poem ni mae

7/31/2019 poem ni mae

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Wild Little Bird

Wild little bird, who chose thee for a sign

To put upon the cover of this book?

Who heard thee singing in the distance dim,

The vague, far greenness of the enshrouding wood,

When the damp freshness of the morning earth

Was full of pungent sweetness and thy song?.

Who followed over moss and twisted roots,

And pushed through the wet leaves of trailing vinesWhere slanting sunbeams gleamed uncertainly,

While ever clearer came the dropping notes,

Until, at last, two widening trunks disclosed

Thee singing on a spray of branching beech,

Hidden, then seen; and always that same song

Of joyful sweetness, rapture incarnate,

Filled the hushed, rustling stillness of the wood?.

We do not know what bird thou art. Perhaps

That fairy bird, fabled in island tale,Who never sings but once, and then his song

Is of such fearful beauty that he dies

From sheer exuberance of melody.

For this they took thee, little bird, for this

They captured thee, tilting among the leaves,

And stamped thee for a symbol on this book.

For it contains a song surpassing thine,

Richer, more sweet, more poignant. And the poetWho felt this burning beauty, and whose heart

Was full of loveliest things, sang all he knew

A little while, and then he died; too frail

To bear this untamed, passionate burst of song.


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Martys Big Mistake

Marty mouse was walking home from school one sunny day.A rock was on the sidewalk, which he kicked along the way.

The rock would bounce and roll until it stopped a bit ahead,

but one time when he kicked it, he forgot to use his head.

He kicked the rock too hard, and sent it flying through the air.

It flew toward a house and that gave Marty quite a scare.

The rock broke through a window with a dreadful crashing sound.

He knew he'd be in trouble if somebody was around.

He felt bad for what happened, but he was too scared to stay.

He didn't know what he should do, so he just ran away.

He ran the whole way home and didn't stop 'till he got there.

He thought that he should tell someone, and yet he didn't dare.

Because he got away with it, he now was free and clear.

Nobody knew he did it. He had no reason to fear.

But something inside Marty's head told him it wasn't right.

He started feeling bad. He couldn't sleep at all that night.

So Marty sat awake in bed, and wondered what to do.

He felt ashamed of what he did, and he was sorry too.

At last he made his mind up, he would go and right the wrong.

He knew it would be scary, but he knew he must be strong. So Marty told his

parents what he did and how he ran.He told them that he'd like to make things right if he still can.

He said he had no money to repair the broken glass,but he would try to earn enough by working after class.

Then Marty's parents understood that he made a mistake,

but they were happy with the choice he finally chose to make.


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He went back to the house, although he really was afraid.

He said that he was sorry for the big mistake he made.

He told the man who lived there that he'd pay for the repair.

He wanted to do what was right. He wanted to be fair.The man told Marty he was brave for coming back that day.

He made a bad decision when he chose to run away.

But now that he came back, he showed the good he had inside.

It showed that he had character and didn't need to hide.

They got the window fixed, and Marty worked to pay the bill.

It felt so good to make things right. It gave Marty a thrill.

So Marty learned that even when mistakes give him a fright,

it's best to have the character to try to make things right.


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The Magic of Charity

Molly watched her brother play his biggest baseball game.

He played his best, but their team lost. Nobody was to blame.But Molly's brother Sam was sad. It felt so bad to lose,

and Molly tried to make him smile, but he had baseball blues.

Then Molly had a good idea. She'd make a special cake.

She'd make his favorite chocolate cake to take away the ache.

It didn't matter that he lost. She loved him just the same.

He played his very best, so he should not feel any shame

So Molly made his favorite cake, and served him up a slice.With just a bite or two Sam smiled, and he was feeling nice.

He thanked his sister for the cake and told her she was sweet.

She cheered him up and made him smile with something good to eat.

It felt so good to help someone; to brighten up a day.

She just discovered charity, and it was here to stay.

She learned that charity is helping others who have need.

It starts by caring, and then doing some kind of good deed.

It is not ever selfish, it is all done out of love,

but like the pleasant sunshine it warms all from up above.

So Molly looked for ways to help out everyone she knew.

If she could make a better day, that's what she tried to do.

She held a ladder for an old man so he wouldn't fall.

She climbed up in a tree to save a small girl's favorite ball.

She helped a farmer fix his sprinklers when they had a clog.

She even brought some food and water to a poor stray dog.

Now what she did was simple, and it wasn't hard to do.

But Molly's acts of charity were just like magic too.

It seemed the more she gave, the happier she felt inside.


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So charity helped Molly too. It couldn't be denied.

It always was for others; but she learned that in the end,

she found life's greatest joy when she was being someone's friend...

Love and Time

Once upon a time, in an island there lived all the feelings and emotions : Happiness,Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to

them that the island would sink! So all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.

Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.

When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a boat. Love said,"Richness, can you take me with you?"

Richness answered, "Sorry Love, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat and sothere is no place here for you."

Love next asked Vanity who was also sailing by. Vanity was also ready with the

same answer."I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, take me along with you.""Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!", sadness said in a sullen voice.

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so preoccupied with her happiness that she didnot even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. An overjoyed

Love jumped up into theboat and in the process forgot to ask where they were going. Whenthey arrived at a dry land, the elder went her own way.

Realizing how much was owed to the elder, Love asked Knowledge another elder, "Who


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Helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered."Time?" thought Love. Then, as if reading the face of Love, Knowledge smiled and

answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."

In a thick bamboo jungle, two young pandas had started their new life. Both of them werevery cute and chubby. They were born only a few days ago. Their mother had lovinglychristened them Jackie and Mickey.

Jackie and Mickey were pretty young and weak. They were not even big enough to takecare of themselves. Therefore their mother said, "Kids, you are growing now, you should

be able to differentiate between a friend and a foe."

"Mother, who are friends and foes?" asked Jackie and Mickey.

"One who helps us and stands by us in all our odds is our friend. And one who harms us,kills innocent animals and birds, is our enemy. Do you understand anything?" asked theirmother.

"Yes mother, we do understand. We will maintain a safe distance from our enemies andnot even let them come near us, "Jackie and Mickey assured their mother.

"Good, my children. I was expecting the same understanding from both of you. Now I can


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leave you alone as you have grown wise, "said their mother and she gave her children ahug.

The next day Mother Panda went to visit her sister. She left

Jackie and Mickey alone and went away.

All this while a Hyena was keeping an evil eye on Jackie andMickey. He was looking for a right opportunity for the past

few days. The Hyena's mouth watered when he saw the

young and chubby pandas. With their mother away, theHyena found that much-awaited opportunity.

The Hyena came near the bamboo and said, "Hello friends,

what are you doing on the bamboo. Come near me, I will sing you a song and take youboth for a jungle-ride."

The pandas were surprised to hear the Hyena. On seeing the dangerous -looking Hyenadown-below, Jackie whispered, "This cannot be our friend. He has a big teeth. Our mother

had asked us to stay away from enemies. We have to be careful and don't have to go nearthe Hyena.

On hearing what Jackie had to say, Mickey cried aloud, "You wicked Hyena ,you are our

enemy, you want to eat us to satisfy your hunger. We will never get down."

"Are you out of your mind? Believe me I am not your enemy, I am your friend, "the Hyenatried to convince the young pandas.

Mickey heard the Hyena and understood clearly that his intentions were not correct. Hethought, "This devil will not leave us peacefully. We have to think about some other trick

to get rid of him for some time."

Suddenly his eyes fell on the bamboo and he said, "Our mother had advised us not

to make friends with anybody till flowers bloomed on the bamboo. So you will have to wait

till the bamboo flowers."

The Crooked Hyena

"All right then, I will wait. All the young children should obey their mothers, "said thecrooked Hyena grimacing.


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The Hyena realized that his luring the young pandas had back-fired. Totally dejected, hewent away. Jackie and Mickey heaved a sigh of relief as the Hyena went away. They once

again got busy eating fresh soft leaves of bamboo.

The flowers bloomed on the bamboo within a week's time.

The Hyena's happiness knew no bounds and he said aloud tohimself, "Wonderful, flowers on the bamboo have brought

me good luck. Now both the young pandas have to

be friends with me. I will lure them away and feast onthem."

The Hyena once again came to the pandas and said, "Now

the flowers have bloomed on the bamboo. Hurry up and getdown to shake hands with me."

Mickey was very upset and was at his wit's end as to howto get rid of the beast this time. Jackie however, was least afraid of the Hyena. He was

busy sharpening a thick bamboo pointed at both its ends. When the bamboo becamepointed, he hurled it towards the Hyena.

He pointed towards the pointed bamboo and said, "We can become friends only when you

put the bamboo in your mouth and jump from that cliff."

The flabbergasted Hyena asked, "But why should I jump with bamboo in my mouth? Can'twe become friendswithout this exercise?"

"Absolutely not. Our mother had said that if the Hyena does not jump with the bamboo inhis mouth ,we should not be friends with him. If you have to be our friend then you have

to do as I say", said Jackie very seriously.

The Hyena became thoughtful. He was thoroughly trapped in Jackey's trap. If he refused

to do what was being told, he had to retreat. Finally, under compulsion he decided to jump

with the bamboo in his mouth.

Despite his reluctance, the Hyena inserted the pointed end of the bamboo in his mouth

and climbed the cliff and jumped.

The moment he landed on the ground, the Hyena shouted loudly in pain, "Oh my God! I

am dead. The bamboo has pierced through my neck."

The panda brothers jumped with joy. Meanwhile the Mother Panda had also returned after

visiting her sister. She saw the Hyena writhing in pain. Jackey and Mickey told her

everything. When she came to know everything, she applauded her sons and said, "Welldone, you have proved that both of you are brave and intelligent and can defend yourselffrom prying enemies."

The Hyena, with the bamboo stuck in his mouth, was in a really bad shape. He ran awayas fast as he could and was never seen in the jungle again.


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The Asss Shadow


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A man hired an ass from another man. He paid him two shillings to lend him the ass forthe day.

It was a very hot day, and both men wanted to stand in the ass's shadow, so that theymight be cool. But there was only room for one of them.

"Go away," said the man who had hired the ass. "Go away!

It is my shadow today. I have hired the ass."" You hired the ass," said the owner," but you did not hire

his shadow. It is my shadow."

They went on, the hirer saying one thing and the ownersaying the other. Then they began to fight, and while they

were fighting one of them happened to hit the ass. Then theass ran away. And it took its shadow with it !

The Donkey and The Little Dog


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A man had a little dog, and he was very fond of it. He would pat its head, and take it on

his knee, and talk to it. Then he would give it little bits of food from his own plate.

A donkey looked in at the window and saw the man and the dog.

"Why does he not make a pet of me?" said the donkey.

"It is not fair. I work hard, and the dog only wags its tail, and barks,

and jumps on itsmaster's knee. It is not fair."

Then the donkey said to himself, "If I do what the dog does, he maymake a pet of me."

So the donkey ran into the room. It brayed as loudly as it could. It

wagged its tail so hard that it knocked over a jar on the table. Thenit tried to jump on to its master'sknee.

The master thought the donkey was mad, and he shouted,"Help! Help!" Men came running in with sticks, and they beatthe donkey till it ran out of the house, and they drove it back

to the field.

"I only did what the dog does," said the donkey," and yetthey make a pet of the dog, and they beat me with sticks. It

is not fair."


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The Two Frogs

Two frogs had lived in a village all their lives. they thought they would like to go and seethe big city that was about ten miles away.

They talked about it for a long time, and at last they set offto see the city.

It was a hot day, and they soon began to feel tired. They had

only gone a little way when one said to the other, "We mustbe nearly there. Can you see the city?"

"No," said the other frog; "but if I climb on your back I mightbe able to see it."

So he climbed up on the back of the other frog to see the

city.

Now when the frog put up his head, his eyes could only see what was behind, and notwhat was in front. So he saw the village they had just left.

"Can you see the city?", asked the frog who was below.

"Yes," answered the frog who had climbed up. " I can see it. It looks just like our village."

Then the frogs thought that it was not worthwhile going any farther. They went back andtold the frogs round thevillage that they had seen the city, and it was just like theirs.


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The Two Goats

Over a river there was a very narrow bridge. One day a goat

was crossing this bridge. Just at the middle of the bridge hemet another goat. There was no room for them to pass. "Go

back," said one goat to the other, "there is no room for bothof us".

"Why should I go back?", said the other goat. "Why should

not you go back?"

" You must go back", said the first goat, "because I am

stronger than

"You are not stronger than I", said the second goat.

"We will see about that", said the first goat, and he put down his horns to fight.

"Stop!", said the second goat. " If we fight, we shall both fall into the river and be

drowned. Instead I have a plan- I shall lie down, and you may walk over me."

Then the wise goat lay down on the bridge, and the other goat walked lightly over him. So

they passed each other, and went on their ways.

The Banker and The Pauper


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Once upon a time there lived a pauper and a banker. The first was as poor as the secondwas rich. So it was inevitable that the rich man will be happier than the pauper. But theirnatures were opposite, for the poor man was happy whereas the banker was not.

The banker was annoyed of the fact that while he tossed and turned in his bed at night,the pauper slept peacefully and always awoke rested and full of energy.

One day the banker could stand it no longer. He decided to find out why the pauper was a

happy man inspite of his poverty. So he summoned him to his house and asked him hisyearly income because he believed that happiness could only be measured in terms ofwealth.

"I don't count too well, nor do I really care. I live each day as it comes and never worryabout the next."

"Well, then, just tell me how much you earn in one day," insisted the rich man.

"I earn what I need. And even that would be too much were it not for all the Sundaysand holidays when I must close my shop."

The banker liked the pauper. He wished to thank him for coming to his house, so he

presented the poor man with a bag of hundred gold coins.

Now, to the pauper these coins, which meant so little to the banker, seemed a

great fortune. He decided to hidethe bag, so that he would have the money if ever heshould need it. So, when he returned to his house, he dug a big hole in a secluded corner

of the garden, threw the bag into it, and covered it with dirt.

But from that day on, the poor man's life changed- he began to

worry about the safety of his money. Every night he slept a littleless, and each time he heard the slightest sound, he became

anxious about the safety of his coins.

Finally, he could bear his unhappiness no longer. He went to the

garden, dug up the coins and returned them to the banker.

The pauper had learned an important lesson, and so has

the banker.


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Stone Cutter

Once upon a time there lived a stone cutter ,in a small village. All day long he workedhard, cutting the hard stones and making the shape which were needed by his customers.His hands were hard and his clothes were dirty.

One day he went out to work on a big stone. It was very hard to work and the sun wasvery hot. After spending several hours cutting the stone, he sat down in the shade andsoon fell asleep.

After sometime, he heard sound of somebody coming. Walking up he saw a long

procession of people. There were many soldiers and attendants and in the middle, in apalanquin, carried by strong people at the king .

How wonderful it must be to be the great king thought the stone cutter . How happy I

would be if i were the king instead of a poor stone cutter.As he said these words, a strange thing happened. The stone cutter found himself dressed

in silk clothes and shining jewels. His hands were soft and he was sitting in a comfortablepalanquin.

He looked through the curtains and thought, How easy it is to be a king, these people arehere to serve me.

The procession moved on and the sun grew hot. The stone cutter ,now the king ,became

too warm for comfort. He asked the procession to stop so that he could rest for some time.At once the chief of the soldiers bent before the king and said Your Majesty, only this

morning you swore to have me hanged to death if we did not reach the palace before the

sun set.The stone cutter felt sorry for him and ordered the procession to go on its way again.

As the afternoon wore on, the sun grew hotter, and the king became more and more

uncomfortable.I am powerful, it is true, but how more powerful the sun is, he thought I would rather

be the sun than a king .At once, he became the sun ,shining down on the earth.

His new power was hard to control.He shone too strongly, he burned up the fields with his rays and turned the ocean into

vapour and formed a great cloud which covered the land.But no matter how hard he shone, he could not see through the clouds.

It is obvious that the clouds are even stronger and more powerful than sun said the

stone cutter, now the sun, I would rather be a cloud.Suddenly he found himself turned into a huge dark cloud.

He started using his new power. He poured rain down on the fields and caused floods. All

the trees and houses were swept away but a boulder, which once he had

been cutting when he was a stone cutter was unmoved and unchanged.However much he poured down on the stone it did not move.

Why that rock is more powerful than I am said the stone cutter now a cloud. Only a stone

cutter could change the rock by his skill. How I wish I were a stonecutter.No sooner he said the words that he found himself sitting on a stone with hard and roughhands.

He picked up his tools and set to work on a boulder, happily.


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The Hungry Mouse

A mouse was having a very bad time. She could find no food at all. She looked here and

there, but there was no food, and she grew very thin.At last the mouse found a basket, full of corn. There was a small hole in the basket, and

she crept in. She could just get through the hole.Then she began to eat the corn. Being very hungry, she ate a great deal, and went on

eating and eating. She had grown very fat before she felt that she had had enough.When the mouse tried to climb out of the basket, she could not. She was too fat to pass

through the hole.

" How shall I climb out?" said the mouse. "oh, how shall I climb out?"Just then a rat came along, and he heard the mouse.

"Mouse," said the rat, "if you want to climb out of the basket, you must wait till you have

grown as thin as you were when you went in."


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The Boy Who Cried Wolf

A shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers

three or four times by crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him,laughed at them for their pains.

The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted

in an agony of terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep"; but no

one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance.The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure lacerated ordestroyed the whole flock.

There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

************


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The Miser

A miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in theground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed

his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discoveredthe secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole

it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and tomake loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the

cause, said, "Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and

fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when thegold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it."

***********


19/38

The Snow Queen

by Hans Christian Andersen

There is a legend that, once upon a time, a beautiful fairy, the Snow Queen, lived on thehighest, most solitary peaks of the Alps. The mountain folk and shepherds climbed to the

summits to admire her, and everyone fell head over heels in love with her.

Every man would have given anything, including his life, to marry her. Indeed, their lives

are just what they did give, for Fate had decided that no mortal would every marry the

Snow Queen. But in spite of that, many brave souls did theirbest to approach her, hoping always to persuade her.

Each suitor was allowed to enter the great ice palace withthe crystal roof, where the Queen's throne stood. But thesecond he declared his love and asked for her hand,

thousands of goblins appeared to grasp him and push him

over the rocks, down into bottomless abysses.

Without the slightest emotion, the Queen would watch the

scene, her heart of ice unable to feel anything at all. Thelegend of the crystal palace and the beautifulheartless Queenspread as far as the most distant alpine valley, the home of

a fearless chamois hunter. Fascinated by the tale, he decided to set out and try his

luck. Leaving his valley, he journeyed for days on end, climbing thesnowclad mountain faces, scaling icebound peaks and defying the bitterly cold wind that

swept through the alpine gullies.

More than once he felt all was lost, but the thought of the lovely Snow Queen gave him

new strength and kept him moving onwards. At last, after many days climbing, he sawglinting in the sunshine before him, the tall transparent spires of the ice palace.

Summoning all his courage, the young man entered the Throne Room. But he was so

struck by the Snow Queen's beauty that he could not utter a word. Shy and timid, he didnot dare speak. So he knelt in admiration before the Queen for hours on end, without

opening his mouth. The Queen looked at him silently, thinking all the while that, provided

he did not ask her hand in marriage, there was no need to call the goblins.

Then, to her great surprise, she discovered that his behaviour touched her heart. She

realised she was becoming quite fond of this hunter, much younger andmore handsome than her other suitors. Time passed and the Snow Queen dared notadmit, not even to herself, that she would actually like to marry the young man.

In the meantime, the goblins kept watch over their mistress; first they were astonished,then they became more and more upset. For they rightly feared that their Queen might beon the point of breaking the Law and bringing down on the heads of all

the Mountain People the fury of Fate.


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Seeing that the Queen was slow to give the order to get rid of her suitor, the goblins

decided to take matters into their own hands. One night, as dusk fell, they slipped out ofthe cracks in the rock and clustered round the young chamois hunter. Then they hurled

him into the abyss. The Snow Queen watched the whole scene from the window, but therewas nothing she could do to stop them. However, her icy heart melted, and

the beautiful cruel fairy suddenly became a woman.

A tear dropped from her eye, the first she had ever shed. And the Snow Queen's tear fell

on to a stone where it turned into a little silvery star.

This was the first edelweiss ... the flower that grows only on the highest, most inaccessiblepeaks in the Alps, onthe edge of the abyss and precipice . . .


21/38

The Magic of Mushkil Gusha

Once in the royal city of Isfahan, there was an old woodcutter who lived alone with hisyoung daughter. Every day, the woodcutter went out to the desert to gather camel-thornbushes, then sold them in the marketplace asfirewood. In this way, he earned barely

enough for the two of them.

One morning, the woodcutter's daughter said, Father, we always have enough to eat. But

just once, it would be nice to have something special. Do you think you could buy us somedate cakes?

I think I could do that, my dear, said the woodcutter. I'll just gather some extra woodtoday.

So the woodcutter walked farther that day to gather more thorn bushes. But he tooklonger than he meant to.

By the time he got back with the wood, darkness had fallen. It was too late to go to the

marketplace. What's more, when he reached his house, he found that his daughter hadalready bolted the front door and gone to bed.

Knock as he would, there was no answer. So he had to sleep outside on the doorstep.

Next morning, the woodcutter awoke while it was still dark. He told himself, I might as

well go out right now and get another big load of wood. Then I can sell twice as much and

buy even more date cakes.

So he left his load and went back to the desert to gather more bushes. But again he took

longer than he meant to, and when he got back, it was dark and the door was bolted. So

again he had to sleep on the doorstep.

He awoke once more before dawn. There's no sense wasting a day, he said. I'll go back

out for one more big load. How many date cakes we'll have then!

But yet again he took too long, and yet again the door was bolted when he got back.

The woodcutter sank to the doorstep and wept.

What's wrong, old man?

He looked up to see a dervish in a long green robe and a tall green cap.

Holy sir, for three days I have gone out to gather thorn bushes, and for three days I have

come home too late to get into my house. And in all that time, I've had nothing to eat.

What night is this, old man?


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The woodcutter said, Why, Friday eve, of course.

That's right. It's the eve of our holy day. And that's the time of Mushkil Gusha.

Mushkil Gusha? said the woodcutter.

That's right, old man -- the 'Remover of Difficulties.'

The holy man took some roasted chickpeas and raisins from his pouch and handed them tothe woodcutter. Here, share this with me.

Thank you, sir!

You may not know it, the dervish went on, but Mushkil Gusha is already helping you. If

you want your good fortune to continue, here's what you must do: Every Friday eve, findsomeone in need. Then share what you have, and tell a tale of Mushkil Gusha. That way,you both will be helped.

And with that, the holy man vanished.

As the woodcutter stared at the empty spot, the door to his house swung open.

Father, where have you been? Oh, please come inside! I was so worried!

A few days passed, while the woodcutter and his daughter enjoyed the many date cakes

he bought after selling his wood. Then one morning, when the woodcutter had gone to thedesert and his daughter had finished her housework, she decided to go walking in a publicpark.

She was strolling down a broad path when a carriage stopped beside her.

What a pretty little girl! said a royal young lady. I am the daughter of the king. Would you

like to be my handmaiden?

Yes, Your Highness, the girl said, blushing.

So the woodcutter's daughter became a handmaiden of the princess. With the giftsthe princess gave her, she and her father became quite rich. He bought a nice house, and

he didn't have to gather thorn bushes anymore.

But somehow he forgot what the dervish told him.

A month went by. One day, the princess went on a picnic to one of her father's private

gardens, and she brought along the woodcutter's daughter. There was a small lake there,so they decided to go for a swim.

The princess took off her necklace and hung it on a branch overlooking the water. Butwhen she came out, she forgot all about it.

A few days later at the palace, the princess looked for the necklace but couldn't find it.

She turned angrily to the woodcutter's daughter.


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You stole my necklace! You must have taken it when we went for our swim!

No, Your Highness, I wouldn't do that!

You're a thief and a liar too! I'll show you what happens to people of your kind! Get out of

my sight!

The woodcutter's daughter ran home in tears. But an hour later, soldiers came to the door.

They arrested the woodcutter and carried him off to a public square in front of the prison.Then they locked his feet in the stocks and left him there.

The woodcutter had to suffer the taunts and jeers of the passersby. Some people were

kinder, though, and even threw him scraps of food.

Now, that evening was Friday eve. As the sun set, the woodcutter cast his thoughts overall that had happened to him in the past weeks. All at once, he cried out.

Oh, what a foolish, ungrateful wretch I am! Didn't the dervish say to share what I have

each Friday eve and tell of Mushkil Gusha? Yet I haven't done it once!

Just then, a packet of chickpeas and raisins landed by the woodcutter. When he looked up,

he didn't see who had thrown it. But he did see a beggar boy coming by.

Young friend! called the woodcutter. Please share this with me while I tell you a story.

The boy sat down and gratefully took what was offered. As he ate, the woodcutter relatedeverything that had happened, from when his daughter asked for date cakes, to when hewas put in the stocks.

Thank you, sir, said the boy. I needed the food, and the story was good too. I hope it hasa happy ending.

The beggar boy went on his way. But he'd only gone a block when a rich merchantstopped him.

My one and only son! Ever since you were stolen at birth, I've looked for that birthmark on

your left cheek. Now at last I've found you!

But they leave our story here.

The next day, the princess had another picnic in her father's private garden, and again she

went down to the lake for a swim. She was about to step into the water when she sawthe reflection of her necklace. She looked up into the tree -- and there was

the necklace itself, right where she had left it.

That woodcutter's daughter didn't take it at all!

By the end of the day, the woodcutter was free from the stocks, and his daughter was

back in the palace.

And every Friday eve after that, the woodcutter always remembered to find someone inneed, share what he had, and tell his tale of Mushkil Gusha.


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The Holy Night

- by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem; The

dumb kine from their fodder turning them,

Softened their horn'd faces, To almost human

gazes Toward the newly Born: The simple

shepherds from the star-lit brooks Brought

visionary looks, As yet in their astonished

hearing rung The strange sweet angel-tongue:

The magi of the East, in sandals worn, Knelt

reverent, sweeping round, With long pale

beards, their gifts upon the ground, The

incense, myrrh, and gold These baby handswere impotent to hold: So let all earthlies and

celestials wait Upon thy royal state. Sleep,

sleep, my kingly One!

A Christmas Carol

- Christina Rossetti

In The bleak mid-winter Frosty winds made

moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a

stone Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow

on snow, In the bleak mid-winter, Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth

sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away

When he comes to reign: In the bleak mid-

winter A stable place sufficed The Lord God

Almighty Jesus Christ.

Back Home With Us For Christmas

- Alan Williams

Across the festive store I see her A mother

knelt beside her child Both conjured by the

Christmas frippery Entranced by the

promiscuous lights Dancing across their

The Night Before Christmas

- by Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all

through the house Not a creature was stirring,

not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with

care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would

be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their

beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in

their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a

clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was

the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore

open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen

snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects

below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should

appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny

reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I

knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they

came, And he whistled, and shouted, and

called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer

and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder


25/38

astonishment Silver drums and golden

trumpetsSparkling peacocks and frosted fruits

Rainbow garlands and brazen tinsel Stars and

fairies awaiting their finest hour

I cannot help but move closer Pretending to

avert my gaze To see the sparkling of their

eyes As whispering close she softly says

On Christmas night, just wait and see Upon

your bed, beneath the tree There will be toys

and lovely things That kindly Father

Christmas brings For every child who's good

and true Especially little girls like you

And thirty Christmases unwind I am thatmother, she is my child They are my words I

thought she had forgottenMy sweet memory,

my little girl Back home with us for

Christmas.

Christmas Bells

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old,

familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The

words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to

men!

And thought how, as the day had come, The

belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along

The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-

will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way The world

revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will

to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth The

and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane

fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount

to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas

too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the

roof The prancing and pawing of each little

hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning

around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came

with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his

foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with

ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening hispack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples

how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his

nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a

bow, And the beard of his chin was as white

as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a

wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful

of jelly.


26/38

cannon thundered in the South, And with the

sound The Carols drowned Of peace on earth,

good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head; There is nopeace on earth, I said; For hate is strong,

And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-

will to men!

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The

Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With

peace on earth, good-will to men!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old

elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of

myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to

dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his

work, And filled all the stockings; then turned

with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose, And

giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a

whistle, And away they all flew like the down

of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of

sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a

good-night.

Your Teachers

Let the sky

Become

Your teacher.You will learnHow to serve.

Let the moonBecome

Your teacher.You will learn

How to love.

Let the sunBecome

Your teacher.

You will learn

How to become.


27/38

Friend

A friend is a person

to laugh and cry with,An inspiration,

Someone who lends a helping hand,

though friends may not be forever,

And they may not end up together,

the memories of a true friendship will

last forever.

A friend is not a shadow nor a servant

But someone who hold

a piece of a person in his heart.

Someone who shares a smile,

Someone who brightens up your dayWhat makes a person a friend?

Is by saying your Love will stay.

THE ANTS GO MARCHING

The ants go marching one by one,

hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching one by one,

hurrah, hurrahThe ants go marching one by one,

The little one stops to suck his thumb

And they all go marching down to

the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two,

hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching two by two,

hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching two by two,The little one stops to tie his shoe


the ground


BOOM!

The ants go marching three by three,


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hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to climb a tree

And they all go marching down tothe ground


BOOM!

The ants go marching four by four,

hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to shut the door



BOOM!

The ants go marching five by five,

hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to take a dive



BOOM!

The ants go marching six by six,

hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to pick up sticks



BOOM!

The ants go marching seven by seven,

hurrah, hurrah



29/38

hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to pray to heaven


the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM!BOOM!

The ants go marching eight by eight,

hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to shut the gate


the ground


The ants go marching nine by nine,

hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to check the time


the ground


The ants go marching ten by ten,

hurrah, hurrah


hurrah, hurrah


The little one stops to say "THE END"


the ground



30/38

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky!

When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shinesupon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle,

all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark, Thanks you for your tiny

spark, He could not see which way to go, If you did not

twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep, And often through

my curtainspeep, For you never shut your eye, Till the

sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark, Lights the traveller in the

dark, Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle,

little star.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS - by Bruce Lansky

Last year I did some

rotten things.

This year I will be

better.

Here are some

resolutions

I will follow to the

letter:

I wont make dumb

excuses

when my homework

isnt done;

when the truth is

that I did no work

cause I was having

fun.

I wont fly paper

airplanes

when the teacher


31/38

isnt looking.

I wont sneakin thekitchen

just to taste what

they are cooking.

I will not twist thesilverware

to see how far it

bends.

I will not take the

candy bars

from lunch bags of

my friends.

I will

not skateboard down

the hallor skateboard down

the stairs.

I wont run

over teachers,

and I wont crashinto chairs.

I will not do these

rotten things;

my heart is full of

sorrow.But I have got some

brand-new tricks

to try in school

tomorrow.

The three little kittens

Three little kittens,

They lost their mittens,And they began to cry,

Oh, mother, dear,

We sadly fear,

Our mittens we have lost.

What! Lost your mittens,


32/38

You naughty kittens,

Then you shall have no pie.

Meow, meow,

Then you shall have no pie.

The three little kittens,They found their mittens,

And they began to cry,

Oh, mother, dear,

See here, see here,

Our mittens we have found.

What, found your mittens,

Then you're good kittens,

And you shall have some pie.

Purr-rr, purr-rr,

Then you shall have some pie.

Three little kittens,

Put on their mittens,

And soon ate up the pie.

Oh, mother, dear,

We sadly fear,

Our mittens we have soiled.

What! Soiled your mittens,

You naughty kittens,

And they began to sigh.Meow, meow,

And they began to sigh.

The three little kittens,

They washed their mittens,

And hung them out to dry.

Oh, mother, dear,

Do you not hear,

Our mittens we have washed?

What! Washed your mittens?Then you're good kittens!

But I smell a rat close by.

Meow, meow,

We smell a rat close by.


33/38

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great

fall; All the King's horses And all the king's men. Cannot put

Humpty Dumpty Together again.

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill,To fetch a pail of water;

Jack fell down, and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

Pussy Cat, pussy cat

"Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?"

"I've been to London to look at the queen".


34/38

"Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you do there?"

"I frightened a little mouse under her chair".

Doctor Foster

Doctor Foster went to Gloucester

In a shower of rain;

He stepped in a puddle,

Right up to his middle,

And never went there again.

Johny, Johny

Johny, Johny, Yes, Papa.

Eating sugar? No, Papa.

Telling lies? No, Papa.

Open your mouth. Ha! Ha! Ha!

Hickory, Dickory, Dock

Hickory, dickory, dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,The mouse ran down,

Hickory, dickory, dock.


35/38

Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice, see how they run!

They all ran after the farmer's wife,

Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,Did you ever see such a thing in your life,

As three blind mice?

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

Baa, baa, black sheep,

Have you any wool?

Yes, sir, yes, sir,

Three bags full;One for the master,

And one for the dame,

And one for the little boy

Who lives down the lane.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

One, two,

Buckle my shoe;Three, four,

Knock at the door;

Five, six.

Pick up sticks;

Seven, eight,

Lay them straight;


36/38

Nine, ten,

A big fat hen;

Eleven, twelve,

Dig and delve;

Thirteen, fourteen,

Maids a-courting;Fifteen, sixteen,

Maids in the kitchen;

Seventeen, eighteen,

Maids in waiting;

Nineteen, twenty,

My plates empty;

Ding, dong, bell

Ding, dong, bell,

Pussy's in the well!

Who put her in?

Little Tommy Green.

Who pulled her out?

Big Johnny Stout.

What a naughty boy was that,

To drown poor pussy-cat,

Who never did him any harm,

But killed the mice in his father's barn!

Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep

Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep,

And can't tell where to find them;

Leave them alone, and they'll come home,

And bring their tails behind them.

Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep,


37/38

And dreamt she heard them bleating;

But when she awoke, she found it a joke,

For they were still a-fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook,

Determined for to find them;

She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,For they'd left all their tails behind them.

Little Robin Redbreast

Little Robin Redbreast

Sat upon a rail;

Niddle, naddle, went his head,

Wiggle, waggle, went his tail.

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,

Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,

Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,

"Are the children in their beds, for now it's eight o'clock?"

Little Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner

Sat in a corner,

Eating his Christmas pie.

He put in his thumb,

And he pulled out a plum,

And said, "What a good boy am I!"

The Rose is Red

The rose is red,

The violet's blue,

Pinks are sweet,


38/38

And so are you.

Little Betty Blue

Little Betty Blue

Lost her holiday shoe;

What can little Betty do?

Give her another

To match the other

And then she may walk in two.

Eency Weency Spider

Eency weency spider climbed up the water spout,

down came the rain and washed the spider out,

out came the sun and dried up all the rain,

now eency-weency spider went up the spout again.

Cobbler, Cobbler, Mend my Shoe

Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe,

Give it a stitch and that will do.

Here's a nail, and there's a prod,

And now my shoe is well shod.

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