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stories of their lives； or of the events in which
they were concerned； as 〃true stories。〃 These
biographical stories must； usually； be adapted
for use。 But besides these there is a certain
number of pure storiesworks of artwhich
already exist for us； and which illuminate facts
and epochs almost without need of sidelights。
Such may stand by themselves； or be used with
only enough explanation to give background。
Probably the best story of this kind known to
lovers of modern literature is Daudet's famous
La Derniere Classe。＇1＇
＇1＇ See The Last Lesson。
The historical story； to recapitulate； gives a
sense of the reality and humanness of past events；
is a valuable aid in patriotic training； and stirs
the desire of emulating goodness and wisdom。
CHAPTER II
SELECTION OF STORIES TO TELL
There is one picture which I can always review；
in my own collection of past scenes； though
many a more highly coloured one has been
irrevocably curtained by the folds of forgetfulness。
It is the picture of a little girl； standing
by an old…fashioned marble…topped dressing
table in a pink； sunny room。 I can never see
the little girl's face； because； somehow； I am
always looking down at her short skirts or
twisting my head round against the hand which
patiently combs her stubborn curls。 But I can
see the brushes and combs on the marble table
quite plainly； and the pinker streaks of sun on
the pink walls。 And I can hear。 I can hear a
low； wonder…working voice which goes smoothly
on and on； as the fingers run up the little girl's
locks or stroke the hair into place on her fore
head。 The voice says； 〃And little Goldilocks
came to a little bit of a house。 And she opened
the door and went in。 It was the house where
three Bears lived； there was a great Bear； a
little Bear； and a middle…sized Bear； and they
had gone out for a walk。 Goldilocks went in；
and she saw〃the little girl is very still； she
would not disturb that story by so much as a
loud breath； but presently the comb comes to
a tangle； pulls；and the little girl begins to
squirm。 Instantly the voice becomes impressive；
mysterious： 〃she went up to the table； and
there were THREE PLATES OF PORRIDGE。 She tasted
the first one〃the little girl swallows the breath
she was going to whimper with； and waits〃and
it was too hot！ She tasted the next one；
and THAT was too hot。 Then she tasted the little
bit of a plate； and thatwasjustright！〃
How I remember the delightful sense of
achievement which stole into the little girl's
veins when the voice behind her said 〃just
right。〃 I think she always chuckled a little；
and hugged her stomach。 So the story progressed；
and the little girl got through her toilet
without crying； owing to the wonder…working
voice and its marvellous adaptation of climaxes
to emergencies。 Nine times out of ten； it was the
story of The Three Bears she demanded when；
with the appearance of brush and comb； the voice
asked； 〃Which story shall mother tell？〃
It was a memory of the little girl in the
pink room which made it easy for me to understand
some other children's preferences when
I recently had occasion to inquire about them。
By asking many individual children which story
of all they had heard they liked best； by taking
votes on the best story of a series； after telling
it； and by getting some obliging teachers to put
similar questions to their pupils； I found three
prime favourites common to a great many children
of about the kindergarten age。 They were The
Three Bears； Three Little Pigs； and The Little Pig
that wouldn't go over the Stile。
Some of the teachers were genuinely
disturbed because the few stories they had
introduced merely for amusement had taken so pre…
eminent a place in the children's affection over
those which had been given seriously。 It was
of no use； however； to suggest substitutes。
The children knew definitely what they liked；
and though they accepted the recapitulation
of scientific and moral stories with polite
approbation； they returned to the original answer
at a repetition of the question。
Inasmuch as the slightest of the things we
hope to do for children by means of stories is
quite impossible unless the children enjoy the
stories； it may be worth our while to consider
seriously these three which they surely do enjoy；
to see what common qualities are in them；
explanatory of their popularity； by which we
may test the probable success of other stories
we wish to tell。
Here they are；three prime favourites of
proved standing。
THE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Joseph Jacobs's English Fairy Tales （David
Nutt； 57…69 Long Acre； W。C。 6s。）；
Once upon a time there were three little pigs；
who went from home to seek their fortune。
The first that went off met a man with a bundle
of straw； and said to him：
〃Good man； give me that straw to build
me a house。〃
The man gave the straw； and the little pig
built his house with it。 Presently came along
a wolf； and knocked at the door； and said：
〃Little pig； little pig； let me come in。〃
But the pig answered：
〃No； no； by the hair of my chiny…chin…chin。〃
So the wolf said：
〃Then I'll huff； and I'll puff； and I'll blow
your house in。〃
So he huffed； and he puffed； and he blew his
house in； and ate up the little pig。
The second little pig met a man with a
bundle of furze； and said：
〃Good man； give me that furze to build me
a house。〃
The man gave the furze； and the pig built his
house。 Then once more came the wolf； and said：
〃Little pig； little pig； let me come in。〃
〃 No； no； by the hair of my chiny…chin…chin。〃
〃Then I'll puff； and I'll huff； and I'll blow
your house in。〃
So he huffed； and he puffed； and he puffed
and he huffed； and at last he blew the house in；
and ate up the little pig。
The third little pig met a man with a load of
bricks； and said：
〃Good man； give me those bricks to build
me a house with。〃
The man gave the bricks； and he built his
house with them。 Again the wolf came； and
said：
〃Little pig； little pig； let me come in。〃
〃No； no； by the hair of my chiny…chin…chin。〃
〃Then I'll huff； and I'll puff； and I'll blow
your house in。〃
So he huffed； and he puffed； and he huffed；
and he puffed； and he puffed and huffed； but
he could NOT get the house down。 Finding that
he could not； with all his huffing and puffing；
blow the house down； he said：
〃Little pig； I know where there is a nice
field of turnips。〃
〃Where？〃 said the little pig。
〃Oh； in Mr Smith's field； and if you will be
ready to…morrow morning we will go together；
and get some for dinner。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the little pig。 〃What
time do you mean to go？〃
〃Oh； at six o'clock。〃
So the little pig got up at five； and got the
turnips before the wolf came crying：
〃Little pig； are you ready？〃
The little pig said： 〃Ready！ I have been and
come back again； and got a nice potful for dinner。〃
The wolf felt very angry at this； but thought
that he would be a match for the little pig
somehow or other； so he said：
〃Little pig； I know where there is a nice
apple…tree。〃
〃Where？〃 said the pig。
〃Down at Merry…garden；〃 replied the wolf；
〃and if you will not deceive me I will come for you；
at five o'clock to…morrow； and get some apples。〃
The little pig got up next morning at four
o'clock； and went off for the apples； hoping to
get back before the wolf came； but it took long
to climb the tree； and just as he was coming
down from it； he saw the wolf coming。 When
the wolf came up he said：
〃Little pig； what！ are you here before me？
Are they nice apples？〃
〃Yes； very；〃 said the little pig。 〃I will throw
you do