Project Gutenberg's Child Stories from the Masters, by Maud Menefee

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Child Stories from the Masters
Being a Few Modest Interpretations of Some Phases of the
Master Works Done in a Child Way

Author: Maud Menefee

Release Date: June 8, 2007 [EBook #21764]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD STORIES FROM THE MASTERS ***

Produced by Mark C. Orton, Thomas Strong, Linda McKeown
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net

CHILD STORIES
FROM THE MASTERS

BY

MAUD MENEFEE

BEING A FEW MODEST INTERPRETATIONS
OF SOME PHASES OF THE MASTER
WORKS DONE IN A CHILD WAY

_ILLUSTRATED_

[Illustration]

RAND, McNALLY & COMPANY
_CHICAGO_ _NEW YORK_ _LONDON_

[Illustration: _By Jean Francois Millet_

THE SPINNER]

COPYRIGHT, 1899, 1901
By MAUD MENEFEE

TO
ANDREA HOFER

FOREWORD.

In writing these stories, no attempt has been made to follow the plot or
problem of the poems, which in almost every case lies beyond the child's
reach. The simple purpose as found in the whole, or the suggestion of
only a stanza or scene, has been used as opportunity for picturing and
reflecting something of the poetry and intention of the originals.

As story-teller to the same circle of children for several years, it
became necessary to draw upon the great literary fount for suggestion,
and it was found that "Pippa," the art child of industry, could add a
poetic impulse toward the handwork of spinning, thread-winding, weaving,
the making of spinning wheels, winders, and looms, without too great
violence to the original poem itself.

"Mignon," as the creature of an art that exists for art's sake, was set
to contrast with Pippa, who through service finds a song to heal and to
inspire.

"Siegfried" and "Parsifal," as knight stories, were given with their
musical _motifs_.

The writer hopes for "Child Stories" that it may serve to suggest to
teachers how they may utilize the great store of poetry and art a