按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they waited through the years for the prophecy to come true。
In this nation； in a little country town； lived a man and a woman whose
names were Joseph and Mary。 And it happened； one year； that they had to
take a little journey up to the town which was the nearest tax…centre； to
have their names put on the census list； because that was the custom in
that country。
But when they got to the town； so many others were there for the same
thing； and it was such a small town； that every place was crowded。 There
was no room for them at the inn。 Finally the innkeeper said they might
sleep in the stable on the straw。 So they went there for the night。
And while they were there； in the stable； their first child was born to
them； a little son。 And because there was no cradle to put Him in； the
mother made a little warm nest of the hay in the big wooden manger
142
… Page 143…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
where the oxen had eaten； and wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes； and
laid Him in the manger； for a bed！
That same night； on the hills outside the town； there were shepherds；
keeping their flocks through the darkness。 They were tired with watching
over the sheep； and they stood or sat about； drowsily； talking and watching
the stars。 And as they watched； behold； an angel of the Lord appeared unto
them！ And the glory of the Lord shone round about them！ And they were
sore afraid。 But the angel said unto them； 〃Fear not； for behold I bring you
good tidings of great joy； which shall be to all people。 For unto you is born；
this day； in the city of David； a saviour；which is Christ the Lord。 And this
shall be a sign unto you： ye shall find the babe； wrapped in swaddling
clothes； lying in a manger。〃
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host； praising God； and saying； 〃Glory to God in the highest； and on earth
peace； good will toward men。〃
When the angels were gone up from them into heaven； the shepherds
said to one another； 〃Let us now go even unto Bethlehem； and see this
thing which is come to pass； which the Lord hath made known unto us。〃
And they came； with haste； and they found Mary； and Joseph； and the babe
lying in a manger。 And when they saw Him in the manger； they knew that
the wonderful thing the angel said had really happened； and that the great
deliverer was born at last。
THE CHILD…MIND； AND HOW TO SATISFY IT
〃It is the grown people who make the nursery stories；〃 wrote
Stevenson； 〃all the children do is jealously to preserve the text。〃 And the
grown person； whether he makes his stories with pen or with tongue；
should bring two qualities at least to the worksimplicity of language and
a serious sincerity。 The reason for the simplicity is obvious； for no one；
child or otherwise； can thoroughly enjoy a story clouded by words which
convey no meaning to him。
The second quality is less obvious but equally necessary。 No absence
143
… Page 144…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
of fun is intended by the words 〃serious sincerity；〃 but they mean that the
story…teller should bring to the child an equal interest in what is about to
be told； an honest acceptance； for the time being； of the fairies； or the
heroes； or the children； or the animals who talk； with which the tale is
concerned。 The child deserves this equality of standpoint； and without it
there can be no entire success。
As for the stories themselves； the difficulty lies with the material； not
with the CHILD。 Styles may be varied generously； but the matter must be
quarried for。 Out of a hundred children's books it is more than likely that
ninety…nine will be useless； yet perhaps out of one autobiography may be
gleaned an anecdote； or a reminiscence which can be amplified into an
absorbing tale。 Almost every story…teller will find that the open eye and
ear will serve him better than much arduous searching。 No one book will
yield him the increase to his repertoire which will come to him by
listening； by browsing in chance volumes and magazines； and even
newspapers； by observing everyday life； and in all remembering his own
youth； and his youthful； waiting audience。
And that youthful audience？ A rather too common mistake is made in
allowing overmuch for the creative imagination of the normal child。 It is
not creative imagination which the normal child possesses so much as an
enormous credulity and no limitations。 If we consider for a moment we
see that there has been little or nothing to limit things for him； therefore
anything is possible。 It is the years of our life as they come which narrow
our fancies and set a bound to our beliefs； for experience has taught us that
for the most part a certain cause will produce a certain effect。 The child；
on the contrary； has but little knowledge of causes； and as yet but an
imperfect realisation of effects。 If we； for instance； go into the midst of a
savage country； we know that there is the chance of our meeting a savage。
But to the young child it is quite as possible to meet a Red Indian coming
round the bend of the brook at the bottom of the orchard； as it is to meet
him in his own wigwam。
The child is an adept at make…believe； but his make…believes are； as a
rule； practical and serious。 It is credulity rather than imagination which
helps him。 He takes the tales he has been TOLD； the facts he has observed；
144
… Page 145…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
and for the most part reproduces them to the best of his ability。 And
〃nothing；〃 as Stevenson says； 〃can stagger a child's faith； he accepts the
clumsiest substitutes and can swallow the most staring incongruities。 The
chair he has just been besieging as a castle is taken away for the
accommodation of a morning visitor and he is nothing abashed； he can
skirmish by the hour with a stationary coal…scuttle； in the midst of the
enchanted pleasuance he can see； without sensible shock； the gardener
soberly digging potatoes for the day's dinner。〃
The child； in fact； is neither undeveloped 〃grown…up〃 nor unspoiled
angel。 Perhaps he has a dash of both； but most of all he is akin to the
grown person who dreams。 With the dreamer and with the child there is
that unquestioning acceptance of circumstances as they arise； however
unusual and disconcerting they may be。 In dreams the wildest； most
improbable and fantastic things happen； but they are not so to the dreamer。
The veriest cynic amongst us must take his dreams seriously and without a
sneer； whether he is forced to leap from the edge of a precipice； whether
he finds himself utterly incapable of packing his trunk in time for the train；
whether in spite of his distress at the impropriety； he finds himself at a
dinner… party minus his collar； or whether the riches of El Dorado are laid
at his feet。 For him at the time it is all quite real and harassingly or
splendidly important。
To the child and to the dreamer all things are possible； frogs may talk；
bears may be turned into princes； gallant tailors may overcome giants； fir…
trees may be filled with ambitions。 A chair may become a horse； a chest of
drawers a coach and six； a hearthrug a battlefield； a newspaper a crown of
gold。 And these are facts which the story…teller must realise； and choose
and shape the stories accordingly。
Many an old book； which to a modern grown person may seem prim
and over…rigid； will be to the child a delight； for him the primness and the
severity slip away； the story remains。 Such a book as Mrs Sherwood's
Fairchild Family is an example of this。 To a grown person reading it for
the first time； the loafing propensities of the immaculate Mrs Fairchild；
who never does a hand's turn of good work for anyone from cover to cover；
the hard piety； the snobbishness； the brutality of