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when I heard that tune I thought I heard the
moving aside of pickle…tub boards； and the leaving
ajar of preserve cupboards； and I smelled the
most delicious old cheese in the world； and I saw
sugar barrels ahead of me； and then； just as a
great yellow cheese seemed to be saying； ‘Come；
bore me'I felt the river rolling o'er me！〃
And in the same way the people asked
the little lame child； 〃What made you follow
the music？〃 〃I do not know what the others
heard；〃 he said； 〃but I； when the Piper began
to play； I heard a voice that told of a wonderful
country hard by； where the bees had no
stings and the horses had wings； and the trees
bore wonderful fruits； where no one was tired
or lame； and children played all day； and just
as the beautiful country was but one step away
the mountain closed on my playmates； and
I was left alone。〃
That was all the people ever knew。 The
children never came back。 All that was left
of the Piper and the rats was just the big street
that led to the river； so they called it the
Street of the Pied Piper。
And that is the end of the story。
WHY THE EVERGREEN TREES KEEP THEIR LEAVES IN WINTER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Florence Holbrook's A Book of Nature
Myths。 （Harrap & Co。 9d。）
One day； a long； long time ago； it was very
cold； winter was coming。 And all the birds flew
away to the warm south； to wait for the
spring。 But one little bird had a broken
wing and could not fly。 He did not know
what to do。 He looked all round； to see if
there was any place where he could keep warm。
And he saw the trees of the great forest。
〃Perhaps the trees will keep me warm
through the winter；〃 he said。
So he went to the edge of the forest； hopping
and fluttering with his broken wing。 The first
tree he came to was a slim silver birch。
〃Beautiful birch…tree；〃 he said； 〃will you let
me live in your warm branches until the springtime
comes？〃
〃Dear me！〃 said the birch…tree； 〃what a thing
to ask！ I have to take care of my own leaves
through the winter； that is enough for me。 Go
away。〃
The little bird hopped and fluttered with his
broken wing until he came to the next tree。 It
was a great； big oak…tree。
〃O big oak…tree；〃 said the little bird； 〃will
you let me live in your warm branches until the
springtime comes？〃
〃Dear me；〃 said the oak…tree； 〃what a thing
to ask！ If you stay in my branches all winter
you will be eating my acorns。 Go away。〃
So the little bird hopped and fluttered with
his broken wing till he came to the willow…tree
by the edge of the brook。
〃O beautiful willow…tree；〃 said the little bird；
〃will you let me live in your warm branches
until the springtime comes？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said the willow…tree； 〃I never
speak to strangers。 Go away。〃
The poor little bird did not know where to
go； but he hopped and fluttered along with his
broken wing。 Presently the spruce…tree saw
him； and said； 〃Where are you going； little bird？〃
〃I do not know；〃 said the bird； 〃the trees
will not let me live with them； and my wing
is broken so that I cannot fly。〃
〃You may live on one of my branches；〃 said
the spruce； 〃here is the warmest one of all。〃
〃But may I stay all winter？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the spruce； 〃I shall like to have
you。〃
The pine…tree stood beside the spruce； and
when he saw the little bird hopping and fluttering
with his broken wing； he said； 〃My branches
are not very warm； but I can keep the wind off
because I am big and strong。〃
So the little bird fluttered up into the warm
branch of the spruce； and the pine…tree kept the
wind off his house； then the juniper…tree saw
what was going on； and said that she would
give the little bird his dinner all the winter；
from her branches。 Juniper berries are very
good for little birds。
The little bird was very comfortable in his
warm nest sheltered from the wind； with juniper
berries to eat。
The trees at the edge of the forest remarked
upon it to each other：
〃I wouldn't take care of a strange bird；〃 said
the birch。
〃I wouldn't risk my acorns；〃 said the oak。
〃I would not speak to strangers；〃 said the
willow。 And the three trees stood up very tall
and proud。
That night the North Wind came to the
woods to play。 He puffed at the leaves with
his icy breath； and every leaf he touched fell
to the ground。 He wanted to touch every leaf
in the forest； for he loved to see the trees
bare。
〃May I touch every leaf？〃 he said to his
father； the Frost King。
〃No；〃 said the Frost King； 〃the trees which
were kind to the bird with the broken wing may
keep their leaves。〃
So North Wind had to leave them alone； and
the spruce； the pine； and the juniper…tree kept
their leaves through all the winter。 And they
have done so ever since。
THE STAR DOLLARS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Grimms' Fairy Tales。
There was once a little girl who was very；
very poor。 Her father and mother had died；
and at last she had no little room to stay in；
and no little bed to sleep in； and nothing more
to eat except one piece of bread。 So she said
a prayer； put on her little jacket and her hood；
and took her piece of bread in her hand； and
went out into the world。
When she had walked a little way； she met
an old man； bent and thin。 He looked at the
piece of bread in her hand； and said； 〃Will you
give me your bread； little girl？ I am very
hungry。〃 The little girl said； 〃Yes；〃 and gave
him her piece of bread。
When she had walked a little farther she
came upon a child； sitting by the path； crying。
〃I am so cold！〃 said the child。 〃Won't you
give me your little hood； to keep my head
warm？〃 The little girl took off her hood and
tied it on the child's head。 Then she went on
her way。
After a time； as she went； she met another
child。 This one shivered with the cold； and she
said to the little girl； 〃Won't you give me your
jacket； little girl？〃 And the little girl gave her
her jacket。 Then she went on again。
By…and…by she saw another child； crouching
almost naked by the wayside。 〃O little girl；〃
said the child； 〃won't you give me your dress？
I have nothing to keep me warm。〃 So the little
girl took off her dress and gave it to the other
child。 And now she had nothing left but her
little shirt。 It grew dark； and the wind was
cold； and the little girl crept into the woods； to
sleep for the night。 But in the woods a child
stood； weeping and naked。 〃I am cold；〃 she
said； 〃give me your little shirt！〃 And the
little girl thought； 〃It is dark； and the woods
will shelter me； I will give her my little shirt〃；
so she did； and now she had nothing left in all
the world。
She stood looking up at the sky； to say her
night…time prayer。 As she looked up； the whole
skyful of stars fell in a shower round her feet。
There they were； on the ground； shining bright；
and round。 The little girl saw that they were
silver dollars。 And in the midst of them was
the finest little shirt； all woven out of silk！ The
little girl put on the little silk shirt； and gathered
the star dollars； and she was rich； all the days
of her life。
THE LION AND THE GNAT＇1＇
＇1＇ This story has been told by the Rev。 Albert E。 Sims to
children in many parts of England。 On one occasion it was
told to an audience of over three thousand children in the
Great Assembly Hall； Mile End； London。
Far away in Central Africa； that vast land
where dense forests and wild beasts abound；
the shades of night were once more descending；
warning all creatures that it was time to seek
repose。
All day long the sun had been like a great
burning eye； but now； after painting the western
sky with crimson and scarlet and gold； he had
disappeared into his fleecy bed； the various