like my neighbor?” “Yes,” said the traveler, “you may; but it would be
better for you not to wish for anything.” The proud man replied, “I
would certainly seek out something that would make me happy if I only
knew that it would be given me.” “Very well,” said the traveler, “go
home and your three wishes shall be fulfilled.”
Suggestions.
1. What did the inhospitable man see over the way the next morning?
Describe the house. What did he do? Tell what he said to his wife.
What did she do? Tell what the good people told her. Tell what the
proud man said when his wife told him how it happened. What did
his wife tell him to do? Tell what the proud man said when he had
overtaken the traveler. What did he ask for? Was his request granted?
Repeat what was said.
2. What are tiles? Where are they placed on a house? What are they
for? Tell the names of the different parts of a house. (_Foundation_,
_cellar or basement_, _first story_, etc.) Name as many different
kinds of buildings as you can. (_Schoolhouses_, _churches_, _store
buildings_, etc.) Tell of large buildings you have seen and what they
were used for.
3. Did the good man and woman tell the truth about how they came to
have a new house? Did the proud man tell the truth about going for
the key? Why did he try to deceive the wonderful traveler? Was he
truly sorry that he had been selfish? Whose conduct pleases you? Was
the traveler grateful to the poor people? Why do you think he granted
the same favor to the unkind man? What did he say when he told the man
he might have three wishes granted?
4. Who deceived in “The Seven Little Goats”? In “Red Riding Hood”? In
“Death of the Cock”? In “Mother Frost”? How were they all punished?
Reproduction.
IV.
Preparation.
We will next learn how the proud man had his wishes granted. What do
you suppose he will wish for? Let us see.
Narration.
THE PROUD MAN’S WISHES.
Now that the proud man had obtained what he wanted, he started home
very happy and began to think what he would wish for. As he rode along
he let the bridle reins hang loose on the horse’s neck. All at once
his horse began to jump and rear upon his hind feet. His master patted
him on the neck and said, “Be still, there.” But the horse jumped and
reared all the more. At last the master became very angry and said, “I
wish you would break your neck.” No sooner had he spoken the words than
his horse fell backward, broke his neck, and died. Thus was the first
wish of the proud man fulfilled.
But the proud man was very careful not to lose anything, so he took
the saddle from the dead horse, threw it on his back, and started home
on foot.
“Now,” he thought, “I have two wishes left.” In this way he comforted
himself. His road lay through deep sand. It was noon. The sun shone hot
and the saddle made his back sore. This made him sigh. He was so warm
and uncomfortable. He had not yet made up his mind what to wish. He
turned many things over in his mind. “I will manage it,” he thought,
“so that there will be nothing more in all the world to wish.”
Many times he thought, “Now I have found it.” But presently it would
seem that his wish was too small. Then he began to think of his wife
sitting at home in the cool house enjoying herself. This made him out
of humor and, without thinking, he said, “I wish that she sat there at
home on my saddle, and could not get free from it, instead of its being
here on my back!” No sooner said than he felt the saddle disappear and
knew that his second wish had been granted.
Then he began to be afraid and he ran toward home as fast as he could.
He wanted to get home and sit down in a quiet room and think what he
would ask for in his third wish. He wanted to wish something as large
as he could. But, as he came to his house and opened the door, there
sat his wife on the saddle. She was very red in the face, and very
angry, and she shrieked at the top of her voice.
“Be contented,” said her husband. “I am going to wish you all the
riches in the world. Just be quiet.” But she answered, “What good would
all the riches in the world do me if I have to sit on this saddle
always? You have wished me on it and now you must wish me off.” The
proud man must now, whether willing or not, use his third wish to get
his wife free from the saddle. So he said, “I wish you may get off the
saddle.”
When his wife stood again upon her feet she began to scold her foolish
husband. “You are very silly and stupid,” she exclaimed; “I could have
managed it much better.” Thus the proud man had nothing for his pains
but anger, scolding, and a dead horse. His neighbors, however, lived
contented and quiet, but happy, till the end of their days.
Suggestions.
1. Tell how the proud man started home. What did the horse do? Tell
about the man’s first wish. Tell about the saddle. What put him out
of humor? How did he think he would manage his remaining wishes? Tell
about his second wish. Why did he hasten home? What did he find there?
Tell about his third wish. What did his wife say to him when she
regained her liberty? What had he for his pains? How did his neighbors
live?
Reproduction.
2. Where have you seen a horse with saddle and bridle on? What is the
saddle used for? The reins? How is the saddle fastened on? Do you know
the names of some parts of the horse’s harness? I will tell you some.
Here is a picture of a horse with harness on. [Show picture.] Tell how
horses are used. Which is more useful, a horse or a donkey? In what
story did we learn of a donkey? Which do we like better? Do men ride
donkeys, too? Tell how we should care for our horses.
3. Was the traveler right when he told the proud man it would be
better if he did not wish at all? Why did he fare so badly in his
wishes? Why didn’t he wish better things?
Was he as wise as his neighbor?
Was he as happy?
[Illustration]
HANS AND THE FOUR BIG GIANTS.
(Text from “In Story Land,” by Elizabeth Harrison.)
I.
Preparation.
The story of a boy who lived in the country. The story tells of his
home life, how he went away to work in a great city, how he wished to
serve a lovely princess, and how four great giants helped him. First,
we shall hear of his home in the country. Talk of country sights and
sounds. Children give their experiences.
Narration.
THE HOME IN THE COUNTRY.
Once upon a time there lived a little boy whose name was Hans. His home
was in a village where the tall trees shaded the green grass that grew
around the houses. Hans loved his home very much. He loved to hear the
birds sing and to watch them fly high in the air, and he often threw
crumbs upon the ground for them to eat.
He loved the bright red and blue and yellow flowers which grew in
the garden behind the house. He delighted in sweet odors which came
all unseen from their very hearts. So he gladly watered them when
they looked thirsty. His mother soon taught him how to place strong,
straight sticks beside the weak vines so that they, too, could climb up
and get the sunlight.
Hans loved the dear old hens and their downy chickens that were
not afraid to peck the grain out of his hand. In fact, Hans loved
everything and everybody about him, from the small naked worms which
crawled about among the clods of earth, up to the strange and beautiful
stars which shone so high above his head. He was a very happy little
fellow, always busy, always finding something to do for somebody.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen and connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. A talk about gardens and flowers, chickens and how they are cared
for. Earth worms, their habits, appearance, habitat, uses.
Explain _clods_.
3. Kindness to dependent creatures. Recall Cinderella’s kindness to
birds. Kindness of Rose-red and Snow-white to animals.
II.
Preparation.
How Hans helped his father work in the forest, and how he left home to
work in a big city.
Talk of work in a forest and in the city.
Narration.
LEAVING HOME.
By and by, when Hans grew to be a tall, strong lad, he used to go with
his father to the forest to chop wood and thus help earn money which
went to buy food and clothes for his mother and his three younger
brothers. For Hans’ father was poor, and money was scarce in his family.
After a time, when Hans had grown so tall that you and I would call
him a young man, his father said to him, “Hans, my boy, it is time now
that you started out to hunt some work for yourself. Your next younger
brother can help me with the wood-chopping and the smaller ones can
help the mother in the work about the house. You must go out into the
world and learn how to take care of yourself; and perhaps, some day,
you may have to take care of your mother and me, when we grow too old
to work.”
So Hans’ mother packed his clothes in a little bundle; and, as she
kissed him good-bye, she said, “Hans, my precious son, always be brave
and true, and the good God will take care of you.” Hans then bade
farewell to his father and his younger brothers and started on his
journey.
Suggestions.
1. Question to emphasize the thought of the story.
2. Reproduction.
3. A talk of how each one in this family had his share of the work.
Talk about the mother’s parting words to Hans.
MOTTO: _Be brave and true._
III.
Preparation.
How Hans came to a large city and found work there. Talk about the
sights and sounds of a great city. Recall idea of village. Children
imagine what kind of work Hans looked for.
Narration.
HANS IN THE CITY.
Hans walked a long way until, by and by, he came to a great city, where
the houses looked dingy with smoke and the rattle of the carts and
wagons made a roaring noise.
After a time he found some work in the shop of a blacksmith and,
although the work was grimy and rather hard to do, Hans used to like to
see the sparks fly from the red-hot iron every time he struck a blow
with his heavy hammer.
He was very proud when, at last, he could shape the iron into a fine
horse-shoe almost as well as the smith himself. Hans did not know it,
but this very work was making his arms grow big and strong, and his
chest broad and full.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen and connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. Country and city. Blacksmith work.
Iron; things made from iron; qualities and source of iron.
3. Determination and industry of Hans.
Recall examples of industry and laziness in other stories.
MOTTO: _Try, try again._
IV.
Preparation.
Hans sees a lovely princess and wishes to serve her. He goes to her
father’s palace.
How could Hans serve a princess?
Recall explanation of _princess_ and _palace_.
Explain _governor_, _provinces_, _enchanted_.
Narration.
THE KING’S PALACE.
Every day Hans used to see a beautiful princess drive past the
blacksmith’s shop. She was the most beautiful princess in the world;
and, although her blue eyes and golden hair were admired by everyone,
she was chiefly beloved because of her sweet smile.
Hans used often to say to himself, “How I wish I could serve this
lovely princess.” At last one day he went to the palace gate and asked
the gate-keeper if there was not some work in the palace which he could
do. “What can you do?” asked the gate-keeper. “I am willing to do any
kind of work which the king may need to have done,” answered Hans.
Then the gate-keeper passed him on to the keeper of the king’s palace.
“What can you do?” asked the keeper of the king’s palace, also. “I am
willing to do any kind of work which the king may need to have done,”
replied Hans. So the keeper of the palace told the king that there was
a strong, tall young man without who wanted to serve him.
When Hans came into the presence of the mighty king, the monarch looked
at him very hard for a few moments and then said, “What can you do,
young man?” And again Hans replied, “I am willing to do anything that
you need to have done. I would like to serve the lovely princess.” “You
would, would you?” cried the king. “Now, I will test you. In the bottom
of the North Sea there lies a string of enchanted pearls. If you will
get those pearls and bring them to me, you shall serve my daughter,
the princess, and in time I may make you governor over one of my
provinces,--who knows?” And the king laughed to himself. Hans was wild
with delight and, turning, hastened out of the palace.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen and connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. Talk of sea and the North Sea; of pearls.
3. Hans’ ability to do hard work. The value of being able to work.
Courageous disposition.
V.
Preparation.
Hans starts on his journey and meets a giant, who helps him on his way.
Talk of possible ways in which Hans may journey.
Narration.
HANS STARTS ON HIS JOURNEY.
The very next day Hans started on his journey to the North Sea. He
walked a long ways, and until he was very tired. At length, just ahead
of him he saw a big giant rushing along in a very strange fashion.
“Good morning,” said Hans, as he caught up with the giant. “What a very
large giant you are!” “Yes,” replied the giant, looking down at Hans,
“I have need to be both large and strong. Where are you going, young
man?” “I am going,” answered Hans, “to the North Sea, to get a string
of enchanted pearls which lies at the bottom of the sea.” “Ah!” said
the tall giant, “it will take a long time to get there. Now, if you
could walk as fast as I can, it would be an easy matter.”
“How fast can you walk?” asked Hans. “I can walk faster than a
greyhound can run,” said the giant, “and when I run swiftly, a river
cannot keep pace with me.” “Can you, indeed?” exclaimed Hans; “what a
fine fellow you are! I wish you would come along with me. After I find
the string of pearls I want to get back to the king’s palace as soon
as possible, for I am to serve the beautiful princess.” “If that’s the
case,” said the giant, “I think I will go along with you.” And the two
went along together.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen the story.
Reproduction.
2. Talk of different modes of travel known to the children.
3. Hans’ politeness to strangers. Friendliness.
VI.
Preparation.
Hans meets another giant who offers to help him. Recall the first giant
and his aid. Children imagine who the second giant may be.
Narration.
HANS MEETS A SECOND GIANT.
Hans and the first giant went along together until they saw what Hans
thought must be a huge, round stone lying in the road. When, however,
they came up to it, he saw that it was another big giant lying asleep
by the roadside. The hot sun was pouring down upon his face. “Stay
here,” said Hans, “until I can cut a branch from some tree to shade
that poor fellow’s face. The sun is so hot it will soon blister him.”
At these words, the first giant laughed aloud. “Ho, ho!” he cried,
“don’t you know who that is? He is a neighbor of mine. He has such
strong eyes that he can see a fly on a leaf of a tree a mile away.”
The loud laugh of the first giant awoke the sleeping giant, and he
opened his great eyes and stared at Hans. “What are you doing, young
man?” growled he. “Oh, nothing,” said Hans; “I was merely sticking
these branches into the ground so that they might keep the sun out of
your face.” “Bah!” cried the great giant, sitting up. “Did you not know
that my eyes are so strong that I could look the noonday sun straight
in the face?”
“Indeed! Indeed!” said Hans; “what a wonderful giant you must be! I
wish you would come with me. I may need your strong eyes, for I am on
my way to the North Sea to search for an enchanted necklace of pearls
which lies at the bottom of the sea.” “Oh, ho!” said the giant, “if
that’s the case, I think I will go with you.” So Hans and the two big
giants walked on together.
Suggestions.
1. Question to connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. Talk of things that magnify;--spectacles; opera glasses;
microscopes; telescopes. Their uses.
3. The willingness of the great giants to help.
VII.
Preparation.
Hans meets a third giant who goes with him on his journey to the North
Sea.
Recall the other giants and their work. Children imagine who the third
giant may be.
Narration.
HANS MEETS A THIRD GIANT.
Hans and the two big giants went on together. They had not gone more
than three or four miles when Hans spied another great giant sitting
under a tall tree.
As they came up to him the wind blew his hat off his head. “I will
fetch it for you,” cried Hans, as he ran forward after the hat. But,
before he could get to the spot where the hat lay, the big giant
reached out his long arm and himself picked up his hat and put it again
on his head.
At this all three of the huge giants laughed. “Didn’t you know that he
is the giant who can reach five hundred yards?” asked the long-legged
giant. “No,” exclaimed Hans, clapping his hands with delight. “You are
just the giant I need. When I get to the North Sea you can reach down
to the bottom of it and pick up the enchanted necklace of pearls. Will
you not come and help me?” The new giant thought for a minute or two,
and then said, “Oh, yes, I will go along if I can be of any use to you.”
So Hans and the three big giants started gayly forward on their journey
to the North Sea.
Suggestions.
1. Reproduction.
2. Talk about things that lift. Their uses.
3. Obligingness. Recall instances of in “Mother Frost” and in
“Snow-white and Rose-red” stories.
VIII.
Preparation.
Hans meets a fourth giant. Who can this giant be?
Narration.
HANS MEETS A FOURTH GIANT.
Hans and the three big giants had not gone far before Hans saw in the
distance another giant quietly leaning up against a very large rock.
He seemed so deep in thought that he did not see Hans and his fellow
travelers until they came near to where he stood.
Hans noticed that both of this giant’s ears were stopped with cotton.
“Have you earache?” asked Hans. “Perhaps I can do something to ease
your pain.”
“Oh, no,” said the giant, “I merely stuffed cotton into my ears to shut
off some of the sounds about me. I can hear so well that I can tell
what men are saying a hundred miles away from me.”
“What a valuable giant you must be!” exclaimed Hans. “Will you not come
with us? When I get the enchanted necklace of pearls, you can tell me
whether it will be safe to take it back to the king’s palace.”
The giant, being very good-natured, said, “You think you will need me,
do you? Well, I’ll go along.” So Hans and the four big giants walked on.
Suggestions.
1. Talk of things that help us hear:--speaking-tubes, telephones, etc.
2. Taking time to be kind. Instances in other stories of people
stopping to do a kindness.
IX.
Preparation.
The story tells how Hans got the necklace, how the giants helped him,
and how he carried the necklace to the lovely princess.
Recall position of the necklace. The children imagine how the giants
aided Hans.
Narration.
HOW HANS GOT THE NECKLACE.
Hans and the four giants went on until they came to the North Sea. Then
they got a boat and rowed out to the deep water. The giant who could
see so far soon found the place where the necklace lay on the sand at
the bottom of the sea.
Then the giant whose arms were long reached down and picked up the
necklace and laid it in the boat.
Hans and the giants now rowed back to the shore. As soon as they had
landed, the giant who could hear so well took the cotton out of his
right ear and listened to what was being said at the king’s palace. He
heard the people in the palace talking of a grand festival which was
to take place the next night in honor of the birthday of the beautiful
princess.
He told Hans what he had heard, and the giant who could run so fast
stooped down and let Hans climb up and seat himself on his great
shoulders. Away the two sped, faster than a bird could fly. They
reached the palace in time for Hans to give the enchanted necklace of
pearls to the king, just as he was about to seat his beautiful daughter
on a throne beside his own.
The king was so pleased to get the necklace that he at once gave Hans
the office of serving the beautiful princess. Hans served her so
faithfully that she learned to love him dearly, and in time they were
married.
When the old king died, Hans was made king and the beautiful princess
was queen.
Hans, you may be sure, took good care of his old father and mother, and
both he and his queen did everything they could to make all the people
in their kingdom industrious and happy.
Hans persuaded his four friends, the giants, to come and live in his
kingdom and through them it became the richest and most prosperous
country on the face of the earth, so that travelers came from all over
the world to visit it.
Suggestions.
Question to deepen and connect story. Reproduction.
A talk about the four giants and their work.
Everyone helps him who helps himself.
Gratitude to and loving remembrance of parents.
[Illustration]
THE FIR TREE.
I.
Preparation.
The story of a little fir tree that grew in the forest. The story tells
about the pleasant home this little tree had, and yet that it was
discontented.
Recall idea of forest. Explain _discontented_.
The children imagine why the tree was discontented.
Narration.
IN THE FOREST.
Far away in the forest grew a pretty little fir tree. The sun shone on
this little tree. The birds sang to it. The wind kissed it. Other trees
grew around it. The forest was a very pleasant place, and yet the fir
tree was unhappy.
It wanted to be tall and old like the big pines and firs which grew
around it. Sometimes little children came with baskets of berries. They
would sit upon the ground near the fir tree; and as they ate berries,
they chatted merrily. “Is this not a pretty little tree?” they would
say. And the fir tree felt more unhappy than ever because the children
called it little.
Yet all the while it was growing taller and stronger. Still, as it
grew, it would sigh and say, “Oh, how I wish I were as tall as the
other trees! I would spread out my branches on every side. My top
would overlook the wide world. The birds would build their nests in my
branches, and when the wind blew I would gracefully bow my head.”
The tree was so discontented that it took no pleasure in the warm
sunshine, the merry birds, or the rosy clouds that floated over it
morning and evening.
When winter came the snow lay white and glistening upon the ground.
Then a frisky hare came springing along. Right over the little fir
tree it jumped, and oh, how vexed the little fir tree was! Two winters
passed by. When the third winter came the tree was so tall that the
hare had to run around it. But still the foolish tree was discontented
and said, “Oh, if I could only be taller and older! There is nothing
else I wish for in all the world.”
Suggestions.
A talk about fir trees and other evergreens, such as pine and hemlock.
Compare with the fir tree.
Recall another story in which some one picked berries. (“Sweet Rice
Porridge.”)
Talk of berries. Children tell of their experiences in picking
berries. Recall mention of hare in another story. The wind.
Discontent.
II.
Preparation.
The story tells how wood-cutters came to the forest and cut some of the
tallest fir trees.
Recall mention of wood-cutters and their work. The children imagine why
the tallest trees were cut down.
Narration.
THE WOOD-CUTTERS.
In the autumn wood-cutters came to the forest with their shining axes.
They set to work to cut down some of the fir tree’s tall neighbors.
Chop, chop, chop, how their axes flew! And crash! the great trees fell
upon the ground. The wood-cutters chopped off all the branches. How
bare and straight the trees looked!
“I wonder what will happen next,” thought the fir tree. It soon found
out, for all these bare trunks were piled upon wagons which were drawn
out of the forest by horses. “Where can they be going?” thought the fir
tree. “How I wish I knew! How I wish I were going, too!”
In the spring, when the swallows and the storks came back, the fir
tree told them about the wood-cutters’ visit. “Tell me,” it said, “do
you know where those trees were taken?” The swallows said, “We do not
know.” But a wise old stork nodded his head and said, “Yes, I think I
know. I met some new ships as I flew over the sea. These ships had tall
masts that smelt like fir. I think they were the trees you spoke of.”
“What is the sea? What does it look like?” asked the fir tree. “Dear
me,” said the stork, “I cannot stop here to tell you. I must go on to
my home.” And away he flew.
“Cheer up,” said the happy sunbeams to the fir tree. The gentle south
wind kissed it. The dew watered it. But still the fir tree was unhappy.
Suggestions.
Talk about swallows and storks. The return of the birds in spring. The
sea. Ships. Where seen by the children. Appearance of masts and sails;
their uses. Other uses of tall, strong trees.
III.
Preparation.
The story tells that at Christmas time the men came to the forest and
cut down some beautiful young trees. The children imagine why these
trees were cut down at Christmas time.
Narration.
OTHER TREES GO FROM THE FOREST.