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warm nest sheltered from the wind； with juniper
berries to eat。
The trees at the edge of the forest remarked
upon it to each other：
〃I wouldn't take care of a strange bird；〃 said
the birch。
〃I wouldn't risk my acorns；〃 said the oak。
〃I would not speak to strangers；〃 said the
willow。 And the three trees stood up very tall
and proud。
That night the North Wind came to the
woods to play。 He puffed at the leaves with
his icy breath； and every leaf he touched fell
to the ground。 He wanted to touch every leaf
in the forest； for he loved to see the trees
bare。
〃May I touch every leaf？〃 he said to his
father； the Frost King。
〃No；〃 said the Frost King； 〃the trees which
were kind to the bird with the broken wing may
keep their leaves。〃
So North Wind had to leave them alone； and
the spruce； the pine； and the juniper…tree kept
their leaves through all the winter。 And they
have done so ever since。
THE STAR DOLLARS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Grimms' Fairy Tales。
There was once a little girl who was very；
very poor。 Her father and mother had died；
and at last she had no little room to stay in；
and no little bed to sleep in； and nothing more
to eat except one piece of bread。 So she said
a prayer； put on her little jacket and her hood；
and took her piece of bread in her hand； and
went out into the world。
When she had walked a little way； she met
an old man； bent and thin。 He looked at the
piece of bread in her hand； and said； 〃Will you
give me your bread； little girl？ I am very
hungry。〃 The little girl said； 〃Yes；〃 and gave
him her piece of bread。
When she had walked a little farther she
came upon a child； sitting by the path； crying。
〃I am so cold！〃 said the child。 〃Won't you
give me your little hood； to keep my head
warm？〃 The little girl took off her hood and
tied it on the child's head。 Then she went on
her way。
After a time； as she went； she met another
child。 This one shivered with the cold； and she
said to the little girl； 〃Won't you give me your
jacket； little girl？〃 And the little girl gave her
her jacket。 Then she went on again。
By…and…by she saw another child； crouching
almost naked by the wayside。 〃O little girl；〃
said the child； 〃won't you give me your dress？
I have nothing to keep me warm。〃 So the little
girl took off her dress and gave it to the other
child。 And now she had nothing left but her
little shirt。 It grew dark； and the wind was
cold； and the little girl crept into the woods； to
sleep for the night。 But in the woods a child
stood； weeping and naked。 〃I am cold；〃 she
said； 〃give me your little shirt！〃 And the
little girl thought； 〃It is dark； and the woods
will shelter me； I will give her my little shirt〃；
so she did； and now she had nothing left in all
the world。
She stood looking up at the sky； to say her
night…time prayer。 As she looked up； the whole
skyful of stars fell in a shower round her feet。
There they were； on the ground； shining bright；
and round。 The little girl saw that they were
silver dollars。 And in the midst of them was
the finest little shirt； all woven out of silk！ The
little girl put on the little silk shirt； and gathered
the star dollars； and she was rich； all the days
of her life。
THE LION AND THE GNAT＇1＇
＇1＇ This story has been told by the Rev。 Albert E。 Sims to
children in many parts of England。 On one occasion it was
told to an audience of over three thousand children in the
Great Assembly Hall； Mile End； London。
Far away in Central Africa； that vast land
where dense forests and wild beasts abound；
the shades of night were once more descending；
warning all creatures that it was time to seek
repose。
All day long the sun had been like a great
burning eye； but now； after painting the western
sky with crimson and scarlet and gold； he had
disappeared into his fleecy bed； the various
creatures of the forest had sought their holes
and resting…places； the last sound had rumbled
its rumble； the last bee had mumbled his mumble；
and the last bear had grumbled his grumble；
even the grasshoppers that had been chirruping；
chirruping； through all the long hours without
a pause； at length had ceased their shrill music；
tucked up their long legs； and given themselves
to slumber。
There on a nodding grass…blade； a tiny Gnat
had made a swinging couch； and he too had folded
his wings； closed his tiny eyes； and was fast asleep。
Darker； darker； darker became the night until
the darkness could almost be felt； and over all
was a solemn stillness as though some powerful
finger had been raised； and some potent voice
had whispered； 〃HUSH！〃
Just when all was perfectly still； there came
suddenly from the far away depths of the
forest； like the roll of thunder； a mighty
ROARRRR！
In a moment all the beasts and birds were
wide awake； and the poor little Gnat was nearly
frightened out of his little senses； and his little
heart went pit…a…pat。 He rubbed his little eyes
with his feelers； and then peered all around
trying to penetrate the deep gloom as he
whispered in terror〃WHATWASTHAT？〃
What do YOU think it was？ 。 。 。 Yes； a
LION！ A great； big lion who； while most other
denizens of the forest slept； was out hunting for
prey。 He came rushing and crashing through
the thick undergrowth of the forest； swirling
his long tail and opening wide his great jaws；
and as he rushed he RO…AR…R…R…ED！
Presently he reached the spot where the little
Gnat hung panting at the tip of the waving
grass…blade。 Now the little Gnat was not afraid
of lions； so when he saw it was only a lion； he
cried out
〃Hi； stop； stop！ What are you making that
horrible noise about？〃
The Lion stopped short； then backed slowly
and regarded the Gnat with scorn。
〃Why； you tiny； little； mean； insignificant
creature you； how DARE you speak to ME？〃 he
raged。
〃How dare I speak to you？〃 repeated the
Gnat quietly。 〃By the virtue of RIGHT； which
is always greater than MIGHT。 Why don't you
keep to your own part of the forest？ What
right have you to be here； disturbing folks at
this time of night？〃
By a mighty effort the Lion restrained his
angerhe knew that to obtain mastery over
others one must be master over oneself。
〃What RIGHT？〃 he repeated in dignified tones。
〃BECAUSE I'M KING OF THE FOREST。 That's why。
I can do no wrong； for all the other creatures of
the forest are afraid of me。 I DO what I please；
I SAY what I please； I EAT whom I please； I GO
where I pleasesimply because I'm King of the
Forest。〃
〃But who told you you were King？〃 demanded
the Gnat。 〃Just answer me that！〃
〃Who told ME？〃 roared the Lion。 〃Why；
everyone acknowledges itdon't I tell you that
everyone is afraid of me？〃
〃Indeed！〃 cried the Gnat disdainfully