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〃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
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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
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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 creatures of the forest had
sought their holes and resting…places； the last sound had rumbled its
rumble； the last bee had mumbled his mumble； and the last bear had
grumbled his grumble； even the grasshoppers that had been chirruping；
chirruping； through all the long hours without a pause； at length had
ceased their shrill music； tucked up their long legs； and given themselves
to slumber。
There on a nodding grass…blade； a tiny Gnat had made a swinging
couch； and he too had folded his wings； closed his tiny eyes； and was fast
asleep。 Darker； darker； darker became the night until the darkness could
almost be felt； and over all was a solemn stillness as though some
powerful finger had been raised； and some potent voice had whispered；
〃HUSH！〃
Just when all was perfectly still； there came suddenly from the far
away depths of the forest； like the roll of thunder； a mighty ROARRR
R！
In a moment all the beasts and birds were wide awake； and the poor
little Gnat was nearly frightened out of his little senses； and his little heart
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went pit…a…pat。 He rubbed his little eyes with his feelers； and then peered
all around trying to penetrate the deep gloom as he whispered in terror
〃WHATWASTHAT？〃
What do YOU think it was？ 。 。 。 Yes； a LION！ A great； big lion who；
while most other denizens of the forest slept； was out hunting for prey。 He
came rushing and crashing through the thick undergrowth of the forest；
swirling his long tail and opening wide his great jaws； and as he rushed he
RO…AR…R…R…ED！
Presently he reached the spot where the little Gnat hung panting at the
tip of the waving grass…blade。 Now the little Gnat was not afraid of lions；
so when he saw it was only a lion； he cried out
〃Hi； stop； stop！ What are you making that horrible noise about？〃
The Lion stopped short； then backed slowly and regarded the Gnat
with scorn。
〃Why； y