THE PURPLE JAR
: Didactic Stories: Types Of Children's Literature
Maria Edgeworth
Rosamond, a little girl of about seven years old, was walking with
her mother in the streets of London. As she passed along, she
looked in at the windows of several shops, and she saw a great
variety of different sorts of things, of which she did not know the
use, or even the names. She wished to stop to look at them; but
there was a great number of people in th
carts and carriages and wheelbarrows, and she was afraid to let go
her mother's hand.
"Oh! mother, how happy I should be," said she, as she passed a
toy-shop, "if I had all these pretty things!"
"What, all! Do you wish for them all, Rosamond?"
"Yes, mamma, all."
As she spoke, they came to a milliner's shop; the windows were
hung with ribbons, and lace, and festoons of artificial flowers.
"Oh! mamma, what beautiful roses! Won't you buy some of
them?"
"No, my dear."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want them, my dear."
They went a little farther, and they came to another shop, which
caught Rosamond's eye. It was a jeweler's shop; and there were a
great many pretty baubles, ranged in drawers behind glass.
"Mamma, you'll buy some of these?"
"Which of them, Rosamond?"
"Which? I don't know which; but any of them, for they are all
pretty."
"Yes, they are all pretty; but of what use would they be to
me?"
"Use! Oh, I'm sure you could find some use or other, if you
would only buy them first."
"But I would rather find out the use first."
Rosamond was very sorry that her mother wanted nothing. Presently,
however, they came to a shop, which appeared to her far
more beautiful than the rest. It was a chemist's shop; but she did
not know that.
"Oh, mother! oh!" cried she, pulling her mother's hand.
"Look! look! blue, green, red, yellow, and purple! Oh, mamma,
what beautiful things! Won't you buy some of these?"
Still her mother answered as before, "What use would they be to
me, Rosamond?"
"You might put flowers in them, mamma, and they would look
so pretty on the chimney-piece. I wish I had one of them."
"You have a flower-vase," said her mother; "and that is not for
flowers."
"But I could use it for a flower-vase, mamma, you know."
"Perhaps if you were to see it nearer, if you were to examine it,
you might be disappointed."
"No, indeed; I'm sure I should not. I should like it exceedingly."
Rosamond kept her head turned to look at the purple vase till she
could see it no longer.
"Then, mother," said she, after a pause, "perhaps you have no
money."
"Yes, I have."
"Dear me! if I had money, I would buy roses, and boxes, and
purple flower-pots, and everything." Rosamond was obliged to
pause in the midst of her speech.
"Oh, mamma, would you stop a minute for me? I have got a
stone in my shoe; it hurts me very much."
"How comes there to be a stone in your shoe?"
"Because of this great hole, mamma--it comes in there: my
shoes are quite worn out; I wish you'd be so very good as to give me
another pair."
"Nay, Rosamond, but I have not money enough to buy shoes,
and flower-pots, and boxes, and everything."
Rosamond thought that was a great pity. But now her foot, which
had been hurt by the stone, began to give her so much pain that she
was obliged to hop every other step, and she could think of nothing
else. They came to a shoemaker's shop soon afterwards.
"There! there! mamma, there are shoes--there are little shoes
that would just fit me; and you know shoes would be really of use
to me."
"Yes, so they would, Rosamond. Come in."
She followed her mother into the shop.
Mr. Sole, the shoemaker, had a great many customers, and his
shop was full, so they were obliged to wait.
"Well, Rosamond," said her mother, "you don't think this shop
so pretty as the rest?"
"No, not nearly; it's black and dark, and there are nothing but
shoes all round; and besides, there's a very disagreeable smell."
"That smell is the smell of new leather."
"Is it? Oh!" said Rosamond, looking round, "there is a pair
of little shoes; they'll just fit me, I'm sure."
"Perhaps they might, but you cannot be sure till you have tried
them on, any more than you can be quite sure that you should like
the purple vase _exceedingly_, till you have examined it more
attentively."
"Why, I don't know about the shoes, certainly, till I've tried; but,
mamma, I'm quite sure I should like the flower-pot."
"Well, which would you rather have, that jar, or a pair of shoes?
I will buy either for you."
"Dear mamma, thank you--but if you could buy both?"
"No, not both."
"Then the jar, if you please."
"But I should tell you that I shall not give you another pair of
shoes this month."
"This month! that's a very long time indeed. You can't think
how these hurt me. I believe I'd better have the new shoes--but
yet, that purple flower-pot--Oh, indeed, mamma, these shoes are
not so very, very bad; I think I might wear them a little longer;
and the month will soon be over: I can make them last to the end of
the month, can't I? Don't you think so, mamma?"
"Nay, my dear, I want you to think for yourself: you will have
time enough to consider about it whilst I speak to Mr. Sole about my
boots."
Mr. Sole was by this time at leisure; and whilst her mother was
speaking to him, Rosamond stood in profound meditation, with one
shoe on, and the other in her hand.
"Well, my dear, have you decided?"
"Mamma!--yes--I believe. If you please--I should like the
flower-pot; that is, if you won't think me very silly, mamma."
"Why, as to that, I can't promise you, Rosamond; but when you
are to judge for yourself, you should choose what will make you the
happiest; and then it would not signify who thought you silly."
"Then, mamma, if that's all, I'm sure the flower-pot would make
me the happiest," said she, putting on her old shoe again; "so I
choose the flower-pot."
"Very well, you shall have it: clasp your shoe and come home."
Rosamond clasped her shoe, and ran after her mother: it was not
long before the shoe came down at the heel, and many times was she
obliged to stop, to take the stones out of her shoe, and often was
she obliged to hop with pain; but still the thoughts of the purple
flower-pot prevailed, and she persisted in her choice.
When they came to the shop with the large window, Rosamond
felt her joy redouble, upon hearing her mother desire the servant,
who was with them, to buy the purple jar, and bring it home. He
had other commissions, so he did not return with them. Rosamond,
as soon as she got in, ran to gather all her own flowers, which she
had in a corner of her mother's garden.
"I'm afraid they'll be dead before the flower-pot comes, Rosamond,"
said her mother to her, when she was coming in with the
flowers in her lap.
"No, indeed, mamma, it will come home very soon, I dare say;
and shan't I be very happy putting them into the purple flower-pot?"
"I hope so, my dear."
The servant was much longer returning home than Rosamond had expected;
but at length he came, and brought with him the long-wished-for jar.
The moment it was set down upon the table, Rosamond ran up with an
exclamation of joy.
"I may have it now, mamma?"
"Yes, my dear, it is yours."
Rosamond poured the flowers from her lap upon the carpet, and
seized the purple flower-pot. "Oh, dear mother!" cried she, as
soon as she had taken off the top, "but there's something dark in it
--it smells very disagreeable: what is in it? I didn't want this
black stuff."
"Nor I neither, my dear."
"But what shall I do with it, mamma?"
"That I cannot tell."
"But it will be of no use to me, mamma."
"That I can't help."
"But I must pour it out, and fill the flower-pot with water."
"That's as you please, my dear."
"Will you lend me a bowl to pour it into, mamma?"
"That was more than I promised you, my dear; but I will lend
you a bowl."
The bowl was produced, and Rosamond proceeded to empty the
purple vase. But what was her surprise and disappointment, when it
was entirely empty, to find that it was no longer a _purple_ vase!
It was a plain white glass jar, which had appeared to have that
beautiful color merely from the liquor with which it had been filled.
Little Rosamond burst into tears.
"Why should you cry, my dear?" said her mother; "it will be
of as much use to you now as ever for a flower-vase."
"But it won't look so pretty on the chimney-piece. I am sure, if I
had known that it was not really purple, I should not have wished
to have it so much."
"But didn't I tell you that you had not examined it, and that
perhaps you would be disappointed?"
"And so I am disappointed indeed. I wish I had believed you
beforehand. Now I had much rather have the shoes, for I shall not
be able to walk all this month: even walking home that little way
hurt me exceedingly. Mamma, I'll give you the flower-pot back
again, and that purple stuff and all, if you'll only give me the
shoes."
"No, Rosamond, you must abide by your own choice; and now the
best thing you can possibly do is to bear your disappointment with
good-humor."
"I will bear it as well as I can," said Rosamond, wiping her eyes,
and she began slowly and sorrowfully to fill the vase with flowers.
But Rosamond's disappointment did not end here: many were the
difficulties and distresses into which her imprudent choice brought
her before the end of the month. Every day her shoes grew worse
and worse, till at last she could neither run, dance, jump, nor walk
in them. Whenever Rosamond was called to see anything, she was
pulling up her shoes at the heels, and was sure to be too late. Whenever
her mother was going out to walk, she could not take Rosamond
with her, for Rosamond had no soles to her shoes; and at
length, on the very last day of the month, it happened that her father
proposed to take her and her brother to a glass-house which she had
long wished to see. She was very happy; but, when she was quite
ready, had her hat and gloves on, and was making haste downstairs
to her brother and father, who were waiting at the hall door for her,
the shoe dropped off; she put it on again in a great hurry; but, as
she was going across the hall, her father turned round.
"Why are you walking slipshod? no one must walk slipshod with
me. Why, Rosamond," said he, looking at her shoes with disgust,
"I thought that you were always neat. Go, I cannot take you with
me."
Rosamond colored and retired. "Oh, mamma," said she, as she
took off her hat, "how I wish that I had chosen the shoes! they
would have been of so much more use to me than that jar: however,
I am sure--no, not quite sure--but I hope I shall be wiser another
time."
More
-
THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY.
Jesus had been preaching to a crowd of publicans and sinners. The publicans of those days were the collectors of taxes for the Romans, and it was a constant complaint against them that they exacted more from the people than they had any right to d... THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS.
One day Jesus came with His disciples in a boat to the country of the Gadarenes, near Galilee. They landed near the tombs, that is, caverns cut into the rock, where the dead were buried. And there met them a man, who, for a long time, had been pos... THE MERMAID
Far out at sea the water is as blue as the bluest cornflower, and as clear as the clearest crystal; but it is very deep, too deep for any cable to fathom, and if many steeples were piled on the top of one another they would not reach from the bed ... THE MUSIC OF YOUR VOICE
A vase upon the mantelpiece, A ship upon the sea, A goat upon a mountain-top Are much the same to me; But when you mention melon jam, Or picnics by the creek, Or apple pies, or pantomimes, I love to hear you speak. The date of Mag... THE NEW LIFE
It is May,--almost the end of May, indeed, and the Mayflowers have finished their blooming for this year. It is growing too warm for those delicate violets and hepaticas who dare to brave even March winds, and can bear snow better than summer heat... THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS.
'Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the house Not a creature was stirring--excepting a mouse. The stockings were flung in haste over the chair, For hopes of St. Nicholas were no longer there. The children were restlessly to... THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled a... THE NIGHTINGALE
<table><tr><td><img src="/images/plate09-th.jpg" alt=""></td> <td>Among these trees lived a nightingale, which sang so deliciously, that even the poor fisherman, who had plenty of other things to do, lay still to listen to it, when he was out at nig... THE NIGHTINGALE
A long, long time ago, as long ago as when there were fairies, there lived an emperor in China, who had a most beautiful palace, all made of crystal. Outside the palace was the loveliest garden in the whole world, and farther away was a forest whe... THE NOBLE NATURE
Ben Jonson It is not growing like a tree In bulk, doth make men better be, Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere: A lily of a day, Is fairer far, in May, Although it fall and die that nig... THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG
Joseph Jacobs An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I will go to market, and buy a little pig." As she was coming home, she came to a stile: but ... THE OTTERS AND THE WOLF
One day a Wolf said to her mate, "A longing has come upon me to eat fresh fish." "I will go and get some for you," said he and he went down to the river. There he saw two Otters standing on the bank looking for fish. Soon one of the Otters s... THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat: They took some honey, and plenty of money Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my... THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.
Christ said that the kingdom of heaven could be likened unto leaven (or yeast), which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till the whole was leavened. Now, this leaven, or yeast, is composed of tiny little plants, each one so small... THE PARABLE OF THE NET.
These fishermen have just returned to shore with their net full of fish. Now this is not a casting-net, which is thrown out from the boat and drawn in again, but a drag-net which is of great length, and which is drawn constantly through the water ... THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
One day Jesus told His disciples this parable or story. A certain nobleman was called away to a far country to be appointed king of it, and to return after a time. And he called his servants unto him, and charged them with the care of his goods ... THE PARTRIDGE AND THE CROW
A Crow flying across a road saw a Partridge strutting along the ground. "What a beautiful gait that Partridge has!" said the Crow. "I must try to see if I can walk like him." She alighted behind the Partridge and tried for a long time to lea... THE PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN.
Having wandered for forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites drew near to the river Jordan, at a place opposite Jericho. Moses was dead, and Joshua was now the leader of the host. God told him that the time had come when the people of Israel ... THE PEACESTEAD
When Odin came back to Asgard, Hermod took the bridle from his father's hand and told him that the rest of the Aesir were gone to the Peacestead--a broad, green plain which lay just outside the city. This was the playground of the Aesir, where the... THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.
Very similar to the parable of the Hidden Treasure is this one of the merchant seeking goodly pearls. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all th... THE PENNY-WISE MONKEY
Once upon a time the king of a large and rich country gathered together his army to take a faraway little country. The king and his soldiers marched all morning long and then went into camp in the forest. When they fed the horses they gave them... THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.
The tax-gatherers in those days were called Publicans. They were reputed to be very unjust, exacting from people more than the law required them to pay, and other wickedness was charged against them. Of course, there were good men among them; St. ... THE PHILANTHROPIST'S CHRISTMAS
"Did you see this committee yesterday, Mr. Mathews?" asked the philanthropist. His secretary looked up. "Yes, sir." "You recommend them then?" "Yes, sir." "For fifty thousand?" "For fifty thousand--yes, sir." "Their correspond... THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER.
Paul and Silas were in prison. They had done no wrong, but wicked men had taken them before the magistrates; and the magistrates had caused them to be severely beaten, and afterwards had sent them to prison, where they were securely fastened in an... THE PHILOSOPHER IN THE APPLE ORCHARD
It was a charmingly mild and balmy day. The sun shone beyond the orchard, and the shade was cool inside. A light breeze stirred the boughs of the old apple-tree under which the philosopher sat. None of these things did the philosopher no... THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN TOWN
Once I made a pleasure trip to a country called Germany; and I went to a funny little town, where all the streets ran uphill. At the top there was a big mountain, steep like the roof of a house, and at the bottom there was a big river, broad and slo... THE PIEMAN
I'd like to be a pieman, and ring a little bell, Calling out, "Hot pies! Hot pies to sell!" Apple-pies and Meat-pies, Cherry-pies as well, Lots and lots and lots of pies--more than you can tell. Big, rich Pork-pies! Oh, the lovely smell! But I ... THE PIG BROTHER
There was once a child who was untidy. He left his books on the floor, and his muddy shoes on the table; he put his fingers in the jam pots, and spilled ink on his best pinafore; there was really no end to his untidiness. One day the Tidy Angel c... THE PORTER
I'd like to be a porter, and always on the run, Calling out, "Stand aside!" and asking leave of none. Shoving trucks on people's toes, and having splendid fun, Slamming all the carriage doors and locking every one-- And, when they asked to be let i... THE POSTMAN
I'd like to be a postman, and walk along the street, Calling out, "Good Morning, Sir," to gentlemen I meet, Ringing every door-bell all along my beat, In my cap and uniform so very nice and neat. Perhaps I'd have a parasol in case of rain or heat; ... THE PRODIGAL SON.
A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of thy wealth that would fall to me at thy death." He did so, and a few days after the younger son gathered all his wealth together and journeyed ... THE PROFESSOR AND THE AZTEC.
Fortunately for all concerned, there proved to be no serious difficulty attached to that same holding. So far as outward semblance went, Ixtli was very well content with both present quarters and present companionship. He likewise enjoyed the su... THE PROFESSOR'S GREAT ANTICIPATIONS.
A stretch and a yawn, which in Waldo's case ended in a prolonged howl, which would not have disgraced either of their four-footed visitors of the past evening, then the brothers Gillespie sprung forth from the flying-machine, entering upon a race fo... THE PROFESSOR'S LITTLE EXPERIMENT.
Again those involuntary riders of the tornado were tossed violently to and fro in their seemingly frail ship, while the balloon itself appeared threatened with instant dissolution, those eddying currents growing broken and far less regular in actio... THE PROFESSOR'S UNKNOWN LAND.
There was neither time nor opportunity for taking notes, for that long rope straightened out in the fraction of a second, throwing all prostrate as the flying-machine was jerked upward with awful force. All around them raged and roared the mighty... THE PUBLISHER
I'd like to be a publisher, And publish massive tomes Written in a massive style by blokes with massive domes-- Science books, and histories of Egypt's day and Rome's, Books of psycho-surgery to mine the minds of momes, And solemn pseudo-psychic st... THE PURPLE JAR
Maria Edgeworth Rosamond, a little girl of about seven years old, was walking with her mother in the streets of London. As she passed along, she looked in at the windows of several shops, and she saw a great variety of different sorts of thin... THE QUEEREST CHRISTMAS
Betty stood at her door, gazing drearily down the long, empty corridor in which the breakfast gong echoed mournfully. All the usual brisk scenes of that hour, groups of girls in Peter Thomson suits or starched shirt-waists, or a pair of energeti... THE QUERN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
Peter Christen Asbjørnsen Once upon a time in the old, old days there were two brothers, one of whom was rich and the other poor. When Christmas Eve came the poor brother had not a morsel in the house, neither of meat nor bread; and so he went... THE RAINDROPS' NEW DRESSES.
"We're so tired of these gray dresses!" Cried the little drops of rain, As they came down helter-skelter From the Nimbus cloud fast train. And they bobbed against each other In a spiteful sort of way, Just like children when bad temper Gets th... THE RAT PRINCESS
Once upon a time, there was a Rat Princess, who lived with her father, the Rat King, and her mother, the Rat Queen, in a ricefield in far away Japan. The Rat Princess was so pretty that her father and mother were quite foolishly proud of her, an... THE REAL PRINCESS
There was once a prince, and he wanted a princess, but then she must be a _real_ Princess. He travelled right round the world to find one, but there was always something wrong. There were plenty of princesses, but whether they were real princesses... THE RED APPLES.
One windy day in March Kitty Miller was on her way to school, when she spied in a store window, a great pile of lovely red apples. "Oh", she said, "how lovely! if Mamma could only have one!" Kittie's mother was very poor. She had been a dress-m... THE RED-BUD TREE
Once upon a time four young princes heard a story about a certain wonderful tree, called the Red-Bud Tree. No one of them had ever seen a Red-Bud Tree, and each prince wished to be the first to see one. So the eldest prince asked the driver of the... THE REVENGE A BALLAD OF THE FLEET
Alfred Tennyson I At Flores in the Azores Sir Richard Grenville lay, And a pinnace, like a flutter'd bird, came flying from far away: "Spanish ships of war at sea! we have sighted fifty-three!" Then sware Lord Thomas Howard: "'Fore God I am ... THE RHODORA ON BEING ASKED, WHENCE IS THE FLOWER?
Ralph Waldo Emerson In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes, I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods, Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook, To please the desert and the sluggish brook. The purple petals, fallen in the pool, Made... THE RICH FOOL.
There was a certain rich man who owned much land. And his fields and vineyards were so productive that when the time of harvest came, he had not room enough to store his corn and fruits. So after much thought he said, "This will I do. I will pull ... THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.
There was a certain rich man who was clothed in rich silks and fine linen, and feasted on costly food each day. There was also a poor beggar, who was ragged and hungry, and covered with sores. His name was Lazarus, and they laid him at the rich ma... THE RIVULET
Run, little rivulet, run! Summer is fairly begun. Bear to the meadow the hymn of the pines, And the echo that rings where the waterfall shines; Run, little rivulet, run! Run, little rivulet, run! Sing to the fields of the sun That ... THE SAILOR
I'd like to be a sailor--a sailor bold and bluff-- Calling out, "Ship ahoy!" in manly tones and gruff. I'd learn to box the compass, and to reef and tack and luff; I'd sniff and snifff the briny breeze and never get enough. Perhaps I'd chew tobacco... THE SAILOR MAN
Once upon a time, two children came to the house of a sailor man, who lived beside the salt sea; and they found the sailor man sitting in his doorway knotting ropes. "How do you do?" asked the sailor man. "We are very well, thank you," said... THE SHEPHERD'S BOY
A certain Shepherd's Boy kept his sheep upon a common, and in sport and wantonness would often cry out, "The wolf! the wolf!" By this means he several times drew the husbandmen in an adjoining field from their work; who, finding themselves deluded... THE SHEPHERD'S SONG
David had many fierce battles to fight for King Saul against the enemies of Israel, and he won them all. Then, later, he had to fight against the king's own soldiers, to save himself, for King Saul grew wickedly jealous of David's fame as a soldie... THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS
And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel sai... THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON.
Many interesting stories are told in the Bible, few of which are more touching than that of Elisha the prophet, and the Shunammite woman. This story we find in the fourth chapter of the Second Book of Kings. We read of the prophet journeying to ... THE SILHOUETTE PARTY
"Children," said Grandpa, one afternoon, "I am going to build a bonfire this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a silhouette party." "Why, what is a silhouette party?" asked Lucy, opening her eyes very wide. "I know," said Ralph... THE SISTERS
Sing me a song-- What shall I sing?-- Three merry sisters Dancing in a ring, Light and fleet upon their feet As birds upon the wing. Tell me a tale-- What shall I tell?-- Two mournful sisters, And a tolling knell, Tolling ding a... THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Once upon a time there was a king and queen who for a very long time had no children, and when at length a little daughter was born to them they were so pleased that they gave a christening feast to which they invited a number of fairies. But, unf... THE SNOW BIRDS.
It had snowed very hard. Ralph and Edward, who were visiting Grandma in the country, had to stay in the house all day. When they went to bed it was still snowing, and every time they woke up during the night, they could hear the wind sighing and ... THE SONG OF THE SULKY STOCKMAN
Come, let us sing with a right good ring (Sing hey for lifting lay, sing hey!) Of any old, sunny old, silly old thing. (Sing ho for the ballad of a backblock day!) The sun shone brightly overhead, And the shearers stood by the shearing shed;... THE SPOTTED HEIFERS
Mr Jeremiah Jeffers Owned a pair of spotted heifers These he sold for two pounds ten To Mr Robert Raymond Wren Who reared them in the lucerne paddocks Owned by Mr Martin Maddox, And sold them, when they grew to cows, To Mr Donald David Dowse. ... THE STAR
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. ... THE STAR DOLLARS
There was once a little girl who was very, very poor. Her father and mother had died, and at last she had no little room to stay in, and no little bed to sleep in, and nothing more to eat except one piece of bread. So she said a prayer, put on her l... THE STOLEN PLOW
At one time there were two traders who were great friends. One of them lived in a small village, and one lived in a large town near-by. One day the village trader took his plow to the large town to have it mended. Then he left it with the trader... THE STORY OF A BROKEN LIFE.
This was the idea that occurred to both uncle and nephews, but they had seen and heard enough to excuse all that, and Professor Featherwit spoke again, in mildly curious tones: "Sorry I am unable to give you better tidings, my good friend, but, s... THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS
There was once a nation which was very powerful, very fortunate, and very proud. Its lands were fruitful; its armies were victorious in battle; and it had strong kings, wise lawgivers, and great poets. But after a great many years, everything change... THE STORY OF EPAMINONDAS AND HIS AUNTIE
Epaminondas used to go to see his Auntie 'most every day, and she nearly always gave him something to take home to his Mammy. One day she gave him a big piece of cake; nice, yellow, rich gold-cake. Epaminondas took it in his fist and held it a... THE STORY OF JAIRUS'S DAUGHTER
Once, while Jesus was journeying about, He passed near a town where a man named Jairus lived. This man was a ruler in the synagogue, and he had just one little daughter about twelve years of age. At the time that Jesus was there the little daugh... THE STORY OF JOSEPH
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and wi... THE STORY OF LITTLE BLACK MINGO
Once upon a time there was a little black girl, and her name was Little Black Mingo. She had no father and mother, so she had to live with a horrid cross old woman called Black Noggy, who used to scold her every day, and sometimes beat he... THE STORY OF LITTLE BLACK SAMBO
Prefix There is very little to say about the story of LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. Once upon a time there was an English lady in India, where black children abound and tigers are everyday affairs, who had two little girls. To amuse these little girls sh... THE STORY OF LITTLE TAVWOTS
This is the story an Indian woman told a little white boy who lived with his father and mother near the Indians' country; and Tavwots is the name of the little rabbit. But once, long ago, Tavwots was not little,--he was the largest of all four-fo...