The Book of Stories for the Story-teller - Fanny E. Coe

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came the Hobyahs, creep, creep, through the woods, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they cried:

      "Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat up the little old man, and carry away the little old woman."

      Then the little dog Turpie ran out again, barking so loudly that he frightened the Hobyahs, and they ran away home again.

      But the little old man tossed in his sleep, and he said:

      "Little dog Turpie barks so loudly that I can neither slumber nor sleep. In the morning I will take off his legs."

      So when morning came, the little old man took off Turpie's legs to cure him of barking.

      The third night the Hobyahs came again, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they called out:

      "Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat up the little old man, and carry away the little old woman."

      The little dog Turpie barked very loudly, and he frightened the Hobyahs so that they ran away home again.

      But the little old man heard Turpie, and he sat up in bed, and he said:

      "Little dog Turpie barks so loudly that I can neither slumber nor sleep. In the morning I will take off his head."

      So when morning came, the little old man took off Turpie's head, and then Turpie could not bark any more.

      That night the Hobyahs came again, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they called out:

      "Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat up the little old man, and carry off the little old woman."

      Now, since little dog Turpie could not bark any more, there was no one to frighten the Hobyahs away. They tore down the hemp stalks, they took the little old woman away in their bag, but the little old man they could not get, for he hid himself away under the bed.

      Then the Hobyahs hung the bag which held the little old woman up in their house, and they poked it with their fingers, and they cried:

      "Look you! Look you!"

      But when daylight came, they went to sleep, for Hobyahs, you know, sleep all day.

      The little old man was very sorry when he found that the little old woman was gone. He knew then what a good little dog Turpie had been to guard the house at night, so he fetched Turpie's tail, and his legs, and his head, and gave them back to him again.

      Then Turpie went sniffing and snuffing along to find the little old woman, and soon came to the Hobyahs' house. He heard the little old woman crying in the bag, and he saw that the Hobyahs were all fast asleep. So he went inside.

      Then he cut open the bag with his sharp teeth, and the little old woman hopped out and ran home; but Turpie got inside the bag to hide. When night came, the Hobyahs woke up, and they went to the bag, and they poked it with their fingers, crying:

      "Look you! Look you!"

      But out of the bag jumped little dog Turpie, and he ate every one of the Hobyahs. And that is why there are not any Hobyahs now.

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      nce upon a time the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind went to dine with their uncle and aunt, the Thunder and the Lightning. They said good-bye to their mother, the Evening Star, crossed the great dark arching sky, and came to the deep cave where live Thunder and Lightning.

      Here a wonderful feast was spread, and all sat down to enjoy it.

      Now the Sun and the Wind were very greedy. They bent their heads low over their plates and they ate and ate of every dish that was passed to them. They thought of nothing but themselves and the good food before them.

      But the Moon remembered her mother at home. Of every delicious dish she saved a portion for the Star.

      At last the evening was over and they returned to their home.

      "Well, my children, what have you brought to me?" asked their mother, the Star.

      "I have brought you nothing," said the Sun. "I was having a jolly evening with my friends, and, of course, I couldn't fetch a dinner to you!"

      "Neither have I brought you anything, mother!" said the Wind. "How it would have looked to be taking double portions of every dish!"

      Then the Moon stepped forward. "Bring a plate, mother, for see!" She opened her hands and showered down rich fruit and delicious cakes which she had saved for her mother.

      Then the Star turned to the Sun and said: "Because you forgot your mother at home, in the midst of your selfish pleasures, this is your doom. You shall burn, and burn, and burn with great heat, and men shall hate you. They shall cover their heads when you appear and seek the spots where your heat cannot beat upon them."

      And that is why the Sun is so hot even to-day.

      Then the Star turned to the Wind and said: "Because you also forgot your mother at home, in the midst of your selfish pleasures, this is your doom. You shall blow, blow, blow the hot sand and dust before you until men shall hate you. They shall flee from your face to the cool hills and even to faraway lands where the trees and grass are not parched and shrivelled by your fiery breath."

      And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is so disagreeable.

      Then the Star turned to the Moon and said: "Because you thought of your mother, in the midst of your happiness, receive my blessing. Henceforth your light shall be so soft, so cool, and so silvery, that all men shall delight in you and your beams. They shall seek to have you smile with favour upon all their loves and all their plans. They shall call you blessed."

      And that is why the light of the Moon is so cool, and so bright, and so beautiful to this very day.

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       Table of Contents

      orth wind likes a bit of fun as dearly as a boy does, and it is with boys he likes best to play.

      One day, North Wind saw a brave little fellow eating his lunch under a tree. Just as he went to bite his bread, North Wind blew it out of his hand and swept away everything else that he had brought for his lunch.

      "You hateful North Wind!" cried the little fellow. "Give me back my supper, I'm so hungry."

      Now North Wind, like all brave beings, is noble, and so he tried to make up for the mischief he had done.

      "Here, take this tablecloth," said North Wind, "and in whatever house you stay, spread it on the table; then wish, and you shall have everything you wish for to eat."

      "Thank you!" said the boy, and he took the tablecloth and ran as fast as he could to the first house, which proved to be an inn.

      "I have enough to pay for

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