The Junior Classics, Volume 1: Fairy and wonder tales
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 1: Fairy and wonder tales
Children's literature
So Little Peachhing gave one of his dumplings to the Ape, who received
it and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he heard a
Pheasant calling—
“Ken! ken! ken! where are you off to, Master Peachling?”
Little Peachling answered as before; and the Pheasant, having begged
and obtained a millet dumpling, entered his service and followed him. A
little while after this they met a Dog, who cried—
Bow! wow! wow! whither away, Master Peachling?”
“I’m going off to the ogres’ island, to carry off their treasure.
“If you will give me one of those nice millet dumplings of yours, I
will go with you,” said the Dog.
“With all my heart,” said Little Peachling. So he went on his way, with
the Ape, the Pheasant, and the Dog following after him.
When they got to the ogres’ island, the Pheasant flew over the castle
gate and the Ape clambered over the castle wall, while Little
Peachling, leading the Dog, forced in the gate and got into the castle.
Then they did battle with the ogres and put them to flight, and took
their King prisoner. So all the ogres did homage to Little Peachling,
and brought out the treasures which they had laid up. There were caps
and coats that made their wearers invisible, jewels which governed the
ebb and the flow of the tide, coral, musk, emeralds, amber, and
tortoise shells, besides gold and silver. All these were laid before
Little Peachling by the conquered ogres.
So Little Peachling went home laden with riches, and maintained his
foster parents in peace and plenty for the remainder of their lives.
THE TWO LIZARDS
By Annie Ker
In the old days there lived two lizards, Webubu and Nagari. Webubu was
plain of speech, and moreover was unable to cry aloud, but Nagari, by
stretching his long neck, could produce a sweet low sound, somewhat
after the manner of a whistle.
Nagari longed for companions, so he stretched his neck and cried
“U-u-u-u-u.” Then many women, hearing the sweet sound, flocked to where
Nagari sat, and listened to his music. This pleased Nagari, and he
continued to sound his long note. “U-u-u-u-u,” he sang, and the women
sat so still, one might have thought them dead or weeping.
Webubu, on the contrary, had no one to cheer him in his loneliness.
“What can I do,” he said, “to draw women to me as Nagari has done? I
have not a sweet voice as he has. What can I do?”
As he was speaking a thought grew up in his heart, and he began to act.
He cut a slim piece of hollow bamboo, and pierced small holes in it.
Thus was the first flute (duraio) born. Webubu then built himself a
platform high in a corkwood tree, which we call “troba” on the beach,
and seating himself there he began to play his flute.
The women sat patiently around Nagari, while he sounded his one note,
“U-u-u!” But on a sudden, upon the still air, broke the sweet voice of
Webubu’s flute. High and sweet were the notes which Webubu sent forth
from his flute.
“M! m!” said the listening women.
“U-u-u-u,” sang Nagari.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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