Page images
PDF
EPUB

are my master's. If any are lost, I should be as much to blame as if I had taken them."

"If you will not show me the way will you get me a guide? I will take care of your sheep while you are gone."

Then

"No," said Hans, "I can not do that. The sheep do not know your voice, and-" he stopped.

"Can't you trust me?" asked the hunter. "No," said Hans. "You have tried to make

me break my word to my master.

How do I

know that you would keep your word?"

The hunter laughed. "You are right," said he. "I wish I could trust my servants as your master can trust you. Show me the path. I will try to get to the village alone."

II

As the hunter was speaking, several men róde out of the wood. They gave a cry of joy. "O, sir!" cried one, "we thought you were lost."

To his great surprise Hans learned that the

hunter was the prince. He was afraid that the great man would be angry with him. But the prince smiled and spoke in praise of him.

A few days later a servant came from the prince and took Hans to the palace. "Hans," said the prince, "I want you to leave your sheep to come and serve me. I know you are a boy whom I can trust."

Hans was very happy over his good fortune.

"If

my master can find another boy to take my place, then I will come and serve you."

And Hans went back and tended the sheep until his master found another boy. After that he served the prince many years.

As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives;
Every wife had seven sacks,
Every sack had seven cats,
Every cat had seven kits:

Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,

How many were there going to St. Ives?

AUTUMN FIRES

BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

In the other gardens
And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

[blocks in formation]

A hungry fox saw a bunch of fine grapes hanging high on a wall. He jumped to get them but they were too high for him. muttered as he went away.

"Sour grapes," he

Æsop.

THE BELL OF ATRI

RETOLD FROM LONGFELLOW

I

It is a beautiful spring morning. The sun shines and white clouds float in the blue sky.

In the little town of Atri roses are blooming in the gardens. Children play in the streets. Everything is happy.

The sweet tones of a silver horn are heard. "It is the King!" cry the children.

Yes, it is the King, good King John whom every one loves. See, he rides upon his white horse with two knights beside him.

Again the silver horn is heard. Doors open and people fill the streets. They follow to the

market-place.

The King halts under a stone porch. The people come close to listen.

66

'Ding, dong!" rings a great new bell from the porch. The King is pulling the rope himself.

The silver horn is heard again. The King

66

speaks: 'My people, this bell is for you. When any one has done you a wrong, come ring the bell. You shall have justice."

"Long live the King!" shout the people. "Long live good King John!"

II

It is a hot summer afternoon three years later. The sun beats upon the market-place.

All the houses are closed to keep out the heat. No one is to be seen in the streets.

The bell still hangs in the stone porch. The end of the rope has worn away, but a grape-vine has been tied to it.

"Ding, dong!" it suddenly rings.

Good King John wakens from a nap.

that the Bell of Justice?" he asks.

"Was

Yes, there it is again. "Ding, dong! Some one hath done a wrong, hath done a wrong."

66

Bring my horse!" cries the King, and he rides to the market-place. The people follow.

Before he reaches the stone porch, what does

« PreviousContinue »