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English Pages [312] Year 1970
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CHILDREN
EVERYWHERE
Digitized by the Internet Archive in
2010
http://www.archive.org/details/childreneverywheOOfiel
CHILDREN EVERYWHERE The 1970 Childcraft Annual An Annual Supplement Childcraft
to
— The How and Why Library
Field Enterprises Educational Corporation Chicago
London
Rome
Sydney
Toronto
Copyright
©
1970 by
Field Enterprises Educational Corporation
Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago,
Illinois
60654
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-25105
Acknowledgments publishers of Childcraft—Tke How and Why Library gratefully acknowledge the courtesy of the following pub-
The
lishers, agencies,
and authors
for
1968 by Fukuinkan
Tokyo
Shoten, Publishers,
permission to use copy-
W.
J. Gage Limited: "A Bowl of Peas" by David J. Wright, condensed from Rubaboo 3, 1964 by W. J. Gage Limited
righted stories.
©
ACUM
©
©
Japanese language Life with Tom,
Ltd.: "Call Across the Border" by Devora Omer, 1959 by Devora Omer, Israel
Authors' Agency Ltd.: "Near or Far" by Czestaw Janczarski, originally published in Polish under the title Blisko czy daleko by Nasza Ksiegarnia, Warsaw, 1955
Goulimis. Alki: "Spiridoula's Gift" by Alki Goulimis, adapted and translated from the Greek language The Two Anchors and Other Stories, copyright by Alki Goulimis. All rights reserved by the author. This story may not be reproduced
without written permission from the author Institute for the Intellectual
Development
of Children
and
Bureau Hongrois pour la Protection des Droits D'Auteur: "A Hunting Adventure" by Lestyan Sandor, originally published in Hungarian under the title "Vadaszkaland" in Sziilof-'ildiink, copyright 1966 by Tankbnyvkiado, Budapest
Young
Burke Publishing Company Ltd.: "Nils Karlsson, the Elf" by Astrid Lindgren, originally published in Swedish under
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.: "Martin's Discovery" from Up Hill and Down by Elizabeth Coatsworth, copyright 1946, 1947 by Elizabeth Coatsworth, reprinted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. and Elizabeth Coatsworth
the
title
"Nils Karlsson
© Astrid Lindgren, under the
title
— Pyssling" in Sils Karlsson — Pyssling,
first
published in English by Burke Books
Adults: "After Winter in Our Village" by Siavoosh
Kasrai, illustrated by Hooshang Maleknia, copyright 1967 by the Publications Department of the Institute for the Intellectual
Development
of Children
and Young Adults
"Simon Small Moves In" Koenig,
& C: "The
Snake" by Angela Latini, originally published in Italian under the title "S. Giuseppe, la prima serpe" in Opie, ragazzo serparo by Casa Casa- Editrice G. B. Paravia
Editrice G. B. Paravia
& C,
First
Lilli:
Little Marmot" by Lilli KoeGerman under the title "Raimi
"Raimi and the
nig, originally published in
und das Murmele" Koenig
in Kleiiies Volk,
copyright 1959 by LilH
Turin Ltd.: "The Adventures of Coalpot" adapted 1966 by from The Adventures of Coalpot by Nana Adoma,
Longman Group Book Trust: "The Big Guest" adapted from Life with Grandfather by Shankar, © 1965 by Children's Book Children's
Trust,
New
©
Longman Group
Ltd.
Delhi
My
Younger Sister" by Vaclav Ctvrtek, originally published in Czech under the title "Kveta je ma mladsi sestra" in Ohn'ieek, ©) 1969 by Vaclav Ctvrtek Ctvrtek, Vaclav; "Kveta Is
East African Publishing House: "The Magic Stone" from The Magic Stone and Other Stories by John M. Ibongia and M. Dobrin, 1967 by East African Publishing House, Nairobi
©
Methuen & Co. Ltd.: "Simpey's Friend" adapted from Simpey and His Grandmother by Elisabeth Roberts, courtesy of
Methuen & Co.
Ltd.,
London
Friedrich Middelhauve Verlag: "Helmut in the City" by Gunter Herburger, originally published in German under the title "Helmut in der Stadt" in Dichter Erzahlen Kindern, 36
by German authors, edited by Gertraud Mid1966 by Friedrich Middelhauve Verlag, Cologne
original stories
delhauve,
©
Zealand Department of Education: "Hogmanay" from
Editions
New
Paris
Crispies by Naomi Mitchison, first published in the School Journal by School Publications Branch, Department of Education, New Zealand, and "Life in Five Rivers"
la Farandole: "The Treasures of Farfounet" by Maurice Jean, originally published in French under the title Les Tresors de Farfounet, © 1963 by Editions la Farandole,
Editorial Sigmar S. A.: "Cipriano the Confused"
by Luis
Destuet, originally published in Spanish under the title "Cipriano el distraido" in Ganchos y gauchitos, copyright 1964
by
Editorial Sigmar S. A.,
Buenos Aires
Fukuinkan Shoten, Publishers: "With Love from Akira and Tom" by Momoko Ishii, adapted and translated from the
Henny and
by Samuel Selvon, adapted from Jamaica Boy by S. C. George, published by School Publications Branch, Department of Education, New Zealand Pilgrim Books Ltd.: "The Flight from Home" adapted from The Adventures of Souza, The Village Lad by Kola Onadipe, 1963 by Kola Onadipe. courtesy of Pilgrim Books Ltd.,
©
agents for African Universities Press
Preface
Well-written,
well-illustrated
literature
for
chil-
dren stimulates imagination, promotes creativity,
adds to knowledge, and above
all,
develops a
life-
With these purposes in Childcraft— The How and
long appreciation for books.
mind, the Editors of
Why
Library planned Children Everywhere to be a unique collection of stories and illustrations for children. Each story was selected on the basis of its literary quality and the accuracy with which it
portrays an aspect of the national character of
each country, seen through the lives of contem-
porary children. Almost
the stories in this vol-
written by native authors and
ume were trated
all
by native
artists.
The
rest
illus-
were prepared
familiar with the countries represented.
by people
Thus, through Children Everywhere, the Editors hope that readers will gain a feeling for both the differences
and
similarities of people in the
more
than 25 countries portrayed.
Children
Everywhere was a
truly
international
project, involving experts in children's literature
throughout the world. For this reason, our thanks go out to the people— everywhere— who made this
volume
possible.
Editorial Advisory
Board
CHILDCRAFT~THE
HOW AND WHY
for
LIBRARY
William H. Nault, A.B., M.A.. Ed.D.
Leiand Jacobs, Ph.D.
General Chairman, Editorial Advisory Boards,
Professor of Education,
Department
Field Enterprises Educational Corporation
of
Curriculum and Teaching,
Teachers College, Columbia University Millon E. Akers, Ed.D.
D. Keith Osborn. Ph.D.
Executive Director, National Association for the Education of
Joseph R. Christian, M.D. of
Children,
Professor of Child Development and Professor of Education,
Washington, D.C.
Chairman
Young
University of Georgia
Division of Pediatrics,
Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital,
Chicago, Illinois
Special Consultant for Children
Harold D. Drummond. Ed.D. Professor of Elementary Education,
University of
New
Mexico
Anne
Everyuhere
Pellowski, B.A., M.S.L.S.
Director, Information Center on Children's Cultures,
U.S. Committee for
UNICEF
Editorial Director
Art Staff
William H. Nault, Ed.D.
Executive Art Director
Gordon
J.
Kwiatkowski
Associate Art Director Clifford L. Birklund
Editorial Staff Executive Editor
Assistant Art Director for Children
Robert O. Zeleny, B.A.
Managing Editor
Artists
Richard A. Atwood, B.S.
David N. Carothers
Senior Editor for Children Everywhere
Barbara Corey
Robert M. Savage
Donald W. Ogilvie
Editors
Designer
Esther H. Zimmerer, M.S.J.
Ronald A. Stachowiak
Michael P. McGrath, M.A. Clela G. Stern, LL. B.
Photography Section
Donald E. Stebbing, Director Fred C. Eckhardt,
Research
&
Everywhere
Elizabeth Schon
Jr.,
Assistant Director
Art Production Section
Services
Director of Research
& Developmenl
Kenneth H. Petchenik. M.B.A.
Barbara
J.
McDonald,
B.S., Art Production Editor
Rita C. Jennings, Assistant Art Production Editor Alfred
J.
Mozdzen, Art Quality Control
Director of Educational Services
John Sternig, M.A. Director of Editorial Services Carl A.
Tamminen, M.A.
Manufacturing Staff Head, Jo
Editorial
Research
Ann McDonald,
B.S. in L.S.
Philip B. Hall, Executive Director
John M. Babrick, B.A., Pre-press Manager Permissions Editor Clare
J.
Atwood, B.A.
Henry Koval, B.A., Research Manager Joseph C. LaCount, Production Manager
CHILDREN EVERYWHERE Contents The Three Wishes (Ireland) Illustrations by Rowel Friers
Lynch
8
Nana Adoma
20
Annie M. G. Schmidt
30
Vladimir Zheleznikov
42
Patricia
The Adventures of Coalpot (Ghana) Illustrations by Meshack Asare
Wooden Shoes
(Netherlands)
....
Translated from the Dutch Illustrations
by Marijke de Graaf
The Cosmonaut
(Russia)
Translated from the Russian by Miriam Morton Illustrations
by
Naum
Josifovich Zeitlin
Simpey's Friend (England) Illustrations
Elisabeth Roberts
50
Samuel Selvon
60
Vytas Tamulaitis
68
by Charles Keeping
Life in Five Rivers (Trinidad) Illustrations
by
NanK
Little Peter's Flag (Lithuania)
Translated from the Lithuanian by Vytautis Tamulaitis, Illustrations
The Treasures
Jr.
by Zita Sodeika of Farfounet (France)
....
Maurice Jean
78
Translated from the French Illustrations
by Andr^ Frangois
The Magic Stone (Kenya) John M. Ibongia Illustrations by K. Francis Msangi .
Helmut
in the City
(Germany)
German by Horst Lemke
Translated from the Illustrations
.
.
& M.
Dobrin
88
Giinter Herburger
96
Contents
6 I
The Big Guest Illustrations
A Bowl
of
Shankar
108
Wright
114
Czesiaw Janczarski
124
Devora Omer
130
Luis Destuet
140
Lestyan Sandor
148
Elizabeth Coatsworth
158
Naomi Mitchison
170
(India)
by Pulak Biswas
David
Peas (Canada)
Illustrations
J.
by Hugh McClelland
Near or Far (Poland)
Adapted from the Polish Illustrations by Olga Siemaszko Call Across the Border (Israel)
Hebrew by David by Symeon Shimin
Translated from the Illustrations
S.
Segal
Cipriano the Confused (Argentina)
Translated from the Spanish Illustrations
by
Lilian Obligado
A Hunting Adventure (Hungary) Translated from the Magyar Illustrations
by Janos Kass
Martin's Discovery (United States) Illustrations
Hogmanay
.
by Barbara Cooney
by Margery Jean
With Love from Akira and
Tom
Gill
(Japan)
Translated from the Japanese by Illustrations
First
.
(Scotland)
Illustrations
The
.
.... Momoko
Ishii
180
Angela Latini
192
Kola Onadipe
200
Ann Herring
by Koko Fukazawa
Snake
(Italy)
Translated from the Italian Illustrations
The
by Ugo Fontana
Flight from
Illustrations
Home
(Nigeria)
by Bruce Onobrakpeya
Contents
Nils Karlsson, the Elf (Sweden)
Astrid Lindgren
Translated from the Swedish by Florence
by Hon Wikland
Illustrations
Crucita and
208
Lamborn
Her Piggy Bank (Mexico)
.
.
Aurora R. G. de Braniff
220
Translated from the Spanish by Eugenia Shepperd Illustrations
Kveta
Is
My
by
Leticia Tarrago V
Younger Sister (Czechoslovakia)
Vaclav Ctvrtek
232
C. Alabado
238
Alki Goulimis
246
E. L. Konigsburg
254
Ivan Southall
264
U
274
Koenig
282
Siavoosh Kasrai
288
.
.
Translated from the Czech Illustrations
Christmas
by Vladimir Fuka Hervert
in a Little Barrio (Philippines)
Illustrations
.
.
Ceres
S.
by Rod Perez
Spiridoula's Gift (Greece)
Translated from the Greek Illustrations
by George Varlamos
Inviting Jason (United States) Illustrations
by Marc Simont
The Glass Room Illustrations
(Australia)
by Edward Greenwood
The New Year Game (Formosa)
Yeh
Adapted from the Chinese Illustrations
by Liao Wei-lin
Marmot (Austria) Translated from the German
Raimi and the
Illustrations
Little
by
After Winter in
....
Lilli
Susi Weigel
Our
Village (Iran)
....
Translated from the Persian Illustrations
by Hooshang Maleknia
Hard Words
296
Author Index
303
|
7
The Three Wishes Ireland
by
I
Patricia
Lynch
Illustrations
A
by Rowel
leprechaun
like a tiny old
is
that
if
Friers
a kind of fairy
man. In
a leprechaun
is
who
looks
Ireland, people say
caught, he will
tell
where he has hidden his pot of gold.
Paudeen
was leaning against the
poked out liked best
just
over
it,
half-door,
wondering which sound he
—the waves rushing up the strand,
and more seaweed among the rocks; the the glowing turf; or the gay
hummed into the
head
his
little
tossing
more
kettle singing to
song his
sister
Peggy
as she swept the turf dust across the hearth
and
fire.
"Finished!"
cried
Peggy,
shaking
the
new heather
broom.
"And
that's the last of the turf!" declared Kevin,
who
had been bringing sods from the back of the cabin and stacking them neatly by the side of the hearth. He clapped his
hands to
rid
back to admire
"The bread's
them
of the
brown
turf dust
and stood
his work. cut.
What way is the kettle?" asked Mrs. who was standing at the table
Burke, the old grandmother,
cutting thick slices from the soda square she had baked the
night before.
"And that's will we do for
the end of the flour," she murmured.
"What
the next loaf? But sure, I've nearly finished
the best lace scarf I've
made
this year,
and we're
in
God's
good hands!"
As
for fat little
Paudeen, he gave up wondering and
trotted over to the table to get the crusty corner of the
bread.
10
The Three Wishes
"Greedy!" said
smoothed
his fair, tousled hair.
never heard
"I
grandmother. But she smiled and
his
tune
that
Peggy!" Kevin called over in a
before;
sing
his shoulder as
it
properly,
he ran to bring
bucket of water from the pump.
Peggy laughed. She was always
willing to sing. So she
stood with her feet close together and folded her hands, the
way
she was taught at school.
"Down by Green
Then she sang:
the Fairy Fort, four leaves:
little
Kneel and wish
Where
wave heaves;
the long
Wise be your wish. Wise be your wish, For folly grieves Kindness surely
Happiness weaves."
"That's not a song at "It doesn't
exclaimed Kevin scornfully.
mean anything!"
"Sing
it
"The
tay's ready
again!" ordered Paudeen.
Mrs. Burke.
Peggy
all!"
sat
and ye can sing
"Come down
day long," said old
along, Peggy!"
beside Paudeen.
"Sing!" cried the
"Whist! Whist!
all
little
boy, hammering on the table.
Ye bould boy! Ye mustn't be
yer big sister about
all
the time.
Isn't
ordering
she very good-
tempered to put up wid ye?" But while she scolded, she smiled.
Peggy sang the song other
end
listened,
of
the
so softly to
table,
could
him that Kevin at the
scarcely
hear.
Paudeen
with his head on one side and his lazy eyes half-
closed.
"Tis a rocks,"
quare song about the lucky four-leaf sham-
murmured
to find them, sure
did or, mebbe,
I
old Mrs. Burke. "Tis great good fortune
enough though
I
just dis-remember!"
never knew one that
Ireland
After breakfast Peggy washed the crocks and Kevin
went
dried them, while the grandmother
off to
the town
with some sewing she had finished.
"Remember now,"
she said, as she stood at the door and
looked back at them. "We'll
rock for the morning.
And
need our sprigs of sham-
all
while yez are looking, watch
Mind and take good
out for the four-leaf one.
care of
Paudeen."
"What would you wish
for
if
you found a
four-leaf
shamrock. Grannie?" asked Peggy.
The
woman
old
sighed.
"That's aisy answered, pet. I'd ax for a
and a well-stacked wid a
when
four-leaf
shamrock
an
luck went wid off
it!
Be good
me
lovely brooch of crystal
in the heart of
was young, an when
I
And
turf pile,
lost
I
children
that,
now
it,
I
lost
me good
while I'm away."
she went.
shamrock to
all
it
fill
with
suggested Peggy.
sell,"
"Who'd buy shamrock?" demanded the the sea,
that
sure
"Kevin! Let's take the market basket and
growing
cupboard
full
round them.
who must go
It's
boy. "Isn't
it
only folks like us, living by
searching."
Peggy shook her head. "I
remember
there were
last Patrick's
women
selling
Day, on the way to Mass,
shamrock down by the harbor
and they did a grand business with people coming boats and the ones who'd
left
home
in a
in
on the
hurry and had
forgotten their shamrock."
"Mebbe find
you're right," agreed Kevin. "But we'll never
enough to
"We
fill
the basket."
can try," declared Peggy. "I've seen heaps growing
beyond the Fairy Fort. Come along, Paudeen!"
me cart!" said Paudeen firmly. When Paudeen was so little he couldn't walk "In
had made him a cart out
of a
far,
Kevin
box mounted on four
little
11
12
The Three Wishes
wheels. still
Paudeen so
insisted
liked being pulled
round
that he
in it
on riding whenever they went further from
the cabin than the strand.
"You're too big to ride," Kevin told him.
you round another day." Paudeen's chubby face looked sorry for him. "Let terribly cold
and
and you can
pull
Kevin folded
him
he'll
be
"I'll
so sad that
not pull
Peggy was
ride this once," she coaxed. "It's
warm
in the cart.
I'll
pull going
coming back."
his
arms and glared at
"Are you so lazy because you're so
his little brother. fat or so fat because
you're so lazy?" he asked. "That's what
I
want
to
know."
"Kevin, you shouldn't tease Paudeen," objected Peggy. "He's only a
little
boy and you're
his big brother.
You're
supposed to look after him and be good to him."
She put a cushion into the cart and Paudeen settled
Then she wrapped him in an old plaid that only his solemn eyes and his little button
himself comfortably.
shawl so
Ireland
nose peeped out.
"The basket can go in too," said Peggy. Paudeen didn't mind. He wriggled down happily
into
the soft cushion and looked out from the shawl at the bitter
windy day.
Kevin had
fixed a double rope to the cart
slipping this over her head
"You watch
when he took
out for shamrock.
Paudeen smiled. He
I'll
it
and Peggy was from
her.
pull!" he told her.
by Kevin because he was bigger and stronger than Peggy and went faster. Kevin shivered as he left the shelter of the cabin and ran as quickly as he could up from the strand. Peggy raced ahead, making for the Fairy Fort, then slowing down as she came to where the sand ended and the grass began.
"Any shamrock?"
liked being pulled
called Kevin.
She shook her head. called back. "Just
"Only
tiny,
beyond the Fort
They had almost reached
scrubby bits," she
— that's the place!"
the Fort
when
the wind blew a
|
13
The Three Wishes
14 I
snowflake under the shawl against Paudeen's face.
opened
his
mouth
to roar indignantly
He
and swallowed an-
So he screwed his mouth up tight and wished he had
other.
stayed at
home by
the
fire.
Kevin swung the cart round to the back thrust
it
of the
Fort and
between two high rocks away from the wind.
"There you
are, lazy-bones,"
he said. "That's as snug as a
robin's nest!"
caught up the basket and ran after Peggy who had
He
already found a patch of shamrock.
Paudeen watched then
— as
brother and sister bend down,
his
a scurry of snow caught them
— make
for the
Not a snowflake fell on him in among the rocks and the thick shawl kept him warm. But, when Peggy and Kevin moved out of sight, Paudeen felt lonely. shelter of the trees.
He
called but the
Paudeen flung in
wind carried the sound away.
off
the shawl and climbed out of the cart
such a hurry that he rolled over.
He scrambled
to his
knees when he saw that he was in the middle of a patch of grass so
smooth and short
discovered,
shamrock
right at
it
was
like
green velvet.
Then he
the edge of the patch, a four-leaf
— one stem with four leaves at the
tip.
For a whole week Paudeen had heard so much about shamrock, three-leaf and four-leaf, that he knew he had
found a lucky one and that he must wish. His fingers closed on the slender stalk.
as well as for himself,
He wanted
and one
a wish for Peggy,
Kevin
for his grannie.
wasn't too bad a brother, he should have one too.
"Want three more four-leafs!" he wished. At once he saw three more of the lucky shamrocks growing round the smooth patch. again
when an angry
voice
He was about
to wish
came from behind him.
"Get out from me garden, ye young robber! Get out now!" Still
on
his knees,
Paudeen turned slowly round.
A
small
^^.%i^
man, not much bigger than himself, was standing by the Fort. He was dressed in green, with a leather apron and a long red cap. His face was twisted with anger and he
threatened Paudeen with a tiny hammer.
"You go away!"
ordered Paudeen and he reached out
for another of the lucky shamrocks.
The
little
man
leaped forward.
"Listen now," he said. "All ye want
ye yer wishes
if
ye lave
ye can kape. 'Tisn't
my
me
garden.
is
wishes.
The one
I'll
give
ye've taken,
growing, so ye're welcome to it!"
16
The Three Wishes
Paudeen looked at the lucky shamrock, then at the
man but he him many a
didn't say a word. His
when he
story
little
grandmother had told
couldn't go to sleep at night, so
Paudeen knew a great deal about the
Little People as she
called them.
"All
want
I
leprechaun.
know ye
make a
to
is
"An we might
well.
Haven't
she going along
Paudeen put
I
bargain," went on the
fair
as well be friendly.
heard yer
sister
Sure,
I
Peggy singing an
— a sweet, happy voice she has." his
hummed the tune The little man listened in
head on one side and
Peggy had sung that morning. angry amazement.
"Where did ye larn that tune? Ye've been spying on me, an now ye come robbin!" Paudeen shook
his head.
"Ye haven't much chat, so ye haven't!" declared the leprechaun. "But I'll fix ye three wishes now, that's what ye're entitled to. Wish away now!" Paudeen was puzzled. But surely he wanted four. Sud-
—
He
denly he smiled.
could hear Peggy singing. She and
Kevin were coming back. She'd
The leprechaun heard her
tell
him how he must wish.
too.
"Listen now!" he said. "Ye're that slow, till
Tibb's Eve, so
well-stacked turf she's of
I'll
pile,
wish for ye
—a
full
ye'll
cupboard and a
an yer grannie's lovely brooch that
always lamenting. That's enough for ye.
me garden!" He gave Paudeen
never wish
a push.
The
little
boy
Now
get out
rolled out of the
Fairy Ring and sat rubbing his eyes, for there was no
man, no
four-leaf
little
shamrocks to be seen, except the one he
clutched in his hand.
"We've
filled
the basket and we're nearly frozen!" called
Peggy. Then she saw Paudeen sitting on the grass, rubbing his eyes and, leaving
Kevin to carry the basket, she rushed
to her younger brother's help.
But he was on
his feet look-
Ireland
ing about
him
in
bewilderment before she reached him.
"Oh, poor Paudeen!" she cart? Are Silently
cried.
"Did you
fall
out of the
you hurt?" Paudeen opened
his
hand and showed her the
four-leaf shamrock.
"Aren't you the clever boy?" exclaimed Peggy admiringly.
"A
"What full
grannie's
will
you wish for?"
cupboard and a well-stacked turf lovely
brooch
that
pile,
an me
always lamenting,"
she's
answered Paudeen, scrambling into his cart and wrapping the shawl over his head.
"What's that you're
telling
me?" demanded Peggy.
—
"Gee up!" ordered Paudeen. Kevin came up with the basket packed with shamrock. "Paudeen found a lucky one," Peggy
"He
hasn't sense enough to wish for anything worth
having!" declared Kevin. "Wait
you
told him.
pull
— and
I'll
till
I fix
the basket, then
push."
The snow had stopped and the wind was behind them so they ran every step of the way home. They saw their grandmother crossing the strand ahead of them and called to her. She did not hear for she was staring at the back of the cabin and her mind was full of wonder. "Will ye look and see if I'm doting," she said when they reached her, pointing to a great turf pile as high as the cabin and every sod fixed evenly and firmly like a brick.
Kevin shook Paudeen.
his
He was
head
in
amazement. Peggy looked at
saying over and over to himself:
cupboard and a well-stacked turf
pile
an
me
"A
full
grannie's
lovely brooch that she's always lamenting."
The door of the press stood open and they saw that every shelf was packed. There was a bag of flour and one of oatmeal, a jar of raspberry jam They went
and a piece
into the cabin.
of
cooked lean bacon.
string of sausages curled
On
the broken plate, a
round a black pudding, and close
17
Ireland
19
beside stood a slab of cheese.
The old grandmother sat down in her wooden armchair and laid her arms on the table. "What luck has come to us this day?" she asked. "I never seen such riches since
I
lost
me
lovely brooch. And,
what's this?"
She
lifted
her hand, and there on the table, was a crystal
brooch with a four-leaf shamrock
in the heart of
it.
-^y )i'^^
Ji '^yj^
V)
r
•"
2V^
the work
she will want to be mistress of the kitchen."
"Let her work," Coalpot answered. "She
we
all
work and be mistress
is
young and
of the kitchen.
Ghana
We
will sit here
time.
We
Yaa and
with
tell
each other stories
all
29
the
have done our work."
Slowly Claystove began to smile. "You're right," she said.
"I don't want to be mistress here any more. Let the
electric stove
each other
all
do that.
I'll sit
the stories
"Good,"
said Coalpot.
"Good,"
said Yaa.
here with you and
we can
tell
we have ever heard."
She sat down and touched softly
first
Claystove and then Coalpot. All three smiled happily at
each other. "We're safe now," the
first
Yaa
said.
"Who
will
begin
story?"
.,>•:
fi"?''?-
^^m »
\K?/* .^/^0£n
\;MmL
.\
54
Simpey's Friend
"It's a
pink pig," he said
softly. "It's
very small, nearly
as small as a kitten."
Grandmother looked at the notice nailed "Bowling for the pig," she read out, "win him
Huh!" she
said scornfully.
"What kind red ring on
it
of
"A
to the tree. for sixpence.
likely story."
bowling?" asked Simpey. His nose had a
from the netting.
"They have wooden bottles to knock over, like skittles." Grandmother began to walk on quite quickly. "But we can play that." Simpey frowned deeply. He ran after Grandmother and caught her sleeve. "You're better at it than I am," he said urgently. "Come on." The man at the stall looked surprised when Grandmother handed him her sixpence.
—
"I should take
it
easy
if I
were you, dear," he
handed her three large wooden
said, as
he
balls.
"Nonsense!" Grandmother looked quite annoyed. She
^s^
FOR
i^^
1
// 1*!*
kft,
'i:
England
lifted
her chin and
Simpey her bag to
"Now The
made
herself look
very
to the bag
She handed
hold.
then," she demanded, "where do
skittles
tall.
looked a long
and bent
his
I
stand?"
way away. Simpey
head
till
held tight
he could only just see
through his eyelashes. "Well," said Grandmother, hitching up her
we
skirts,
"here
go!"
Her
skittles altogether.
bump
and missed the Almost at once she took aim and sent
first ball hit
a
her second ball hurtling skittles
were
left
down
in the grass
at such a rate that only
two
standing.
"Cor!" said the man.
"Now," said Grandmother, breathing hard. Simpey shut his eyes completely. He opened them to see all the skittles flat on the ground. Grandmother was rubbing her arm and whistling a little tune under her breath.
55
56
Simpey's Friend
"Well
I
never!" said the man.
"So what about the
little
pig?" Simpey asked him.
"Well now, we have to wait
man. so
many
"It's not
I'll
just take
till
that knocks
the fete closes," said the
them
your name and address.
down, though,
all
the one with
It's
the best score that wins the pig."
"Oh," Simpey nodded to himself. "It would be nice to call it
Arthur," he said. Then, "It's eaten a bit of your
handbag," he told Grandmother, as he gave
Grandmother chuckled.
"Let's
it
back.
go and get some
ice
cream," she suggested.
That evening they Grandmother's
flat.
sat together
on the window seat
They had seen every
in
bit of the fete.
Her feet were in a comfortable bowl of warm water. Simpey wore his dressing-gown and they were eating milk and biscuits. It was at that very moment that a little van drew up outside the house. Simpey looked out. Then he put his mug down carefully on the window ledge. "Grandmother," he said slowly, "you'd better put your
bedroom boots on
And
it
at once.
I
think our pig has come."
had.
The two men who brought it left the box in the kitchen. Before they went Grandmother spoke to them at the front door for quite a long time. When she came back, Simpey's nose had a red ring on
"Would you
it
like to let
again.
him out?" he
said.
"You
did the
skittling."
Grandmother looked around the kitchen thoughtfully. "All right,"
she said.
Then she bent down and un-
fastened the wooden door at the side of the box. Almost at once, the pig's pink sniffy face looked out.
He opened
his
arms wide and went towards
"Arthur," he said. "Hello,
my
little
Simpey
smiled.
it.
friend."
Arthur seemed very excited at the idea of making friends.
He
shot out of the box and darted across the
England
kitchen. His tiny feet
made tippy-tappy sounds on
hnoleum. Suddenly he stood
still
the
and looked up at Grand-
mother.
"Eek!" he
said.
"Hello, Arthur,"
Grandmother
said kindly.
"Eek! Eek!" said Arthur. "He's got a good loud voice," Simpey "Yes."
and went
said.
Grandmother stepped round Arthur to a cupboard.
something to eat," she
carefully
"I dare say he'd like a
little
said.
"I dare say he would," agreed Simpey.
In the end they
«
^
•
all
had some porridge. Arthur had
his
57
58
Simpey's Friend
on a
wouldn't stay
tin plate that
at one end of the kitchen floor other.
the
He was
still.
eating
it
up at the Grandmother mopped
and
a very quick eater.
He began finished
floor.
"I don't suppose he'd
Simpey
want
to play anything just
now?"
said.
"I think," said Grandmother, "it would be a good idea if
he went to bed early. He's had a very tiring day."
"He doesn't look very tired." Simpey gazed at who was sniffing in a corner. "You can't tell with pigs," said Grandmother. "Are you sleepy,
little
Arthur,
pig?" Simpey asked.
Arthur sat down. "I'll find
him something
"then tomorrow
he'll
to
lie
on," said Grandmother,
be ready for anything."
"Tomorrow." Simpey smiled at Arthur. The next morning they all had breakfast
in the kitchen.
Arthur the pig began chasing his plate again.
"Your egg is getting cold," said Grandmother. "You can talk to him afterwards." Simpey picked up his spoon. "I heard him in the night," he said. "He was squeaking and scrumbling about." "/ was doing the scrumbling," said Grandmother, "he's a very lively pig." She yawned a little. Then she said, "About Arthur—" "Arthur, Arthur, Arthur." Simpey was eating at a great rate.
"Yes, I'm glad as she
thing
moved is,"
the
we won him," continued Grandmother, cherry jam across to Simpey. "The only
she went on, "I don't think he can stay very
long."
Simpey put down There was silence
was
sniffing loudly
"Why
his spoon. in the kitchen,
under the
except for Arthur,
who
table.
not?" Simpey asked. His breakfast
felt
as though
England
it
was stuck halfway down.
"Ha — well,
it's
the
you
flat,
Grandmother.
see," said
"I'm not really supposed to keep a pig here at "I suppose said.
He was
it's
all."
the scrumbling in the night," Simpey
twiddling his spoon over and over on the
tablecloth.
"Yes. Besides," said Grandmother, "pigs ought to live
with other pigs."
"But
— " Simpey began.
"But," Grandmother said firmly, "I've had a good idea. I'll
ten you
all
about
it."
Then she explained that one
the
of
men who had
brought Arthur had a splendid farm, not very far away.
He had
said that the little pig could live there,
and
grandmother could
his
Simpey
sat up.
visit
and Simpey
him whenever they
"Has he got other
liked.
pigs for Arthur," he
asked, "and horses and cows and a hayfield?"
"The lot," said Grandmother. Simpey reached for the cherry jam. "He's going to be a lucky pig," he farm, and us visiting him
all
the time."
said,
"living
on a
]
59
61
Life in Five Rivers
Trinidad and Tobago
by Samuel Selvon Illustrations
by
People from
NanK
many
of Trinidad. If
lands live on the island
you
lived there,
your friends
and neighbors might be Negro, Hindu, Dutch, French, Chinese, or English.
There
are five streams flowing near the village in Trini-
dad where Sam
lived
when he was a
used the crystal-clear water for
Those
streams were as
five
all
boy. People
little
purposes.
much
a part of the village as
the huts and the people and the tracks they called streets.
That was why the settlement was known as Five Rivers. At that time, they didn't have any school or police
Sam used to walk about five miles carrying homemade bread and salted
station or electric lights. to the nearest school, fish in his satchel to
eat for lunch.
Every morning Sam waited boy who was
Popo was
Sam
his best friend.
seven,
used to
make Popo
usually got his
to play with
Popo, the
Sam was
little
Indian
nine years old and
and because he was smaller than Sam,
times Popo argued with
Sam
for
carry his books for him.
Sam about
this,
but
way when he promised
him and the
in the
to allow
older boys at school.
Many end
Popo
62
Life in Five Rivers
Until school closed for the August holidays, the children
much time to bother with what was going on in the village. Coming back from school that last day, Popo was full of excitement. He said to Sam, speaking in didn't have
the kind of broken English they were used to, "Plenty
we
have time to do plenty things." "Plenty things, yes!" Sam told him, "but I warning you front, that I don't want you hanging around me all the
holiday,
in
time.
You
will
still
a
little
boy."
Popo held Sam's hand. "I just be with you, because you always doing brave
"I won't do anything."
want
to
things.
Sam
And
getting big now."
I
hand away. "Ah, you too small
flung Popo's
have any
sense,
you always making
to
noise, or starting to
cry and say you want to go home."
you
"I promise
backwards
And Popo
won't make any noise." Popo walked
in front of
tell
Sam
went rambling
truth,
birds,
as they went home,
in the bush.
Popo
really wasn't.
and bathed
in the
They
streams or
There were many things to
of their favorite pastimes
in his laziness
way
face.
that he would be no trouble.
you the
hunted squirrels and
One
Sam, so he could talk to Sam's
continued walking that
trying to convince Well, to
I
was
to tease
do.
More Lazy, but
he ignored them so much that they soon
tired of that.
Popo was the only one who still found this amusing, perhaps because he was a coward and could say or do anything to More Lazy without
But
it
fear.
was Popo who caused Sam's greatest adventure
One morning Sam was going out to fish with the older boys when Popo ran up and drew him
that holiday.
some
of
aside.
"I have a big secret!" he said.
"Ah," Sam going to
fish,
said,
and
I
"you never have any good don't
want you
to
come."
ideas.
I
Trinidad and Tobago
"But
listen, this is
Sam
"Treasure!"
a good thing! Is to look for treasure!" said,
"who would have
treasure in
Five Rivers, where everybody so poor?"
Popo was "This
is
so excited that he kept
a good secret!
He
treasure!
say
More Lazy say
we have
all
jumping up and down.
to do
is
that Jagroop have
look for it!"
Everybody knew that Jagroop had hidden his money somewhere, but the trouble was to find out where. He boasted that no one would ever discover his hiding place,
and
was taken up as a
this
No
challenge.
one wanted to
rob the old Indian, but saying they could never find his
money was a dare
that couldn't go unanswered.
"I ain't have no time for that,"
"And
besides,"
Popo went
You
tree in his garden.
Sam
said.
on, "Jagroop
have a mango
ain't notice it? Is the only
one that
bearing now!" Well, that
was
true,
anyway.
All the fruit trees in the
valley were bare except for this one, which looked as
had sucked
all
the
From
full fruit.
life
from the other
a distance,
trees, for it
Sam and Popo
if it
was
in
could see the
red mangoes dangling on their stems.
Sam thought
was a better idea to go after Jagroop's mangoes than to fish, because it was the dry season, and the five streams around the village were mere trickles. So
Sam
it
decided to go, and of course Popo went with him.
They went up like shells
the
hill.
under their
The dry
feet.
mango
Sam
hut and right under
tree.
Popo up and when he was safe in a fork of Sam went up after him. Soon they were feasting
fruit.
They had just
his
of Jagroop,
hoisted
the tree,
on the
and twigs crackled
There was no sign
and they managed to get behind the
leaves
filled
their pockets with
mangoes and were
about to climb down when Popo grabbed Sam's arm
and pointed.
63
!
64
Life in Five Rivers
Below them the bushes were so thick they couldn't see anyone at first. Then they saw the bushes shake. It was Jagroop
He was
walking
a kind of half-crouch. With one hand
in
he clutched a cutlass and tin to his chest while his other hand cleared the way of brambles. He stopped where one of the streams crawled
through his land. Glancing around,
he sat down on the bank, wet his sharpen
cutlass,
and began
to
on a stone.
it
The boys could see him clearly now, and it appeared to them that he was only pretending, or "playing possum." For
the time he kept watching the bushes, like a deer
all
which had smelt
man but
boys were scared, for were up
in his
mango
it
wasn't sure where he was.
looked as
tree,
and
it
if
The
Jagroop knew they
looked, too, the easy
way he was sitting, that he was only waiting for them to climb down to give chase with his cutlass! The boys scarcely dared breathe, and you can imagine what a state Popo was in! He was squeezing and relaxing his fingers
"You Sam's
on Sam's arm.
think he see us?"
Popo's whisper was hot in
ear.
"We
just
have to wait and see," Sam whispered back.
Half an hour passed. Jagroop was
humming
a Hindi
song as he moved the cutlass to and fro on the stone. The cutlass
He
must have been as sharp as a
struck
it
off his leg.
hanging bamboo
lightly at a
tested the blade again
razor, yet he
by shaving an inch
That seemed
leaf.
or
went
on.
Then he
two
of hair
to satisfy him, for he got
up
at
last.
Near a
large slab of rock
which jutted out from the bank,
he stood for a minute. Then muttering to himself, he gathered stones and
dammed
the thin trickle of water with
them, digging earth from the bank and packing the wall.
When
the water ceased to flow, he began to dig in the bed
4i
l«
hh:
fy'
">i
u
'f'
W{
fd^;
.C^B
:g^
i-4>i-
n
u^-r
S^i
'ii
'?
:fe
m
m-4
"k'*
«iv
^-Vv.'vt^^.Aj^.
Trinidad and Tobago
of the
stream
itself.
The boys could
see beads of perspiration glistening on
Jagroop's dark skin as he dug and dug, stopping at sudden
moments and cocking
his
head sideways as dry leaves
rustled or a dove flew noisily in the bush.
Then Jagroop stopped digging and reached
into the hole
with his hands.
He brought
out two tins and he sat
down and opened
them.
The
sunlight
fell
on
Hundreds
silver.
of shillings
and
They glinted, and the boys heard them ring as Jagroop let them trickle through his fingers and fall back into the tins. They had never seen so much money in half crowns.
all
their lives.
Now
they knew
why no one was
Jagroop's hiding place.
Who
to do
to
discover
would have dreamed
ging in the bed of a flowing stream?
had
able
was bury the money,
fill
Now,
all
of dig-
the Indian
the hole firmly with
stones and earth, and break the dam.
The water would
fiow over the spot and keep his secret forever. It
was too good.
It
was too
couldn't contain themselves.
clever.
Sam and Popo
They were bursting
to
tell
the secret.
Scrambling down the mango
tree,
they began to shout
loudly to give themselves courage and, flinging mangoes left
and right from
to the village.
their pockets, they ran
down
the
hill
67
68
Lithuania
Little Peter's
Flag
by Vytas Tamulaitis Translated from the Lithuanian by Vytautas Tamulaitis, Illustrations
Jr.
by Zita Sodeika
The people of Lithuania once ruled themselves. But in 1940, the Russians took over the tinynation and made it part of the Soviet Union.
Iittle Peter's mind was
made
up, and no one was going
Not even his old teacher, whom he greatly respected and admired. Peter had spent a whole year planning the job and preparing for it. Nothing was going to stop him now. He had everything planned to the smallest detail. The rope, a hammer, a number of large spikes, and a piece of copper wire were now in his old leather schoolbag. The old to
-i
flag
change
it.
was hidden under
his shirt. Peter
had even imagined
himself climbing, and had dreamt about
must not look down," he
it
at night.
"I
told himself while going over his
plan.
Peter was no stranger to climbing.
Many
a time he had
climbed to the very top of the great oak trees which grew along the high banks of the
Nemunas River
to retrieve a
stranded
kite.
The
secret
was to climb
steadily
and not
to
look down.
As
usual,
Peter's
father's death, she
To
mother was not at home. Since
was spending
less
and
less
his
time at home.
earn money, she worked in the factory. But she trusted
Peter.
She knew that Peter was a capable boy. She was too
busy to know that he was Peter did not have
lonely.
many
friends.
He was
small for his
and had been a hunchback from birth. During recess at school, when children joined hands and sang, danced, and played, as was the custom, not one girl would want to age,
be his partner. Peter was good at schoolwork, and often helped other pupils
when they had
difficulties.
But even
70
Little Peter's Flag
those
whom
he helped soon forgot about
They would
others in teasing him.
and joined the
it,
him on
slap
his
back
and chant: "Peter, Peter,
what a
scholar!
Has more than a head above
his collar.
His hands, they write, his eyes, they read, His back corrects when there's a need."
The
they? After
much
looked
children all,
down on
Peter.
Why
shouldn't
he couldn't even recite a poem with
less act in
feeling,
one of the school plays. In any of the
school celebrations, most of the children in Peter's class
had important jobs to
was cleaning the yard
do,
but
that was
all
in the spring
left for
Peter
and shoveling snow
in
the winter, spreading sand on the icy paths, and joining the younger children in the audience. That was
"No, that's not
all!"
all.
Peter said to himself, as he put his
schoolbag on his shoulders and walked out the door.
The
street
was empty. Peter did not want to chance
meeting anyone, so he turned into the path by the bakery.
The narrow,
twisting path took
near the school. The large its
field
him
to the castle ruins
surrounding the castle and
tower was now bare, covered by a white blanket of
snow.
The
leafless
trees
stood
motionless
afternoon calm. His teacher used to
Lithuania was independent, every lage
would gather here on
gates
would then be
special holidays.
trees.
from the branches and from the
would
fly
the whole
vil-
The crumbling
wreaths and with
staffs
on top
on the castle walls,
of
February, a large
of the old tower,
put
Now
the
by the firemen with their great tower stood empty and silent.
there
late
Small flags would flutter
and on Independence Day, the 16th flag
the
him that when
summer
covered with
branches from the birch
Lithuanian
tell
in
ladders.
Peter found out secretly that one year ago, on the 16th of February, his old teacher
had
tried very
hard to have a
Lithuania
flag raised
on the top
with a young
man
of the tower.
to the top of the tower. It it
discussed
it
man was a one to cUmb
he could trust. The young
fireman, but even he did not
to do
He had
want
to be the
was then that Peter had decided
himself the next year. Meanwhile, the district
had forbidden anyone to go near the tower. Everyone was saying that he had heard rumors about someone trying to raise the flag on the tower, so he had a large fence chief
built
around the
"DANGER But
...
and had a sign put on
it,
saying:
DO NOT ENTER."
this did not stop Peter or the other children. It
easy to find a
would climb Peter, the tically
ruins,
way through
all
was
the fence, and the children
over the old walls and explore the ruins.
most frequent
of all the visitors,
every stone, every nook and cranny.
knew
prac-
But even
though Peter had been exploring the ruins for years, he
had never climbed to the very top his imagination. still
He
had, however, noticed that there were
some metal rungs
years ago,
when
of the tower, except in
left
from the old days, hundreds
of
soldiers used to climb to the top of the
71
72
Little Peter's Flag
of tar to signal
approaching dan-
his old teacher told him, the fire
would be seen by
tower to light the barrel ger.
As
soldiers in the seven other castles in the surrounding area,
and they would warn the people
The
farms.
in the villages
One
other castles were gone now.
and the
fell
to the
enemy, another was destroyed by time, and the others were dismantled by the people themselves. Peter
brave as he slipped through the fence and
felt
moved toward the tower. Once inside, he took his bearings. The tower was empty and wide at the base, but it narrowed toward the top. It was dark, cold, and damp quickly
and an uneasy, foreboding calm waited for him at the top. Conquering his fear, he went toward the wall. He took off his gloves, hesitated for a moment, then firmly
inside,
grasped a metal rung and started climbing. The
had climbed
steps were easy, for Peter
few
first
this high before.
But when he reached a point beyond which he had never climbed, Peter felt his heart begin to beat faster and
He
faster.
felt his
arms weaken. His
legs
began to tremble.
And, then, he had arrived at the dangerous midpoint.
An
unknown hand seemed to be holding him back. There, standing part way up the tower, he began to feel a great doubt.
He
as
felt
He
engulf him.
if
a cold, swirling river were trying to
could
feel
across his chest, and then
it it
first
as
felt
around if
his legs,
then
he were going to be
submerged completely. His whole body started to tremble. His schoolbag
felt
heavier and heavier. It seemed to be
forcing his shoulders back.
would gladly have
mind
of its
let it
It
felt
so heavy that Peter
drop. His hand, as though
it
had a
own, started to reach toward the straps that
were holding the bag on his back. Suddenly, Peter thought he heard something. like laughter,
coming from the direction
unconsciously stopped panting to hear the
new
it
It
sounded
of the school.
better. It
He
must be
principal of the school. In the evenings he often
Lithuania
called the older
boys and
girls to
Lithuania's history, and joked about those
But the old teacher was entirely He always found time to play with them and
and died
for freedom.
different.
told
made fun of who had fought
the school,
many
interesting stories about their history.
how much
Peter recalled
his teacher
had wanted to
see
the Lithuanian flag flying from the top of the old tower, as it
had been
for so
many
years.
.
.
.
woke up from his daydream with a start, and once more became aware of his surroundings. He started reaching for the next rung, but there was nothing there. There were still some rungs higher up. The ones in-between had Peter
fallen out. "I'll self.
put some new ones in," said Peter calmly to him-
He
took out his rope and tied himself firmly to the
metal rung. Holding on with his
left
into his bag, brought out a spike,
hand, he reached back
and looked
for
a crack
between the stones. Then he took out his hammer, and pounded on the spike until it felt almost as solid as the
He
same with the second spike, then hammered in the third, and then the remainder, climbing higher and higher. He hammered in spike after
rungs had
spike, until
felt.
did the
he reached one of the original rungs. Grasping
it,
Peter began to
as
if
feel relieved in spite of himself.
He
felt
he were on solid ground. His arms and legs held him
with a strength that Peter had not even All the doubts that
felt
on the ground.
may have had were
he
gone.
With
renewed strength and courage Peter went on. Peter was slow and careful now.
He knew
that at this
height he was playing a very dangerous game.
mistake, one below.
slip,
He knew
and he would be joining the
some
lifeless
that he hadn't been able to
spikes in as solidly as he of the old rungs,
had wanted
to.
He
One small
also
rocks
pound the
knew that
which he had to trust completely,
were barely strong enough to hold him. From now on.
73
74
Little Peter's Flag
even the beat of a frightened bird's wings would be dangerous to him.
But Peter was not thinking
his shirt for the old flag that
would grope under
The
over his school. last year, village.
when the
Peter
teacher had given
had flown
to Peter's
it
mother
had suddenly come to the
secret police
proud to have the
felt
now. Often his hand
of that
flag.
Now
would
it
fly
again from the top of the tower! Finally, Peter reached the top.
He
lifted himself
up and
stood on the small platform once used by the soldiers.
A
looked down.
he had never
feeling
felt
came over A new light
before
him; a feeling that he could not even describe. shone in his eyes, and the success he
felt
He
was
like
a sweet-
ness that he could taste in his mouth.
The whole world was
at his feet. Peter felt that he could
reach out and touch the sun, a dying orange ball descending in the sky.
the school. In
On it
his right, looking like
was the
to
him by
It
who teased And Nijole, a
druggist's son, the one
him the most. And Rimas, the butcher's pretty brunette, who had been ashamed from him.
a colored box, was
had been such a
son.
to accept an apple
great, red apple, too, given
his uncle during the holidays.
Peter looked around again. There, beneath him,
a group of giant oak
trees,
was a
pile of stones.
there that long ago the everlasting flame
the vaidilutes, the white-robed girls fire
It
was
was tended by
who watched over
the
night and day. That was long, long ago, his teacher had
told Peter,
when the Lithuanians
"It would be nice to have a
his clothes
beginning to getting
how
it
fire
worshiped
fire.
now," thought Peter,
feel
cold he was.
the sharpness of the cold. His hands were
numb. He pulled the
tied
still
The sweat had made damp during the hard climb, and now he was
only then realizing
and
among
flag
out from under his
shirt,
to the rusting staff with a copper wire.
The sun had already
set,
but there was stiU a bright red
and orange hue coloring the horizon. the flag flutter. yellow, green,
The
and red
final light of
A
light breeze
made
the sun accented the
colors of the flag.
Peter had to hurry before
it
got completely dark.
He
put
one end of the rope through one of the rungs and tied the
two ends together. Then, holding tightly to the knot, he began to lower himself.
It
was much
easier
than climbing
was the wonderful feeling of triumph inside him that made the work easy. When he had descended as far as the rope would let him, Peter steadied himself on up. Perhaps
it
76
Little Peter's Flag I
one of the rungs, untied the knot, and pulled the rope
He made
free.
another loop, and continued on his
way
down. It
was too dark
to see
how much
although the top of the tower
still
daylight. Peter thought that he
farther he
had to
go,
captured the last rays of
was very near the bottom.
He
strained his eyes trying to see through the darkness,
but
it
was
of
no
use.
Suddenly, Peter heard a noise very close to the castle walls. self
He
was
listened closely. All
quiet.
as far as the rope would let him,
He was
lowered him-
and started groping
for support with his feet. His feet finally
Peter breathed more freely.
He
found a rung, and
sure that he had
reached the old rungs again. The rest of the
now
way should
be easy.
Once again Peter thought that he heard
Was
voices.
he
He
imagining things, or were they really getting closer?
was sure now. Someone was whispering at the stone entrance to the tower.
Peter really was frightened. Panic struck him, and he started lowering himself with his hands, his feet desperately searching for the next foothold. Peter
that there should be a rung here. it
He
with the toe of his shoe.
in order to reach farther
was
positive
He even thought
took one hand
off
he
felt
the rung
down. But his other hand, now
completely numb, could not hold his weight, and Peter
plunged silently toward the dark bottom of the tower.
A
strange, bright light shone in his eyes
sensation covered his body. calling his
name. At
teacher's voice
first
and he
too.
his
The tower seemed "Peter, Peter,
he heard someone
Peter thought he recognized his
tried to answer,
Someone else was there down and started to beat like iron.
He thought
and a burning
A
but he could not.
shadow bent back with fists that seemed great dark
to ring with the chant:
what a
scholar...."
Why
didn't his teacher defend
him? Peter couldn't stand
the growing pain in his back and head.
Suddenly, someone touched his face, and began cleaning it
with a handkerchief. Peter realized there was no one
beating his back or chanting. It was very quiet. Peter
weakly tried to open
body and gently
When and
lifted
black form bent over his
him up.
Peter opened his eyes, he was in bed. His mother
his old teacher
on their
were watching him with worried looks them. His mother bent down
faces. Peter smiled at
and tenderly smoothed "It's
A
his eyes.
his hair.
a good thing your teacher found you last night,"
she said.
His teacher leaned over, put his hand on Peter's shoulder,
and
said,
very proud friends.
We
I
"So you did
am
of you. I
were going to
Peter!
it,
was
You
don't
know how
at the tower with one of
raise a flag for
dependence Day, but you were ahead
of
my
tomorrow's In-
me. Congratula-
You beat your teacher to the job. Let them take the flag down from the tower now, but we'll show every-
tions!
old
one that they can't take the
flag
Peter did not say a word.
him that the pain never
felt
in his legs
happier in his
life.
He
from our hearts." just smiled. It
seemed to
and back was gone. He had
78
The Treasures of Farfounet by Maurice Jean France
pi
Translated from the French Illustrations
If
you want to know where Farfounet's it
.
by Andre Frangois
isn't
hard to
1)
Get some
2)
On
famous
a
for its
find.
little flags
map
attached to pins.
of France, stick
one pin into Bayonne,
hams, and another into Givet, the
Then, very carefully, with a
tal.
village is located,
ruler,
draw a
nail capi-
straight line
between the two places.
Now,
3)
Givet,
a third
stick
and you
will see
flag
halfway between Bayonne and
where Farfounet's
village
is
located.
Without drum or trumpet, you now take your map
of
France, your hat, a compass, and a telescope, and you go there by scooter,
by
jet plane, or
Since
—
I
I
am
by automobile, by
railway,
by
helicopter,
simply on a bicycle.
—
how it is spelled excuse me name of this village. This is not
not very sure of
prefer not to write the
a very important
Through your
detail.
telescope, as soon as
you
see the hill with
three dozen low houses (not one more) lined
up along each
side of the single street at the foot of the old fortress-cha-
teau, If
you
you
will still
say to yourself, "I'm there!"
have any doubts, look
for the river
which
winds through the bottom of the valley, the three elms
in
the square in front of the church, the mossy fountain before the blacksmith's forge, and the elegant the football
field.
new
school beside
79
After that, put your compass back in your pocket and
send your parents, friends, and acquaintances this
tele-
gram:
ARRIVED SAFE AND SOUND AT FARFOUNET'S VILLAGE STOP THOUSAND KISSES FROM YOUR (Now add your name,
signed very clearly.)
—
But it just occurs to me no doubt you are asking at this moment, "Who is this Farfounet, anyway? This name could belong to a kitten, a kid, a lark, or a hedgehog."
Quite right! Your question proves that you have good
And
sense.
I
should have answered this question at the be-
ginning.
Happy
as a lark, frisky as a kid, playful as a kitten, as
well-combed as a hedgehog, Farfounet boy, and
tle
I
gotten you to
The
am
is
a very likable
sure that you will thank
make
me
for
lit-
having
his acquaintance.
inhabitants of the village,
who
are fine people, will
take pleasure in giving you directions. Farfounet's house? little
woods.
Go
Go
straight on. It's just before the
straight to the farm at
which you
will see
a climbing vine on the front wall, a pigeon house, a stable with a black horse pawing the ground, six white cows lowing in the stable,
and a flaming-red tractor
That's the place.
You
can't miss
it.
in the barn.
Farfounet himself
your hand
will
like that of
open the gate for you and shake
an old
Oh
say to you, "Farfounet?
Because
it
seems that
I
am
Then he
friend. yes,
everyone
a bit of an
elf,
will
calls
probably
me
that.
very mischie-
vous, and rather too nosy."
you say that you,
If
pany and
(of children
that, in
who
too, are
are
your opinion,
one of that pleasant com-
elfish,
this
is
mischievous, and nosy)
far
from being a disgrace,
you will not have to beg him to show you his treasures. One good reason for his willingness will be that he doesn't keep them buried strongbox.
(If
in
the depths of a cave or locked in a
the cave caved
in,
or
you
lost the
key to the
strongbox, you would look very clever, wouldn't you?
Keep
-
"vf^i^r*^?''^'*''
this in mind!)
To keep them
his
treasures safe,
Farfounet always carries
right in his trousers' pockets.
BeHeve me,
friends,
they are not ordinary pockets!
Heavy, swollen, stuffed to bursting, they make an enormous lump on each leg and give him an importance which strikes
you at
first
glance.
"They're not pockets, they're a moving van!" grumbles his father.
"People
will
think the poor child
is
deformed!" wails his
mother.
Grown-ups seem to have a hard time understanding tain things!
cer-
y«1
.
82
The Treasures
of Farfounet
Anyway,
let
us see the wonders to be found in his
left
pocket: a spring clothespin, a horseshoe nail (not to be
confused with a marshal's baton), a champagne cork, a
smooth stone (egg-shaped), a boxwood
whistle, three horse
chestnuts (for making
half a
matches
arms and
(for the
figures),
little
dozen used
legs of the little figures),
a
forked branch (needed for making a slingshot), a piece of
making the
bicycle inner tube (likewise needed for
an overcoat button, a
shot),
sling-
and a safety
ball of string,
pin.
And now admire
the riches offered
by
his right pocket:
a
white handkerchief (no longer very white), a snail (wrapped in the handkerchief), four glass marbles,
(with only one blade
left),
a six-bladed knife
a spool (empty), a pencil with
colored lead, a handful of beans (a supply of for the future slingshot), the
ammunition
frame of a pair of glasses
(without the lenses, but excellent for looking for the polestar at night), a
watch with no hands (but with
lots of
gears inside), a harness bell (a bit
very interesting
little
dented, but
going ding-ding), and a carpenter's ruler
still
(very useful even though half of
it is
broken
Are you going to shrug your shoulders at No. I
I
off) all
that?
was sure you wouldn't.
can see by your expression that you are not one of
who
those
stare wide-eyed at fine pearls, diamonds, rubies,
emeralds, topazes, and other priceless articles which are
found
You
in
ordinary treasures.
prefer Farfounet's treasures.
Even though hold
all
his pockets are large
and deep, they cannot
the riches he owns. His schoolbag serves to hold
the larger things.
This morning, for example, before starting for school, he
has put into
it,
beside his books and notebooks, his
turtle Adele, the size of a green walnut,
and
his
little
tame
pi-
geon Lustucru. (Don't worry about Adele and Lustucru.
They're used to
For
it,
and Farfounet
curiosity's sake, follow
He wears
school.
is
very kind to them.)
him awhile on the way
a bright smile.
On
his shoulder,
to
Lustucru
goes rroo, rroo. Adele, not displeased at going along to learn a bit, rubs against the leather of the schoolbag as she
nibbles a bit of lettuce.
Because Farfounet takes his own time, people imagine that he
is
idling.
That
isn't so.
His mind
his eyes dart searchingly to right
many
and
is
to
wide awake and left.
He
has so
extraordinary things to discover in the big, wide
world.
Yesterday,
it
was some snowdrops, a chirping
cricket
dressed in black, and a great stag beetle with horns like a devil's.
Today, perhaps
it
will
be a reddish-brown
frog, a
family
of tadpoles, or a bit of hillside covered with daisies.
And tomorrow, will
make new
the day after tomorrow, every day he
finds:
a handful of wild hazelnuts, a golden
84
The Treasures
of Farfounet
slowworm, a gray
a ladybug, a patch of
lizard,
mush-
field
rooms.
Ah
!
thing
who pass by lost in thought and not seeing a only knew what marvelous toys can be made with If
those
just a piece of bark
from a
fir tree,
a bit of wire, and three
chicken feathers!
Farfounet knows
all this.
why you
will see
That things,
down,
is
him along the road poking
into
searching out the hidden, turning things upside collecting, letting
nothing interrupt him.
Sometimes Mademoiselle scolds him. "That's
terrible,
Empty your
Farfounet.
pockets."
Farfounet forgives Mademoiselle. Even the nicest teachers can't
He
understand everything.
warily displays his
treasures.
"A
snail!
Ugh! And
all
those disgusting odds and ends!"
Head bowed, our schoolboy
lets
the storm pass.
Made-
moiselle has not thought to look into the schoolbag. Adele
and Lustucru are
safe; that's the
main
thing.
Farfounet laughs up his sleeve.
Observe now how things turn out to show how right he is.
The cork
of the ink bottle
has been mislaid. Where
is
an-
other one to be found? In Farfounet's pocket!
Does Mademoiselle wish
to
hang up the map which
illus-
trates the history lesson? Farfounet's spring clothespin or his horseshoe nail will
A
nail
do very
well.
not well driven into a seat threatens to tear
someone's clothing? Farfounet's smooth stone
will serve as
a hammer.
You will
will see that in
not think
ill
the mathematics lesson the teacher
of the carpenter's ruler, the ball of string,
the three horse chestnuts, the four glass marbles, or the
handful of dry beans.
France
During the fifteen-minute exercise period, the absent-
minded young woman who has mislaid her whistle, will even no help for it! have to borrow her pupil's whistle.
—
—
But
after
we must be
all,
Mademoiselle does kiss
fair.
Farfounet on both cheeks.
He bows
head a
his
little in
modesty, but his smile grows
wider.
Now
tell
me, who, at this moment, could scold him for
poking into things, searching out the hidden, turning things over, collecting, letting nothing interrupt
Suddenly, just at the stroke of noon,
One of
of those pelting rains that
France,
crow
flies,
The
located
— don't
him? it
sometimes
forget
—just
begins to rain. fall in this
halfway,
as
part the
between Bayonne and Givet.
school
is
at the very end of the village. In such
weather and without a raincoat, one would be drenched to the skin before reaching home.
What
is
to be done?
"Children," says Mademoiselle, "you will have to wait."
They
all
look disappointed. Stomachs are already begin-
ning to cry famine.
It's
no fun. Then, Farfounet
raises his
hand. "Mademoiselle,
"Let us hear
Our
I
have an idea."
it."
waves a piece
friend
of paper.
"Look what
I
have
written."
Papa, If
you don't come
we
for us with the truck
shall all catch colds.
Farfounet
"Fine," agrees Mademoiselle. "But
who
is
to carry the
letter?"
"Lustucru, of course!"
"Lustucru?"
From
the schoolbag, Farfounet takes his pigeon which
85
86
The Treasures
of Farfounet
Lustucru appears happy to be able to get a
flaps its wings.
bit of exercise.
The whole
class bursts out laughing,
and the teacher
hasn't the courage to scold.
With a rubber band, Farfounet attaches the folded letter to one of the bird's legs. Then he opens the door, gives his pigeon a little kiss on the head, and says, before releasing him
downpour, "Hurry, Lustucru!"
into the
"What a scamp selle
this
Farfounet
is!"
Mademoi-
exclaims
with an air of being annoyed.
But our
scamp knows very
crafty
well that this
was
said
as a joke, and that the teacher would, on the contrary, like to kiss
A
him
few minutes
later,
Farfounet's father arrives in front
with his truck.
of the school
He at father who
Lustucru has done his job well as a carrier pigeon. once perched upon the shoulder of Farfounet's
promptly saw the message fastened to the bird's lost
no time
leg
and
in driving to the school.
In the wink of an eye he opens the rear door of the truck
and
cries gaily, "All aboard,
Mademoiselle
sits
everyone!"
near the driver, with Farfounet be-
tween them. Farfounet
is
not vain, but now, really in this place of
honor, he would not think the king his equal. In front of each house, the truck leaves a school child.
"Eat
Then
well, it
is
my
friends! See
you
this afternoon!"
Mademoiselle's turn. As she gets out, she
thanks the driver and says to Farfounet, "Without you
I
most surely would have caught bronchitis."
Our hero
smiles.
As the truck
is
about to
start,
he leans toward the win-
dow, then begs, "One moment. Papa! Just one
little
mo-
ment!" Quickly he opens the door, jumps out into the rain-swept
France
and bends down.
road,
"What do you suppose he has "What is he digging up now?" "Mademoiselle!"
The teacher
seen?" grumbles Papa.
cries Farfounet.
turns back.
"What
is it,
Farfounet?"
"Look, Mademoiselle!" Without a thought for the rain running down his happy
woman and little
face,
offers her, in the
he runs toward the young
palm
of his extended hand,
a
green frog.
"It's raining, it's wet, it's
a holiday for her!
I
give her to
you!" Farfounet's eyes are shining with such pleasure that
Mademoiselle cannot say no. She takes the frog hand, a
little
feels rather
unwillingly. This
unpleasant at
first.
wet and cold
Then, curiously,
just as agreeable to hold in one's
Mademoiselle smiles
in
palm as a
off,
and her
But her voice
lips is
is
fills
just start-
can be seen to move.
so low that only she
my
becomes
the downpour. Her heart
said:
"Thank you,
it
animal
little bird.
with joy. She waves toward the truck which ing
little
in her
kind Farfounet."
knows what she has
87
The Magic Stone by John M. Ibongia and M. Dobrin Kenya
Illustrations
by K. Francis Msangi
i^A
—
story
Xa.
I
am
coming.
.
words,
these
uttered
.
."
Whenever Grandmother
the
immediately
children
stopped their chattering and turned towards her. There she sat, high above the
stuck into the tied
mud
fire,
on a bed
of long straight sticks
walls on either side.
The
were
sticks
with ropes and covered with a thick cowhide so
Grandmother would be comfortable.
The
children often slept in Grandmother's hut
preferred
it
to their
own homes. Of
and many
course they helped
with the chores, such as fetching water and carrying
fire-
wood. But where also could they taste such delicious food or hear so
many
interesting stories?
Grandmother spent much puffing on her old clay pipe.
of the
day
sitting in the sun,
But she always cooked a
large
pot of thin, tasty gruel to give to the children when they returned from working on her farm.
Grandmother was for her years.
still
a fine-looking woman, and strong
She held herself
tall
and
straight, as she
was
used to carrying baskets and wood and fruit on her head.
When
she was tired, her back would bend a
did not really matter as she
little,
but this
now had grandchildren
to
Her old legs were still strong and muscles she had developed from all the
carry things for her.
showed the firm
walking she had done up and down the
hills of
Kisii in
Kenya. Round each ankle she wore a metal bracelet which showed she was a married woman.
89
Suppertime was just before sunset.
When
the children
had eaten and cleared away the remains of the meal, they lay down to sleep round the fire on mats made of soft cowhide. When they kept chattering and would not go to
Grandmother knew just the way to keep them quiet. She began to tell them a story. When Grandmother told
sleep,
her stories, no one so interesting.
who
left his
But
moved from it
was
the bed because they were
also well
known
that anybody
bed while a story was being told would never
90
The Magic Stone
grow again. So no one
stirred,
and when the story was
who were still awake would cry out, "Now I shall grow as tall as Mount Sameta!" Even tonight, in many huts in the Kisii highlands of Kenya, an old woman will climb into her bed, look down I am coming." at her grandchildren, and say, "A story finished, those
—
This
is
one of the stories she might
Once there
two brothers. One was very
lived
the other was very poor.
on an island of salt
on
it.
tell.
The
rich,
and
rich brother, Metusera, lived
Victoria. This island
had mountains
Metusera became wealthy by
selling the salt
in
Lake
to the people of Kisii
who had no
salt of their
own.
But Joseph, the other brother, who lived at the edge of the lake, had no salt to sell. There was little rain and his crops never grew well. All he had was one wife and seven
very hungry children.
One day, Joseph's
"Why
wife began to cry.
are you crying?" he asked her, as he sat on his
haunches beside
"Do you want sobs. "There's
her.
us to die?" she asked him, in between her
no food and we're starving. Our old cow no
Our
longer gives milk and she's too thin for us to eat.
den
is
empty. I've planted and hoed but there's
gar-
still
no
food as our maize has turned rotten on the stalk."
Joseph tried to comfort his wife but he could not pacify her.
Her grinding stomach kept her mind only on one
thing.
"Why
don't you go to Metusera?" she continued.
"You
can ask him for some money. He's very rich and can easily give you
money
so
Thinking about
you can buy us some food." her
words,
Joseph
shook
his
head
slowly.
"My
brother only loves
money and he
doesn't like to
give any away. All day, from sunrise to sunset, he sits in
Kenya
his
house and counts his cash. Even
me any
back sometime, he would not give but we both know that
could pay him
I
if
of his
money,
would never be able to return the
I
loan."
"Try," said his wife,
Maybe
he'll
still
crying.
"He
is
your brother.
give you the money, otherwise we'll
all
die of
hunger."
Joseph agreed to ask his brother and that afternoon he set
out for Metusera's island.
He walked
across the dusty
plains.
There were very few animals about as they had
moved
further south in search of food.
grass were burned brown. bare,
Some
above the loose sand.
An
The few blades
trees stuck out, stark
of
and
occasional breeze from the
lake blew the sand around in swirls, hurting Joseph's eyes as he continued his journey across the hot plains. Before sunset, he reached the beach opposite the island and, as he
could not cross over that night, he
near the lapping water which was
fell
asleep
by the shore
full of crocodiles.
The next morning, when he awoke under the
rising sun,
he began to build a boat so he could cross the blue water.
He
cut a few small trees and tied the logs together with
make a and he was weak from strong grass to
raft.
This work took a long time
and from the strong the task was completed and he
lack of food
heat of the sun. Finally,
set out for the island, paddling the raft across the lake.
When
he reached the island, he went to his brother's
home. Metusera was
sitting in his large house, counting his
money and arranging the
When Metusera saw
coins into
numerous
Joseph standing
quickly threw a cloth over the stacks of
a stern voice,
"What
are
in the
piles.
doorway, he
money and
said in
you doing here?"
Joseph quietly walked into the room.
"My
brother,
I
need your help," he began. "There's been no rain this year
no money to buy food
for
wife and children and they're starving. Please lend
me
and our crops have
my
failed. I've
91
92
The Magic Stone
some I
of
your money and
I'll
try to
pay
back as soon as
it
can."
After hearing this speech, Metusera began to laugh.
"Do you
expect
me
to give
you money?" he shouted.
"Why, I've hardly enough to keep me happy. If I give some to you, I would have nothing to do in the afternoons.
My
greatest pleasure in
why
should
life
is
counting
my
money. And
money? You're a lazy man, but I'll give you something just to show you how kind I am, even though you don't deserve anything. Here's a loaf of bread.
Now
I
give you
don't ever return here again," he finished, handing
him a large, Knowing
stale loaf. it
was
useless to pursue the subject, Joseph
sadly took the loaf of bread and began his journey home.
He rowed
across the lake
and started walking along the
dusty paths. Before he had gone very
far,
he encountered
an old man with a long gray beard and ragged
"What have you
there?" the old
man
clothes.
asked, pointing to
the loaf of bread.
"Just one loaf of bread. Old "I haven't eaten for three
Man," answered Joseph. days. Won't you give me
Kenya
93
some?" begged the old man.
"My "But as
if
family needs this bread," he said to the old man.
so does this old
he
will die
if
man," he
said to himself.
"He
looks
he doesn't eat soon." Joseph handed him
half the loaf.
"Thank you,"
said the old
because of your kindness
He
man. "You're a kind man and
shall help
I
you."
took a round stone from his pocket.
"This stone
will give
you anything you
desire,"
he
said.
"But you must wish wisely." Joseph thanked the old to his
man and
ran the rest of the
home, carrying the round stone
in his
way
pocket and the
bread in his hand.
His wife and children were near death when he reached
home. He gave them the bread and told them about the old
man.
"Let's wish for food then," said Joseph's wife. "Because
we're starving."
They wished hard and den were
full
of food.
moment the kitchen and garThe pawpaw tree sprouted fruit. in
a
Pineapples, carrots, tomatoes, maize, and spinach sprang
from the dusty earth. Suddenly, ten chickens appeared and all
started to lay eggs.
with milk and
five
The
old
cow appeared
to be bursting
In the
calves appeared besides her.
house there were loaves of fresh bread and gourds oil
and
full of
fats.
The family was delighted. "What else shall we wish for?" asked Joseph's wife. "Our neighbors are also hungry," replied Joseph. "Let's wish for food for them too." The neighbors' gardens soon became as plentiful as their own.
"Our children don't have any
clothes or shoes. Let's
wish for those," said Joseph's wife.
Immediately clothing appeared
in neat rows,
laid
out
Pawpaw Tree
before them. Shoes stood shining in a long Une. So that
wish came true as well
The news district
of Joseph's
sudden wealth spread across the
and reached Metusera on
with envy.
He
could not
let
He was mad
Joseph remain richer than
himself, so he decided that he
money and
his island.
would
steal his brother's
possessions.
own boat and went to There he looked into the window and
Metusera crossed the lake Joseph's house.
watched the happy family.
in his
He saw
Joseph take out the
Kenya
magic stone and say, "I wish for a new brick schoolhouse."
"So that's how he does
it!" said
Metusera. "I must steal
the stone."
He watched that night,
Joseph put the stone under a pillow. Later
when everyone was
asleep,
he crept into the
house, took the stone from under the pillow, and quietly stole out of the house.
boat,
He
ran to the lake, jumped into his
and started to row away. But he could not wait
until
he reached his island before he began to wish. "If
I
had
all
the salt in the world,
I
could
make a
money," he thought. "Everyone would come to me
and all
I
could charge a lot for
it."
Then he
said, "I
lot of
for salt
wish for
the salt in the world." Salt
It fell
was
came pouring down from the sky as if it were rain. on to the boat in a heavy mass and soon the boat
filled
with
salt,
but
still
it
continued to rain down.
what was happening, Metusera cried, "Stop!" was too late. The boat sank to the bottom of the
Realizing
But
it
lake
and no more was heard
of the
greedy Metusera.
The people of Joseph's village lived happily for the rest of their lives. The food in their gardens helped them through the dry years and soon they learned how to grow more and better crops and how to store up grain for a lean period, so they never starved again.
|
95
m
'-']
97
Helmut
in the City
Germany
by Giinter Herburger Translated from the
German
Illustrations
by Horst Lemke
Helmut
sat at the table doing his arithmetic.
was building a
Susanne
castle of pillows in the middle of the
living room.
"It will be the highest castle ever," Susanne said. "I
need more pillows."
Helmut paid no attention to his sister. With his pen, he was trying to draw a straight line under the numbers and across the page in his copybook. Suddenly, his pen shot
out and the line went right through the column of numbers.
Susanne had snatched the pillow from under him.
Helmut stared line
at his copybook.
with a loop at one end.
It
He saw
a thick, black
looked like a pig's
tail.
He
got up, walked over to the pile of pillows, and kicked them.
Down came "You
the castle.
shouldn't have done that," screamed Susanne.
Helmut started back to the table, but Susanne grabbed his arm and bit his hand. Helmut was furious. He slapped Susanne in the face. "Don't you dare cry," he said. "You spoiled my arithmetic. Now, I'll have to do it all over again." Susanne ran out of the room. Moments later, Helmut heard the elevator motor hum.
98
Helmut
in the City
"Susanne," he shouted.
He
"Come back
ran into the hall and
down
here!"
the narrow stairs.
Helmut and his family lived on the 15th floor of a highrise near the main street. His parents owned the linen shop on the first floor. Maybe Susanne had gone down to the
h^
shop.
Helmut went into the shop through the back entrance and searched for Susanne in all the hiding places. She was nowhere that he looked. He started
for the stairs that led
outdoors.
"Where's Susanne?" his father asked just as Helmut reached the
stairs.
"She's building a castle," said Helmut.
"How would you
like to
go to the meat
stall
some bratwurst for you and Susanne?" asked "Or would you rather have schaschlik?"
and buy
his father.
"I think schaschlik," said Helmut.
Across the counter, his father held out two marks.
Bratwurst
Helmut played with the stocking holder on the counter and made it spin like a merry-go-round. He had better take the
money and
leave before his father discovered that
Susanne was gone.
There was a parking
lot filled
with
all
kinds of cars be-
hind the shop. Helmut looked in every direction.
He
could
not see Susanne anywhere.
He
took his scooter from
parked
car.
He
Then he got
its
place near his father's
down the street. it down the stairs
scooted out of the lot and
off
the scooter and pulled
that led to the shopping center.
He saw
the machine that
scooted over to the
fish store
it.
made
Susanne was not
cotton candy. Helmut there.
She was not at
or at the fruit stand which they visited often.
"Hi, Helmut, you jughead," someone called. It
Schaschlik
was
brakes.
Sigi riding
a scooter with rubber wheels and foot
Germany
"I'm looking "I'll
for
my
sister," said
Helmut.
help you find her," said Sigi.
scooter.
Helmut
way and
waited.
into the garage
When
hall,
off
on his
to the under-
they ducked under an arch-
the light turned green, they sneaked
and hid to one
side of a car waiting in front
A woman
sat in the glass booth selling
of the ticket booth. tickets.
At the entrance
followed.
ground garage near city
He pushed
She did not see Helmut and
moved, they moved with
other, they scooted
the car
it.
"We'll have to go fast," whispered
They crouched on
When
Sigi.
Sigi.
their scooters and, one behind the
down
the steep curve on the ramp.
The driver honked his horn as he drove. The next curve was even steeper. Helmut had to use his foot brake. In front of him, Sigi swung into the first floor of the garage. That was where Helmut's uncle parked his car when he came for a visit. Susanne often drove with him to the garage.
"Susanne," called Helmut. "Susanne."
"Hey, you," shouted a garageman. "Get out
of here!"
Helmut turned and saw a man coming toward him. Sigi dropped his scooter and ran. Helmut scooted in and out between cars to the next parking place. Then he scooted toward the
exit.
The man followed him. Suddenly, the man stopped. He could not decide whether to pick up Sigi's scooter or follow Helmut. faster
and
ramp. In the meantime,
Sigi
Helmut scooted Helmut
faster until
had picked up
up the ramp. He squeezed
started
to get out of the
way
he reached the his scooter.
close to the wall
of a delivery truck.
As the truck
passed him, Helmut grabbed a piece of canvas hanging
from the back only and top of the
it
of the truck.
was
ramp
difficult.
He
could steer with one hand
But the truck pulled him to the
in a hurry.
99
When
he got to the ticket booth, Helmut put down the
two marks
his father
had given him
"What do you want?" asked
for the meat.
the ticket lady.
"I want to pay for parking," said Helmut.
"Hold
still!"
yelled the
man who had
been chasing Hel-
mut. "What were you doing down there?" "I was parking," said Helmut.
"Now
I
want
to
pay
for it."
"It doesn't cost anything to park a scooter," said the ticket lady.
"Everything costs something," said Helmut. But the ticket lady
While
would not take
this
his
money.
was happening, Helmut saw
Sigi
go by on his
scooter behind a delivery truck .and then out into the
shopping center.
"There goes the other one," shouted the garageman.
But before he could chase him,
Sigi
had disappeared into
Germany
the crowds.
"May "I'm
in
I
a hurry."
am
"So
go with you?" Helmut asked the truck driver.
Helmut picked up it
"Climb
I," said the truck driver.
his scooter,
in."
but he was unable to
lift
over the side of the truck.
"Help him," the ticket lady told the garageman.
Helmut put down his scooter and climbed into the back of the truck. The garageman lifted the scooter and Helmut pulled it into the truck. The truck began to move. The ticket lady waved. Helmut wanted to wave back, but just then the truck speeded up and Helmut was bounced into a corner.
They passed
city hall
and the railroad
truck entered the city tunnel.
came out
It
and drove past the gas works.
Finally,
it
station.
The
of the tunnel
stopped
in
a
courtyard at the back of a hotel.
Helmut climbed out
of the truck
and pulled
his scooter
after him.
"I have to look for
my
sister,"
he told the truck driver.
"Where are we?"
"A
long
way from
the city," said the driver.
"Are you planning to go back to the city?" asked Helmut.
"Not today,"
replied the driver.
"But
if
you go through
the hotel to the street, you can catch a bus that will take
you where you want
Helmut got on
to go."
his scooter
and followed the driver
into
the building.
The driver said good-by and disappeared behind a door. Helmut scooted down a long passageway until he came to an
alley
and then he scooted through a gate
into the
street.
"Where can I get the bus to the the doorman standing in front of the
city?"
Helmut asked
hotel entrance.
101
102
Helmut
in the City
"Right over there," said the doorman.
"Do you want a
taxi?"
"Too expensive," said Helmut. "But please help me. I must get to the city and find my sister. She ran away." The doorman went to the curb and waited. He watched cars, buses, and delivery vans pass. Suddenly, he waved his arms and blew his whistle. A truck, with a turning cement mixer on it, stopped. The driver leaned out of the cab and talked to the doorman. They shook hands. Then the doorman waved to Helmut to come over. Helmut scooted up to the doorman.
"Here he
is," said
get to the city.
"Get
the doorman to the driver.
"He must
Take him with you."
in," said the driver.
Helmut climbed into the cab of the truck. The doorman handed him his scooter. The driver stepped on the gas and the truck roared.
"You're lucky," said the driver. "The doorman brother-in-law.
day when
Helmut
I
I
pass
by the
above the
other cars on the road.
way
all
What
my
hotel about twenty times a
go from the factory to the building
sat high
is
it
high above
all
the
would be to ride
this
traffic,
fun
site."
the time and see everything!
When
they got to the
city,
they drove onto a bridge
that went past the third floors between two buildings.
Helmut could see people working in offices. Once Helmut had wanted to ride his scooter across this very same bridge. A policeman had stopped him and told him that it was forbidden. But now no policeman could see his foot on the scooter as he rode high
above
in the
cab of the truck. "Faster," shouted Helmut, ringing the scooter
bell.
"We
must get ahead of everybody." The driver laughed and stepped on the gas. Helmut watched the needle in the speedometer climb. They drove
Germany
and stopped. Helmut got out
to the building site
of the
truck with his scooter.
An
almost completed high-rise rose above the buildings
Helmut scooted through pools of water and over boards. He stopped to watch men in blue plastic helmets carry window frames into the high-rise. High above, two men, fastened by belts to the building wall, were putting frames into windows. Then Helmut scooted over to a around
it.
freight elevator.
"I'm looking
for
the motor. "But
I
my
man
he told the
sister,"
can see that she's not here.
running I
always
seem to go to the wrong place." "If
you search every
time," said the man.
street in the city,
"Maybe
the top of this building
take a long
it'll
you'll find her
you go
if
to
and look through the telescope up
there."
Helmut was
so glad to be allowed to go to the top of the
building, he gave the
man
the two marks his father had
given him to buy the schaschlik.
He
climbed into a cart in
The man The eleva-
the elevator and held tight. Up, up, up he went.
running the motor looked smaller and smaller. tor
swayed back and
forth.
Helmut was worried. He
turned and faced the wall. Then he "I
must
my
find
sister,"
felt safer.
Helmut
said to the
man who
operated the telescope.
"What
color
was her dress?" asked the man.
"Green," said Helmut. "Susanne ran away and don't find her before
my
parents get home,
I'll
if
I
be pun-
ished."
The man adjusted the telescope and put an empty box near it for Helmut to stand on. "Shut your right," the
left
man
eye and look through the lens with your
said.
Helmut obeyed. Through the
telescope,
the buildings
looked very near. So did the city park and the main street.
I
103
He saw
children with grown-ups, but no children alone.
looked up and that
made
down every
street.
He saw
He
the machine
cotton candy, and the entrance to the under-
ground garage, but he could not see Susanne. Once he thought he saw Sigi, but the boy was on a scooter with
wooden wheels. Sigi's scooter had rubber wheels. Now he saw the building in which he lived. He could see through the kitchen window into his apartment. No one was
in the kitchen or in the living
telescope
He saw
and watched the entrance to his father help a
ting
me
He
turned the
his parents' shop.
customer carry packages to a
waiting taxi. His parents were "It's
room.
still
at work.
no use," Helmut said to the man. "Thanks for look.
But
I
can't see
Helmut ran across the
my
roof
sister
let-
anywhere."
and scrambled into a
cart.
Dried plaster covered the inside of the cart and Helmut
He
up and waited until someone pushed the cart onto the freight elevator. As the iron cage rushed downward, the cart bumped against the scraped his knuckles on
it.
curled
Below, Helmut could hear trucks being unloaded.
wall.
The
elevator suddenly stopped under a storage bin with a
big
hole
in
it.
Immediately,
mushy cement and sand
poured down over Helmut. "Let
me
out of here!" shouted Helmut. "Let
Luckily a worker heard Helmut. the cart and Helmut "Let's give
"No,
he'll
fell
out,
him a shower,"
He
me
out!"
pulled a lever on
wet and messy. said the worker.
catch cold," said another.
"Do you cough very
often?" someone asked.
Helmut shook his head. He did not know whether to laugh or cry. The man who operated the elevator held a hose.
He
sprayed water over Helmut's shoes. Another
Helmut
106
in the City
I
man wiped Helmut's
made Helmut stand on a board "Hold
someone
tight,"
The valve
of the air
wind
hit
Helmut fish.
in front of
an
so fast, he could hardly breathe.
the air machine was shut
off,
A
his
shoes.
tremendous
air
rushed by
He gasped
like
a
Helmut's clothes
were dry. In the same way, the marvelous
had dried
machine.
else shouted.
Helmut. Everything blurred. The
When
air
machine was opened and from a
was pointed at Helmut.
distance a hose
Then they
clothes with a wet cloth.
air
machine
Happily, Helmut wiggled his toes
in his socks.
"So,
my
young
has turned out
friend," said the foreman, "everything
fine.
Now
Helmut picked up could.
He
go on home."
and rode as
his scooter
fast as
he
took a short cut. Soon he was parking his
scooter near his father's car.
He
rode the elevator up to
his apartment.
There lay Susanne "So
this
is
fast asleep
on the living-room
floor.
where you've been!" cried Helmut.
Susanne awoke. "Were you looking for me?" she asked. "I went to the paper factory and saw machines tear
up
cartons and then press the pieces into big balls."
To show Susanne
that he had forgiven her,
Helmut
built her a castle with all the pillows in the apartment.
Then they
sat together
the lamps light up "I won't
tell
all
on the pillow
castle
and watched
over the city.
anyone that you slapped me," Susanne
said.
Helmut
smiled.
"And
I
won't
tell
that you went to the
paper factory where you are not allowed to go." It
was
just as
though they had never quarreled.
Tomorrow, Helmut would do over the messed-up metic. Sometime, he
and Susanne would
about their day. Sometime.
tell
arith-
their parents
108
India
The Big Guest by Shankar Illustrations
by Pulak Biswas
109
An
elephant trainer, or mahout as he
in India, teaches elephants to
Everybody
called
is
known
obey commands.
him "Raja."
It
was not
but he liked being called "Raja."
He
his real
name
lived with his
Grandfather and Grandmother. They were his guardians.
when he was young. His father grandparents, who brought him up.
Raja's mother died
with his
Grandfather was a a loud voice.
strong man.
tall,
He knew
everyone
left
Raja
He always spoke
in
the village. People
in
They came to him for advice and help. Grandmother was kind and gentle. She took good care of Raja. She would follow him like a shadow, saying, "Drink this milk" or "Eat your food" or "Have your bath" or "Go to bed." Raja did not like this, but still he respected him.
loved his grandmother very much.
At home Raja did not have any Grandfather did not other children.
he did
so.
He
like
friend to play with.
Raja going out to play with
believed that Raja would be spoiled
Other children did not
like to
come
if
to the house
because they were afraid of Grandfather.
Yet
life
with Grandfather was not
dull.
Raja liked
his
home and the very large garden all round it. There were many trees in the garden: coconut trees, mango trees, and other kinds of trees. There were birds, butterflies, and
honeybees. There were
many
tanks, with plenty of fish in
them. Kingfishers, storks, and other water birds came to the tanks to catch the In a corner of the
fish.
compound was a
grove, where trees.
The Big Guest
110 I
and creepers grew
shrubs, cats,
and owls
wild. Jackals, mongooses, wild-
lived in the grove.
owned many cows, bulls, and bulplayed and ran about in the garden.
Raja's grandfather locks. Little calves
Raja liked to play with the
He
the birds in the garden. of the grove. flies
and
He
calves.
He
liked to
watch
looked for jackals coming out
ran after mongooses.
He caught
butter-
reptiles.
Once Raja's grandparents had a big guest at home. It was Lakshmi, a young cow elephant. She belonged to a rich
relative.
The
relative
wanted Raja's grandparents
some days. Grandfather did not like the idea very much. It was costly to feed an elephant, even a young elephant. But Grandfather could not refuse to keep the elephant for
Mongoose
the request of a relative.
Raja was excited when he heard Lakshmi was coming. Raja asked people how he should welcome the elephant.
Grandmother
him that elephants loved sugar cane
told
and that he should keep some for Lakshmi. One evening Lakshmi arrived with her ynahout, Kittu. Everybody in the house came out to welcome her. She was a beautiful young elephant.
Kittu
She
is
said,
"She
intelligent
is
young. She
is
hardly eight years old.
and learns things quickly. She
is
very
loving and likes to play with people."
Kittu said so
many good
things about
Raja thought Lakshmi could have been
Lakshmi that Kittu's
own
daughter.
Raja had a piece to give
it
of sugar cane with
to Lakshmi.
But he was
him and he wanted
afraid to go near her.
Kittu saw Raja holding the sugar cane and took him near
Lakshmi, saying, "She loves children." Raja offered the sugar cane to Lakshmi and she took
it
and ate
it.
At night Lakshmi was chained to a tree in the courtyard. Raja sat there for a long time watching her. He
India
would have remained there longer but Grandmother came out and said, "Now, Raja, you go to bed.
You can watch
the elephant in the morning."
Raja woke up early next morning and went shmi saw him and she waved her trunk as him.
He was
tried to
come
still
to
if
out.
Lak-
welcoming
afraid to go near the elephant.
Lakshmi
Raja but she could not as she was chained
to the tree.
Kittu came
in the
morning.
He
took Lakshmi out for a
bath. Raja had never seen an elephant bathing. So he
followed
them
to the tank.
water alone. She played her trunk and poured
Then Kittu went filled
it
in
in the water.
went
into the
She took water
and asked her to
in
sit
down. She
her trunk again with water and looked at Kittu.
She spouted
all
it."
But Lakshmi would not
the water on Kittu.
Kittu did not get angry. sit.
first
over her body several times.
Kittu said, "Don't, don't do listen.
Lakshmi
But Lakshmi again
filled
He
again asked Lakshmi to
her trunk with water.
Now
Kittu showed her his stick and warned her not to repeat
111
112
The Big Guest
the mischief. This time Lakshmi did not pour water on
him but threw it backward with force. Raja was standing just behind and the water fell all over him. It was great fun. Lakshmi was only playing. Kittu pulled Lakshmi by the ear and ordered her to sit. She obeyed.
He
then scrubbed her with a piece of stone
and cleaned her all over. On the way back Kittu gave Raja a Raja was
When
thrilled.
Grandmother, and see
all
ride
on Lakshmi.
they reached home, Grandfather,
the others were waiting outside to
Raja riding an elephant.
Kittu had told Raja that Lakshmi liked ripe bananas better than sugar cane. Raja waited for an opportunity
As soon as Grandfather was out. Raja the cellar and took half of a huge bunch of
to give her some.
quietly
went to
ripe bananas.
He
them with great Later,
took the bananas to Lakshmi. She ate
relish.
Grandfather noticed that some of the bananas
were missing.
He
asked everyone about
it
and found out
that Raja had taken the bananas. Grandfather did not like
anybody taking anything without
his permission.
He
took a long cane and called Raja.
Raja knew Grandfather wanted to beat him. He ran.
And Grandfather
ran after him.
Lakshmi was not chained to the tree at that time. She saw Raja running and Grandfather chasing him. She immediately came to Raja's help. She rushed towards Grandfather with a wild cry.
Grandfather was very frightened. into the house,
and patted
He
turned back, ran
and bolted the door. Raja went
to
Lakshmi
her.
After a while Grandfather came out, holding in his hand the other half of the banana bunch.
take
it
and give
it
to the elephant.
He
asked Raja to
Raja did
so,
and both
Grandfather and Lakshmi were happy. So was Raja.
India
113
114
A
Bowl of Peas
by David
J.
Wright
Illustrations
by Hugh McClelland
Mother
has this thing about Canadian pioneer
Canada
1*1
She and Aunt Dolly get hold I
wouldn't look at twice
—things
of
stuff.
junk that you and
like butter churns, spin-
ning wheels, rocking chairs. They scrape and sandpaper
and
stain
they like
and wax them. The older a thing
is,
the better
it.
Well, that's
all
right for Mother,
bother me, but there was a time
and
when
it I
doesn't usually
suspected her of
't^^^Hv
115
same way about
feeling the
she couldn't see
why
I
my
possessions.
needed a new three-speed bike
when the antique that I'd been years was still in working order. All the kids I
mine.
I
went with had
wanted to be the
three-speed bike, and
I
For example,
riding for the past three
bikes, ordinary bikes like
one
first
wanted
away because
it
in
my
gang with a
before school started.
I
was past the middle of August and school opening seemed awful close. I came needed
it
right
it
home from
Len's Bicycle Shop a
Mother was
just putting
little
away some
before lunchtime.
of her
sandpaper and