THE CHILD'S WORLD
THIRD READER
BY
HETTY S. BROWNE
Extension worker in rural school practice
Winthrop Normal and Industrial College
Rock Hill, S.C.
SARAH WITHERS
Principal Elementary Grades and Critic Teacher
Winthrop Normal and Industrial College
AND
W.K. TATE
Professor of Rural Education
George Peabody College for Teachers
Nashville, Tenn.
JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY
Richmond, Virginia
TEACHERS' AIDS
Success with the Child's World Readers is in no wise dependent on the use of the chart, manual, or cards.
Modern teachers of reading, however, recognize the saving of time and effort to be accomplished for both their pupils and themselves by the use of cards, chart, and manual, and look to the publisher to provide these accessories in convenient form and at moderate cost.
The following aids are therefore offered in the belief that they will make the work of the teacher, trained or untrained, more effective.
Child's World Reader Charts, $6.00
(10 beautiful charts in colors 27x37—20 lessons)
Child's World Manual, 75c
(Suggestions and outlines for first 5 grades)
Child's World Word Cards, $1.00
(129 cards—258 words in Primer vocabulary)
Child's World Phrase Cards, 75c
(48 cards—96 phrases)
Child's World Phonic Cards, 80c
(80 cards printed both sides)
JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY
Richmond, Virginia.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For permission to use copyrighted material the authors and publishers express their indebtedness to The Independent for "Who Loves the Trees Best?" by Alice M. Douglas; to Oliver Herford and the Century Company for "The Elf and the Dormouse"; to the American Folklore Society for "How Brother Rabbit Fooled the Whale and the Elephant," by Alcee Fortier; to the Outlook for "Making the Best of It," by Frances M. Fox, and "Winter Nights," by Mary F. Butts; to Harper Brothers for "The Animals and the Mirror," from Told by the Sand Man; to Rand McNally & Company for "Little Hope's Doll," from Stories of the Pilgrims, by Margaret Pumphrey; to Daughady & Company for "Squeaky and the Scare Box," from Christmas Stories, by Georgene Faulkner; to D.C. Heath & Company for "The Little Cook's Reward," from Stories of the Old North State, by Mrs. L.A. McCorkle; to Charles Scribner's Sons for "A Good Play" and "Block City," by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Glad New Year," from Rhymes and Jingles, by Mary Mapes Dodge, "A Christmas Wish" and "Rock-a-by-Lady," by Eugene Field; to Houghton Mifflin Company for permission to adapt selections from Hiawatha; to Doubleday, Page & Company for "The Sand Man," by Margaret Vandergrift, from The Posy Ring—Wiggin and Smith; to James A. Honey for "The Monkey's Fiddle," from South African Tales; to Maud Barnard for "Donal and Conal"; to Maud Barnard and Emilie Yonker for their versions of Epaminondas.
Supplementary Historical Reading
Life of General Robert E. Lee
For Third and Fourth Grades
Life of General Thomas J. Jackson
For Third and Fourth Grades
Life of Washington
For Fourth and Fifth Grades
Life of General N.B. Forrest
For Fifth Grade
Life of General J.E.B. Stuart
For Fifth and Sixth Grades
Soldier Life in the Army of Northern Virginia
For Fifth Grade
Tennessee History Stories
For Third and Fourth Grades
North Carolina History Stories
For Fourth and Fifth Grades
Texas History Stories
For Fifth and Sixth Grades
Half-Hours in Southern History
For Sixth and Seventh Grades
The Yemassee (Complete Edition)
For Seventh and Eighth Grades
(Ask for catalog containing list of other supplementary reading)
JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY
RICHMOND, VA.
CONTENTS
[PHILEMON AND BAUCIS], Flora J. Cooke
[THE POPLAR TREE], Flora J. Cooke
[WHO LOVES THE TREES BEST?], Alice May Douglas
[A STORY OF BIRD LIFE], Henry Ward Beecher
[BOB WHITE], George Cooper
[THE FLAX], Hans Christian Andersen
[THE WONDERFUL WORLD], William Brighty Rands
[THE HILLMAN AND THE HOUSEWIFE], Juliana H. Ewing
[THE ELF AND THE DORMOUSE], Oliver Herford
[THE BELL OF ATRI], Italian Tale
[A DUMB WITNESS], Arabian Tale
[THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG], Grimm
[EPAMINONDAS], Southern Tale
[HOW BROTHER RABBIT FOOLED THE WHALE AND THE ELEPHANT], Southern Folk Tale
[A CHRISTMAS WISH], Eugene Field
[THE CHRISTMAS BELLS], Old Tale Retold
[GOD BLESS THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE], Old English Rime
[SQUEAKY AND THE SCARE BOX], Georgene Faulkner
[THE GLAD NEW YEAR], Mary Mapes Dodge
[MAKING THE BEST OF IT], Frances M. Fox
[THE ANIMALS AND THE MIRROR], F.A. Walker
[THE BARBER OF BAGDAD], Eastern Tale
[WINTER NIGHTS], Mary F. Butts
[LITTLE HOPE'S DOLL], Margaret Pumphrey
[THE LITTLE COOK'S REWARD], Mrs. L.A. McCorkle
[ROCK-A-BY, HUSH-A-BY, LITTLE PAPOOSE], Charles Myall
[THE TAR WOLF], The Indian Tar-Baby Story
[THE RABBIT AND THE WOLF], Southern Indian Tale
[BLOCK CITY], Robert Louis Stevenson
[A GOOD PLAY], Robert Louis Stevenson
[THE MONKEY'S FIDDLE], African Tale
[THE THREE TASKS], Grimm
[THE WORLD'S MUSIC], Gabriel Setoun
[THE SLEEPING BEAUTY], Grimm
[THE UGLY DUCKLING], Hans Christian Andersen
[THE WHITE BLACKBIRD], Adapted from Alfred de Musset
[THE BROWN THRUSH], Lucy Larcom
[THE KING AND THE GOOSEHERD], Old Tale
[DONAL AND CONAL], Irish Tale
[THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH], Adapted from Longfellow
[THE TRAILING ARBUTUS], Indian Legend
[HIDDEN TREASURE], Grimm
[THE LITTLE BROWN BROTHER], Emily Nesbit
[HOW THE FLOWERS GROW], Gabriel Setoun
[WISE MEN OF GOTHAM], Old English Story
[THE MILLER'S GUEST], English Ballad (adapted)
[SADDLE TO RAGS], English Ballad (adapted)
[THE ROCK-A-BY LADY], Eugene Field
[THE SAND MAN], Margaret Vandergrift
Oh, for a nook and a story-book,
With tales both new and old;
For a jolly good book whereon to look
Is better to me than gold.
—OLD ENGLISH SONG.
[PHILEMON AND BAUCIS]
I
Long ago, on a high hill in Greece, Philemon and Baucis lived.
They were poor, but they were never unhappy. They had many hives of bees from which they got honey, and many vines from which they gathered grapes. One old cow gave them all the milk that they could use, and they had a little field in which grain was raised.
The old couple had as much as they needed, and were always ready to share whatever they had with any one in want. No stranger was ever turned from their door.
At the foot of the hill lay a beautiful village, with pleasant roads and rich pasture lands all around. But it was full of wicked, selfish, people, who had no love in their hearts and thought only of themselves.
At the time of this story, the people in the village were very busy. Zeus, who they believed ruled the world, had sent word that he was about to visit them. They were preparing a great feast and making everything beautiful for his coming.
One evening, just at dark, two beggars came into the valley. They stopped at every house and asked for food and a place to sleep; but the people were too busy or too tired to attend to their needs. They were thinking only of the coming of Zeus.
Footsore and weary, the two beggars at last climbed the hill to the hut of Philemon and Baucis. These good people had eaten very little, for they were saving their best food for Zeus.
When they saw the beggars, Philemon said, "Surely these men need food more than Zeus. They look almost starved."
"Indeed, they do!" said Baucis, and she ran quickly to prepare supper for the strangers.
She spread her best white cloth upon the table, and brought out bacon, herbs, honey, grapes, bread, and milk. She set these upon the table in all the best dishes she had and called the strangers in.
Then what do you suppose happened? The dishes that the strangers touched turned to gold. The pitcher was never empty, although they drank glass after glass of milk. The loaf of bread stayed always the same size, although the strangers cut slice after slice.
"These are strange travelers," whispered the old couple to each other. "They do wonderful things."
II
That night Philemon and Baucis slept upon the floor that the strangers might have their one bed. In the morning they went with the travelers to the foot of the hill to see them safely started on their way.
"Now, good people," said one of the strangers, "we thank you, and whatever you wish shall be yours."
As he said this, his face became like that of the sun. Then Philemon and Baucis knew that Zeus had spoken to them.
"Grant, O Zeus, that one of us may not outlive the other," they cried in one voice.
"Your wish is granted," said Zeus; "yes, and more. Return to your home and be happy."
Philemon and Baucis turned homeward, and, lo! their hut was changed to a beautiful castle.
The old people turned around to thank their guests, but they had disappeared.
In this castle Philemon and Baucis lived many years. They still did all they could for others, and were always so happy that they never thought of wishing anything for themselves.
As the years passed, the couple grew very old and feeble. One day Baucis said to Philemon, "I wish we might never die, but could always live together."
"Ah, that is my wish, too!" sighed old Philemon.
The next morning the marble palace was gone; Baucis and Philemon were gone; but there on the hilltop stood two beautiful trees, an oak and a linden.
No one knew what became of the good people. After many years, however, a traveler lying under the trees heard them whispering to each other.
"Baucis," whispered the oak.
"Philemon," replied the linden.
There the trees stood through sun and rain, always ready to spread their leafy shade over every tired stranger who passed that way.
—FLORA J. COOKE.
[THE POPLAR TREE]
Long ago the poplar used to hold out its branches like other trees. It tried to see how far it could spread them.
Once at sunset an old man came through the forest where the poplar trees lived. The trees were going to sleep, and it was growing dark.
The man held something under his cloak. It was a pot of gold—the very pot of gold that lies at the foot of the rainbow. He had stolen it and was looking for some place to hide it. A poplar tree stood by the path.
"This is the very place to hide my treasure," the man said. "The branches spread out straight, and the leaves are large and thick. How lucky that the trees are all asleep!"
He placed the pot of gold in the thick branches, and then ran quickly away.
The gold belonged to Iris, the beautiful maiden who had a rainbow bridge to the earth. The next morning she missed her precious pot. It always lay at the foot of the rainbow, but it was not there now.
Iris hurried away to tell her father, the great Zeus, of her loss. He said that he would find the pot of gold for her.
He called a messenger, the swift-footed Mercury, and said, "Go quickly, and do not return until you have found the treasure."
Mercury went as fast as the wind down to the earth. He soon came to the forest and awakened the trees.
"Iris has lost her precious pot of gold that lies at the foot of the rainbow. Have any of you seen it?" he asked.
The trees were very sleepy, but all shook their heads.
"We have not seen it," they said.
"Hold up your branches," said Mercury. "I must see that the pot of gold is not hidden among them."
All of the trees held up their branches. The poplar that stood by the path was the first to hold up his. He was an honest tree and knew he had nothing to hide.
Down fell the pot of gold. How surprised the poplar tree was! He dropped his branches in shame. Then he held them high in the air.
"Forgive me," he said. "I do not know how it came to be there; but, hereafter, I shall always hold my branches up. Then every one can see that I have nothing hidden."
Since then the branches have always grown straight up; and every one knows that the poplar is an honest and upright tree.
—FLORA J. COOKE.
[WHO LOVES THE TREES BEST?]
Who loves the trees best?
"I," said the Spring;
"Their leaves so beautiful
To them I bring."
Who loves the trees best?
"I," Summer said;
"I give them blossoms,
White, yellow, red."
Who loves the trees best?
"I," said the Fall;
"I give luscious fruits,
Bright tints to all."
Who loves the trees best?
"I love them best,"
Harsh Winter answered;
"I give them rest."
—ALICE MAY DOUGLAS.
[LEAVES IN AUTUMN]
Red and gold, and gold and red,
Autumn leaves burned overhead;
Hues so splendid
Softly blended,
Oh, the glory that they shed!
Red and gold, and gold and red.
Gold and brown, and brown and gold,
Of such fun the west wind told
That they listened,
And they glistened,
As they wrestled in the cold;
Gold and brown, and brown and gold.
Brown and gold, and red and brown,
How they hurried, scurried down
For a frolic,
For a rolic,
Through the country and the town,
Brown and gold, and red and brown.
[A STORY OF BIRD LIFE]
I
Once there came to our fields a pair of birds. They had never built a nest nor seen a winter.
Oh, how beautiful was everything! The fields were full of flowers, the grass was growing tall, and the bees were humming everywhere.
One of the birds fell to singing, and the other bird said, "Who told you to sing?"
He answered, "The flowers and the bees told me. The blue sky told me, and you told me."
"When did I tell you to sing?" asked his mate.
"Every time you brought in tender grass for the nest," he replied. "Every time your soft wings fluttered off again for hair and feathers to line it."
Then his mate asked, "What are you singing about?"
"I am singing about everything," he answered. "I sing because I am happy."
By and by five little speckled eggs were in the nest, and the mother bird asked, "Is there anything in all the world as pretty as my eggs?"
A week or two afterward, the mother said, "Oh, what do you think has happened? One of my eggs has been peeping and moving."
Soon another egg moved, then another, and another, till five eggs were hatched.
The little birds were so hungry that it kept the parents busy feeding them. Away they both flew. The moment the little birds heard them coming back, five yellow mouths flew open wide.
"Can anybody be happier?" said the father bird to the mother bird. "We will live in this tree always. It is a tree that bears joy."
II
The very next day one of the birds dropped out of the nest, and in a moment a cat ate it up. Only four remained, and the parent birds were very sad. There was no song all that day, nor the next.
Soon the little birds were big enough to fly. The first bird that tried his wings flew from one branch to another. His parents praised him, and the other baby birds wondered how he had done it.
The little one was so proud of it that he tried again. He flew and flew and couldn't stop flying. At last he fell plump! down by the kitchen door. A little boy caught him and carried him into the house.
Now only three birds were left. The sun no longer seemed bright to the birds, and they did not sing so often.
In a little time the other birds learned to use their wings, and they flew away and away. They found their own food and made their own nests.
Then the old birds sat silent and looked at each other a long while. At last the mother bird asked, "Why don't you sing?"
"I can't sing," the father bird answered. "I only think and think!"
"What are you thinking of?"
"I am thinking how everything changes. The leaves are falling, and soon there will be no roof over our heads. The flowers are all gone. Last night there was a frost. Almost all the birds have flown away, and I am restless. Something calls me, and I feel that I must fly away, too."
"Let us fly away together!" the mother bird said.
Then they rose silently up in the air. They looked to the north; far away they saw the snow coming. They looked to the south; there they saw green leaves.
All day they flew. All night they flew and flew, till they found a land where there was no winter. There it was summer all the time; flowers always blossomed and birds always sang.
—HENRY WARD BEECHER
[BOB WHITE]
There's a plump little chap in a speckled coat,
And he sits on the zigzag rails remote,
Where he whistles at breezy, bracing morn,
When the buckwheat is ripe, and stacked is the corn:
"Bob White! Bob White! Bob White!"
Is he hailing some comrade as blithe as he?
Now I wonder where Robert White can be!
O'er the billows of gold and amber grain
There is no one in sight—but, hark again:
"Bob White! Bob White! Bob White!"
Ah! I see why he calls; in the stubble there
Hide his plump little wife and babies fair!
So contented is he, and so proud of the same,
That he wants all the world to know his name:
"Bob White! Bob White! Bob White!"
—GEORGE COOPER.
[HOW MARY GOT A NEW DRESS]
Mary lived a long time ago. She was a little girl when your great-great-grandmother was a little girl.
In those days all cloth had to be made at home. Aunt Dinah, Aunt Chloe, and Aunt Dilsey were kept busy spinning and weaving to make clothes for the whole plantation.
One day Mary's mother said, "Aunt Dilsey, Mary needs a new dress, and I want you to weave some cloth at once. Can you weave some very fine cloth?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Aunt Dilsey. "I have some cotton I've been saving to make her a dress."
Aunt Dilsey got out the cards and carded the cotton smooth and fine. Then she fastened a roll of this cotton to the spindle and sent the wheel whirling around with a "Zum-m-m-m—Zum-m-m-m!"
Mary stood and watched the old woman.
"Aunt Dilsey," she said, "the spinning wheel sings a song, and I know what it says. Grandmother told me. It says,
'A hum and a whirl,
A twist and a twirl,
This is for the girl
With the golden curl!
Zum-m-m-m-m-m!
Zum-m-m-m-m-m!'"
"And that means you, honey," said Aunt Dilsey.
When the yarn was ready, Aunt Dilsey fastened it in the loom and began to weave. The threads went over and under, over and under. As Aunt Dilsey wove, she hummed. Mary stood by and sang this song,
"Over and under and over we go,
Weaving the cotton as white as the snow,
Weaving the cloth for a dress, oh, ho!
As over and under and over we go."
After the cloth had been woven, Aunt Dilsey took it out of the loom. Then she bleached it until it was as white as snow. Now it was ready to be made into a dress.
"Mother, do tell me how you are going to make the dress," said Mary. "Will it have ruffles on it like Sue's? Will it have trimming on it? And how many buttons will you put on it? Sue's dress has twelve; I know, for I counted them."
Mother did not answer all these questions; she just smiled as the scissors went snip, snip into the cloth. But she did cut out ruffles, and Aunt Maria began to hem them.
By and by grandmother came into the room.
"Mary," she said, "here is some lace I got in England. Mother may put it on your dress."
How happy Mary was! She danced for joy.
Mother put on the lace, and grandmother worked the buttonholes. How many do you suppose she worked? Why, she worked twelve!
When the dress was finished, it was just like Sue's. Only it was a great deal finer, for Mary's dress had three ruffles and Sue's had only two! And, then, there was the lace from England!
[THE PLAID DRESS]
"I want a warm plaid dress," said a little girl. "The days are colder, and the frost will soon be here. But how can I get it? Mother says that she cannot buy one for me."
The old white sheep in the meadow heard her, and he bleated to the shepherd, "The little girl wants a warm plaid dress. I will give my wool. Who else will help?"
The kind shepherd said, "I will." Then he led the old white sheep to the brook and washed its wool. When it was clean and white, he said, "The little girl wants a warm plaid dress. The sheep has given his wool, and I have washed it clean and white. Who else will help?"
"We will," said the shearers. "We will bring our shears and cut off the wool."
The shearers cut the soft wool from the old sheep, and then they called, "The little girl wants a new dress. The sheep has given his wool. The shepherd has washed it; and we have sheared it. Who else will help?"
"We will," cried the carders. "We will comb it out straight and smooth."
Soon they held up the wool, carded straight and smooth, and they cried, "The little girl wants a new dress. The sheep has given his wool. The shepherd has washed the wool. The shearers have cut it, and we have carded it. Who else will help?"
"We will," said the spinners. "We will spin it into thread."
"Whirr, whirr!" How fast the spinning wheels turned, singing all the time.