The story teller's book

Introduction

The study of stories for children during the past few years has resulted in the production of many excellent books of tales, both single and in such series as the "Fairy Ring" and " Magic Casements," and the various "Tree" books by Clifton Johnson.

Money to own a library of these source books, however, and time to select from the many volumes the few desired stories, are seldom available, and as yet there has been published no book collecting only the simpler old tales, providing a story teller's book for home and school.

The need of such a collection has been felt by the editors, and in this little volume they have endeavored to supply it. Here the busy mother and the teacher with the limited exchequer may find gathered in one collection a simple and selected group of stories. These stories, the beginnings of narrative to follow the nursery rhyme, have been taken from many sources, and are intended to supply literature for children from three to seven years of age.

Therefore the first stories in the book are short and often interspersed with verse. Then come the simpler folk tales and, last of all, stories that are longer and contain more detail and more experience. These should be followed by the fairy tale, which belongs to children of a larger growth.

In several instances two versions of a folk tale have

INTRODUCTION been given, both versions being in current use. But in every case the first given is considered the better one.

The editors hope that the stories will be told rather than read, at least in the kindergarten and school. For with little children, especially, the love of story must be communicated by the minnesinger, to the eye as well as to the ear. The story teller should be an artist in interpretation, presenting the story in the most simple and natural manner. The listeners must be charmed with ballad and tale. Incident and character must live again by the magic of the living voice. Since the form of the story contributes a large part of its literary value, it is best to learn the story as it is written, as we learn music for an instrument, then to interpret it as we understand it.

The function of literature is not directly to inform or to instruct, but to delight and to cultivate through the actual experiences of pure, wholesome joy; therefore the story teller's real teaching lies in the unconscious sense of meaning, humor, content, and above all beauty, which he awakens.

A word must be said for the choice of certain of the rhymes and stories in the book. Wholesome humor is as valuable for little children as for grown people, but we grown-ups do not always understand the humor of a child's tale. Indeed, we are so desirous for his moral nurture that we are in danger of making too much of the goody-goody in what is provided.

" The Robber Kitten," "The Wandering Musicians," and the story of Chicken Licken are distinctly humorous,

INTRODUCTION and must not be taken seriously. The element of humor is of course in many of the other tales, but these are essentially humorous in character and should be appreciated as such by the story teller. They are a species of drolls, and of literary and moral value. Some of the books from which stories were taken contain other stories which a mother would be glad to use. Among these are "Prince Dimple and his E very-day Doings" and "Prince Dimple and his Further Doings," by Mrs. Paull; the "Arabella and Araminta" stories, by Gertrude Smith; "Mother Stories," by Maud Lindsay; "For the Children's Hour," by Bailey and Lewis ; "Child Life in Prose," by Whittier ; "Folk Stories and Fables," by James Baldwin; "Classic Stories for the Little Ones," by Lida Brown McMurry; "English Fairy Tales," by Joseph Jacobs; and "Cossack Fairy Tales," by R. Nesbit Bain.

THE TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Christmas Eve 1 1

Christmas Morning 13

The Christmas Tree 15

The "Wake-Up" Story 17

The "Go-Sleep" Story 20

The Sleepy Song 22

Soap-bubble Story 24

Sleepy-time Story 27

Christmas Story 33

The Birthday Party 41

Five Little Brothers 48

The Cat and the Mouse ....... 49

The Robber Kitten 51

The Three Billy Goats Gruff 53

The Little Red Hen 55

The Little Red Hen and the Grain of Wheat. . 57

The Old Woman and her Pig 59

The Little Gray Pony 65

The Wind's Work 70

Chicken Licken 75

The Old Woman who lived in a Vinegar Bottle . 78

Johnny and the Three Goats 83

Johnny-Cake 86

Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse 91

The Story of the Three Bears 95

Golden Hair and the Three Bears 100 io THE TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

The Three Little Pigs 105

The Story of the Three Little Pigs .... no

The Sheep and the Pig that built the House . . 115

Drakesbill 119

Mr. Miacca 127

The Street Musicians 130

The Big Red Apple 137

The Magpie's Nest 143

The Hop-about Man 145

A Good Thanksgiving 157

Praise God 159

Anders' New Cap 159

Who stole the Bird's Nest? 165

The Straw Ox 169

Nursery Song 176

The Stars in the Sky 178

The Fairies of Caldon Low 183

Mabel on Midsummer Day 188

Oeyvind and Marit 198

The Fairies 209

The Half-Chick 212

The Discontented Tree 218

The Three Little Christmas Trees that grew on the

Hill 221

The Snow Bird's Song 223

The Night before Christmas 225

CHRISTMAS EVE 1

Prince Dimple was a very little fellow, for he had never seen Christmas. He could only talk in his funny baby way, which no one understood except his two dolls, Jack the Harlequin, in his pink and green suit with the little bells on it, and Squeaky Sam, who was made of rubber, with a whistle inside of him which squeaked whenever you squeezed him.

"Christmas is coming. I heard mother say so," Prince Dimple told Jack the Harlequin one day. "Do you know what Christmas is?"

No, Jack did not know, and Squeaky Sam did not know; but Christmas must certainly be very nice, for every one seemed to be glad that it was coming, and whenever mother talked to Prince Dimple about it she hugged and kissed him, as if it were something that had a great deal to do with him.

"Santa Clausis coming to-night, and little

This story, and the two following stories, were taken from "Prince Dimple and his Every-day Doings." By permission of George W. Jacobs 6* Co., publishers.

Cousin Margaret has sent you a pretty stocking to hang up," said mother one evening when Prince Dimple was all ready for bed.

Prince Dimple clapped his hands when mother showed him the stocking. It was the very prettiest stocking Prince Dimple had ever seen, and he wondered why mother did not get him such pretty stockings to wear, instead of little black silk ones.

It was pink and blue, and little points hung from the top of the stocking with little gold bells on them, just like the bells on Jack the Harlequin.

It had little pink and blue ribbons by which to hang it up, and it was big enough to hold a great many nice things.

"See, we will hang it up by the fireplace, so that Santa Claus can find it and fill it with pretty things for Prince Dimple, " mother said. The little bells jingled and made sweet music as mother fastened it up beside the fireplace; and Prince Dimple wondered, as he went to sleep, how Santa Claus was coming and what he would bring.

When Prince Dimple was sound asleep, and his little curly head was resting on his pillow in the bassinet, then you may be sure Santa Claus came, and filled the pretty little stocking to the very top.

He had far too much to put it all into the stocking, and so he piled the rest of the pretty things he had brought beside the fireplace.

Mrs. Paull.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Prince Dimple had slept so soundly all night long that he had not heard Santa Claus come, and he had forgotten all about his pretty stocking. When he woke up in the morning he sat up and rubbed his eyes, and then he saw the stocking filled to the top, and the beautiful presents piled up beside the fireplace.

"Oh! oh! oh!" he shouted; and he nearly jumped out of his bassinet, he was so eager to get over to the fireplace, and see all the wonderful things.

Mother carried him over, and he was so delighted that he hardly knew what to look at first.

There was a beautiful gray horse, with a red saddle, that he had to stop and kiss the very first thing, it was so pretty; and then he found another horse, with a rider on its back, who blew a trumpet whenever he was moved.

There was a picture book full of monkeys, and Prince Dimple did love monkeys so much that he was very happy to have a whole book full of them.

Everything Prince Dimple liked best was here. There was a box of big blocks that had all sorts of pictures on them, and were so light to lift that he could easily pick them up in his little hands, although they did look so big.

There was the story of the Old Woman and her Pig, which mother had told Prince Dimple ever so many times, and now he could see all the pictures of the naughty pig that wouldn't go.

After Prince Dimple had looked at all the pretty things that were piled up beside the fireplace mother gave him his stocking, and Prince Dimple shouted with delight as he took out the pretty things, one after another.

I couldn't possibly tell you what they all w§re; and if you want to see them, you must come to Prince Dimple's nursery, and he will show them all to you himself.

Mrs. Paull.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Prince Dimple knew now what Christmas was; and he was very glad it had come, since it had brought him so many nice things.

He did not want to stop and get dressed, he was so busy playing with his new toys; but at last he stopped long enough to have his bath and eat his breakfast.

Mother let him hold his new ball in his hand all the time he was getting dressed, and that helped him to be patient.

Still more wonderful things were to happen, though. When Prince Dimple had eaten his breakfast mother took him in her arms and carried him downstairs; and papa opened the parlor door for them.

Can you guess what the wonderful thing was that Prince Dimple saw? There was a beautiful tree, sparkling with tiny tapers, and covered with beautiful shining things, and soft, glittering snow.

It was the most beautiful thing that little Prince Dimple had ever seen, and he was so surprised and so pleased that he did not say a single word.

He never moved, but just sat still and looked at everything with his big blue eyes, without even a smile.

It was so beautiful that he did not know what to do with himself.

"What do you think of your Christmas tree, Prince Dimple? " asked papa at last.

"Ah! ha!" shouted Prince Dimple, giving such a spring that he nearly jumped out of mother's arms, he was in such a hurry to go nearer to the wonderful tree.

There was so much to see that Prince Dimple thought he would never get through looking at it; and he spent Christmas Day with his beautiful tree, and was almost too happy to eat.

I will not tell you about the tree, because of course you had just such a pretty one yourself, and perhaps you have seen Christmas trees a great many times; but it was little Prince Dimple's first Christmas tree, you know, and so it was a very wonderful tree to him, and he thought it was the most

beautiful tree in the world.

Mrs. Paull.

THE "WAKE-UP" STORY

The sun was up and the breeze was blowing, and the five chicks and four geese and three rabbits and two kitties and one little dog were just as noisy and lively as they knew how to be.

They were all watching for Baby Ray to appear at the window, but he was still fast asleep in his little white bed, while mamma was making ready the things he would need when he should wake up.

First she went along the orchard path as far as the old wooden pump, and said: "Good Pump, will you give me some nice, clear water for the baby's bath?"

And the pump was willing.

The good old pump by the orchard path Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath.

Then she went a little farther on the path, and stopped at the wood pile, and said: "Good Chips, the pump has given me nice, clear water for dear little Ray; will you come and warm the water and cook his food?" And the chips were willing.

The good old pump by the orchard path Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath. And the clean, white chips from the pile of wood Were glad to warm it and to cook his food.

So mamma went on till she came to the barn, and then said: "Good Cow, the pump has given me nice, clear water, and the wood pile has given me clean, white chips for dear little Ray ; will you give me warm, rich milk? "

And the cow was willing.

Then she said to the top-knot hen that was scratching in the straw: "Good Biddy, the pump has given me nice, clear water, and the wood pile has given me clean, white chips, and the cow has given me warm, rich milk for dear little Ray; will you give me a new-laid egg?"

And the hen was willing.

The good old pump by the orchard path Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath. The clean, white chips from the pile of wood Were glad to warm it and to cook his food. The cow gave milk in the milk pail bright, And the top-knot Biddy an egg t new and white.

Then mamma went on till she came to the orchard, and said to a Red June apple tree: "Good Tree, the pump has given me nice, clear water, and the wood pile has given me clean, white chips, and the cow has given me warm, rich milk, and the hen has given me a new-laid egg for dear little Ray; will you give me a pretty red apple?"

And the tree was willing.

So mamma took the apple and the egg and the milk and the chips and the water to the house, and there was Baby Ray in his nightgown, looking out of the window.

And she kissed him and bathed him and dressed him, and while she brushed and curled his soft, brown hair, she told him the "Wake- Up" story that I am telling you:

The good old pump by the orchard path Gave nice, clear water for the baby's bath; The clean, white chips from the pile of wood Were glad to warm it and to cook his food. The cow gave milk in the milk pail bright; The top-knot Biddy an egg t new and white ; And the tree gave an apple so round and so red, For dear little Ray. who was just out of bed.

EUDORA BUMSTEAD.

THE "GO-SLEEP" STORY

"How can I go to bed," said Penny, the flossy dog, "till I say good night to Baby Ray? He gives me part of his bread and milk, and pats me with his little soft hand. It is bedtime now for dogs and babies. I wonder if he is asleep?"

So he trotted along in his silky white nightgown till he found Baby Ray on the porch in mamma's arms.

And she was telling him the same little story that I am telling you:

"The doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep."

"How can we go to bed," said Snowdrop and Thistledown, the youngest children of Tabby, the cat, "till we have once more looked at Baby Ray? He lets us play with his blocks and ball, and laughs when we climb on the table. It is bedtime now for kitties and dogs and babies. Perhaps we shall find him asleep." And this is what the kitties heard:

"One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.' '

"How can we go to bed, " said the three little bunnies, "till we have seen Baby Ray?" Then away they went in their white velvet nightgowns as softly as three flakes of snow. And they, too, when they got as far as the porch, heard Ray's mamma telling the same little story:

"One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Three pretty little bunnies with a leap, leap, leap, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep.' *

"How can we go to bed," said the four white geese, "till we know that Baby Ray is all right? He loves to watch us sail on the duck pond, and he brings us corn in his little blue apron. It is bedtime now for geese and rabbits and kitties and dogs and babies, and he really ought to be asleep. "

So they waddled away in their white feather nightgowns, around by the porch, where they saw Baby Ray, and heard mamma tell the "Go-Sleep" story:

"One doggie that was given him to keep, keep, keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, Four geese from the duck pond, deep, deep, deep, Went to see if Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep."

"How can we go to bed," said the five white chicks, "till we have seen Baby Ray once more? He scatters crumbs for us and calls us. Now it is bedtime for chicks and geese and rabbits and kitties and dogs and babies, so little Ray must be asleep."

Then they ran and fluttered in their downy white nightgowns till they came to the porch, where little Ray was just closing his eyes, while mamma told the "Go-Sleep" story:

"One doggie that was given him to keep, keep,

keep, Two cunning little kitty-cats, creep, creep, creep, Three pretty little bunnies, with a leap, leap, leap, Four geese from the duck pond, deep, deep, deep, Five downy little chicks, crying, peep, peep, peep, All saw that Baby Ray was asleep, sleep, sleep."

EUDORA BUMSTEAD.

THE SLEEPY SONG 1

As soon as the fire burns red and low And the house upstairs is still,

She sings me a queer little sleepy song, Of sheep that go over the hill.

1 From "Poems." By permission of the author. Copyright, 1903, by Chas. Scribner's Sons.

The good little sheep run quick and soft, Their colors are gray and white;

They follow their leader, nose and tail, For they must be home by night.

And one slips over, and one comes next,

And one runs after behind; The gray one's nose at the white one's tail,

The top of the hill they find.

And when they get to the top of the hill

They quietly slip away, But one runs over and one comes next —

Their colors are white and gray.

And over they go, and over they go,

And over the top of the hill The good little sheep run quick and soft,

And the house upstairs is still.

And one slips over and one comes next, The good little, gray little sheep!

I watch how the fire burns red and low, And she says that I fall asleep.

Josephine Daskam Bacon.

SOAP-BUBBLE STORY 1

THE DEAR DARLINGS PLAY A PRETTY RAINY-DAY PLAY

Arabella and Araminta were two little sisters four years old. They lived in a white house on a green hill, and all day long they played together.

And one day it rained while the sun was shining; the sun was shining while it rained.

And Arabella looked out of the window, and said, "Oh, see, Araminta! see the sun in the rain!"

And Araminta looked out of the window, and said, "Oh, see, Arabella! see the sun in the rain!"

And Arabella clapped her hands, and said: "Oh, Araminta, see, see, see! There is a rainbow, a great big rainbow, shining in the sky!"

And Araminta clapped her hands, and said: "Oh, Arabella, see, see, see! There is a rainbow, a great big rainbow, shining in the sky!"

And their mother heard them, and she came

1 From "Arabella and Araminta," by Gertrude Smith. Copyright, i8qj. Reprinted by permission of the publishers. Small, Maynard 6° Company, Incorporated.

and looked out of the window, and she saw the rainbow, from way over there to way over there, shining in the sky.

And Arabella said: "Oh, isn't it beautiful, beautiful? Just see the colors, mamma!"

And Araminta said: "Oh, isn't it beautiful, beautiful? Just see the colors, mamma!"

And their mother said: "Yes, dears, it is certainly beautiful. I will tell you what we will do: I will show you how you can make some little rainbows right here in your own house.' '

And Arabella said, "Why, mamma, how could you make little truly rainbows right here in our own house?"

And Araminta said, "Why, mamma, how could you make little truly rainbows right here in our own house?"

And their mother said, "Just wait and you will see."

Then she went and found two pipes, two white clay pipes, and she got two bowls of water with some soapsuds in them. And she gave a pipe to Arabella, and a pipe to Araminta, and she showed them how to blow bubbles, how to blow soap-bubbles with some water and a pipe. And into the bubbles the colors came, — all the beautiful colors of the rainbow.

And Arabella blew a bubble as large as a teacup, and Araminta blew a bubble as large as a little bowl!

And Arabella screamed with joy, and said: "Oh, oh, oh! I do see a rainbow, a little truly rainbow in my bubble, mamma!"

And Araminta screamed with joy, and said: "Oh, oh, oh! I do see a rainbow, a little truly rainbow in my bubble, mamma!"

And their mother said: "Yes, yes, I see, dears; but look at your dresses, do, dears; they're as wet as wet as can be! You must go right and take them off."

And oh, that mischief Arabella! and oh, that mischief Araminta! — what do you think they did?

Why, they took their dresses off, and took off their little skirts, so nothing was upon them except their little shirts!

And then they blew soap-bubbles, more and more soap-bubbles, with nothing else upon them except their little shirts!

And their mother laughed, and said: "You precious little dears, I wish I had your picture as you look just now."

And Arabella danced about the room, and laughed and clapped her hands; and Araminta danced about the room, and laughed and laughed and clapped her hands.

Without a bit of trouble Arabella blew a bubble; and she blew another bubble, and she blew another bubble, and she blew another bubble; without a bit of trouble she blew another bubble.

And without a bit of trouble Araminta blew a bubble; and she blew another bubble, and she blew another bubble, and she blew another bubble; without a bit of trouble she blew another bubble.

SLEEPY-TIME STORY 1

WHEN BEDTIME CAME THEY WERE WIDE AWAKE, SO WERE THEIR TWO LITTLE KITTIES

And one night Arabella's and Araminta's mamma was sewing, and their papa was reading his newspaper. And there was a fire in the grate, a warm bright fire in the grate.

1 From "Arabella and Araminta" by Gertrude Smith. Copyright, 1895. Reprinted by permission of the publishers. Small, Maynard 6* Company, Incorporated.

And Arabella sat on the rug before the fire, and Araminta sat on the rug before the fire.

And Arabella was playing with her little white kitty, and Araminta was playing with her little black kitty.

And Arabella's little white kitty's name was Annabel, and Araminta's little black kitty's name was Lillabel.

Arabella had a little red ball fastened to a long string, and Araminta had a little blue ball fastened to a long string. Arabella would roll her ball, and her little white kitty would run and jump for it. And Araminta would roll her ball, and her little black kitty would run and jump for it.

The kittens were so cunning and funny, and they were having such a splendid time!

Sometimes when Arabella's kitty would run very fast, or jump very high, Arabella would laugh until she tumbled right over on the floor.

And sometimes when Araminta' s kitty would run very fast, or jump very high, Araminta would laugh until she would tumble right over on the floor.

Oh, they were having a splendid time!

But all at once their mamma looked up from her sewing, and said: "Good night, Arabella. Good night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight."

And their papa looked up from his paper, and said: "Yes, good night, Arabella. Good night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight."

And Arabella said, "Oh, must we go to bed right now?"

And Araminta said, "Oh, must we go to bed right now?"

And their papa said: "Yes, indeed; yes, indeed. Good night, Arabella. Good night, Araminta. The clock is on the stroke of eight."

Always, when it was bedtime, their papa and mamma would say: "Good night, Arabella. Good night, Araminta. "

And sometimes they were good, and sometimes they were bad; but they always ran away to bed.

And their dear mamma always went with them and tucked them in and kissed them, then came away downstairs and left them.

And sometimes they were good, and sometimes they were bad; but they always went to sleep.

But to-night their mamma said:

"Run and get your nighties, dears, And get each a flannel gown, And we '11 sit and rock you here, Till you go to sleepy-town."

And Arabella ran upstairs and got her nighty and her little flannel gown. And Araminta ran upstairs and got her nighty and her little flannel gown. And their mamma undressed Arabella, and their papa undressed Araminta.

Arabella's little flannel gown was red, and Araminta's little flannel gown was pink. And when they had put them on over their nighties they were just as warm as toast.

Arabella's kitty was playing with Araminta's kitty on the rug before the fire. They were rolling and tumbling and chasing each other, and they looked so cunning and sweet !

And Arabella's mamma took Arabella on her lap, and Araminta's papa took Araminta on his lap.

Arabella said, "Oh, I want my kitty in my lap, mamma!"

And Araminta said, "Oh, I want my kitty in my lap, papa!"

So they jumped down and caught the kitties.

Their mamma rocked Arabella, and their papa rocked Araminta; and they sang to them, —

"Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock, — Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock! "

And they sang it over, and over, and over, and over:

"Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock, — Now a nice little rock, And never mind the clock!"

And Arabella cuddled in her mamma's arms, and hugged her little kitty close; and Araminta cuddled in her papa's arms, and hugged her little kitty close.

And their mamma sang, and their papa sang,—

"Now she goes to sleepy-town, sleepy-town,

sleepy-town; Cuddled in her little gown, Here she goes to sleepy-town."

And they sang it over, and over, and over:

"Now she goes to sleepy-town, sleepy-town,

sleepy-town; Cuddled in her little gown, Here she goes to sleepy-town."

And very soon Arabella could only just hear her mamma singing, and very soon Araminta could only just hear her papa singing, "sleepy-town, sleepy-town." And soon they couldn't hear them at all. They were sound asleep!

And their mamma looked at their papa, and said, "Our precious little dears are both sound asleep."

And their papa said, "Yes, our little pets have both reached sleepy-town."

And Arabella's mamma carried her upstairs and put her in her little bed, and Araminta' s papa carried her upstairs and put her in her little bed. And Arabella was hugging her white kitty up close in her arms, and Araminta was hugging her black kitty up close in her arms. And the kitties were both sound asleep, too.

But Araminta's kitty and Arabella's kitty did not sleep with them all night, — oh, no, indeed! They had a nice little, warm little, soft little bed down in the basement, close by the furnace.

And their papa took the kitties out of their arms, and he carried them down to their bed.

And Arabella slept, and slept, and slept, and slept, and slept. And Araminta slept, and slept, and slept, and slept, and slept.

And the little kitties, in their soft little bed, slept, and slept, too. All through the long, dark, beautiful night they slept.

And the sun came, and the morning came, and it was another day!

CHRISTMAS STORY 1

HERE COMES DEAR, GOOD OLD SANTA IN THE GOOD OLD-FASHIONED WAY