birds and other animals. Among the great number of
selections that might be included under this head, some of the best are
the following:

1. Fairy Tales and Folk Stories:
_Silverlocks and the Three Bears_, Volume I, 101.
_The Hardy Tin Soldier_, I, 148.
_Cinderella_, I, 224.
_The Ugly Duckling_, I, 414.
_Why the Sea is Salt_, II, 484.
_The Pied Piper of Hamelin_, III, 384.

2. Biographical Stories:
_Robert Louis Stevenson_, Volume I, 128.
_Eugene Field_, I, 242.
_George Rogers Clark_, VI, 422.
_Pere Marquette_, VIII, 121.

3. Myths:
_The Wonderful Gifts_, Volume I, 368.
_The Chimera_, II, 173.
_The Story of Phaethon_, II, 206.

4. Historical Tales:
_Robert Bruce and the Spider_, Volume V, 314.
_The Fall of the Alamo_, VIII, 141.
_Herve Riel_, VIII, 168.

5. About Flowers and Plants:
_The Daffodils_, Volume VII, 1.
_Trees and Ants That Help Each Other_, VII, 306.
_A Bed of Nettles_, VIII, 209.

6. About Birds:
_Who Stole the Bird's Nest?_ Volume II, 399.
_Owls_, IX, 229.

7. About Other Animals:
_Elephant Hunting_, Volume VI, 385.
_The Buffalo_, VII, 96.
_The Pond in Winter_, VII, 280.

The longer stories you will abbreviate in telling, and the children will
still further shorten them. Try, however, to retain the spirit of each.
Do not try to tell all that is contained in the longer articles
mentioned above. Select interesting portions, a single anecdote, a few
facts that will hold attention.

At times vary the exercise by giving a very simple theme and ask the
children to make up a story to fit it. If they have difficulty, help
them to think and talk. When they see what you want some will surprise
you with their vivid imaginations and picturesque modes of expression.
Suppose you have in mind the fable _The Wind and the Sun_ (Volume I,
Page 95). You might present the idea to them in this form: "The Wind and
the Sun each tried to make a man take off his coat. The Wind tried and
failed, then the Sun tried and succeeded. Can you tell me a story about
that?" If you meet with no satisfactory response, begin questioning
somewhat in this style, and perhaps the child will answer nearly as
indicated:

Question. You don't know what I mean? Then let us tell it together. How
do you think the Wind would try to make a man take off his coat?

Answer. He would try to blow it off.

Q. How would he bl