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sent down little streams of pure water； the winds were gentle； and lying
like a blue jewel at the foot of the western hills was a marvelous lake of
salt water；an inland sea。 So the pioneers settled there and built them huts
and cabins for the first winter。
It had taken them many months to make the terrible journey； many had
died of weariness and illness on the way； many died of hardship during the
winter； and the provisions they had brought in their wagons were so nearly
gone that； by spring； they were living partly on roots； dug from the ground。
All their lives now depended on the crops of grain and vegetables which
they could raise in the valley。 They made the barren land good by
spreading water from the little streams over it；what we call 〃irrigating；〃
and they planted enough corn and grain and vegetables for all the people。
Every one helped； and every one watched for the sprouting； with hopes；
and prayers； and careful eyes。
In good time the seeds sprouted； and the dry； brown earth was covered
with a carpet of tender； green； growing things。 No farmer's garden at home
in the East could have looked better than the great garden of the desert
valley。 And from day to day the little shoots grew and flourished till they
were all well above the ground。
Then a terrible thing happened。 One day the men who were watering
the crops saw a great number of crickets swarming over the ground at the
edge of the gardens nearest the mountains。 They were hopping from the
barren places into the young； green crops； and as they settled down they
ate the tiny shoots and leaves to the ground。 More came； and more； and
ever more； and as they came they spread out till they covered a big corner
of the grain field。 And still more and more； till it was like an army of black；
hopping； crawling crickets； streaming down the side of the mountain to
kill the crops。
The men tried to kill the crickets by beating the ground； but the
numbers were so great that it was like beating at the sea。 Then they ran
and told the terrible news； and all the village came to help。 They started
fires； they dug trenches and filled them with water； they ran wildly about
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in the fields； killing what they could。 But while they fought in one place
new armies of crickets marched down the mountain… sides and attacked
the fields in other places。 And at last the people fell on their knees and
wept and cried in despair； for they saw starvation and death in the fields。
A few knelt to pray。 Others gathered round and joined them； weeping。
More left their useless struggles and knelt beside their neighbors。 At last
nearly all the people were kneeling on the desolate fields praying for
deliverance from the plague of crickets。
Suddenly； from far off in the air toward the great salt lake； there was
the sound of flapping wings。 It grew louder。 Some of the people looked up；
startled。 They saw； like a white cloud rising from the lake； a flock of sea
gulls flying toward them。 Snow…white in the sun； with great wings beating
and soaring； in hundreds and hundreds； they rose and circled and came on。
〃The gulls！ the gulls！〃 was the cry。 〃What does it mean？〃
The gulls flew overhead； with a shrill chorus of whimpering cries； and
then； in a marvelous white cloud of spread wings and hovering breasts；
they settled down over the seeded ground。
〃Oh！ woe！ woe！〃 cried the people。 〃The gulls are eating what the
crickets have left！ they will strip root and branch！〃
But all at once； some one called out；
〃No； no！ See！ they are eating the crickets！ They are eating only the
crickets！〃
It was true。 The gulls devoured the crickets in dozens； in hundreds； in
swarms。 They ate until they were gorged； and then they flew heavily back
to the lake； only to come again with new appetite。 And when at last they
finished； they had stripped the fields of the cricket army； and the people
were saved。
To this day； in the beautiful city of Salt Lake； which grew out of that
pioneer village； the little children are taught to love the sea gulls。 And
when they learn drawing and weaving in the schools； their first design is
often a picture of a cricket and a gull。
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Stories To Tell Children
THE NIGHTINGALE＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen。
A long； long time ago； as long ago as when there were fairies； there
lived an emperor in China； who had a most beautiful palace； all made of
crystal。 Outside the palace was the loveliest garden in the whole world；
and farther away was a forest where the trees were taller than any other
trees in the world； and farther away； still； was a deep wood。 And in this
wood lived a little Nightingale。 The Nightingale sang so beautifully that
everybody who heard her remembered her song better than anything else
that he heard or saw。 People came from all over the world to see the
crystal palace and the wonderful garden and the great forest； but when
they went home and wrote books about these things they always wrote；
〃But the Nightingale is the best of all。〃
At last it happened that the Emperor came upon a book which said this；
and he at once sent for his Chamberlain。
〃Who is this Nightingale？〃 said the Emperor。 〃Why have I never heard
him sing？〃
The Chamberlain； who was a very important person； said； 〃There
cannot be any such person； I have never heard his name。〃
〃The book says there is a Nightingale；〃 said the Emperor。 〃I command
that the Nightingale be brought here to sing for me this evening。〃
The Chamberlain went out and asked all the great lords and ladies and
pages where the Nightingale could be found； but not one of them had ever
heard of him。 So the Chamberlain went back to the Emperor and said；
〃There is no such person。〃
〃The book says there is a Nightingale；〃 said the Emperor； 〃if the
Nightingale is not here to sing for me this evening I will have the court
trampled upon； immediately after supper。〃
The Chamberlain did not want to be trampled upon； so he ran out and
asked everybody in the palace about the Nightingale。 At last； a little girl
who worked in the kitchen to help the cook's helper； said； 〃Oh； yes； I know
the Nightingale very well。 Every night； when I go to carry scraps from the
kitchen to my mother； who lives in the wood beyond the forest； I hear the
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Nightingale sing。〃
The Chamberlain asked the little cook… maid to take him to the
Nightingale's home； and many of the lords and ladies followed after。 When
they had gone a little way； they heard a cow moo。
〃Ah！〃 said the lords and ladies； 〃that must be the Nightingale； what a
large voice for so small a creature！〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the little girl； 〃that is just a cow； mooing。〃
A little farther on they heard some bull… frogs； in a swamp。 〃Surely
that is the Nightingale；〃 said the courtiers； 〃it really sounds like church…
bells！〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the little girl； 〃those are bullfrogs； croaking。〃
At last they came to the wood where the Nightingale was。 〃Hush！〃
said the little girl； 〃she is going to sing。〃 And； sure enough； the little
Nightingale began to sing。 She sang so beautifully that you have never in
all your life heard anything like it。
〃Dear； dear；〃 said the courtiers； 〃that is very pleasant； does that little
gray bird really make all that noise？ She is so pale that I think she has lost
her color for fear of us。〃
The Chamberlain asked the little Nightingale to come and sing for the
Emperor。 The little Nightingale said she could sing better in her own
greenwood； but she was so sweet and kind that she came with them。
That evening the palace was all trimmed with the most beautiful
flowers you can imagine； and rows and rows of little silver bells； that
tinkled when the wind blew in； and hundreds and hundreds and hundred