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and the commons。 And then the commons
rose up and cried that he should be king； and
that they would slay any who denied him。
So Arthur became king of Britain； and all
gave him allegiance。
TARPEIA
There was once a girl named Tarpeia； whose
father was guard of the outer gate of the citadel
of Rome。 It was a time of war；the Sabines
were besieging the city。 Their camp was close
outside the city wall。
Tarpeia used to see the Sabine soldiers when
she went to draw water from the public well；
for that was outside the gate。 And sometimes
she stayed about and let the strange men talk
with her； because she liked to look at their
bright silver ornaments。 The Sabine soldiers
wore heavy silver rings and bracelets on their
left arms；some wore as many as four or five。
The soldiers knew she was the daughter of the
keeper of the citadel； and they saw that she had
greedy eyes for their ornaments。 So day by
day they talked with her； and showed her their
silver rings； and tempted her。 And at last Tarpeia
made a bargain； to betray her city to them。
She said she would unlock the great gate and
let them in； IF THEY WOULD GIVE HER WHAT THEY WORE
ON THEIR LEFT ARMS。
The night came。 When it was perfectly dark
and still； Tarpeia stole from her bed； took the
great key from its place； and silently unlocked
the gate which protected the city。 Outside； in
the dark； stood the soldiers of the enemy； waiting。
As she opened the gate； the long shadowy files
pressed forward silently； and the Sabines
entered the citadel。
As the first man came inside； Tarpeia stretched
forth her hand for her price。 The soldier lifted
high his left arm。 〃Take thy reward！〃 he said；
and as he spoke he hurled upon her that which
he wore upon it。 Down upon her head crashed
not the silver rings of the soldier； but the
great brass shield he carried in battle！
She sank beneath it； to the ground。
〃Take thy reward；〃 said the next； and his
shield rang against the first。
〃Thy reward；〃 said the nextand the next
and the nextand the next； every man wore
his shield on his left arm。
So Tarpeia lay buried beneath the reward
she had claimed； and the Sabines marched past
her dead body； into the city she had betrayed。
THE BUCKWHEAT＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen。
Down by the river were fields of barley and
rye and golden oats。 Wheat grew there； too；
and the heaviest and richest ears bent lowest；
in humility。 Opposite the corn was a field of
buckwheat； but the buckwheat never bent； it
held its head proud and stiff on the stem。
The wise old willow…tree by the river looked
down on the fields； and thought his thoughts。
One day a dreadful storm came。 The field…
flowers folded their leaves together； and bowed
their heads。 But the buckwheat stood straight
and proud。
〃Bend your head； as we do；〃 called the field…
flowers。
〃I have no need to；〃 said the buckwheat。
〃Bend your head； as we do！〃 warned the
golden wheat…ears； 〃the angel of the storm is
coming； he will strike you down。〃
〃I will not bend my head；〃 said the buckwheat。
Then the old willow…tree spoke： 〃Close your
flowers and bend your leaves。 Do not look at
the lightning when the cloud bursts。 Even men
cannot do that； the sight of heaven would strike
them blind。 Much less can we who are so
inferior to them！〃
〃‘Inferior；' indeed！〃 said the buckwheat。
〃Now I WILL look！〃 And he looked straight
up； while the lightning flashed across the sky。
When the dreadful storm had passed； the
flowers and the wheat raised their drooping
heads； clean and refreshed in the pure； sweet
air。 The willow…tree shook the gentle drops
from its leaves。
But the buckwheat lay like a weed in the
field； scorched black by the lightning。
THE JUDGMENT OF MIDAS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Old Greek Folk…Stories； by Josephine Preston
Peabody。 （Harrap & Co。 9d。）
The Greek God Pan； the god of the open air；
was a great musician。 He played on a pipe of
reeds。 And the sound of his reed…pipe was so
sweet that he grew proud； and believed himself
greater than the chief musician of the gods；
Apollo； the son…god。 So he challenged great
Apollo to make better music than he。
Apollo consented to the test； for he wished to
punish Pan's vanity； and they chose the mountain
Tmolus for judge； since no one is so old and
wise as the hills。
When Pan and Apollo came before Tmolus；
to play； their followers came with them； to hear；
and one of those who came with Pan was a
mortal named Midas。
First Pan played； he blew on his reed…pipe；
and out came a tune so wild and yet so coaxing
that the birds hopped from the trees to get near；
the squirrels came running from their holes；
and the very trees swayed as if they wanted to
dance。 The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the
melody tickled their furry little ears。 And
Midas thought it the sweetest music in the
world。
Then Apollo rose。 His hair shook drops of
light from its curls； his robes were like the
edge of the sunset cloud； in his hands he held
a golden lyre。 And when he touched the
strings of the lyre； such music stole upon the
air as never god nor mortal heard before。 The
wild creatures of the wood crouched still as
stone； the trees kept every leaf from rustling；
earth and air were silent as a dream。 To hear
such music cease was like bidding farewell to
father and mother。
When the charm was broken； the hearers
fell at Apollo's feet and proclaimed the victory
his。 All but Midas。 He alone would not
admit that the music was better than Pan's。
〃If thine ears are so dull； mortal；〃 said
Apollo； 〃they shall take the shape that suits
them。〃 And he touched the ears of Midas。
And straightway the dull ears grew long；
pointed； and furry； and they turned this way
and that。 They were the ears of an ass！
For a long time Midas managed to hide
the tell…tale ears from everyone； but at last a
servant discovered the secret。 He knew he
must not tell； yet he could not bear not to；
so one day he went into the meadow； scooped
a little hollow in the turf； and whispered the
secret into the earth。 Then he covered it up
again； and went away。 But； alas； a bed of
reeds sprang up from the spot； and whispered
the secret to the grass。 The grass told it to
the tree…tops； the tree…tops to the little birds；
and they cried it all abroad。
And to this day； when the wind sets the
reeds nodding together； they whisper； laughing；
〃Midas has the ears of an ass！ Oh； hush；
hush！〃
WHY THE SEA IS SALT＇1＇
＇1＇ There are many versions of this tale； in different
collections。 This one is the story which grew up in my mind；
about the bare outline related to me by one of Mrs Rutan's
hearers。 What the original teller said； I never