I.
Preparation.
A story of two sisters who lived with their mother in a little house in the woods. Their work and play. A bear came to the house and became their friend. A wicked dwarf did wrong and was punished. Talk of home in the woods, garden. Explainwidow.
Narration.
Once upon a time, in a little house in the woods, there lived a poor widow. The widow had a garden and in the garden were two beautiful rose bushes. On one of these bushes there grew lovely red roses; on the other the roses were as white as snow.
The widow had two daughters, who were both so sweet that she named them after the roses. One of the daughters she called Snow-white and the other Rose-red.
The children were both obedient and industrious, yet they were not quite alike. Snow-white was quiet and gentle and fond of staying in the house with her mother. Rose-red enjoyed running about the fields in search of flowers and butterflies.
Snow-white and Rose-red helped their mother to keep the little house clean and neat. They made the fire in the morning. They filled the kettle with water from the spring and hung it over the fire. It was a very bright little kettle, for it was made of copper and was polished till it shone like gold.
After breakfast the sisters worked cheerfully together. Each one had her share of the work. When that was done they learned their lessons and did their sewing and knitting. In all this their mother was their kind teacher and helper.
Suggestions.
The sisters’ work. Homes mentioned in other stories. Fire-place mentioned in other stories. Garden. Copper kettle.Comparison with home in “Mother Frost.” Talk of love and helpfulness in the home.
The sisters’ work. Homes mentioned in other stories. Fire-place mentioned in other stories. Garden. Copper kettle.
Comparison with home in “Mother Frost.” Talk of love and helpfulness in the home.
II.
Preparation.
Talk of play and playmates in the woods.
Narration.
Snow-white and Rose-red often played in the woods together. They ran about and played hide and seek among the trees. They waded in the little river. When they were tired of running about and sat down to rest, they made wreaths of flowers or leaves which they wore upon their heads.
Not one of the animals was afraid of them. The hares ate cabbage leaves out of their hands. The deer ate grass by their side. The squirrels knew the sisters well and came to eat the nuts they brought for them. The birds, too, loved them and went on building their nests or feeding their young ones. At the same time the birds sang their sweetest songs for Rose-red and Snow-white.
Suggestions.
The hare, the deer, the squirrel,—appearance, habits, home, use to man. Compare, for size and strength, with other animals known to the children.
The hare, the deer, the squirrel,—appearance, habits, home, use to man. Compare, for size and strength, with other animals known to the children.
III.
Preparation.
A bear comes to the house. Talk of bears the children have seen.
Explaindwarf,treasure.
Narration.
It was a cold, stormy night in winter. Snow-white, Rose-red and their mother sat by the fire.
The sisters were knitting while their mother read stories to them as they worked. A pet lamb lay at their feet and a dove perched upon the shelf above the fire-place.
Outside, the wind was howling and the snow fell fast. But it was warm and bright in the snug little house.
Suddenly there was a noise at the door. The mother stopped reading and listened. She heard the noise again and said, “Some poor traveler is lost in this fearful storm. Run, dear Snow-white, and let him in.”
Snow-white jumped up and opened the door. In came, not a man, but a big, shaggy bear.
Oh, how frightened the children were! They clung to their mother and hid their faces in her dress. The lamb trembled and bleated. The dove woke up in a fright and flew about the room.
Presently the bear said, “Do not be afraid. I will not harm any of you.” The mother answered, “I am sure you will not. Come, children, do not be afraid. This is a kind, friendly bear.”
Then the mother told the bear to come close to the fire. When the children saw him stretched out on the floor, like a great dog, they lost their fear of him. Rose-red ran and fetched the broom to brush the snow from his coat.
The poor bear was very cold; but he soon grew warm before the bright fire. The children were not at all afraid of him now, but got upon his back and rolled off on the floor. The bear enjoyed the fun as much as they did. Only, when they pulled his rough coat too hard, he would say, “Do not hurt your old friend, my dears.”
When bed time came the mother said, “I cannot think of turning you out this stormy night. Stay here by the fire.” The bear thanked her and stretched out on the warm hearthstone.
In the morning the children opened the door for him, and off he trotted into the woods.
After that the bear came every evening. He lay down before the fire and the children played with him until it was time to go to bed.
The winter passed by. The green grass was springing up in the meadows, the tiny buds were breaking out into leaves and blossoms on the trees.
One morning the bear said, “Children, I must say good-bye to you. I am going away and you will not see me again until next winter.” “Oh, where are you going, dear bear?” said Snow-white. “I am going far away into the forest,” he answered. “There are many precious things buried in the ground. In winter they are safe under the frozen earth. In the summer, when the sun has made the ground soft, it will be easy for the wicked dwarfs who live in the forest to dig down and take what I have buried. So I must go to watch over my treasures.”
The children felt very sad as they said good-bye to their dear playmate; but he promised to come back.
As he went out the latch of the door caught in his rough coat and tore it. Snow-white thought that she saw something like gold glittering under the shaggy hair; but she was not sure, for the bear trotted away very quickly and soon disappeared among the trees.
Suggestions.
The bear,—appearance, home, habits, use to man, etc. The seasons—Spring, Winter.Kindness and hospitality as shown in the story.
The bear,—appearance, home, habits, use to man, etc. The seasons—Spring, Winter.
Kindness and hospitality as shown in the story.
IV.
Preparation.
The sisters see a dwarf who is in trouble. Recall explanation ofdwarf. Imagine in what trouble he might be. Explainwedge.
Narration.
One day, not long after the bear had gone away, the mother sent Snow-white and Rose-red into the woods to gather sticks. They saw a big tree which the wind had blown down. As they drew near it they noticed something jumping up and down on the fallen tree-trunk. At first they could not tell what it was; but, when they went nearer, they saw it was a little dwarf with a wrinkled face and a long, white beard.
The tree was split from top to bottom and the dwarf’s beard was caught and held fast in the crack. He was jumping about at a great rate, but he could not get free.
It was really a funny sight to see the dwarf hopping about, and Snow-white and Rose-red could not keep from laughing. This made the dwarf very angry. He cried out, “Why are you standing there laughing instead of coming to help me?”
The children, as you know, were kind-hearted; and when they saw how the dwarf felt they pitied him.
“Poor little man!” said Rose-red, “how did this happen?”
“Stupid thing,” said the dwarf, “what a silly question. I was trying to split this tree that I might get wood for my fire. I drove my wedge into the tree, but the wedge flew out. Asthe crack closed up again it caught my beard and holds it so tight I cannot get it out.”
The children wished to help the poor dwarf. They went up to him and tried to pull his beard out of the tree, but all their pulling was of no use. “I will go home and get my mother,” said Rose-red. “No, no,” shouted the dwarf, “do not bring any more people here.” “I think I can help you,” said Snow-white. She took a little pair of scissors out of her pocket and cut the dwarf’s beard off close to the tree.
No sooner was he free than he caught up a bag full of gold which was lying among the roots of the tree, swung it over his shoulder, and walked away.
As he went he said something about stupid children who had cut his beautiful white beard. And so, grumbling and without one word of thanks, he was soon out of sight.
Suggestions.
Kindness. Unthankfulness.
Kindness. Unthankfulness.
V.
Preparation.
The dwarf in trouble again. The children imagine what his trouble may be. Explanation ofriver-bank. Explainrushes.
Narration.
One pleasant summer day Snow-white and Rose-red went down to the river. As they sat on the bank they saw something which they thought was a big grasshopper jumping about. They went closer, to see what it could be, and then they saw it was the dwarf.
“What are you doing?” asked Rose-red; “are you trying to jump into the water?” “Do you take me for a fool?” cried the dwarf. “Don’t you see that this fish is trying to drag me into the river?”
Sure enough, the children saw that the dwarf was in trouble again. He was fishing, and the wind had blown his long beard about so that it had become tangled in the fish line. A large fish was caught upon the hook, and it was pulling as hard as it could to get away.
The dwarf held on by one hand to the rushes on the river bank, while with the other hand he tried to untangle his beard from the line. But the fish was stronger than the dwarf, and if the sisters had not held on to him with all their might he would surely have been dragged into the water and drowned.
They tried hard to free him, but could not. Snow-white had to take out her little scissors again, and this time she had to cut off a long piece of the dwarf’s beard. The dwarf was saved, but he was in a great rage because his beard was cut.He jumped about and scolded the children until he was tired.
Then he lifted up a bag of pearls, which he had hidden among the rushes. Throwing it over his shoulder, he went off.
Suggestions.
Talk of rivers seen by members of the class, the uses of rivers, fishing, etc.Kindness of Snow-white and Rose-red. Unthankfulness of the dwarf.
Talk of rivers seen by members of the class, the uses of rivers, fishing, etc.
Kindness of Snow-white and Rose-red. Unthankfulness of the dwarf.
VI.
Preparation.
The dwarf is saved from an eagle. What danger the dwarf could be in and how he could be saved. Recall former mention ofeagle.
Narration.
One afternoon the mother sent Snow-white and Rose-red to town to buy some things for her. They walked through the woods and finally came to an open place. No trees grew here. It was covered with bushes, and great rocks were lying about.
As the children walked along they saw an eagle flying in great circles in the sky. At last he pounced down upon something. What it was the sisters could not see, but theyheard loud cries for help. Snow-white and Rose-red ran to the spot from which the cries came. And then they saw the poor dwarf in great trouble.
The eagle had him in his strong claws and was carrying him away. The children caught hold of the dwarf’s coat and held on with all their might. The big bird beat them with his great wings. He pecked at them with his strong bill, but they hung on to the dwarf’s coat. At last the eagle let the dwarf go and flew away.
At first the dwarf could not speak, but stood trembling with fright. When he was able to speak he said in a fretful voice, “What do you mean by being so rough? See, you have torn my beautiful brown coat nearly off my back!”
Then he turned from them, picked up a bag, flung it over his shoulder, and went off. The children could hear him scolding about his beautiful brown coat as he went.
Suggestions.
The eagle, its habits, etc.The bravery of Rose-red and Snow-white.
The eagle, its habits, etc.
The bravery of Rose-red and Snow-white.
VII.
Preparation.
The dwarf is punished for wrong doing. Snow-white and Rose-red see the bear again.
Recall the bear’s visit and the reason of his going away.
Explainprecious stones.
Narration.
After Snow-white and Rose-red had seen the dwarf disappear behind the rocks they went on to town. They got the things for which they were sent and started back on their way home.
As they were walking along they saw the dwarf. He was sitting among the rocks. He had emptied the bag of precious stones upon the ground and was admiring them. How the stones sparkled and flashed in the sunlight! Snow-white and Rose-red stopped to admire them, too.
“What are you staring at?” cried the dwarf. “Go on about your business.” He sprang to his feet as if to drive them away, when all at once a terrible growl was heard and a big brown bear rushed out of the bushes.
The dwarf tried to run away, but the bear stood right in his path. Then the dwarf began to beg in a trembling voice, “O, dear Mr. Bear,” he said, “spare my life. I am such a poor little creature. I would not be a mouthful for you. See, here are two nice, plump little girls. Eat them instead of me.” But the bear paid no attention to him. Without a word helifted up his fore paw and with one blow laid the dwarf dead upon the ground.
Snow-white and Rose-red, in a great fright, were running away; but the bear called to them, “Snow-white, Rose-red, do not be afraid; it is I, your old friend and playmate.”
They knew his voice and stopped to wait for him. But imagine how surprised they were when the shaggy bearskin fell to the ground and, instead of a big bear, a handsome young man in splendid dress stood before them!
“I am a king’s son,” he said; “and that wicked dwarf changed me into a bear and robbed me of nearly all my treasures. I have been obliged to wander about in the woods. At last he is dead and I am free.”
Not many years afterwards Snow-white was married to the prince and Rose-red to his brother.
The sisters took their dear mother to live with them in the prince’s palace, and they all lived happily forever after.
The rose bushes were taken to the new home and planted in the palace garden. There, year after year, they bore sweet red and white roses—just as they had done in the little garden in the woods.
Suggestions.
Punishment. Gratitude.Explainprince,king,palace.
Punishment. Gratitude.
Explainprince,king,palace.