- The Daffodils, Volume VII, 1.
- Trees and Ants That Help Each Other, VII, 306.
- A Bed of Nettles, VIII, 209.
6. About Birds:
- Who Stole the Bird’s Nest? Volume II, 399.
- Owls, IX, 229.
7. About Other Animals:
- Elephant Hunting, Volume VI, 385.
- The Buffalo, VII, 96.
- The Pond in Winter, VII, 280.
The longer stories you will abbreviate in telling, and the children will still further shorten them. Try, however, to retain the spirit of each. Do not try to tell all that is contained in the longer articles mentioned above. Select interesting portions, a single anecdote, a few facts that will hold attention.
At times vary the exercise by giving a very simple theme and ask the children to make up a story to fit it. If they have difficulty, help them to think and talk. When they see what you want some will surprise you with their vivid imaginations and picturesque modes of expression. Suppose you have in mind the fable The Wind and the Sun (Volume I, Page 95). You might present the idea to them in this form: “The Wind and the Sun each tried to make a man take off his coat. The Wind tried and failed, then the Sun tried and succeeded. Can you tell me a story about that?” If you meet with no satisfactory response, begin questioning somewhat in this style, and perhaps the child will answer nearly as indicated:
Question. You don’t know what I mean? Then let us tell it together. How do you think the Wind would try to make a man take off his coat?
Answer. He would try to blow it off.
Q. How would he blow?