A Candlelit Holiday by Elaine Masters

 A Candlelit Holiday by Elaine Masters

On one full-moon night every fall, the rivers and lakes of Thailand are dotted with twinkling candles. The Thais are celebrating "Loi Krathong," or "Floating Leaf Cup Day."

No one knows for sure how this lovely custom got started. Some say it was started 700 years ago by a wife of a kind who wanted to surprise and please her husband. Others say it started even longer ago as a special religious ceremony. But however it began, it is delightful.

Families always used to make their floats, or little boats, from banana leaves torn into strips and woven into the shape of a bowl. Then they beautifully decorated them with flowers. Now, while many families still make their own floats, others simply buy them. Modern floats may be made of banana leaves or plastic. All of them still hold a lighted candle, a flower, a stick or two of sweet-smelling incense, and a coin.

On the holiday evening, families gather at parks near lakes, rivers, or canals for outdoor dinners. Adults sit on mats and visit with their neighbors while children play tag or hide-in-seek. In some cities, blazing fireworks and dancers in shining silk costumes entertain the crowd.

Many men and women sell things. People sell floats to those who have not made them at home. Other people sell balloons in various shapes and colors or clever toys made of bamboo. Food sellers offer noodle soup, dried fish, candy, little cakes, roasted chicken, and bamboo tubes filled with sticky rice cooked in coconut milk. They pour soft drinks into small plastic bags, whirl a rubber band around the top, and stick in a short straw.

Then, when the full moon rises, families light the candles and set their little boats afloat. The waterway soon twinkles like a fairyland with candles bobbing in their floats and fireworks reflecting in the water.

Walking the dog

Walking the dog

"We'll me you back at the car in half an hour. Now remember, don't let that dog off the leash!" said Mom, as she locked the car door.

"We'll be careful!" replied Alex. His sister Nina nodded. The children ran down the path towards Bramble Pond with their spaniel Jeeves at their heels.

Alex and Nina had lived in the New Forest all their lives. They knew every path and track around their village; they knew where to gather primroses in spring and blackberries in autumn; they knew where the wild forest ponies and red deer lived; they knew the best places for exploring or flying a kite. However, this was the first time they had been allowed out alone with Jeeves, their new dog. Trotting and leaping along the path, ears flapping like fans, Jeeves was soon tripping the children up with his leash.

"Honestly!" grumbled Alex, as he untangled himself for the fourth time. "Once more, and I'm letting him off the Leash!"

"You can't do that, Alex!" said Nina bossily. "Mom said we're not allowed." Alex frowned in annoyance. Who was Nina to be bossing him around? He was the eldest! Jeeves chose this moment to curl his leash around Alex's ankle...

"That does it!" yelled Alex, (Now sprawled face down in a puddle). He unclipped the leash. Jeeves, released, shot forward like an arrow, straight into Bramble Pond. Horrified, Alex and Nina pelted after him.

Ten minutes later, Jeeves was still playing happily in the muddy pond. On the slippery edge, the children called and coaxed. It was no use - Jeeves wouldn't budge. "Right, that's it!" roared Alex, purple in the face. "I'm going in!"

"No!" wailed Nina, but Alex was already knee-deep. As Alex splashed his way towards him. Jeeves darted out. He shook himself. cleverly avoided Nina's clutching hands by rolling in a cowpat, then set off again. Paralyzed with fear, the children watched as he wriggled under some barbed wire into a field of sheep.

"We must get him out!" cried Nina anxiously. "He'll get into so much trouble!" But they were excluded by the barbed wire. To make things worse, now the sheep were starting to fuss.

Alex froze. An angry figure brandishing a stick had appeared from the barn. In no time at all, Jeeves was a prisoner. "This your dog?" growled the farmer. "If I ever catch him worrying my sheep again, I'll have the law on you." Gabbling apologies, Alex took Jeeves and Nina clipped on the Leash. As fast as Olympic medalists, they fled along the path until the farmer was out of sight.

"Phew! That was close!" said Alex, relieved. "Well, at least everything's ok now." They set off, grinning happily.

Meanwhile, back at the car, Mom and Dad were waiting. A wet, muddy, filthy and smelly procession drew nearer and nearer. Alex had spoken too soon. Their telling-off broke all previous records.

"I can't believe Mom wouldn't let any of us back in the car," wailed Nina. "I'm really tired!"

"Who cares about the walk? I can't believe we have to give Jeeves a bath and shampoo! I'll never let him off the leash again!"

The Three Bears Sung to "Down By the Bay"

The Three Bears
Sung to "Down By the Bay"

We are three bears, out in the woods.

We go for walks, just like we should.

And then one day, while we were gone,

Somebody in a dress came and made a mess!

We are three bears.

She ate our food, she sat in chairs.

She even broke the baby bear's!

And then upstairs, guess what we saw,

We saw her in a bed!

Get out is what we said!

We are three bears.

Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=The+Three+Bears+Sung+to+%22Down+By+the+Bay%22.

The Dove Who Spoke the Truth by Abbie Farwell Brown The Curious Book of Birds

The Dove Who Spoke the Truth

by Abbie Farwell Brown

The Curious Book of Birds

The dove and the wrinkled little bat once went on a journey together. When it came toward night a storm arose, and the two companions sought everywhere for a shelter. But all the birds were sound asleep in their nests and the animals in their holes and dens. They could find no welcome anywhere until they came to the hollow tree where old Master Owl lived, wide awake in the dark.

"Let us knock here," said the shrewd bat; "I know the old fellow is not asleep. This is his prowling hour, and but that it is a stormy night he would be abroad hunting. What ho, Master Owl!" he squeaked, "will you let in two storm-tossed travelers for a night's lodging?"

Gruffly the selfish old owl bade them enter, and grudgingly invited them to share his supper. The poor dove was so tired that she could scarcely eat, but the greedy bat's spirits rose as soon as he saw the viands spread before him. He was a sly fellow, and immediately began to flatter his host into good humor. He praised the owl's wisdom and his courage, his gallantry and his generosity - though every one knew that however wise old Master Owl might be, he was neither brave nor gallant. As for his generosity, both the dove and the bat well remembered his selfishness toward the poor wren, when the owl alone of all the birds refused to give the little fire-bringer a feather to help cover his scorched and shivering body.

All this flattery pleased the owl. He puffed and ruffled himself, trying to look as wise, gallant, and brave as possible. He pressed the bat to help himself more generously to the viands, which invitation the sly fellow was not slow to accept.

During this time the dove had not uttered a word. She sat quite still staring at the bat, and wondering to hear such insincere speeches of flattery. Suddenly the owl turned to her.

"As for you, Miss Pink-Eyes," he said gruffly, "you keep careful silence. You are a dull table companion. Pray, have you nothing to say for yourself?"

"Yes," exclaimed the mischievous bat; "have you no words of praise for our kind host? Methinks he deserves some return for this wonderfully generous, agreeable, tasteful, well-appointed, luxurious, elegant, and altogether acceptable banquet. What have you to say, O little dove?"

But the dove hung her head, ashamed of her companion, and said very simply, "O Master Owl, I can only thank you with all my heart for the hospitality and shelter which you have given me this night. I was beaten by the storm, and you took me in. I was hungry, and you gave me your best to eat. I cannot flatter nor make pretty speeches like the bat. I never learned such manners. But I thank you."

"What!" cried the bat, pretending to be shocked, "is that all you have to say to our obliging host? Is he not the wisest, bravest, most gallant and generous of gentlemen? Have you no praise for his noble character as well as for his goodness to us? I am ashamed of you! You do not deserve such hospitality. You do not deserve this shelter."

The dove remained silent. Like Cordelia in the play she could not speak untruths even for her own happiness.

"Truly, you are an unamiable guest," snarled the owl, his yellow eyes growing keen and fierce with anger and mortified pride. "You are an ungrateful bird, Miss, and the bat is right. You do not deserve this generous hospitality which I have offered, this goodly shelter which you asked. Away with you! Leave my dwelling! Pack off into the storm and see whether or not your silence will soothe the rain and the wind. Be off, I say!"

"Yes, away with her!" echoed the bat, flapping his leathery wings.

And the two heartless creatures fell upon the poor little dove and drove her out into the dark and stormy night.

Poor little dove! All night she was tossed and beaten about shelterless in the storm, because she had been too truthful to flatter the vain old owl. But when the bright morning dawned, draggled and weary as she was, she flew to the court of King Eagle and told him all her trouble. Great was the indignation of that noble bird.

"For his flattery and his cruelty let the bat never presume to fly abroad until the sun goes down," he cried. "As for the owl, I have already doomed him to this punishment for his treatment of the wren. But henceforth let no bird have anything to do with either of them, the bat or the owl. Let them be outcasts and night-prowlers, enemies to be attacked and punished if they appear among us, to be avoided by all in their loneliness. Flattery and inhospitality, deceit and cruelty - what are more hideous than these? Let them cover themselves in darkness and shun the happy light of day.

"As for you, little dove, let this be a lesson to you to shun the company of flatterers, who are sure to get you into trouble. But you shall always be loved for your simplicity and truth. And as a token of our affection your name shall be used by poets as long as the world shall last to rhyme with LOVE."

https://www.psd1.org/cms/lib/WA01001055/Centricity/Domain/36/ES_The_Dove_Who_Spoke_the_Truth.pdf

The Boy Who Became a Robin by Henry R. Schoolcraft The Myth of Hiawatha

The Boy Who Became a Robin

by Henry R. Schoolcraft

The Myth of Hiawatha

Once upon a time there was an old Indian who had an only son, whose name was Opeechee. The boy had come to the age when every Indian lad makes a long fast, in order to secure a Spirit to be his guardian for life.

Now, the old man was very proud, and he wished his son to fast longer than other boys, and to become a greater warrior than all others. So he directed him to prepare with solemn ceremonies for the fast.

After the boy had been in the sweating lodge and bath several times, his father commanded him to lie down upon a clean mat, in a little lodge apart from the rest.

"My son," said he, "endure your hunger like a man, and at the end of TWELVE DAYS, you shall receive food and a blessing from my hands."

The boy carefully did all that his father commanded, and lay quietly with his face covered, awaiting the arrival of his guardian Spirit who was to bring him good or bad dreams.

His father visited him every day, encouraging him to endure with patience the pangs of hunger and thirst. He told him of the honor and renown that would be his if he continued his fast to the end of the twelve days.

To all this the boy replied not, but lay on his mat without a murmur of discontent, until the ninth day - when he said,

"My father, the dreams tell me of evil. May I break my fast now, and at a better time make a new one?"

"My son," replied the old man, "you know not what you ask. If you get up now, all your glory will depart. Wait patiently a little longer. You have but three days more to fast, then glory and honor will be yours."

The boy said nothing more, but, covering himself closer, he lay until the eleventh day, when he spoke again,

"My father," said he, "the dreams forebode evil. May I break my fast now, and at a better time make a new one?"

"My son," replied the old man again, "you know not what you ask. Wait patiently a little longer. You have but one more day to fast. Tomorrow I will myself prepare a meal and bring it to you."

The boy remained silent, beneath his covering, and motionless except for the gentle heaving of his breast.

Early the next morning his father, overjoyed at having gained his end, prepared some food. He took it and hastened to the lodge intending to set it before his son.

On coming to the door of the lodge what was his surprise to hear the boy talking to some one. He lifted the curtain hanging before the doorway, and looking in saw his son painting his breast with vermilion. And as the lad laid on the bright color as far back on his shoulders as he could reach, he was saying to himself:

"My father has destroyed my fortune as a man. He would not listen to my requests. I shall be happy forever, because I was obedient to my parent - but he shall suffer. My guardian Spirit has given me a new form, and now I must go!"

At this his father rushed into the lodge, crying,

"My son! my son! I pray you leave me not!"

But the boy, with the quickness of a bird, flew to the top of the lodge, and perching upon the highest pole, was instantly changed into a most beautiful robin redbreast.

He looked down on his father with pity in his eyes, and said,

"Do not sorrow, O my father, I am no longer your boy, but Opeechee the robin. I shall always be a friend to men, and live near their dwellings. I shall ever be happy and content. Every day will I sing you songs of joy. The mountains and fields yield me food. My pathway is in the bright air."

Then Opeechee the robin stretched himself as if delighting in his new wings, and caroling his sweetest song, he flew away to the near-by trees.

https://www.psd1.org/cms/lib/WA01001055/Centricity/Domain/36/ES_The_Boy_Who_Became_a_Robin.pdf

The Bird by Count Lyof N. Tolstoi

The Bird

by Count Lyof N. Tolstoi

It was Serozha's birthday, and he received many different gifts; peg tops, and hobby horses, and pictures. But Serozha's uncle gave him a gift that he prized above all the rest - it was a trap for snaring birds.

The trap was constructed in such a way that a board was fitted on the frame and shut down upon the top. If seed was scattered on the board, and the trap was put out in the yard, the little bird would fly down, hop upon the board, the board would give way, and the trap would shut with a clap.

Serozha was delighted, and he ran into the house to show his mother the trap.

His mother said:

"It is not a good plaything. What do you want to do with birds? Why do you want to torture them?"

"I am going to put them in a cage," Serozha said. "They will sing, and I will feed them."

He got some seed, scattered it on the board, and set the trap in the garden. And he stood by and expected the birds to fly down. But the birds were afraid of him and would not come near the cage. Serozha ran in to get something to eat, and left the cage.

After dinner he went to look at it. The cage had shut, and in it a little bird was beating against the bars.

Serozha took up the bird, and carried it into the house.

"Mother, I have caught a bird!" he cried. "I think it is a nightingale, and how its heart beats!"

His mother said it was a wild canary. "Be careful! Don't hurt it - you would better let it go."

"No," he said. "I am going to give it something to eat and drink."

Serozha put the bird in a cage, and for two days gave it seed and water, and cleaned the cage. But on the third day he forgot all about it, and did not change the water.

And his mother said, "See here, you have forgotten your bird. You would better let it go."

Serozha thrust his hand in the cage and began to clean it, but the little bird was frightened and fluttered. After Serozha had cleaned the cage, he went to get some water. His mother saw that he had forgotten to shut the cage door, and she called after him.

"Serozha, shut up your cage, else your bird will fly out and hurt itself."

She had hardly spoken the words when the bird found the door, was delighted, spread its wings, and flew around the room toward the window. Serozha came running in, picked up the bird, and put it back in the cage. The bird was still alive, but it lay on its breast, with its wings spread out, and breathed heavily. Serozha looked and looked at it, and began to cry.

"Mother, what can I do now?" he asked.

"You can do nothing now," she replied.

Serozha stayed by the cage all day. He did nothing but look at the bird. And all the time the bird lay on its breast and breathed hard and fast.

When Serozha went to bed, the bird was dead. Serozha could not get to sleep for a long time; every time that he shut his eyes he seemed to see the bird still lying and sighing.

In the morning when Serozha went to his cage, he saw the bird lying on its back, with its legs crossed, and all stiff.

After that Serozha never again snared birds.

https://www.psd1.org/cms/lib/WA01001055/Centricity/Domain/36/ES_The_Bird.pdf

Grandma's broom

Grandma's broom

There was something odd about Grandma's house. As soon as I walked in I got this feeling -an uneasy, wintery chill. Was it to do with the creaky stairs, the bare, splintered floorboards, the draughts and sudden whistling noises that came from nowhere...? I didn't know.

But that wasn't all. In the front room was a large fireplace. Whenever we visited, Grandma would be there, fussing about with the coals - poking, prodding, tutting at, sighing over... everything except lighting them. It was as if, somehow, they needed her close, personal attention. And then there was the small, white cat which materialised every evening at six o'clock. "He belongs to them next door... It's neglect, wicked neglect," she'd say, and stalk into the kitchen to find a can of tuna. But next door's house didn't have a cat flap and we never saw him hunting birds in their garden or grooming himself on their patio.

And finally, there was the broom that sat by the front door, ready for use. One night, my brother tracked some mud across the hallway. When he realised what he'd done, he grabbed the broom to sweep it up.

"Don't you dare use that," shrilled Grandma. "Get the dustpan from under the sink. Never EVER touch that broom."

“Grandma's Broom.” 1000s Of Primary Teaching Resources - Teachit Primary, 25 July 2008, www.teachitprimary.co.uk/resources/y3/structuring-plots-and-planning/writing-composition/grandma-s-broom/8894.