stories

 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Chapter 1 THE RIVER BANK      The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs, with a brush and a pail of whitewash; till he had dust in his throat and eyes, and splashes of whitewash all over his black fur, and an aching back and weary arms. Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing. It was small wonder, then, that he suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said “Bother!” and “O blow!” and also “Hang spring-cleaning!” and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat. Something up above was calling him imperiously, and he made for the steep little tunnel which answered in his case to the gravelled carriage-drive owned by animals whose residences are nearer to the...

 THE JUNGLE BOOK  By Rudyard Kipling  Mowgli’s Brothers Now Rann the Kite brings home the night   That Mang the Bat sets free—   The herds are shut in byre and hut   For loosed till dawn are we.   This is the hour of pride and power,   Talon and tush and claw.   Oh, hear the call!—Good hunting all   That keep the Jungle Law!   Night-Song in the Jungle      It was seven o’clock of a very warm evening in the Seeonee hills when Father Wolf woke up from his day’s rest, scratched himself, yawned, and spread out his paws one after the other to get rid of the sleepy feeling in their tips. Mother Wolf lay with her big gray nose dropped across her four tumbling, squealing cubs, and the moon shone into the mouth of the cave where they all lived. “Augrh!” said Father Wolf. “It is time to hunt again.” He was going to spring down hill when a little shadow with a bushy tail crossed the thresh...

 Peter Pan [PETER AND WENDY] by J. M. Barrie [James Matthew Barrie] Chapter I PETER BREAKS THROUGH      All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delighted, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this forever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.      Of course they lived at 14, and until Wendy came her mother was the chief one. She was a lovely lady, with a romantic mind and such a sweet mocking mouth. Her romantic mind was like the tiny boxes, one within the other, that come from the puzzling East, however many you discover there is always one more...

 Thinking About College Ms. Maria Gonzalez, Director of Admissions University of Alabama Dear Ms. Gonzalez,                                                                                                    November 17, 2010     I would like to take this opportunity to share some things about myself, so you'll have a better idea of who I am and what interests me. I am proud of my test scores and grades, but there is a lot more to me than that.     I come from a small family. It's just me, my mom. and my sister and brother. I have lived in Los Angeles since coming to this country from Cuba. We have moved around a lot, but I enjoy going to new places, so moving didn't bother me.     I have lots of interests a...

Dr. Johnson Letter May 27, 2016 Dr. Johnson, My daughter’s school has provided these forms for you to fill out for my daughter, Janice Wilson. She continues to be good health. She would like to try out for the volleyball team at her school. Would you be so kind as to complete these forms after finishing her physical examination? They are required in order for her to participate in tryouts as well as be a member of the team. She is so looking forward to this opportunity. Jennifer and I appreciate your taking the time to do this. If the forms can be mailed to our home at the following address, that would be best, or I can pick them up from your office when they are ready. If you have any questions, I can be reached at 555-780-3497. Thanks very much, Jennifer Wilson Mother of Janice Wilson 1754 Maple Dr. Norwalk, CA 90650

The Velveteen Rabbit Or How Toys Become Real By Margery Williams THERE was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunch, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of the Boy’s stocking, with a sprig of holly between his paws, the effect was charming.     There were other things in the stocking, nuts and oranges and a toy engine, and chocolate almonds and a clockwork mouse, but the Rabbit was quite the best of all. For at least two hours the Boy loved him, and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten. Christmas Morning     For a long time he lived in the toy cupboard or on the nursery floor, and no one thought very much abo...