how to tell stories to children-第15章
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at might。 So he crept and crawled over the ground till he came to the little Jackal's house。 Then he crept and crawled inside； and hid himself there in the house； to wait till the little Jackal should come home。
By and by the little Jackal came dancing home； happy and care…free；BUT looking all around。 Presently； as he came along； he saw that the ground was all scratched up as if something very heavy had been dragged over it。 The little Jackal stopped and looked。
〃What's this？ what's this？〃 he said。
Then he saw that the door of his house was crushed at the sides and broken； as if something very big had gone through it。
〃What's this？ What's this？〃 the little Jackal said。 〃I think I'll investigate a little！〃
So he stood quite still and began to talk to himself （you remember； it was a little way he had）； but loudly。 He said；
〃How strange that my little House doesn't speak to me！ Why don't you speak to me； little House？ You always speak to me； if everything is all right； when I come home。 I wonder if anything is wrong with my little House？〃
The old Alligator thought to himself that he must certainly pretend to be the little House； or the little Jackal would never come in。 So he put on as pleasant a voice as he could （which is not saying much） and said；
〃Hullo； little Jackal！〃
Oh！ when the little Jackal heard that； he was frightened enough； for once。
〃It's the old Alligator；〃 he said； 〃and if I don't make an end of him this time he will certainly make an end of me。 What shall I do？〃
He thought very fast。 Then he spoke out pleasantly。
〃Thank you； little House；〃 he said； 〃it's good to hear your pretty voice； dear little House； and I will be in with you in a minute； only first I must gather some firewood for dinner。〃
Then he went and gathered firewood； and more firewood； and more firewood； and he piled it all up solid against the door and round the house； and then he set fire to it！
And it smoked and burned till it smoked that old Alligator to smoked herring！
THE LARKS IN THE CORNFIELD
There was once a family of little Larks who lived with their mother in a nest in a cornfield。 When the corn was ripe the mother Lark watched very carefully to see if there were any sign of the reapers' coming； for she knew that when they came their sharp knives would cut down the nest and hurt the baby Larks。 So every day； when she went out for food； she told the little Larks to look and listen very closely to everything that went on； and to tell her all they saw and heard when she came home。
One day when she came home the little Larks were much frightened。
〃Oh； Mother； dear Mother；〃 they said； 〃you must move us away to…night！ The farmer was in the field to…day； and he said； ‘The corn is ready to cut； we must call in the neighbors to help。' And then he told his son to go out to…night and ask all the neighbors to come and reap the corn to…morrow。〃
The mother Lark laughed。 〃Don't be frightened；〃 she said； 〃if he waits for his neighbors to reap the corn we shall have plenty of time to move； tell me what he says to…morrow。〃
The next night the little Larks were quite trembling with fear； the moment their mother got home they cried out； 〃Mother； you must surely move us to…night！ The farmer came to…day and said； ‘The corn is getting too ripe； we cannot wait for our neighbors； we must ask our relatives to help us。' And then he called his son and told him to ask all the uncles and cousins to come to…morrow and cut the corn。 Shall we not move to…night？〃
〃Don't worry；〃 said the mother Lark； 〃the uncles and cousins have plenty of reaping to do for themselves； we'll not move yet。〃
The third night； when the mother Lark came home； the baby Larks said； 〃Mother； dear； the farmer came to the field to…day； and when he looked at the corn he was quite angry； he said； ‘This will never do！ The corn is getting too ripe； it's no use to wait for our relatives； we shall have to cut this corn ourselves。' And then he called his son and said； ‘Go out to…night and hire reapers； and to…morrow we will begin to cut。'〃
〃Well；〃 said the mother； 〃that is another story； when a man begins to do his own business； instead of asking somebody else to do it； things get done。 I will move you out to…night。〃
A TRUE STORY ABOUT A GIRL
Once there were four little girls who lived in a big； bare house； in the country。 They were very poor； but they had the happiest times you ever heard of； because they were very rich in everything except just money。 They had a wonderful； wise father； who knew stories to tell； and who taught them their lessons in such a beautiful way that it was better than play； they had a lovely； merry； kind mother； who was never too tired to help them work or watch them play； and they had all the great green country to play in。 There were dark； shadowy woods； and fields of flowers； and a river。 And there was a big barn。
One of the little girls was named Louisa。 She was very pretty； and ever so strong； she could run for miles through the woods and not get tired。 And she had a splendid brain in her little head； it liked study； and it thought interesting thoughts all day long。
Louisa liked to sit in a corner by herself； sometimes； and write thoughts in her diary； all the little girls kept diaries。 She liked to make up stories out of her own head； and sometimes she made verses。
When the four little sisters had finished their lessons； and had helped their mother sew and clean； they used to go to the big barn to play； and the best play of all was theatricals。 Louisa liked theatricals better than anything。
They made the barn into a theatre； and the grown people came to see the plays they acted。 They used to climb up on the hay… mow for a stage； and the grown people sat in chairs on the floor。 It was great fun。 One of the plays they acted was Jack and the Bean…Stalk。 They had a ladder from the floor to the loft； and on the ladder they tied a squash vine all the way up to the loft； to look like the wonderful bean…stalk。 One of the little girls was dressed up to look like Jack； and she acted that part。 When it came to the place in the story where the giant tried to follow Jack； the little girl cut down the bean…stalk； and down came the giant tumbling from the loft。 The giant was made out of pillows； with a great； fierce head of paper； and funny clothes。
Another story that they acted was Cinderella。 They made a wonderful big pumpkin out of the wheelbarrow； trimmed with yellow paper； and Cinderella rolled away in it； when the fairy godmother waved her wand。
One other beautiful story they used to play。 It was the story of Pilgrim's Progress； if you have never heard it； you must be sure to read it as soon as you can read well enough to understand the old…fashioned words。 The little girls used to put shells in their hats for a sign they were on a pilgrimage； as the old pilgrims used to do； then they made journeys over the hill behind the house； and through the woods； and down the lanes； and when the pilgrimage was over they had apples and nuts to eat； in the happy land of home。
Louisa loved all these plays； and she made some of her own and wrote them down so that the children could act them。
But better than fun or writing Louisa loved her mother； and by and by； as the little girl began to grow into a big girl； she felt very sad to see her dear mother work so hard。 She helped all she could with the housework； but nothing could really help the tired mother except money； she needed money for food and clothes； and some one grown up； to help in the house。 But there never was enough money for these things； and Louisa's mother grew more and more weary； and sometimes ill。 I cannot tell you how much Louisa suffered over this。
At last； as Louisa thought about it； she came to care more about helping her mother and her father and her sisters than about anything else in all the world。 And she began to work very hard to earn money。 She sewed for people； and when she was a little older she taught some little girls their lessons； and then she wrote stories for the papers。 Every bit of money she earned； except what she had to use； she gave to her dear family。 It helped
