THE TRAVELER.
A long time ago there was a wonderful traveler passing through a country. He was tired, footsore, and hungry. It happened that night overtook him when he was a long way from an inn. He did not know what he should do.
Finally, as he trudged along, he came to two houses standing opposite each other. One was large and beautiful, the other was small and ugly. The large house belonged to a proud, selfish man; the other to a modest, generous man.
The traveler thought, “Now, I would not be a burden to the man who lives in the large house because he has so much room. I will knock at his door.” As he knocked the owner raised a window, looked out, and asked of the stranger what he wanted. The poor traveler answered, “I ask only a place to sleep over night.” The proud man looked the stranger over from head to foot. And because his clothes were poor and soiled with dust, and because he did not look like one who had money to pay for his lodging, the owner shook his head and said, “I cannot take you in, for my house is full. If I received into my house everyone that came along, I should soon have to go begging myself. Seek elsewhere for your night’s lodging.” At that he closed the window with a bang, and left the poor traveler standing without in the darkness.
The weary traveler then went to the cottage and knocked gently at the door. Scarcely had he knocked when the generous man unlocked his door and cheerfully called out, “Come in, stranger, and pass the night with me. It is now quite dark. You can go on your journey in the morning.”
This welcome pleased the traveler and he went in. The good man’s wife took him by the hand. “We have not much,” she said, “but what we have you are welcome to.” She then put some potatoes on the fire to bake. While they were cooking she milked the goats so that there might be a little milk for the evening meal.
Suggestions.
1. Tell of the two houses that the wonderful traveler came to on his journey. To whom did the houses belong? Why did the traveler knock at the door of the mansion? Who answered the knock? What was said? Why did the proud man refuse the traveler a night’s lodging? Tell the words he used. Where, then, did the traveler turn? How was he received at the cottage? Tell what was said. What did the wife say and do?
Reproduction.
2. What animal furnishes us milk?
Where are cows kept? Who brings us milk?
3. Do you like it that the traveler was refused a night’s lodging at the mansion? What should the owner have said to him? Was the proud man kind? Was he friendly? Do we always welcome strangers? Would we take strangers into our homes?
4. What can you say of the poor man and his wife? What shall we say of them? Were they generous, kind, hospitable? (They gave the stranger welcome and the best they had.)
5. Why did the proud man look at the traveler’s clothes? Who else refused to keep lodgers over night because he thought at first they could not pay? (Landlord in “The Cock and The Hen.”)
II.
Preparation.
We shall now learn how the stranger passed the night and of three wishes he granted to the good old man and his wife. What do you suppose the good people asked for?
Narration.