the brook to get a drink. As he put his head down to drink the heavy
stones in his stomach made him fall into the water and he was drowned.
When the little goats saw this they cried, “The wolf is dead! The wolf
is dead!” and danced for joy.
Model Treatment.
1. Tell what the mother goat saw on her return. Tell about her grief.
What did she do? Who finally replied? How were the little goats saved?
What became of the wolf?
Reproduce from the beginning.
2. Tell what you know about a meadow. What grows there? What is the
difference between a forest and a meadow?
Detail of Form Work.
===========================================================================
Part.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.
-----+-----------------+-----------------+---------------+-----------------
|House of paper. |The Mother Goat | The Goat in | The Goat and her
I. | Goat modeled | and her seven | the forest. | little ones.
| in clay. | little ones. | |
-----+-----------------+-----------------+---------------+-----------------
|Table (see Worst,|The Wolf knocking|The Wolf at the|The Wolf knocks
II. | Ex. III). Wolf | at the door. | door. | at the door; the
| modeled in | | | little goats
| clay. | | | detect him.
-----+-----------------+-----------------+---------------+-----------------
| Bed (see Worst, | The Wolf and the|The Wolf and |The Wolf
III. | Ex. V). | Miller. | the Baker. | interviews the
| | | | Miller and the
| | | | Baker.
-----+-----------------+-----------------+---------------+-----------------
| Clock Face (see |The Wolf in the |The Kids |The Mother Goat’s
IV. | Worst, Ex. 63).| meadow under | dancing for | return.
| | the tree. | joy. |
-----+-----------------+-----------------+---------------+-----------------
THE STARDOLLARS.
I.
Preparation.
The story of a little girl who had neither father nor mother, nor any
one to care for her.
A talk about the helplessness of a child in that condition.
Narration.
AT HOME.
There was once a very little girl who lived with her parents in a
pretty little cottage near a great forest. I do not know what her name
was. Her parents were kind and good and loved her dearly, for she was a
very sweet and loving child.
They lived together happily in their cheerful little home. Her parents
gave her food and clothing and at night she slept in a warm, snug
little bed very near them. These were happy times, indeed!
But all at once her dear father and mother took sick and died, and she
was left all alone with no one to care for her or give her food. For a
time she lived in the cottage; but at last there was nothing left for
her to eat but half a loaf of bread.
She was forsaken by all and wandered alone out into the fields where
the corn, the flowers and the potatoes grew. But she did not cry nor
get discouraged, for she thought that her Heavenly Father would care
for her.
Suggestions.
Dependent on parents for food, clothing and shelter. Work of father.
Of mother. Mission of mother goat recalled.
II.
Preparation.
The children tell what the little girl might see and what might happen
to her.
Narration.
IN THE FIELDS.
As she wandered there alone in the fields, she saw the stalks of corn
waving their tasseled heads. She thought they were nodding a good
morning to her. The flowers, too, seemed friendly.
As she went along she met an old man. His back was bowed with age and
his hair was white as snow. His clothes were torn and thin. In a feeble
voice he asked her to give him something to eat, as he was very hungry.
The little girl was so sorry for him that she gave him the half loaf
of bread which she carried in her pocket. “God bless you, my child,” he
said.
She next met a little girl who was still poorer than she was, for she
had nothing on her head. Our little girl at once took off her own hood
and gave it to the poorer child.
To another child she gave her cloak. At last she met still another
child who was crying, and almost naked. To her she gave her dress.
As night was coming on she entered a great forest, where there were
many wild berries. She heard the birds singing and saw many friendly
animals, and here she passed the night.
Suggestions.
Talk about what was seen in the field. Also about the corn, the
flowers, the berries, the birds, and the animals.
Bring out the child’s sympathy and unselfishness.
III.
Preparation.
What might happen to the child in the forest.
Narration.
IN THE FOREST.
The little girl felt that the great trees were her friends. When it
grew quite dark she lay down beneath the broad-spreading branches of a
tree and tried to sleep.
She could see through the leaves far into the deep blue sky. The stars
shone brightly and the great, round moon looked down at her. When the
stars twinkled, she thought they were casting bright glances at her.
And, as she watched them, all at once they left their places and fell
out of the sky right down to the earth.
She watched where they fell and, by the bright light of the moon,
she saw that they had become bright, hard, silver dollars. When she
gathered them up there were so many that, ever afterward, there was
enough to buy everything she needed to eat and to wear.
Suggestions.
A talk about moon, stars, and sky.
Tell something that shows the little girl was brave; that she was
generous. Who befriended her?
[Illustration]
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.
I.
Preparation.
A story of a little girl who was sent to see her sick grandmother.
She met a wolf and talked with him.
She was in great danger, but was saved.
Talk of family relations.
Narration.
AT HOME.
Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who lived with her
father and mother in a little house near the woods. This child had a
grandmother who lived by herself in a little house on the other side of
the woods. The grandmother loved the little granddaughter dearly and
was very kind to her.
One time she made the child a little cloak with a red hood. The little
girl looked very pretty in her cloak and hood; and when she skipped
along the street the neighbors would say. “Here comes our little Red
Riding Hood.”
One day Little Red Riding Hood’s mother called to her, “Come, my
child, put on your cloak and hood. I want you to go to see how dear
grandmother is to-day. This is her birthday, and you may take her a
little present. See, in this basket I have put a loaf of bread, a pat
of fresh butter, and a bottle of wine.
“And now, little daughter, listen to me. Do not leave the path. If you
meet any one, say ‘Good morning’ politely, but do not stop to talk.”
The little one said, “Yes, mother, I will mind all you say.” She then
took the basket, kissed her mother, and skipped along the way to
grandmother’s house.
II.
Preparation.
Recall _wolf_. Talk about _woods_. Explain _path_.
Narration.
IN THE WOODS.
As Red Riding Hood went along the path in the woods she met a big
gray wolf. He was a hungry wolf, and when he saw this rosy-cheeked
little girl he wanted to eat her. But he was afraid because there were
woodcutters at work near by.
He came close to Red Riding Hood and spoke to her. “Good morning,
little girl,” he said, “where are you going?” “Good morning, sir,”
said Red Riding Hood; “I am going to see my dear grandmother, who is
sick.”
“What have you in the basket?” asked the wolf. “Oh, I have a little
present for my grandmother,” said Red Riding Hood. “I am taking her a
loaf of bread, a pat of butter, and a bottle of wine. This is my dear
grandmother’s birthday.”
“Why don’t you pick a bunch of these lovely flowers for your
grandmother?” said the wolf. “Oh, I mustn’t leave the path,” answered
Red Riding Hood: “my mother said so.” “She never meant that,” said the
wolf. “She would be pleased to have you take some of these beautiful
flowers to your poor sick grandmother. Where does your grandmother
live?”
“Grandmother lives in the little house at the end of this path,” said
Red Riding Hood. “There are three tall trees behind the house and nut
bushes growing near.”
“Well, good-bye, little girl,” said the wolf; “be sure you pick a large
bunch of flowers for your grandmother.” And off he strolled along the
path towards the grandmother’s house.
When he got there he knocked at the door. The dear old grandmother
was lying down on the bed. She called out, “Who is there?” “It is I,
Red Riding Hood,” answered the wolf; “I have brought you a birthday
present.”
“Pull the string and the latch will fly up,” said the grandmother. The
wolf pulled the string that hung on the outside of the door. Sure
enough, the latch flew up and the door swung open.
Oh, how astonished the poor old grandmother was when the door opened
and in walked this big, hungry-looking wolf instead of her dear little
Red Riding Hood!
The wolf gave her no time to cry out. He sprang upon the bed and
swallowed the poor frightened grandmother before she had time to say a
word.
Then he dressed himself in her night-gown and cap and got into bed.
Suggestions.
Question to connect and deepen the story.
Have interesting talks about trees, animals, flowers, sights and
sounds of the woods.
Work of the woodcutters.
Recall conduct of the wolf in “The Wolf and The Seven Little Goats.”
Deceit. Disobedience.
III.
Preparation.
Recall preceding part of story. Talk of the danger awaiting Red Riding
Hood.
Narration.
AT GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE.
By and by little Red Riding Hood came to her grandmother’s house
carrying her basket and the flowers she had gathered. She knocked at
the door.
“Who is there?” asked a voice. “It is little Red Riding Hood,
grandmother,” answered the child. “Pull the string and the latch will
fly up,” said the voice. Red Riding Hood pulled the string. Up flew the
latch, the door opened, and she went in.
“I wish you a happy birthday, grandmother,” she said. “See, I have
brought you a little present and some pretty flowers.” “Put them away,”
said the voice from the bed, “and come here; for I wish to talk to
you.” Red Riding Hood went over to the bed to talk to her grandmother.
Of course it was not her dear grandmother, but the wolf. But she did
not know that.
Red Riding Hood sat down on the bed. The room was so dark that she
could not see very well. But she wondered at the strange looking face
that looked at her from her grandmother’s nightcap.
“O grandmother,” she said, “what big ears you have.” “The better to
hear you, my child.” “O grandmother, what great eyes you have.” “The
better to see you, my child.” “O grandmother, what a big nose you
have.” “The better to smell you, my child.” “O grandmother, what long
teeth you have.” “The better to eat you, my child,” cried the wolf; and
he sprang up and was just about to swallow poor little Red Riding Hood
when the door burst open and in came the woodcutters, who soon killed
the wolf.
Red Riding Hood told her mother all that had happened.
“I was a naughty girl, dear mother,” she said, “to listen to the wolf
instead of obeying you; but I will never, never do so again.”
Suggestions.
Obedience and disobedience. Recall conduct of the little goats in the
story of “The Wolf and The Seven Little Goats.”
Consequence of disobedience as shown in the story of Red Riding Hood;
as found in the children’s own experience.
[Illustration]
THE SWEET RICE PORRIDGE.
I.
Preparation.
A story of a little girl and her mother who had nothing to eat. Talk of
possible reasons for the child and mother’s having nothing to eat.
Narration.
THE LITTLE GIRL AND HER MOTHER.
There was once a little girl who was very, very poor. When noon came
there was little dinner on the table for her, and at night the poor
child went hungry to bed.
In the morning, when she awoke, she was still hungry. She went to the
pantry, but there was nothing to eat in it. She went to the kitchen and
found nothing there but empty pots and pans.
Then the little girl went to her mother. “O mother,” she said, “I am so
hungry.” But the poor mother was sick in bed and could not get anything
for herself or for her child.
When the mother was well she worked hard. She picked up wood in the
forest. She washed clothes and scrubbed floors. With the money she
earned she bought food for her little daughter and herself. But now the
mother was sick. She lay in bed all day, and both she and her daughter
were hungry.
Now, do you think the little girl fretted and cried? No, she did not,
because she knew that if she cried her sick mother would feel so sorry
and sad that she would be worse. This little girl was patient and kind.
She found at last one little piece of bread. She took it to her mother
and said, “Here, dear mother, is a piece of bread for you. Eat it; it
may make you stronger.”
Suggestions.
Recall “The Stardollars” story. Bring out this child’s patience and
unselfishness.
II.
Preparation.
An old woman gave the child something of great use. What could it be?
Narration.
THE WONDERFUL POT.
The little girl thought, “Is there not something I can do to help my
sick mother?” She did not sit down with her hands in her lap and wait
for something to eat to come to her. She said to herself, “I must work.
What can I do? I am too small to wash clothes. I am too small to scrub
floors. But I can go out into the woods. I will find herbs there and
berries. I can gather them and sell them. Then I will buy bread, and we
need not be hungry any more.”
So the little girl went out into the woods. There she found ripe
berries. She began to pick them and put them into her little basket. An
old, old woman saw her. She stood and watched the child. She saw her
poor, thin little face, and that the child did not jump about and laugh
and sing as other children did when they came to the woods. She saw,
too, that this child did not eat even the smallest berry. As fast as
she picked them she dropped them into her small basket.
The old woman’s heart was full of pity for the poor little child. She
said, “My child, I will help you.” Then she gave her a little earthen
pot. It seemed a queer thing to give to this child who had so many
empty pots at home. But this was a wonderful pot. The old woman told
the child all about it. She said, “My child, this little pot will
cook very sweet and good rice porridge for you, and you need not
put anything into it at all. Just say, “Little Pot, Cook!” and it
will begin to cook the sweet rice porridge. When you have enough say,
“Little Pot, Stop!” and it will stop.” The little girl thanked the kind
old woman and ran home with the wonderful pot.
Suggestions.
Rice, its uses, preparation for food. Where obtained. Explain _earthen
pot_. _Pottery._
Helping one’s self. Children tell of ways in which they can help
themselves.
III.
Preparation.
The child carries the pot home. Recall the old woman’s directions.
Narration.
THE MOTHER WELL AGAIN.
The little girl ran home as fast as she could run. “O dear mother,” she
said, “see what a good old woman gave me. It is such a wonderful pot.
All we need do is to say, ‘Little Pot, Cook!’ and it will cook rice
porridge for us. When we have enough, we must say, ‘Little Pot, Stop!’
and it will stop cooking.”
Then the little girl set the pot on the hearthstone. The mother
called out. “Little Pot. Cook!” Her voice was weak, but the little
pot heard and began to cook. Soon it was full up to the very top with
rice porridge. Then the mother called out, “Little Pot, Stop!” and the
wonderful little pot stopped.
Oh, how quickly the little girl ran to the cupboard! She brought out
plates and spoons, and soon she and the poor sick mother were eating
sweet rice.
Suggestions.
Different kinds of berries. Where they grow.
Explain _self-help_.
IV.
Preparation.
One day the wonderful pot did not stop. The children imagine a cause.
Narration.
THE FLOOD OF RICE.
The mother was soon so well and strong that she could go to her work
again. Every day she and her daughter had rice porridge for breakfast.
When they had eaten their breakfast the mother always put the pot away
on a shelf and said, “Now, little daughter, be a good girl. Take care
of the house and do not touch the little pot while I am gone. When I
come home we shall have some more of the porridge you like so much.”
And the little girl kissed her mother and promised to obey her. This
happened for many days. But one day the little girl said to herself,
“Dear me, I am very hungry. How good some of that rice porridge would
taste. I am sure I wouldn’t break the little pot. I would be so very
careful.”
She said this many times to herself. At last she stood upon a chair and
reached up to the high shelf where her mother had put the little pot.
She took it down and set it on the hearthstone. Then she said, “Little
Pot, Cook!” The little pot heard and began to cook. The little girl got
a plate and spoon and taking some rice sat down to eat.
But she forgot all about speaking to the little pot and it went on
cooking. The child was so busy eating that she never noticed what was
happening. The wonderful pot was still cooking and the rice porridge
began running over. When the little girl saw it, she called out, “Here,
that is enough!” But the little pot did not stop and the rice porridge
poured out over the floor.
The little girl was frightened. She called out very loud, “That is
enough! Cook no more! Halt! Halt!” It was all of no use. She had
forgotten the right words to say and the little pot kept on cooking.
The rice porridge was still pouring out into the room. Soon the chairs
and the table were standing in it. The little girl was more frightened
than ever. She opened the door and ran out into the yard and rice
porridge came streaming out after her.
How the other children of the neighborhood laughed and shouted when
they saw the stream of rice porridge! They came running with spoons
in their hands and began to eat it. All the older people laughed and
wondered, too.
But soon the people became anxious. They said, “This rice porridge will
get into our houses and we shall all be drowned in it.” So the people
and their children ran into their houses and shut all the doors and
windows to keep out the rice porridge. The streets were full of it.
It rose up higher and higher. It covered up the windows so that their
houses were as dark as night.
Suggestions.
Who else was disobedient in the stories we have had? What trouble did
they have?
V.
Preparation.
The valley in which this child lived filled up.
Narration.
THE VALLEY FILLED UP.
The little girl’s home was down in a valley. High up on the mountain
there stood a beautiful house. Rich persons lived there, and the
little girl’s mother often went to work for them. This very day, when
the little girl had been so disobedient, her mother was working in the
house away up on the mountain.
When the little girl saw the rice porridge streaming out into the
streets and filling up the valley, she ran up the mountain’s side as
fast as she could to tell her mother all that had happened. As soon as
she saw her mother, she called out, “O mother, I took down the little
pot and told it to cook. When I wanted it to stop I forgot what to say.
It won’t stop cooking, and the whole valley is full of rice porridge.”
The mother called out softly “Little Pot, Stop!” and the little pot
heard her and stopped. But still the whole valley was full of rice
porridge. It covered the houses. It was up even to the church steeple.
When the milkmen came in the morning they saw it. They called out,
“What is this?” The people shouted back, “It is rice porridge. If you
want to come to us, you must dig your way through.” And it was so.
Whoever wanted to go into that valley had to dig his way through the
sweet rice porridge that filled it.
For many days the people were busy eating rice porridge. As for the
little girl who had caused all this trouble, she felt very sorry and
ashamed, and I am sure was never disobedient again.
Suggestions.
Recall mention of mountains in other stories. Talk about mountains and
valleys. Illustrate by pictures or, if possible, by moulding in clay
or sand.
Emphasize the thought of obedience. Compare with previous stories.
[Illustration]
MOTHER FROST.
I.
Preparation.
A story of a mother and her two daughters. One was beautiful and lazy,
the other ugly and industrious. The mother loved the beautiful one and
allowed her to be idle, but she made the industrious one do all the
spinning and household work.
Talk of the different kinds of household work. Explain _spindle_,
_spinning_, and _a well_.
Narration.
THE LOST SPINDLE.
There was once a widow who had two daughters. One was beautiful and
lazy, the other ugly and industrious. The mother, however, for some
reason showed more love for the beautiful one than she did for the ugly
one, who did all the work about the house.
Because her mother did not love her, she lived in the kitchen and was
very sad. The poor maid had to go out every day and sit by the great
road that ran near the house and spin. Near the road was a deep well.
She liked best to sit near this because so many travelers stopped there
to draw the cool water from the deep well.
She spun so much yarn that her fingers became worn and thin, and bled
a great deal. One day it happened that her spindle slipped from her
fingers and fell into the well.
She was very much frightened and ran home, crying, to her mother, and
told her that she had lost her spindle in the well. The mother scolded
her and was so angry that at last she said, “Since you have been so
careless as to lose your spindle in the well, you must get it out again
as best you can.”
Suggestions.
Materials used to make yarn. Wool, cotton, etc. Sources.
Different ways of spinning. Twisting by the hands. Spinning wheel.
Uses of yarn. Knitting and weaving. Source of drinking water.
Different ways of getting it from a well--buckets, windlass, pump, etc.
_Idleness._ _Industry._ Tell who the idle and who the industrious ones
are in preceding stories.
II.
Preparation.
Talk about the ways the maid might attempt to regain her spindle.
Recall _meadow_.
Narration.
THE MAID IN THE WELL.
The maid went back to the road. She did not know how to get the spindle
out of the well. So she jumped down into the water to get it. For a
while she did not know anything, but presently she found herself in
a beautiful meadow where the sun was shining and many thousands of
flowers blooming all around her.
She got up and walked along till she came to a bake oven. The oven was
full of bread which cried out, “Draw me out or I shall burn. I have
baked long enough.” So she went up and took the bread shovel that stood
by the oven and drew out one loaf after another.
Then she walked on farther and came to an apple tree. The tree cried
out, “Shake me! Shake me! My apples are all ripe.” So she shook the
tree till the apples fell down like rain. When there were no more left
on the tree she gathered them into a heap and went on.
At last she came to a cottage out of which an old woman was peeping.
The old woman had such large teeth that the maid was frightened and
started to run away. But the old woman called her back, saying, “Why
are you afraid, my child? Stay with me. If you will put things in order
in my house, all will go well with you. Only you must be careful and
shake my bed well and make the feathers fly. Then it will snow on the
earth. I am old Mother Frost.”
As the old woman spoke kindly, the timid maid stayed and worked for
her. Everything was pleasant. Old Mother Frost was very kind and the
industrious maid was contented. She shook the bed well every day and
made the feathers fly downward as flakes of snow. She was very happy.
She had enough to eat and kind words from Mother Frost.
Suggestions.
Talk about apple-trees and orchards. The baking of bread. Connect with
snow. Jack Frost. Use of snow, etc.
III.
Preparation.
Develop out of the children’s experiences the longing for
home--homesickness.
Narration.
THE RETURN HOME.
The maiden stayed with Mother Frost a long time. But after a while she
became very sad. She did not know what the matter was. At last she
found that she was homesick; and, although she now fared a thousand
times better than when at home, she longed to go back.