"Yonder, by that tree."
"Well," said the Lion, "come with me and I will show you how— —"
"No, no," said the Hare, "I would not go near that tree for anything, I'm so nervous."
"But," said the Lion, "I am going to take you on my back." And he took her on his back, and begged the animals to stay where they were until they returned. Then he showed the little Hare how the fruit had fallen upon the leaf, making the noise that had frightened her, and she said: "Yes, I see—the Earth is not falling in." and the Lion said: "Shall we go back and tell the other animals?" And they went back. The little Hare stood before the animals and said: "The Earth is not falling in." And all the animals began to repeat this to one another, and they dispersed gradually, and you heard the words more and more softly:
"The Earth is not falling in," etc., etc., etc., until the sound died away altogether.
—From"EASTERN STORIES AND LEGENDS."
NOTE:—This story I have told in my own words, using the language I have found most effective for very young children.
[THE TRUE SPIRIT OF A FESTIVAL DAY]
And it came to pass that the Buddha was born a Hare and lived in a wood; on one side was the foot of a mountain, on another a river, on the third side a border village.
And with him lived three friends: a Monkey, a Jackal and an Otter; each of these creatures got food on his own hunting ground. In the evening they met together, and the Hare taught his companions many wise things: that the moral law should be observed, that alms should be given to the poor, and that holy days should be kept.