"Then you must be cured, " said the Chief Doctor. And he called downstairs to the footmen, "Bring dinner for their Highnesses quickly, and with plenty of treacle tart. "by H. WaddinGham Seers
About the Author.-H. WaddinGham Seers is an English writer of short stories for children. His books include Gingerbread Jane (from which this story is taken), Peter Perkin"s Puppets, Timothy Tick-tock; and Little Nature Stories.
About the Story.-This is a "talking" story, with much conversation. Do you like stories that are written in this way? Make a little play out of the story. Why not build a puppet theatre? This would make a good puppet play.
Lesson 4
HIST!
First Child-
Hist! .......Hark! The night is very dark,
And we"ve to go a mile or so Across the Possum Park.
Step .......light, Keeping to the right;
If we delay, and lose our way, We"ll be out half the night.
The clouds are low and gloomy.Oh! It"s just begun to mist!
We haven"t any overcoats And-
Sccond Child-Hist!.......Hist!
Mopoke-Mo .......poke!
Second Child-
Who was that that spoke? This is not a fitting spot To make a silly joke.
Dear .......me ! A mopoke in a tree!
It jarred me so, I didn"t know Whatever it could be.
But come along; creep along; Soon we shall be missed.
They"ll get a scare and wonder where We-
First Child-
Hush ! .......Hist !
Ssh! .......Soft! I"ve told you oft and oft
We should not stray so far away Without a moon aloft.
Cat-Oo ! .......Scat !
First Child-
Goodness! What was that?
Upon my word, it"s quite absurd, It"s only just a cat.
But come along; haste along; Soon we"ll have to rush,Or we"ll be late, and find the gate
Is-
Second Child-Hist ! .......Hush !
Frog-Kok .......Korrock !
Second Child-
Oh! I"ve had a shock!
I hope and trust it"s only just A frog behind a rock.
Shoo! .......Shoo! We"ve had enough of you;
Scaring folks just for a joke Is not the thing to do.
But come along, slip along- Isn"t it a lark
Just to roam so far from home On-
First Child-
Hist! .......Hark!
Look! .......See !
Shining through the tree,
The window-light is glowing bright To welcome you and me.
Shout! .......Shout! There"s some one round about,And through the door I see some more, And supper all laid out.
Both together-
Now, run, run, run! ....... Oh, we"ve had such splendid fun-Through the park, in the dark, As brave as anyone.
Laughed we did, and chaffed we did, And whistled all the way,And we"re home again! Home again!
Hip .......Hooray !
Arranged for verse-speaking from a poem by C. J. DennisAbout the Author.-C. J. Dennis (1876-1938) was born in South Australia and went to school there. He became a writer and wrote for newspapers in different parts of Australia. For many years before his death he lived in Toolangi, near Healesville. He wrote many stories and verses for children and for grown-ups. Now is the time to read his children"s book Roundabout; in a few years" time you will enjoy his "grown-up" books of verse- The Sentimental Bloke, Ginger Mick, and The Glugs of Gosh.
About the Poem.-Every boy and girl will know just how these two children felt. Think of some other titles for the poem. Why is "Hist!" better than any of your titles? There is a change of feeling in the poem; where does it occur?
Suggestions for Verse-speaking.-Beat time as you practise saying the poem; there are two beats to each line, even to the lines with two words. Can you walk to the rhythm? Draw a long, curving line on the schoolroom floor or on the ground; suppose that is the path through the park. Place the "mopoke", the "cat", and the "frog" along the path and let two children walk through the "park" and act the parts as they say the poem.
Lesson 5
THE LAD WHO WENT TO THE NORTH WIND
Once upon a time there was an old widow who had one son, and, as she was ill, her son had to go up into the barn to fetch meal for cooking. But, just as he was going down the steps of the barn, the North Wind came puffing and blowing, caught up the meal, and took it away through the air.
Then the lad went back into the barn for more; but,when he came out again on the steps, the North Wind came again and carried off the meal with a puff; more than that, he did so the third time.
This made the boy very angry. So off he went to the North Wind"s house. The way was long, but at last he came to his journey"s end.
"Good day, " said the lad, "and thank you for coming to see us yesterday. ""GOOD DAY! " answered the North Wind, for his voice was loud and gruff, "AND THANKS FOR COMING TO SEE ME. WHAT DO YOU WANT? ""Oh, " answered the lad, "I only wished to ask you to be so good as to let me have back that meal you took from me on the barn steps, for we haven"t much to live on. ""I haven"t your meal, " said the North Wind. "But if you are in such need I"ll give you a cloth which will get you everything you want. All you have to say is, "Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes!" "The lad took the cloth and set off for home. But, as the way was so long, he couldn"t get home in one day, so he stopped at an inn on the way. When they were going to sit down to supper, he laid the cloth on a table which stood in the corner and said: "Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes ! "He had scarcely said so before the cloth did as it was bid. All who stood by thought it a fine thing, but most of all the landlord. So, when all were fast asleep, at dead of night, he took the lad"s cloth, and put another in its place. It was just like the one the boy had got from the North Wind, but it couldn"t so much as serve up a bit of dry bread. So when the lad awoke he took his cloth and went off with it, and that day he got home to his mother. "Now, " said he, "I"ve been to the North Wind"s house, and a good fellow he is, for he gave me this cloth. I have only to say to it, "Cloth, spread yourself, and serve up all kinds of good dishes." Then I get any sort of food Iplease. "