FOLKLORE AND FOLKTALES

The term FOLKLORE was invented by English scholar by the name of William John Thomas in 1846. He used the word to denote the tradition, custom, superstition of the uncultured people in a civilized country.

FOLKLORE is a science that embraces observances and customs, notions, beliefs, tradition, superstitions and prejudices of common people.

IMPORTANCE OF FOLKLORE

1.    Important in explaining social history of mankind.

2.    Helpful in the study of comparative mythology and science religion.

3.    Helps in the understanding of the relationship between races and on the development of religion, belief, and ceremonies.

4.    Great assistance to the ethnologist, sociologist, historian and student of comparative mythology. And science of religion.

KINDS OF FOLKLORE

1.    Traditional literature in narrative form.

a.    Folktales

b.    Hero tales

c.    Ballads and song

d.    Legends of places

2.    Traditional customs

a.    Local customs

b.    Astrology

c.    Festival customs

d.    Games

3.    Superstition and beliefs

a.    Witchcraft

b.    Astrology

c.    Superstitious practices

d.    Superstitious beliefs and fancies

4.    FOLK SPEECH

a.    Popular saying

b.    Popular nomenclature

c.    Proverb

d.    Jingles, rhymes, riddles

QUALITIES COMMON TO ALL FOLK LITERATURE

·         Concerned more with action rather than reflection

·         Concerned with physical heroism

·         Concerned with mysterious and powerful influences like gods, giants, heroes, fairies, animals and other supernatural beings.

FOLKTALE

ü  It is a story that, in its plot, is pure fiction and that has no particular location in either time or space. However, despite its elements of fantasy, a folktale is actually a symbolic way of presenting the different means by which human beings cope with the world in which they live. Folktales concern people -- either royalty or common folk -- or animals who speak and act like people...

ü  It refers to a traditional narrative of unknown authorship that has been handed down from generation to generation regardless of its content.

ORIGIN OF FOLKTALES

Two theories of folktales:

1.    All folktales originated in India in the Sacred Book of Buddhism and were transmitted by migration of people, by crusaders and Hebrew gypsies.

2.    Many of the folktales arose independently among people widely separated geographically and historically.

HISTORY OF FOLKTALES

·         Begins at the point at which story teller, folklorist or anthropologist see it down in writing.

·         In 1697, a collection of tales Comtes de ma Mere L ‘Oye or Tales of my Mother Goose appear bearing the name of a Frenchman Charles Perrault.

·         In 1719 translation of Perrault’s Tales was published in England. And became very popular to English speaking children.

·         The real collection of old tales was made by two German brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. They gathered the folktales they heard from the old folks throughout their travel in Germany and published them later, between 1812to 1815.

·         The first translation of the Grimm’s Hausmarchen was made by Edgar Taylor.

·         Peter Absjornsen and Jorgen Moe gathered tales throughout their travel in Norway by talking to old people and published Norwegan Tales in 1842-1843.

·         Their collection was translated into English by George Webber Dasent and issued under the title Popular Tales from the Norse in 1859.

·         In 1949 a systematic collection of folktales appeared in England.

·         James Orchard Halliwell called his work Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales.

·         One of the best nursery tales was The Three Bears  by Robert Southey

·         In the middle of the 19^th Century a large body of folktales became available. The most popular of these Aladin and Sinbad.

PRIMARY CHARACTERISTIC OF FOLKTALES

1.    Has no known individual author

2.    Has no fixed or original form

3.    Has brief introduction

4.    Adapted to many age

5.    Has simple plot and is easy to remember

6.    Characters appeal to both children and adult

7.    Has element of magic that appears to children

VALUES OF FOLKTALE

1.    Gives pleasure and enjoyment to children

2.    Stirs the imagination

3.    Gives insight into life

4.    Use for dramatization

5.    Use for illustration

6.    Develops ear training

7.    Plays a role in the emotional development of children

8.    Develops confidence and courage in children against fear of the unknown

TYPES OF FOLKTALES

1.    Accumulative or Repetitional tale is the simplest tale. It has simple plot and rhythmical pattern.

2.    Talking Beast Stories in which animal talk with other animal and human being. often animals are exaggerated  characteristics of human being.

3.    Drolls or Humorous Stories it is story about sillies and numbskull. They are meant for fun and non sense

4.    Myth is a sacred story from the past. It may explain the origin of the universe and of life, or it may express its culture's moral values in human terms. Myths concern the powers that control the human world and the relationship between those powers and human beings. Although myths are religious in their origin and function, they may also be the earliest form of history, science, or philosophy.

5.    Epics and hero Tales sometimes written in verse, sometimes in prose and other are in ballads. It exploits of a hero and his heroic acts embody the moral code of country.

6.    Legend is a story from the past about a subject that was, or is believed to have been, historical. Legends concern people, places, and events. Usually, the subject is a saint, a king, a hero, a famous person, or a war. A legend is always associated with a particular place and a particular time in history.

7.    Fables is a fictitious stories about an animal or inanimate object which behave like human being and has one dominant traits.

8.    Fairy Tales (old) include a wide variety of folktales.it is based on the element of magic or the supernatural.

9.    Religious Tales rarely found on children’s collection. It is either comical or didactic.

10. Romance Tales is remote and impersonal. Enchantments and impossible task separate folktales lovers and magic brings them together.

11. Realistic Stories are those stories that are improbable but possible.

The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in the streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the father that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin did not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets as usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he were not the son of Mustapha the tailor.

"I am, sir," replied Aladdin, "but he died a long while ago." On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his neck and kissed him, saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from your likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming."

Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly found uncle.

"Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead."

However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of the country. He then turned to Aladdin, and asked him his trade, at which the boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for him and stock it with merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes, and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see her son so fine.

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They then journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant stories, and led him on in spite of himself.

At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley.

"We will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show you something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire."

When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down.

"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician said more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you."

At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily and some steps appeared.

"Go down," said the magician; "at the foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on till you come to a niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains and bring it to me."

He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:

"Make haste and give me the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into its place.

The magician left Persia for ever, which plainly showed that he was no uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician who had read in his magic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:

"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things."

Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he came to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality precious stones. He then asked for some food.

"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton and will go and sell it."

Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:

"Fetch me something to eat!"

The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said:

"Whence comes this splendid feast?"

"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin.

So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do with devils.

"No," said Aladdin, "since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we will use it and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my finger." When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on till none were left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived for many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess so deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask her in marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizier and the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a week, and stood in the same place.

When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizier: "I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what she wants."

Next day, at a sign from the vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want."

She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizier, and bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might say. She then told him of her son's violent love for the princess.

"I prayed him to forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son Aladdin."

The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them.

He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier said: "What sayest thou? Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such a price?"

The vizier, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son would contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not appear before him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on.

"Do you not know," was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir is to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?"

Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie appeared, saying: "What is thy will?"

Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the vizier's son is to have the princess. My command is that tonight you bring hither the bride and bridegroom."

"Master, I obey," said the genie.

Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight the genie transported the bed containing the vizier's son and the princess.

"Take this new-married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak."

Whereupon the genie took the vizier's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the princess.

"Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you."

The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The unhappy vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would not say a word, and was very sorrowful.

The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, that you will not speak to your father? What has happened?"

The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her rise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizier's son if it were not so. The Sultan told the vizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and asked the vizier's advice, who counseled him to set so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it.

The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost.

She gave Aladdin the message, adding, "He may wait long enough for your answer!"

"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied "I would do a great deal more than that for the princess."

He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small house and garden.

Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan.

He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son that I wait for him with open arms."

She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin first called the genie.

"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses."

No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome.

When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the princess that very day.

But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and took his leave.

Once home he said to the genie, "Build me a palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all except one, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go and see about it!"

The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with music and cheers. She was taken to the princess, who saluted her and treated her with great honor. At night the princess said good-bye to her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her.

"Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you."

She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in this matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which they danced till midnight.

The next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, with their rubies, diamonds, and emeralds, he cried:

"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished?"

"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have the glory of finishing this palace."

The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the others.

"Sir," replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough."

The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin, knowing that their task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, and the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was surprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin, who showed him the window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizier meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, but remained modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and content for several years.

But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and traveled night and day 'till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a marvelous palace.

"Forgive my ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?"

"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the greatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to see it."

The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew that it had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad with rage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followed by a jeering crowd.

The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so that the princess scolded her.

"Madam," replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?"

Another slave, hearing this, said, "There is an old one on the cornice there which he can have."

Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange.

She went and said to the magician, "Give me a new lamp for this."

He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of the crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out of the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained 'till nightfall, when he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the magician's command carried him, together with the palace and the princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa.

The next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizier, and asked what had become of the palace. The vizier looked out too, and was lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and this time the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner made Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to strike.

At that instant the vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd.

Aladdin now begged to know what he had done.

"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from the window the place where his palace had stood.

Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word.

"Where is my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For the first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and you must find her or lose your head."

Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if he failed to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore.

The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will.

"Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back."

"That is not in my power," said the genie; "I am only the slave of the ring; you must ask the slave of the lamp."

"Even so," said Aladdin "but thou canst take me to the palace, and set me down under my dear wife's window." He at once found himself in Africa, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheer weariness.

He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it.

That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women looked out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window, and at the noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again.

After he had kissed her Aladdin said, "I beg of you, Princess, in God's name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting."

"Alas!" she said "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him of the exchange of the lamp.

"Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African magician for this! Where is the lamp?"

"He carries it about with him," said the princess, "I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my tears. If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence."

Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while. He changed clothes with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door.

"Put on your most beautiful dress," he said to her, "and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what to do."

She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself gaily for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and head-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked more beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great amazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa."

The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his as a sign she was reconciled to him.

Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the princess cut him short saying:

"Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards." She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless.

The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two little shocks, and little thought she was at home again.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side. Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not to be.

The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He traveled to China to avenge his brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death. He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put on her veil and murdered her, that she might tell no tales. Then he went towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on round him that the princess bade her slave look out of the window and ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had done the princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him the hall, and asked him what he thought of it.

"It is truly beautiful," said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants but one thing."

"And what is that?" said the princess.

"If only a roc's egg," replied he, "were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the world."

After this the princess could think of nothing but a roc's egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humor. He begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome.

"It that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy."

He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook.

"Wretch!" he cried, "is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes; but this request does not come from you, but from the brother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it was who put that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you." So saying the genie disappeared.

Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart.

"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holy woman!"

"Not so," replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.

THE GINGERBREAD BOY

A little old woman and a little old man once lived all alone in a little old house in the country. One morning the little old woman decided to make a gingerbread boy.

When the little old woman opened the oven to see whether the gingerbread boy was done, out jumped the little gingerbread boy, looking all brown and good to eat. He saw that the door of the house was open, and he ran away as fast as his legs would carry him.

The little old woman and the little old man ran after him as fast as they could.

The little gingerbread boy laughed, and called to them:

"I am a gingerbread boy, I am. 
I can run away from you, I can

And the little old woman and the little old man could not catch him.

The little gingerbread boy ran on and on, until he came to a cow by the roadside.

"Stop, little gingerbread boy," said the cow; "you look good to eat."

The little gingerbread boy laughed and called to the cow:

"I am a gingerbread boy, I am,
I've run away from a little old woman and a little old man.
I can run away from you, I Can."

And the cow ran after the gingerbread boy, but couldn't catch him.

The little gingerbread boy ran on, and on, until he came to a horse in a pasture.

"Please stop, little gingerbread boy," said the horse, "you look very good to eat." But the little gingerbread boy laughed out loud, and called to the horse:

"I am a gingerbread boy, I am.
I've run away from a little old woman and a little old man, and a cow.
I can run away from you, I can."

And the horse ran after the gingerbread boy, but couldn't catch him.

By and by, the little gingerbread boy came to a barn full of threshers.

"Don't run so fast, little gingerbread boy," cried the threshers, "you look very good to eat." But the little gingerbread boy laughed louder than ever, and as he ran he called to the threshers:

"I am a gingerbread boy, I am.
I've run away from a little old woman and a little old man, and a cow, and a horse.
I can run away from you, I Can."

And the threshers ran after the gingerbread boy, but couldn't catch him.

Then the little gingerbread boy hurried on until he came to a field full of mowers.

"Wait a bit.' wait a bit, little gingerbread boy," called the mowers, "you look very good to eat." But the little gingerbread boy ran faster than ever and called to the mowers:

"I am a gingerbread boy, I am.
I've run away from a little old woman and a little old man, and a cow, and a
horse, and a barn full of threshers.
I can run away from you, I can."

And the mowers ran after the gingerbread boy, but couldn't catch him.

Soon the little gingerbread boy saw a fox lying quietly near a fence.
"Where are you going?" asked the fox, without getting up. But the little gingerbread boy didn't answer him. He ran on, and called:

"I am a gingerbread boy, I am.
I've run away from a little old woman and a little old man, and a cow, and a horse, and a barn full of threshers, and a field full of mowers.
I can run away from you, I can."

"I would not catch you if I could," said the fox. But the fox ran after him. On and on ran the little gingerbread boy until he came to a river, and the fox was close behind. The gingerbread boy could not swim. "Jump on my tail, and I'll take you across," said the sly old fox.

So the little gingerbread boy jumped on the fox's tail, and the fox began swimming across the river. But the fox had gone only a few strokes when he turned his head and said: "You are heavy on my tail, and you may fall off. Jump on my back."

So the little gingerbread boy jumped on the fox's back. After swimming a little farther, the fox said: "I'm afraid you will get wet on my back. Jump on my shoulder."

So the little gingerbread boy jumped on the fox's shoulder. When they were near the other side of the river, the fox said: "My shoulder is tired. Jump on my nose."

So the little gingerbread boy jumped on the fox's nose. But just then they reached the other bank. The sly old fox opened his mouth wide and in went the little gingerbread boy!

"Dear me!" said the gingerbread boy, "I am one-quarter gone." And then he said: "Now, I'm half gone!" And then, "I'm three-quarters gone!" And then he said: "Oh, dear; I'm all gone."'

And the little gingerbread boy was all gone.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

There was once a boy called Jack who was brave and quick-witted. He lived with his mother in a small cottage and their most valuable possession was their cow, Milky-White. But the day came when Milky-White gave them no milk and Jack's mother said she must be sold.

"Take her to market," she told Jack, "and mind you get a good price for her."

So Jack set out to market leading Milky-White by her halter. After a while he sat down to rest by the side of the road. An old man came by and Jack told him where he was going.

"Don't bother to go to the market,"

the old man said. "Sell your cow to me. I will pay you well. Look at these beans. Only plant them, and overnight you will find you have the finest bean plants in all the world. You'll be better offwith these beans than with an old cow or money. Now, how many is five, Jack?"

"Two in each hand and one in your mouth," replied Jack, as sharp as a needle.

"Right you are, here are five beans," said the old man and he handed the beans to Jack and took Milky-White's halter.

When he reached home, his mother said, "Back so soon, Jack? Did you get a good price for Milky-White?"

Jack told her how he had exchanged the cow for five beans and before he could finish his account, his mother started to shout and box his ears. "You lazy good-for-nothing boy!" she screamed, "How could you hand over our cow for five old beans? What will we live on now? We shall starve to death, you stupid boy."

She flung the beans through the open window and sent Jack to bed without his

supper.

When Jack woke the next morning there was a strange green light in his room. All he could see from, the window was green leaves. A huge beanstalk had shot up overnight. It grew higher than he could see. Quickly Jack got dressed and stepped out of the window right onto the beanstalk and started to climb.

"The old man said the beans would grow overnight," he thought. "They must indeed be very special beans."

Higher and higher Jack climbed until at last he reached the top and found himselfon a strange road. Jack followed it until he came to a great castle where he could smell the most delicious breakfast. Jack was hungry. It had been a long climb and he had had nothing to eat since midday the day before. Just as he reached the door of the castle he nearly tripped over the feet of an enormous woman.

"Here, boy," she called. "What are you doing? Don't you know my husband likes to eat boys for breakfast? It's lucky I have already fried up some bacon and mushrooms for him today, or I'd pop you in the frying pan. He can eat you tomorrow, though."

"Oh, please don't let him eat me," pleaded Jack. "I only came to ask you for a bite to eat. It smells so delicious."

Now the giant's wife had a kind heart and did not really enjoy cooking boys for breakfast, so she gave Jack a bacon sandwich. He was still eating it when the ground began to shake with heavy footsteps, and a loud voice boomed: "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum."

"Quick, hide!" cried the giant's wife and she pushed Jack into the oven. "After breakfast, he'll fall asleep," she whispered. "That is when you must creep away." She left the oven door open a crack so that jack could see into the room. Again the terrible rumbling voice came:

"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum,

I smell the blood of an Englishman,

Be he alive or be he dead,

I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

A huge giant came into the room. "Boys, boys, I smell boys," he shouted. "Wife, have I got a boy for breakfast today?"

"No, dear," she said soothingly. "You have got bacon and mushrooms. You must still be smelling the boy you ate last week." The giant sniffed the air suspiciously but at last sat down. He wolfed his breakfast of bacon and mushrooms, drank a great bucketful of steaming tea and crunched up a massive slice of toast. Then he fetched a couple of bags of gold from a cupboard and started counting gold coins. Before long he dropped off to sleep.

Quietly Jack crept out of the oven.

Carefully he picked up two gold coins and ran as fast as he could to the top of the beanstalk. He threw the gold clown to his mother's garden and climbed after it. At the bottom he found his mother looking in amazement at the gold coins and the beanstalk. Jack told her of his adventures in the giant's castle and when she examined the gold she realized he must be speaking the truth.

Jack and his mother used the gold to buy food. But the day came when the money ran out, and Jack decided to climb the beanstalk again.

It was all the same as before, the long climb, the road to the castle, the smell of breakfast and the giant's wife. But she was not so friendly this time.

"Aren't you the boy who was here before," she asked, "on the day that some gold was stolen from under my husband's nose?"

But Jack convinced her she was wrong and in time her heart softened again and she gave him some breakfast. Once more as:ack was eating the ground shuddered and the great voice boomed: "Tee, Fi, Fo, Fum." Quickly, ackjumped into the oven.

As he entered, the giant bellowed:

"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum,

I smell the blood of cm Englishman,

Be he alive or be he dead,

I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

The giant's wife put a plate of sizzling sausages before him, telling him he must be mistaken. After breakfast the giant fetched a hen from a back room. Every time he said "Lay!" the hen laid an egg of solid gold.

"I must steal that hen, if I can," thought Jack, and he waited until the giant fellasleep. Then he slipped out of the oven, snotched up the and rim for the top of the beanstalk. Keeping the hen under one arm, he scrambled Jack and the Beanstalk clown as fast as he could until he reached the bottom. Jack's mother was waiting but she was not pleased when she saw the hen.

"Another of your silly ideas, is it, bringing an old hen when you might have brought us some gold? I don't know, what is to be done with you?"

Then jack set the hen down carefully, and cornmanded "Lay!" just as the giant had done. To his mother's surprise the hen laid an egg of solid gold.

Jack and his mother now lived in great luxury. But in time Jack became a little bored and decided to climb the beanstalk again.

This time he did not risk talking to the giant's wife in case she recognized him. He slipped into the kitchen when she was not looking, and hid himself in the log basket. He watched the giant's wife prepare breakfast and then he heard the giant's roar:

"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum,

I smell the blood of an Englishman,

Be he alive or be he dead,

I'll grind his bones to make my bread."

"If it's that cheeky boy who stole your gold and our magic hen, then help you catch him," said the giant's wife. "Why don't we look in the oven? It's my guess he'll be hiding there."

You may be sure that jack was glad he was not in the oven. The giant and his wife hunted high and low but never thought to look in the log basket. At last they gave up and the giant sat down to breakfast.

After he had eaten, the giant fetched a harp. When he commanded "Play!" the harp played the most beautiful music. Soon the giant fell asleep, and jack crept out of the log basket. Quickly he snatched up the harp and ran. But the harp called out loudly, "Master, save me! Save me!" and the giant woke. With a roar of rage he chased after Jack.

Jack raced down the road towards the beanstalk with the giant's footsteps thundering behind him. When he reached the top of the beanstalk he threw down the harp and started to slither down after it.

The giant followed, and now the whole beanstalk shook and shuddered with his weight, and Jack feared for his life. At last he reached the ground, and seizing an axe he chopped at the beanstalk with all his might. Snap!

"Look out, mother!" he called as the giant came tumbling clown, head first. He lay dead at their feet with the beanstalk on the ground beside them. The harp was broken, but the hen continued to lay golden eggs for Jack and his mother and they lived happily and in great comfort for a long, long time.

Brer Rabbit's Christmas

Joel Chandler Harris

Once upon a bright clear winter morning Brer Fox stole into Brer Rabbit's garden and dug up a big sackful of his best carrots.

Brer Rabbit didn't see him as he was visiting his friend Brer Bear at the time. When he got home he was mighty angry to see his empty carrot-patch.

"Brer Fox! That's who's been here," cried Brer Rabbit, and his whiskers twitched furiously. "Here are his paw marks and some hairs from his tail. All my best winter carrots gone! I'll make him give them back or my name's not Brer Rabbit."

He went along, lippity lip, clippity clip, and his little nose wrinkled at the fragrant smell of soup coming from Brer Fox's house.

"Now see here," he called crossly. "I just know it's my carrots you're cooking. I want them back so you'd better open your door."

"Too bad," chuckled Brer Fox. "I'm not opening my door until winter is over. I have plenty of carrots thanks to my kind friend Brer Rabbit, and a stack of other food for Christmas as well. I'm keeping my windows shut and my door bolted, so do go away. I want to enjoy my first bowl of carrot soup in peace."

At this, Brer Rabbit kicked the door, blim blam! He hammered on the door, bangety bang! It wasn't any use. My, he was in a rage as he turned away. Kind friend Brer Rabbit indeed! He stomped off, muttering furiously. But soon he grew thoughtful, then he gave a hop or two followed by a little dance. By the time he reached home he was in a mighty good temper. Brer Rabbit had a plan all worked out. He'd get his carrots back and annoy Brer Fox into the bargain!

On Christmas Eve, Brer Rabbit heaved a sack of stones on his shoulder and climbed

up onto Brer Fox's roof. He clattered round the chimney making plenty of noise.

"Who's there?" Brer Fox called. "Go away at once. I'm cooking my supper."

"It's Father Christmas," replied Brer Rabbit in a gruff voice. "I've brought a sack full of presents for Brer Fox."

"Oh, that's different," said Brer Fox quickly. "You're most welcome. Come right along down the chimney."

"I can't. I'm stuck," Brer Rabbit said in his gruff Father Christmas voice. Brer Fox unbolted his door and went outside to take a look. Certainly he could see somebody on the roof so he rushed back inside and called,

"Well, Father Christmas, don't trouble to come down the chimney yourself. Just drop the sack of presents and I'll surely catch it."

"Can't. That's stuck too," yelled Brer Rabbit and he smiled to himself. "You'll have to climb up inside your chimney, Brer Fox, then catch hold of the piece of string around the sack and you can haul it down yourself."

"That's easy," Brer Fox cried, "here I come," and he disappeared up the chimney.

Like lightning, Brer Rabbit was off that roof and in through the open doorway. There were his carrots in a sack, and on the table was a fine cooked goose and a huge Christmas pudding. He grabbed them both, stuffed them into the sack and ran. Chickle, chuckle, how he did run.

That old Brer Fox struggled up the chimney, higher and higher. He couldn't see any string but he felt it hanging down so he gave a big tug.

The sack opened and out tumbled all the stones, clatter bang, bim bam, right on Brer Fox's head. My, my, he certainly went down that chimney quickly. Poor Brer Fox! He'd lost his Christmas dinner and the carrots, and now he had a sore head. That rascally Brer Rabbit laughed and laughed but he made sure he kept out of Brer Fox's way all that Christmas Day and for some time afterwards.

Beauty and the Beast

Madame de Beaumont

A rich merchant who had three sons and three daughters lived in a big house in the city. His Youngest daughter was so beautiful she was called Beauty by all who knew her. She was as sweet and good as she was beautiful. Sadly all of the merchant's ships were lost at sea and he and his family had to move to a small cottage in the country. His sons worked hard on the land and Beauty was happy working in the house, but his two elder daughters complained and grumbled all day long, especially about Beauty.

One day news came that a ship had arrived which would make the merchant wealthy again. The merchant set off to the city, and just before he left he said, "Tell me, daughters, what gifts would you like me to bring back for you?"

The two older girls asked for fine clothes and jewels, but Beauty wanted nothing . Realizing this made her sisters look greedy, she thought it best to ask for something. "Bring me a rose, father," she said, "just a beautiful red rose."

When the merchant reached the city he found disaster had struck once more and the ship's cargo was ruined. He took the road home wondering how to break the news to his children. He was so deep in thought that he lost his way. Worse still, it started to snow, and he feared he would never reach home alive. Just as he despaired he noticed lights ahead, and riding towards them he saw a fine castle. The gates stood open and flares were alight in the courtyard.

In the stables a stall empty with hay in the manger and clean bedding on the floor

ready for his horse.

The castle itself seemed to be deserted, but a fire was burning in the dining-hall where a table was laid with food. The merchant ate well and still finding no one went upstairs to a bedroom which had been prepared. " It is almost as if I were expected," he thought.

In the morning he found clean clothes had been laid out for him and breakfast was on the table in the dining - hall. After he had eaten he fetched his horse and as he rode away he saw a spray of red roses growing from a rose bush. Remembering Beauty's request, and thinking he would be able to bring a present for at least one daughter, he plucked a rose from the bush. Suddenly a beast-like monster appeared. "Is this how you repay my hospitality?" it roared. "You eat my food, sleep in my guest-room and then insult me by stealing my flowers. You shall die for this."

The merchant pleaded for his life, and begged to see his children once more before he died. At last the beast relented. "I will spare your life," it said, "if one of your daughters will come here willingly and die for you. Otherwise you must promise to return within three months and die yourself."The merchant agreed to return and went on his way. At home his children listened with sorrow to his tales of the lost cargo and his promise to the monster. His two elder daughters turned on Beauty, saying, "Your stupid request for a rose has brought all this trouble on us. It is your fault that father must die." When the three months were up Beauty insisted on going to the castle with her father, pretending only to ride with him for company on the journey. The beast met them, and asked Beauty if she had come of her own accord, and she told him she had.

"Good," he said. "Now your father can go home and you will stay with me."

"What shall I call you?" she asked bravely.

"You may call me Beast," he replied.

Certainly he was very ugly and it seemed a good name for him. Beauty waved a sad farewell to her father. But she was happy that at least she had saved his life.

As Beauty wandered through the castle she found many lovely rooms and beautiful courtyards with gardens. At last she came to a room which was surely meant just for her. It had many ofher favourite books and objects in it. On the wall hung a beautiful mirror and to her surprise, as she looked into it, she saw her father arriving back at their home and her brothers and sisters greeting him. The picture only lasted a few seconds then faded. "This Beast may be ugly, but he is certainly kind," she thought. "He gives me all the things I like and allows me to know how my family is without me."

That night at supper the Beast joined her at the candle-lit table. He sat and stared at her. At the end of the meal he asked: "Will you marry me?"

Beauty was startled by the question but said as gently as she could, "No, Beast, you are kind but I cannot marry you."

Each day it was the same. Beauty had everything she wanted during the day and each evening the Beast asked her to marry him, and she always said no. One night Beauty dreamt that her father lay sick. She asked the Beast if she could go to him, and he refused saying that if she left him he would die of loneliness. But when he saw how unhappy Beauty was, he said:

"If you go to your family, will you return within a week?"

"Of course," Beauty replied.

"Very well, just place this ring on your dressing table the night you wish to return, and you shall come back here. But do not stay away longer than a week, or I shall die."

The next morning Beauty awoke to find herself in her own home. Her father was indeed sick, but Beauty nursed him lovingly. Beauty's sisters were jealous once more. They thought that if she stayed at home longer than a week the Beast would kill her. So they pretended to love her and told her how much they had missed her. Before Beauty knew what had happened ten days had passed. Then she had a dream that the Beast was lying still as though he were dead by the lake near his castle.

"I must return at once," she cried and she placed her ring on the dressing table.

The next morning she found herself once more in the Beast's castle. All that day she expected to see him, but he never came. "I have killed the Beast," she cried, "I have killed him." Then she remembered that in her dream he had been by the lake and quickly she ran there. He lay still as death, down by the water's edge.

"Oh, Beast!" she wept, "Oh, Beast! I did not mean to stay away so long. Please do not die. Please come back to me. You are so good and kind." She knelt and kissed his ugly head.

Suddenly no Beast was there, but a handsome prince stood before her. "Beauty, my dear one," he said. "I was bewitched by a sell that could only be broken when a beautiful girl loved me and wanted me in spite of my ugliness. When you kissed me just now you broke the enchantment."

Beauty rode with the prince to her father's house and then they all went together to the prince's kingdom. There he and Beauty were married. In time they became king and queen, and ruled for many happy years.

Jack the Giant Killer                                               English Fairy Tale Once upon a time, in a cave on the top of a mountain in Cornwall, in England, there lived a giant named Cormoran. If three tall men stood one on top of another, they would be the height of this giant. He was so fat, too, that it would take some time to walk around him. At the foot of this mountain where the giant lived there were several farms. When the giant wanted a meal, he strode down the hillside and robbed the farmers. Sometimes he carried off half a dozen oxen and a dozen sheep at a time. The oxen he slung over his shoulders and the sheep he tied around his waist. The poor farmers were almost ruined, when a brave boy, called Jack, the son of one of them, determined to put an end to the giant's visits. One dark night, Jack dug a pit at the foot of the mountain. Across the mouth of the pit he laid sticks, and mud, and straw, until no one could know there was a pit beneath. Early the next morning, Jack blew his cowhorn loudly and the giant woke with a start. "Who is disturbing me at this time of day?" he asked, and, dressing quickly, he strode down the mountainside. At the foot of the mountain, on a big stone, sat Jack. "It was you who woke me, was it?" roared the giant, catching sight of the farmer's son. "Well, you shall pay for it," and he dashed forward. But the earth gave way beneath him and in a moment he was lying at the bottom of the pit. Jack came to the edge of the pit, sat down, and laughed at the despair of the giant, who slowly picked himself up. When he stood on tiptoe, only his head appeared above the pit. This was Jack's chance. He seized his axe and with one blow struck off the giant's head. oon all around the countryside it was known how clever and brave Jack had been. The people were all very proud of him and gave him a sword and a belt. On the belt was embroidered, in letters of gold: This is the valiant Cornishman Who slew the giant Cormoran. And this is how Jack got the name Jack the Giant-Killer. After this adventure, Jack made up his mind to kill as many wicked giants as he could. One day, a few weeks later, Jack set out on his travels. Late that afternoon he reached a forest. Through the trees he spied a castle. He asked to whom it belonged, and was told that the giant Blunderbore owned it and was living in it. This was good news for Jack, but since he was tired he sat down to rest before going- to the caste. kJe was trying to plan an attack upon the giant when he fell fast asleep. Jack had not been asleep very long when Blunderbore came by. Since he had just had dinner he might have passed the sleeping boy, but he noticed the writing on his belt. "This is the valiant Cornishman Who slew the giant Cormoran," read Blunderbore. "Ha-ha!" he said, as he picked Jack up and put him in his pocket. When Jack woke, and found himself there, he was so terrified that he shook from top to toe. When the giant felt him tremble, he knew he was awake. "Ha-ha, he-he, ho-ho! So you killed my brother Cormoran, did you? Now I'll kill you. Ha-ha, he-he, ho-ho!" And the giant laughed so loudly that Jack felt as if he were in the middle of an earthquake. When they reached the castle, Blunderbore locked Jack in an upstairs room. Then hewent off to fetch another giant who lived in the same forest. Left alone, Jack looked around the room, determined to find some way of escape. But he could not. However, in one corner of the room there was a bundle of rope. An idea struck Jack. He unrolled the rope and made two slip knots. Then he stood at the window and watched. At last he saw what he was waiting for. The two giants were coming along slowly, arm in arm. The path along which they walked passed close under Jack's window. As they drew near, Jack heard Blunderbore say, "I found a plump lad in the forest this morning. We'll have him for breakfast tomorrow." Will you indeed? thought Jack, and at that moment the two giants were beneath his window. Jack, quick as lightning, flung down the rope with its slip knots. One knot passed over the head of Blunderbore, and one over the head of his friend. Jack pulled with might and main and in two minutes both giants were strangled. Then Jack let himself down from the window by the remainder of the rope. He took the keys from Blunderbore's pockets and unlocked the doors of the rooms where many knights and ladies were imprisoned. As he opened each door he made a low bow, and said, "My lords and ladies, the castle is now yours." Then he went on his way. After Jack passed through the forest and climbed over a mountain he found himself in a lonely valley. He was hoping a cottage was near, where he might rest for the night, when, turning a corner, he found himself in front of a castle. He was too tired to go farther so he knocked at the door. It was opened by a giant with two heads. When Jack saw this two-headed giant he remembered he had heard that he was the owner of four valuable things—a wonderful coat, a remarkable cap, an amazing sword, and a fantastic pair of shoes. The coat made the wearer invisible. The cap told him whatever he wanted to know. The sword could cut through anything. The shoes could rush as quickly as the wind. Jack made up his mind to get them. "It is worthwhile risking a good deal to possess these marvelous things," said Jack to himself. Jack told the giant that he was a traveler who had lost his way. The giant welcomed him kindly and led him to a room where there was a good bed. Tired as he was, Jack could not go to sleep. Soon he heard the giant walking about in the next room and repeating to himself: "Though here with me you lodge tonight, You shall not see the morning light; My club shall dash your brains outright." "We'll see about that," said Jack to himself. He got out of bed and groped round the dark room. In the fireplace he found a log. He put the log in the bed and hid himself in a corner. Soon the door opened and the two-headed giant came in. "I'll make short work of you," he said, and he brought down his club upon Jack's pillow. "Now I've battered his brains," the giant muttered and left the room satisfied. The next morning, Jack walked into the room where the giant sat at breakfast. Of course the giant could hardly believe his four eyes when he saw him, but he pretended not to be surprised. "I hope you slept well," he said. "Pretty well, thank you," answered Jack. "I was disturbed a little. Perhaps there were rats in the room. Certainly I 1-icarcl something." The giant was very puzzled. How could he have delivered that blow with his club, and yet not have killed Jack? That was a question he could not answer, but he hoped to find out. Jack was right in thinking he might be invited to breakfast. He had fastened a leather bag beneath his coat, for he supposed the giant would expect him to eat a good deal. He sat opposite his host, who helped him to a large plateful of hasty pudding, then another, and another. Now Jack ate very little and put most of the pudding into his leather bag when the giant was not looking. After breakfast Jack said to the giant, "Can you cut yourself open without harm?" and he ripped open the leather bag with a knife, and the pudding fell out. The giant did not like to be outdone, so he said, "Of course I can cut myself open, if you can." With these words, he plunged his knife into himself and fell down dead. And so it was that Jack became the possessor of the wonderful coat, the remarkable cap, the amazing sword, and the fantastic shoes. Once more Jack started on his travels, and once more he reached a lonely castle and asked for a night's lodging. This time he was welcomed by many knights and ladies, who invited him to have supper with them. It was a merry company and Jack was enjoying himself thoroughly when a messenger rushed in to say that a two-headed giant was on his way to the castle. Now this castle was surrounded by a deep moat. To reach it or to leave the nioat had to be crossed by going over a drawbridge. Jack quickly set men to work to saw the drawbridge nearly through, so that it could bear no heavy weight. Next he put on his wonderful coat that made him invisible, and his fantastic shoes that could carry him as fast as the wind. Then he crossed the bridge to meet the giant, carrying in his hand the amazing sword that could cut through anything. The giant could not see Jack because he wore his invisible coat. But he sniffed the air, and sang in a loud voice: "Fe, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman; Be he alive, or he he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread." "Oh, will you indeed. You must catch me first," said Jack. Then throwing off his coat, he ran before the giant, and every now and again he all but let himself be caught. Then he made good use of his shoes of swiftness and in a moment was beyond reach. The giant grew more and more furious as he chased Jack all around the castle. The lords and ladies watched the chase from one of the towers. They clapped their hands with delight as they saw Jack lead the giant such a dance. At last Jack crossed the drawbridge. The giant followed, but beneath his heavy weight the sawn bridge snapped and he was hurled headlong into the moat below. Jack now stood on the edge of the moat, laughing. "I thought you were going to grind my bones to make your bread, eh?" asked Jack. The giant foamed with rage, but could say nothing. Then Jack ordered a strong rope to be brought. He threw it over the two heads of the giant, and with the help of a team of horses dragged him to the edge of the moat. Next Jack drew his magic sword and cut off both heads. Ringing cheers of "Long live Jack the Giant-Killer!" echoed through the castle. fter spending some time with the knights and ladies, Jack set out on his last adventure. He went over hills and dales without meeting anyone. Finally, he came to a little hut at the foot of a high mountain. Jack knocked at the door. It was opened by an old man with hair as white as snow. "I have lost my way, good father," said Jack. "I wonder if you can give me a night's lodging." "Come in," said the old man, "if you can be content with humble fare." Jack said he would be grateful for a meal of any kind, and gladly ate the bread and fruit which were set before him. After supper the old man said solemnly, "A task lies before you, my son, for your belt tells me that you are Jack the Giant-Killer. At the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle. It belongs to a giant called Galligantus. He, with the help of a magician, changes into a beast each knight and fair lady who approaches his castle, and those who are not so changed are devoured by two fiery dragons which guard the gates. But, worse still, some time ago Galligantus and the magician strolled into the garden of a duke who lives in a neighboring valley. There they saw the duke's beautiful daughter gathering honeysuckle flowers. The magician spoke a magic word, and instantly a chariot, drawn by the two fiery dragons, appeared in the garden. The giant seized the lady, placed her in the chariot, and the dragons drew her through the air to the enchanted castle. There she was changed into a deer, and a deer she must remain until the enchantment is broken. This is the task that lies before you, my son." "And I go to it gladly'," said Jack. The next morning Jack put on his remarkable cap, his wonderful coat, his fantastic shoes, and carried his amazing sword. Then he wished himself at the castle gate. He was there in a moment, but because of his invisible coat the fiery dragons did not see him. On the gate hung a golden trumpet. Under it were written these words: Whoever can this trumpet blow Shall cause the giant's overthrow. As soon as Jack read this, he seized the trumpet and blew a shrill blast. The gates at once flew open and Jack entered the castle. The giant and the magician were speechless, and unable to move, for they knew that the blast of the golden horn heralded their doom. Jack lost no time in drawing his magic sword and in a moment the giant Galligantus lay dead before him. Just as he fell, a whirlwind rushed through the castle, carrying away the magician. And a moment later all the birds and beasts in the castle became the knights and ladies that they had been before, and the sad-looking deer was again the duke's beautiful daughter who had been gathering honeysuckle flowers in her father's garden. Then all the knights and ladies and the duke's daughter and Jack came bounding down the mountainside in delight. When they looked around, the castle had vanished. At the foot of the mountain, the old man welcomed them joyfully. After he had given them refreshment, they all traveled together to the court of the king. There Jack told of his wonderful adventures with Cormoran, with Blunderbore, with the two-headed giant who killed himself, with the two-headed giant who fell into the moat, and with Galligantus. Jack's fame soon spread through the whole country and not long afterward the duke said to him, "I should like you to marry my daughter." Since this was what Jack wanted to do more than anything in the world, he was very happy. For the rest of his life he lived in peace, although he was always known far and wide as Jack the Giant-Killer. The Little Red Hen English Traditional Once upon a time there was a little red hen. She lived with a pig, a duck and a cat. They all lived in a pretty little house which the little red hen liked to keep clean and tidy. The little red hen worked hard at her jobs all day. The others never helped. Although they said they meant to, they were all far too lazy. The pig liked to grunt in the mud outside, the duck used to swim in the pond all day, and the cat enjoyed lying in the sun, purring. One day the little red hen was working in the garden when she found a grain of corn. "Who will plant this grain of corn?" she asked. "Not I," grunted the pig from his muddy patch in the garden. "Not I," quacked the duck from her pond. "Not I," purred the cat from his place in the sun. So the little red hen went to look for a nice bit of earth, scratched it with her feet and planted the grain of corn. During the summer the grain of corn grew. First it grew into a tall green stalk, then it ripened in the sun until it had turned a lovely golden colour. The little red hen saw that the corn was ready for cutting. "Who will help me cut the corn?" asked the little red hen. "Not I," grunted the pig from his muddy patch in the garden. "Not I," quacked the duck from her pond. "Not I," purred the cat from his place in the sun. "Very well then, I will cut it myself," said the little red hen. Carefully she cut the stalk and took out all the grains of corn from the husks. "Who will take the corn to the mill, so that it can be ground into flour?" asked the little red hen. "Not I," grunted the pig from his muddy patch in the garden. "Not I," quacked the duck from her pond. "Not I," purred the cat from his place in the sun. So the little red hen took the corn to the mill herself, and asked the miller if he would be so kind as to grind it into flour. In time the miller sent a little bag of flour down to the house where the little red hen lived with the pig and the duck and the cat. "Who will help me to make the flour into bread?" asked the little red hen. "Not I," grunted the pig from his muddy patch in the garden. "Not I," quacked the duck from her pond. "Not I," purred the cat from his place in the sun. "Very well," said the little red hen. "I shall make the bread myself." She went into her neat little kitchen. She mixed the flour into dough. She kneaded the dough and put it into the oven to bake. Soon there was a lovely smell of hot fresh bread. It filled all the corners of the house and wafted out into the garden. The pig came into the kitchen from his muddy patch in the garden, the duck came in from the pond and the cat left his place in the sun. When the little red hen opened the oven door the dough had risen up and had turned into the nicest, most delicious looking loaf of bread any of them had seen. "Who is going to eat this bread?" asked the little red hen. "I will," grunted the pig. "I will," quacked the duck. "I will," purred the cat. "Oh no, you won't," said the little red hen. "I planted the seed, I cut the corn, I took it to the mill to be made into flour, and I made the bread, all by myself. I shall now eat the loaf all by myself." The pig, the duck and the cat all stood and watched as the little red hen ate the loaf all by herself. It was delicious and she enjoyed it, right to the very last crumb. The Three Little Pigs English Traditional Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One day they set out from the farm where they had been born. They were going out into the world to start new lives and enjoy any adventures that might come their way. The first little pig met a man carrying some straw, and he asked him if he might have some to build himself a house. "Of course, little pig," said the man. He gave the little pig a big bundle of straw, and the little pig built himself a lovely house of golden straw. A big bad wolf lived nearby. He came along and saw the new house and, feeling rather hungry and thinking he would like to eat a little pig for supper, he called out, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in." To which the little pig replied, "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin, I'll not let you in!" So the wolf shouted very crossly, "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, Till I blow your house in!" And he huffed and he puffed, and he HUFFED and he PUFFED until the house of straw fell in, and the wolf ate the little pig for his supper that evening. The second little pig was walking along the road when he met a man with a load of wood. "Please Sir," he said, "can you let me have some of that wood so that I can build a house?" "Of course," said the man, and he gave him a big pile of wood. In no time at all, the little pig had built himself a lovely house. The next evening, along came the same wolf. When he saw another little pig, this time in a wooden house, he called out, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in." To which the pig replied, "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin, I'll not let you in!" So the wolf shouted, "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, Till I blow your house in!" And he huffed and he puffed and he HUFFED and he PUFFED until the house fell in and the wolf gobbled up the little pig for his supper. The third little pig met a man with a cartload of bricks. "Please Sir, can I have some bricks to build myself a house?" he asked, and when the man had given him some, he built himself a lovely house with the bricks. The big bad wolf came along, and licked his lips as he thought about the third little pig. He called out, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in!"And the little pig called back," No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin,I'll not let you in!" So the wolf shouted, "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, Till I blow your house in!" And the wolf huffed and he puffed, and he HUFFED and he PUFFED, and he HUFFED again and PUFFED again, but still the house, which had been so well built with bricks, did The Three Little Pigs not blow in, no matter how hard the wolf tried. The wolf went away to think how he could trick the little pig, and he came back and called through the window of the brick house, "Little pig, there are some marvellous turnips in the farmer's field. Shall we go there tomorrow morning at six o'clock and get some?" The little pig thought this was a very good idea, as he was very fond of turnips, but he went at five o'clock, not six o'clock, and collected all the turnips he needed before the wolf arrived. The wolf was furious, but he thought he would try another trick. He told the little pig about the apples in the farmer's orchard, and suggested they both went to get some at five o'clock the next morning. The little pig agreed, and went as before, an hour earlier. But this time the wolf came early too, and arrived while the little pig was still in the apple tree. The little pig pretended to be pleased to see him and threw an apple down to the wolf. While the wolf was picking it up, the little pig jumped down the tree and got into a barrel. He rolled quickly clown the hill inside this barrel to his house of bricks and rushed in and bolted the door. The wolf was very angry that the little pig had got the better of him again, and chased him in the barrel back to his house. When he got there he climbed on to the roof, intending to come down the chimney and catch the little pig that way. The little pig was waiting for him, however, with a large cauldron of boiling water on the fire. The wolf came down the chimney and fell into the cauldron with a big SPLASH, and the little pig quickly put the lid on it. The wicked wolf was never seen again, and the little pig lived happily in his brick house for many many years. The Ugly Duckling Hans Christian Andersen It was summertime, and it was beautiful in the country. The sunshine fell warmly on an old house, surrounded by deep canals, and from the walls down to the water's edge there grew large burdock leaves, so high that children could stand upright among them without being seen. This place was as wild and lonely as the''thickest part of the woods, and it was here that a duck had chosen to make her nest. She was sitting on her eggs; but the pleasure she had felt at first was now almost gone, because she had been there so long. At last, however, the eggs began to crack, and one little head after another appeared. "Quack, quack!" said the mother duck, and all the little ones got up as well as they could and peeped about from under the green leaves. "How large the world is!" said one of the ducklings. "Do you think this is the whole of the world?" asked the mother. "It stretches far away beyond the other side of the garden, down to the pastor's field, but I have never been there. Are you all here?" And then she got up. "No, I have not got you all. The largest egg is still here. How long, I wonder, will this last? I am so weary of it!" And she sat down again. At last the great egg burst. "Peep, peep!" said the little one, and out it tumbled. But oh! how large and gray and ugly it was! The mother duck looked at it. "That is a great, strong creature," said she. "None of the others is at all like it." The next day the weather was delightful and the sun was shining warmly when the mother duck with her family went down to the canal. Splash! She went into the water. "Quack, quack!" she cried, and one duckling after another jumped in. The water closed over their heads, but all came up again and swam quite easily. All were there, even the ugly gray one was swimming about with the rest. "Quack, quack!" said the mother duck. "Now come with me. I will take you into the world. But keep close to me, or someone may step on you. And beware of the cat." When they came into the duckyard, two families were quarreling about the head of an eel, which in the end was carried off by the cat. "See, my children, such is the way of the world," said the mother duck, sighing, for she, too, was fond of roasted eels. "Now use your legs," said she, "keep together, and bow to the old duck you see yonder. She is the noblest born of them all, and is of Spanish blood, which accounts for her dignified appearance and manners. And look, she has a red rag on her leg. That is considered a special mark of distinction and is the greatest honor a duck can have." The other ducks who were in the yard looked at the little family and one of them said aloud, "Only see! Now we have another brood, as if there were not enough of us already. How ugly that one is. We will not endure it." And immediately one of the drakes flew at the poor gray youngster and bit him on the neck. "Leave him alone," said the mother. "He is doing no one any harm." "Yes, but he is so large and ungainly." "Those are fine children that our good mother has," said the old duck with the red rag on her leg. "All are pretty except that one, who certainly is not at all well-favored. I wish his mother could improve him a little." "Certainly he is not handsome," said the mother, "but he is very good and swims as well as the others, indeed rather better. I think in time he will grow like the others and perhaps will look smaller." And she stroked the duckling's neck and smoothed his ruffled feathers. "Besides," she added, "he is a drake. I think he will be very strong so he will fight his way through." "The other ducks are very pretty," said the old duck. "Pray make yourselves at home, and if you find an eel's head you can bring it to me." And accordingly they made themselves at home. But the poor duckling who had come last out of his eggshell, and who was so ugly,was bitten, pecked, and teased by both ducks and hens. And the turkey cock, who had come into the world with spurs on, and therefore fancied he was an emperor, puffed himself up like a ship in full sail and quite red with passion marched up to the duckling. The poor thing scarcely knew what to do. He was quite distressed because he was so ugly. So passed the first day, and afterward matters grew worse and worse. Even his brothers and sisters behaved unkindly, saying, "May the cat take you, you ugly thing!" The ducks bit him, the hens pecked him, and the girl who fed the poultry kicked him. He ran through the hedge and the little birds in the bushes were frightened and flew away. That is because I am so ugly, thought the duckling, and ran on. At last he came to a wide moor where some wild ducks lived. There he lay the whole night, feeling very tired and sad. In the morning the wild ducks flew up and then they saw their new companion. "Pray who are you?" they asked. The duckling greeted them as politely as possible. "You are really very ugly," said one of the wild ducks, "but that does not matter to us if you do not wish to marry into our family." Poor thing! He had never thought of marrying. He only wished to lie among the reeds and drink the water of the moor. There he stayed for two whole days. On the third day along came two wild geese, or rather goslings, for they had not been long out of their eggshells, which accounts for their' impertinence. "Hark ye," they said, "you are so ugly that we like you very well. Will you go with us and become a bird of passage? On another moor, not far from this, are some dear, sweet wild geese, as lovely creatures as have ever said THE UGLY DUCKLING `hiss, hiss.' It is a chance for you to get a wife. You may be lucky, ugly as you are.'' Just then a gun went off and both goslings lay dead among the reeds. Bang! Another gun went off and whole flocks of wild geese flew up from the rushes. Again and again the same alarming noise was heard. There was a great shooting party. The sportsmen lay in ambush all around. The dogs splashed about in the mud, bending the reeds and rushes in all directions. How frightened the poor little duck was! He turned away his head, thinking to hide it under his wing, and at the same moment a fierce-looking dog passed close to him, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, his eyes sparkling fearfully. His jaws were wide open. He thrust his nose close to the duckling, showing his sharp white teeth, and then he was gone—gone without hurting him. "Well! Let me be thankful," sighed the duckling. "I am so ugly that even a dog will not bite me." And he lay still, though the shooting continued among the reeds. The noise did not cease until late in the day, and even then the poor little thing dared not stir. He waited several hours before he looked around him, and then, although it had gotten very windy and was starting to rain, he hastened away from the moor as fast as he could. Toward evening he reached a little hut, so wretched that he knew not on which side to fall and therefore remained standing. He noticed that the door had lost one of its hinges and hung so much awry that there was a space between it and the wall wide enough to let him through. Since the storm was becoming worse and worse, he crept into the room and hid in a corner. n this room lived an old woman with her tomcat and her hen. The cat, whom she called her little son, knew how to set up his back and purr. He could even throw out sparks when his fur was stroked the wrong way. The hen had very short legs, and was therefore called Chickie Shortlegs. She laid very good eggs and the old woman loved her as her own child. The next morning the cat began to mew and the hen to cackle when they saw the new guest. "What is the matter?" asked the old woman, looking around. Her eyes were not good, so she took the duckling to be a fat duck who had lost her way. "This is a wonderful catch," she said. "I shall now have duck's eggs, if it be not a drake. We must wait and see." So the duckling was kept on trial for three weeks. But no eggs made their appearance. Day after day the duckling sat in a corner feeling very sad, until finally the fresh air and bright sunshine that came into the room through the open door gave him such a strong desire to swim that he could not help telling the hen. "What ails you?" said the hen. "You have nothing to do, and therefore you brood over these fancies. Either lay eggs or purr, then you will forget them." "But it is so delicious to swim," said the duckling, "so delicious when the waters close over your head and you plunge to the bottom." "Well, that is a queer sort of pleasure," said the hen. "I think you must be crazy. Not to speak of myself, ask the cat—he is the wisest creature I know whether he would like to swim, or to plunge to the bottom of the water. Ask your mistress. No one is cleverer than she. Do you think she would take pleasure in swimming, and in the waters closing over her head?" "You do not understand me," said the duckling. "What! We do not understand you! So you think yourself wiser than the cat and the old woman, not to speak of myself! Do not fancy any such thing, child, but be thankful for all the kindness that has been shown you. Are you not lodged in a warm room, and have you not the advantage of society from which you can learn something? Come, for once take the trouble either to learn to purr or to lay eggs." "I think I will take my chance and go out into the wide world again," said the duckling. "Well, go then," said the hen. So the duckling went away. He soon found water, and swam on the surface and plunged beneath it, but all the other creatures passed him by because of his ugliness. The autumn came. The leaves turned yellow and brown. The wind caught them and danced them about. The air was cold. The clouds were heavy with hail or snow, and the raven sat on the hedge and croaked. The poor duckling was certainly not very comfortable! One evening, just as the sun was setting, a flock of large birds rose from the brushwood. The duckling had never seen anything so beautiful before. Their plumage was of a dazzling white, and they had long, slender necks. They were swans. They uttered a singular cry, spread out their long, splendid wings, and flew away from these cold regions to warmer countries across the sea. They flew so high, so very high! The ugly duckling's feelings were very strange. He turned round and round in the water like a wheel, strained his neck to look after them, and sent forth such a loud and strange cry that he almost frightened himself. He could not forget them, those noble birds! Those happy birds! The duckling did not know what the birds were called, or where they were flying, yet he loved them as he had never before loved anything. He did not envy them. It would never have occurred to him to wish such beauty for himself. He would have been quite content if the ducks in the duckyard had just endured his company. And the winter was so cold! The duckling had to swim round and round in the water to keep it from freezing. But every night the opening in which he swam became smaller and the duckling had to make good use of his legs to prevent the water from freezing entirely. At last, exhausted, he lay stiff and cold in the ice. Early in the morning a peasant passed by and saw him. He broke the ice in pieces with his wooden shoe and carried the duckling home to his wife. The duckling soon revived. The children would have played with him, but he thought they wished to tease him and in his terror jumped into the milk pail, so that the milk was splashed about the room. The good woman screamed and clapped her hands. He flew next into the tub where the butter was kept and then into the meal barrel and out again. The woman screamed. The children tried to catch him and laughed and screamed, too. It was well for him that the door stood open. He jumped out among the bushes, into the newfallen snow, and lay there as in a dream. But it would be too sad to relate all the trouble and misery he had to suffer during that winter. He was lying on a moor among the reeds when the sun began to shine warmly again. The larks were singing and beautiful spring had returned. Once more he shook his wings. They were stronger and carried him forward quickly. And, before he was well aware of it, he was in a large garden where the apple trees stood in full bloom, where the syringas sent forth their fragrance, and hung their long green branches down into the winding canal. Oh! Everything was so lovely, so full of the freshness of spring! Out of the thicket came three beautiful white swans. They displayed their feathers so proudly, and swam so lightly! The duckling knew the glorious creatures and was seized with a strange sadness. "I will fly to them, those kingly birds!" he said. "They will kill me, because I, ugly as I am, have presumed to approach them. But it does not matter. Better be killed by them than be bitten by the ducks, pecked by the hens, kicked by the girl who feeds the poultry, and have so much to suffer during the winter!" He flew into the water and swam toward the beautiful creatures. They saw him and shot forward to meet him. "Only kill me," said the poor duckling and he bowed his head low, expecting death. But what did he see in the water? He saw beneath him his own form, no longer that of a plump, ugly, gray bird. It was the reflection of a swan! It does not matter to have been born in a duckyard if one has been hatched from a swan's egg. The larger swans swam around him and stroked him with their beaks. He was very happy. Some little children were running about in the garden. They threw grain and bread into the water, and the youngest exclaimed, "There is a new one!" The others also cried out, "Yes, a new swan has come!" and they clapped their hands, and ran and told their father and mother. Bread and cake were thrown into the water, and everyone said, "The new one is the best, so young and so beautiful!" and the old swans bowed before him. The young swan felt quite ashamed and hid his head under his wing. He remembered how he had been laughed at and cruelly treated, and he now heard everyone say he was the most beautiful of all beautiful birds. The syringas bent down their branches toward him, and the sun shone warmly and brightly. He shook his feathers, stretched his slender neck, and in the joy of his heart said, "How little did I dream of so much happiness when I was the ugly, despised duckling!" SAM PIG'S TROUSERS Alison Uttley Sam Pig was always hard on his trousers. He tore them on brambles and hooked them in the gorse bushes. He lost little pieces of them in the hawthorns, and he left shreds among the spiky thistles. He rubbed them threadbare with sliding down the rocks of the high pastures, and he wore them into holes when he scrambled through hedges. One always knew where Sam Pig had been by the fragments of check trousers which clung to thorn and crooked twig. The birds were very glad, and they took bits to make their nests. The rooks had little snippets like gay pennons dangling from their rookery in the elms, and the chaffinches and yellowhammers mixed the threads with sheep's wool to line their beds. It seemed as if Sam Pig would provide material for everybody's home in the trees and hedgerows, but trousers won't last for ever, and Sam's were nearly done. Sister Ann patched the seats and put pieces into the front. She stitched panels in the two sides, and then she patched and repatched the patches until there was none of the original trousers left. They were a conglomeration of stripes and plaids and spotted scraps, all herring-boned and crossed-stitched with green thread. "Sam's trousers are like a patchwork quilt," remarked Tom, when Ann held up the queer little garments one evening after she had mended them. "Pied and speckled like a magpie," said Bill. Sam Pig leaned out of the truckle bed where he lay wrapped in a blanket, waiting for Ann to finish the mending. They were the only trousers the little pig possessed, and he had to go to bed early on mending nights. "I like them patched," said he indignantly. "Don't mock at them. I love my old trousers and their nice patches. It's always a surprise when Ann finishes them. Look now! There's a green patch on top of a black patch, on top of a yellow patch, on top of a blue one. And there's lots of pockets hidden among the patches, spaces where I can keep things. When Ann's stitches burst I stuff things in between." "Yes," frowned Ann, "I've already taken out a lady bird, and a piece of honey-comb, and some bees, and a frog that was leaping up and down and a stag-beetle that was fighting, not to mention sundry pebbles and oak-apples and snail shells! No wonder you look a clumsy shape with all those things hidden in your patches, Sam! All corners and lumps, you are!" Sam curled himself under the blanket and laughed till he made the bed shake. She hadn't found the most important thing of all, something that was hidden under the largest patch! If she did–! Just then Ann gave a shrill cry and dropped the trousers. "Oh! They've bitten me! Your trousers bit my finger!" she exclaimed, and she put her hand in her mouth and sucked it. "Trousers can't bite," said Tom, but Sam dived deeper under the blanket, and laughed all the more. "What is it, Sam?" asked Tom sternly. "Confess! What is hidden there in your trousers?" There was no answer, but from the patch came a pair of ears, and two bright eyes. A white mouse poked out its little head. It stared at Ann, it peeped at Sam, and then it bolted down the table leg and into a hole in the floor. "Now you've lost her! You've lost Jemima!" said Sam crossly, coming up from the blankets. "She was my pet mouse, and you've lost her. She was a most endearing creature. I kept her in that patch and fed her on crumbs. Is her family safe?" "Family?" cried Ann, shrilly. "Yes. She has four children. They all live in the patch. They have a nest there. I helped Jemima to make it. I'm the godfather to the children. They know me very well." Ann hurriedly unpicked the stitches and brought out a small round nest with four pink mice inside it. "There they are! Aren't they charming creatures?" cried Sam. "But they will be lonely without their mother. You must put them by the hole in the floor, Ann, and Jemima will come for them. She'll miss her warm home in my trousers, and the food I give her." Ann carried the nest and placed it close to the hole. In a minute the mother appeared and enticed her brood away. "Good-bye, Sam," she squealed in a shrill voice, thin as a grasshopper's chirp. "Good-bye Sam, and thank you for your hospitality. We are going to travel. It is time my children saw something of the world." "Good-bye," called Sam, leaning out of bed. "I shall miss you terribly, but we may meet again some day. The world is small." "Hm!" sniffed Ann Pig. "The world may be small, but surely there is room in it for a family of white mice without their coming to live in a patch in your trousers, Sam." She threaded her needle and took up a bodkin and cleared away all the odds and ends the mice had left, their pots and frying-pan and toasting fork. She tossed the bits of cheese in the fire and frowned as she brought out a bacon rind. "Bacon in the house of the four pigs is an insult," said she sternly. "It came from the grocer's shop, Ann. Really it did! Jemima's husband brought it for the family," protested Sam. "Then it's quite time you had a new pair of trousers, Sam. Jemima's husband bringing bacon rinds! I won't have it! These mice arc the last straw!" cried Ann, and she banged the trousers and shook them and threw them back to Sam. "Yes," agreed Bill. "It is time you had new breeks. We can't have a menagerie in our house. You'll keep ants and antelopes hidden in your patches, Sam, if you go on like this." "Bears and bisons," said Tom, shaking his head at Sam. "Crocodiles and cassowaries," whispered Sam, quivering with laughter. "It's no laughing matter. Trousers don't grow on gooseberry bushes." "I don't want a new pair," pouted Sam. "I know this pair, and they are very comfortable. I know every stitch and cranny, and every ridge and crease and crumple." He pulled the trousers on and shook himself. "These will soon be quite worn out. One more tear and they will be done," said Ann. "We must get another pair, and where the stuff is to come from in these hard times I don't know. You'd better go collecting, all of you." "Collecting what? Trousers? From the scarecrows?' asked. Sam. "No. Sheep's wool. Get it off the hedges and bushes and fences. Everywhere you go you must gather the wool left by the sheep when they scramble through gaps and rub their backs on posts. Then I'll dye the wool and spin it, and make a new pair for you." Each day the pigs gathered sheep's wool. They picked it off the wild rose-trees, where it was twisted among the thorns. They got it from low fences under which the sheep had squeezed, and from the rough trunks of hawthorns and oaks where they had rubbed their backs. Sam found a fine bunch of fleecy wool where the flock had pushed under the crooked boughs of an ancient tree to sleep in the hollow beneath. It was surprising what a quantity of wool there was lying about in the country lanes, and each day they brought back their small sacks filled to the brim. Ann washed the little fleeces and hung them up to dry. The wool was white as snow when she had finished dipping it in the stream. She tied it to a stout stick and swung it in the sunshine till it was dry and light as a feather. Bill filled a bowl with lichens and mosses and pieces of bark, and Ann dyed the wool. "What colour will it be?" asked Sam anxiously peering at it. "I don't want brown or grey or anything dull." "It looks like drab," confessed Ann. "Oh dear! What a dingy shade!" sighed Sam. "I don't want miserable gloomy trousers, or I shall be a gloomy little pig." "I'm afraid they are going to be sad trousers, Sam," said Ann, stirring them with a stick. "I'm sorry, but this is the colour, and there's one good thing, it is the colour of dirt." "Gloomy and black as a pitchy night in winter," said Sam. So off he went to the woods. He picked some crimson briony berries, and scarlet rose-hips, and bright red toadstools. He brought them back and dropped them into the dye. "Ann! Ann! Come and look," he called, and he held up the fleece on the end of the stirring stick. "Oh Sam! Bright red! A glorious colour," cried Ann. "Like a sunset," exclaimed Tom, admiringly. "Like a house on fire," said Bill. Out rushed Sam again, for blueberries and blue geranium, and borage. He dipped another wisp of sheep's wool into the juices and brought it out blue as a wood in bluebell time. They dried the wool, and Ann fastened it to her little spinning-wheel. She spun a length of red yarn and then a length of blue. Then she knitted a new pair of trousers, in blue and red checks, bright and bold, with plenty of real pockets. When Sam Pig walked out in his new trousers all the animals and birds came to admire him. Even the Fox stopped to stare at Sam. "As red as my brush," he muttered, and the Hedgehog said, "As pretty a pair of trousers as ever I seed in all my prickly life." When Sam met the white mouse and her family they refused to visit his new pockets. WHEN THE COCK CROWS Berlie Doherty. JONNNY-CAKE An English folktale Retold by Joseph Jacobs Once upon a time there was an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy. One morning the old woman made a Johnny-cake, and put it in the oven to bake. "You watch the Johnny-cake while your father and I Ego out to work in the garden." So the old man and the old woman went out and began to hoe potatoes, and eft the little boy to tend the oven. But he didn't watch t all the time, and all of a sudden he heard a noise, and tle looked up and the oven door popped open, and out A the oven jumped Johnny-cake, and went rolling ilong end over end towards the open door of the house. The little boy ran to shut the door, but Johnnycake was too quick for him and rolled through the door, down the steps, and out into the road long before the little boy could catch him. The little boy ran after him as fast as he could, crying out to his father and mother, who heard the uproar and threw down their hoes and gave chase too. But Johnny-cake outran all three a long way, and was soon out of sight, while they had to sit down, all out of breath, on a bank to rest. On went Johnny-cake, and by-and-by he came to called out: "Where are ye going, Johnny-cake?" He said: "I've outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and I can outrun you too-o-o!" "Ye can, can ye? We'll see about that!" said they, and they threw down their picks and ran after him, but couldn't catch up with him, and soon they had to sit down by the roadside to rest. On ran Johnny-cake, and by-and-by he came to two ditch-diggers who were digging a ditch. "Where are ye going, Johnny-cake?" said they. He said: "I've outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and I can outrun you too-o-o!" "Ye can, can ye? We'll see about that!" said they, and they threw down their spades and ran after him too. But Johnny-cake soon outstripped them also, and seeing they could never catch him, they gave up the chase and sat down to rest. On went Johnny-cake, and by-and-by he came to a bear. The bear said: "Where are ye going, Johnnycake?" He said: "I've outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and I can outrun you too-o-o!" "Ye can, can ye?" growled the bear, "we'll see about that!" And he trotted as fast as his legs could carry him after Johnny-cake, who never stopped to look behind him. Before long the bear was left so far behind that he saw he might as well give up the hunt first as last, so he stretched himself out by the roadside to rest. On went Johnny-cake, and by-and-by he came to a wolf. The wolf said: "Where are ye going, Johnnycake?" He said: "I've outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and a bear, and I can outrun you too-o-o!" "Ye can, can ye?" snarled the wolf. "We'll see about that!" And he set into a gallop after Johnny-cake, who went on and on so fast that the wolf too saw there was no hope of overtaking him, and he too lay down to rest. On went Johnny-cake, and by-and-by he came to a fox that lay quietly in a corner of the fence. The fox called out in a sharp voice, but without getting up: "Where are ye going, Johnny-cake?" He said: "I've outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and a bear, and a wolf, and I can outrun you too-o-o!" The fox said: "I can't quite hear you, Johnny-cake, won't you come a little closer?" turning his head a little to one side. Johnny-cake stopped his race for the first time, and went a little closer, and called out in a very loud voice: "I've outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and a bear, and a wolf, and I can outrun you too-o-o!" "Can't quite hear you; won't you come a little closer?" said the fox in a feeble voice, as he stretched out his neck towards Johnny-cake, and put one paw behind his ear. Johnny-cake came up close, and leaning towards the fox screamed out: "I'VE OUTRUN AN OLD MAN, AND AN OLD WOMAN, AND A LITTLE BOY, AND TWO WELL-DIGGERS, AND TWO DITCH-DIGGERS, AND A BEAR, AND A WOLF, AND I CAN OUTRUN YOU TOO- "You can, can you?" yelped the fox, and he snapped up the Johnny-cake in his sharp teeth in the twinkling of an eye.