how to tell stories to children-第11章
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＇1＇ From Celia Thaxter's Stories and Poems for Children。
A little boy sat at his mother's knees； by the long western window； looking out into the garden。 It was autumn； and the wind was sad； and the golden elm leaves lay scattered about among the grass； and on the gravel path。 The mother was knitting a little stocking； her fingers moved the bright needles； but her eyes were fixed on the clear evening sky。
As the darkness gathered； the wee boy laid his head on her lap and kept so still that； at last； she leaned forward to look into his dear round face。 He was not asleep； but was watching very earnestly a blackberry…bush； that waved its one tall； dark…red spray in the wind outside the fence。
〃What are you thinking about； my darling？〃 she said； smoothing his soft； honey…colored hair。
〃The blackberry…bush； mamma； what does it say？ It keeps nodding； nodding to me behind the fence； what does it say； mamma？〃
〃It says；〃 she answered； ‘I see a happy little boy in the warm； fire…lighted room。 The wind blows cold； and here it is dark and lonely； but that little boy is warm and happy and safe at his mother's knees。 I nod to him； and he looks at me。 I wonder if he knows how happy he is！
〃‘See； all my leaves are dark crimson。 Every day they dry and wither more and more； by and by they will be so weak they can scarcely cling to my branches； and the north wind will tear them all away； and nobody will remember them any more。 Then the snow will sink down and wrap me close。 Then the snow will melt again and icy rain will clothe me； and the bitter wind will rattle my bare twigs up and down。
〃‘I nod my head to all who pass； and dreary nights and dreary days go by； but in the happy house； so warm and bright； the little boy plays all day with books and toys。 His mother and his father cherish him； he nestles on their knees in the red firelight at night； while they read to him lovely stories； or sing sweet old songs to him；the happy little boy！ And outside I peep over the snow and see a stream of ruddy light from a crack in the window… shutter； and I nod out here alone in the dark； thinking how beautiful it is。
〃‘And here I wait patiently。 I take the snow and the rain and the cold； and I am not sorry； but glad； for in my roots I feel warmth and life； and I know that a store of greenness and beauty is shut up safe in my small brown buds。 Day and night go again and again； little by little the snow melts all away； the ground grows soft； the sky is blue； the little birds fly over crying； 〃It is spring！ it is spring！〃 Ah！ then through all my twigs I feel the slow sap stirring。
〃‘Warmer grow the sunbeams； and softer the air。 The small blades of grass creep thick about my feet； the sweet rain helps swell my shining buds。 More and more I push forth my leaves； till out I burst in a gay green dress； and nod in joy and pride。 The little boy comes running to look at me； and cries； 〃Oh； mamma！ the little blackberry…bush is alive and beautiful and green。 Oh； come and see！〃 And I hear； and I bow my head in the summer wind； and every day they watch me grow more beautiful； till at last I shake out blossoms； fair and fragrant。
〃‘A few days more； and I drop the white petals down among the grass； and； lo！ the green tiny berries！ Carefully I hold them up to the sun； carefully I gather the dew in the summer nights； slowly they ripen； they grow larger and redder and darker； and at last they are black； shining； delicious。 I hold them as high as I can for the little boy； who comes dancing out。 He shouts with joy； and gathers them in his dear hand； and he runs to share them with his mother； saying； 〃Here is what the patient blackberry…bush bore for us： see how nice； mamma！〃
〃‘Ah！ then indeed I am glad； and would say； if I could； 〃Yes； take them； dear little boy； I kept them for you； held them long up to sun and rain to make them sweet and ripe for you；〃 and I nod and nod in full content； for my work is done。 From the window he watches me and thinks； 〃There is the little blackberry…bush that was so kind to me。 I see it and I love it。 I know it is safe out there nodding all alone； and next summer it will hold ripe berries up for me to gather again。〃 '〃
Then the wee boy smiled； and liked the little story。 His mother took him up in her arms； and they went out to supper and left the blackberry…bush nodding up and down in the wind； and there it is nodding yet。
THE FAIRIES＇1＇
＇1＇ By William Allingham。
Up the airy mountain； Down the rushy glen； We daren't go a…hunting For fear of little men。 Wee folk； good folk； Trooping all together； Green jacket； red cap； And white owl's feather！
Down along the rocky shore Some make their home They live on crispy pancakes Of yellow tide…foam； Some in the reeds Of the black mountain…lake； With frogs for their watch…dogs； All night awake。
High on the hilltop The old King sits； He is now so old and gray； He's nigh lost his wits。 With a bridge of white mist Columbkill he crosses； On his stately journeys From Slieveleague to Rosses； Or going up with music On cold starry nights； To sup with the Queen Of the gay Northern Lights。
They stole little Bridget For seven years long； When she came down again Her friends were all gone。 They took her lightly back； Between the night and morrow； They thought that she was fast asleep； But she was dead with sorrow。 They have kept her ever since Deep within the lake； On a bed of flag…leaves； Watching till she wake。
By the craggy hillside； Through the mosses bare； They have planted thorn…trees； For pleasure here and there。 Is any man so daring As dig them up in spite； He shall find their sharpest thorns In his bed at night。
Up the airy mountain； Down the rushy glen； We daren't go a…hunting For fear of little men。 Wee folk； good folk； Trooping all together； Green jacket； red cap； And white owl's feather！
THE ADVENTURES OF THE LITTLE FIELD MOUSE
Once upon a time； there was a little brown Field Mouse； and one day he was out in the fields to see what he could see。 He was running along in the grass； poking his nose into everything and looking with his two eyes all about； when he saw a smooth； shiny acorn； lying in the grass。 It was such a fine shiny little acorn that he thought he would take it home with him； so he put out his paw to touch it； but the little acorn rolled away from him。 He ran after it； but it kept rolling on； just ahead of him； till it came to a place where a big oak…tree had its roots spread all over the ground。 Then it rolled under a big round root。
Little Mr。 Field Mouse ran to the root and poked his nose under after the acorn； and there he saw a small round hole in the ground。 He slipped through and saw some stairs going down into the earth。 The acorn was rolling down； with a soft tapping sound； ahead of him； so down he went too。 Down； down； down； rolled the acorn； and down； down； down； went the Field Mouse； until suddenly he saw a tiny door at the foot of the stairs。
The shiny acorn rolled to the door and struck against it with a tap。 Quickly the little door opened and the acorn rolled inside。 The Field Mouse hurried as fast as he could down the last stairs； and pushed through just as the door was closing。 It shut behind him； and he was in a little room。 And there； before him； stood a queer little Red Man！ He had a little red cap； and a little red jacket； and odd little red shoes with points at the toes。
〃You are my prisoner；〃 he said to the Field Mouse。
〃What for？〃 said the Field Mouse。
〃Because you tried to steal my acorn；〃 said the little Red Man。
〃It is my acorn；〃 said the Field Mouse； 〃I found it。〃
〃No； it isn't；〃 said the little Red Man； 〃I have it； you will never see it again。〃
The little Field Mouse looked all about the room as fast as he could； but he could not see any acorn。 Then he thought he would go back up the tiny stairs to his own home。 But the little door was locked； and the little Red Man had the key。 And he said to the poor mouse；
〃You shall be my servant； you shall make my bed and sweep my room and cook my broth。〃
So the lit
