Archive for November, 2011

  • 29 Nov

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    The Turtle and the Lizard

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    A turtle and a big lizard once went to the field of Gotgotapa to steal ginger. When they reached the place the turtle said to the lizard:

    “We must be very still or the man will hear us and come out.”

    But as soon as the lizard tasted the ginger he was so pleased that he said:

    “The ginger of Gotgotapa is very good.”

    “Be still,” said the turtle; but the lizard paid no attention to the warning, and called louder than ever:

    “The ginger of Gotgotapa is very good.”

    Again and again he cried out, until finally the man heard him and came out of the house to catch the robbers.

    The turtle could not run fast, so he lay very still, and the man did not see him. But the lizard ran and the man chased him. When they were out of sight, the turtle went into the house and hid under a cocoanut shell upon which the man used to sit.

    The man ran after the lizard for a long distance, but he could not catch him. After a while he came back to the house and sat down on the shell.

    By and by, the turtle called, “Kook.” The man jumped up and looked all around. Unable to tell where the noise came from, he sat down again,

    A second time the turtle called, and this time the man looked everywhere in the house except under the shell, but could not find the turtle. Again and again the turtle called, and finally the man, realizing that all his attempts were unsuccessful, grew so excited that he died.

    Then the turtle ran out of the house, and he had not gone far before he met the lizard again. They walked along together until they saw some honey in a tree, and the turtle said:

    “I will go first and get some of the honey.”

    The lizard would not wait, but ran ahead, and when he seized the honey, the bees came out and stung him. So he ran back to the turtle for help.

    After a while they came to a bird snare, and the turtle said:

    “That is the silver wire that my grandfather wore about his neck.”

    Then the lizard ran fast to get it first, but he was caught in the snare and was held until the man came and killed him. Then the wise turtle went on alone.

  • 25 Nov

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    How The Fir Tree Became The Christmas Tree

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    This is the story of how the fir tree became the Christmas tree.

    At the time when the Christ Child was born all the people, the animals, and the trees, and plants were very happy. The Child was born to bring peace and happiness to the whole world. People came daily to see the little One, and they always brought gifts with them.

    There were three trees standing near the crypt which saw the people, and they wished that they, too, might give presents to the Christ Child.

    The Palm said: “I will choose my most beautiful leaf, and place it as a fan over the Child.” » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 24 Nov

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    What Christmas Is As We Grow Older

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    Time was, with most of us, when Christmas Day encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and every one around the Christmas fire; and made the little picture shining in our bright young eyes, complete.

    Time came, perhaps, all so soon, when our thoughts over-leaped that narrow boundary; when there was some one (very dear, we thought then, very beautiful, and absolutely perfect) wanting to the fulness of our happiness; when we were wanting too (or we thought so, which did just as well) at the Christmas hearth by which that some one sat; and when we intertwined with every wreath and garland of our life that some one’s name.

    That was the time for the bright visionary Christmases which have long arisen from us to show faintly, after summer rain, in the palest edges of the rainbow! That was the time for the beatified enjoyment of the things that were to be, and never were, and yet the things that were so real in our resolute hope that it would be hard to say, now, what realities achieved since, have been stronger! » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 23 Nov

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    The First Christmas-Tree

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    Two little children were sitting by the fire one cold winter’s night. All at once they heard a timid knock at the door and one ran to open it.

    There, outside in the cold and darkness, stood a child with no shoes upon his feet and clad in thin, ragged garments. He was shivering with cold, and he asked to come in and warm himself.

    “Yes, come in,” cried both the children. “You shall have our place by the fire. Come in.” » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 22 Nov

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    Christmas In The Barn

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    Only two more days and Christmas would be here! It had been snowing hard, and Johnny was standing at the window, looking at the soft, white snow which covered the ground half a foot deep. Presently he heard the noise of wheels coming up the road, and a wagon turned in at the gate and came past the window. Johnny was very curious to know what the wagon could be bringing. He pressed his little nose close to the cold window pane, and to his great surprise, saw two large Christmas-trees. Johnny wondered why there were TWO trees, and turned quickly to run and tell mamma all about it; but then remembered that mamma was not at home. She had gone to the city to buy some Christmas presents and would not return until quite late. Johnny began to feel that his toes and fingers had grown quite cold from standing at the window so long; so he drew his own little chair up to the cheerful grate fire and sat there quietly thinking. Pussy, who had been curled up like a little bundle of wool, in the very warmest corner, jumped up, and, going to Johnny, rubbed her head against his knee to attract his attention. He patted her gently and began to talk to her about what was in his thoughts.

    He had been puzzling over the TWO trees which had come, and at last had made up his mind about them. “I know now, Pussy,” said he, “why there are two trees. This morning when I kissed Papa good-bye at the gate he said he was going to buy one for me, and mamma, who was busy in the house, did not hear him say so; and I am sure she must have bought the other. But what shall we do with two Christmas-trees?” » Read the rest of the entry..

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