PART TWO

_No matter what misfortune overtakes us we should never forget the teachings of our good parents._

The queen stopped crying after a while and made the king send for the young man. She then sent everybody from the room and made the young count tell the story of how he came in possession of the emerald box. When he had finished the queen cried again.

“Why do you cry?” asked the young count.

The queen told him that she had a beautiful daughter years ago who had been lost in the forest, and that they had never been able to find her. She wore a large emerald around her neck and pearls on her arms. Perhaps wild beasts had devoured her, or an old witch had stolen her and changed her into some hideous form. The queen said the emerald and the pearls belonged to her lost child and begged the young count to lead her to the place where the old woman lived, for there, perhaps, she might find her daughter.

The next day they all started out. The young count went on ahead to show them the way. He went fast because he was strong, and soon came near the old woman’s cottage. It was now dark and he climbed a tree to keep wild beasts from reaching him. Late in the night the moon came out and it was so bright that he could see anything. Before long he could see the goose girl coming down to the well to get water.

“Ah, here comes one witch! we shall soon have the other,” said the young count to himself. But the young girl stopped by the brook and took off her mask and let her hair fall down over her shoulders. He then saw how beautiful she was, with skin white as milk, and hair as golden as ripe wheat.

The young girl bathed her face and hands and put on her mask again, and tied up her hair and looked old and brown and ugly. She then went back toward the cottage and the young count climbed down from the tree and followed her. When he reached the cottage, he saw the old woman cleaning the floors and windows, and brushing down the cobwebs. The geese were picking the grass from the walks, and he could hear the goose girl in her room putting on her clothes, for it was daylight again and soon the king and queen would come.

After the sun rose the king and queen came to the cottage. The old woman asked them in and the young count with them. She called the goose girl, and when she came in she no longer wore the mask and the old dress, but was a beautiful young woman in a dress as fine as the queen wore. The queen knew her to be her daughter, and threw her arms around her and kissed her. The king kissed her, and the young count kissed her, too. Then the old woman stamped her foot and the cottage became a palace, and the geese became serving men, and the goose girl and the young count were married at once, and are living there to this day.

FOOLISH FRED

_One must think for himself after all, for no instructions can be completely definite._

Fred was a little boy who always did what his mother told him to do, but because he did not “put on his thinking cap” he was called “Foolish Fred.” His mother said: “My son, go to the store and buy me a dozen eggs.”

“Yes, mother,” said Fred, and away he went. He put the eggs in the pockets of his trousers and sat down upon a stone. Of course we know what happened. His mother said:

“My son, you should not have done so; you should have put the eggs in a basket and covered them with cool green leaves.”

Next day his mother sent him to buy some needles. He put them in a basket, and of course we know they did not stay there.

“Mother,” said Fred, “I did just as you told me, but the silly things fell through the basket.”

“Oh, my son!” said his mother, “you should not have done so, you should have stuck the needles in the lapels of your coat.”

Next day Fred went to the store to buy a pound of butter. He stuck the butter carefully in the lapels of his coat; being tired he sat on a stone to rest and fell asleep. His mother threw up her hands when she saw melted butter all over him.

“Mother,” said Fred, “I did just as you told me, but the silly sun shone so hot that the butter melted.”

“My son,” said his mother, “you should have put it in a bucket and put the lid on securely.”

The following day she sent Fred to market to buy a pig. He purchased a nice, fat pig, put it in a little bucket and started home. The pig objected to such close quarters, kicked the lid off the bucket and ran away. He told his mother he did just as she told him, but the silly pig ran away.

“My son,” said his mother, “you should have tied one foot with a strong rope and led him home.”

She sent Fred to the Intelligence Office to hire a servant girl. Seeing a strong Irish girl, he stepped up behind her, took a rope from his pocket and tied it around her ankle, thus trying to lead her home with him. The girl indignantly jerked the rope away, boxed his ears soundly, and went away.

“Mother,” said Fred, “I did just as you told me.”

“My son,” said his mother, “you should not have done so. You should have raised your cap, spoken to her kindly, placed some money in her hand, and she would have come with you gladly.”

The following day she sent Fred to buy a cow. He selected a cow, raised his hat, spoke to her kindly, and stooping down tried to place some money in her right hoof. The angry cow lowered her head, and lifting Fred upon her horns tossed him so high that he only stopped when he reached the moon.

THE SIX SWABIANS

_To accomplish great deeds one must have knowledge as well as courage._

There were once six Swabians who went traveling in search of adventures. They thought themselves very valiant and knew they were going to create a great stir in the world. They carried a long pole to protect themselves with, which they all grasped, with Schultz, the boldest, in front. As they passed along the road a hornet flew out from behind a bush and hummed in a most warlike manner. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Schultz let go of the pole and trembled with terror. “Listen!” cried he. “I hear a trumpet somewhere.” Hans also let go and cried: “I smell fire and brimstone!” Then the hornet stung Jacky on the end of his nose, and he ran across the fields crying: “Fire! Murder!” until he ran all the way home.

The others took up the pole and marched along. A cat ran out from a hedge and frightened Hans so he jumped over the hedge and lit on a rake. The rake flew up and hit him on the head. He cried out: “The enemy has attacked us! Run! run!” Then he ran home.

The others lifted the pole and went on as before. As they turned the road an old woodpecker began to drum on a tree. “Tap! Tap! Tap!” “What is that?” cried Schultz. “Surely some one is loading a gun.” They all stopped and listened. The old woodpecker went “Tap! tap! tap!” Then Schultz dropped his hold on the pole and said: “They are getting ready to fire! I must get out of this.” And so he took to his heels.

Then the others took up the pole and started down the road. Before long they heard an old owl away off in the woods cry “Whoo! Whoo!” They stopped and Michael dropped his end of the pole. His hair stood up on end. “Do you hear that?” he cried. “They are saying ‘Whom shall we eat first?’ I tell you they are giants!” Then he ran home so fast that he fell over the doorstep.

The others took up the pole and went along looking for adventures. Soon they came to a tall tree where they decided to rest. They set down the pole and began to talk about how brave they were. Just then a big acorn fell on Marli’s head. “Mercy on me! they are shooting at me from the top of that tree. I must hurry home!” And before the others could stop him he began to run home so fast that he fell headlong through the window.

There was nobody left now but Jorgli. So he took the pole and began to fish. By and by he caught a frog and took him home. “Ah ha,” he cried, “I am the only one who has had an adventure. See this monster! It took me an hour to overcome him!” The others were much ashamed that Jorgli was the only one who had conquered a real enemy.

THE STRAW, THE COAL, AND THE BEAN

_A nonsense story for amusement showing the strange adventures of three homely articles._

A dish of beans was cooking on the stove. The old woman had made a fire and it was burning brightly, and the beans were getting hotter and hotter. The pot was full to the top, and soon one bean jumped out and fell on the floor near a straw. The fire crackled and sputtered and a live coal popped out and fell down near the bean and the straw.

“Where did you come from?” they asked the live coal.

“I came out of the fire,” said the coal; “if I had not popped out just when I did I should have been burned to ashes by this time.”

“You see,” said the straw, “the old woman put a lot of us under the fire, and the rest are gone by this time. I am glad I fell on the floor. Come, let us travel in the world and see what we can see.”

So the bean, the coal, and the straw started out into the world. The straw was slender and could take long steps, but the coal and the bean were short and were soon out of breath.

“Let us stop by this brook and rest awhile,” said the coal. “I am really hotter than I should be--see how I am glowing!” They all agreed and sat down by the brook for the coal to cool off a little.

They decided to cross the brook to see what was on the other side. There was no bridge, and they could not find any log which they could use. They thought for a long time. At last the bean said:

“I must be moving, for if I stay here much longer I shall sprout and take root, and then I can never get away.” So the bean got up and rolled over a few times just to harden its skin.

The coal was almost asleep, but the straw blew in its face which started out a red color in its cheeks, so that it woke up at once. Then the straw said:

“I will lay myself across the stream, and then you cross over me; but be very careful.” So the straw made a bridge of itself across the stream.

The coal started over, but being hot it was very much frightened at the water and stopped in the middle of the straw. When the coal stopped the straw began to burn and soon was half in two. Plump! went the coal into the water and was drowned. The straw floated on down the stream in two pieces.

The bean saw all this and laughed so that it split wide open. A tailor came along and sewed the bean up with black thread. The bean thanked the kind tailor for this; but to this very day all beans have black seams down their backs.

HANS IN LUCK

_One had better hold on to what he has, than be forever seeking to exchange it hoping to better his condition._

Hans had worked for seven long years and had not been paid a cent. So one day he said to his master, “Give me all you owe me, for my time is up, and I wish to see my mother.”

So his master paid him all in silver. It was a big bag, as large as a cabbage, and very heavy for Hans to carry; but he tied up the bag and slung it over his shoulder and then started off home. As he trudged along a man came by riding a fine horse.

“What a fine horse,” said Hans. “It must be good sport to ride instead of having to walk. I am quite sore in my feet, and my back aches.” He then told the man he had silver in his bag, and proposed to swap the silver for the horse. The man agreed, after seeing the silver, and Hans rode off quite gaily on the horse. About a mile down the road the horse began to rear and pitch and Hans fell off into the briars. As he sat there rubbing his head, a cowherd came along with a fine cow.

“Say, will you swap your cow for this horse?” called out Hans. “I cannot ride him, and besides I should like some milk.”

The cowherd took the horse and gave Hans the cow. Hans was now happy again and drove the cow along until milking time. Then he stopped to milk her, but she was as dry as a dusty road.

“Oh, me!” said Hans. “What can I do with this cow?”

Just then a man came along with a pig in a wheelbarrow. “What is that you said?” asked he of Hans. Hans told him he was tired of the cow and offered to swap it for the pig.

“Good!” said the man. “You take the pig and I will rid you of the cow.” So Hans took the pig, tied a rope to his leg and went on down the road. But the pig was hard to drive and Hans had all he could do to keep him in the road at all.

A peasant came along with a load of geese. Hans saw the big white birds and his eyes glistened. “Here, take this pig and give me a goose!” cried he. The man stopped and looked the pig over. Then he handed Hans a goose and took the pig in the wagon.

By and by, Hans grew tired of the goose, it fluttered and made so much noise, and beat him in the face with its wings so that Hans was almost ready to let it go. But just then he met a man sharpening a scythe with a whetstone.

“What a fine business--and so easy,” cried Hans. “My friend, take my goose and give me your whetstone.” Again an exchange was made and Hans took the whetstone and went towards home. It was somewhat late and Hans was tired and thirsty. He stopped by the side of a well to get some water. As he looked in, the whetstone slipped out of his pocket and fell to the very bottom.

“Well, I am in luck, sure enough,” said Hans. “Now, I have nothing to bother me.” And he went whistling down the road.

LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD

_Learn not to place faith in fair speeches._

Once upon a time there lived a little girl with her mother on the edge of a village. Her grandmother lived beyond the woods, and was a poor old woman, who loved the little girl dearly. She had made a red cloak for her that looked so pretty every one called her “Little Red Ridinghood.” One day her mother said:

“I hear your grandmother is ill. You must take her this cake and a little butter.” Little Red Ridinghood set out at once for her grandmother’s. On her way she met a big wolf who asked her:

“Where are you going, my little girl?”

“I am going to see my grandmother, and take her this cake and a little butter,” said Little Red Ridinghood.

“Does she live near here?” asked the wolf.

“Not very far; just on the other side of the wood, in a little white cottage,” replied Little Red Ridinghood.

The wolf told the little girl good-by and ran off as if he were going home. But, no, indeed;

“Who is that?” asked a feeble voice.

“This is Little Red Ridinghood come to bring you some cake and a little butter,” said the wolf.

“Pull the string and the latch will open,” said the grandmother. The wolf pulled the string and opened the door. Then he jumped on the old grandmother and ate her up in a minute. He got into bed and pulled the old woman’s cap over his head.

By and by Little Red Ridinghood knocked at the door. The old wolf made his voice very feeble and said: “Who is that?”

“I am Little Red Ridinghood, grandmother, and I have brought you some cake and a little butter.”

“Pull the string and the latch will open,” said the wolf.

Little Red Ridinghood pulled the string and went in and put the cake and butter on the table. Then she went up to the bed where the wolf was and when she saw how changed her grandmother was, she said:

“Grandmother, what long arms you have.”

“To hug you the better, my dear,” said the wolf.

“Grandmother, what long ears you have.”

“To hear you the better, my dear,” said the wolf.

“Grandmother, what big eyes you have.”

“To see you the better, my dear,” said the wolf.

“Grandmother, what big teeth you have.”

“The better to eat you, my dear!” With that the wolf fell upon Red Ridinghood and ate her too.

THE DISCONTENTED TAILOR

_It is a wise man who knows when he has enough. The effort to get more may result in misfortune and misery._

A tailor and a goldsmith were walking one evening through the woods and wondering if they should ever be rich men with gold to spare. They heard the sound of distant music and went to see what caused it.

The moon had risen, and on a little hillock they saw a band of tiny men dancing in a ring with hands joined, while an old man, with hair down to his waist, played on a pipe. This made the music which the tailor and goldsmith had heard.

They stopped and watched the dancers for a while. At last the old man beckoned them to join the circle and dance with the tiny men. Seeing how many they were, the tailor and the goldsmith agreed and soon were dancing as merrily as the best of them.

Then the old man took a pair of shears and cut off all the hair and beard of the tailor and the goldsmith until they were quite bald. This made the tiny men laugh, and they were merrier than ever.

Then all at once every one began to gather rocks and fill his pockets full. The goldsmith and the tailor did likewise, and then when the moon went down they all lay down and went fast to sleep.

What do you think? In the morning when the tailor and the goldsmith woke their hair and their beard had grown again, and the rocks had turned to gold in their pockets.

“Oh, this is plenty for me,” cried the goldsmith. “I shall now live in ease the rest of my life. I shall build me a house, and get me a wife and buy a horse and carriage. Oh, I have enough for my purposes!”

The tailor looked at his gold, and though he had never lived in anything but a room back of his shop, yet he said:

“This is not enough for me. I want a palace and many servants, and a whole troop of horses. I shall go back to the tiny men to-night.” So he hid his gold in a tree and waited for the night to come.

The goldsmith went on home, but the tailor waited until the moon had risen and then joined the tiny men in their dance. He could hardly wait for the old man to cut off his hair and beard. He took the shears and cut it himself. Then when the time came to gather rocks he eagerly filled his pockets, his shoes, his hat and held some in his hands.

“I may as well get a plenty,” said he.

Then they all lay down and went to sleep. Early the tailor woke up and felt for his rocks. They were still hard rocks. When he hunted for his gold of the night before, it also had turned back to rocks. Besides that, his hair and beard had not grown out, and he was quite bald. The poor tailor had lost what he had because he was not satisfied with enough.

HOW A GIRL SAVED A FORT

_Wherein we see how a brave girl risked her own life to save that of others._

Betty Zane moved with her parents to the Ohio country. The new home was in a western wilderness, but all the settlers were full of hope and courage. They lived in a big square fort with a high fence of logs on every side, and at each corner a strong-house with loop holes for guns.

Betty liked the place and soon began to do her share of the work, for everybody was busy at Fort Henry, as the place was called. All around were thick woods where the Indians lived, and Betty could hear the wolves howling in the depths of the forest. Soon other settlers came to live with the first comers, for in those days the strength of the white men depended on their numbers.

The Revolutionary War began just about this time. The Indians were treacherous and savage. The English wanted their help, and offered a good price for the scalp of every settler. One day a message came in great haste to Fort Henry. It was that the Indians were on the war path and traveling rapidly toward Fort Henry. The alarm was given and all the settlers hurried into the fort to make ready for the attack.

Betty peeped through a crack in the wall and saw the Indians sneaking through the woods. Soon they were everywhere, dodging and hiding in the underbrush. The leader of the band held a flag of truce. He was a white man. All the settlers knew Simon Girty. He hated the white people and willingly led the Indians against them.

He told the people in the fort that if they would surrender no harm would befall them, but that if they resisted the fort would be destroyed and every man, woman and child would be put to death. Colonel Sheppard answered that as long as there was one person alive in the fort it would be defended.

Then the fighting began. The yells of the Indians filled the air, and the bullets whistled through the trees. Colonel Sheppard was dismayed to find his powder nearly all gone. A keg of it had been left outside in one of the cabins, and they must have it if they were to win. He called for a volunteer to go after the powder. The cabin was so far away that it was almost certain death to try to reach it.

Then Betty Zane came forward. She was a brave girl, and told them that she would go for the powder. The gate was opened before any one could stop her. The men cried, “Come back and we will go,” but she ran all the faster. She seized a bag of powder and started back. The Indians fired upon her, but not a bullet touched her. Into the gate she ran and gave the powder to the men, while they cheered her for her bravery. With the powder that Betty had brought the men kept the savages at bay. Soon some hunters came to aid the settlers, and together they drove the Indians into the woods and away from the fort. Colonel Sheppard told the newcomers how “brave Betty Zane” had saved Fort Henry and the settlers from the savage Indians.

ABRAHAM AND ISAAC

_We should obey the call of duty even to any sacrifice, knowing that the result is in higher hands than ours._

Abraham and Sarah, his wife, were very old and were sad because they had no child. They prayed earnestly for a son, and at last, when Abraham was one hundred years old, a son was born and they named him Isaac. They were very happy then, and the child grew and became strong.

To see whether Abraham was still faithful to the Lord, it came to pass that God called him one day and Abraham said:

“Behold, here I am.” Then the Lord said:

“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

Abraham was sorely grieved that God had told him to burn his only son, whom he had given. But he rose up early in the morning, saddled his ass, cut the wood, and took Isaac and some young men, and went up into the mountain, just as God had told him.

On the third day he came to the place; then Abraham said to the young men:

“Ye abide here, with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you.”

Abraham took the wood and laid it upon Isaac. He took the fire and a knife and carried them to the place that God had showed Abraham.

Then Isaac said: “My father?” And Abraham replied: “Here am I, my son.” Isaac said:

“Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham replied:

“My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” And they went on together.

They came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar and laid the wood in order. Then he bound his son Isaac and laid him upon the wood on the altar. Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Just then he heard the voice of an angel calling him, “Abraham!” He answered: “Here am I.” The angel said:

“Lay not thy hand upon the lad; neither do thou anything with him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”

And Abraham looked and behold, there was behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him for a burnt offering instead of his son.

BEOWULF CONQUERS THE MARSH MONSTER

_An old legend in which a brave warrior overcomes a terrible menace by strength and skill._

Beowulf was the nephew of a king who ruled over a part of Sweden. He was a young man of great strength. No one could stand against him. At that time there was a monster named Grendel, half man and half beast that came out of the swamp every night and snatched away the warriors as they slept in the hall of the king, and carried them off to his lair and devoured them. No matter how the warriors tried to protect themselves, the terrible Grendel would break in the place where they were sleeping, seize one of them in his mighty arms and bear him away.

Beowulf heard of all this and set out with a band of trained warriors to help the king get rid of the monster.

The warriors entered the castle and prepared to lie down to sleep. Beowulf took off his armor, laid aside his helmet and handed his sword and shield to his servant. He wore only a silken coat. The warriors said to him, “Put on thy armor, and thy helmet, and take thy sword and shield, for Grendel is an enemy that will demand all thy strength.”

But Beowulf said to them: “I shall fight Grendel and conquer him with my own good hands and head, and with my strong heart.” He then lay down like the others, but not to sleep. He kept a lookout for the approach of the dreaded monster.

Out of the mists of the marsh, as dark came on, strode the monster, Grendel. With one blow of his mighty arms, he broke the bolts and bars of the doors and entered the hall where the warriors lay sleeping. With a loud laugh, he seized one of them and tore him asunder. Beowulf watched him as he sprang on his prey and saw his method of attack.

The monster came the next night, and when he entered the hall hungry for a feast, he looked over the warriors who were asleep and started to seize one in his terrible arms. But Beowulf was as quick as Grendel and caught the monster’s arm in his own mighty grasp and twisted it round and round.

The fight that ensued was terrible. The tables were overturned, the castle shook with the noise and the people in the town were awakened with the sounds of the battle. The roar of the monster could be heard a mile, but Beowulf uttered not a sound.

The sleeping warriors rose up and joined in the fight; but Grendel’s hide was thicker than armor and their swords were useless. The blows they rained upon him made no impression.

At last Grendel tore loose, leaving his arm in Beowulf’s grasp. Bleeding and exhausted he crawled back to the marsh where they found his dead body the next day.

BEOWULF SLAYS THE WATER WITCH

_An old legend in which the hero overcomes the terrors of the sea._

After Beowulf had slain the terrible Grendel, there was great rejoicing. The furniture in the hall was all restored; the tapestries and carpets were made new; embroideries were hung on the gold benches and a great feast was prepared. Never before was so splendid a banquet. After the feast the king gave Beowulf and his warriors many presents, coats of arms, horses and gold-handled swords. When the feast was over, the minstrels sang songs and everybody lay down to sleep.

But away down in the sea, the Water Witch, the mother of the dead Grendel, nursed her wrath, and at night came up to the land, and went straight to the Hall to avenge her son. While they slept she crept in through the cracks in the door and seized a warrior and bore him off to the sea to drown him. She was almost as horrible as Grendel himself. The warriors arose in great fear and called for Beowulf.

“The Water Witch! The Water Witch!” they cried. “The mother of Grendel has come upon us! What shall we do?”

Beowulf begged them to be calm. He said he would fight the Water Witch as he had her son. All the warriors went with him to the shores of the sea where the Witch lived. On the dark waters swam many dragons and serpents and slimy water-worms. Beowulf took his sword in his hand, put on his helmet and his coat of armor, through which no steel might ever pierce; then bidding the king farewell he leaped into the sea and went down and down until he touched the very bottom.

Here the Water Witch lived, and as soon as she saw Beowulf she reached out her long skinny hand to crush him. But his armor was so strong that she could not hurt him in any wise. She then dragged him into her cave. She held him so fast he could not unsheathe his sword. Terrible sea monsters attacked him on all sides. But he was unhurt.

Finally he drew his sword and attacked the Water Witch; but she was no more to be hurt by a sword than was Beowulf. Seizing her by the shoulders he dragged her down and there made a fearful fight on the floor of the sea. The water boiled and great waves rose to the top. Beowulf saw a shining dagger hanging to a rock. It glittered like diamonds and gold; as they swayed over to it, he seized it and thrust it into the heart of the Water Witch.

She sank to the floor and her blood dyed all the water red, and the people on the shore thought the setting sun had done it. Beowulf rose and saw that she was quite dead. On the floor of the cave lay the body of Grendel also. So he cut off the head of the monster and rose to the surface and swam to shore where he laid the bloody head before the king and told him the Water Witch could do him no more harm. And that was the end of Grendel and his dreadful mother.

BEOWULF SLAYS THE FIRE DRAGON

_In which the brave hero stops the ravages of a fire-breathing monster._

After Beowulf had slain Grendel and the Water Witch he returned to his own country. When its ruler died, the people made Beowulf king, and he ruled over the land for fifty years.

Beowulf was growing old and all the land was in peace. One day, however, he punished a slave for disobedience, and the slave fled into the mountains. Hiding in a cave, he found it full of wonderful treasures which were guarded by a terrible Fire Dragon. The Dragon was asleep, so the slave crept in very quietly and stole a gold cup and ran back to Beowulf.

“Here is a gold cup I found for thee, my lord, now will you pardon me?” Beowulf forgave him, for the cup was wondrously beautiful.

When the Fire Dragon awoke and missed the cup, his wrath was terrible. He crawled out of the cave, and over the mountains and through the forests looking for the thief. As he went the trees and grass were consumed around him. Then he flew to the cities breathing flames, and all the houses burst forth in fire. The crops in the field, the barns full of grain, the homes of the farmers all were devoured by his breath. The people fled and hid in the water ditches to save their lives.

Beowulf was very old, but he was still a great warrior. His heart boiled with rage when he saw what the fire dragon had brought to his people.

“Bring me my iron shield, my steel coat of armor and my great sword! and tell my warriors to follow me,” he ordered. Then the old king, whose arms were still the strongest in all his kingdom, went forth to fight the terrible dragon who was still raging in his wrath and burning everything he flew over.

Beowulf found the Fire Dragon in his cave, where a fiery breath came out like flames from a furnace door. The dragon came forth and Beowulf raised his shield to ward off the heat. It was a dreadful battle. Up went Beowulf’s great sword, but it melted as it touched the Dragon’s red hot-sides. The warriors all turned away, afraid of the consuming breath of the terrible monster.

One alone, Wiglaf, helped the old king in his combat. Wiglaf had a wooden shield but it caught fire and was burned from his arm. Together they fought as the Dragon’s breath enfolded them. But, at last, the dagger of Beowulf found a vital spot in the Dragon’s throat, and pierced it until the hot blood flowed out over the land. Slowly the flames died down and the monster ceased to move. After a while nothing was left but its dead body on the side of the mountain where it had been slain by the mighty king and his faithful follower.

THE DEATH OF BEOWULF

_In which an old king sacrificed his life for the good of his people._

We told you that Beowulf slew the Fire Dragon, but we did not mention that during the conflict the hot and fierce beast seized Beowulf’s neck in his teeth, and bit him so terribly that his blood covered Beowulf’s bright and shining armor.

While the Dragon was biting at the neck of the great king, his brave and faithful Wiglaf struck his sword into the monster’s body. The Dragon relaxed his hold of Beowulf long enough for the old king to escape death at the time, and to plunge his own dagger into the throat of the fiery creature.

After the fight was over, poor Beowulf, old and exhausted, fell on the ground, and the wound in his neck began to swell and to burn with the Dragon’s poison. It sank into his heart and he grew cold and knew he was going to die.

“My faithful Wiglaf,” said the dying king, “in the Dragon’s cave are many treasures, gold, silver, jewels, armor and precious gems. I would give them to thee before I die. Get them for me.” So Wiglaf left Beowulf and ran many miles until he came to the Dragon’s cave in the mountain. Here he found many sacks of treasure, but he could carry only one at a time. With this he hastened to Beowulf who was fast growing weaker and weaker. When he reached the old king, he poured the treasure at his feet.

Beowulf took the gold collar from around his neck, and his helmet and his ring and his coat of mail and gave them to Wiglaf as his last gift, and bade the young warrior to use them well.

“Thou art the last of the race. My kinsmen have all gone before me, and I follow them soon.” These were his last words, and Beowulf lay very still and cold before his weeping friend.

Now that the fight was over and the Fire Dragon lay dead all the servants who had deserted the king in battle, came back. Wiglaf met them with scorn and drove them away, so that they wandered homeless and beggared over the land. Everywhere they went they heard the words: “Death is better than a life of shame.”

Then all the people came to see their dead king as he lay on the ground. Wiglaf told them of the conflict and also of the treasures in the cave. Sorrowfully, they went and gathered every bit of the cave’s treasures and brought them forth. To the top of a high hill they carried the body of Beowulf and piled the treasures around it. Then for days and days they heaped stones over the king’s body until the pile was so high that it could be seen from out at sea. And to this day people call it Beowulf’s Mound.

ANTONIO CANOVA

_The story of a great artist who when a child showed his genius._

Many years ago in Italy there lived a boy whose name was Antonio Canova. His father was dead, and he lived with his poor old grandfather who was a stone-cutter.

Antonio was not very strong, and could not play at the rough games of the other boys, so he liked best to be with his grandfather and play around the stone-yard watching the cutters at work. He was fond of making little statues out of clay, and sometimes with hammer and chisel he would try to make a statue from a piece of stone. One day his grandfather said, “You will be a great sculptor some day, my boy.”

In the same town there lived a rich man who was a count, and who was accustomed to give great feasts to his friends. They often came from far and near to his dinners. The Count left no effort untried to give the most expensive dinners he could, and to please his guests by new decorations for the table and the rooms.

Now it happened that Antonio’s grandfather was a cook as well as stone-cutter. He often went to help in the kitchen to prepare the dishes for the Count’s table, and upon some occasions Antonio went with him to wash the dishes and do errands. In this way he made a little extra money.

One day the Count was giving a great feast, and had planned to place a beautiful marble statue in the center of the table. The servants were busy running about, when suddenly one of them overturned the statue and it fell to the floor and broke into a hundred pieces.

“What shall I do?” cried he. “The table is ruined without the center statue. What will my master say?” And the servant wrung his hands in great dismay.

Antonio listened and decided he would try to help the servant out of his trouble. “May I make a statue for the center? I will make it out of the butter,” said he. They were quite astonished at this request, but all agreed for him to try.

The great tub of butter was brought in, and Antonio began work. In an hour he had made a most wonderful lion, all out of the hard butter. They placed it on the table just as the guests were coming in.

“How beautiful! How beautiful!” they exclaimed. “Who has done this carving? He is a genius. Bring him here and let us see him.”

Little Antonio was brought in and they crowded around him as he told them about his work and himself. “The lad must be taught,” they said. “If he can work so well in butter, what could he do in marble when he is a man?”

And so Antonio went to school, and became one of the great artists of the world. But his first piece of work was the lion made out of a tub of butter.

THE LEAK IN THE DIKE

_In which it appears that a leak should be stopped at once, and that a little boy can do a great service._

Holland is a country far across the sea. The boys and girls there wear wooden shoes. They like to skip and dance along the streets clicking these shoes together, or making them ring as they strike the hard pavement.

Peter was a little boy who liked to skip and dance with the others. He was a poor boy and had to wear wooden shoes like the others. He did not mind that, however. He liked best of all to play on the top of the sea-wall, for where Peter lived, the people had to build sea-walls, or dikes, to keep the water from rushing over the land.

Every day Peter would play on the top of the dikes, and was careful not to fall into the water. He could see the great ocean on one side of the dike, with ships and fishing boats far out at sea, and on the other side, below the level of the water, he could see his own little home, and the houses of his neighbors and friends.

One day, while he was playing he heard a little trickle of water. He stopped to listen. He found a tiny stream running through a small hole in the dike.

Peter knew this was a dreadful thing, for he had often heard his father say that a small leak would grow into a great leak, and would break down the great sea-wall, and destroy the village. He knew then that in a little while the small hole would be a large one, and the sea would be rushing in, and it would be too late to stop it.

He said to himself “What can I do? Before long my mother, my father, and all my brothers and sisters will be drowned, and the sea will wash away the whole village.” He was almost ready to cry, but he was too brave a boy for that.

He called aloud, but no one heard. It was growing dark. He put his hand over the hole to see if he could stop the water. But the water was coming in so fast that he had to push his arm in to stop it. He found that, by pulling some grass from the sides of the dike and wrapping it around his hand and arm, he could hold the water back.

It was now quite dark. He lay down on the side of the dike and held his arm in the hole. The water stopped running, and little Peter lay very still. After awhile he called out for help, but still nobody heard him. He could see the lights in the houses, and he knew the people were having supper. This made him hungry and he began to be cold. All night long he lay there holding back the water.

At last morning came, and a man passing by saw Peter lying there, with his arm still in the dike. He called men to help him, and the brave little boy was lifted up, and the leak in the dike was soon stopped.

When the people of the town heard what Peter had done, they cheered him, and soon the mayor came to his home and called him a brave boy who had saved the town from destruction.

TUBAL CAIN

_Men are happier and better when engaged in useful occupation._

To-day we will learn about Tubal Cain who was the first smith of which we have any knowledge. We do not know very much about his life, for the Bible merely says he was a worker “in brass and iron.” We may suppose, however, that he had a forge somewhere, and that he labored day by day making things that were needed by the people in those rude days.

Men came to him at his forge and said: “Tubal Cain, we are engaged in hunting and we need sharp points for our spear heads, and arrows so that we can kill the game we need.” So Tubal Cain would set his forge to flaming and his anvil would ring while he made spear points and arrow heads for the hunters.

Other men came to him and said: “Tubal Cain, we are about to go to war, and we need sharp arrows to kill our enemies.” At that, Tubal Cain would swing his mighty hammers and the anvils would ring and the fires glow while he fashioned swords that were sharp enough to cut off a man’s head at a blow.

More men came to him and said: “Tubal Cain, we need helmets of brass, and shields of iron to protect our head and bodies when we go to war. Also we want iron chains to bind our enemies, so that they may not escape.” Then Tubal Cain would start the forge again, and the anvil would sing loud and long as the hammer beat out all the things the men asked for. The swords and helmets and shields and chains brought Tubal Cain much money, but he saw what bloody work they did. The more swords he made the more men fought. At last he said: “I will make no more swords for men to slay each other with.” And so the forge was cold, the fires were out, the anvil was silent and Tubal Cain sat at his door and shook his head at all who begged for swords.

One day he said: “Why should I be idle? I will make plows and scythes instead of swords.” After that the forge glowed again, the anvil rang, and Tubal Cain was busy. When men came to him he said, “Here, take this plow and break the soil and plant grain. It is better than the sword. Take this scythe and reap the grain. It is better than helmets or shields or chains.”

Thus Tubal Cain made plows and taught men to use them in raising crops instead of making swords to slay one another. Wars stopped for a while, and the fields were full of growing crops, for men could now plow the soil and cut the grain with scythes.

So Tubal Cain sang his song all day long for he was happy because he was making something useful for his fellow men.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY