for King Robert and all of his court to visit him atEaster-time, and great preparations were made for the journey. When thetrain was ready it formed a beautiful procession. The new king rode atits head, in his splendor, and all the beautiful ladies and the braveknights came riding behind in their gorgeous robes. At the last of thissplendid train rode King Robert on a queer old mule. He had on the capand bells, and behind him sat the ugly ape, and, as they passed alongthe street, the boys laughed and jeered; but King Robert said tohimself: "They will not laugh long, " because his heart was glad now, forthey were going to Rome, where his own brother ruled, and now surely hewould be restored to his rights, for his brother would see and know thatthe new king was an impostor. Thus the splendid train rode to Rome, andthe emperor was there to meet them. When the emperor saw the strange king he went to him and embraced himand called him "brother. " At this, King Robert rushed forward and criedout: "I am the king, thy brother. This man is an impostor. Do you notknow me? I am the king. " But the emperor only looked at him strangely, and, turning to the strange king, he said: "Why do you keep this madmanat your court?" The new king only smiled, and made no answer. The visit ended, and again the splendid train passed back to Sicily, andKing Robert still rode behind. His heart was very sad, because hethought: "If my own brother knows me not, what hope can there be?" When the new king came back to Sicily he changed many of the cruel laws, and the whole land was made glad and happy, as it had never been before. King Robert noticed the change and wondered at it. It was Easter-time again, and King Robert said in his heart, "I will goto church again this morning. " Behind all the procession he rode, asusual, and took his seat in the back of the church, so that no one mightsee him. Everything was beautiful at this Easter-time. The church, theflowers, the music, all bore the Easter message. When the music began itcrept into King Robert's heart, and as he listened the tears rolled downhis cheek, and he bowed his head in prayer. The first words that heheard were the old, familiar ones: "The Lord can exalt the humble andbring down the proud and mighty from their seats. " As poor King Robertlistened he humbly bowed his head and said: "Ah, surely that is true;the Lord in heaven is mightiest of all. He is the king. " When the king and his court had reached home again that day, the newking called King Robert immediately to his throne room, and upon hisface there seemed to be a glorious light shining forth, and, looking atKing Robert with a wondrous smile, he asked the old, old question: "Artthou the king?" But King Robert only bowed his head and said: "I knownot who I am. I only know that I am the most humble and most unworthy ofall men to be the king. " To these words the new king replied: "Thou artindeed the king, and I--I am an angel sent from Heaven to help thee fora little while. " When King Robert raised his head, behold! he was alone. The angel hadgone. He again had on his own robes, his own crown, and was bearing hisown scepter. That day, when the courtiers came to wait upon the king, they found himkneeling beside his throne in prayer. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted] THE GREAT STONE FACE One afternoon, when the sun was going down, a mother and her little boysat at the door of their cottage talking together and watching the greatmountains before them, as they changed with the tints of the settingsun, from gold to crimson, and then to deep purple, till finally theafterglow was gone, leaving only the bare mountains standing out in grayrelief against the evening sky. "Mother, " said the child, whose name was Ernest, "the Great Stone Faceis smiling at us. I wish it could speak, for it looks so very kind thatI know its voice is pleasant. " And what was the Great Stone Face? Off in the distance one great mountain rose far up above the others, andstood like a great giant among its fellows. By some peculiar art therocks had been thrown together in such a way as to make the mountainlook almost exactly like a human face. There was the broad arch of theforehead, a hundred feet in length; the nose, with its long bridge, andthe great lips, which, if they could have spoken, would surely haverolled thunder from one end of the valley to the other. It was a happy lot for children to grow up to manhood or womanhood withthe Great Stone Face before their eyes, because all of its features werenoble, so that just to look at it made one wish to be better. This, then, was what Ernest and his mother sat looking at long after thesun had sunk behind those great piles of stones. "Mother, " said Ernest, "if I were to see a man with such a face I know Ishould love him. " "If an old prophecy comes true, " answered his mother, "we may see a mansome time or other with exactly such a face as that. " "Oh, tell me about it, mother. Will it really come true?" eagerlyinquired Ernest. Then his mother told him a story which her mother had told to her whenshe was a child. No one knew who had heard it first. The Indians hadknown it years before, and they said it had been murmured by themountain streams and whispered by the wind among the treetops. And thestory was this: At some future day--no one knew when--a child would beborn in the valley who would grow up to be the noblest and greatest manof his time, and his face would look exactly like the Great Stone Facewhich had gazed kindly down on the valley for so many years. Many of thepeople in the valley said this was only a foolish tale, never to come topass, but a few still watched and waited, hoping for the great man tocome, but as yet he had not appeared. When Ernest heard the story he clapped his hands, and said eagerly: "Oh, mother, dear mother, I do hope I shall live to see him. " The mother smiled, and, putting her hand on the boy's head, said:"Perhaps you may. " Ernest never forgot the story his mother told him. It was always in hismind whenever he looked upon the Great Stone Face. He spent his boyhooddays in the humble little cottage, helping his mother with the simplehousehold duties, and, as he grew older, working in the fields to earntheir daily bread. Ernest was a quiet boy, but happy. There was no school in the littlevillage, but a great teacher was there. After the day's toil was overErnest would sit for hours watching the Great Stone Face, and to him itbecame the teacher of all that was good and noble. Many times, as thesunset rays tinted the side of the great mountain and lighted up all thefeatures of the wonderful face, Ernest would imagine that it smiled onhim, and perhaps it did. Who knows? Often a great longing would come to Ernest as he watched the Great Face, and he would say again, "Oh, I wish the great man would come. " But the years passed by, and Ernest grew from a happy little child to aquiet, thoughtful boy, and still the great man did not appear. But one time a rumor went through all the valley that the great man hadat last arrived. His early home had been in the quiet valley, but as ayoung man he had gone into the world to seek his fortune, and truly hehad found it, for everything he attempted prospered exceedingly, till itmight be said of him, as of Midas in the fable, that whatever hisfingers touched changed at once to piles of gold. His name was Mr. Gathergold. All who saw him declared him to be the exact image of theGreat Stone Face on the mountain side, and the man so long expected tofulfill the prophecy. The whole valley was in a state of great excitement, for the wonderfulpersonage was coming back to his native home to spend his last days inpeace and quiet. He sent before him a whole army of architects andworkmen, who built for him a palace more beautiful and grand thananything the simple village people had ever before seen. The outside was of pure marble, dazzling white, while the interior wasinlaid with solid gold and precious stones. Ernest watched the great palace grow, and his heart was glad, forfinally his hopes were to come true. He waited eagerly for the great manhimself to come. He spent more time than usual gazing at the face on themountain side, that he might know exactly how Mr. Gathergold would look. Finally the day of the great man's arrival came. The whole village cameout to see him. The rumbling of wheels was heard, and a carriage drawnby four horses dashed down the road. "Here he comes!" cried the people. "Here comes the great Mr. Gathergold!" As the carriage drew near the people pressed around, and there throughthe window they saw the great man. He was little and old, with a face ashard and yellow as the piles of gold he had gathered together. He had alow forehead, small, sharp eyes, puckered about with many wrinkles, andvery sharp lips. "The very image of the Great Stone Face!" shouted the people. "Sureenough, the old prophecy is true, and here we have the great man come atlast. " By the roadside there chanced to be a poor woman and her two children, who, as the carriage passed, held out their hands and asked for help. Ahand was thrust out of the window, and a few pennies were thrown on theground. Then the carriage rolled on, and the people continued to shout, "He is the very image of the Great Stone Face. " But Ernest stood apart from the crowd, nor did he join in the shout, forhis heart was full of sorrow and disappointment. Through an opening inthe trees he saw the Great Stone Face looking benignly down upon him, and the great lips seemed to say: "He will come. Fear not, Ernest. Theman will come. " The years went on, and Ernest ceased to be a boy. He had grown to be ayoung man now. He was not much noticed in the valley, for he was stillquiet and modest. They saw nothing remarkable about his way of living, save that when the work of the day was done he loved to go apart andgaze upon the Great Stone Face. They knew not that it had become his greatest teacher, filling his heartand mind with thoughts and hopes far above earthly things. By this time poor old Mr. Gathergold was dead and buried, and thestrange part about the matter was that when his wealth left him, as itdid some time before he died, and he became a poor old man, the peopleseemed to forget that there ever had been a resemblance to the GreatStone Face. Indeed, they said it was all a mistake, and the great manwas yet to come. Suddenly through the valley there ran another rumor. Years before ayoung man had left the valley, had gone into the world as a warrior, andfinally had become a great commander. Such had been his character andlife that the illustrious man was called by the name of OldBlood-and-Thunder. This old general, being worn out with warfare, decided to return to his native valley and spend his last days in peace. But the most wonderful thing about Old Blood-and-Thunder was the factthat all who knew him said that he was the man so long hoped for in thevalley, for he looked exactly like the Great Stone Face. Great preparations, therefore, were made to receive the General--abanquet was to be given and speeches made in his honor. On the day ofthe festival Ernest, with all the others of the village, left their workand went to the woods, where the banquet was held. A great crowdsurrounded the tables, so that Ernest at first could not see the greatman for whom he had waited and hoped so long, so he contented himselfwith looking at the great face on the mountain side, which he could seeplainly through the trees. Meanwhile he could hear those around himtalking about Old Blood-and-Thunder and the Great Stone Face. "'Tis the same face, to a hair, " cried one man, clapping his hands forjoy. "Wonderfully like, that's a fact, " said another. "Like! Why, I call it Old Blood-and-Thunder himself, in a monstrouslooking-glass, " cried a third. Just then a silence fell on the crowd, for the General rose to speak, and as he did so Ernest for the first time saw the hero. There he stood, head and shoulders above the crowd, with the golden epaulets glitteringon his uniform. Long and eagerly Ernest gazed on his face, and thenbeyond, to the one on the mountain side. Were they, indeed, alike?Ernest saw in the warrior's face only cruelty and hardness, with none ofthe tender sympathy he knew so well in the other face. "This is not the man, " sighed Ernest, as he turned sadly away. "Must wewait longer yet?" But as the great mountain rose before him, once again the lips seemed tosay: "Fear not, Ernest; fear not. He will come. " The years sped swiftly by. Ernest still lived in the valley, a quiet andgentle man, doing his work as best he knew. But gradually the people ofthe village had come to know and feel that Ernest knew more than they. Not a day passed by that the world was not better because this man, humble as he was, had lived. He would always help a neighbor in need, and the people had learned to know where to come for aid. His thoughtswere of things good and noble, and so his deeds and words were alwaysgood. By this time the people had seen their mistake in thinking OldBlood-and-Thunder was the great man of prophecy; but now again therewere reports saying that without doubt the great man had at lastappeared. He, like Mr. Gathergold and Old Blood-and-Thunder, was anative of the valley, but had left it as a young man, and had now becomea great man. He had not the rich man's wealth, nor the honor of theGeneral, but he had a tongue which could speak more beautiful words thanthe world had ever heard before. Great crowds flocked to hear him fromall parts of the country. The people of the village were proud to think that they could claim thegreat man, for it was said he bore an exact likeness to the Great StoneFace--so much so that they called him "Old Stony Phiz. " And now the illustrious man was once more coming to visit his nativeland, and great preparations were made to receive him. With great eagerness and hope Ernest waited for his coming, and on theday appointed went with the crowd to meet him. The air was filled withmusic and the shouts of the people, for now they felt that surely theold prophecy was to be fulfilled. Then the great man's carriage came in view. There he sat, smiling andbowing to the people, while they threw up their hats in wild excitementand enthusiasm, and shouted: "Hoorah for Old Stony Phiz. The great manhas come at last. " Ernest looked long at the man as he sat in his carriage, but finallyturned away sadly and slowly, and said: "The features are alike, but hehas not the heart nor the love and sympathy which make a face beautiful. He is not the man, but he might have been, had he lived the best heknew. " Then again he turned to his great teacher on the mountain side, and, asthe late afternoon sun tinted all its features, it seemed to smile onErnest, and once more the lips seemed to speak: "Lo, here I am, Ernest. I have waited longer than thou, and am not yetweary. Fear not. The man will come. " The years hurried onward, and now they began to bring white hairs andscatter them over the head of Ernest. They made wrinkles across hisforehead and furrows in his cheeks. He was an old man; but more than thewhite hairs on his head were the beautiful thoughts in his mind, and theloving words from his lips, and the kindly deeds from his hands. He wasno longer unknown. Great men from far and near came to see and talk withhim, and as they went away their hearts were better for having been withhim. He had become a preacher, and often, just as the sun set, he wouldstand on a little knoll and talk with the people who crowded to hear thewords he spoke. One evening, as Ernest sat at his doorstep, a friend came to talk withhim. He was a poet, and wrote of things which God had made, in languageso beautiful that one wished always to hear it. Ernest loved to read hiswords, and this evening, as they sat together, he looked long andearnestly at the poet and then up at the Great Stone Face, which seemedto be smiling down upon them. Then he sighed and shook his head sadly. "Why are you sad?" asked the poet. Then Ernest told him of the prophecy which he had longed all his life tosee fulfilled. "And, " he said, "when I read your beautiful words, Ithink surely you are worthy to be the man I have longed to see, and yetI see no likeness. " The poet sadly shook his head, and said: "No, Ernest. I am not worthy. My words, indeed, may be beautiful, but my life has not been so greatand good as the words I write. " Then, as sunset drew near, the two walked to the little knoll whereErnest was to talk to the people. He stood in a little niche, with the mountains above him, and the gloryof the evening sun shone around his silvered hair. At a distance couldbe seen the Great Stone Pace, surrounded by a golden light. As Ernest talked his face glowed with the depth of his feeling, andsuddenly the poet threw his arms above his head and shouted: "Behold! Behold! Ernest is himself the likeness of the Great StoneFace!" Then all the people looked and saw that what the poet had said was true. The prophecy was fulfilled. The Great Man had come at last. Nathaniel Hawthorne [Adapted] THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE In a forest in the far, far East grew a great many pine trees. Most ofthem were tall trees, higher than the houses that we see, and with wide, strong branches. But there was one tree that was not nearly so tall asthe others; in fact, it was no taller than some of the children in thekindergarten. Now, the tall trees could see far, far out over the hilltops and intothe valleys, and they could hear all the noises that went on in theworld beyond the forest, but the Little Tree was so small and the othertrees grew so high and thick about it that it could not see nor hearthese things at all; but the other trees were very kind, and they wouldstoop down and tell them to the Little Tree. One night in the wintertime there seemed to be something strange happening in the little townamong the hills, for the trees did not go to sleep after the sun wentdown, but put their heads together and spoke in strange, low whispersthat were full of awe and wonder. The Little Tree, from its place closedown to the ground, did not understand what it was all about. Itlistened awhile, and then lifted its head as high as ever it could andshouted to its tall neighbor: "Will you not stoop and tell me what ishappening?" And the big tree stooped down and whispered: "The shepherdsout on the hilltops are telling strange stories while they watch theirsheep. The air is filled with sweet music, and there is a wonderful starcoming up in the east, traveling westward always, and the shepherds saythat they are waiting for it to stop and shine over a humble stable intheir little town. I have not heard why it is going to stop there, but Iwill look again and listen. " So the tall tree lifted up its head again, and reached far out so that it might hear more of the wonderful story. Bye and bye it stooped down again, and whispered to the Little Tree:"Oh, Little Tree, listen! There are angels among the shepherds on thehills, and they are all talking together. They seem to be awaiting thebirth of a little child, who will be a king among the people, and thebeautiful star will shine above the stable where the little king will belaid in a manger. " The tree again raised its head to listen, and theLittle Tree, much puzzled, thought within itself: "It is very strange, indeed. * * * Oh, how I wish that I could see it all!" It waited a little longer, and everything grew quiet, and a great peacecame upon the forest. * * * Then suddenly the town, and even the forestwas illuminated with a strange, white light that made everything asbright as day, and the air was filled with the flutter of angels' wings, and with music such as the world had never heard before. The people and the trees, even the stars in the heaven, lifted up theirvoices and sang together * * * and the whole world was filled with musicand joy and love for the little Christ-child who had come to dwell uponthe earth. The Little Tree was filled with fear and wonder, for so great was theexcitement that the other trees had almost forgotten it, and it couldnot understand the mysterious sounds; but bye and bye its tall friendsaid: "Listen, listen, Little Tree! Such news I have to tell! The Christhas come--the King! And the whole world is singing such beautiful music. There are wise men coming from the East, bringing beautiful gifts to theChrist-child. The angels, too, are upon the earth, and they bear giftsof gold and rare, beautiful stones. Wait! I will tell you more. " The tall tree had scarcely lifted up its head when it stooped again andwhispered to the Little Tree: "Look! Look! Little Tree! They are comingthis way; the angels are coming here, into our forest! Lift up your headhigh and you will see them as they pass. " The Little Tree lifted up its head and saw the white flutter of angelrobes and heard the weird, sweet voices of the heavenly host who camewith precious gifts into the forest. "Oh, " said the Little Tree, "they are coming here, toward me! Whatshall I do?" And in fear it bent its head so low that it almost touchedthe ground. But the music came nearer and nearer, and the Little Treefelt a tender hand upon its branches, and a soft, gentle voice said toit: "Arise, Little Tree, and come with us, for we have come into theforest to seek you. Yes, you, the very smallest among the trees, are tobe our gift-bearer. Come; lift up your head. " In fear and trembling the Little Tree did as the angel bade it. But whenit looked into the angel's face and saw the love and kindness there, allfear was gone, and it said to the angel: "Yes; make me ready. I willcome with you to the little Christ-child in the manger. " So all theangels brought their gifts of precious jewels and shining gold, andfastened them upon the branches of the Little Tree. Then the leader ofthe angels' band took up the Little Tree from the ground and bore it, laden with its precious burden, to the feet of the Christ-child. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM Long, long ago there lived in the far away land of Ur a man who was verywealthy. His name was Abraham. The country in which he lived wasbeautiful and very rich. The fields were not only well watered by riversand streams, but were carefully cultivated. Corn, dates, apples andgrapes grew there abundantly. Fine harvests were reaped from theirfarms. Splendid herds of cattle and flocks of sheep were pastured in themeadows. In the city were beautiful homes, for the people wereprosperous. They painted fine pictures and cut beautiful figures out ofmarble blocks, and were fond of music. But Abraham was not so muchinterested in the city as in the country, for he belonged to a family ofshepherds. He did not care so much for walled cities as for meadowlands, forest trees and running streams. When Abraham grew a littleolder he became very thoughtful, and began to dislike the ways of thepeople of Ur, for they were idolaters. So when some of the servantsbrought back from the city, idols into his father's home, he broke them. His one desire was to do right and to be good. One day, when he was herding his cattle not far from his father's home, he heard a strange Voice saying to him: "Get thee out of thy country andfrom thy kindred, and come unto a land which I shall show thee. " He wasgreatly surprised, and looked around to find out who was speaking tohim. He saw no man, so he thought that the Voice was only a fancy or aday dream. A few days after, when he was bringing home some wanderingsheep, he heard the same Voice, the same words, and thought he saw agleam of light. He felt that God was speaking to him, but the words madehim very sad. If he obeyed the Voice he knew that he would have to leavehis friends, the fields where he sported with his boy companions andloved ones, but something within him kept saying that he ought to obeythe Voice, because it was God's Voice. So he resolved to take hisnephew, Lot, with him, and set out for the Promised Land. The day forstarting came. Great bundles of goods were put upon the camels and ledoff by the drivers. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle filled themorning air with their bleatings and their bellowings. Some of thepeople thought that Abraham was very foolish to undertake such ajourney, and would certainly come to grief. His brother Nahor pleadedwith Abraham not to go. He told Abraham about a great desert that hewould have to cross. Even if he crossed it safely, the people in thatfar away country were very cruel, and would fight them and kill them, and make slaves of their children. Abraham listened to his brother, andsaid that he knew there were difficulties ahead of him, but he must obeythe Voice of God. Then his face brightened, when he added that he feltsure God would watch over them all as a shepherd watches over his sheep. He looked brave and noble as he bade them all good-by and started off. At the close of the first day they halted beside a stream, where thecattle drank and rested until morning. The servants pitched a number oftents and made Abraham and his family comfortable. Abraham rolledtogether a few big stones and built an altar, and in the presence of hisfamily and servants offered up an evening sacrifice and prayed that Godshould guide them and their little ones into the Promised Land. Aftermany weary days and nights they reached Canaan. It was a beautifulcountry, full of vines and harvest fields, and pasture lands. Thevalleys were warm and the highlands were cool. Here and there on thehillsides they saw the oak, the sycamore, and the pine growing. Best ofall, the people were kind to Abraham and his servants, and helped themto get settled in their new homes. Their new friends were not so rich astheir old ones. They wore rough garments made of camel's hair andfastened round the waist with a belt. They lived in rough huts and rockycaves, and were warlike. But they treated Abraham generously and werevery kind to the little children. Abraham was delighted with thePromised Land, although he passed through many a severe trial in it. There was one joy, however, that brightened his life--God had given hima beautiful son. The little boy had grown to be a strong, beautifulyouth. His mother took loving care in making his little garments, andhis father gave him a pet lamb, and often brought home to him a wildbird. Abraham was growing old, and thought of the day when his boy wouldbe a strong man, caring for herds and flocks. Many a time he prayed toGod for his boy, that he might be true and brave and good, and worthy ofthe promises that God had made to him concerning his people. But oneday, when he was returning from a visit to his herdsmen and was restingbeside a well in the grove which he had planted in Beersheba, he heardthe Voice again saying: "Take thy son, thine only son Isaac, and offerhim up for a sacrifice on a mount which I shall show thee. " Abraham wasgrieved. He said to himself: "I have left Ur and the land of my brotherand my father. I have endured many hardships, and surely I will not becalled upon to sacrifice my only son, my sweet, loving boy. I can notbear it. His mother can not live when she hears of it. " But the Voicesaid more earnestly than ever: "Take thy son, thine only son Isaac, andoffer him up for a sacrifice on the mount that I shall show thee. " Heknew that it was the same Voice that had spoken to him many times, andthat he must obey it. And there gradually came into his life strengthand a willingness to obey the Voice. After necessary preparationAbraham, his son, and his servants set out for the mountain. For threedays they journeyed under divine guidance, until they came to the footof the mount. Then Abraham said to his servants: "Abide ye here, and Iand the lad will go and worship yonder, and come unto you again. " Theyoung lad was happy over the coming sacrifice. He shouldered the bundleof wood and started off up the hillside. But he did not see the lamb, and, turning to his father, said: "Behold the fire and the wood, butwhere is the lamb for the burnt offering?" The question so innocentlyasked grieved the father's heart, for he knew that God had commanded himto offer up his son instead of a lamb. He felt that he could not tellhis boy about it, so he said: "God Himself will provide a lamb for theburnt offering. " At last they came to the spot where the sacrifice wasto be offered. The father, very sad and broken-hearted, began rollingtogether some stones for an altar. Slowly he laid the wood in its place, and wept when he thought of the sacrifice. Then with a tearful voice hetold the lad that he was to be the sacrifice. He laid the boy upon thealtar and kissed him. At that moment he heard a Voice, louder than everbefore, saying: "Abraham. " He answered, "Here am I. " The Voice said:"Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do any harm unto him, for now Iknow that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. " With glad wonder Abraham looked around, andthere, to his great surprise, a ram was caught in some thick bushes. Hurriedly he caught the ram, unbound his son, and offered up the ram asa sacrifice with great joy. And, kneeling beside the altar, the agedfather thanked God, and homeward they returned with glad hearts andhappy spirits. And Isaac grew to be a good and noble man, and the Lord prospered him. His father, Abraham, lived many years in the Promised Land, and when hedied the whole country was full of grief, and with sorrow mingled withlove they followed the aged saint to the sunny slopes of beautifulMacpelah and laid him in the tomb. Each whispered to the other that hewas a good and brave man. Many a time they would visit the cave wherethe great man lay and tell one another about his wonderful life, hismany trials, his noble faith, and how he always obeyed the Voice of God. On a rough stone beside the tomb a friend chiseled the words: "Abraham, the Friend of God. " Bible [Adapted] THE STORY OF MOSES Many years ago, the Heavenly Father sent a baby boy into a home in a farcountry. When a baby comes to your home you want to tell every one you see, doyou not? But in that little home it was very different. Miriam, the baby'ssister, could not tell any one about the little brother, and the poormother had to keep the baby hidden away. Shall I tell you why? In that country there lived a wicked king, who did not love littlechildren, and whenever he heard that a boy baby had come into a house hesent his soldiers to take the baby away. This mother loved her baby dearly, and she wanted to keep him always. But when the baby began to grow, and to laugh and to cry, just as allbabies do, the mother's heart was very sad, for she knew she could hidehim no longer. One day she took the baby and went down to the river. There she gathereda great many of the tall grasses that grew on the river bank, and ofthese grasses she made a little basket, or ark, just large enough tohold the baby. She wove it carefully, and when it was finished shecovered it over with pitch and slime, so that no water could come intoit. Then she lifted her baby, put him into the queer little basket, carriedthe basket to the river and set it down carefully in the water. The tallrushes growing there held the little cradle, that the water might notwash it away. The mother turned and went quickly to her home. But do you think sheleft the baby alone? Ah, no. Among the tall grasses near the river'sbrim stood Miriam, the sister, patiently watching the queer cradle. While Miriam watched, the princess came to the river to bathe. Themaidens who had come to help her walked along the river's side. Presently the princess saw the queer little basket and sent one of hermaids to get it. When the princess opened the basket, the baby wakened and began to cry, and the princess felt very sorry for the little one. Miriam, who had watched so faithfully beside the river, now came to theprincess. "Shall I go and find thee a woman who will take care of the child?" shesaid. And the princess said, "Go. " What did Miriam do, do you think? She ran as fast as she could andbrought the baby's own mother. When the princess saw the mother she did not know that it was the baby'sown mother, and she said to her: "Take this child away and nurse it forme, and I will give thee thy wages. " Do you not think that mother's heart was glad as she took her own babyhome? The baby could run and play now, and laugh and crow as much as itliked, for the great princess loved him, and no harm could come to him. The mother called the baby's name "Moses, " she said, "because I drew himout of the water, " and in that far country that is what the name "Moses"means. Bible [Adapted] THE STORY OF DAVID Long, long ago, on the green hills of Bethlehem, a little shepherd boytended his sheep. Ruddy and strong was little David, for the sun gave him rosy cheeks, andthe bracing wind made him long to run races with his own shadow, justfrom pure happiness. Many a time he lay on the soft grass, gazing up at the blue sky, dottedwith fleecy white clouds--white as his own lambs. Many a time, as he ledhis flock homeward at evening, he saw the sun sink in the gold andcrimson west, and, as the dusk deepened, the great round moon rise abovethe hills, flooding the world with silvery light. With all this beauty around him, do you wonder that he was good andhappy? One day, while David was watching his sheep in the field, Samuel, theHigh Priest of the Lord, appeared before Jesse, David's father. On a very wonderful errand had he come. He told David's father that the Lord had chosen one of his sons to bethe new king of Israel, because Saul, the old king, was no longer fit torule. "Call all your sons before me, " said Samuel, "that I may anoint theLord's chosen one. " Oh, how proudly Jesse called his eldest son! Tall, and straight, and strong, he stood there, looking every inch aking. "Surely, " thought Samuel, "I have found him!" But the Lord looked down into his heart--just as he looks into ourhearts today--and saw that all was not right there, and so the Lord saidto Samuel: "He is not the chosen one. " Then Samuel asked Jesse to call his second son. But when the Lord read his thoughts He said to the priest: "No; I havenot chosen this one. " Jesse called his third son, but Samuel only shook his head. In haste, Jesse called all his other sons before the High Priest, but Samuel wasforced to say sadly, "The Lord hath not chosen these. " Almost indespair, he turned to Jesse, asking: "Are all thy children here?" And heanswered: "There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth thesheep. " Joyfully Samuel cried: "Send and fetch him, for we will not sit downtill he come hither. " And he sent and brought him in. When Samuel looked into his pure, innocent face, he knew that now thechosen one of the Lord stood before him. Taking his horn of oil, he anointed him King of Israel, "and the spiritof the Lord came upon David from that day forward. " When Samuel left him, David went quietly back to the field, and tendedhis sheep, just as of old. Day by day he tried to do every duty well, so that bye and bye he wouldbe worthy to be a king. Meanwhile, up in his royal palace, King Saul was in deep trouble. In hisdistress he longed to hear the beautiful music of the harp. He thereforesent for David, that he might play for him. When David came he pausedbeside the throne, and Saul, looking up, saw before him a tall andhandsome youth, bearing a golden harp. Bowing low, David begged permission to play for his King. Gladly Saulbade him begin. First, the young harpist struck a ringing chord that thrilled throughthe vast hall. Then he began to play a low, sweet melody! It sounded like the summer breeze sighing softly over a grassy meadow, and setting the dainty daisies and buttercups swaying on their stems. Suddenly the music swelled stronger, until it seemed like a flashingfountain, springing up in a burst of sparkling spray. Then the sweet tones slowly softened. Fainter they grew--and yet fainter--like the music of a dream--till atlast they died away into silence. Spellbound sat King Saul when the player ceased. And David came to Saul and stood before him, and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. Long afterward David wore the crown of Israel. He was a wise and good king, for the Heavenly Father, who blessed hisyouth, watched over him all his days. THE STORY OF JOSEPH Many years ago there lived a little lad named Joseph. He was comely, andhis face was beautiful, because his heart was pure and good. Joseph had many brothers, but because of his gentleness and comelinessthe old father loved him more than all the others. One time he gaveJoseph a coat woven with many beautiful colors, as a token of his lovefor his favorite son. Now, when the older brothers saw this they were angry and jealous, andfrom that time on they sought to do him harm. Jacob, the father, owned many sheep, and the sons cared for them, sometimes leading them far from home to find the best pastures. Josephoften went with the brothers to tend the flocks, but he loved best tocare for the tender little lambs, leading them into the greenestpastures and beside the quiet water. One time the brothers were far from home with the flocks, and thefather, being anxious for them and longing to know how they fared, sentJoseph, the beloved son, with many provisions, to the place where hisbrothers were. The lad started on his journey with a light and merryheart, for all the world looked bright to him. He wore the beautifulcoat of many colors, and the people often stopped to look at the lad, with his comely face and beautiful coat. As he approached the place where his brothers were they saw him when hewas yet some distance away, but the anger and jealousy arose in theirhearts, and they said: "Ah! Here comes the best beloved son. Let us doaway with him. Then the love which our father gives to him may bebestowed upon us. " So, as the lad drew nearer, they planned how theymight destroy him. But one, the oldest brother, loved Joseph, and triedto save him from the hands of his evil brothers. So when they said, "Letus destroy him, " Reuben, the eldest, said: "Nay, but let us cast himinto a pit near by, " thinking he would save him when the other brothersleft. So when Joseph drew near they seized him, stripped him of his coat ofmany colors, and cast him into a pit, and left him there alone. Then they said: "Let us make a feast. See, our father hath sent us manythings. " And they sat down and made a feast with the things which theirbrother Joseph had brought to them. As they were eating they looked up, and, coming down the roadway, theysaw a large company of merchantmen passing on their way to Egypt. Thenan evil plan came to the mind of one brother, and he said: "It is goingto bring us no gain to keep Joseph in the pit. Let us sell him to thosemen and gain money for ourselves. " The brothers agreed, and Joseph, thebeloved son, was sold into Egypt for twenty pieces of silver. When the brothers went home they took the coat of many colors to the oldfather, and said: "Is not this thy son's coat which we found? An evilbeast hath surely destroyed him. " And the old father wept for Joseph, his son, and would not be comforted. PART II. The great caravan moved toward Egypt, and there the boy was sold againinto the hands of a very rich man, in whose sight he found great favor, and who placed him in a position of honor in his own household. AndJoseph grew in comeliness and beauty, for his heart was pure and theLord was his friend and helper, prospering him in all that he did. Hegrew in favor with his master, who in turn made him ruler over all hishouse. But Joseph had an enemy in the house, one who was jealous of his greathonor and position, and she tried in every way to do Joseph harm. Oneday she falsely told the master of the house that Joseph had done a veryevil thing. The master, being exceedingly angry, and thinking Joseph hadbetrayed his trust, stripped him of his fine garments and cast him intoprison. But the Lord was still with Joseph in his great trouble, so that hefound favor with the keeper of the prison, who treated him most kindly, and Joseph sought in many ways to relieve the suffering and sorrow ofthose in the prison with him. One day he helped two of the king's servants by telling them the meaningof two strange dreams they had, for dreams in those olden days wereoften sent to people by God to warn them, or prepare them for somethingwhich would happen, and God gave to Joseph the wisdom to understand themeaning and interpretation of those dreams. Thus, when the two servantswere troubled because of their dreams, Joseph told them the meaning. Oneservant was released from the prison, and as he left, Joseph asked thathe might remember him when he came before the king, that he, too, mightbe released. But the servant, when he was free, forgot the one who hadhelped him when in trouble. Two years passed away, and Joseph remained in prison, but he stilltrusted in his God. One night Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, was much troubled by his strangedreams. He called together all of his wise men and magicians, to knowthe interpretation of them, but none could tell the meaning. The king'strouble became known to his servants, and suddenly the one who had beenin prison remembered Joseph, the man who had interpreted his own dream. He quickly told the king, who ordered Joseph to be brought immediatelybefore him. When Joseph stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, he humbly bowed hishead, and said: "The wisdom is not mine, but God in heaven shall tellthee the interpretation of thy dreams. " And Joseph spoke to the king asGod gave him wisdom, and told him the meaning of his dreams. And thiswas the meaning: There should be seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt, and afterthat, seven years of famine throughout the land. Then Joseph said: "Let Pharaoh, the king, choose a man, wise anddiscreet, who will sow and gather the harvest for the seven years ofplenty, to fill the barns and storehouses with grain, so that when theseven years of famine come there will be grain enough and to spare inthe land of Egypt. " As Pharaoh, the king, looked upon Joseph and heard him speak, he lovedhim, and said: "In all Egypt there is no man so wise as thou. Gather theharvest, to fill the barns and storehouses, in the seven years ofplenty. I will make thee ruler over all Egypt. Thou shalt dwell with meand all men shall obey thee. " And Pharaoh took off the ring from his own hand and put it upon Joseph'shand, and dressed him in beautiful garments, and put a gold chain abouthis neck. And Joseph rode in the chariot next to the king of Egypt, andas they rode through the streets all the people bowed before Joseph andknew him as their ruler, and loved him. Then Joseph went throughout all Egypt and commanded the people to buildgreat storehouses and barns, and to gather in the corn and grain, andfill them full, against the seven years of famine which were to come. When the seven years of plenty were passed, and the famine was over allthe land, there was grain and to spare in all Egypt, because Joseph hadgathered the storehouses full. When the people from other countries heard this they came to Egypt tobuy bread, and the king sent them to Joseph. And Joseph opened the greatstorehouses, and sold grain to all who came. And the Lord was withJoseph and prospered him in all that he did. PART III. Now, Jacob, with his eleven sons, Joseph's brothers, still lived in theland of Canaan, and the famine was over all the land, so that there wasno bread in the house to eat. Then Jacob, the father, called his sons to him and said: "I have heardthat there is corn in Egypt. Go down there and buy for us, that we maylive and not die. " So Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, and Joseph was rulerover all Egypt, and sold grain to all who came. His brothers came beforehim and bowed their faces to the ground as they asked for food, for thefamine was sore in their land. Now, Joseph knew his brothers when he sawthem, but they knew not the little lad they had sold into the land ofEgypt for twenty pieces of silver. Joseph did not make himself known to his brothers, but asked them abouttheir country and their homes, if they had a father and other brothers;and when they spoke of the old father, Jacob, and the youngest brother, Benjamin, who had stayed with the old father, Joseph longed to tell themthat he was the brother whom the father had mourned as lost; but hewaited, and treated his brothers as strangers, for they knew him not. Then he sent them home with their sacks full of grain, and took no moneyfor it. But when they returned the second time to Egypt, Joseph's heartyearned for them, and for his old father and youngest brother. When theywere alone, he stood before his brothers, and, looking at them, said:"Do you not know me? I am your brother, Joseph, the little lad whom yousold into Egypt. " But when his brothers heard this they were much afraid, and drew awayfrom him, for they thought, now that he was ruler over all Egypt, hewould surely punish them for their evil treatment of him. But Josephsaid: "Come near me and do not be afraid, nor grieve that you sold meinto Egypt, for God has been with me and kept me, and made me ruler, sothat I have been able to save many people from the famine. " Then the brothers drew near, and Joseph wept with them, for he lovedthem. Then he said: "Go back and bring my father, Jacob, and my youngestbrother, Benjamin, that we may live together once more. " And Joseph went to meet his father in a chariot, and brought him beforePharaoh, and the king was much pleased, for he loved Joseph and all hishousehold. Then Joseph gave to his father and brothers houses and lands, so thatthey all lived together in peace in the land of Egypt. And the Lord was with Joseph and prospered him all the days of his life. THE COURTESY OF THE SPARTAN BOY There were, hundreds of years ago, two very large and grand cities, which strove to excel each other. The one city was Sparta, the other wasAthens. These cities were not like our cities of today. They hadbeautiful, broad streets, but no street cars. They had magnificentbuildings, but no electric lights. They did have schools, but they wereunlike our schools. The boys in both Athens and Sparta were taken awayto school when they were six years of age. In Athens the boys were taught that they must become very strong andmanly. They had running, jumping, leaping, swimming, and racingexercises, to give them rigid muscles and strong, healthy bodies. Occasionally they were allowed to visit at their homes for a day or two. The boys were also taught to sing and to read. The Spartan boy was taught that he must become very strong andself-reliant. His schoolroom was very plain and bare. He was neverallowed to go home to visit. He had to wear, in both summer and winter, the same plain, loose clothing. He slept out of doors in thesummer-time, under the trees. In the wintertime he slept in a very openbuilding, on a bed of reeds and rushes, which he had to gather from theriver in the long, heated summer days for his winter bed. He had nobedclothing except the down which the wild ducks had shed, and which hehad gathered in the forests. He learned to read, write, and to sing. Helearned to run, to leap, to swim, and to throw the javelin. One time the boys from both Athens and Sparta were to meet in a greatamphitheater to hear a very wise and learned old man speak. The boys hadall gathered, and with them many other people. The amphitheater wasfull. Not a vacant seat was left, and the people were patiently waitingfor the old man to appear. At last he came. He came in so quietly thathe was not noticed, except by two boys, one on each side of the aisle. One was a Spartan boy and one was an Athenian. The Athenian boy andSpartan boy both rose immediately. The Athenian boy sat down, but theSpartan boy still stood. He insisted that the old man take his seat, butthe old man gently refused, and passed on up the aisle to the place fromwhich he was to address the people. Then the Spartan boy sat down. Theold man recognized this act of courtesy, and, while talking to the boys, said that the Athenian boy knew what to do, but did not do it. TheSpartan boy had the courage to do it. TWENTY-THIRD PSALM. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.