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essential events of the series leading up to the climax； and present these so
simply as to appeal to children's ears； and so briefly as not to tire them。
The printed story is eight thousand words in length。 The first three
thousand words depict the beauty and fertility of the Treasure Valley； and
the cruel habits of Hans and Schwartz； its owners； and give the
culminating incident which leads to their banishment by 〃West Wind。〃
This episode；the West Wind's appearance in the shape of an aged
traveller； his kind reception by the younger brother； little Gluck； and the
subsequent wrath of Hans and Schwartz； with their resulting punishment；
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
occupies about two thousand words。 The rest of the story deals with the
three brothers after the decree of West Wind has turned Treasure Valley
into a desert。 In the little house where they are plying their trade of
goldsmiths； the King of the Golden River appears to Gluck and tells him
the magic secret of turning the river's waters to gold。 Hans and Schwartz
in turn attempt the miracle； and in turn incur the penalty attached to failure。
Gluck tries； and wins the treasure through self…sacrifice。 The form of the
treasure is a renewal of the fertility of Treasure Valley； and the moral of
the whole story is summed up in Ruskin's words； 〃So the inheritance
which was lost by cruelty was regained by love。〃
It is easy to see that the dramatic part of the story and that which most
pointedly illustrates the underlying idea； is the triple attempt to win the
treasure；the two failures and the one success。 But this is necessarily
introduced by the episode of the King of the Golden River； which is； also；
an incident sure to appeal to a child's imagination。 And the regaining of
the inheritance is meaningless without the fact of its previous loss； and the
reason for the loss； as a contrast with the reason for its recovery。 We need；
then； the main facts recorded in the first three thousand words。 But the
West Wind episode must be avoided； not only for brevity； but because two
supernatural appearances； so similar； yet of different personalities； would
hopelessly confuse a told story。
Our oral story is now to be made out of a condensed statement of the
character of the Valley and of its owners； and the manner of its loss； the
intervention of the King of the Golden River； the three attempts to turn the
river to gold； and Gluck's success。 Gluck is to be our hero； and our
underlying idea is the power of love versus cruelty。 Description is to be
reduced to its lowest terms； and the language made simple and concrete。
With this outline in mind； it may be useful to compare the following
adaptation with the original story。 The adaptation is not intended in any
sense as a substitute for the original； but merely as that form of it which
can be TOLD； while the original remains for reading。
THE GOLDEN RIVER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Ruskin's King of the Golden River。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
There was once a beautiful little valley； where the sun was warm； and
the rains fell softly； its apples were so red； its corn so yellow； its grapes so
blue； that it was called the Treasure Valley。 Not a river ran into it； but one
great river flowed down the mountains on the other side； and because the
setting sun always tinged its high cataract with gold after the rest of the
world was dark； it was called the Golden River。 The lovely valley
belonged to three brothers。 The youngest； little Gluck； was happy…hearted
and kind； but he had a hard life with his brothers； for Hans and Schwartz
were so cruel and so mean that they were known everywhere around as the
〃Black Brothers。〃 They were hard to their farm hands； hard to their
customers； hard to the poor； and hardest of all to Gluck。
At last the Black Brothers became so bad that the Spirit of the West
Wind took vengeance on them； he forbade any of the gentle winds； south
and west； to bring rain to the valley。 Then； since there were no rivers in it；
it dried up； and instead of a treasure valley it became a desert of dry； red
sand。 The Black Brothers could get nothing out of it； and they wandered
out into the world on the other side of the mountain…peaks； and little Gluck
went with them。
Hans and Schwartz went out every day； wasting their time in
wickedness； but they left Gluck in the house to work。 And they lived on
the gold and silver they had saved in Treasure Valley； till at last it was all
gone。 The only precious thing left was Gluck's gold mug。 This the Black
Brothers decided to melt into spoons； to sell； and in spite of Gluck's tears；
they put it in the melting pot； and went out； leaving him to watch it。
Poor little Gluck sat at the window； trying not to cry for his dear
golden mug； and as the sun began to go down； he saw the beautiful
cataract of the Golden River turn red； and yellow； and then pure gold。
〃Oh； dear！〃 he said to himself； 〃how fine it would be if the river were
really golden！ I needn't be poor； then。〃
〃It wouldn't be fine at all！〃 said a thin； metallic little voice； in his ear。
〃Mercy； what's that！〃 said Gluck； looking all about。 But nobody was
there。
Suddenly the sharp little voice came again。
〃Pour me out；〃 it said； 〃I am too hot！〃
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
It seemed to come right from the oven； and as Gluck stood； staring in
fright； it came again； 〃Pour me out； I'm too hot！〃
Gluck was very much frightened； but he went and looked in the
melting pot。 When he touched it； the little voice said； 〃Pour me out； I say！〃
And Gluck took the handle and began to pour the gold out。
First came out a tiny pair of yellow legs； then a pair of yellow coat…
tails； then a strange little yellow body； and； last； a wee yellow face； with
long curls of gold hair。 And the whole put itself together as it fell； and
stood up on the floor；the strangest little yellow dwarf； about a foot high！
〃Dear； me！〃 said Gluck。
But the little yellow man said； 〃Gluck； do you know who I am？ I am
the King of the Golden River。〃
Gluck did not know what to say； so he said nothing； and； indeed； the
little man gave him no chance。 He said； 〃Gluck； I have been watching you；
and what I have seen of you； I like。 Listen； and I will tell you something
for your good。 Whoever shall climb to the top of the mountain from which
the Golden River falls； and shall cast into its waters three drops of holy
water； for him and him only shall its waters turn to gold。 But no one can
succeed except at the first trial； and anyone who casts unholy water in the
river will be turned into a black stone。〃
And then； before Gluck could draw his breath； the King walked
straight into the hottest flame of the fire； and vanished up the chimney！
When Gluck's brothers came home； they beat him black and blue；
because the mug was gone。 But when he told them about the King of the
Golden River they quarrelled all night； as to which should go to get the
gold。 At last； Hans； who was the stronger； got the better of Schwartz； and
started off。 The priest would not give such a bad man any holy water； so
he stole a bottleful。 Then he took a basket of bread and wine； and began to
climb the mountain。
He climbed fast； and soon came to the end of the first hill。 But there he
found a great glacier； a hill of ice； which he had never seen before。 It was
horrible to cross；the ice was slippery； great gulfs yawned before him； and
noises like groans and shrieks came from under his feet。 He lost his basket
of bread and wine； and was quite faint with fear and exhaustion when his
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
feet touched firm ground again。
Next he came to a hill of hot； red rock； without a bit of grass to ease
the feet； or a particle of shade。 After an hour's climb he was so thirsty tha