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on the train； on the shoulders of men； and just
before the discovery； his discovery； and the
denouement。
This not only reduces the story to tellable
form； but it also leaves a suggestive interest
which heightens later enjoyment of the original。
I suggest the adaptation of Kate Douglas
Wiggin； in The Story Hour； since in view of the
existence of a satisfactory adaptation it seems
unappreciative to offer a second。 The one I
made for my own use some years ago is not
dissimilar to this； and I have no reason to
suppose it more desirable。
Ruskin's King of the Golden River is somewhat
difficult to adapt。 Not only is it long； but its
style is mature； highly descriptive； and closely
allegorical。 Yet the tale is too beautiful and
too suggestive to be lost to the story…teller。
And it is； also； so recognised a part of the
standard literary equipment of youth that
teachers need to be able to introduce children
to its charm。 To make it available for telling；
we must choose the most essential events of the
series leading up to the climax； and present
these so simply as to appeal to children's ears；
and so briefly as not to tire them。
The printed story is eight thousand words in
length。 The first three thousand words depict
the beauty and fertility of the Treasure Valley；
and the cruel habits of Hans and Schwartz； its
owners； and give the culminating incident which
leads to their banishment by 〃West Wind。〃
This episode；the West Wind's appearance in
the shape of an aged traveller； his kind reception
by the younger brother； little Gluck； and the
subsequent wrath of Hans and Schwartz； with
their resulting punishment；occupies about two
thousand words。 The rest of the story deals
with the three brothers after the decree of West
Wind has turned Treasure Valley into a desert。
In the little house where they are plying their
trade of goldsmiths； the King of the Golden
River appears to Gluck and tells him the magic
secret of turning the river's waters to gold。
Hans and Schwartz in turn attempt the miracle；
and in turn incur the penalty attached to
failure。 Gluck tries； and wins the treasure through
self…sacrifice。 The form of the treasure is a
renewal of the fertility of Treasure Valley； and
the moral of the whole story is summed up in
Ruskin's words； 〃So the inheritance which was
lost by cruelty was regained by love。〃
It is easy to see that the dramatic part of the
story and that which most pointedly illustrates
the underlying idea； is the triple attempt to win
the treasure；the two failures and the one
success。 But this is necessarily introduced by
the episode of the King of the Golden River；
which is； also； an incident sure to appeal to a
child's imagination。 And the regaining of the
inheritance is meaningless without the fact of
its previous loss； and the reason for the loss； as
a contrast with the reason for its recovery。 We
need； then； the main facts recorded in the first
three thousand words。 But the West Wind
episode must be avoided； not only for brevity；
but because two supernatural appearances； so
similar； yet of different personalities； would
hopelessly confuse a told story。
Our oral story is now to be made out of a
condensed statement of the character of the
Valley and of its owners； and the manner of
its loss； the intervention of the King of the
Golden River； the three attempts to turn the
river to gold； and Gluck's success。 Gluck is
to be our hero； and our underlying idea is the
power of love versus cruelty。 Description is to
be reduced to its lowest terms； and the language
made simple and concrete。
With this outline in mind； it may be useful
to compare the following adaptation with the
original story。 The adaptation is not intended
in any sense as a substitute for the original； but
merely as that form of it which can be TOLD；
while the original remains for reading。
THE GOLDEN RIVER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Ruskin's King of the Golden River。
There was once a beautiful little valley；
where the sun was warm； and the rains fell
softly； its apples were so red； its corn so
yellow； its grapes so blue； that it was called the
Treasure Valley。 Not a river ran into it； but
one great river flowed down the mountains on
the other side； and because the setting sun
always tinged its high cataract with gold after
the rest of the world was dark； it was called the
Golden River。 The lovely valley belonged to
three brothers。 The youngest； little Gluck；
was happy…hearted and kind； but he had a hard
life with his brothers； for Hans and Schwartz
were so cruel and so mean that they were known
everywhere around as the 〃Black Brothers。〃
They were hard to their farm hands； hard to
their customers； hard to the poor； and hardest
of all to Gluck。
At last the Black Brothers became so bad
that the Spirit of the West Wind took
vengeance on them； he forbade any of the gentle
winds； south and west； to bring rain to the
valley。 Then； since there were no rivers in it；
it dried up； and instead of a treasure valley it
became a desert of dry； red sand。 The Black
Brothers could get nothing out of it； and they
wandered out into the world on the other side
of the mountain…peaks； and little Gluck went
with them。
Hans and Schwartz went out every day；
wasting their time in wickedness； but they
left Gluck in the house to work。 And they
lived on the gold and silver they had saved
in Treasure Valley； till at last it was all gone。
The only precious thing left was Gluck's gold
mug。 This the Black Brothers decided to melt
into spoons； to sell； and in spite of Gluck's
tears； they put it in the melting pot； and went
out； leaving him to watch it。
Poor little Gluck sat at the window； trying
not to cry for his dear golden mug； and as the
sun began to go down； he saw the beautiful
cataract of the Golden River turn red； and
yellow； and then pure gold。
〃Oh； dear！〃 he said to himself； 〃how fine
it would be if the river were really golden！
I needn't be poor； then。〃
〃It wouldn't be fine at all！〃 said a thin；
metallic little voice； in his ear。
〃Mercy； what's that！〃 said Gluck； looking
all about。 But nobody was there。
Suddenly the sharp little voice came again。
〃Pour me out；〃 it said； 〃I am too hot！〃
It seemed to come right from the oven； and
as Gluck stood； staring in fright； it came again；
〃Pour me out； I'm too hot！〃
Gluck was very much frightened； but he
went and looked in the melting pot。 When
he touched it； the little voice said； 〃Pour me
out； I say！〃 And Gluck took the handle and
began to pour the gold out。
First came out a tiny pair of yellow legs； then
a pair of yellow coat…tails； then a strange little
yellow body； and； last； a wee yellow face； with
long curls of gold hair。 And the whole put itself
together as it fell； and stood up on the