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there is enough community of lot suggested in
the sternest scientific record to constitute a
natural basis for sympathy on the part of the
human animal。 Without any falsity of
presentation whatever； the nature story may be
counted on as a help in the beginnings of culture
of the sympathies。 It is not； of course； a help
confined to the powers of the nature story； all
types of story share in some degree the powers
of each。 But each has some especial virtue in
dominant degree； and the nature story is； on this
ground； identified with the thought given。
The nature story shares its influence especially
with
THE HISTORICAL STORY
As the one widens the circle of connection
with other kinds of life； the other deepens the
sense of relation to past lives； it gives the sense
of background； of the close and endless connection
of generation with generation。 A good
historical story vitalises the conception of past
events and brings their characters into relation
with the present。 This is especially true of
stories of things and persons in the history of
our own race。 They foster race…consciousness；
the feeling of kinship and community of blood。
It is this property which makes the historical
story so good an agent for furthering a proper
national pride in children。 Genuine patriotism；
neither arrogant nor melodramatic； is so generally
recognised as having its roots in early
training that I need not dwell on this possibility；
further than to note its connection with the
instinct of hero…worship which is quick in the
healthy child。 Let us feed that hunger for the
heroic which gnaws at the imagination of every
boy and of more girls than is generally admitted。
There have been heroes in plenty in the world's
records；heroes of action； of endurance； of
decision； of faith。 Biographical history is full
of them。 And the deeds of these heroes are
every one a story。 We tell these stories； both
to bring the great past into its due relation with
the living present； and to arouse that generous
admiration and desire for emulation which is
the source of so much inspiration in childhood。
When these stories are tales of the doings and
happenings of our own heroes； the strong men
and women whose lives are a part of our
own country's history； they serve the double
demands of hero…worship and patriotism。
Stories of wise and honest statesmanship； of
struggle with primitive conditions； of generous
love and sacrifice； andin some measureof
physical courage； form a subtle and powerful
influence for pride in one's people； the intimate
sense of kinship with one's own nation； and the
desire to serve it in one's own time。
It is not particularly useful to tell batches of
unrelated anecdote。 It is much more profitable
to take up the story of a period and connect it
with a group of interesting persons whose lives
affected it or were affected by it； telling the
stories of their lives； or of the events in which
they were concerned； as 〃true stories。〃 These
biographical stories must； usually； be adapted
for use。 But besides these there is a certain
number of pure storiesworks of artwhich
already exist for us； and which illuminate facts
and epochs almost without need of sidelights。
Such may stand by themselves； or be used with
only enough explanation to give background。
Probably the best story of this kind known to
lovers of modern literature is Daudet's famous
La Derniere Classe。＇1＇
＇1＇ See The Last Lesson。
The historical story； to recapitulate； gives a
sense of the reality and humanness of past events；
is a valuable aid in patriotic training； and stirs
the desire of emulating goodness and wisdom。
CHAPTER II
SELECTION OF STORIES TO TELL
There is one picture which I can always review；
in my own collection of past scenes； though
many a more highly coloured one has been
irrevocably curtained by the folds of forgetfulness。
It is the picture of a little girl； standing
by an old…fashioned marble…topped dressing
table in a pink； sunny room。 I can never see
the little girl's face； because； somehow； I am
always looking down at her short skirts or
twisting my head round against the hand which
patiently combs her stubborn curls。 But I can
see the brushes and combs on the marble table
quite plainly； and the pinker streaks of sun on
the pink walls。 And I can hear。 I can hear a
low； wonder…working voice which goes smoothly
on and on； as the fingers run up the little girl's
locks or stroke the hair into place on her fore
head。 The voice says； 〃And little Goldilocks
came to a little bit of a house。 And she opened
the door and went in。 It was the house where
three Bears lived； there was a great Bear； a
little Bear； and a middle…sized Bear； and they
had gone out for a walk。 Goldilocks went in；
and she saw〃the little girl is very still； she
would not disturb that story by so much as a
loud breath； but presently the comb comes to
a tangle； pulls；and the little girl begins to
squirm。 Instantly the voice becomes impressive；
mysterious： 〃she went up to the table； and
there were THREE PLATES OF PORRIDGE。 She tasted
the first one〃the little girl swallows the breath
she was going to whimper with； and waits〃and
it was too hot！ She tasted the next one；
and THAT was too hot。 Then she tasted the little
bit of a plate； and thatwasjustright！〃
How I remember the delightful sense of
achievement which stole into the little girl's
veins when the voice behind her said 〃just
right。〃 I think she always chuckled a little；
and hugged her stomach。 So the story progressed；
and the little girl got through her toilet
without crying； owing to the wonder…working
voice and its marvellous adaptation of climaxes
to emergencies。 Nine times out of ten； it was the
story of The Three Bears she demanded when；
with the appearance of brush and comb； the voice
asked； 〃Which story shall mother tell？〃
It was a memory of the little girl in the
pink room which made it easy for me to understand
some other children's preferences when
I recently had occasion to inquire about them。
By asking many individual children which story
of all they had heard they liked best； by taking
votes on the best story of a series； after telling
it； and by getting some obliging teachers to put
similar questions to their pupils； I found three
prime favourites common to a great many children
of about the kindergarten age。 They were The
Three Bears； Three Little Pigs； and The Little Pig
that wouldn't go over the Stile。
Some of the teachers were genuinely
disturbed because the few stories they had
introduced merely for amusement had taken so pre…
eminent a place in the children's affection over
those which had been given seriously。 It was
of no use； however； to suggest substitutes。
The children knew definitely what they liked；
and though they accepted the recapitulation
of scientific and moral stories with polite
approbation； they returned to the original answer
at a repetition of the question。
Inasmuch as the slightest of the things we
hope to do for children by means of stories is
quite impossible unless the children enjoy the
stories； it may be worth our while to consider
seriously these three which they surely do enjoy；
to see what common qualities are in them；
explanatory of their popularity； by which we
may test the probable success of other stories
we wish to tell。
Here they are；three prime favourites of
proved standing。
THE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Joseph Jacobs's English Fairy Tales （David
Nutt； 57…69 Long Acre； W。C。 6s。）；
Once upon a time there were three little pigs；
who went from home to seek their fortune。
The first that went off met a man with a bundle
of straw； and said to him：
〃Good man； give me that straw to build
me a house。〃
The man gave the straw； and the little pig
built his house with it。 Presently came along
a wolf； and knocked at the door； and said：
〃Little pig； little pig； let me come in。〃
But the pig answered：
〃No； no； by the hair of my chiny…chin…chin。〃
So the wolf said：
〃Then I'll huff； and I'll puff； and I'll blow
your house in。〃
So he huffed； and he puffed； and he blew his
house in； and ate up the little pig。
The second little pig met a man with a
bundle of furze； and said：
〃Good man； give me that furze to build me
a house。〃
The man gave the furze； and the pig built his
house。 Then once more came the wolf； and said：
〃Little pig； little pig； let me come in。〃
〃 No； no； by the hair of my chiny…chin…chin。〃
〃Then I'll puff； and I'll huff； and I'll blow
your house in。〃
So he huffed； and he puffed； and he puffed
and he huffed； and at last he blew the house in；
an