PART TWO

_He is a wise boy that obeys the bells calling him back to his work and his destiny._

Dick packed his bundle and set out to seek his fortune. He left early in the morning and wandered into the fields and sat down to rest. Just then the Bow Bells, that is the bells in the church in Bow Street, began to ring. Dick fancied they said to him:

“Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London!”

Indeed he was so sure of it that he rose from his seat on the ground and went straight back to the merchant’s house, and took up work again. But all day he thought he could hear the bell calling him.

The ship which carried Dick’s cat had sailed long ago, and was driven by storms to the Barbary coast. This was a new place for a ship to come to, and the people gladly bought all the wares that the ship had to sell. Then the king invited the captain to dine with him. The dinner was spread on the ground, and everybody sat around cross-legged to eat. But the rats came in crowds and ran over the table and carried away the food.

“I would give the value of all your cargo to get rid of these rats,” said the king to the captain.

Now the captain thought of Dick’s cat, and told the king he had a rat-catching animal on board the ship that he would lend him.

“I will load your ship with gold if you will give me such a beast,” answered the king eagerly. So the captain brought out Dick’s cat and he began to chase the rats and catch them by the neck and shake them to death until he had a pile of them as big as a barrel. It was great fun for the king to see the cat killing the rats so fast. He then gave the captain a great store of gold and precious stones in exchange for the cat.

The ship sailed home and the captain brought the money for the cargo, and for the things that the servants had sent, and last of all told about Dick’s cat and showed the great box of gold and precious stones.

Dick was now a well grown and strong young man. Mr. Fitzwarren was surprised how well he appeared before him, and said:

“This is all for you, Dick, every penny of it. You are now a young man and a very fine looking one, too,” and he handed him the key to the box of gold and jewels. “And,” added Mr. Fitzwarren, “I see in you a great merchant some day.” Dick bowed low to the merchant and then turned to his daughter and said:

“Mistress Alice, you have been very kind to me, and some day I should like to make you my wife.”

And so it all happened. Dick became the Lord Mayor of London, just as the Bow Bells said he would be, and he married Mistress Alice and they lived very happy in the palace for many years. The best part of it all is that the most of this story is true.

SODOM AND GOMORRAH

_Showing how the Lord destroyed two wicked cities and punished a disobedient woman._

Sodom and Gomorrah were two very wicked cities in Palestine. The people worshipped idols and did many other evil things in the sight of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord said He would destroy these cities off the face of the earth.

Abraham said: “Wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked? If there be fifty righteous in the city wilt thou spare the place?” And the Lord said He would spare the place for the sake of fifty righteous men.

Then Abraham said: “If there be forty and five righteous within the city, wilt thou spare the place?” And the Lord said He would spare the place for the sake of forty-five righteous.

Then Abraham said: “If there be forty righteous within the city wilt thou spare the place?” And the Lord said He would spare the place for the sake of forty righteous.

Then Abraham said: “If there be thirty righteous within the city, wilt thou spare the place?” And the Lord promised to spare the place for the sake of thirty righteous.

And then Abraham asked for the sake of twenty, and then for the sake of ten, and the Lord promised that even for the sake of ten righteous people He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

But the ten could not be found in all the two cities.

Now Lot and his wife and his two daughters lived in Sodom. Lot was a good man and sat one day at the gate and saw two men approaching. Not knowing that they were angels, Lot made them come into his house and put food before them and pressed them to lie down and rest. The people of Sodom seeing Lot do this, came to his home and called for the two men to do them harm, but Lot shut the door and ordered them to go away. Instead of doing this they beat upon the door and came near breaking it down; and then the men, who were angels in disguise, put forth their hands and smote the people with blindness, both large and small, so that they could not find their way from Lot’s home.

Then the angels told Lot to gather all his family, his wife and daughters and sons-in-law and to escape from Sodom, but his sons-in-law laughed at him and refused to move from the wicked city. Then Lot took his wife and his two daughters and prepared to flee. The angels brought them forth from the city and said:

“Escape for your lives; look not behind you; neither stay on the plain, but escape to the mountains, lest ye be consumed.”

Then the Lord rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah--both cities with all the people in them, and they were utterly destroyed. But Lot’s wife, eager to see what was going on behind her, turned and looked back, and behold! she was changed into a pillar of salt. So Lot and his two daughters fled to the mountains alone, and the two cities were nothing but smoking ruins.

FRIEDRICH FROEBEL

(April 21st)

_The founder of the kindergarten and the lover of little children._

To-day we will learn about Friedrich Froebel who loved little children so much that more than a hundred years ago he started a kindergarten.

Froebel was a very poor little boy and when he was very small he had no playmates but the flowers in the old garden of his home. He loved these flowers very dearly and called them his children. He would tell them “Good morning,” and then “Good Night.” It seemed that the flowers were playing with each other, and sometimes talking to one another.

The little pink and white border flowers would say:

“I wonder where little Friedrich is this morning?” Then the old red rose would say: “Never mind! he never forgets us. He will be here soon.”

The doves in the garden would flutter round his head and light on his shoulders. Even the mother-bird would let him hold her little birds in his hand. When Friedrich came into the garden he always brought something for the birds to eat. They would cry out:

“Here comes Friedrich with our breakfast!” and fly over to meet him.

Friedrich had no mother to teach him, but he had a big strong brother who was very good to him. This big brother would take little Friedrich out in the meadows, and tell him stories about the bugs and the bees and the flowers. Then about the fairies and the giants and the underground people. Friedrich loved these stories very much and never forgot them.

When he grew bigger and went to school it was very hard to sit on a bench all day and look at a book--especially where there were no pictures in it at all, and the school master was very stern.

“Dear me!” thought Froebel. “This is a very stupid way to learn. I wish I could see some pictures, and hear some stories and do something with my hands, and sometimes play a little--I am so tired of this old bench!”

Froebel never forgot how tired he was and how stupid the book was. When he became a man he thought about his garden and he thought about his school, and he said:

“I will make me a child garden, and the children shall grow in it like the flowers and the doves at home.”

So he made a school like that and called it Kindergarten, which is the German way of saying “Child Garden,” just as we say flower garden, or vegetable garden. Then the little children in Germany were just as happy as we are to-day, for now they could see pictures and play games, and hear stories and make things with their hands. They could grow as the flowers and the birds grow.

DUMMLING’S REQUEST

_Sometimes one is not so simple as he seems, and behind a foolish face may lie a very clever head._

Everybody thought Dummling was a simpleton. His older brothers were very clever, but Dummling’s father thought he was too foolish to bother with. So everybody let him alone except his mother.

When Dummling was fifteen years old his father grew tired of supporting him, and gave him twenty shillings and told him to go out in the world and seek his fortune. Dummling kissed his mother, took the twenty shillings and went on down the road jingling the money in his pocket.

It made a merry sound, and Dummling jingled it louder and louder, for he liked to hear the noise of money in his pocket. By and by he met a man carrying a basket of fish.

“What have you there?” asked Dummling.

“Nothing that you can buy,” said the man; but when Dummling jingled his money the man stopped to listen. Then Dummling proposed to buy the fish for the twenty shillings. The man was so glad to get the money that he seized it and ran off leaving Dummling in the road with the fish and the basket, too.

“I shall take these fish and give them to the king,” said Dummling; and taking up the basket he went on to town and came to the king’s palace. He knocked at the gate and the porter came to open it.

“I have a present for the king,” said Dummling, “let me pass at once.” The porter was so impressed with Dummling’s manner that he let him by. As he went by the porter whispered to him:

“The king will give you something for your present, but you must give me half for letting you in.”

“That I will, and very gladly,” said Dummling, and went by.

Then he came to the chamberlain who also let him pass, saying: “You must give me half what the king gives you.”

“That I will gladly,” said Dummling, and went on in.

The king was seated on his throne, and the queen was sitting by him. When he saw Dummling he beckoned to him to bring his present. Dummling opened the basket and showed him the fine fish.

“Ah, very fine fish,” said the king. “I am very fond of fish. What shall I give you for them, my young friend?”

“You may give me a hundred lashes for them,” said Dummling. This was a very strange request, but the king ordered Dummling to be given the hundred lashes. Then Dummling told the king he had promised half his present to the porter, and the other half to the chamberlain. So the porter was brought in and given fifty lashes, and the chamberlain was brought in and given the other fifty lashes, to the great merriment of Dummling and all the court.

The king and queen thought Dummling was not so foolish after all, and made him live in the palace ever afterwards.

DUMMLING’S GOOSE

_In which we find the strange adventure of the simple son._

Dummling was so simple that nobody thought he had much sense. His mother thought otherwise, however, and we shall see that she was right and everybody was wrong.

One day Dummling said to his father, “Let me go into the forest and cut some wood.” His father agreed to this and gave him an ax. Dummling went into the forest and sat down to eat his lunch. He had just spread his basket when a little old man appeared and said, “Give me something to eat, I am very hungry.”

Dummling divided his bread and sour beer with the little old man and they talked very merrily for a long time. Then the old man said, “Cut down the tree we are under and you will find something to your advantage.” So Dummling cut down the tree and when it fell to the ground he saw a goose with gold feathers lying at the roots. He quickly picked up the goose and went to the inn to spend the night.

The next morning one of the landlord’s daughters saw Dummling with the goose under his arm and tried to steal one of the gold feathers. But as soon as she touched the goose she stuck hard and fast. No matter how hard she tried she could not get loose.

Pretty soon another daughter came in and seeing her sister stuck to the goose she tried to pull her away by the shoulder. But as soon as she touched her sister she also stuck hard and fast. Then the third sister came in and seeing the two stuck to the goose she ran up and tried to pull her sister away by the dress, but she also stuck hard and fast. There they were, one right behind the other, and Dummling, paying no attention, marched out of the inn with the goose under his arm and the three girls behind him.

In the fields a parson met them. “You silly girls to follow that man! Come here at once,” he cried and caught hold of the last sister, but he stuck, and the four moved on. Presently, came the clerk of the town and called out, “Parson, Parson, you are needed here to marry a couple,” and tried to pull the parson by the sleeve, and then the clerk stuck fast, and all five moved on behind Dummling.

Before long two laborers saw the strange procession and said, “We must find out about this,” and caught hold of the clerk, and then they stuck tight and all of them moved into the next town where the king lived with his daughter.

The daughter was sick and sad and had not smiled or laughed for a year, but when she saw Dummling and the crowd following him she began to laugh. She laughed so loud that the goose cackled and a feather came out. Then everybody pulled loose from one another and they ran down the road as fast as they could.

But Dummling went to live with the king and whenever the king needed money, the goose cackled and dropped a gold feather, but another one soon grew in its place.

CINDERELLA

_In which the poor little sister whom no one thought beautiful, becomes the wife of the prince._

Cinderella was a good girl who lived with her step-mother and her two sisters, who were unkind to her. The ugly sisters went to many parties and wore beautiful dresses; but Cinderella had nothing but rags and lived in a dark room. One night the sisters were going to the prince’s ball, and Cinderella had to dress them. Her heart was almost broken because she wished to wear a beautiful dress.

Away went the sisters looking very grand and never thinking of their sister crying at home. While Cinderella was weeping all alone in her dark room, some one came in--a lovely fairy who wore dainty slippers and a pointed cap, and who carried a wand. “I will see that you go to the prince’s ball,” said the fairy god-mother, and began waving her wand.

In a few minutes the pumpkin from the garden had been changed into a carriage. Two mice and two large rats from the pantry were changed into horses and coachmen. The little maid was changed from a cinder maid into a beautiful young girl in a lovely white dress, with silver stars in her hair, and a shining crown on her head. From the pocket of the god-mother came a dainty pair of glass slippers for her feet. She could go to the ball now. The only thing for her to remember was to be back before the clock struck twelve. At that hour she would be changed again to the cinder maid.

Cinderella went away to the ball promising her god-mother to be back on time. Many lovely maidens were found there dancing, but none so beautiful as Cinderella. The prince saw her and could think of no other. He danced with her many times and begged for her name, but this she would not tell.

The minutes flew by. Finally the big clock in the hall struck twelve. Down the steps she flew, but it was too late. In her haste she lost a slipper on the steps which was picked up by the prince. As she ran her lovely clothes were again rags.

She walked home but was very tired when she reached there and sat in the cinders and cried. When her sisters came home they could talk of nothing but the beautiful maiden who came to the ball and danced with the prince.

The prince was very unhappy because he could not find the beautiful maiden. He kept the glass slipper and traveled the land over trying to find whose foot it fitted. The ugly sisters tried it on but it was entirely too small.

At last Cinderella spoke up and said, “Let me try on the slipper.” The sisters laughed at her, but the prince insisted that she be allowed to try. When the slipper was put on her foot it fitted exactly. The prince then said, “You are the princess for whom I am looking.” And so they were married and lived together in the great castle.

THE THREE LUCKY SONS

_It matters little what we have to start with, the great thing to consider is what we shall do with it._

Once upon a time a man called his three sons to him and said: “My sons, I am getting old and cannot long be with you; I have no gold, nor lands, nor houses to give you, but you shall have what I have left.” So he gave one a cock, one a scythe, and one a cat. The oldest son took the cock and started out on his travels. Soon he came to a place where nobody had ever seen a cock.

“What can he do?” they all asked. The oldest son told them the cock would crow at certain hours, and was as good as a clock. He would call everybody an hour before sunrise, and if he crew in the daytime the weather would change.

All the people admired the cock and lay awake at night to hear him crow. The next day they asked what the cock was worth.

“Oh, as much gold as an ass can carry on his back,” said the oldest son. “That is not much for so wonderful a creature,” said they, and gave him the gold, and he went back home and showed his two brothers his fortune.

The second son went out with his scythe, and soon came to a place where the people had never seen a scythe. When the grain was ripe they would shoot down the stalks with a cannon, but sometimes they shot too high, and then again they often hit the ears and that made them lose a great deal of it.

“What can you do with that blade?” they asked him. Then the second son showed them how he could cut down the grain with his scythe evenly and quickly and not lose even a stalk or an ear. “How wonderful!” they all exclaimed; and then they asked what the scythe was worth. “Oh, as much gold as a horse can carry on its back,” said the second son. “That is not much for such a wonderful blade,” said the people, and gave him the gold. He then went back to his brothers and showed them his fortune.

Now, the third son went out with his cat, and soon came to a place where the people had never seen a cat. But the mice danced over the tables and ate everything in the storehouses. They even bit the king’s nose and ears while he was taking a nap.

“What can he do?” the people asked the third son. Then the third son told the cat to catch rats. Such a rat killing you have never seen. The cat killed a pile so big that it took a wagon to carry the rats away, and he did this in a few hours.

“What a wonderful creature! How much do you ask for him?” they asked. “Oh, as much gold as a mule can carry,” said the third son. The people gave him the gold and he went back to his brothers and showed them his fortune. And so they left the cock crowing, the scythe cutting grain, and the cat catching rats, but the three sons kept the gold.

HESTER’S EASTER OFFERING

_We often find our greatest joys in the sacrifice we make for others; especially when that other is a tired and care-worn mother._

Easter Eve was fast approaching. Hester could scarcely wait for the day to come, for she was in the class that had been asked to decorate the church for the Easter services. And then, Marian had invited the little helpers to tea with her afterwards.

Saturday, the anxiously expected day, arrived at last. Hester was up bright and early. There were many things to do before going to the church, for her mother gave her certain duties to perform each day.

On entering her mother’s room she was distressed to see a very tired, care-worn expression on the sweet face.

“Why, mother, what is the trouble?” asked the little girl.

“Trouble enough, child,” answered her mother. “Here are all those guests invited, telephone and door bell to answer, and Elsie with a sick baby wants to go home directly after dinner to be with her. But I just don’t see how I can spare her. If only Agatha would help me, but she has her practicing. Oh, dear! I just don’t know what to do!”

Hester did not answer. She walked across the room and looked out of the window. From across the hall came the sweet sound of her sister’s voice as she practiced her Easter anthems. Agatha’s voice was beautiful. Hester stood listening with a very thoughtful expression on her young face. Suddenly she turned and came up to where her mother was standing and said:

“Couldn’t I stay, mother, and answer the door bell and do other things? I feel sure I could, and then Elsie could go home to her baby.”

“Why, child, of course you could; but I thought you were to help decorate, and then Marian has invited you to her house this afternoon, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, mother, but I can give that up, and think how happy Elsie will be. May I run and tell her, mother?”

“You are a dear little girl,” answered her mother. “I thought your heart was set on that Easter decorating. Yes--run along; I am sure Elsie will be grateful.”

Elsie was very grateful indeed, and went away to her sick baby with a heart full of joy.

The next day at the Easter service all the girls were anxious to know how Hester could have stayed away and missed the party.

“I stayed because mother needed me,” was all the child answered. But when the service was over the minister called her to him. In his hand he held a lily. He handed it to her, saying: “This flower, little girl, is for you--a token from the Master. You are like Him in giving up your own desires for the sake of others.”

STORY OF THE JACKBEAN

_The love of flowers and of growing things is an instinct that should be encouraged._

There were four beans growing in one pod. The sun shone and the rain fell. The pod grew and the beans grew. As they grew larger they thought more of what they must do.

“Shall we stay here always?” said one. “I feel that there is something outside of this pod.”

Weeks passed. The pod became white and the beans brown. Then they felt a pull at the pod. Crack! the pod opened and the four beans rolled out into the sunshine. They lay in a little boy’s hand.

“Now we are in the world sure enough and we shall see what will happen,” said the beans. The little boy put one bean into his pea shooter and away it went into the gutter to be washed away by the rain. Another bean went up into the air and fell into a chicken yard, where the old hen promptly ate it. Still another bean fell into the street and a wagon rolled over it. And that is what happened to three beans.

But let us see about the fourth bean. The little boy was passing a house where a poor woman lived with her sick daughter. The woman went to work every day, but the girl had to stay in bed all the time. It was very lonesome all day in bed with mother away at work. The little boy shot his pea shooter with the bean in it, and the bean fell into a bed of soft moss right under the sick girl’s window.

One morning when the sun peeped into the window of her room the little sick child cried: “Look out of the window, mother! What can that green thing be?” The mother went to the window.

“Oh,” said she, “that is a little bean, it has taken root and is putting out its green leaves.” Then she moved the little girl’s bed to the window and went off to work. The child was happy every day watching the vine climb higher and higher until it reached the window sill and she could touch it with her hand.

A week later the sick child sat up in the sunshine a whole hour. The window was open and just outside was the little vine covered with white blossoms.

The mother felt that her daughter would get well. The child kissed the beautiful flowers. “I wonder from where the little bean came,” said the little girl.

“Our heavenly father planted that bean,” said the mother. “He has made it grow to be a joy to you and me.” The child folded her hands over the blossoms and said: “Oh, I will not mind being sick if I can have a little flower like this to watch every day.”

FOUR-LEAF CLOVER

_We carry our own good luck with us in the way we do our work._

There once lived a most discontented old man. He never had any luck, or at least that is what he said. He was the laziest man you ever knew. His barn burned down because he dropped a match on the hay, and was too lazy to pick it up. A fox stole his chickens because he was too lazy to fix the chicken house. His horse went lame because he was too lazy to get a new shoe. Things grew worse instead of better. The old man could stand it no longer, so he said to his friends:

“I must go into the world to seek my fortune. There is no luck here for me.”

So he tied up a few things, put them on his back and walked to the nearest town. He soon found work, but he was so lazy that he lost his job. He wandered from town to town in search of his fortune, but all in vain. Things grew worse; his clothes were ragged and his shoes worn out.

“Oh, well,” he said to himself, “this is no better than at home, and there I have a house in which to sleep.” So back he tramped until he reached his old home.

He hardly knew his old place, he had been gone so long. When he reached the doorsteps of the house he sat down to rest. “I don’t believe there is any luck in all the world,” he said.

“Oh, yes, there is,” said a voice. He thought he was all alone, but when he looked up there stood a fairy. “I am the good luck fairy,” she said, “I have been watching you for a long time. Now I have come to give you one more chance to have good luck.”

“Give it to me,” said the man, “I will do as you say.”

“Very well, then. There are three things you must do if you would have good luck come and stay with you.

“See this clover,” said she, pointing down to some clover that grew by the door step; “it has three leaves. Each leaf tells you something. The first says, ‘Be Careful’; the second says, ‘Be Honest’; and the third says, ‘Be Busy.’”

The fairy touched the clover with her wand and another leaf grew out. “Look,” she said, “there is a fourth leaf now. It is for luck.”

Then the fairy disappeared. He looked down at the clover, and there was a four-leaf clover among the others. He stooped and picked it and touching each leaf he said to himself: “Be careful; be honest; be busy; good luck.” This was his good luck and he intended to obey it. He went about his work, doing his very best, and from that he always had good luck.

THE TRAVELING MUSICIANS

_One is never too old to take care of himself, provided he keeps his wits ready and active._

An old mule had been turned out of the farmer’s yard because he was too old to work. He said: “I think I shall go to the city and earn my living as a musician; people like to hear me bray.” And so off he set for town. On the way he met an old dog.

“Come, join me, my friend,” said the mule. “I am going to the city to be a musician. You can bark, and so we can earn a living.”

The dog joined him gladly and they went on until they saw an old cat on the fence.

“You had better come with us,” said the mule. “We are going to the city to be musicians. You can sing very well at night.” The cat agreed and they all three went along the road until they came to an old rooster up in a tree. The rooster had been told that he was to be killed the next day for dinner.

“Bless me!” said the dog and the cat. “Why be killed when you can go to the city with us and earn your living as a musician? Come along! And that will make four of us--quite a band!”

And so they all went along. The mule, the dog, the cat and the rooster, until it grew dark, and they came to a big house in the woods, all lighted up and shining through the windows. The dog got on the mule’s back, the cat on the dog’s back, and the rooster on the cat’s back. Then the rooster looked through the window and said:

“I see a lot of robbers having a great feast. We are all very hungry, and now, let the band play.” With that the mule brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the rooster crowed. The robbers were so frightened that they ran out of the house and into the woods, thinking the soldiers had come to arrest them.

Then the travelers went in and ate the feast until they were quite full. They were tired by this time and very sleepy, so they put the lights out and the mule lay down on some straw in the yard; the dog went to sleep behind the door; the cat curled up on the hearth; and the rooster flew up in a tree. Before long one of the robbers came back to see what happened. He went up to the hearth to light his torch when the cat jumped at him and scratched his face. As he ran the dog bit him on the foot; the mule kicked him on the leg; the rooster crowed at him as loud as it could.

When he reached his companions he said that a witch had scratched his face, that a man had cut him on the foot with a knife, and another had hit him on the leg with a club, and that the judge on top of the house had cried: “Throw the rascal up to me.”

The robbers were so alarmed that they never went back, and so far as we know the musicians are still living in that house.

KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR MAID

_In choosing our companions it is well to consider their character and not their clothes._

Once upon a time there was a rich king named King Cophetua. He had a wonderful palace, ate from gold and silver dishes and slept on a bed of solid ivory. He was a young king and very fair to look upon, but he was not spoiled by his riches or by his power. He was kind to his subjects and was just in all his dealings.

The only thing he lacked to make him happy was a wife. With all his wealth he was lonely. The people wished him to get a wife, so they were searching everywhere for a princess suitable for the young king. But none could be found. Some were very ugly, and some were cross and high-tempered. Some were very vain and so silly that they giggled aloud every time the king’s name was mentioned.

King Cophetua did not seem to care. He had seen so much of foolish princesses that he came to dislike their vain ways. He said to the wise men of his court:

“I shall never marry until I find a young woman very beautiful and very good. If she is a princess all the better--but I would marry her were she as poor as a beggar.”

One day as the king and his nobles were riding through the country on a hunt, there stood by the roadside an old man who was blind. By his side was his daughter. Very poor they were and dressed in the cheapest clothes. They were beggars, for the man was blind and his daughter could not leave him to work.

King Cophetua tossed the old man a gold coin. The girl looked up to thank him and he caught sight of her face. It was a beautiful face, and the king was much astonished. He stopped his horse and dismounted.

“What is your name?” he asked the young girl.

“My name is Penelophon,” she replied, not knowing she was speaking to the king, and smiled very sweetly.

The king took her hand and looked into her face again. Then he asked her many questions about herself and her father, and she gave such truthful and beautiful answers, that the king was more and more attracted by her manners and her lovely face.

“I am looking for a wife, and I want you to marry me,” said the young king at last.

She looked up at him for a long time and then slowly said: “Yes, I will marry you. But you must take my father, too,” and still she did not know he was the young king.

The king then cried: “I will care for you both,” and then he called to his followers:

“Back to the palace and prepare for my marriage. She is no beggar maid from this on, but a princess who is to be my wife.”

The people were all surprised at first, but when they saw Penelophon, they shouted with joy. There was a great marriage and King Cophetua and his wife lived many years very happily.

THE KIND-HEARTED POLICEMAN

_A policeman is the friend of those in need of protection._

Mary and Ellen were two little sisters who lived in a town in sunny England. They loved to wander outside of town in the meadows and gather buttercups and daisies. One day they wandered farther than they had ever been before. They had found such a beautiful land where the wild roses and the hawthorn bushes were white and fragrant, and full of the songs of birds. Just out of reach could be seen a tiny nest, and the children wondered if there were any eggs in it. On and on they wandered, their arms full of bright blossoms.

All at once Mary happened to think of something she had heard some boys say, that “the gypsies were about.” This thought sent a thrill of fear over her, for had she not heard that the gypsies would steal little children?

“Oh, sister, let us go back,” cried Mary. “I’m afraid of the gypsies.” So the children took hands and ran back towards the city. They no longer cared to gather flowers they passed, and the fluttering of a bird among the bushes almost made their hearts stand still, so afraid were they that it might be the gypsies trying to catch them.

At last they reached the town and after walking past many houses they saw that they must have taken the wrong street for everything looked so strange. They were very lonely, and tired, so they sat on the curbing to rest. The day was warm and little Ellen was soon fast asleep against her sister’s shoulder. Mary sat still thinking, wondering how they could find their way home, when who should come round a corner but a policeman.

Now, a policeman, Mary thought, was as bad if not worse than a gypsy, for policemen always locked people up. Suppose he should lock them up. Poor Mary was afraid to look up until she heard a cheery voice say: “Hello, little tots! better run home!” Then she looked into the smiling face and kind eyes of the policeman, and her fears all vanished. She told him they were lost, and to please not to lock them up this time, for they would never go so far from home again.

Well, the big man laughed and laughed and said: “All right! come on, let’s find mother.” He took the poor little sleepy Ellen up in his arms, and taking Mary by the hand started off. Mary told him they lived on Durby Street and that their father’s name was Benton. Soon things began to look familiar, and soon they reached the dear home. Mother was very anxious about them and had just sent word to the police for help in finding the children. They were all very grateful to the kind policeman for bringing them safely home, for they had learned that he is a very good friend indeed.

THREE LITTLE GOLDFISH

_The only safety lies in doing as one is told by those who know what is best._

Once upon a time there were three little goldfish who lived in a cool pond. This little pond was divided from the lake by a lattice work. Every day the master came to feed the goldfish and caution them not to swim too near the bank and never go near the lattice work, but to stay at the bottom of the pond until he came.

Now, when the master was gone the little goldfish at the bottom of the pond talked together. They did not want to play down under the water so long.

The first little goldfish said, “I like the sunshine, and I like to hear the birds sing and I like to hear the winds blow. It looks lovely to me to swim near the shore and see the pebbles and the sand. I see no harm in it, and I am not going to stay down deep in the water. The master does not know.”

The second little goldfish said, “I want to go to the other side of the lattice. I see some fish over there. I wish to visit and talk, too. They can tell me things I need to know. I do not like this deep pond anyway. The master does not know.”

The third little goldfish said, “You should do as the master says, and I advise you to stay here. I am not going to swim near the bank, nor go beyond that lattice. The master knows.”

So the first little goldfish rose to the top and swam near the bank, and then he jumped right out of the water on to the sand where he lay until the sun parched him.

The second little goldfish floated down to the lattice work where the current was so swift it carried him through into the lake where a big fish swallowed him.

The third little goldfish remained under the water, and the next morning when the master came there was only one little goldfish to be fed.

“Where are the others?” asked the master.

“I do not know,” said the little goldfish. “One of them said he was going to swim in the sunshine, and the other said he was going to dart through the lattice.”

The master looked along the bank and found the body of the poor little goldfish where he had dried up in the hot sun. He then looked in the big lake and saw an old fish who looked as if he had just eaten breakfast.

“I think I have lost two little goldfish because they would not do as I told them to do,” said the master.

The other little goldfish ate his fish bread and went back to the bottom of the pond to think over the results of the disobedience of his companions.

WAX WINGS

_One should be careful not to fly too high._

A long time ago there lived a man named Daedalus who was such a genius that he could make anything. The king of the country became angry and jealous because Daedalus could do so many wonderful things, and so he shut him up in a tower and kept him prisoner on an island out in the ocean. He imprisoned the little son, Icarus, along with his father.

This was a foolish thing to do for it should be the part of all wise kings to encourage their subjects to invent things, and to use them for the good of the others. But this was a foolish king, and so he put the inventor in prison.

Daedalus easily escaped from the prison, but he did not know how he could escape from the island because the king allowed no ships to take on passengers there. Daedalus decided to fly away like the birds he saw skimming along the waters and then high up in the air.

He made a frame of wood and fastened feathers on it with wax. He then fitted it on his back and made it to work like birds’ wings. He made another small one for Icarus and fitted it on his back. They practiced flying on the island and would fly from one hill to another until they had learned how to manage their wings. They were then ready to fly away over the sea.

Daedalus and Icarus went to the top of a hill, and putting the wings on their shoulders they jumped off and began to fly. Daedalus called to Icarus to fly low and keep close, and away they went over the water and up into the air.

It was very wonderful to fly like the birds. The blue water underneath sparkled; the fishermen looked up astonished; rowers stopped their boats to see the strange sight. Soon they came to the land, but they kept on flying. Farmers stopped plowing, and cattle ran round in the field. Hunters shot arrows as Daedalus and Icarus flew along over their heads. Then they flew over a great lake.

Icarus forgot the directions of his father and flew higher and higher. “Do not fly so high, Icarus,” called out his father, “it is dangerous. You are too young to trust yourself to such high places.”

But Icarus called back, “I can take care of myself,” and flew on higher and higher. At last he came close to the sun, and all the wax melted off his feathers and they began to drop off. One by one they fell until only the frame was left. Then Icarus began to fall, and he fell and fell until he dropped down into the water--and that was the end of Icarus!

But Daedalus who had kept away from the sun flew on and landed in his own country.

THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE CITY MOUSE

_In which we see that comfort in safety is better than luxury in fear._

Brownie was a little mouse who lived in the country. His home was an old hollow log, but it seemed a mansion to Brownie who was happy all day long playing in the woods and green fields.

Now Brownie had a cousin named Ringtail who lived in the city and one day he came out to see Brownie. They went for a long walk through the woods and came home just in time for dinner. Brownie was afraid there would not be enough for two, so he only nibbled on an acorn while Ringtail had green peas, an ear of corn, and a big red apple. But much to Brownie’s surprise he did not seem to enjoy his dinner, and when he had finished the city mouse said:

“My cousin, how can you live in this stupid place, with nothing to eat, and nothing to see but woods and bare fields? Come with me to my home in the city and I will show you what real life is. When once you see my beautiful home you will never be content to live in this place again.”

So Brownie went with his cousin. It was night when they reached the huge house in whose garret Ringtail made his home. The city mouse then showed his country cousin what a nice bed he had out of some old clothes that had been put in a chest. He then led him to the pantry and showed him the cold meats, and cheese, and the bread that were on the shelves. “Now, this is what I call real life,” said Ringtail. “Come, let us go into the dining-room where we will eat.”

They then slipped through a crack in the door and found themselves in the dining-room. On the table they found cake and fruit and were preparing to make a feast when suddenly the door opened and in walked the cook. The mice jumped off the table and ran into a hole in the floor. Poor little Brownie was so frightened that he could almost hear his heart beat.

But finally their hunger conquered fear, and when everything grew quiet again they slipped into the kitchen. There they found a bowl of fresh cheese and were helping themselves to it when they saw two great bright eyes near them.

“Run, cousin! Run!” cried Ringtail. “It is the cat!”

Brownie needed no second warning, and they ran as fast as their little legs could carry them. When they reached a safe distance Brownie found his voice and said:

“Good-by, cousin! I’m going back home. If living in fear is what you call real life I do not care to know it. I prefer my quiet home where the birds sing while I eat my corn and apples to your beautiful home with its cake and dangers.”

JULIA’S PRESENCE OF MIND

_It is well to know what to do in case of fire._

Julia lived with her mother in an old-fashioned house on the edge of the town. Her mother was a widow and worked at the village store, while Julia stayed at home and took care of her little sister. Her mother trusted her and felt that her little one was safe so long as Julia had her in charge.

Julia would read to her little sister out of her story books, then she would tell her fairy tales, and talk to her about obeying her mother, and growing up to be a good girl. She never told her ghost stories or any stories to frighten her, and never let her be afraid of the dark, and she never threatened to “tell mother on her when she came home.”

The little sister, who was only six years old, loved Julia very much, and did everything she was told. They often played together in the yard, and walked to the big park where they saw flowers and animals, and people enjoying themselves.

One Saturday evening Julia and her sister were waiting for their mother to come home. It was cold, and Julia had started the fire and lighted the lamp, and was getting her little sister ready for bed. The fire was burning brightly and Julia had gone into the next room to get something, when she heard her little sister scream. She ran back into the room, and saw that a spark from the grate had set the little one’s night dress on fire.

Julia did not lose her presence of mind, as many other young girls would have done, but ran quickly to the bed and pulled off the blanket, calling to her sister to lie down and roll over. The little girl obeyed promptly, and Julia ran with the blanket and covered her up, and soon smothered the fire entirely.

The little sister was burned on the arms and back, but when the doctor came in later and put some soothing ointment on the burned places he told the mother that if Julia had run screaming into the hall and cried “fire!” her little sister would have burned to death. The doctor said to the mother, “You see when the clothes catch fire you are in danger of burning the skin, and also in danger of breathing the flames. The best thing to do is to lie down and wrap up in a blanket, or rug, or carpet, and roll over to put out the flames. Then send for a doctor. Julia did exactly right and is a very trustworthy girl. And the little sister did right, too, in doing what Julia told her. I am glad you have two such fine children.”

THE BAKER BOYS AND THE BEES

_One should take advantage of every circumstance in an emergency._

Andernach was a city enclosed with an immense wall which had only one gate. This was a heavy iron gate and was very hard to open. The watchman lived near the gate and as it was not opened very often had much spare time. He was very fond of honey, so one day he bought a great many hives of bees which were placed on top of the wall for safety.

Not far away was another walled city called Linto. The people of this city were enemies of the people of Andernach, and were always waiting for an opportunity to attack them. They were constantly watching to see if the gate was ever left open. One night they met and planned to capture Andernach before sunrise. They plotted to kill all the people, rob their houses and take possession of the town. When all was ready they crept softly toward the dark, quiet city. Not a sound could be heard and the watchman was fast asleep, not dreaming of any danger.

Only the bakers here rose early. They made their bread, put it in the ovens and returned to their beds, leaving small boys to watch the bread. The boys had to watch carefully to keep the bread from burning. Two of the baker boys, Hans and Fritz, were great friends and were often together. While the bread was baking they played around the ovens, but they dared not go to sleep.

One morning they decided to creep upon the wall over the watchman’s house. They stole softly up the steps and were soon on top of the wall. All of a sudden they heard a noise like men walking.

“Do you hear that?” said Fritz.

“Why, it must be the watchman,” answered Hans.

The noise was heard again. This time it was louder and nearer. The boys crept to the edge of the wall and looked down. There stood the army of Linto placing ladders against the wall. Hans and Fritz were frightened and at first started to run, but they saw that it was too late. In an instant Fritz thought of the hives. He knew the little bees were not asleep if the people were. Each boy took a hive, carried it to the edge of the wall and let it fall on the heads of the enemy. Out flew the bees, mad as they could be, and began to sting right and left.

The bees won the battle. They buzzed and stung the enemy so badly that their loud cries of pain awoke the sleeping city. Hans and Fritz were delighted to see the bees so busy and called loudly for help. The watchman woke up and began to ring the bell. The men rushed to the city gates. It was too late for the soldiers had already fled. The bees had stung them so painfully they could scarcely see where to run. And so the bees and the boys saved Andernach.

A DOG’S GRATITUDE

_Kindness to helpless animals, especially those in distress, is the mark of a generous nature._

A Newfoundland dog was once hurt by a wagon that crushed his foot. The driver of the wagon did not stop to help the poor dog, but went on leaving him in the road.

The poor dog was limping painfully along when a blacksmith saw him. He felt sorry for the dog and said:

“Poor dog! what is the matter? Let me see your foot.”

The dog at once seemed to know what was said to him and held up his foot for the blacksmith to see. The blacksmith led him to his shop near by, where he carefully washed and bound the foot. The next day the dog returned to the shop to have his foot dressed by the blacksmith, and kept coming every day. Even after he was cured he kept up his visits to his friend and came every day to play around the shop. He seemed to know who his friends were, and when the blacksmith would tell how he had helped him the dog would wag his tail in a very knowing way.

On one of the dog’s visits he saw the blacksmith’s little boy, Ned. Ned was only six years old, but he was a fine little fellow, and loved to play. The dog and the boy became fast friends and had many romps together. The blacksmith named the dog Rover, and told Rover to be careful to look after Ned. After that, Rover was careful that nothing should happen to his little friend.

One day the dog was walking near the river bank when he spied little Ned who had run away from his older brother. Ned was running near the bank and every now and then turned to look back to see if his brother was in sight. Once, just as Ned turned to look, his foot slipped as he struck against a rock and at once he was in the water.

It took Rover only a second to spring in after his little friend. He seized Ned by his jacket and swam to the bank.

By this time a crowd had collected. Willing hands took Ned from the dog, and he was none the worse for his ducking. Rover shook the water from his shaggy hair, and looked for all the world as if he had done nothing to be proud of.

You can imagine how Ned’s father felt when he heard of Rover’s brave deed. He put his arm around the dog’s neck and said:

“How glad I am that I helped to cure your foot!”

After that nothing was too good for Rover. He slept in the room with Ned, and went with him everywhere.

THE MIGHTY MEN

_He who would succeed in great things must bring all forces and influences to his aid._

Once there was a soldier who resolved to marry the king’s daughter. He started out for the king’s palace. As he was going through the forest he saw a man pulling up trees by the roots. “Come along with me, I need you,” said the soldier. So the man took one of the trees and wrapped it around the others and then shouldered the bundle. The two then went on together.

Before long they came to a hunter aiming a gun. “What are you aiming at?” asked the soldier. The hunter said: “Two miles off there is a fly sitting on a fence. I am going to shoot out his left eye.” The soldier told the hunter: “Come along with me; I need you.” The hunter took up his gun and all three went along together.

After a while they came to a man sitting on a fence whistling. “My good fellow, what are you doing there?” asked the soldier. The man answered: “Do you not see those seven wind-mills over yonder with their sails going around? I am furnishing the wind to turn them.” The soldier said: “Come along with me. I need you.” So the man climbed down from the fence and all four went along together.

Shortly they came to a man who was unbuckling his leg and taking it off. “Why do you take your leg off, my friend?” asked the soldier. “Oh,” replied the man, “if I use two legs I go so fast that nobody can see me. One leg takes me as fast as the wind.” “Come along with me, I need you,” said the soldier. So the man took up his leg and all five went along together.

About dark they saw a funny fellow with his hat down on the side of his head. “Why do you wear your hat so crooked, young fellow?” asked the soldier. The fellow replied: “If I wear it straight a frost will come and freeze everything stiff and still.” The soldier said: “Come along with me; I need your help, too.” And so all six went along together and came to the king’s palace.

“I must marry your daughter,” said the soldier to the king. “Oh, no, you cannot,” said the king, and sent fifty men to drive the soldier away. But see what happened! The first man caught all fifty and tied them together with their own buckles and hung them up on the church steeple. The second man took his gun and shot the whiskers off the king’s chin. The third man began to whistle and blew down the tall tower of the palace. The fourth man put on both legs and ran to get the princess and take her away. The funny fellow put his hat on straight and it blew so cold that the queen sneezed herself into a fit. It was an awful situation, so the king cried out:

“You can have the princess if you want her, but give me back my men and my whiskers, and turn on the heat for I am about to freeze to death.” The soldier set everything straight and went off with the princess, who gladly married so wonderful a man.

THE FAIRY FISH QUEEN

_Wherein a little girl has some strange adventures under the sea._

Eriline lived on an island. Her father made his living by fishing. One morning she asked her mother to let her go in her row boat to fish. Her mother told her that she might go but she must not go out of sight. Eriline carried her fishing tackle to the boat and started off very happily. After a while she dropped anchor and commenced fishing.

Soon she heard a splash and saw a huge fish rise above the water. Eriline had never before seen such a big fish! She tried her best to haul in the line, but the fish got tangled and began to pull and fight to get away. All of a sudden it gave a terrific jerk and Eriline fell into the water!

She was very much frightened. Just then she heard a soft voice say: “Don’t cry, little girl; nothing shall hurt you. I am queen of the fish fairies, and I’ll take care of you.”

Eriline was so surprised to hear a fish talk that she looked up quickly and saw a beautiful golden fish, with diamond eyes and a ruby mouth, swimming beside her.

The queen led her into a pearl palace built by the oysters. The floors were of tiny coral, while the furniture was of all kinds of shells. The queen swam until she reached her golden throne.

After a while they swam into the dining-room where supper was spread upon a shell table. When they finished eating they went into a bedroom. The queen put Eriline into a golden bed and covered her with sea-weed.

When she woke up she had on a scaly dress, too, that the queen had put on her so that she could play with all the fish fairies.

“Am I to stay a fish all my life?” she asked the fish queen.

“Yes, but if you ever get out of the water to dry land you will turn back into a little girl,” said the queen.

Eriline grew to be a beautiful fish. One day she was out swimming when she heard her father’s voice and looking out she saw him in his boat with his fish net spread in the water. Then Eriline began to want her mother. She remembered what the queen had said about dry land. So she went near the boat and swam right into her father’s net. He pulled it up quickly and put Eriline into his fishbasket. “What a fine fish,” he said.

When dark came her father went home, and threw his nets out of the fish basket on to the shore. He took the fish out and laid them on the sand. Eriline turned again into his beautiful daughter and threw her arms around his neck.

“Oh, father, here I am, your little Eriline!” she cried. The mother came running to greet her child again, and they were all happy and thankful to be together again.

SNOWFLAKE

_One must be on the lookout for deception, and not be misled by the words of pretended friends._

Once there was a little goat with white hair all over him like his mother. That was why he was called Snowflake. His mother stayed at home when he was a baby and taught him many things a little goat should know. But one night his mother had to go off on a visit. She barred all the doors and windows, and said:

“Now, Snowflake, if any one comes to the door and knocks be sure not to open it unless he says, ‘Little bird, little bird, up in a tree; little goat, little goat, open to me.’”

The mother then went away.

All this time Mr. Wolf was hiding just outside, and when the mother was well out of sight he thought he would like a nice supper of fat young goat. So he went to the door and knocked.

“Who’s there?” said Snowflake. The old wolf said:

“Little bird, little bird, up in a tree; little goat, little goat, open to me.” But the wolf’s voice was not like his mother’s voice, and so Snowflake, to be sure, said:

“Let me see your foot.” Then the wolf put his foot through a crack in the door. But Snowflake said:

“Go away! my mother’s foot is white and yours is black.” So the wolf went away growling. Then the wolf got some flour and put it on his foot and came back and knocked at the door.

“Who’s there?” asked Snowflake. The old wolf said:

“Little bird, little bird, up in a tree; little goat, little goat, open to me.” But Snowflake did not like the voice and again said:

“Let me see your foot,” and the wolf put his flour covered foot through the crack in the door.

Snowflake looked at it and said:

“My mother’s foot is hard and yours is soft like paws. Go away from here!” The old wolf went away growling. He was getting very hungry by this time. At last he went back to the door and knocked. Again Snowflake asked: “Who’s there?” And the wolf said the same words.

“Let me see your foot,” said Snowflake. This time the wolf stuck his soft tail through the crack. Snowflake saw it was not his mother’s foot, so he grabbed the wolf’s tail and tied a knot in it. Now the old wolf was caught and could not pull his tail out nor get away.

When the mother came back she butted the old wolf so hard that she split the door so that his tail untied, and he was glad to go away from that goat’s house, and never come back.

RAGS

_In which we find out that a dog refuses to be separated from its little mistress._

Rags was a dear little snow-white poodle with such soft curly wool that he looked more like a lamb than a dog. The man who gave him to Mary called him “Rags,” but no one could understand why such a beautiful woolly dog should be called “Rags.”

Mary was a little lame girl and could not run about and play like other little girls, for she had to hop about on a crutch. Rags was her very best friend, and they were always together. Mary’s father was dead, and her mother worked out all day leaving Mary alone with Rags. They were never lonesome, however, for they were always happy when they were together.

One morning Mary and Rags were sitting on the doorstep watching the people when a black-eyed man came by.

“That’s a very fine poodle,” said he.

“Indeed, he is,” cried Mary. “He’s my very own and I love him more than anything else.”

“Can he do any tricks?” asked the man.

“I should say so,” said Mary, for she had taught the dog all he knew. “Just watch him.”

Rags stood on his head and danced, and even tried to speak by little barks. The man asked Mary if she would sell him.

“No, indeed, I won’t,” answered Mary, “he is my own Rags and I cannot let you have him.”

The man seemed to be very angry, and went away.

The next morning the black-eyed man came back and again asked Mary to sell him the dog. Mary again refused. Suddenly he glanced hastily up and down the street, and seeing no one, grabbed Rags from Mary’s arms and fled. Mary screamed and tried to follow, but her poor little crutch would not let her. She sobbed and cried until she grew white and cold, and her mother found her in a little heap on the floor with her little crutch beside her.

All night long she tossed to and fro calling for Rags, and when morning came she had a high fever.

One afternoon when everything was so still in the room that you could hear Mary’s faint breathing, there was a pattering of feet and a little white poodle dashed into the room and jumped on the bed. It was Rags! But you would never have known him for he was thin and dirty, and his little feet were bleeding as if he had traveled a long way. He licked Mary’s face and tried to tell her how he got away from the man, but Mary could not understand dog language, and so she never knew.

From that day Mary grew better, and though she never could understand how Rags came back to her, she just smiled and said he found his way because he loved her so much.

THE MAGIC POT

_In which a little girl gets into trouble by meddling._

There was once a little girl who lived alone with her mother. They were so poor that often they had nothing to eat. One day they had eaten the very last thing they had in the house, and were very hungry. So the mother went out to try to find some food for her little girl.

As she went along the road she met a very old woman. The old woman seemed very cold and so the mother said, “Take my cloak, for you need it more than I do.” The old woman took the cloak and then gave her a little iron pot, which she had been carrying under her apron.

“You must say to it, ‘Little pot, boil,’” said the old woman, “and it will boil for you, and when you say to it, ‘Little pot, stop,’ then it will stop boiling.” So the mother took the pot home with her and put it on the table.

Then she said to it, “Little pot, boil.” It began boiling at once, and they had all the beans they needed for many days.

But one day when the mother had gone out, the little girl thought she would say, “Little pot, boil,” just to see how it would act. And so she said, “Little pot, boil.”

Well, the little pot boiled and bubbled away until it was full of beans, and then the little girl wished it to stop boiling, but she had forgotten what to say. So the pot boiled and boiled and kept bubbling and spilling over until the kitchen table was covered, until the kitchen was full, and next the whole house was full.

The little girl had to run out of the house, and the beans poured out of the door and down the road, and into other people’s houses, until there were enough to feed the whole town. And still no one was able to stop it.

The mother saw a stream of beans pouring down the road and ran home as fast as she could. She had to wade through boiled beans to get into her yard. She called out loudly: “Little pot, stop!” And of course, the little pot stopped boiling at once; but all the people had to eat their way back to their houses again.

Transcriber’s Notes:

“Thesus” changed to “Theseus” on page 94. (After Theseus had killed the giant robber)

“dragon’s” changed to “Dragon’s” page 195. (Dragon’s poison)

“aud” changed to “and” on page 304. (by enterprise and good fortune)

Inconsistent hyphenation retained as printed. Obvious mis-printed punctuation repaired.

End of Project Gutenberg's Worth While Stories for Every Day, by Various