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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
from the public well； for that was outside the gate。 And sometimes she
stayed about and let the strange men talk with her； because she liked to
look at their bright silver ornaments。 The Sabine soldiers wore heavy
silver rings and bracelets on their left arms；some wore as many as four or
five。
The soldiers knew she was the daughter of the keeper of the citadel；
and they saw that she had greedy eyes for their ornaments。 So day by day
they talked with her； and showed her their silver rings； and tempted her。
And at last Tarpeia made a bargain； to betray her city to them。 She said she
would unlock the great gate and let them in； IF THEY WOULD GIVE
HER WHAT THEY WORE ON THEIR LEFT ARMS。
The night came。 When it was perfectly dark and still； Tarpeia stole
from her bed； took the great key from its place； and silently unlocked the
gate which protected the city。 Outside； in the dark； stood the soldiers of the
enemy； waiting。 As she opened the gate； the long shadowy files pressed
forward silently； and the Sabines entered the citadel。
As the first man came inside； Tarpeia stretched forth her hand for her
price。 The soldier lifted high his left arm。 〃Take thy reward！〃 he said； and
as he spoke he hurled upon her that which he wore upon it。 Down upon
her head crashed not the silver rings of the soldier； but the great brass
shield he carried in battle！
She sank beneath it； to the ground。
〃Take thy reward；〃 said the next； and his shield rang against the first。
〃Thy reward；〃 said the nextand the next and the nextand the next；
every man wore his shield on his left arm。
So Tarpeia lay buried beneath the reward she had claimed； and the
Sabines marched past her dead body； into the city she had betrayed。
THE BUCKWHEAT＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen。
Down by the river were fields of barley and rye and golden oats。
Wheat grew there； too； and the heaviest and richest ears bent lowest； in
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
humility。 Opposite the corn was a field of buckwheat； but the buckwheat
never bent； it held its head proud and stiff on the stem。
The wise old willow…tree by the river looked down on the fields； and
thought his thoughts。
One day a dreadful storm came。 The field… flowers folded their leaves
together； and bowed their heads。 But the buckwheat stood straight and
proud。
〃Bend your head； as we do；〃 called the field… flowers。
〃I have no need to；〃 said the buckwheat。
〃Bend your head； as we do！〃 warned the golden wheat…ears； 〃the angel
of the storm is coming； he will strike you down。〃
〃I will not bend my head；〃 said the buckwheat。
Then the old willow…tree spoke： 〃Close your flowers and bend your
leaves。 Do not look at the lightning when the cloud bursts。 Even men
cannot do that； the sight of heaven would strike them blind。 Much less can
we who are so inferior to them！〃
〃‘Inferior；' indeed！〃 said the buckwheat。 〃Now I WILL look！〃 And he
looked straight up； while the lightning flashed across the sky。
When the dreadful storm had passed； the flowers and the wheat raised
their drooping heads； clean and refreshed in the pure； sweet air。 The
willow…tree shook the gentle drops from its leaves。
But the buckwheat lay like a weed in the field； scorched black by the
lightning。
THE JUDGMENT OF MIDAS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Old Greek Folk…Stories； by Josephine Preston
Peabody。 （Harrap & Co。 9d。）
The Greek God Pan； the god of the open air； was a great musician。 He
played on a pipe of reeds。 And the sound of his reed…pipe was so sweet
that he grew proud； and believed himself greater than the chief musician
of the gods； Apollo； the son…god。 So he challenged great Apollo to make
better music than he。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
Apollo consented to the test； for he wished to punish Pan's vanity； and
they chose the mountain Tmolus for judge； since no one is so old and wise
as the hills。
When Pan and Apollo came before Tmolus； to play； their followers
came with them； to hear； and one of those who came with Pan was a
mortal named Midas。
First Pan played； he blew on his reed…pipe； and out came a tune so
wild and yet so coaxing that the birds hopped from the trees to get near；
the squirrels came running from their holes； and the very trees swayed as
if they wanted to dance。 The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the melody
tickled their furry little ears。 And Midas thought it the sweetest music in
the world。
Then Apollo rose。 His hair shook drops of light from its curls； his
robes were like the edge of the sunset cloud； in his hands he held a golden
lyre。 And when he touched the strings of the lyre； such music stole upon
the air as never god nor mortal heard before。 The wild creatures of the
wood crouched still as stone； the trees kept every leaf from rustling； earth
and air were silent as a dream。 To hear such music cease was like bidding
farewell to father and mother。
When the charm was broken； the hearers fell at Apollo's feet and
proclaimed the victory his。 All but Midas。 He alone would not admit that
the music was better than Pan's。
〃If thine ears are so dull； mortal；〃 said Apollo； 〃they shall take the
shape that suits them。〃 And he touched the ears of Midas。 And straightway
the dull ears grew long； pointed； and furry； and they turned this way and
that。 They were the ears of an ass！
For a long time Midas managed to hide the tell…tale ears from
everyone； but at last a servant discovered the secret。 He knew he must not
tell； yet he could not bear not to； so one day he went into the meadow；
scooped a little hollow in the turf； and whispered the secret into the earth。
Then he covered it up again； and went away。 But； alas； a bed of reeds
sprang up from the spot； and whispered the secret to the grass。 The grass
told it to the tree…tops； the tree…tops to the little birds； and they cried it all
abroad。
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And to this day； when the wind sets the reeds nodding together； they
whisper； laughing； 〃Midas has the ears of an ass！ Oh； hush； hush！〃
WHY THE SEA IS SALT＇1＇
＇1＇ There are many versions of this tale； in different collections。 This
one is the story which grew up in my mind； about the bare outline related
to me by one of Mrs Rutan's hearers。 What the original teller said； I never
knew； but what the listener felt was clear。 And in this form I have told it a
great many times。
Once there were two brothers。 One was rich； and one was poor； the
rich one was rather mean。 When the Poor Brother used to come to ask for
things it annoyed him； and finally one day he said； 〃There； I'll give it to
you this time； but the next time you want anything； you can go Below for
it！〃
Presently the Poor Brother did want something； and he knew it wasn't
any use to go to his brother； he must go Below for it。 So he went； and he
went； and he went； till he came Below。
It was the queerest place！ There were red and yellow fires burning all
around； and kettles of boiling oil hanging over them； and a queer sort of
men standing round； poking the fires。 There was a Chief Man； he had a
long curly tail that curled up behind； and two ugly little horns just over his
ears； and one foot was very queer indeed。 And as soon as anyone came in
the door； these men would catch him up and put him over one of the fires；
and turn him on a spit。 And then the Chief Man； who was the worst of all；
would come and say； 〃Eh； how do you feel now？ How do you feel now？〃
And of course the poor people screamed and screeched and said； 〃Let us
out！ Let us out！〃 That was just what the Chief Man wanted。
When the Poor Brother came in； they picked him up at once； and put
him over one of the hottest fires； and began to turn him round and