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are not children； but pigs。 Simplicity； with
mystery； is the keynote of all the pictures； and
these are clear and distinct。
Still a third characteristic common to the
stories quoted is a certain amount of repetition。
It is more definite； and of what has been called
the 〃cumulative〃 kind； in the story of the old
woman； but in all it is a distinctive feature。
Here we have； then； three marked characteristics
common to three stories almost invariably
loved by children；action； in close sequence；
familiar images； tinged with mystery； some
degree of repetition。
It is not hard to see why these qualities
appeal to a child。 The first is the prime
characteristic of all good stories；〃stories as
is stories〃； the child's demand for it but bears
witness to the fact that his instinctive taste is
often better than the taste he later develops
under artificial culture。 The second is a matter
of common…sense。 How could the imagination
create new worlds； save out of the material of
the old？ To offer strange images is to confuse
the mind and dull the interest； to offer familiar
ones 〃with a difference〃 is to pique the interest
and engage the mind。
The charm of repetition； to children； is a
more complex matter； there are undoubtedly
a good many elements entering into it； hard to
trace in analysis。 But one or two of the more
obvious may be seized and brought to view。
The first is the subtle flattery of an unexpected
sense of mastery。 When the child…mind； following
with toilful alertness a new train of thought；
comes suddenly on a familiar epithet or expression；
I fancy it is with much the same sense of
satisfaction that we older people feel when in
the midst of a long programme of new music
the orchestra strikes into something we have
heard before；Handel； maybe； or one of the
more familiar Beethoven sonatas。 〃I know
that！ I have heard that before！〃 we think；
triumphant； and settle down to enjoyment
without effort。 So it is； probably； with the
〃middle…sized〃 articles of the bears' house and
the 〃and I sha'n't get home to…night〃 of the
old woman。 Each recurrence deepens the note
of familiarity； tickles the primitive sense of
humour； and eases the strain of attention。
When the repetition is cumulative； like the
extreme instance of The House that Jack
Built； I have a notion that the joy of the
child is the pleasure of intellectual gymnastics；
not too hard for fun； but not too easy for
excitement。 There is a deal of fun to be got
out of purely intellectual processes； and child…
hood is not too soon for the rudiments of such
fun to show。 The delight the healthy adult
mind takes in working out a neat problem in
geometry； the pleasure a musician finds in
following the involutions of a fugue； are of
the same type of satisfaction as the liking of
children for cumulative stories。 Complexity
and mass； arrived at by stages perfectly
intelligible in themselves； mounting steadily from
a starting…point of simplicity； then the same
complexity and mass resolving itself as it were
miraculously back into simplicity； this is an
intellectual joy。 It does not differ materially；
whether found in the study of counterpoint；
at thirty； or in the story of the old woman and
her pig； at five。 It is perfectly natural and
wholesome； and it may perhaps be a more
powerful developing force for the budding
intellect than we are aware。
For these reasons let me urge you； when you
are looking for stories to tell little children； to
apply this threefold test as a kind of touchstone
to their quality of fitness： Are they full of
action； in close natural sequence？ Are their
images simple without being humdrum？ Are
they repetitive？ The last quality is not an
absolute requisite； but it is at least very often
an attribute of a good child…story。
Having this touchstone in mind for general
selection； we can now pass to the matter of
specific choices for different ages of children。
No one can speak with absolute conviction in
this matter； so greatly do the taste and capacity
of children of the same age vary。 Any approach
to an exact classification of juvenile books
according to their suitability for different ages
will be found impossible。 The same book in
the hands of a skilful narrator may be made
to afford delight to children both of five and
ten。 The following are merely the inferences
drawn from my own experience。 They must
be modified by each teacher according to the
conditions of her small audience。 In general；
I believe it to be wise to plan the choice of
stories much as indicated in the table。
At a later stage； varying with the standard
of capacity of different classes； we find the
temper of mind which asks continually； 〃Is
that true？〃 To meet this demand； one draws
on historical and scientific anecdote； and on
reminiscence。 But the demand is never so
exclusive that fictitious narrative need be cast
aside。 All that is necessary is to state frankly
that the story you are telling is 〃just a story；〃
orif it be the casethat it is 〃part true and
part story。〃
At all stages I would urge the telling of
Bible stories； as far as is allowed by the special
circumstances of the school。 These are stories
from a source unsurpassed in our literature for
purity of style and loftiness of subject。 More
especially I urge the telling of the Christ…story；
in such parts as seem likely to be within the
grasp of the several classes。 In all Bible
stories it is well to keep as near as possible
to the original unimprovable text。＇1＇ Some
amplification can be made； but no excessive
modernising or simplifying is excusable in face
of the austere grace and majestic simplicity of
the original。 Such adaptation as helps to cut
the long narrative into separate units； making
each an intelligible story； I have ventured to
illustrate according to my own personal taste；
in two stories given in Chapter VI。 The object
of the usual modernising or enlarging of the
text may be far better attained for the child
listener by infusing into the text as it stands
a strong realising sense of its meaning and
vitality； letting it give its own message through
a fit medium of expression。
＇1＇ Stories from the Old Testament； by S。 Platt； retells the Old
Testament story as nearly as possible in the actual words of
the Authorised Version。
The stories given are grouped as illustrations of
the types suitable for different stages。 They are；
however； very often interchangeable； and many stories
can be told successfully to all classes。 A vitally
good story is little limited in its appeal。 It is；
nevertheless； a help to have certain plain results
of experience as a basis for choice； that which
is given is intended only for such a basis； not
in the least as a final list。
CERTAIN TYPES OF STORY CLASSIFIED
FOR KINDERGARTEN AND