Story Hour Readers Part 2

THE EAGLE AND THE FOX

One morning the fox said to his children, "I will find some eggs for breakfast."

Then he went to the woods.

The fox saw an eagle's nest in the top branch of a tree. "How can I reach those eggs?" thought he. "Ha, ha! Now I have a plan."

He put some gra.s.s stalks into his ears and knocked on the tree with them.

"Throw an egg to me," cried the fox. "If you do not throw an egg to me, I will knock this great tree over with these gra.s.s stalks."

The eagle was terribly frightened, and she threw an egg down to the fox.

"Throw another egg down to me at once," demanded the fox, when he saw that he had frightened the eagle.

"One egg is enough," said the eagle. "I shall not throw down any more eggs."

"Throw another egg to me, or I shall knock the tree over with these gra.s.s stalks, and take all your eggs," said the fox.

The eagle was still more frightened, and she threw down another egg.

Then the fox laughed and said, "How could I knock down a great tree with these small gra.s.s stalks?"

The eagle became very angry. She flew down from her nest and grasped the fox with her talons.

Then she lifted the fox up and flew with him far out to sea. She dropped him upon a lonely island.

The fox was left on the lonely island. One day he said to himself, "Am I going to die on this island?"

Then the fox began to sing softly. Seals, walruses, porpoises, and whales swam near the island.

"What are you singing about?" asked the sea people.

"This is what I am singing about," said the fox. "Are there more large animals in the waters of the sea, or on dry land?"

"Certainly there are more animals in the waters of the sea than on dry land," replied the sea people.

"Well, then, prove it to me!" said the fox. "Come up to the surface of the water and form a raft that will reach from this island to the mainland. Then I can walk over all of you, and I shall be able to count you."

So the large sea people--seals, walruses, porpoises, and whales--came up to the surface of the water.

The sea people formed a great raft, that reached from the island across to the mainland.

This was what the fox wanted. He ran over the great raft, pretending to count the animals.

When at last the fox reached the mainland, he jumped ash.o.r.e and hastened home.

HIAWATHA'S BROTHERS

Of all beasts he learned the language, Learned their names and all their secrets, How the beavers built their lodges, Where the squirrels hid their acorns, How the reindeer ran so swiftly, Why the rabbit was so timid, Talked with them whene'er he met them, Called them "Hiawatha's Brothers."

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

THE BEAVERS' LODGE

Big Chief had traveled a long distance through the forest. At last he reached the sh.o.r.e of a lake.

He was very tired, so he sat down upon a rock to rest.

Suddenly a large beaver came up from the water and stood before Big Chief.

"Who are you, that you dare to enter my kingdom?" demanded the beaver.

"I am Big Chief," replied the Indian. "The Great Spirit has given me power over all the animals. Who are you?"

"I am Master Beaver. All the beavers follow me and obey my commands. We are busy people. We always have plenty to do."

Big Chief was not afraid. He showed Master Beaver his bow and arrows and his wampum belt, saying, "These gifts were bestowed upon me by the Great Spirit. I am ruler over the animals of field and forest, over the birds, and over the fish."

When Master Beaver saw the bow and arrows and the wampum belt, he knew that the Indian was very powerful. So he said, less proudly, "Will you come with me and see how the beavers build their lodges?"

Big Chief followed Master Beaver for a short distance along the sh.o.r.e of the lake. He saw many beavers at work cutting down trees with their sharp teeth.

Some of the trees had fallen across the water and reached to an island in the lake.

On the island, other beavers were plastering the s.p.a.ces between the trees with mud and leaves.

Master Beaver said that this was the way the beavers built a dam.

Then he led Big Chief to the beavers' village on the island. Here were many lodges, built of sticks, gra.s.s and moss, and plastered with clay.

At last Master Beaver paused before one of the lodges.

"Enter! This is my home. You are welcome, Big Chief," said Master Beaver.

The Indian followed the beaver through a long, winding tunnel. They came to a large room. The floor of the room was covered with gra.s.s and bark.