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When he began to swim he swam out to where the river was the very
deepest。 There he stopped； and said；
〃Oh； Jackal！〃
〃Yes；〃 said the little Jackal。 〃I have the strangest feeling；〃 said the
Camel；〃I feel as if I must roll over。〃
〃‘Roll over'！〃 cried the Jackal。 〃My goodness； don't do that！ If you do
that； you'll drown me！ What in the world makes you want to do such a
crazy thing？ Why should you want to roll over？〃
〃Oh； I don't know WHY；〃 said the Camel slowly； 〃but I always roll
over after dinner！〃
So he rolled over。
And the little Jackal was drowned； for his sins； but the Camel came
safely home。
THE GULLS OF SALT LAKE
The story I am going to tell you is about something that really
happened； many years ago； when most of the mothers and fathers of the
children here were not born； themselves。 At that time； nearly all the people
in the United States lived between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi
River。 Beyond were plains； reaching to the foot of the mighty Rocky
Mountains； where Indians and wild beasts roamed。 The only white men
there were a few hunters and trappers。
One year a brave little company of people traveled across the plains in
big covered wagons with many horses； and finally succeeded in climbing
to the top of the great Rockies and down again into a valley in the very
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midst of the mountains。 It was a valley of brown； bare； desert soil； in a
climate where almost no rain falls； but the snows on the mountain…tops
sent down little streams of pure water； the winds were gentle； and lying
like a blue jewel at the foot of the western hills was a marvelous lake of
salt water；an inland sea。 So the pioneers settled there and built them huts
and cabins for the first winter。
It had taken them many months to make the terrible journey； many had
died of weariness and illness on the way； many died of hardship during the
winter； and the provisions they had brought in their wagons were so nearly
gone that； by spring； they were living partly on roots； dug from the ground。
All their lives now depended on the crops of grain and vegetables which
they could raise in the valley。 They made the barren land good by
spreading water from the little streams over it；what we call 〃irrigating；〃
and they planted enough corn and grain and vegetables for all the people。
Every one helped； and every one watched for the sprouting； with hopes；
and prayers； and careful eyes。
In good time the seeds sprouted； and the dry； brown earth was covered
with a carpet of tender； green； growing things。 No farmer's garden at home
in the East could have looked better than the great garden of the desert
valley。 And from day to day the little shoots grew and flourished till they
were all well above the ground。
Then a terrible thing happened。 One day the men who were watering
the crops saw a great number of crickets swarming over the ground at the
edge of the gardens nearest the mountains。 They were hopping from the
barren places into the young； green crops； and as they settled down they
ate the tiny shoots and leaves to the ground。 More came； and more； and
ever more； and as they came they spread out till they covered a big corner
of the grain field。 And still more and more； till it was like an army of black；
hopping； crawling crickets； streaming down the side of the mountain to
kill the crops。
The men tried to kill the crickets by beating the ground； but the
numbers were so great that it was like beating at the sea。 Then they ran
and told the terrible news； and all the village came to help。 They started
fires； they dug trenches and filled them with water； they ran wildly about
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in the fields； killing what they could。 But while they fought in one place
new armies of crickets marched down the mountain… sides and attacked
the fields in other places。 And at last the people fell on their knees and
wept and cried in despair； for they saw starvation and death in the fields。
A few knelt to pray。 Others gathered round and joined them； weeping。
More left their useless struggles and knelt beside their neighbors。 At last
nearly all the people were kneeling on the desolate fields praying for
deliverance from the plague of crickets。
Suddenly； from far off in the air toward the great salt lake； there was
the sound of flapping wings。 It grew louder。 Some of the people looked up；
startled。 They saw； like a white cloud rising from the lake； a flock of sea
gulls flying toward them。 Snow…white in the sun； with great wings beating
and soaring； in hundreds and hundreds； they rose and circled and came on。
〃The gulls！ the gulls！〃 was the cry。 〃What does it mean？〃
The gulls flew overhead； with a shrill chorus of whimpering cries； and
then； in a marvelous white cloud of spread wings and hovering breasts；
they settled down over the seeded ground。
〃Oh！ woe！ woe！〃 cried the people。 〃The gulls are eating what the
crickets have left！ they will strip root and branch！〃
But all at once； some one called out；
〃No； no！ See！ they are eating the crickets！ They are eating only the
crickets！〃
It was true。 The gulls devoured the crickets in dozens； in hundreds； in
swarms。 They ate until they were gorged； and then they flew heavily back
to the lake； only to come again with new appetite。 And when at last they
finished； they had stripped the fields of the cricket army； and the people
were saved。
To this day； in the beautiful city of Salt Lake； which grew out of that
pioneer village； the little children are taught to love the sea gulls。 And
when they learn drawing and weaving in the schools； their first design is
often a picture of a cricket and a gull。
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THE NIGHTINGALE＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen。
A long； long time ago； as long ago as when there were fairies； there
lived an emperor in China； who had a most beautiful palace； all made of
crystal。 Out