So, faintly calling and crying He thinks of his brother and sister, They must come and find him at last: But he never thinks he can leave the place Where duty holds him fast. The good dame in the cottage But what does she see so strange and black Her neighbors are bearing between them. Her child is coming home, but not "He is dead!" she cries; "my darling!" And comes and looks the way she looks, Till a glad shout from the bearers Thrills the strickened man and wife- They knelt about the boy; "Tis many a year since then; but still, Their boys are taught what a boy can do And tells him of little Peter, Whose courage saved the land. They have many a valiant hero, But never one whose name so oft Is named with loving tears. And his deed shall be sung by the cradle, Divide the land from the sea! THE TWO HORSES BY LEO TOLSTOY Two horses were carrying two loads. The front horse went well, but the rear horse was lazy. The men began to pile the rear horse's load on the front horse; when they had transferred it all, the rear horse found it easy going, and he said to the front horse: "Toil and sweat! you have to suffer." The more you try, the more When they reached the tavern, the owner said: carry "Why should I fodder two horses when I all on one? I had better give the one all the food it wants, and cut the throat of the other; at least I shall have the hide." And so he did. THE DARNING-NEEDLE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN There was once a Darning-needle, who thought herself so fine, she imagined she was an embroidering-needle. "Take care, and mind you hold me tight!" she said to the Fingers that took her out. "Don't let me fall! If I fall on the ground I shall certainly never be found again, for I am so fine!" The Fingers pointed the needle just at the cook's slipper, in which the upper leather had burst, and was to be sewn together. "That's vulgar work," said the Darning-needle. "I shall never get through. I'm breaking! I'm breaking!" And she really broke. "Now, it's quite useless," said the Fingers; but they were obliged to hold her fast, all the same; for the cook dropped some sealing-wax upon the needle, and pinned her handkerchief together with it in front. "So, now, I'm a breastpin!" said the Darningneedle. |