Section 1 of Short Stories and Poems for Children, Original and Select. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Campbell Shelp. Short Stories and Poems for Children, Original and Select by Unknown. The Merchant and the Robber. A robber with his loaded gun had concealed himself in a forest, waiting for the arrival of a rich merchant, who he knew was to pass that way on his return home from the market in order to shoot him and seize upon his money. In the meantime a storm came on suddenly, and the rain fell in torrents, which caused the merchant to complain bitterly of his uncomfortable journey. He had got about halfway through the forest, still suffering from the violence of the storm, and heartily praying that the rain might cease when he was startled by a noise not far off. And on looking round, he saw the smoke of the powder from the gun and the robber himself running off as fast as his legs could carry him. He felt very thankful for his escape, and when he afterwards learned from the confession of the robber that it was the rain which had wedded the powder and thus prevented the gun going off, he clearly saw that what he at first deemed a misfortune was, in the hands of Providence, the very means of his deliverance. The Echo George did not know in the least what an Echo was. One day when he was out in the fields, shouting and singing, he was surprised to hear his words repeated as if they came from someone in the neighbouring wood. The little boy then called out, Who are you? And immediately, he heard the same words repeated by some mysterious force.  Foolish boy, replied the voice from the wood. George now began to get angry and said some very ill-natured things in reply which were all faithfully repeated by the Echo. George then began looking about for the little boy, who he thought was mocking him, in order to give him a beating, but all his search was in vain.  My dear boy, she replied, You are quite mistaken. It was only your own words which you heard.  And if you had spoken kindly, you would have received back kind words in reply. And so it is in the world, in our dealings with our fellow creatures. Their conduct to us is generally an echo of ours to them, and if we behave civilly to them, they will do the same to us. But if we are rude and ill-mannered, we must expect to be treated in the same way. The Walnut Shell Little Lizzie found in the garden a walnut, the shell of which was quite green. Thinking it was a little apple, she began to eat it, but the first bite she gave, it tasted so bitter that she threw it away. Conrad, her brother, who had more sense, took it up, and stripping off the shell with his teeth, said that he did not mind the bitterness of the husk, for he knew that there was a nice fruit inside, which would more than repay him for all his trouble. Think, as a recompense for all thy pains, think on the prize the happy victor gains. The Roasted Goose Little Martin said to his brothers and sisters, this is my birthday, and this evening we are to have roasted goose for supper. The lights were accordingly brought in, and the happy children were all seated round the table, waiting impatiently for the wonderful dish. The servant came in to tell them that it would be still half an hour before it was ready, and the children then began to cry. But the servant, to keep them quiet, told them there was a great giant coming, who would put naughty children into his pocket, and if they were not quiet, he should have the goose. The children paid no attention to these stories, but made more noise to have their goose. The servant then opened the window, holding out the goose in the dish, and calling, Come, giant, come, and take the goose. At that instant, a thief passing by said with a rough voice, Many thanks, Mrs. Cook, seized the goose and the dish, and ran off with it as fast as he could. The children, seeing this, set up a terrible crying, which brought their mother, and when she knew what was the matter, she said, As for you children, you are justly punished for your rude conduct, and instead of the roasted goose, you must be contented with a basin of soup for supper. To the servant, she said, I have often warned you against deceiving the children, and now as a punishment for your wicked trick, I shall deduct the amount both of the goose and the dish from your wages.  The coal merchant and the washerwoman. One day a coal merchant said to a washerwoman who was looking out for a lodging, Come and live in my house, which is large enough both for you and me. But the washerwoman replied, No, our occupations don't suit, for your coals would soil the linen which I take so much pains to wash and clean. You are right, said the coal merchant. Black and white don't agree well together, and to put clean linen among coals is like good people going among bad. They are sure to be soiled and polluted. If you would pure and happy be, the bad and vicious you must flee. The wheat stalk. A countryman went to his fields one morning with his little girl to see how his wheat was getting on. Look, Father, said she. Look how some of the stocks stand up quite straight and tall. They are the best ones, and look at those others quite bent down to the ground. They are good for nothing. The father hearing this plucked one of the tallest stocks and said, Look here, my girl. This stalk, which you think so good because it is so high and tall, is quite empty. While the other, which hangs down so, is full of beautiful grain. We must not always judge by appearances. A greenfinch and a nightingale before a window hung, and all were pleased to hear the tale the latter sweetly sung. A little boy who heard the strain would feign the singer see, and so his father brought the twain and said, Now which is he? Which is the pretty bird whose lay such joy and pleasure brings? The little boy without delay replied, That's he who sings.  The other bird so dull and plain could never sing that pretty strain. But the boy was mistaken, which shows that we must not always judge by appearances. The masks. Once a gentleman gave a grand entertainment and invited all his friends. In the midst of it, two figures and masks entered the room of the size of children about five or six years of age, both very richly dressed, one in the style of a young gentleman, and the other as a young lady. The young gentleman wore a scarlet suit, turned up with gold lace.  The lady had on a dress of yellow taffets with spangles of silver. Her beautiful bonnet was surmounted by a rich plume of feathers, and she held a fan in her hand. Both began dancing a quadrile and astonished all present by their graceful evolutions and wonderful agility. In short, the manners and address of this elegant couple were beyond all praise. An old officer who was one of the party at table suddenly laid hold of an apple and threw it to the maskers, who darted on it like lightning, fighting and quarreling about which should have it. In the contest, the wig and bonnet and masks were torn off, and in place of seeing two beautiful children, the company beheld a pair of huge, ugly apes, grinning and chattering most frightfully. A burst of laughter broke from all the guests, but the old officer gravely remarked that it was of no use for apes and fools to put on fine clothes, for they were always sure to be found out at last. In vain the well-dressed fob would cheat our eyes, the mask drops off and strips his poor disguise. The boy and the nettle. A boy, playing in the field, chanced to be stung by a nettle and came crying to his father. He told him he had been hurt by that nasty plant several times before, that he was always afraid of it, and that now, though he did but just touch it, yet he was most severely stung. Child, said he, you're touching it so gently and timorously is the very reason of its hurting you. A nettle may be handled safely if you do it with courage and resolution. If you seize it boldly and hold it fast, be assured it will never sting you. And so it is with many things in the world. If we grapple boldly with them, we shall come off unhurt. End of section one. Section two of short stories and poems for children, original and select. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The two bees. One fine morning, two bees set out in quest of honey. One was wise and temperate, the other careless and extravagant. They soon arrived at a garden enriched with delightful herbs, flowers, and fruits. Having regaled themselves on the various dainties before them, the one loading himself with provisions for the hive against the winter, the other regarding only present pleasure, they at length aspired a wide-mouthed vial hanging beneath the bow of a peach tree, filled with honey, and exposed in the most inviting manner. The thoughtless bee, notwithstanding his friend's remonstrances, plunged headlong into the vessel, resolving to indulge himself at whatever hazard, while his companion, suspicious of danger, sipped a little with caution, and then flew off to fruits and flowers, where, by the moderation of his meals, he improved his relish for the true enjoyment of them. In the evening he called upon his friend to see whether he would return to the hive, but found him surfaded in sweets, which he was neither able to leave nor to enjoy. His wings were clogged and his strength almost spent, so that he was but just able to bid his friend farewell, and to lament, with his last breath, the thoughtless love of pleasure which had proved his destruction.  Taking pity on the little creature, she bought it of the children and took it home with her. The Little Dog soon learned to know his new mistress and would not quit her for an instant. One night when she was going to bed, the dog set up a terrible barking, and when the lady took the candle to look about and find out the cause, she saw under the bed an ill-looking fellow who had hit himself there for the purpose of robbing the house and perhaps killing the good lady. He was soon secured and brought before the justice, who had him properly punished as an example and warning to all bad men. The lady thanked God for his great goodness in saving her by means of the Little Dog and said, Who would have thought that when I saved him from being drowned, he would one day save me from being robbed and murdered? To every bird and beast be ever kind and true, and God whose works they are will love and care for you. The Ghost Peter once saw two bags of nuts lying in a garden house. This is lucky, thought he to himself and determined to steal them. As it was now daylight, when such tricks are not so easily played, he waited till night the time for evil deeds, though wicked people forget that the eye of God is on them in the dark as well as in the light. Peter, from not thinking of this or else stifling all good thoughts, slipped into the garden and entering the house, he lifted one of the bags and ran off with it. By and by when the moon shone out a little, he saw as he thought another person at his side carrying the other sack. The figure was large and black and his guilty conscience made him think it was a ghost. So he ran and ran as a bad conscience lends wings to the feet, but the black figure still kept up with him. Breathless and half dead with fright, Peter reached home having dropped the bag of nuts by the way. But it was soon found that the black figure what she took for a ghost was only his own shadow on the wall. Peter stole no more. The Little Rose Bush Amelia had planted in a flower pot a little rose tree which was covered even in spring with purple tinted buds. In fine weather she placed the flower pot outside the window and every evening she took it into the house when the cool night air began to come on. One evening she thought she would leave it out all night as the air was so mild and calm. But next morning all the young buds were blighted by the frost. When Amelia saw this she wept for her pretty rose buds and said with a sigh, all my care has thus been thrown away by one act of imprudence.  Learn from this that vice is to innocence what the frosty air is to the young rose buds and that to keep the heart free from the attacks of corruption requires the most constant care and watchfulness. The rose, fair image of a spotless mind fades at the breath of the keen frosty wind. The Hermit Mansion is made in olden times of a man who was of a very passionate disposition but instead of looking for the cause in himself he threw the blame upon the world which provoked him to anger so he thought it would be better altogether to leave his fellow men and thus secure his bad temper. He went into the desert and built himself a hut close by a stream and his bread was daily brought to him by a boy who had orders to leave it on a ledge of rock at some distance from the Hermit's abode. For some days everything went on very well and he thought himself the most contented and humble of men. But one day as he went with his pitcher to the brook the ground being uneven and stony he stumbled as he stooped down to lift the water and the pitcher fell out of his hand. Again he stooped down more carefully but to the force of the running water dashing along knocked the pitcher out of his hand a second time. At this he was so enraged that he seized it and dashing it on the ground broke it in a thousand pieces. Seeing thus that his old temper was still alive and that the fault was not so much in the world as in himself he began to think it would be better to return to the world and by struggling against temptation seek to cure his evil temper. And so he left his Hermit's hut and his bread and water and mixed again among his fellow men striving by prayer and charity to lead a good life and to overcome his passions. The Fair In the country there lived a rich lady who had no children and wished to adopt as her own some young girl from the neighbouring town of an industrious and modest disposition. For this purpose she went to the next fair and was not long in having many applications as soon as it was known what she wanted. The lady was very well pleased so far and gave some money to each girl telling them to buy what they liked best and to come again and let her see what they had purchased. So the girls went away and soon came back quite delighted bringing ribbons of different colours beautiful necklaces and fine bonnets. Only one of the girls, named Rachel had laid out her money better and she had bought a good spinning wheel. The lady took Rachel kindly by the hand and said My dear girl, I see that you have more sense and prudence than any of the others. From the character of the articles which they have bought they evidently think more about dress and folly than about work and saving.  The Precious Plant Betty and Mary, two mage servants were going to a town not far off each with the well-filled basket of fruit on her arm. Betty did nothing but groan and complain beneath her burden while Mary was as Mary as a lark. How can you laugh so? said Betty. Your basket is at least as heavy as mine and you are not stronger than I am. How then can you trot along so gaily? Oh! replied Mary. I put a certain plant into my basket which makes it seem quite light and if you had done the same yours would have been as light too. Well, replied Betty, that must be a very useful plant and I should like above all things that I had it just now. Do tell me the name of it. Its name is Patience, replied Mary, and nothing but it can lighten our burdens. The patient boy or girl is happy still because they bear their load at heaven's high will. This makes them know that heaven intends their good and gives them psychic too as well as food. The monkey. A monkey got into the room of a rich miser who never gave a farthing to the poor and seeing a chest full of gold he began flinging the sovereigns out of the window among the people till there was not one left. The monkey had just finished his job when the old miser came home and seeing what had been done his raid was very great and he would have killed the monkey on the spot if he had not jumped away faster than he came in. A neighbour hearing what had been done said to the miser it was very foolish of the monkeys certainly to throw the sovereigns out at the window but it is still more foolish for you to keep them locked up in a chest without making any good use of them. Happy the man who spends his money so that while it helps himself it heals the poor man's woe.  To save ourselves a little trouble our plans and schemes often make it double this once experienced to her sorrow a lazy maid who every morrow was woke too early as she thought by the cock's loud and echoing throat louder than bells and far too clear at such an hour to be so near what plan then, thank you, did she take to lie in bed when she should wake why killed the cock his neck so shining and wanton malice rudely twining but far too cunning was the dame to be deceived by such a game at a still earlier hour awakening she gave the maid so good a shaking as made her roof or chant a clear while to herself she sighed oh dear to save myself a little trouble I've planned and schemed and made it double. End of section two section three of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the little fish stealer Dennis was a very thoughtless and wild boy and set off one day to rob a fish pond not far from the village where he lived when he got to the pond he plunged in his arm and felt about for the fish for a long time without catching any at last he laid hold of what he thought was a very fine and large one and pulling it out what was his surprise and fright to behold a fierce looking serpent which he instantly threw from him back into the water and ran off James the old fisherman was just behind him and gave him another fright Dennis said James I will let you off for this time in the hope that what you have now seen may do you good for the future remember my words the words of an old man whenever you are tempted to take anything that is not your own look on it with the same horror as you did just now on that poisonous serpent a stolen article turns to a viper in the hands of the thief the goods we gain unjustly turn to loss what's fairly got is gold all else is worse than dross the shepherd there was once a shepherd who kept his sheep not far from the seashore he often looked upon the broad expanse of the ocean with the numerous ships and small boats spread over its surface and comparing his own quiet life with that of the merchants and traders who sailed to all parts of the world to fetch the produce of distant countries he began at last to be discontented with his lot and secretly to sigh for the life of a merchant oh how happy said he should I be to plow the sea in a good vessel of my own and to visit the remote parts of the world instead of standing idly here looking down upon a parcel of senseless sheep while they graze at my feet then what golden returns should I make in the way of traffic and what a certain path would this be to riches and honour this thought became a resolution he sold his flock into his farm and all that he had bought a vessel and fitted it out for a voyage he traded to foreign lands and was soon on his way home with the valuable cargo of merchandise which he had procured in exchange for that which he had taken out with him he had not been very long at sea however before the wind began to blow tempestuously and the waves to rage and swell to such a degree that his ship was in danger of sinking and he was obliged to lighten her by throwing the whole of his cargo overboard but even this did not save her the vessel was driven upon a rock and split to pieces while he himself hardly escaped with life poor in destitute of subsistence he applied himself to the man who had bought his former property and was admitted to tend his flock as a hireling he looked again upon the sea with far different feelings than before experience had now cured him of his ambition and he resolved to spend the rest of his days contentedly in that condition of life for which Providence had fitted him and which he had once so foolishly abandoned the lily Luisa had a beautiful garden and in the calm summer evenings she took much delight in watering the flowers and plants that flourished in it in one of its walks a lily bloomed in snow-white purity whose brilliancy was still further heightened by the green turf around it in the midst of which it was planted Luisa was an amiable girl and looked with delight at the dew lying on its beautiful leaves in the bright rays of the morning sun while at the same time she had been taught to raise her thoughts in pious admiration and gratitude to the great creator of the sun, the dew and the lily her parents shared in her pure and devout joy and said to themselves she is herself like a lily in purity and grace but before the end of the year she died and when the lily bloomed again her mother thought of her daughter with grief and shed bitter tears the father then said when this beautiful lily was quite young and grew in a corner of the garden I took it up and Luisa was sorry and said I should hurt it but when she saw me plant it in a more favorable spot where it became the ornament of the garden she was very glad and thanked me for having removed it and just so my dear let us not weep and lament that Luisa has left us for a better world for as she was like the lily in innocence and beauty while she lived so now she blooms far from this bleak and stormy earth in the ever calm and happy skies of paradise beyond the tomb beneath a fairer sky they blew in faithless grace in Christ who died the iron chain Simon was a worthless fellow and in fact a thief he did not steal openly indeed but if anything came in his way he kept it although he knew very well to whom it belonged one morning he was passing by a smith's forge and saw not far from the door a large iron chain lying on the ground looking carefully around him to see if anyone was near and seeing no one he took hold of the chain but let it fall to the ground again as quickly uttering at the same time a loud cry the chain was almost red hot and had burnt his hand severely the smith who had placed the chain on the ground to cool came out hearing the cries of the young man and said to him your hand which you employed in taking what was not your own well deserved its punishment and for your future benefit I would advise you to hang up the chain and never to forget the following maxim from others goods and from hot iron keep right good advice if you in peace would sleep the big turnip a poor but honest and hardworking man had in his garden a turnip which was so big as to astonish everybody so he thought within himself that he would make a present of it to his landlord who he knew liked to see his tenants careful and industrious his landlord praised him very much for such attention to his garden and made him a handsome present for his pains a neighbor who was very rich in covetous hearing of the poor man's good fortune thought that he too would make a present to his landlord of a fine fat sheep which he had thinking that if the other got such a handsome present for a miserable turnip he should surely get much more for his fine sheep when his landlord saw him come with his present he knew very well that such generosity was only a mere pretense in order to get a good prize for his sheep and therefore refused at first to accept it but as the man still begged that he would be pleased to take it his landlord consented saying well if you force me to do so I suppose I must take it but as you are so very generous allow me to make you a present in return of this very fine turnip which I assure you cost me three times the value of your sheep the man thunderstruck at this unexpected present sneaked off with the turnip not very well pleased at the success of his scheme the dog and the crocodile as a dog was coursing the banks of the Nile he grew thirsty but fearing to be seized by the monsters of that river he would not stop to quench his thirst but lapped as he ran a crocodile raising his head above the surface of the water asked him why he was in such a hurry I have often, he said wished for your acquaintance and should be glad to embrace the present opportunity to make it you do me great honor returned the dog but it is to avoid such companions as you that I make so much haste the fish and the fake dear mother said a little fish prey is not that fly I'm very hungry and I wish you'd let me go and try sweet innocent the mother cried and started from her nook that's horrid flies put to hide the sharpness of the hook now as I've heard this little trout was young and foolish too and so he thought he'd venture out to see if it were true and round about the hook he played with many a longing look and dear me to himself he said I'm sure that's not a hook I can but give one little pluck let's see and so I will so on he went and lo it stuck quite through his little grill and as he faint and fainter grew with hollow voice he cried dear mother had I minded you I need not now have died the two sparrows in a certain year when there had been but little rain and everything was parked and dried up two sparrows were almost starved to death my dear brother said the weakest of the two to the other gather up all your strength fly about and try to find some food I would gladly go with you but I cannot move if you get some food bring me a little but make haste or I shall die with hunger his companion promised to do as he wished and flew away he was so happy as to find a cherry tree full of ripe fruit oh Christy my friend and I are saved he purchased on the tree begun to pick at the cherries which he found very nice and soon satisfied his hunger an hour passed away the sun was setting the sparrow began to think that it was time to carry a few cherries to his fainting friend but no said he I am yet to faint myself and I will just eat this cherry and then this and this thus he went on hopping from bow to bow till night came and he fell asleep he did not awake till morning and then hurried back to his brother but he found him lying on his back and quite dead remember that promises are sacred and particularly so when given to a person in distress in our own good fortune we are too apt to forget the misfortunes of others the nail a countryman one day got out his horse to take a journey to a town not far off before riding away he saw that one of the horses shoes wanted a nail but he thought a nail more or less was of no consequence so he rode on without stopping to put in another on the journey the shoe came off and the man thought that if there were a smithy near he would go in and get it fastened on but not seeing one he rode on saying to himself that the horse would get on very well with the three shoes that he had by and by the horse hurt his foot and began to limp and coming near a wood two robbers rushed out of it and as the horse could not gallop off they took him with them with his nice saddle and bridle leaving his master to find his way as he could as he walked along without his horse he could not help saying to himself not in the best humor you may be sure well who would have thought that for want of a nail I should lose my horse the words of the old proverb apply to the affairs of the world to come as well as to those of the present life never delay or slight the smallest thing from this week cause Miss Fortune's often spring end of section three section four of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the strayed traveler a traveler hazened back from foreign lands to his native home and his heart was full of hope and longing for he had not seen his beloved parents and his dear brothers and sisters for many years therefore he made all haste and the more so the nearer he approached to his journey's end but while traveling on the mountains the night overtook him and it was so dark that he could not see even the staff in his hand and when he came down from the mountain into the valley he strayed from the path and wandered right and left he knew not where at last he became much alarmed and said sighing oh would that I could meet with a man who might conduct me into the right way how gratefully should I thank him while the strayed traveler stood there full of doubt and fear behold they're glimmered in the distance of flickering light and its little gleam appeared beautiful to him in the dark night blessings upon thee thou messenger of hope said he thou makest known to me the nearness of my fellow men thy feeble light is more delightful in my eyes than the morning dawn itself the pilgrim hastened on with vigorous steps towards the place from which the light shone and he expected every moment to see the man who carried it in his pursuit of the light he wandered to the very edge of a precipice at this moment he heard a voice crying out to him stop or thou art a dead man he stood and looked around and at last discovered that it was the voice of a fisherman who called to him far below out of his boat wherefore replied he should I not follow the friendly light I am a poor wanderer friendly light exclaimed the fisherman do you thus call the deluding glimmer which arises from the stagnant marsh and lures the traveler to destruction look how unsteadily it flickers that evil produce of night and darkness as he thus spoke the delusive light expired it was an igneous fetus the weary pilgrim think to the fisherman with hearty gratitude for his timely sucker the fisherman answered no thanks to me my friend should one man see another in danger and not warm him of it and lead him back to the right way we have both God to think I that he chose to make me the means of doing you a service and you that it was so ordered that I should be at this hour on the water in my boat thereupon the good natured fisherman left his boat conducted the bewildered traveler into the right path ensued him the way to his home the latter now walked on with confident steps and soon among the distant trees he beheld the house lamp with its quiet modest shining doubly dear to him because of the dangers through which he had reached it he knocked and the little door was opened and father and mother and brothers and sisters hung upon his neck and kissed him and wept for joy the birds there was once a pretty village which was quite surrounded with various fruit trees in the springtime all the trees were covered with blossoms which gave out the most delicious perfume and their branches as well as the neighboring hedges were thronged with singing birds who made their nests there and filled the air with their songs in the autumn the trees were quite loaded with apples, pears and other fruits now some bad boys began to rob the birds of their nests and so the poor birds by degrees left a place where they were so ill treated and they were no longer heard singing so beautifully and the place became quite sad and gloomy hurtful insects too which the birds used to devour became very numerous and ate up the leaves and the blossoms of the trees that looked quite bare and naked as if it were winter and now the wicked children that used to get such plenty of fine fruit could have no more for the trees were quite stripped of their former abundance ordained by heaven the laws of nature stand do not disturb them then with impious hand the hunter and his bow a sportsman had once an excellent bow of ebony with which he could shoot very far and with a sure aim and which therefore he greatly esteemed but one day when he happened to look at it attentively he said my good bow you certainly shoot very well and you look too very nice and smooth I think however a little ornament would greatly improve you I will see if I cannot remedy this defect to this end he consulted the best worker in ebony he could hear of and agreed with him that he should cover a picture of a complete chase upon his bow and what could be more appropriate for a huntsman's bow than such a picture the man was delighted thou hast well deserved this ornament my dear bow said he now let me try you he stretched and the bow broke the useful must not be sacrificed to the ornamental had the huntsman not weakened his bow by cutting away so much of the ebony for the sake of the picture his loss would have been avoided a bird in a cage oh who would keep a little bird confined when cowslip bells are nodding in the wind when every hedge is with good morrow rings and heard from wood to grove the blackbird sings oh who would keep a little bird confined and his cold wiry prison let him fly and hear him sing how sweet is liberty the houseless robin in january one when silent snows around our spread of every bird that flies robin is last to go to bed if not the first to rise two in the cold dawn it sits for lawn then chit chit chit we hear to bring to its deserted thorn the few friends that are near three this is its morning him it says in this cold wintery weather poor friends who wait for better days sing once at him together four happy when age and death appear if some few friends remain let's last cold hours with hymns to cheer till spring's eternal rain the house dog and the poodle house dog bold puppy dare you touch my bones do you not know me my renown frightens the dogs of half the town and sends them off with yelps and groans the terror of the wolf am I and robbers dread my warning cry again I say rat cur beware and touch my dinner if you dare poodle come on and try what you can do I will not stir an inch for you house dog oh if it were not for this chain poodle I there's the rub that ugly chain the portrait many years ago there lived in a large town a rich merchant who when he died left a great deal of money behind him people knew that he had a son somewhere but he was then gone away on his travels and his features and face were quite forgotten in a short time three young men made their appearance each pretending to be the true son in right air to decide the matter the judge ordered a portrait of the deceased merchant to be brought and said whichever of you can hit with an arrow the mark which I have made on the breast of the portrait will be entitled to the estate so first one shot at it and then another without hitting the mark till it came to the turn of the third who when about to shoot was observed to turn pale into shed tears throwing down the arrows and saying no I will never aim a blow not even in appearance at the breast of my father I had rather lose the whole estate noble young man exclaimed the judge you are the true son and right air the others are only imposters for no son would try to pierce the heart of his father though it were only in a picture the wolf turned shepherd a wolf who by his frequent visits to a flock of sheep began to be too well known determined that in order to carry on his depredations more successfully he would appear in a new character to this end he disguised himself in a shepherd's dress and resting his four feet upon a stick which served him by way of crook he made his approach as quietly as possible towards the fold the shepherd and his dog lay on the grass fast asleep so that he would certainly have succeeded in his project if he had not imprudently attempted to imitate the shepherd's voice the horrible noise which he made awakened them both when the wolf encumbered with his disguise and finding it impossible either to resist or escape yielded himself up an easy prey to the shepherd's dog designing hypocrites frequently lay themselves open to discovery by overacting their parts the cherries Sabina had a very nice apartment entirely to herself but the directions and advice of her mother to keep it in order were neglected so that everything was thrown about anyhow and it was always in the litter one afternoon Sabina had just finished dressing herself and was going out when a neighbour's daughter brought her a basket of fine cherries as the table and window seat were occupied with various articles of dress there was no room for the basket anywhere but on a chair the cushion of which was covered with blue silk Sabina then went out with her mother to take a walk in the village in the evening she came home fatigued with her walk and seated herself in the dusk on the chair with the cherries but soon got up again screaming so loud as to bring her mother with a light to see what was the matter a pretty sight was then seen Sabina's new white dress as well as the cover of the chair was all stained with the juice of the cherries which was running down on the carpet her mother reprimanded her sharply for such carelessness saying you now see how necessary it is to have a place for everything and everything in its place and are properly punished by the loss of your gown for the neglect of such a necessary rule by care and order we gain many friends but heedlessness and ruin ever ends End of section 4 section 5 of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the moon Mr. Richards had one day set out in the morning with his little boy Frederick for the city from which Mrs. Richards and her daughter Anne returned home in the evening next day when Mrs. R said she had begun to be rather uneasy on the journey Frederick replied that there was no danger for the moon was shining beautifully and had gone with them all the way Anne also said that it had followed them constantly from the city home how could that be replied Frederick how could the moon go with us to the city and at the same time back again with you how could she at once go backward and forward that is impossible his father said my dear Frederick you are mistaken were I to attempt to explain it to you you could not understand me because you are not old enough and wise enough yet and you must be content to be ignorant for some time longer let the moon's path in the sky be a lesson to you as there are many things beneath the moon that you cannot understand so you must not be surprised if there are some things beyond and above her that are as hard and difficult thus it is that in religion there are many things we are unable to explain and the reason is the weakness and limited nature of our faculties oh he is truly wise who yields his faith to all that God in his blessed volume saith the rainbow immediately after a storm which had just purified the air and fertilized the fields there appeared a beautiful rainbow in the sky little Henry who was looking out at the window saw the rainbow and cried out quite delighted oh I never saw such beautiful colors look how they fall down from the clouds on the earth near the old willow I am sure there must be great quantities of them on the tree in the shape of little drops let us run quickly to gather them and I will put them into my color box Henry then began running towards the tree as fast as he could but when he got there to his great surprise he saw nothing but drops of rain on the willow and not the least appearance of any colors so he came back quite vexed and sorrowful and told his bad luck to his father who said to him smiling my dear boy it is quite impossible to gather up these beautiful colors for such a purpose as you wished they are only drops of rain which shine for a few minutes by the sun's rays falling on them but that is all for the colors which you see only last so long as the rain falls and the sun continues to shine on it and so it is my dear boy with all the pumps and vanities of this world they seem to us to be beautiful and real but after all they are only empty shadows be not deceived by vanity and show else all thy joy will quickly turn to woe the man-eater going through a very dark wood two little boys of the town once lost themselves and were obliged to put up all night at a very shabby ale house which they saw there during the night they heard someone talking loud in the next room and wishing to hear what was said they listened very close at the partition and heard the man say get ready the great kitchen pot tomorrow for I intend to kill the two little robes that came from the town yesterday and we'll have them boiled the poor children hearing this were dreadfully frightened for they thought the man was speaking of them and used to kill and eat people they resolved therefore to make their escape by jumping out at the window but in coming to the ground they hurt their feet so that they could hardly walk they found also the courtyard gates locked and bolted so that they could not get out and were glad to creep into a little house among the pigs where they passed the night in the state of the greatest fright next morning the landlord opened the door with a knife in his hand which he was sharpening calling out at the same time come along you little rogues this is the last hour you have to live the children hearing this cried out most piteously falling on their knees and begging to have their lives spared the landlord was astonished to find the children in such a place and asked why they took him for such a monster and then they told him how they had listened and what they had heard foolish children said the man I was not speaking about you but about two pigs which I bought in the town yesterday and which I am going to kill learn in future not to listen at keyholes and partitions and never forget the lines which say the prying keyhole listeners sure to hear something to fill him or with shame or fear the dying man's smile when a good old man was at the point of death he called his children and grandchildren around him he looked as if asleep so calm and tranquil was his countenance and was observed to smile three times his eyes being closed all the time when he opened them one of his sons asked what it was that had made him smile so pleasantly the old man answered the first time I was thinking over in my mind all the earthly pleasures which I have experienced during the course of my life and I could not help smiling at the blind infatuation of a man who looks upon such airy bubbles as realities the second time I reflected on all the sorrows that had fallen to my lot and I rejoiced to think that they were now about to pass away forever and to be succeeded by their blessed fruits the third time I reflected on death and smiled to think on the terror this angel of God brings to men although sent to finish all their sufferings and to conduct them to the mansions of everlasting bliss the plums Mrs. Halden with her four children paid a visit one day to their grand papa whom they found in his beautiful garden the old gentleman was not long in bringing them four fine plums which he presented on a leaf smiling and saying at the same time now let me see how cleverly you can manage to divide these four plums among five persons so that the division may be equal oh said Charlotte the youngest girl I will see to that only you must let me divide them as I please she then took the four plums saying my sister and I and one plum make three my two brothers and one plum also make three my mama and two plums make three so that here are four plums divided among five persons and all making up equal numbers according to grand papa's rule this mode of division caused general satisfaction only mama gave up her two plums to let each of the children have one and grand papa was so pleased with Charlotte's clever arrangement that he pulled a charming nose gate for her observing at the same time that Charlotte's ingenious calculation did much credit to her head but still more to her heart the cuckoo the bee is humming in the sun the yellow cow slip springs and hark from yonder woodland's side again the cuckoo sings cuckoo cuckoo no other note she sings from day to day yet I though but a little girl can work and read and pray and whilst the knowledge I rejoice which heavenly truth displays oh let me still employ my voice in my redeemer's praise the sun one evening Mrs. May with her two children came from the fields where they had been assisting their reapers in their harvest work on entering the house they saw a lamp burning in one of the rooms which surprised little George who said who can have lit the lamp as there is no one in the house it must have been papa replied Margaret no doubt he came home before us and pleased it there the children now ran into another room and there they found their father to their great delight next day both parents and children were again in the fields the sun was shining very brightly and the children were quite happy and enjoyed the fine weather which he made the father now said to them yesterday my children you are at no loss to believe that it must have been your father who lit the lamp which you saw now when you see the sun in the sky which is so beautiful and useful a light are you not curious to know who placed it there oh yes replied Margaret I know who did it it was God who is so good and kind to us he put it there for it could not light itself any more than the smallest lamp there must be someone who made the sun and put light in it our own heads would tell us that even if we had not been told it by others in the lines which say the sun in glory dressed proclaims and tells to all how great and good is God who made that fiery ball the wonderful casket there was once a lady whose housekeeping affairs went quite wrong with her so that she every day missed something and every year became poorer and poorer in this bad state of things she went to take the advice of a very wise old hermit who lived in a wood that he might tell her what she was to do to make her affairs all right again now the hermit was a very good humored happy old man and he begged the lady to sit down in his humble cell for a few minutes while he went for a little casket carefully sealed up now he said to the lady when he returned with the casket you must take this with you and go with it three times every day fine and beer cellars and staples and also into every room and corner of your house and I will promise you that if you do this your affairs will get quite right and straight again at the end of the year when you have done all this do not forget to return my wonderful casket to me the lady of course punctually did all that the hermit had told her as she had great faith in the casket and its wonder working powers next morning she began her visits at home and on going into her cellar the first thing she saw was one of her servants taking a flagon of beer at night when she went down into the kitchen all the servants were there feasting and drinking in place of being in their beds and so in the stables and cowhouses the horses and cows and everything were neglected in this way she found something every day to set right when the year was ended she went to the hermit with his casket and begged the loan of it for another year as it contained such an excellent remedy that she wished to use it a little longer the hermit smiled and said he could not let her have it any longer but he would give her the remedy which was enclosed in it and opening it he took out a piece of paper with the following inscription use your own eyes if you would be from waste and want and sorrow free the pig-stealer very late one night the keeper of a dancing bear came to a village and put up at a public house the landlord had just sold a pig and so he let the bear have the pig's thigh to sleep in a thief who had been watching an opportunity to steal the pig not knowing that it had been sold came that night and went into the pig's thigh to lay hold of her and carry her off but was not a little surprised and terrified to find himself seized by a bear which growled frightfully and held the thief quite firm in his paws so that he could not get away the noise made by the thief was so great as to awaken the people in the inn who came running to see what was the matter and it was with great difficulty they got the man away from the bear which had wounded and torn him very severely and this was not all for he was taken to prison and punished afterwards as the law directs even in the present world the sinner feels the hand of vengeance when he robs or steals end of section 5 section 6 of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain humility the bird that soars on highest wing builds on the ground her lovely nest and she that doth most sweetly sing sings in the shade when all things rest and lark in nightingale we see what honor hath humility the apple it was little albert's fifth birthday and his godfather came to see him after dinner and made him a present of a sovereign while he was chatting with the parents the child ran away with his sovereign and got out at the street door just at that moment a woman was passing with some apples and albert said to her look what a present I have got ah said the woman my apples are finer but if you will give me your present I will give you one of my finest apples for it the little fellow was well pleased with the offer gave her his sovereign and took hold of the apple with both his hands he then ran back to the room crying out see what a fine rosy cheeked apple I have got for my money albert's papa and mama scolded him severely for having been so foolish and sent a servant to look for the woman but she could not be found the godfather was wise enough not to be angry with the little boy who had not been taught to know better and only remarked to the parents how often we see grown up people act as foolishly as this little child how many there are who for life's uncertain perishable joys forgo immortal hopes and act like foolish boys the purse little netty was the son of a poor man who gained his bread by selling coals one day netty was sitting at the foot of a tree in the middle of a wood crying bitterly and praying to god for help when a gentleman passed by who was hunting dressed in red hearing the child cry he drew near and asked what was the matter netty told him how his mother had been long ill and that he had been sent into the town to pay for some psychic but that he had lost the purse with the money which his father had given him the gentleman then drew a purse of red silk out of his pocket and said is that your purse oh no replied netty mine was not so fine and had not so much money in it well then this is it I suppose said the gentleman who had found it showing netty a poor looking purse oh yes cried the little boy quite delighted to see his purse again and said how soothing is a grief to pray to god how light his breast who feels not falsehoods load well there was another boy who heard the story of the purse and he went into the wood and sat down beneath a tree and began to cry and lament when the same gentleman came past and hunting and asking him what was the matter the boy said he had lost his purse the gentleman then took out a purse filled asking him if that was it the boy cried oh yes that is the purse which I lost and held out his hand to take it the gentleman now whispered something to his servant who was near him and the man lifting up his whip called out to the boy oh you little rascal how dare you tell the gentleman such a lie I will pay you in another way and so saying he gave him a sound whipping as he well deserved to lie and cheat brings punishment along or later shame still follows wrong the snowman look at him oh what a guy who would not before him fly standing thus with stick so stout threatening all his foes to rout did we not from day to day see him stand the self same way well the boys his head may pelt since his stick they never felt snowman what a cheat you are fit for neither flight nor war pale your face as any sheet should it air the sunbeams meat water it will flow and will lose the man of snow the loaf of bread during a season of scarcity a rich man invited to his house a number of the poorest children in the town and told them that every morning he would give them a loaf of bread till such time as it should please heaven to send the plentiful harvest the children seized the loaves quite rudely and quarreled amongst themselves as to who should have the largest loaf and at one little girl alone named fanny whose clothes were very ragged and wretched stopped at a short distance while the others were taking the bread and at last took the smallest loaf that had been left humbly kissing at the same time the hand of the rich man and going quietly away next day the children did not behave any better and fanny got a loaf that was smaller than any of the others when she took it home to her house as soon as her mother began to cut it up in slices a quantity of money fell out to their great surprise but the mother told fanny to take it back instantly to the kind gentleman for it had no doubt got into the loaf by some mistake fanny did so but the gentleman refused to take it saying there was no mistake for he had put the money himself into the smallest loaf as a reward for fanny's good behavior be always he said fanny would rather be contented to take the smallest loaf than to fight and quarrel about it will be sure to carry the blessing of God home with them be satisfied with little gained in peace and God on you and yours will shed increase the gold watch a poor little boy named Ernest once went into a mill to sleep and waking about midnight he heard a slight noise near the wall where he lay the watch hanging on the wall the thought now came into his mind to steal the watch and run away with it his conscience told him that this would be wrong but the desire to take it becoming stronger every instant he thought the best way would be to leave the mill altogether and so escaped the temptation when he had run a little way he began to repent that he had not taken the watch and was going to return so he went on his journey the moon having sunk beneath the cloud it now became very dark and Ernest lost himself for a while but at length he got upon a mound where he lay down and fell asleep in the morning he awoke and looking up he saw that he was sleeping beneath the gallows where a robber was hanging in chains a voice now seemed to say to him look this is what might have happened to you if you had taken the watch and so gone on from one bad thing to another full of gratitude to God who had saved him from such a terrible end he fell on his knees and offered up his thanksgivings to heaven the stolen horse one night a farmer had a very fine horse stolen from him he therefore went to a horse market some miles off in order to buy another among the horses which he saw there for sale he was surprised to see his own laying hold of the bridle he said that the horse was his stolen from him three days before you are quite mistaken my dear sir said the man who had brought the horse to the market I have had the horse for more than a year you may have some likeness to yours but that is all the farmer then put his hands on the horse's eyes and said well if the horse is really yours you can no doubt tell me which of his eyes is blind the thief who had not looked at the horse's eyes was quite silent for a moment saying that he must say something soon replied on the left eye you are wrong there applied the farmer he is not blind on the left eye oh I meant to say the right replied the thief I made a mistake the farmer then took away his hands from the horse's eyes and said it is quite clear now that you are a rogue and a liar look here said the farmer to the people standing by and asked these questions to prove that the horse is mine and that he had been stolen from me by this thief who pretends to be his owner all the people then began to shout and laugh out the clever way in which the thief had been discovered who was then sent to prison and properly punished for his roguery a thief may have plenty of wit and skill but an honest man is cleverer still a little boy and his sister James and Anne were one day at home quite alone when the farmer said come Anne and let us get something nice and have a feast very well said Anne if you can take me into a place where no one can see us I will go with you and make one of the party oh said James we will go into the little room where the milk is kept and have some nice sweet cream no replied his sister it's of no use going there for there is a man cutting wood in the street close by we will go into the kitchen there is some honey in a cupboard there and we will spread it on slices of bread Anne objected to this too saying that the girl at the opposite window would certainly see them then said James let us go into the cellar and take some apples it is so very dark there that nobody can possibly see us my dear brother replied Anne surely you cannot think that you can see us at all times and in all places in the darkest and most hidden as well as in the bright sunshine James blushed deeply at hearing this and recollecting himself said to his sister you are right God is everywhere present and we cannot conceal ourselves from his notice I will no longer think of doing the wicked action which I just mentioned Anne was delighted to hear her brother speak so like a good and penitent boy and made him a present of a fine picture where among other things there was the figure of a great eye signifying God's omniscience surrounded with rays of light and at the bottom the following words Oh let me ever see above thy holy eye with fear and love to keep me from the ways of sin and so thy great approval win the diamonds a lady of high rank once told a drooler to make for her a brilliant necklace and to gave him some diamonds precious stones for the purpose the droolers apprentice Robert was very much pleased to see such beautiful stones and took great pleasure in looking at them and admiring them one day the droolers suddenly missed two of the finest of them and his suspicions falling on the apprentice he went to his room to look for them and sure enough he found them there in a hole in the wall it was to no purpose for Robert to declare that he had not taken them his master would not believe him and gave him a severe beating telling him at the same time that he richly deserved the gallows and packed him out of the house next day another diamond was missing and the drooler found it in the same hole where he had found the others the drooler then resolved to watch and see who the thief might be and after waiting some time a magpie which Robert had tamed came on the counter took up one of the diamonds in his beak and went off with it to the hole the drooler was very sorry to find that he had accused and punished Robert unjustly and sending for him he took him back into his service apologized to him and made him a very handsome present as some atonement for the injury he had done him feared to admit suspicion in thy breast too often smites the good a dark unwelcome guest the apples early one morning little Alfred saw from his window in a neighboring orchard a number of beautiful red apples scattered about on the grass Alfred lost no time in running down and trying to get some so creeping through a hole in the hedge he filled his pockets as full as they could cram and was making off with his ill-gotten booty when all of a sudden he saw the owner of the apples watching him with a good thick stick in his hand a little thief took to his heels at seeing this and was making the best of his way through the hole in the hedge by which he entered but stuck fast owing to his pockets being so stuffed out being now caught he not only was obliged to give up all that he had stolen but got a good sound drubbing to boot and the following excellent piece of advice as to how he should behave in future injustice of whatever kind brings its own punishment behind end of section 6 section 7 of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the story of Andrew Cleese there was a certain slave named Andrew Cleese who was so ill treated by his master that his life became insupportable finding no remedy from what he suffered he at length said to himself it is better to die than to continue to live in such hardships and misery as I am obliged to suffer I am determined therefore to run away from my master if I am taken again I know that I shall be punished with a cruel death but it is better to die at once than to live in misery if I escape I must be take myself to deserts and woods inhabited only by wild beasts but they cannot use me more cruelly than I have been by my fellow creatures therefore I will rather trust myself to them than continue to be a miserable slave having formed this resolution he took an opportunity of leaving his master's house and hid himself in a thick forest which was some miles distant from the city but here the unhappy man found that he had only escaped from one kind of misery to experience another he wandered about all day through a vast and trackless wood where his flesh was continually torn by thorns and brambles he grew hungry but he could find no food in this dreary solitude at length he was ready to die with fatigue and lay down in despair in a large cavern the unfortunate man had not been long quiet in the cavern before he heard a dreadful noise which seemed to be the roar of some wild beast and terrified him very much he started up with a design to escape and had already reached the mouth of a cave when he saw calming towards him a lion of prodigious size which prevented any possibility of retreat he now believed his destruction to be inevitable but to his great astonishment the beast advanced towards him with a gentle pace without any mark of enmity or rage and uttered a kind of mournful noise as if he demanded the assistance of the man Andrew Cleese, who was naturally of a resolute disposition acquired courage from this circumstance to examine his monstrous guest who gave him sufficient leisure for this purpose he saw as the lion approached him that he seemed to limp upon one of his legs and that the foot was extremely swelled as if it had been wounded acquiring still more fortitude from the gentle demeanor of the beast he advanced towards him and took hold of the wounded part as the surgeon would examine his patient he then perceived that a thorn of uncommon size had penetrated the ball of the foot and was the occasion of the swelling and the lameness which he had observed Andrew Cleese found that the beast, far from resenting his familiarity received it with the greatest gentleness and seemed to invite him by blandishments to proceed he therefore extracted the thorn and, pressing the swelling, discharged a considerable quantity of matter which had been the cause of so much pain as soon as the beast felt himself thus relieved he began to testify his joy and gratitude by every expression in his power he jumped about like a wanton spaniel wagged his enormous tail and licked the feet and hands of his physician nor was he contented with these demonstrations of kindness from this moment Andrew Cleese became his guest and did the lion ever sally forth in quest of his prey without bringing home the produce of the chase and sharing it with his friend in this savage state of hospitality did the man continue to live during several months at length, wandering unguardedly through the woods he met with a company of soldiers sent out to apprehend him and was by them taken prisoner and conducted back to his master the laws of the country being very severe against slaves he was tried and found guilty of having fled from his master and as a punishment for the crime he had committed he was sentenced to be torn in pieces by a furious lion kept many days without food to inspire him with additional rage when the destined moment arrived the unhappy man was exposed unarmed in the middle of a spacious arena enclosed on every side round which many thousand people were assembled to view the mournful spectacle presently a dreadful yell was heard which struck the spectators with horror and a monstrous lion rushed out of a den which was purposely set open with erected mane and flaming eyes and jaws that gaped like an open sepulcher a mournful silence instantly prevailed all eyes were turned upon the destined victim whose destruction seemed inevitable and many of the multitude was soon converted into astonishment when they beheld the lion instead of destroying its defenseless enemy crouched submissively at his feet fawn upon him as a faithful dog would do upon his master and rejoice over him as a mother that unexpectedly recovers her offspring the governor of the town who was present then called out with a loud voice and ordered Andrew Cleese to explain to them this unintelligible mystery and how a savage of the fiercest and most unpitying nature should thus in a moment have forgotten his innate disposition and be converted into a harmless and inoffensive animal Andrew Cleese then related to the assembly every circumstance of his adventures and concluded by saying that the very lion which now stood before them had been his friend and entertainer in the woods all present were astonished and delighted with the story to find that even the fiercest beasts are capable of being softened by gratitude and being moved by humanity they unanimously joined to entreat for the pardon of the unhappy man from the governor of the place this was immediately granted to him and he was also presented with the lion which had twice saved the life of Andrew Cleese Pussy Girl Pussy, why for every scrubbing, ever washing, ever rubbing the stains were gone and they coat like velvet shone Pussy why it is because I love to be spotless as a dove head and feet must all be clean, dirt on me was never seen yes and everyone loves Pussy for her coat so bright and glossy everywhere she's free to go patted both by high and low and the reason why I guess is Pussy's love of cleanliness Fox and Goose Fox Goose This lovely weather and let us take a walk together I quite admire your snow white coat, bright eyes and long and slender throat Goose Thank you right kindly Mr. Fox but more I think the bolts and locks that keep you outside of the door to try elsewhere your lying lore the weather air you came was fair but since you spoke I do declare the thought of such a walk together has changed the scene to wintry weather it was not that the air was cold but that the Fox's tricks of old were all well known to Mistress Goose and kept her from his cunning noose for once if out of doors she'd gone he would have left her not a bone the boundary stone or landmark very many years ago a certain man lived in a nice house with pretty fields rounded containing fruit trees these fields were near to a neighbors and the man in the nice house whose name was James thought he should like to have a slice out of his neighbors field so he removed the boundary stone which served as a mark between their fields and placed it farther off from his own house he did this one dark night quite slightly thinking it would never be noticed a short time after James got up into a tree to pull some cherries that grew near the stone and losing his hold he fell down on the stone that was just below and broke his neck so that you see what he got by cheating his neighbor for if the boundary stone had been left to stand in its old place no great harm would have happened to him by the fall for he would have come down upon the soft grass mark here how wicked men succeed punished by their own set and deed monkey and boy boy there he is in the apple tree you ugly thing is to you I see what business have you there I pray grinning and jumping from spray to spray monkey come boy your jibes and jeers give or or I'll give you a dozen knocks and more boy oh Mr. Monkey you mean to strike so fling away as long as you like thus saying they carried the battle on the boy with cutting jive and fun the monkey provoked and passion banging the apples down so thickly hanging a good round dozen the boy picked up and then ran off on his prize to sup the horse two thieves having stolen a horse took him with them into a wood and sat down to arrange what they should sell him for and what share each of them should have of the money as they could not agree about this they soon began to fight and another thief coming past whilst they were in the middle of the quarrel mounted on the horse's back and rode off with him without being seen after the two thieves had beaten each other black and blue so that the horse about which they had been fighting so long was gone thus making good the proverb that when thieves fall out there is a chance of honest men getting their own although in this case it was not the real owner but another thief who got the horse the bed of pimps our mother give each of us a flower bed that we may call our own me one and William one and Ellen one and we will take care of them so said little Frederick to his mother and the mother let him have his wish and gave to each of her children a flower bed full of beautiful pinks the children were delighted with the gift and said when the pinks begin to blow it will be a lovely sight for it was then in the spring and the buds had only just begun to show themselves little Frederick was very impatient and could not wait till the buds had opened and he wished that his flower bed should bloom before either of the others he went into the garden and took a bud in his hand looked at it and was greatly pleased to find that a bright red leaf was already beginning to peep out of its green covering and his eagerness however he broke open the bud and separated the leaves now cried he with a loud voice see my pink has blown but when the sun shone on it the flower bowed its head drooped and withered away and the boy cried to see it but there was then no help for it thus an impatient temper brings its own punishment the moss rose the angel of the flowers one day beneath a rose tree sleeping lay that spirit to whose charge has given to bathe young buds in dues of heaven awaking from his light repose the angel whispered to the rose oh fondest object of my care still fairest found where all are fair for the sweet shade thou gifs to me ask what thou wilt has granted thee then said the rose with deepened glow on me another grace bestow the spirit paused and silent thought what grace was there that the flower had not twas but a moment or the rose avail of moss the angel throws and robed in nature's simplest weed could there a flower that rose exceed the bag of flax seed there was once a rich lady who grew flax in one of her fields and there came a man to her who said he dealt in that article and wished to sell her some that he said was good and came from a foreign country while hers he told her was very bad he then offered to make an exchange with her of an equal quantity of his for an equal quantity of hers and a sovereign besides as his was so much better and the lady agreed to the bargain now the man was a great rogue and thought to cheat the lady by bringing back her own seed and pretending it was the good seed which she had spoken about so that he might have the sovereign for nothing if the seed turns out bad he thought all I have to say is that it is owing to the weather or the quality of the ground where it grew so he brought the seed to the lady and in emptying it a fine gold ring fell out which belonged to the lady and which had slipped off her finger when she was measuring it out before she sent it away so she said to him I have brought back the seed and this ring among the seed proves it you have brought back my own seed pretending it to be the excellent foreign seed which you wished me to take in place of giving you a sovereign I shall make you pay me one as a punishment for your roguery so the judge condemned him to pay that sum to the lady and the man's bad character became so well known that he was obliged to leave the country altogether and of section seven section eight of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the stag great and tall I tower on high my powerful antlers pierce the sky at hounds or horn I'll never fear or hide me like a stricken deer boldly I'll stand and face the crew and teach them better manners too but hark what sounds are heard afar and make the poor stag's nerves to jar alas his courage sinks and dies swiftly or hill and dale he flies to hide him in the thickest shade and muse on the mad resolve he made the poor man's acre a poor man had just one acre of ground and that was very stony and barren he cultivated it nevertheless with great care clearing out the stones and weeds and digging and preparing it for seed one day when he was throwing the seed into it he was addressed by a learned man passing by who asked him how he could spend so much labor and money on such a wretched piece of ground the poor man replied that he did so because he trusted that God would do his part to bless it and make it yield a crop as he had done his to clear and prepare it the inheritance on the children of a rich merchant agreeing that they would keep and maintain him as long as he lived he gave up to them all his property at first they were very attentive to him but by degrees they neglected him and seemed to envy every mouthful of food he took and scarcely gave him clothes to his back the old gentleman now began to see his mistake and giving up everything to his children it would have been better he said for them to be begging from me than I from them now it happened that an old friend who had owed the father some money for a long time paid it to him after he had given it up for lost so the merchant got a large chest and kept all this money locked up in it only taking out from time to time what he wanted his children now began to be very civil and attentive to him this money also but he took good care not to give them a farthing and so they were obliged to console themselves with the hope that he would leave it all to them at his death when he died they lost no time in opening the box but found nothing in it except a quantity of bricks and the following lines on a piece of paper ungrateful children feel the curse of heaven and to their prayers not gold but stones is given the sow children thus spoke good mama listen to my word in law manners proper and polite you must make your soul delight always neat and clean and ever sweet as from a limpid river not as some pigs love to do waiting puddles through and through thus she spoke but soon she saw all her deeds observed as law as herself had always done as the children saw her do taking great pains to learn they soon just like her looked and acted too they were nothing worse nor nothing better but all were swine to the very letter horse and sparrow sparrow full as thy crib, thou noble steed let me partake in time of need a single corn or two thou will never miss a gift so small horse with all my heart come to my stall there's some for me and you and when summer came on with burning heat and the gadflies stung the steed's neck and feet to snatch them up quickly the sparrow was near and the good horse had nothing to suffer or fear the little basket maker the parents of a little boy named Edward were very rich and trusting to the money which he would get from them he took no pains to learn and would never work or look at a book little James on the other hand who lived near Edward was very diligent and industrious and was very clever at making baskets one day while Edward was fishing by the seaside and James busy cutting down some branches of willow to make baskets they were seized and dragged away by some pirates who put them on board their ship and intended to sell them as slaves while they were sailing away a great storm arose and dashed the ship against the rock on an unknown island except the two boys who came safe to land and found the inhabitants to be black amours James now thought that he might please them by setting to work and making some pretty baskets so taking out his knife he cut down some willow branches which were growing there and plated them into a beautiful basket many of the blacks men, women and children seeing James busy with his basket drew near looking on with great curiosity as he worked away and sang so merrily when the basket was finished he made a present of it to the principal man or chief in the island and now everyone was desirous of having a basket like the other and James was taken to a nice cottage surrounded with fruit trees where he might live quietly and at his ease with plenty to eat and drink and make baskets all day long Edward was also asked to make a basket but he was so stupid and ignorant that they had no patience with him and gave him a good beating and would have killed him if James had not begged and prayed them to spare his life having done this to please James the blacks stripped Edward of his fine clothes and gave them to James and put James course clothes on Edward who was also made to wait on James as his servant and to fetch him plenty of willow ones for baskets the clever and industrious boy is sure to meet with friends while he that won't his hands employ his life in misery spends the stag Herbert was only a little boy when his father who was park keeper to the great lord was shot by a poacher his mother took the best care of him that she could and when he grew up to be a man he got his father's place Herbert was one day out hunting and having fired at a large stag missed him and at the same moment hurt piercing groans and cries from the thicket close by he rode up to see what was the matter and found that he had shot an old man whom he had not seen and who was lying on the ground in the agonies of death instantly all the party came round him and Herbert was almost distracted and assured him that he had no idea of anyone being near and begged he would forgive him the dying man then said you have no need of my forgiveness it was I that shot your father and now I have met with my just punishment and being shot by his son it was here beneath this very oak that he fell and now you without knowing or intending it have killed his murderer I have kept my crime secret until now but god is just before whom I must now appear and his vengeance no sinner can escape so saying the old man expired while all the beholders were struck with awe and astonishment think not although your crimes elude the light that all is safe when man is not in sight god watches all with ever present care and drags the sinner from his secret lair the poor labourer are you not tired with work poor man the drops are on your brow your labour with the sun began and you are labouring now I murmur not to dig the soil for I have heard it read that man by industry and toil must eat his daily bread the lark awakes me with his song that hails the morning grey and when I mourn for human wrong I think of god and pray let others waste their time and health and try each vain delight they cannot buy with all their wealth the labourers rest at night the cat pussy why so slightly stealing to the roof thy steps concealing the swallow thou hast seen bird that loves the village green or the pool where insects thronging yield the food that suits its longing now upon the house top sitting tired of all its mazy flitting pussy sees it and proposes a sweet meal air evening closes but the swallow too is clever and no arrow from the quiver swifter flies as pussy now saw with disappointed brow oh it is a shocking thing bird should be so swift of wing so thought pussy as she crept back again and would have wept but a mouse she quickly saw and that stopped her ravenous ma the cuckoo George and Michael on a fine morning in May were passing through a wood and heard for the first time the song of the joyous cuckoo that bird forbids good luck said George who was rather of a superstitious turn of mind I expect I shall have a pocket full of money at least and why should the good luck be to you replied Michael who was as weak minded and silly as his companion I don't know why the cuckoo should be so particularly fond of you for my part I rather think that her favors will fall to my share so in place of enjoying the beauty of the morning and listening with delight to the simple and pleasing notes of the cuckoo these foolish bad tempered boys began to quarrel and fight until at last they parted both well thrashed and bruised and in the worst humour possible with each other next day our two combatants met at the doctors and while he bandaged their wounds and bruises they told him how the quarrel had arisen and asked him for which of them he thought the cuckoo intended her favors why neither to be sure replied the doctor fools that you are but for me for has she not sent you to me with broken heads and a long bill to pay and thus put money in my purse quarrels like these excite our ridicule and end in lost each poor silly fool the discontented squirrel in a pleasant wood on the western side of a ridge of mountains there lived a squirrel who had passed two or three years of his life very happily at length he began to grow discontented and one day fell into the following train of thought what must I spend all my time in this spot running up and down the same trees gathering nuts and acorns and dosing away months together in a hole I see a great many of the birds who inhabit this wood ramble about to a distance wherever their fancy leads them and at the approach of winter sent out for some remote country where they enjoy summer weather all the year round my neighbor cuckoo tells me he is just going and even little nightingale will soon follow to be sure I have not wings like them but I have legs nimble enough and if I do not use them I might as well be a mole or a door mouse my daresay I could easily reach to that blue ridge which I see from the tops of the trees which no doubt must be a fine place for the sun comes directly from it every morning and this often appears all covered with red and yellow and the finest colors imaginable there can be no harm at least in trying for I can soon get back again if I don't like it I am resolved to go and I will set out tomorrow morning once squirrel had taken this resolution he could not sleep all night for thinking of it and as peep of day prudently taking with him as much provision as he could conveniently carry he began his journey in high spirits he presently got to the outside of the wood and entered upon the open moors that reached to the foot of the hills these he crossed before the sun was high and then having eaten his breakfast with an excellent appetite he began to ascend it was heavy toilsome work scrambling up the steep sides of the mountains but squirrel was used to climbing so for a while he proceeded expeditiously often however he was obliged to stop and take a breath so that it was a good deal past noon before he had arrived at the summit of the first cliff here he sat down to eat his dinner and looking back was wonderfully pleased with the fine prospect the wood in which he lived lay far beneath his feet and he viewed with scorn the humble habitation in which he had been born in bread but when he looked forward he was somewhat discouraged to observe the other hill roads above him fully as distant as that to which he had already reached and he now began to feel stiff and fatigued however after a little rest he set out again though not so briskly as before the ground was rugged, brown and bare and to his great surprise instead of finding it warmer as he got nearer the sun he felt it grow colder and colder he had not travelled two hours before his strength and spirits were almost spent and he seriously thought of giving up the point and returning before night should come on while he was thus deliberating with himself clouds began to gather round the mountain and to take away all view of distant objects presently a storm of mingled snow and hail came down driven by a violent wind which pelted poor squirrel most pitifully and made him quite unable to move forwards or backwards besides he had completely lost his road and did not know which way to turn towards that despised home which it was now his only desire again to reach the storm lasted till the approach of night and it was as much as he could do be numbed and weary as he was to crawl to the hollow of a rock at some distance which was the best lodging he could find for the night his provisions were spent so that hungry and shivering he crept into the farthest corner of the cavern rolling himself up with his bushy tail over his back he got a little sleep though disturbed by the cold and the shrill whistling of the wind amongst the stones the morning broke over the distant tops of the mountains when squirrel half frozen and famished came out of his lodging and advanced as well as he could towards the brow of the hill that he might discover which way to take as he was slowly creeping along a hungry kite soaring in the air above he tried to hide him and making a stoop carried him off in her talons poor squirrel losing his senses with a fright was born away with vast rapidity and seemed inevitably doomed to become food for the kite's young ones when an eagle who had seen the kite sees her prey pursued her in order to take it from her and overtaking her gave her such a blow as caused her to drop the squirrel in order to defend herself the poor animal kept falling through the air a long time to let last he alighted in the midst of a thick tree the leaves and tender boughs of which so broke his fall that though stunned and breathless he escaped without material injury and after lying a while came to himself again but what was his pleasure and surprise to find himself in the very tree which contained his nest ah said he my dear native placent peaceful home never let me be again tempted to leave you lest I undergo a second time all the miseries and dangers from which I have now so wonderfully escaped end of section 8 section 9 of short stories and poems for children original and select by unknown this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the dog and Raven dog stop thief stop that villain pray for the rascals flown away with my dinner a large slice of roast beef so plump and nice Raven not so loud pray pretty dear let me whisper in your ear I've been with the police who gave me orders to pursue and all stolen chattels cease so be quiet if you please the Raven said this from sheer deceit to steal from the dog his piece of meat the dog said nothing of right or wrong to complain indeed was more than he durst for he feared that it would come to light how he had stolen that meat at first the mother's jewels Cornelia a noble Roman lady educated her children with the greatest care and loved them with remarkable tenderness one day another Roman lady paid her a visit who talked much of her splendid dresses and jewels and asked Cornelia what ornaments she possessed the good mother kept her in conversation until her children came to receive their daily lesson when they entered she rose up and placed them before the stranger saying behold the jewels of Cornelia good children are indeed the choicest ornaments of their parents more precious than the most costly pearls the fly into the spider two children once went with their grandmother to see a spider's web they thought it very curious they thought it was a good deal about it though they could not see the use of such things nor why there should be such creatures as spiders at all their grandmother replied my dear children I cannot tell you just now the reasons why the all wise god created and sustains the various creatures which we see around us though we may be sure there is some good ant to be served but I will tell you a pretty story which may at least help us to think upon the subject a young prince used often to wonder for what purpose God had made flies and spiders as he could not see he said what use they were of to men and if he had the power he would kill them all one day after a great battle this prince was obliged to hide himself from his enemies and wandering about in a wood he lay down very tired beneath a tree and fell asleep a soldier passing by who belonged to the enemy was quietly drawing near with his sword to kill the prince when all of a sudden a fly stung his lip and woke him seeing his danger he sprang to his feet and quickly made the soldier run off that night the prince again hit himself in a cave in the same wood and during the night a spider wove her web across the entrance two soldiers belonging to the army which had defeated him passed the cave in the morning and the prince heard their conversation look cried one of them he is surely concealed in this cave no replied the other that is impossible for if he had gone in there he would have brushed down the spiders web at the entrance when they had gone away the prince raised his hands and eyes to heaven and thanked God for such goodness and yesterday saving his life and now again by a spider and acknowledged that the ways and works of God are perfectly good and wise wretched and mean though flies and spiders seem yet even in them God's power and glory beam the swallow and red breast the swallows at the close of day when autumn shone with fainter ray around the chimney circling through ere yet they bade along a dew to climbs when soon the winter drear should close the unrejoicing year now with swift wing they skim aloof now settle on the crowded roof as counsel and advice they take ere they the chilly north forsake then one disdainful turned his eye upon a red breast twittering nigh and thus began with taunting scorn thou household imp obscure forlorn through the deep winter dreary day here Dolan shivering shalt thou stay whilst we who make the world our home to softer climbs in patient Rome where summer still on some green isle rests with her sweet and lovely smile thus speeding far and far away we leave behind the shortening day tis true the red breast answered meek no other scenes I ask or seek to every change alike resigned I fear not the cold winter's wind when spring returns the circling year shall find me still contented here but whilst my warm affections rest within the circle of my nest I learn to pity those that roam and love the more my humble home the traveler a traveler once journeyed along a narrow path on one side of which rose a high ridge of mountains and on the other side a wide and deep river flowed suddenly he saw a fierce tiger rush down upon him from the mountain and in order to escape the danger he was just about to throw himself into the stream and to swim for his life but at that moment a crocodile started up his head from the river and opened his jaws to devour him oh miserable me exclaimed the poor traveler whichever way I look certain death stares me in the face and full of despair and anguish he sank powerless to the earth the tiger now almost upon him made a sudden spring and leaped into the mouth of the crocodile in the greatest extremity despair not that which at first sight appeared a fatal calamity serves unexpectedly to thy preservation the purse of gold there was once a rich merchant in Italy who by bad management and extravagant living lost all his fortune and was reduced at last to great distress this man had a son named Anthony who had a wife Isabella and two little boys whom he tenderly loved and hoped to bring up well all his plans were overthrown by his father's ruin he lost everything accepting his wife's little fortune which she brought him when she married but although his own distress had been caused by his father's fault he took him to his house and with his wife did all he could to comfort and support him the little estate which belonged to Isabella and to which they trusted for their support was on the banks of a river and soon after his first trouble a furious storm of snow destroyed it and Anthony saw all he possessed washed away by the rapid river without power to prevent a repair the mischief which it did all was now lost and he had no means of supporting himself his wife and children or his father he tried to get some employment for himself but every attempt was in vain the friends who had visited him while he was rich and he was on his way and refused to help him and he had one yet greater trouble still to bear a man who pretended to be his friend and promised to help him and to get for him a situation by which he would be able to maintain his family made known to Anthony when he came to express his gratitude for his kindness that he was only to be employed on condition of his agreeing to his wicked plans he was sent away and this man became his most violent enemy and did all he could to take away his character and prevent him from obtaining any other employment and this extreme distress his wife sold nearly all her own clothes and those of her children to get a little food for them two very poor friends now came forward to help them but could not do much for them on account of their own scanty means at length the children spent and they had nothing to expect but starvation unable any longer to bear the sight of his father who oppressed by age and distress was confined to bed of his little children pale and crying for food and of his wife who was trying to stop her sobs lest they should add to his affliction Anthony rushed from his house and despair gave him boldness to ask alms of the people to help him oh heaven he cried have mercy on my poor starving family as he walked on with drooping head and sinking heart he came suddenly upon something lying on the ground scarcely knowing what he did he picked it up it was a small pocketbook and when he opened it he found a bank note of a hundred crowns oh merciful heaven he cried in a transport of joy thou wilt not let us perish my family will now be saved joy gave him fresh strength and with eager steps he was returning to his house to console his afflicted father his weeping wife and suffering children when all at once he stopped short the thought came into his mind this is not mine what business have I with another's money and yet what must I do I will not leave my darlings to perish but God is merciful he can find means to save us when all hope is gone oh God I will not break thy commandments I will obey thy laws and saying this he hurried to the house of the clergymen of the parish and gave the pocketbook into his care begging him to find out the owner and return it to him and confessing the use which his great distress the clergyman was much struck by his account God, said he will surely bless your honesty this trifle putting a small sum into his hand will keep your family from starving and the owner of the pocketbook will I trust reward you handsomely for it Anthony full of gratitude for this assistance and that he had been kept from doing wrong in spite of the temptation which had been put in his way and seemed like an angel of comfort to his father wife and children whom he found in the greatest misery he embraced them tenderly saying my father my dearest wife God has not quite forgotten us in the extremity of trouble he has sent as help and he told them how he had found the pocketbook and how after many struggles with himself he had given it into the care of the clergymen the wife with tears of gratitude exclaimed God has not indeed forgotten us since he has kept us even in this state of want from committing a bad action he will certainly reward what you have done yes dear husband be comforted and hope meanwhile the clergyman exerted himself to find the owner of the pocketbook a rich lord who had unknowingly dropped it as he walked along the good clergyman as he returned it to him neglected not to praise the honesty of Anthony and to give an affecting account of his state and of the extreme misery which he and his family were suffering the marquee much moved by this account put into his hands fifty crowns take this said he to that good man and I will use all my influence to get him honorably employed to accept his word and Anthony was soon placed in the situation which had been promised to him by his wicked friend and able to support his family comfortably and to bring up his children well the squirrel and the wind squirrel stop stop airwind how cold do you blow no further through my house you'll go for doors and windows I'll make fast against your cold and cutting blast or move upstairs quite round about wind oh then I'm sure to find you out squirrel no no I'll shut my window still and let you blow and puff your fill the wind was wroth to hear such news and did the squirrel soar abuse who safe within his sheltering tree cracked nuts and joked at liberty and let the wind pursue his trade of howling through the forest glade the ass in the lion's skin an ass finding the skin of a lion put it on and going into the woods and pastures through all the flocks and herds into terrible consternation at last meeting his owner he would have frightened him also but the good man seeing his long ears stick out presently knew him and with a good cudgel made him sensible that notwithstanding his being dressed in a lion's skin he was really no better than an ass the dove dove that's sittest on yonder roof keeping from idle boys aloof say why cooing forever so turning your head eye to and fro dove tis I'm so happy and full of glee happy as ever a dove can be for the creator from heaven above warms me with beams of light and love therefore the dove on the house top coos and the boy below his play pursues both in the sunshine glad at heart both in the gifts of god have part who from his throne looks down the while on his happy creatures with loving smile the angler and the young fish a man angling in a river caught a small perch which as he was taking it off the hook and going to put it into his basket opened its mouth and began to implore his pity begging that he would throw it into the river again upon the man's demanding what reason he had to expect such a favour why said the fish because at present I am but young and little and consequently not so well worth your having as I shall be if you take me some time hence when I am grown larger that may be replied the man but I am not one of those fools who quit a certainty in expectation of an uncertainty so come along the peasant and his horse a peasant had an old worn out horse which he allowed to go about at his ease taking care to put him into good grass fields and when in the stable he gave him plenty of hay and fodder in fact he treated him with all the affection and respect that he would an old friend a neighbour blamed him for this and wondered that he should take such care of an old worn out animal the peasant replied that the good would be to his beast and that his horse having served him and his family for many years he felt it to be both a duty and a pleasure to provide for the poor brute's comfort and ease in his latter days end of section nine