sister.” Mother Frost replied, “It pleases me that you wish to go
home; and since you have served me so faithfully, I will myself take
you home.” She thereupon took her by the hand and led her to a great
door. It flew open at their coming, and, as the maid stood in the
doorway, a shower of gold fell upon her. The gold remained sticking in
her hair, on her dress, and even in her shoes. “All this gold is for
you because you have been so faithful and industrious. Here is your
spindle also,” were the parting words of Mother Frost.
When she stepped out the door closed behind her, and the maid found
herself near her mother’s house. As she came into the yard the cock
which was perched upon the hen-house cried out, “Cock--a--doodle--do!
Our golden maid comes home again.”
Her mother and sister were surprised to see her, and because she had so
much gold they welcomed her very heartily.
Suggestions.
Talk about source and uses of gold, its qualities, etc.
What children can do in the home, at school.
IV.
Preparation.
The idle maid now tries to get gold. She throws her spindle into the
well and jumps in after it. Children tell what they think she will do
at the oven, at the apple-tree, at Mother Frost’s. Will she get gold?
Explain _pitch_.
Narration.
THE IDLE MAID.
The good sister told all that had happened while she was away, and when
her mother heard how she came by all her gold she said to the lazy
sister, “You must try your luck, also.” So the mother had her go and
spin by the well. But the lazy girl soon became tired of spinning and
threw the spindle into the well. Then she jumped in after it.
Like her sister, she came to the beautiful meadow and traveled the same
path. When she came to the bake oven, the bread called, “Draw me out!
Draw me out!” But the lazy maid said, “I have no wish to make myself
dirty with you!”
Soon she came to the apple tree. The tree cried out, “Shake me! shake
me! My apples are ripe.” But the maid said, “I will not shake you. Your
apples might fall on my head.” She was not afraid of old Mother Frost,
for she had heard of her large teeth. She promised to serve her as her
sister had done.
The first day she worked hard because she thought of the gold. The
second day she began to grow careless. The third day she did not get
up until noon. Mother Frost said, “I think you are tired of working
for me. You had better go home.” The lazy maid was very glad; for she
thought, “Now, I will get my gold!”
Mother Frost led her also to the door; but, as she stood within the
doorway, instead of gold there was a shower of pitch. “This is the
reward for your service,” said Mother Frost, and closed the door. As
the lazy maid came home the cock cried, “Cock--a--doodle--do! Our dirty
maid comes home again.” The pitch stuck to her as long as she lived.
Suggestions.
Explain _oven_, _pitch_.
Talk about the industrious maid and her reward. The idle and dishonest
one and her punishment. Who was rewarded in “The Stardollar” story?
Who was punished in “The Seven Little Goats”? In “Red Riding Hood”?
[Illustration]
SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED.
I.
Preparation.
A story of two sisters who lived with their mother in a little house
in the woods. Their work and play. A bear came to the house and became
their friend. A wicked dwarf did wrong and was punished. Talk of home
in the woods, garden. Explain _widow_.
Narration.
THE HOME.
Once upon a time, in a little house in the woods, there lived a poor
widow. The widow had a garden and in the garden were two beautiful rose
bushes. On one of these bushes there grew lovely red roses; on the
other the roses were as white as snow.
The widow had two daughters, who were both so sweet that she named them
after the roses. One of the daughters she called Snow-white and the
other Rose-red.
The children were both obedient and industrious, yet they were not
quite alike. Snow-white was quiet and gentle and fond of staying in the
house with her mother. Rose-red enjoyed running about the fields in
search of flowers and butterflies.
Snow-white and Rose-red helped their mother to keep the little house
clean and neat. They made the fire in the morning. They filled the
kettle with water from the spring and hung it over the fire. It was a
very bright little kettle, for it was made of copper and was polished
till it shone like gold.
After breakfast the sisters worked cheerfully together. Each one had
her share of the work. When that was done they learned their lessons
and did their sewing and knitting. In all this their mother was their
kind teacher and helper.
Suggestions.
The sisters’ work. Homes mentioned in other stories. Fire-place
mentioned in other stories. Garden. Copper kettle.
Comparison with home in “Mother Frost.” Talk of love and helpfulness
in the home.
II.
Preparation.
Talk of play and playmates in the woods.
Narration.
HOW SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED PLAYED.
Snow-white and Rose-red often played in the woods together. They ran
about and played hide and seek among the trees. They waded in the
little river. When they were tired of running about and sat down to
rest, they made wreaths of flowers or leaves which they wore upon their
heads.
Not one of the animals was afraid of them. The hares ate cabbage leaves
out of their hands. The deer ate grass by their side. The squirrels
knew the sisters well and came to eat the nuts they brought for them.
The birds, too, loved them and went on building their nests or feeding
their young ones. At the same time the birds sang their sweetest songs
for Rose-red and Snow-white.
Suggestions.
The hare, the deer, the squirrel,--appearance, habits, home, use to
man. Compare, for size and strength, with other animals known to the
children.
III.
Preparation.
A bear comes to the house. Talk of bears the children have seen.
Explain _dwarf_, _treasure_.
Narration.
THE BEAR.
It was a cold, stormy night in winter. Snow-white, Rose-red and their
mother sat by the fire.
The sisters were knitting while their mother read stories to them as
they worked. A pet lamb lay at their feet and a dove perched upon the
shelf above the fire-place.
Outside, the wind was howling and the snow fell fast. But it was warm
and bright in the snug little house.
Suddenly there was a noise at the door. The mother stopped reading and
listened. She heard the noise again and said, “Some poor traveler is
lost in this fearful storm. Run, dear Snow-white, and let him in.”
Snow-white jumped up and opened the door. In came, not a man, but a
big, shaggy bear.
Oh, how frightened the children were! They clung to their mother and
hid their faces in her dress. The lamb trembled and bleated. The dove
woke up in a fright and flew about the room.
Presently the bear said, “Do not be afraid. I will not harm any of
you.” The mother answered, “I am sure you will not. Come, children, do
not be afraid. This is a kind, friendly bear.”
Then the mother told the bear to come close to the fire. When the
children saw him stretched out on the floor, like a great dog, they
lost their fear of him. Rose-red ran and fetched the broom to brush the
snow from his coat.
The poor bear was very cold; but he soon grew warm before the bright
fire. The children were not at all afraid of him now, but got upon his
back and rolled off on the floor. The bear enjoyed the fun as much as
they did. Only, when they pulled his rough coat too hard, he would say,
“Do not hurt your old friend, my dears.”
When bed time came the mother said, “I cannot think of turning you out
this stormy night. Stay here by the fire.” The bear thanked her and
stretched out on the warm hearthstone.
In the morning the children opened the door for him, and off he trotted
into the woods.
After that the bear came every evening. He lay down before the fire and
the children played with him until it was time to go to bed.
The winter passed by. The green grass was springing up in the meadows,
the tiny buds were breaking out into leaves and blossoms on the trees.
One morning the bear said, “Children, I must say good-bye to you. I am
going away and you will not see me again until next winter.” “Oh, where
are you going, dear bear?” said Snow-white. “I am going far away into
the forest,” he answered. “There are many precious things buried in the
ground. In winter they are safe under the frozen earth. In the summer,
when the sun has made the ground soft, it will be easy for the wicked
dwarfs who live in the forest to dig down and take what I have buried.
So I must go to watch over my treasures.”
The children felt very sad as they said good-bye to their dear
playmate; but he promised to come back.
As he went out the latch of the door caught in his rough coat and tore
it. Snow-white thought that she saw something like gold glittering
under the shaggy hair; but she was not sure, for the bear trotted away
very quickly and soon disappeared among the trees.
Suggestions.
The bear,--appearance, home, habits, use to man, etc. The
seasons--Spring, Winter.
Kindness and hospitality as shown in the story.
IV.
Preparation.
The sisters see a dwarf who is in trouble. Recall explanation of
_dwarf_. Imagine in what trouble he might be. Explain _wedge_.
Narration.
A DWARF IN TROUBLE.
One day, not long after the bear had gone away, the mother sent
Snow-white and Rose-red into the woods to gather sticks. They saw a big
tree which the wind had blown down. As they drew near it they noticed
something jumping up and down on the fallen tree-trunk. At first they
could not tell what it was; but, when they went nearer, they saw it was
a little dwarf with a wrinkled face and a long, white beard.
The tree was split from top to bottom and the dwarf’s beard was caught
and held fast in the crack. He was jumping about at a great rate, but
he could not get free.
It was really a funny sight to see the dwarf hopping about, and
Snow-white and Rose-red could not keep from laughing. This made the
dwarf very angry. He cried out, “Why are you standing there laughing
instead of coming to help me?”
The children, as you know, were kind-hearted; and when they saw how the
dwarf felt they pitied him.
“Poor little man!” said Rose-red, “how did this happen?”
“Stupid thing,” said the dwarf, “what a silly question. I was trying
to split this tree that I might get wood for my fire. I drove my wedge
into the tree, but the wedge flew out. As the crack closed up again it
caught my beard and holds it so tight I cannot get it out.”
The children wished to help the poor dwarf. They went up to him and
tried to pull his beard out of the tree, but all their pulling was of
no use. “I will go home and get my mother,” said Rose-red. “No, no,”
shouted the dwarf, “do not bring any more people here.” “I think I can
help you,” said Snow-white. She took a little pair of scissors out of
her pocket and cut the dwarf’s beard off close to the tree.
No sooner was he free than he caught up a bag full of gold which was
lying among the roots of the tree, swung it over his shoulder, and
walked away.
As he went he said something about stupid children who had cut his
beautiful white beard. And so, grumbling and without one word of
thanks, he was soon out of sight.
Suggestions.
Kindness. Unthankfulness.
V.
Preparation.
The dwarf in trouble again. The children imagine what his trouble may
be. Explanation of _river-bank_. Explain _rushes_.
Narration.
THE DWARF FISHING.
One pleasant summer day Snow-white and Rose-red went down to the river.
As they sat on the bank they saw something which they thought was a big
grasshopper jumping about. They went closer, to see what it could be,
and then they saw it was the dwarf.
“What are you doing?” asked Rose-red; “are you trying to jump into the
water?” “Do you take me for a fool?” cried the dwarf. “Don’t you see
that this fish is trying to drag me into the river?”
Sure enough, the children saw that the dwarf was in trouble again. He
was fishing, and the wind had blown his long beard about so that it had
become tangled in the fish line. A large fish was caught upon the hook,
and it was pulling as hard as it could to get away.
The dwarf held on by one hand to the rushes on the river bank, while
with the other hand he tried to untangle his beard from the line. But
the fish was stronger than the dwarf, and if the sisters had not held
on to him with all their might he would surely have been dragged into
the water and drowned.
They tried hard to free him, but could not. Snow-white had to take
out her little scissors again, and this time she had to cut off a
long piece of the dwarf’s beard. The dwarf was saved, but he was in a
great rage because his beard was cut. He jumped about and scolded the
children until he was tired.
Then he lifted up a bag of pearls, which he had hidden among the
rushes. Throwing it over his shoulder, he went off.
Suggestions.
Talk of rivers seen by members of the class, the uses of rivers,
fishing, etc.
Kindness of Snow-white and Rose-red. Unthankfulness of the dwarf.
VI.
Preparation.
The dwarf is saved from an eagle. What danger the dwarf could be in and
how he could be saved. Recall former mention of _eagle_.
Narration.
THE DWARF AND AN EAGLE.
One afternoon the mother sent Snow-white and Rose-red to town to buy
some things for her. They walked through the woods and finally came
to an open place. No trees grew here. It was covered with bushes, and
great rocks were lying about.
As the children walked along they saw an eagle flying in great circles
in the sky. At last he pounced down upon something. What it was the
sisters could not see, but they heard loud cries for help. Snow-white
and Rose-red ran to the spot from which the cries came. And then they
saw the poor dwarf in great trouble.
The eagle had him in his strong claws and was carrying him away. The
children caught hold of the dwarf’s coat and held on with all their
might. The big bird beat them with his great wings. He pecked at them
with his strong bill, but they hung on to the dwarf’s coat. At last the
eagle let the dwarf go and flew away.
At first the dwarf could not speak, but stood trembling with fright.
When he was able to speak he said in a fretful voice, “What do you mean
by being so rough? See, you have torn my beautiful brown coat nearly
off my back!”
Then he turned from them, picked up a bag, flung it over his shoulder,
and went off. The children could hear him scolding about his beautiful
brown coat as he went.
Suggestions.
The eagle, its habits, etc.
The bravery of Rose-red and Snow-white.
VII.
Preparation.
The dwarf is punished for wrong doing. Snow-white and Rose-red see the
bear again.
Recall the bear’s visit and the reason of his going away.
Explain _precious stones_.
Narration.
THE BEAR AGAIN.
After Snow-white and Rose-red had seen the dwarf disappear behind the
rocks they went on to town. They got the things for which they were
sent and started back on their way home.
As they were walking along they saw the dwarf. He was sitting among the
rocks. He had emptied the bag of precious stones upon the ground and
was admiring them. How the stones sparkled and flashed in the sunlight!
Snow-white and Rose-red stopped to admire them, too.
“What are you staring at?” cried the dwarf. “Go on about your
business.” He sprang to his feet as if to drive them away, when all at
once a terrible growl was heard and a big brown bear rushed out of the
bushes.
The dwarf tried to run away, but the bear stood right in his path.
Then the dwarf began to beg in a trembling voice, “O, dear Mr. Bear,”
he said, “spare my life. I am such a poor little creature. I would not
be a mouthful for you. See, here are two nice, plump little girls. Eat
them instead of me.” But the bear paid no attention to him. Without a
word he lifted up his fore paw and with one blow laid the dwarf dead
upon the ground.
Snow-white and Rose-red, in a great fright, were running away; but the
bear called to them, “Snow-white, Rose-red, do not be afraid; it is I,
your old friend and playmate.”
They knew his voice and stopped to wait for him. But imagine how
surprised they were when the shaggy bearskin fell to the ground and,
instead of a big bear, a handsome young man in splendid dress stood
before them!
“I am a king’s son,” he said; “and that wicked dwarf changed me into a
bear and robbed me of nearly all my treasures. I have been obliged to
wander about in the woods. At last he is dead and I am free.”
Not many years afterwards Snow-white was married to the prince and
Rose-red to his brother.
The sisters took their dear mother to live with them in the prince’s
palace, and they all lived happily forever after.
The rose bushes were taken to the new home and planted in the palace
garden. There, year after year, they bore sweet red and white
roses--just as they had done in the little garden in the woods.
Suggestions.
Punishment. Gratitude.
Explain _prince_, _king_, _palace_.
THE COCK AND THE HEN.
I.
Preparation.
This is a story of a cock and a hen who went to a nut mountain, and of
what happened there.
A talk about why they would go there and what they would find.
Narration.
ON THE MOUNTAIN.
A cock once said to a hen, “It is now the time when the nuts are ripe.
Let us go to the nut mountain and eat all we can before the squirrels
carry them all away.” “Yes,” said the hen; “let us go and enjoy
ourselves.”
So they went to the mountain together and, as it was a bright, sunny
day, they stayed there until evening. Now, whether it was because they
had eaten too much, or whether they were too proud, I do not know; but
they did not want to go home on foot. The cock thereupon built a small
wagon out of the nut shells lying about.
When the wagon was ready, he seated himself in it and said to the hen,
“You be my horse and pull the wagon for me.” “Indeed, I will not,” said
the hen; “you be the horse yourself. I will get upon the seat and be
driver. I would rather walk home than be your horse and pull the wagon.”
While they were quarreling, a duck came out of the bushes. She was very
angry and said, “Who has given you permission to eat nuts on my nut
mountain? Wait a minute and it will cost you dearly.” Then she rushed
at the cock with outstretched neck to bite him. But the cock flew at
the duck and pecked her and struck her with his sharp spurs till she
was glad enough to stop fighting. The cock then harnessed the duck to
the wagon. He and the hen got in and away they went down the mountain.
Suggestions.
A talk with the children about autumn, and about different kinds of
nuts. Animals that eat them. What animals hoard them for winter use?
How does the hen differ from the duck? Why? etc. Their food and their
homes.
The quarrel. Who was to blame? Who was proud? Who was punished? Who
was punished in “Seven Little Goats”? In “Red Riding Hood”? In “Mother
Frost”? In “Snow-white and Rose-red”?
II.
Preparation.
On their way home the cock and the hen overtake two travelers.
Test the children’s knowledge of _travelers_ and _travel_.
Narration.
THE TRAVELERS.
The cock and the hen had not gone far when they heard a voice calling
to them to stop. The cock told the duck to stop, and found that they
had overtaken a pin and a needle traveling along the road. The cock
asked them what they wanted. The needle said, “It is now getting dark
and we fear that we shall lose our way. I have but one eye and the pin
has none at all. Please be so good as to let us ride with you.”
At first the cock said, “No;” but the travelers begged so hard that he
at last consented. “You are so small,” he said, “that you will take up
no room. But you must be very careful not to tread on the hen’s toes.”
They promised to be very careful and climbed into the wagon at once.
The cock told the duck to go on. “You must be quick, Mrs. Duck,” he
said, “or we shall not get home to-night.” So the duck waddled along as
fast as she could. She could not go much faster, for she was getting
tired.
Suggestions.
Different ways of traveling.
Who was polite? Tell who was polite in the previous stories? Who was
kind?
III.
Preparation.
Where they passed the night and what happened. A promise.
The main ideas tested. How did the little girl in “Stardollars” pass
the night? Where do travelers usually stay at night?
Explain _inn_, _Innkeeper._
Narration.
AT THE INN.
Late in the evening they came to an inn; and because the duck was tired
and the night dark, they drove up to the door.
The cock asked the innkeeper if they might stay over night. The
innkeeper did not like their looks and said at first, “No, I have no
room, and I think you have no money.” But the cock replied, “You shall
have the egg that the hen has laid and the one the duck lays every
day.” So the innkeeper consented. They all went in, ate their supper,
and lay down to sleep.
The next morning, long before the other people at the hotel were up,
the cock and the hen took the egg, broke it, and ate it together.
The shell, however, they threw into the ashes in the fireplace. They
then waked up the needle and the pin. The needle they stuck into the
innkeeper’s chair and the pin into his towel. The duck, who slept in
the yard, heard them stirring around and flew to the brook and swam
away. The cock and the hen then hurried on to their home.
Suggestions.
Fireplace. How are our houses heated? Stoves, furnaces, steam, etc.
Was the promise kept? Describe the conduct of the cock and the hen.
IV.
Preparation.
This part tells what happened to the innkeeper when he got up next
morning. Tell what you think happened.
Narration.
THE INNKEEPER.
In a couple of hours after the duck had taken to the water and the cock
and the hen had hurried away, the landlord awoke. He got up, put on his
clothes, washed himself, and reached for the towel. As he wiped his
face the pin made a deep red scratch across his cheek. This made him
angry. Then he went into the kitchen to light his pipe. As he leaned
over the fireplace to get a coal, the eggshell burst and scattered the
ashes into his face and eyes. This made him more angry.
He went to his chair to sit down, but quickly jumped up again and cried
“Ouch!” Now he was very angry and said, “Those ragamuffins that came
here so late last night did this.” He went to find them, but they could
not be found. Then he said, “Never again will I take such people into
my house. They eat and drink and pay nothing, and play tricks on me
besides.”
Suggestions.
What made the eggshell burst? Do you know anything that explodes?
Conduct of the cock and the hen at the inn. The broken promise. Did
the innkeeper deserve such treatment?
DEATH OF THE COCK.
I.
Preparation.
This story tells of the death of the cock on the nut mountain, of the
sorrow of the hen, and of all the animals; about the funeral, and at
last about the death of the hen.
How do you suppose the cock met his death on the nut mountain?
Narration.
DEATH OF THE COCK.
Another time the cock and the hen went to the nut mountain. It was a
fine day and they were in the best of spirits. “Let us make a promise,”
said the cock, “that the first one that finds a nut will share it with
the other.” “I agree to that,” said the hen.
The cock was the first to find a nut. It was a fine, large one. He did
not say anything about it, for he wanted it all himself. The kernel,
however, was so large that it stuck in his throat. He tried every way
to get it out, but there it stuck. He at last cried to the hen, “Dear
hen, run quick and fetch me some water or I shall choke to death.” The
hen ran as fast as she could to the brook. But before she could get
back the cock had choked to death.
Suggestions.
Tell about the conduct of the cock. Who acted like the cock in
the stories we have had? Who shared food with others? The cock’s
punishment.
II.
Preparation.
The animals were all sorry for the hen and came to help her at the
funeral.
Narration.
THE FUNERAL.
When the hen returned and found her mate dead, she was very sorry, and
she began to cry in a loud voice. While she was crying there came six
little mice, running up to see what was the matter. They felt sorry for
the poor hen and said, “Poor hen, we will help you.” Then they made a
little wagon and placed the dead cock in it. When this was done, they
harnessed themselves to the wagon. Then they said, “We will draw the
cock to his grave.” The hen walked behind, weeping, and they all set
out to bury the cock.
On the way they met a fox. The fox said, “What is the matter, hen?”
“Oh!” said the hen, “the cock is dead and we are going to bury him.” “I
am sorry,” said the fox. “May I go to the funeral?” As they went along
they met a wolf, a bear, a hare, a lion, and many other animals. They
were all sorry and asked to be allowed to go to the funeral.
Suggestions.
The animals mentioned; the largest; the smallest; the strongest; their
homes; their food, etc. Different kinds of wagons.
The conduct of the animals. Who was helpful in “Stardollars”? In
“Seven Little Goats”? In “Red Riding Hood”? Do you think of any others
that were helpful?
III.
Preparation.
The story tells us of the trouble the hen and the other animals had in
crossing a river. Have children suggest ways of crossing the river.
Narration.
CROSSING THE RIVER.