PART TWO

_Performing the simple service at our hands brings more real joy than mighty conquests abroad_.

Years passed by while Sir Launfal wandered far and wide, but never found the great thing he sought to do. He fought many battles and he endured great hardships in the deserts, but somehow it did not bring him the peace of mind that he sought. Try as he might to do some great deed, he did not please God and he was downcast and discouraged. He had spent all his money and had only his horse, his armor, and a crust of bread.

At last he turned homeward, but found that the people, thinking that he was dead, had taken his home from him. When he tried to enter his castle they turned him away.

It was winter time. The wind blew loud and cold. Poor Sir Launfal had no home. He drew his cloak around him and looked through the windows into his castle. It was Christmas, and all the rooms were trimmed with holly. He saw the great fire burning but could not get warm. He tried to forget the bitter cold by remembering how the hot sun shone down on the desert. As he was thinking he heard a voice say:

“For Jesus’ sake, help me!” He saw near him the same poor leper who had begged for help when he rode away from his castle that summer morning. He also remembered how he had treated him and felt very sorry that he had not been more kind and loving. “You poor beggar,” said he. “I am hardly more than a beggar myself now, and I have not much to give, but I will divide what I have.”

So he divided his crust of bread, which was all he had, then broke the ice on the brook and gave the leper a drink. It seemed to the leper that he had never tasted anything so good. As he ate the bread and drank the water it seemed to Sir Launfal that the peace and joy he had been years trying to find had at last come into his heart.

Suddenly a beautiful light shone upon Sir Launfal, and looking up he saw--not a poor leper--but Jesus Christ Himself! Gently he spoke:

“Be not afraid, Sir Launfal; over all the world you have searched in vain for one thing to do for me, while here, at your own gate, are the sick and the poor whom you could love and help.”

Then Sir Launfal awoke, and found that all this had been a dream, and that he had never ridden forth from his castle at all. But he felt sure that the dream had been sent to teach him not to be proud and selfish. He called to his servants and said:

“Hang up my armor, for I am not going to travel. Instead, I shall hereafter be kind to all the poor who come to my gates.” Then he found the great service he longed to do for the Master.

HOW ARTHUR BECAME KING

_Only the wise and God fearing should be chosen as rulers of the people._

A long time ago the king and queen of England had a little son. When the boy was a baby a great enchanter came to the king and said: “You must have some one to take care of your child.” So the king gave the baby to Merlin who took it off with him and gave it into the care of a good man named Sir Ector who christened the baby with the name of Arthur. Arthur grew up strong and good and became a man brave and powerful.

At last the old king died and all the lords of the kingdom tried to take his place. They did not think of Arthur who was the king’s son, and who now ought to be king in his father’s place. So Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and told him to summon all the lords to London on Christmas, and that some miracle would be performed to show who should be king.

So the archbishop did as Merlin advised, and on Christmas all the lords came to London. They went into the church and said their prayers, and then they beheld in the churchyard a great stone in which a sword had been stuck hard and fast, and on the stone were the words: “Whoso pulleth out the sword from the stone is king of all England.” One by one they tried to pull out the sword, but not one of them could move it.

On New Year’s Day Sir Ector came to London bringing Arthur with him. He heard about the stone and the sword and saw all the lords and knights in their games, and heard that none of them could move the sword. Sir Ector’s son was with him also, but had no sword to join in the games with the knights.

“I will get my brother a sword,” said Arthur, and straightway drew the sword out of the stone with great ease. They were all astonished. Arthur put the sword back into the stone, and still none could pull it out but he. Time and time again he did this until they all cried out: “Arthur shall be king of England!”

Then all the people knelt down and declared they would serve and obey Arthur as king. Sir Ector told them that Arthur was the son of the king who had died, and was king by right of birth anyway, and that the miracle of the sword coming so easily out of the stone into Arthur’s hand was the judgment of Heaven in his favor.

At this all the people shouted again, “Long live King Arthur.” Then Arthur took the sword and placed it on the altar of the church, meaning that he dedicated himself and the sword to the service of God.

After he became king he set about righting all the wrongs that had been done since the death of his father. He gave back land and money that had been taken from orphans and widows, and changed all the bad laws into good ones. Thus at the very beginning he was known as “Good King Arthur.”

HOW ARTHUR CAME BY HIS SWORD

_Wherein King Arthur miraculously procures a sword._

Soon after Arthur was crowned king he went on a journey with Merlin, the wise magician. They met a knight in the wood, who challenged Arthur to combat. The king fought the knight as they did in those days, and though he overcame the knight, yet the king lost so much blood that he was very weak.

As he and Merlin continued their journey, the king said, “I am weak from loss of blood, and my sword is broken. When shall I get another?”

“Fear not,” said Merlin, “you shall lose no more blood and you shall get another sword as good as the one you broke.” And they rode on in silence for a long while. At last they came to a large lake, very quiet and beautiful, with trees around the edges, and of color like turquoise.

While Arthur was gazing out into the lake he became aware of three women standing by his side. “Who are you?” asked Arthur. To which they replied, “We are queens who have come to help you. Look out into the lake again.”

Arthur looked out upon the lake, and saw in the distance a cloud upon the water like a mist. It moved toward him, and when it came near he saw in the cloud the figure of a woman. Her robe seemed made of the waves of the lake, and her hair was like the morning mist. She was so wonderful that Arthur exclaimed, “Who is she?”

Then Merlin said, “She is The Lady of the Lake. She lives in the rock in the midst of the water, and has come to help you.”

Arthur looked at the figure of the woman. She smiled at him, and pointed at the lake. Then Arthur saw an arm rising out of the water, clothed in pure white. The arm held a sword with a crosslike hilt, and the sword shone so bright that Arthur’s eyes were dazzled.

Then Arthur spoke up and said, “Fair Lady, I would that yonder sword were mine, for I have lost one in combat, and am now without one.”

The lady smiled and said, “Step into yonder boat, and row to the arm, and take the sword, together with the scabbard.” And so Arthur untied the boat, took the oars, and rowed out into the lake. Coming to the arm he took the sword and scabbard, and rowed back to the shore. When he landed he found that the three queens and the Lady of the Lake and the arm had vanished.

As Arthur was gazing at the sword, Merlin said to him: “My lord, which pleases you more, the sword or the scabbard?”

To which Arthur replied, “The sword pleases me more.”

Then Merlin told him to guard the scabbard for so long as he held it he would lose no blood. Then Merlin said, “You have a good sword now; use it in making justice and right prevail in all the land.” And they rode along on their journey.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE

_In which appears the teachings and practices of the true order of knighthood._

Arthur was now king, and lived in a big palace. He had done many things for his subjects, and they were devoted to his service. He had no wife, however, and told Merlin, who was always with him, that he would like to wed the Lady Guenevere, daughter of one of the nobles, whom he loved dearly. Her father was willing, and so the Lady Guenevere came to King Arthur’s palace to be his wife. Her father sent as a present a huge round table at which one hundred and fifty knights could sit at the same time.

King Arthur then gathered the full number of knights to sit at the round table, and called them the Knights of the Round Table. He charged them never to commit any outrage or murder and always to be loyal to the king. They were never to be cruel, but always to be merciful, and to give help to women and children and the helpless. They were never to give battle for a wrongful quarrel, and were to keep themselves good and holy. So the king and queen lived very happily and the Knights of the Round Table served them valiantly.

Among all the knights there were none more brave and beautiful than Sir Galahad. He had been reared in a convent by the nuns, and when they brought him to be a knight Sir Lancelot said: “God make you a good man, for beauty faileth you not.” So Sir Galahad took his seat among the knights. It was said of him that “His strength was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure.”

Now, there was a story in England that the cup which Christ had used at the Last Supper had been brought to England, and had vanished because those who kept it were not good men. It was called the Holy Grail, and all good knights desired to find it.

One day as these knights sat at table a great tempest arose; the building shook and the thunder made such a noise that everybody thought that the palace would fall. In the midst of the storm a sunbeam entered at the window, and the knights saw the Holy Grail, covered with cloth borne by invisible hands through the hall.

For a great while no knight could speak a word, and they looked at one another as though they were drunk. And then all the hall was filled with sweet odors, and music. On the table appeared rich food that the knights might eat, and each knight felt his heart grow strong and valiant.

Then the Holy Grail vanished, and no knight could see where it went. But they rose from their seats and vowed to follow it and find it wherever it was. On the next day they went to church and after service the king called them and counted a hundred and fifty who were ready to start out to find the Holy Grail.

SIR GALAHAD FINDS THE HOLY GRAIL

_Showing the reward that comes to those who lead a pure and righteous life._

All the knights went in search of the Holy Grail, but we shall follow the fortunes of Sir Galahad only. Sir Galahad had many adventures in his wanderings for more than a year. He defended all helpless women and children, fought no unjust fights, sought no quarrels, and kept himself pure in heart. One day as he was riding through a forest he met two other knights, and they rode on together to a great castle, telling each other of their adventures.

A little before evening as they sat in the hall, it was very hot, and four women came in bringing a bed on which was a sick man with a crown of gold on his head. He said: “Welcome, Sir Galahad! I have waited a long time for your coming, but now that you are here, I shall be healed.”

And then there came in a man like a bishop holding a cross in his hand, and four angels bore him up in a chair, and set him before a table and on the table was the Holy Grail.

Then more angels came in bearing candles, and a towel and a spear which bled all the time. Then the bishop took bread and gave it to the three knights, and they ate it, then the bishop took the Holy Grail and brought it to Sir Galahad, and he drank from it; and the bishop said that he had to take the Holy Grail with him, but he did not say where nor when. Then the bishop vanished with the Holy Grail leaving the knights alone in the castle hall. But they had seen the Holy Grail and the three knights had touched it to their lips. So henceforth they were disciples of the Lord.

After the bishop had departed Sir Galahad touched the blood upon the bleeding spear and anointed the sick man with it, and behold! he was well again. The sick man started from his bed a whole man, and knelt down to pray because he was healed, and desired to thank God.

Then he and the two other knights rode for three days and came to a ship and when they went on board they found the Holy Grail was there, covered with cloth. Then Sir Galahad knew he was led by the holy spirit to do some useful service. The ship sailed to a distant city and when they landed and came to the gate of the city they looked and found a man crooked with age and disease. Sir Galahad told him to rise up and walk and so it happened to the old man.

The king of the city who was a pagan and a tyrant, seized Sir Galahad and the other knights and put them in prison, and there they stayed for a whole year, but every day the Holy Grail came and fed them, and they kept their strength.

THE PASSING OF SIR GALAHAD

_In which the brave knight passes away, and we see the last of the Holy Grail._

We left Sir Galahad and his companions in prison where, for a whole year they were fed by the Holy Grail. Every morning and night they prayed and as they finished their prayer the Holy Grail would appear and with it food and drink. So the knights ate and there was no failing of their strength, at which the king wondered greatly.

At the end of the year, the king, who had put them in prison, fell ill and was about to die. So he sent for the three knights and begged their mercy and set them free. Then the king died, and all seeing how well they were and hearing of the Holy Grail and its comforts to the prisoners, the king knew they were holy men and the people were glad, for he had been a bad and evil-minded ruler, and his repentance came too late to do good to his subjects.

While they were wondering whom they should take as king, a voice came saying: “Choose the youngest of the three knights to be your king.”

So they made Galahad king of their city. Galahad had made a table of silver and a chest of gold, and in it he put the holy vessel, and every day he and his knights came and said their prayers before it.

At the end of a year Galahad and his knights came to the holy vessel one day, and saw a man like a bishop before it, and a great crowd of angels around him. The bishop called to Galahad to come to him and partake of the holy sacrament. Galahad began to tremble, but he came and did as the bishop bade him. Then the bishop said:

“Knowest thou who I am?” And Galahad answered “No.”

“I am Joseph of Arimathea who took our Lord down from the cross, and He hath sent me hither to you because you have seen the Holy Grail, and you are a clean, pure knight who hath never done wrong.”

Then Galahad kissed his two companions and they knelt down and prayed, and while they were praying the soul of Sir Galahad departed to Heaven, and the crowd of angels bore him out of sight. At the same time a hand reached down from the sky and seized the Holy Grail and bore that to Heaven, too.

And from that time no man has ever seen the Holy Grail, but all the world remembers Sir Galahad, because he was pure and noble and worthy to have seen the wonders of the sacred vessel with which our Lord was served at the Last Supper.

THE WOODPECKER WHO WAS SELFISH

(An Indian folk tale)

_Sometimes the selfish come to grief._

Once there was a little lady woodpecker who lived in a hole in a big pine tree. Her house was cozy, lined with moss and wool and protected by a little bark door, making it cool in summer and warm in winter. She was a selfish little bird, and never asked any one to come and see her. Next door lived a little fluffy sparrow. His nest was loosely built, and rested in the forks of the tree. This was not fluffy sparrow’s fault, it was because sparrows are not good nest builders. One day there was a storm which blew the nest down. He flew to the little bark door and said:

“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your house; the rain is falling and I am very, very cold.” But the Lady Woodpecker answered: “I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I am cooking juniper berries for a batch of pies. Come some other time and perhaps I will let you in.” He hopped away, and the rain made him very cold.

The next day he flew beside the bark door and said:

“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your house, for the cold and cruel winds blow and ruffles my feathers.” But she answered:

“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m washing the pot in which I cooked some juniper berries to make a batch of pies. Come again some other time, and perhaps I’ll let you in.”

The next day he came as before and said:

“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your house, for the biting frost nips my feet.” But she said:

“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m making the crust for my batch of juniper pies. Come again some other time, and perhaps I will let you in.” So he hopped away and the frost nipped his feet.

The fourth day Fluffy Sparrow came back and said:

“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your home, for the snow blinds me.” But she answered:

“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m cleaning my floor before I sit down all by myself to eat my juniper berry pie.” So the snow blinded Fluffy Sparrow’s eyes.

The last day Fluffy Sparrow came and said:

“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, please have pity on me and take me into your house, for I do not like the rain, wind, frost and snow.” But she did not answer.

He pushed open the door and saw no one there. She had gone to buy a key to lock her door while she ate her juniper pies. He went inside where he was sheltered from rain, wind, frost and snow. He ate up all the juniper berry pies. When the little Lady Woodpecker returned Fluffy Sparrow was living there and she had to find another home.

THE RABBIT TRIES TO CATCH FISH

_In which is shown the folly of close imitation to the methods of others._

The Rabbit lived with his grandmother, and sometimes found it a hard matter to get enough food for both, especially in winter when the snow was on the ground and ice was on the pond.

One day, as he was traveling through the forest, he came upon a hut, near the bank of a river. Looking in he saw the Otter at home, and very comfortable indeed, with a string of dried fish hung out over the door, and some corn left over from last season.

“Come in,” said the Otter, “and sit by the fire. I am not cold myself, but you look frozen.” So the Rabbit went in and sat down and looked up at the fish and corn. He looked so hungry that the Otter said, “Stay to dinner with me, and I will catch you a string of eels.”

So the Rabbit agreed to stay to dinner. Then the Otter said he would go out and catch the eels. The Rabbit said he would go along and see how he did it. They went out to the river bank where the Otter got on an ice-slide and coasted down into the water. He went under and soon came up with two eels in his mouth.

“By my life, that is an easy way to fish,” said the Rabbit. “Those fishermen certainly have a good time,” and then he and the Otter went into the hut and cooked the eels in corn, and had dinner. After sitting around for awhile and talking about the weather, and how mischievous the hunters and the dogs had been the Rabbit invited the Otter to take dinner with him on the next Sunday. Then the Rabbit went home.

The rest of the week he was busy making an ice-slide into his pond. He made it out of packed snow and ice and smoothed it down with a stick until it was ready for use. On Sunday the Otter came looking for a dinner of dried turnips and winter cabbages.

After talking for awhile the Rabbit said, “Now, friend Otter, I will catch you some eels,” and he led the way to his ice-slide. Getting on the slide he let go and went plump! into the cold water. Down he went and came up wet and shivering, but with no eels.

“I missed them that time,” said the Rabbit, “but wait while I try again,” and down he went on the slide and into the water. But again he caught no eels. By this time the Otter was hungry but he stopped to laugh at the Rabbit, who was a sad sight.

“Friend Rabbit,” said he, “I have eels enough at home, and I came here for turnips and cabbages. Come in and cook me what you have and I shall be content.” And so the Rabbit found out that he could not catch fish and that he need not try. But they did have a good dinner of dried turnips and cabbages.

THE LITTLE GRAY LAMB

_We should be content to endure things that cannot be helped._

Once there was a little lamb who was very unhappy. All the other lambs frisked about in the sunshine, ran around the meadow and played with one another; but this little lamb stayed beside his mother and cried because he was so unhappy.

“What makes you so miserable?” said the old mother sheep.

“Oh, mother!” said the lamb, “see all the other lambs with white wool, and mine is gray. I want white wool, too.” And the lamb began to cry again and looked so miserable that the old ram actually stopped eating grass and blinked at him.

“You are a cry-baby,” said the ram. “Look at my wool; it is gray as an old blanket and full of burrs. I don’t mind it.” But the little lamb went off by itself and felt as bad as ever.

Off in a corner the lamb saw some white flowers.

“Give me your white blooms to make me a coat. I want a white coat like the other lambs,” said the lamb to the flowers. But the flowers shook their heads and said:

“You are a foolish lamb not to like your gray coat. All flowers are not white, anyhow, and we think the colored ones are as pretty as we are. Besides that, you would look ridiculous covered with flower petals.” So the lamb moved on and soon came to a white hen sitting on a fence.

“Please, Mrs. Hen, give me your white feathers to make me a coat. I am very unhappy because my wool is gray instead of white,” said the lamb. The old hen ruffled up her feathers and looked down at the lamb and said:

“My! how silly! I have seen plenty of gray chickens and red ones, too, and they are just as good looking as the white ones. Besides that, how would a lamb look covered with feathers?” And the old hen laughed until she fell off the fence backwards.

The little lamb ran around the field to the old white horse.

“Please, Mr. Horse, give me some hair to make me a white coat. I am very unhappy because my wool is gray,” said the little lamb. The old horse cocked his ears and looked down at the lamb.

“Who ever heard of such a thing as a lamb with hairs on it? I had a gray colt once and she was beautiful. Go away, my child; your gray coat is beautiful enough,” said the horse.

The little lamb went back to where the other lambs were playing. They gathered around and began to admire his gray coat.

“You have the honor of being the only gray lamb in the flock. We shall call you the leader, because we can tell you from the others easily. Come now, let us run to the fence!” Off they all went, the gray lamb in the lead, the fastest and strongest of them all, glad, at last, that he had a gray coat.

ROBERT’S RIDE

_We never lose by being kind._

It was to be a great day for little Robert. Though he was only ten years old he was a fine runner, and that day there was to be a foot race at his uncle’s farm. A knife with a pearl handle was the prize, and Robert’s heart was set on winning it.

His father had hired a Shetland pony named Beauty to take him to Mayfair, his uncle’s farm where the races were. When Robert saw the pony he jumped for joy, and leaping on its back rode off. The races were to begin at eleven o’clock, and it was already after ten when he started, and he had about five miles to go.

Beauty and her rider were traveling fast when Robert heard a voice calling him. He saw an old lady named Mrs. Smith. His father had often told him of the little old couple living in the house at the forks of the road.

Mrs. Smith was in great trouble; her husband was sick and she could not leave him, and she had nobody to go for the doctor. She begged Robert to turn back and ride as fast as he could for the doctor.

Robert hesitated at first, thinking of the races and the fine prize he hoped to win, and all the fun he was going to have. Then he looked down at poor Mrs. Smith and saw the tears in her eyes. He remembered his own mother and father, and his mind was made up quickly as to what he ought to do.

“What doctor do you want?” he asked. Mrs. Smith told him, and turning the horse’s head he was off at a gallop. Mile after mile the little pony traveled until he came to the doctor’s gate.

“Doctor,” he said, “Mrs. Smith’s husband is very sick; she says please come quickly--she sent me for you.” The doctor was just getting ready to leave for the day’s work. He drove as fast as he could, Robert behind him on the faithful Beauty. They reached Mrs. Smith’s home in time for the doctor to save Mr. Smith’s life. Then Robert rode on to the races.

It was late when he reached the farm and he was tired. The foot race had not yet been reached, and he was in good time after all. “Come on, Robert, you are in plenty of time and you are a good runner. Come get ready for the foot race,” they cried to him as he rode into the gate.

Robert was ready in a minute and they were off. He ran for all his life, just as hard as he could, all the time thinking how glad he was that he had helped poor Mrs. Smith. That made him run faster for his heart was light, and he won the knife by a good margin.

He felt very glad he had helped the old woman, and had lost nothing by the good deed.

WILLIAM TELL

_In which a brave boy was not afraid to trust his life to the skill of his father._

Gessler was a tyrant who ruled over Switzerland. He was cruel and overbearing and made the people suffer in every way he could. They despised him and feared him, for they could not tell what form of tyranny he would use next.

To show his power Gessler set up a pole in the market place and on the top of the pole he placed his hat, and ordered everybody who passed by to bow to the hat in order to show respect to the tyrant. The people were very much mortified at this, but they couldn’t help themselves, and so they took off their hats and bowed very low whenever they passed the pole with the hat on it.

One day a bold mountaineer came down into the village holding his little son by the hand. His name was William Tell. He marched with his head high up, and passed the pole without bowing to the hat of Gessler. Everybody was astonished at his boldness; but he marched up and down the square, and not once did he bow his head according to the tyrant’s orders.

You may be sure that the spies of Gessler went straight to their master with news of this conduct of the mountaineer. The tyrant came into the square and ordered Tell brought before him. He saw that he had a bow and arrow slung across his back.

“You can doubtless shoot very well,” said Gessler. “Instead of putting you in prison, you shall shoot an apple from your son’s head at a hundred paces.” Gessler did this thinking that Tell would surely shoot his own little son.

The people turned pale with indignation, but Tell said not a word. He kissed his son and told him to stand steady. He placed him at a hundred steps and the apple was laid on his fair curly head. Tell selected two arrows--straight and sharp--one he hid under his jacket and the other he placed in his bow.

The boy stood with his face to his father and shut his eyes; he did not cry nor move a muscle. The crowd was still as death as Tell shot his arrow. Straight it flew, through the apple and lit softly on the ground beyond the boy. A great shout went up and a clapping of hands for joy. The boy was safe.

“But why that other arrow?” asked Gessler of Tell, pointing to his pocket.

“To slay thee, tyrant, had I killed my boy,” answered Tell. Gessler ordered him to be seized, but in the confusion Tell took his son in his arms and escaped to his mountain home. Some time after this as Gessler was riding through the forest, Tell drew his bow and shot an arrow straight through the heart of the tyrant. In this way was Switzerland freed from tyranny.

THE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK

_In which we find out what happened by asking questions._

At first elephants had short noses. Listen while I tell you how they came to have long noses, which we call trunks.

Once there was a little elephant who lived in Africa. He asked ever so many questions. He asked the ostrich why her feathers grew so long. He asked the giraffe what made his skin spotty. He asked the hippopotamus why her eyes were red. He asked about everything he saw.

One morning he asked: “What does the crocodile have for dinner?” Everybody said: “Hush! Don’t ask so many foolish questions!”

He came upon the Kolokolo bird sitting on a thorn bush and asked what the crocodile has for dinner. She told him to go to the Limpo river and find out. The next morning he went to the river.

He had never seen a crocodile, so when he saw one he did not know it. He first saw a big snake on a rock and said:

“Excuse me, but have you seen a crocodile around here?”

“What will you ask next?” asked the snake.

“Excuse me, but what does he have for dinner?” asked the elephant. The snake was angry and he shook his coils and thrust out his tongue at the elephant.

“Good-bye, snake,” he said and left. He came across something he thought was a log in the water, but it was a crocodile.

“Excuse me,” he said, “but have you seen a crocodile around here? What does he have for dinner?”

“Come here,” said the crocodile, “I will whisper it to you.”

The crocodile said to himself: “I will eat the little elephant to-day.”

He caught the elephant by the nose and began to pull hard.

“Let go!” said the elephant. “That hurts.”

The snake came from the rocks and said: “He will pull you into the water if you don’t pull hard.” He pulled hard and the crocodile pulled hard. The elephant’s nose began to stretch and stretched nearly five feet. “This is too much for me,” he said.

Then the snake wound himself around the elephant’s legs and helped him pull. They pulled harder than the crocodile, until the elephant’s nose was all out of shape. Then the crocodile let go. The elephant thanked the snake, wrapped his nose in banana leaves and hung it in the river to cool. He sat there for three days waiting for it to shrink, but it grew no shorter. His nose was a real elephant’s trunk.

The elephant found he could use it many ways. He could kill flies, pull grass and carry it to his mouth with it. When he was hot he could get mud and put it on his head. He could pick up things and get fruit from the trees. He could send a noise down his trunk that could be heard far and near. And from that day to this, elephants have long noses, and what is more, they seem to like them that way.

THANKSGIVING

_In which we find that the blessings of liberty and prosperity are the true causes of Thanksgiving._

Instead of a make-believe story I am going to tell you a true story about some people who were called “Pilgrims.” Pilgrim means wanderer, and before long you will see why they were given that name.

The Pilgrims lived in England and were ruled by a king who wanted them to do just as he said in everything; he even wanted them to worship God in the same way he did.

The Pilgrims objected to this; they did not think he had any right to interfere with their religion. They thought that every man had a right to worship God in his own way. So they left England and went to Holland. It was a long voyage, and they endured many hardships on the way. The Dutch people were very good to them, but after a while the Pilgrims grew restless. Their children were growing up with a knowledge of the Dutch language and customs only; so once again they made ready for another voyage.

This time they sailed for America. The name of their ship was the _Mayflower_. The trip was a rough one indeed. Many of the children were sick and many of the fathers and mothers were sick also. But at last they landed on Plymouth Rock in the New World.

It was a queer country that their eyes fell upon. There were no houses, and the only people were the Indians. At first the Pilgrims were very much afraid of these Indians, but they soon became good friends. The Pilgrims were not idle. They went to work, cutting down trees and building log cabins so that the women and children would have some place to sleep.

Before many days had passed, they had plowed the fields, planted corn and other grains and erected a little church. The following year they had a splendid harvest. So they decided to have a feast and to invite the Indians who had been kind to them, and to thank God for His goodness to them throughout the year. They called it a Thanksgiving Feast.

The white men and the Indians went hunting and killed wild turkeys and deer for the feast. The women cooked the meat, broiled the fish, baked the bread, and the young people waited on the tables. Under the trees the tables were spread. Around them sat the Pilgrims and their Indian friends. Jokes were passed, stories were told, and the old times in England and Holland were talked over. Then followed games and shooting matches, and by night the Indians danced and sang war songs.

That was our first Thanksgiving Day, but ever since then we have set apart the last Thursday in November to give thanks to God for His goodness to us.

THE GRATEFUL INDIAN

(A Thanksgiving Story)

_A kindness shown to others is never lost and sometimes brings an unexpected reward._

One summer morning in a New England village Mrs. Grafton was sitting on her porch shelling peas for dinner. John and Jean, her children, were playing around the yard, when an Indian woman, carrying a baby on her back, passed the house. John ran out of the gate and after the woman. He saw something was the matter with the baby, and asked what it was.

“Papoose sick,” said the Indian mother, “see doctor.”

John said: “Bring the baby in here and my mother will make it well.”

The Indian woman followed John into the yard, and Mrs. Grafton took the sick little papoose on her lap and gave it some medicine. After a while the little baby stopped crying and went to sleep in Mrs. Grafton’s lap. The Indian mother took her papoose home, saying that Mrs. Grafton was “a good doctor.”

The next day the mother again appeared with the baby, and Mrs. Grafton washed it, put on it some clean clothes and gave it some more medicine. After a while the baby got well, and the Indian woman came no more.

That winter was very hard and cold; snow everywhere and cold biting winds. Thanksgiving came, and Mrs. Grafton started to make pies for dinner. She cut up the pumpkin and then looked in the molasses jug. Not a drop of molasses there!

“Oh, my! what shall we do? There is no molasses to make the pies,” she exclaimed in dismay. John looked thoughtful.

“I will go and get some from the store,” he said, and was off in a moment with the empty jug, right through the woods. The jug was heavy and it was already late in the afternoon, but they must have pies for the next day.

John reached the store. The jug was filled and he started home again. It began to snow as John entered the woods. The path was soon covered and poor John took the wrong turn, then tried to come back, and soon was hopelessly lost. He ran on as fast as he could and then stopped and began to cry. A tall man stood before him. It was an Indian with a gun. John said:

“Please, I am lost. Take me back home.” But the Indian took him on his shoulder and carried him to a camp fire near a tent. There was an Indian woman with a papoose there. She looked at John and said a few words to the tall man who had brought him in. The Indian grunted and smiled, and then lifted John to his shoulders, and with him and his jug tramped through the snow-drifts back to John’s home. He set him down on the doorstep and said:

“My squaw and my papoose you helped last summer. Me have thanksgiving here,” and he touched his breast and disappeared.

BOBBIE, THE POWDER BOY

_In which a young boy shows great courage in the face of danger._

There was a time when our country needed many men to protect her against her enemies--especially the British. She had to have soldiers on land and on sea. Sometimes boys were accepted to help in the camps and on the vessels.

On board the ship _United States_ was a boy only ten years of age. His name was Bobbie. He was allowed to help but his name could not be placed upon the roll of the ship until he had served a certain length of time. He was very young to be aboard a war vessel, but he was faithful to his duty and served as bravely as he could. At times it was very hard on Bobbie, but even in places of great danger he remained just as brave as ever. One time it looked as if their ship would be lost. A great British vessel was coming towards them. How could the little _United States_ stand against a much larger British vessel?

“Well, Bob,” cried his older comrades, “are you afraid?”

“No, indeed,” cried Bobbie, and he hurried away to find the captain.

“What’s wanting, Bobbie?” said the captain.

“Please, Commodore, will you put my name on the roll before the battle begins?”

“What for, my lad?” asked the Commodore kindly.

“So that I can take a position at the front of the ship when the firing begins,” replied the boy bravely. “We must take that British ship, and I believe we are going to do it.”

“All right,” said the captain. “You are on the roll.”

The battle began. Bobbie was stationed on the main deck in the thickest of the fight. He was powder boy. He stood close to one of the great guns, and it was his duty to keep powder ready for this particular gun. Back and forth between the powder magazines and the gun he went, the cartridges hidden beneath his jacket so that no spark of fire might touch them. All about him on every side, whizzed the deadly leaden balls, but Bob took no heed of them.

“Well, Bob,” said the captain, after the battle was over, “we did capture the British after all.”

“Yes, sir; yes, sir,” answered Bobbie, his smoke-stained face radiant with joy. “I knew we would.”

“And now,” said the captain, “if we get the old hulk into port, there will be part of the reward for you. Would you mind telling me what you are going to do with the money you get?”

“Half of it I shall send to my mother; with the other half I shall get me a bit of schooling.”

The captain’s heart was touched, and the brave little boy ever after had a warm friend in the captain.

THE ADVENTURES OF THESEUS