by Oliver Optic
One night, when the foolish man was keeping watch over his sheep, he sawin the distance an entire pack of wolves coming steadily toward thefold. Instantly he raised a loud cry, "WOLF! WOLF!" and waited for help.
But no help came.
The men heard his cry. but as they did not believe the wolves werereally there, they remained in their beds. One man alone could notdefend himself and his sheep against a pack of hungry wolves. So, nextmorning, he was found badly injured, and the sheep were gone. Everyonewas sorry for the man, but all knew he could blame only himself. He hadcried "wolf!" too often, when there was no wolf there, and so he was notbelieved when the wolf came at last.
"Johnnie Jones," said Mother, when she had finished the story, "you havecried so often when there was no reason for crying, that this one timewhen you cried because you were really hurt, no one believed you. I amvery sorry for you, little son, but don't you see that it was no one'sfault but your own?"
* * * * *
Johnnie Jones's Birthday Party
A few days before Johnnie Jones's fifth birthday, Mother asked him whathe would like to have for a birthday present.
"A party," he answered immediately, "and I want to invite all thechildren who live on this street."
"Very well," Mother said, "we'll write the invitations now, on your ownnote paper."
Johnnie Jones gave her a joyful hug, and ran to his desk for the paper.Mother wrote upon every sheet: "Johnnie Jones will be very glad to haveyou come to his birthday party, Saturday afternoon, from three untilfive o'clock." She addressed an envelope to each one of his playmates,and Johnnie Jones stamped, sealed and mailed the invitations as soon asthey were written.
Next day the postman brought the answers. The children accepted with agreat deal of pleasure.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday seemed very long days to impatientJohnnie Jones.
"I sometimes think," he said to Mother, "that Saturday isn't coming thisweek."
But, when he awoke one morning, Saturday had come at last, and the partywas to be that very day.
While Mother was helping him to dress in his party clothes, she said:"Remember to make everyone glad that he came to your party, and to playwhatever the children wish, even if they do not choose your favoritegames."
He promised to remember, and as soon as he was dressed, ran to thewindow to watch for his guests. He did not have long to wait before theybegan to arrive.
As soon as the children had removed their hats and coats, Johnnie Jonesled them to a long kindergarten table, which Mother had borrowed. Eachchild sat down in a small red chair, and made a necklace of coloredbeads, which was soon finished and tied about his neck.
When all the children had arrived and all the necklaces were finished,the boys and girls gathered in the long hall, where Johnnie Jones'sroller coaster was ready for them. Each child had three rides, andenjoyed them all, for the hall was unusually long, and with a goodstart, one could go to the end of it, almost as fast as the lightningflashes.
Of course, Johnnie Jones had his three rides after the others, becausehe was the host, and the children his guests.
"Now we may go to the parlor for our games," he said as he led thechildren down the front stairway.
The parlor was large, so there was room enough for the children to runfreely about. They played "Drop the Handkerchief," and "Blind-Man'sBuff," and "Going to Jerusalem," until they were tired and ready for amore quiet game. Johnnie Jones let the others choose the games, and hewatched that every child had a chance to play.
After the children had rested a moment, Mother invited them to marchup-stairs again, for the "real" party. Johnnie Jones's auntie played thepiano for them, and the children formed in line and marched to the roomin which they had made the necklaces.
The same kindergarten table was there, and in the same place, but no onewould ever have known it, for it had been covered with a white tablecloth, and on it were vases of lovely pink roses, and dishes full ofpink and white peppermint candy. Exactly in the centre was a largebirthday cake with five pink candles, and every one of them lighted.At each place was a dish of ice cream in the form of a pink and whiteflower, though no flower ever had so sweet a taste.
At each place there was something else. There was a tiny automobiledelivery wagon, with a queer little doll chauffeur, and inside it werebundles of candy. These were to be taken home, Mother said, and no onewas to open the bundles at the party. Of course no one did. Besides allof these things, there were two paper bon-bons for each child, one toopen at the party, and one to take home.
The children were hungry after their games, and for a while they werevery quiet. When they had finished their ice cream, however, and hadeaten a piece of the birthday cake, with good wishes for Johnnie Jones,they began to pull the bon-bons apart. Then there was noise enough, forthe bon-bons cracked and popped, and that made the children laugh.
All, that is, except one small girl who was afraid. She was sitting nextto Johnnie Jones, and she asked him to open his bon-bon without pullingit apart. Johnnie Jones liked to hear the popping sound, and he couldnot help thinking that Susie was foolish to object to it, but heremembered that he must make everyone happy at his party, so he did ashis little neighbor asked.
Five o'clock came all too soon, and then it was time for the childrento return to their homes. When they were ready in their coats and hats,they bade Mother and Johnnie Jones good-by. "Thank you for the good timewe have had," they said, as they turned their happy faces homeward,wearing the necklaces and carrying the bon-bons and automobiles.
When everyone had gone, Mother held tired, happy little Johnnie Jones onher lap.
"Did you enjoy your party?" she asked him.
"Yes, Mother dear," he answered. "I had a good time, and all thechildren had a good time, and it was a beautiful party."
"It was a beautiful party," Mother agreed, "and I'll tell you why. Itwas because both you and I did all in our power to make our companyhappy. I am very glad," she added, "that Johnnie Jones is my little boyand that he has enjoyed his birthday."
* * * * *
The Sleeping Beauty
In the early spring Mother would always tell this story to JohnnieJones.
Once upon a time there lived the most beautiful princess in the wholeworld. She was so sweet that everyone loved her,--all the grown people,all the children, and even all the animals. She wore such lovely dressesthat everyone who was permitted to see their beauty was filled with joy,and she had a new one every day.
She lived in the most beautiful home in the whole world. The ceiling wasmade of blue sky, the carpet of soft green grass, and the walls wereformed by lofty trees with their branches interlaced. Everywhere wereflowers of different colors, red and yellow and purple. I can't tell youhow lovely it was, or how happy the king, the queen and the beautifulprincess were who lived there.
One day the princess decided to make for herself a dress as white assnow, trimmed with shining pearls and sparkling diamonds. If the queenhad known her intention, she would have forbidden the princess to toucha needle. I will tell you why.
When the princess was a tiny baby, the king and queen had forgotten toask one old fairy lady to the christening. As it happened, she wasn't agood old fairy lady. Perhaps that is why she was forgotten. She came tothe christening without an invitation, which was very rude, and madeherself most disagreeable while she was there. She told the king andqueen that because they had forgotten her, the princess should one dayprick herself with a needle and immediately go to sleep, and that sheshould never awake unless the splendid prince should chance to find her.
Now the princess did not know of this, and she forgot to tell her motherthat she intended to make the dress. That was the cause of all thetrouble.
The princess cut and sewed, and sewed and cut, until the dress wasfinished. Then she laid aside her old gown, of red and brown, anddressed herself in the new one. She was just about to replace the needlein
the workbasket, before showing herself to her mother, when, suddenly,she pricked her finger.
Immediately she sank back on her bed fast asleep. At that very instantthe king and queen fell asleep, too. So did the animals, but the birdsflew away. Even the little flies, who had been buzzing on the walls,went fast asleep. Then it was very still everywhere, because no one wasstirring to make a noise. Even the trees were quiet, for their leaveshad all dropped off, and they seemed to be sleeping too.
They slept a long, long time.
Then, the most splendid prince in all the world approached the palacegate. This prince had wonderful golden hair, and he was clothed entirelyin shining gold. He rode in a chariot so bright that it could be seenfor many miles. His horses were swift and he travelled fast, on hisjourney throughout the world.
When at last he reached the princess's house, he regarded it withwonder.
"How very quiet," he murmured. "Can it be that anyone lives in thisgloomy place?"
He stepped out of his chariot and tiptoed in, through the open door. Hestepped so softly that no one could have heard him, but he shone sobrightly that he made the whole house light.
The splendid prince saw that everybody and everything was fast asleep.
In their rooms he found the king and queen.
At last he came to the room where lying upon her bed was the princess.
Very lovely she was, in her dress as white as snow trimmed with pearlsand diamonds. The prince leaned over to see her better, and he made thediamonds sparkle so brilliantly that if you had been there you wouldhave needed to close your eyes.
"This is the most beautiful princess in all the world," said the prince."I wish she would waken."
Then he kissed her.
Immediately the beautiful princess opened her eyes and looked at theprince. At that same moment the king and queen awoke from their sleep.So did the animals, and all the flowers, and the little buds on thetrees. The flies began to buzz about on the walls, and the birds cameflying back, singing their sweetest songs.
The princess was very happy to be awake again. She attired herself in alovely dress, indeed the loveliest one that she possessed. It was brightgreen, with jewels as clear as the rain drops. Then the king and queenordered a marriage feast, and the beautiful princess married thesplendid prince.
* * * * *
Johnnie Jones and the Butterfly
"Be careful! Don't step on that caterpillar," said Mother.
"Why not?" asked Johnnie Jones. "It's such an ugly caterpillar."
"It can't help being ugly," Mother answered, "and besides some day itwill be a beautiful butterfly."
"Really?" Johnnie Jones asked, much surprised. Then Mother told him astory about a caterpillar and a butterfly.
Once upon a time, a little caterpillar was crawling slowly up a tree."Oh! dear," he said to himself, "I wish I had wings like the birds, andcould fly away to the top of a tree, instead of having to crawl slowlyabout."
A beautiful butterfly was resting a moment near by and heard what thelittle caterpillar said, "How would you like to be a beautiful butterflysuch as I am," she asked him, "and go flying about all day, sippinghoney from the flowers?"
"I should like it very much indeed," he answered, "but you see I am onlyan ugly little caterpillar who can do nothing but crawl, and I have tobe very careful to avoid being stepped upon."
"I'll tell you a lovely secret," Whispered the butterfly. "Next summer you will surely be As beautiful as I,
"Because my gauzy wings you see, Are very, very new. A caterpillar once was I And crawled about like you."
The ugly little caterpillar did not believe the beautiful butterfly. Hejust laughed.
"Oh!" said the lovely butterfly, "All that I say is true. But you can't stay there very long, There's work for you to do.
"To the very top of this big tree You must begin to go, Because all little crawling things, They are so very slow.
"There you must even change your skin Till it becomes dark brown. And you must spin a rope of silk To tie you tightly down.
"You will sleep through the long cold winter, When the icy winds do blow. You will sleep through the long cold winter, When everywhere there's snow.
"But by and by, in the spring-time, How happy you will be! For you will wake and find yourself A butterfly like me!
"Then work on, crawling little thing," Whispered the butterfly, "For winter's coming very fast, And so good-by, good-by."
The little caterpillar thought: "How could I possibly turn into abutterfly? I have seen other caterpillars tie themselves to twigs, butthey always seemed very foolish to me."
However, that little caterpillar wanted more than anything else in theworld to become a butterfly, so he decided to try. He crawled slowlyup the tree until he found a branch that suited him exactly. Then heselected a twig and spun about it a soft resting place of silk. He spuna soft silken loop, too, with which he tied himself to the twig.
Very soon he lost all his bright color, and became as brown as the twigitself. If you had seen him, you would probably have thought he wasnothing but a small brown leaf. When the cold, snowy days came, thelittle caterpillar knew nothing whatever about them, for he was fastasleep.
At last, after a long, long winter, there began to be signs of spring.Soon, soft warm little rain drops began to fall on the chrysalis (forthat is what we call the sleeping caterpillar), whispering: "Spring iscoming and it's time to awake!" Soon, soft warm little sunbeams began todance on the chrysalis, whispering: "Spring is almost here, it is timeto awake!" Soon soft, warm little breezes began to blow the chrysalisabout, whispering: "Spring is here, and it is time to awake!"
Then, at last, the little caterpillar did awake. He slowly broke awayhis old dried skin and the silk fastenings which he had spun so manymonths before, and he crawled out in the sunshine, wet and still drowsyafter his long sleep. After a while he became warm and dry, and wideawake in the bright sunlight, and then, suddenly, he felt that he hadwings! He looked in a rain-drop mirror, and there he saw himself abeautiful butterfly.
Don't you think he must have been very proud and happy, as he spread hiswings and flew away to sip the honey from the flowers, and to play withall the other butterflies, knowing that he would never again have tocrawl about on the ground?
"Oh! Mother dear," said Johnnie Jones, "let's take this caterpillarhome, so I can watch it turn into a butterfly."
Mother considered his idea a good one, so they carried the caterpillarhome on a twig, with many leaves from the tree towards which it had beencrawling. When they reached the house they placed twigs, leaves andcaterpillar in a glass jar, with netting over the top.
"We shall have to give it fresh leaves every day," Mother said, "untilit has eaten enough and goes to sleep. We can watch it carefully throughthis glass jar."
Johnnie Jones knelt down beside the jar and whispered: "Ugly littlecaterpillar, if you will tie yourself to that branch, and change yourskin, and go to sleep, next spring you will wake a beautiful butterfly."
When he spread his wings and flew away--]
Johnnie Jones was sure the caterpillar heard what he said, becauseit went to sleep just as it was told. All winter long the little boywatched it, and one day, in the early spring, really saw it come outa gorgeous butterfly. When it spread its bright wings and flew away,I wonder which was happier, the butterfly or Johnnie Jones.
* * * * *
Mr. and Mrs. Bird and the Baby Birds
"Listen to that bird!" exclaimed Johnnie Jones.
"That is Mr. Bird," Mother answered. "I shall have to tell you a storyabout him and Mrs. Bird and their children."
Once upon a time Mr. Bird felt so happy and gay that he could scarcelybe quiet a single moment. It was spring-time again and he sang beautifulsongs to Mrs. Bird, about the sunshine and soft, sweet air, and aboutthe little home they would make in the old elm
tree. Mrs. Bird wouldlisten for a while to his song and then they would both fly away to findthe twigs and straws with which to build the nest. Very hard indeed thelittle birds worked, for each straw had to be carefully woven, in andout and out and in, so that the nest should be quite firm and round.
As soon as the nest was ready, pretty little Mrs. Bird laid four lovelyblue eggs in it. She knew, and Mr. Bird knew, that there were four babybirds asleep in the eggs, and so they were happier than ever before.
But now Mrs. Bird had to sit on the nest all the day long, to keep theeggs warm. Of course, Mr. Bird had to feed her. He would fly all overthe park, finding good things to eat, and carry them back to drop intoMrs. Bird's mouth. When she was no longer hungry, Mr. Bird would hop toa branch near by, and sing to her.
You may think that Mrs. Bird grew tired of sitting there on the nest dayafter day. You may think Mr. Bird became tired of feeding Mrs. Bird, andof singing to her, day after day. But neither one seemed to grow tiredat all. They just watched and waited, as the days went by.
After a while the little baby birds began to wake up, and one day Mrs.Bird heard a queer scratching sound that made her very glad. The babieswere beginning to break open the shell! Peck! Peck! Peck! Soon a littlehead came out of the shell. Crack! Crack! Crack! and there was a littlebird in the nest for Mr. and Mrs. Bird to love and take care of.
By the time the first pieces of shell had been thrown from the nest,another little bird had broken through. Then came another, and still onemore, until there were four baby birds in the nest, all crying as loudas they could, "Peep! Peep! Peep! please give us something to eat."