Chapter V: Introduction (3)

"Who else can show Little New Girl something to do?" called her teacher. "Will you, Robert?" So what did Robert show her? (Give child ample time to think. If he does not respond go on.) Robert took her over to the shelves and showed her the paper and crayons. "You can draw ever so many pictures," said Robert.

Then Virginia said, "Let me show Little New Girl something." So what did Virginia show her?--Virginia showed her the horses and wagons. "You can harness them up," said Virginia.

Then Craig said, "Let _me_ show Little New Girl something." So what did Craig show her?--Craig showed her the beads. "You can string them in strings," said Craig.

Then Peter said, "Let _me_ show Little New Girl something." So what did Peter show her?--Peter showed her the clay. "You can make anything you want out of it," said Peter.

Then Tom said, "Let _me_ show Little New Girl something." So what did Tom show her? Tom showed her the saw and hammer and nails. "You can saw or hammer nails," said Tom.

Then Barbara said, "Let me show Little New Girl something." So what did Barbara show her? Barbara showed her the paper and scissors. "You can cut out anything you want," said Barbara.

"Now Little New Girl, what do you want to do?" said her teacher. And this time the little girl jumped right up and down and said, "I'm glad! I want to do everything." "But which thing first?" asked her teacher. "Let me watch," the Little New Girl said.

So Little New Girl stood quite still. She saw Robert go and get some paper and crayons and sit down at his little table to draw. She saw Virginia get some horses and harness and sit down at her little table to harness them. She saw Craig get some beads and sit down at his little table to string them. She saw Peter get the clay and sit down at his little table to model. She saw Tom go to the bench and begin to saw a piece of wood. She saw Barbara get some paper and scissors and paste and sit down at her little table to cut out and to paste.

Then she said, "I want to draw first." So she took some paper and some colored crayons and she sat down at a little table near the window looking out on the garden. There she drew and she drew and she drew. And she didn't feel like a Little New Girl at all for now she knew where everything was and she knew all the children and she knew her teacher.

THE ROOM WITH THE WINDOW LOOKING OUT ON THE GARDEN

I know a yellow room
With great big sliding doors
And a window on the side
Looking out upon a garden.
There's a balcony above
With a bench for carpenters
With planes and saws and hammers,
Bang! bang! with nails and hammers.
There are hooks beneath the stairs
To hang up hats and coats,
And nearby there's a sink
With everybody's cup.
There's a rope and there's a slide
Zzzip! but there's a slide.
There are shelves and shelves and shelves
With colored silk and beads,
With paper and with crayons,
And a great big crock with clay.
And the're blocks and blocks and blocks
And blocks and blocks and blocks
And the're horses there and wagons
And cows and dogs and sheep,
And men and women, boys and girls
With clothes upon them too.
And then the're cars to make a train
With engine and caboose.[B]
And the're lots of little tables
In this yellow, yellow room
For boys and girls to sit at
And play with all those things.
And there's a great big floor
In this yellow, yellow room
For boys and girls to sit on
And play with all those things.
And there is lots of sunshine
In this yellow, yellow room
For boys and girls to sit in
And play with all those things.

[B] _At this point the teacher might ask, "What else?" Not the first
time, however. The children must get the outline as a whole before
they contribute. Otherwise they will be entirely absorbed by the
content._

THE MANY-HORSE STABLE

All the material for this story was supplied by a three-year-old. The pattern was added. An older child would not be content with so sketchy an account. But it seems to compass a three-year-old's most significant associations with a stable. The title is one in actual use by a four-year-old class.

THE MANY-HORSE STABLE

Once there was a stable. The stable was in a big city. Downstairs in the stable there were many g-r-e-a-t b-i-g wagons and one little-bit-of-a wagon. And on the walls there were many g-r-e-a-t b-i-g harnesses and one little-bit-of-a harness. And there were many g-r-e-a-t b-i-g blankets and one little-bit-of-a blanket. And there were some g-r-e-a-t b-i-g whips and one little-bit-of-a whip. And there were some g-r-e-a-t b-i-g nose bags and one little-bit-of-a nose bag. Upstairs in the stalls there were some g-r-e-a-t b-i-g horses and one little-bit-of-a pony.

In the morning the men would come and harness up the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g horses with the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g harnesses to the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g wagons. They would put in the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g blankets and the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g whips and the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g nose bags. Then they would get up on the seats and gather up the reins and off down the street would go the g-r-e-a-t b-i-g horses. Clumpety-lumpety bump! thump! Clumpety-lumpety bump! thump!

Then a little-bit-of-a man would harness up the little-bit-of-a pony with the little-bit-of-a harness to the little-bit-of-a wagon. He would put in the little-bit-of-a blanket and the little-bit-of-a whip and the little-bit-of-a nose bag. Then he would get up on the seat and gather up the reins and off down the street would go the little-bit-of-a pony! Lippety-lippety! lip! lip! lip! Lippety-lippety! lip! lip! lip!

MY KITTY

Here there is no plot. Instead I have attempted to enumerate the associations which cluster around a kitten, and present them in a patterned form.

MY KITTY

Meow, meow!
Kitty's eyes, two eyes, yellow eyes, shiny bright eyes.
Meow, meow!
Kitty's pointed ears, pink on the inside, fur on the outside.
Meow, meow!
Kitty's mouth, little white teeth and whiskers long.
Meow, meow!
Kitty's fur, soft to stroke like this, like this.

Prrrr, prrrr,
Little fur ball cuddled close to the warm, warm fire.
Prrrr, prrrr,
Little padded feet pattering soft to get her milk.
Prrrr, prrrr,
Little pink tongue, lapping up the milk from her own little dish.
Prrrr, prrrr,
Warm little, round little, happy little kitten snuggled in my arms.

Pssst, pssst!
Stiff little kitten, spitting at a dog.
Pssst, pssst!
Hair standing up on her humped-up back.
Pssst, pssst!
Sharp white teeth, sharp, sharp, claws.
Pssst, pssst!
Ready to jump and to bite and to scratch.

Kitty, kitty, kitty,
You funny little cat,
I never know whether you'll purr or spit
You funny little cat!

THE ROOSTER AND THE HENS

An objective story tied in with the personal.

THE ROOSTER AND THE HENS

Once there was an egg. Inside the egg there was a little chicken growing, for the mother hen had sat on it for three weeks. When the chicken was big enough he wanted to come out and so he went pick, peck, pick, peck, until he made a little hole in the shell. Then he stuck his bill through the hole and wiggled it until the shell cracked and he could get his head through. Then he wiggled it a little more and the shell broke and he could get his foot out. And then the shell broke right in two.

As soon as the little chicken was out he went scritch, scratch, with his little foot. Then he ran to a little saucer of water. He took a little water in his bill; then he held his head up in the air while the water ran down his throat. The mother hen went:

"Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck,"

and the little chicken ran to her calling:

"Cheep, cheep, cheep."

Then he heard a funny little noise. He looked around and what do you think he saw? Another egg was cracking because another little chicken was going pick, peck inside. Soon out of the shell came a little baby brother. And then he heard another funny little noise, and another shell broke and out of the shell came a little baby sister. And then he heard another little noise and another shell broke and out of the shell came still another little sister. This went on until there were a lot of yellow baby chickens. Then all the little chickens went scritch, scratch, with their little feet looking for worms, and all the little chickens took a drink of water and held up their heads to let the water run down their throats. And all the little chickens ran to the mother hen calling:

"Cheep, cheep, cheep."

Now all the little chickens began to grow. The little sisters all got little bits of combs on the tops of their heads and under their bills. Their little yellow feathers turned into all kinds of colors. But the little brother chicken, he got a great big red comb on the top of his head and under his bill, and he got long spurs on his ankles. On his neck the feathers grew long and yellow and behind on his tail they grew very long and all shiny green.

He was walking around one morning while it was still dark when suddenly he felt a funny feeling in his throat. He wanted to open his mouth. So he did, and out of his mouth this is what came:

"Cock-a-doodle-doo,
Cock-a-doodle-doo."

He thought it sounded perfectly wonderful; so he opened his mouth again and out came the same sound:

"Cock-a-doodle-doo,
Cock-a-doodle-doo."

Now when his sister hens heard this wonderful rooster-noise they all came running out of the chicken house. This made the rooster more pleased than ever. So he threw his head way back and he opened his beak wide and he crowed:

"Cock-a-doodle-doo,
Cock-a-doodle-doo,
I'm twice as smart as you,
Cock-a-doodle-doo,
See what I can do."

When his sister hens heard him say this each one began to cluck and say:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I'm going to lay an egg, an egg."

Then the rooster answered:

"Cock-a-doodle-doo,
I don't believe it's true.
Cock-a-doodle-doo,
I don't believe it's true."

So the little black and white hen, she ran into the barn and up on the side of the wall she saw a little box. She jumped into the little box and there she laid an egg. Then she said:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Robert.
Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Robert."

Then the little yellow hen she jumped right into the manger and she wiggled around in the straw until she made a little nest where she laid an egg. Then she said:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Martha.
Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Martha."

Then the little black hen she saw another little box nailed on to the wall so she jumped up on it and she laid an egg and then she said:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Tom, for Tom,
Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Tom."

And then the little white hen she could not find any place at all. She ran around and around. Finally she sat right down in the soft dust which by this time the sun had made all warm, until she made a little round hollow and there she laid an egg. Then she said:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Peter.
Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
I laid an egg for Peter."

When the rooster saw all these eggs he opened his mouth again and bragged:

"Cock-a-doodle-doo,
What they say is true.
See what they can do,
Cock-a-doodle-doo."

And the little hens answered:

"Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
We can lay an egg, an egg,
Cut-cut-cut, cadaakut,
We can lay an egg."

And if ever you are out in the country early in the morning you will hear the wonderful rooster-noise. And then you will hear the hens telling how many eggs they have laid for you.

THE LITTLE HEN AND THE ROOSTER

The little hen goes "cut cut cut."
The rooster he goes "cock a doodle doo!
You want me and I want you,
But I'm up here and you're down there."
The little hen goes "cut cut cut,"
The rooster he steps with a funny little strut,
He cocks his eye, gives a funny little sound,
He looks at the hen, he looks all around,
He flaps his wings, he beats the air,
He stretches his neck, then flies to the ground.
"Cock a doodle, cock a doodle, cock a doodle doo!
Now you have me and I have you!"

MY HORSE, OLD DAN

This verse utilizes a child's love of enumeration and of movement. The School has found it the most successful of my verse for small children.

MY HORSE, OLD DAN

Old Dan has two ears
Old Dan has two eyes
Old Dan has one mouth
With many, many, many, many teeth.

Old Dan has four feet
Old Dan has four hoofs
Old Dan has one tail
With many, many, many, many hairs.

Old Dan can w a l k, w a l k,
Old Dan can trot, trot, trot,
Old Dan can run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run,
Many, many, many, many miles.

* * *

Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog
The wheels go round and round and round.
Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog
Oh, hear what a rattlety, tattlety sound!
Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog
The wheels they pound and pound and pound.
Horsie goes jog-a-jog-a-jog
While the wagon it rattles along the ground!

Auto, auto.
May I have a ride?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Step right inside.
Pour in the water,
Turn on the gasolene,
And chug, chug, away we go
Through the country green.

HOW SPOT FOUND A HOME

This story was worked out with the help of a five-year-old boy who supplied most of the content. It at once suggested dramatization to various groups of children to whom it was read. The refrains are definite corner posts in the story and are recognized as such by the children.

HOW SPOT FOUND A HOME

Once there was a cat. She was a black and white and yellow cat and the boys on the street called her Spot. For she was a poor cat with no home but the street. When she wanted to sleep, she had to hunt for a dark empty cellar. When she wanted to eat, she had to hunt for a garbage can. So poor Spot was very thin and very unhappy. And much of the time she prowled and yowled and howled.

Now one day Spot was prowling along the fence in the alley. She wanted to find a home. She was saying to herself:

"Meow, meow!
I've no place to eat,
I've no place to sleep,
I've only the street!
Meow, meow, meow!"

Then suddenly she smelled something. Sniff! went her pink little nose. Spot knew it was smoke she smelled. The smoke came out of the chimney of a house. "Where there is smoke there is fire," thought Spot, "and where there is fire, it is warm to lie." So she jumped down from the fence and on her little padded feet ran softly to the door. There she saw an empty milk bottle. "Where there are milk bottles, there is milk," thought Spot, "and where there is milk, it is good to drink." So she slipped in through the door.

Inside was a warm, warm kitchen. Spot trotted softly to the front of the stove and there she curled up. She was very happy, so she closed her eyes and began to sing:

"Purrrr, purrrr,
Curling up warm
To a ball of fur,
I close my eyes
And purr and purr.
Purrrr, purrrr,
Purrrr, purrrr."

Bang! went the kitchen door. Spot opened one sleepy eye. In front of her stood a cross, cross woman. The cross, cross woman scowled. She picked up poor Spot and threw her out of the door, screaming:

"Scat, scat!
You old street cat!
Scat, scat!
And never come back!"

With a bound Spot jumped back to the fence.

"Meow, meow!
I've no place to eat,
I've no place to sleep,
I've only the street.
Meow, meow, meow!"

So she trotted along the fence. In a little while sniff! went her little pink nose again. She smelled more smoke. She stopped by a house with two chimneys. The smoke came out of both chimneys! "Where there are two fires there must be room for me," thought Spot. She jumped off the fence and pattered to the door. By the door there were two empty milk bottles. "Where there is so much milk there will be some for me," thought Spot. But the door was shut tight. Spot ran to the window. It was open! In skipped Spot. There was another warm, warm kitchen and there was another stove. Spot trotted softly to the stove and curled up happy and warm. She closed her eyes and softly sang:

"Purrrr, purrrr,
Curling up warm
To a ball of fur,
I close my eyes
And purr and purr.
Purrrr, purrrr,
Purrrr, purrrr."

"Ssssspt!" hissed something close by. Spot leapt to her feet. "Ssssspt!" she answered back. For there in front of her stood an enormous black cat. His back was humped, his hair stood on end, his eyes gleamed and his teeth showed white.

"Ssssspt! leave my rug!
Ssssspt! leave my fire!
Ssssspt! leave my milk!
Ssssspt! leave my home!"

Spot gave one great jump out of the window and another great jump to the top of the fence. For Spot was little and thin and the great black cat was strong and big. And he didn't want Spot in his home.

Poor Spot trotted along the fence, thinking:

"Meow, meow,
I've no place to eat,
I've no place to sleep,
I've only the street,
Meow, meow, meow."

In a little while she smelled smoke again. Sniff! went her little pink nose. This time she stopped by a house with three chimneys. The smoke came out of all the chimneys! "Where there are three fires there _must_ be room for me," thought Spot. So she jumped off the fence and pattered to the door. By the door were three empty milk bottles! "Where there is so much milk there must be children," thought Spot and then she began to feel happy. But the door was shut tight. She trotted to the window. The window was shut tight too! Then she saw some stairs. Up the stairs she trotted. There she found another door and in she slipped. She heard a very pleasant sound.

"I crickle, I crackle,
I flicker, I flare,
I jump from nothing right into the air."

There on the hearth burned an open fire with a warm, warm rug in front of it. On the rug was a little table and on the table were two little mugs of milk. Spot curled up on the rug under the table and began to sing:

"Purrrr, purrrr,
Curling up warm
To a ball of fur,
I close my eyes,
And purr and purr.
Purrrr, purrrr,
Purrrr, purrrr."

Pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat! Spot heard some little feet coming. A little boy in a nightgown ran into the room. "Look," he called, "at the pretty spotted cat under our table!" Then pat, pat, pat, pat, pat! And a little girl in a nightgown ran into the room. "See," she called, "the pussy has come to take supper with us!" Then the little boy, quick as a wink, put a saucer on the floor and poured some of his milk into it and the little girl, quick as a wink, poured some of hers in too.

In and out, in and out, in and out, went Spot's pink tongue lapping up the milk. Then she sat up and washed her face very carefully. Then she curled up and closed her eyes and began to sing. That was her way of saying "Thank you, little boy and little girl! I'm so glad I've found a home!"

"Purrrr, purrrr,
Purrrr, purrrr,
Purrrr, purrrr, purrrr."

THE DINNER HORSES
THE GROCERY MAN

The material for these stories came from questions and observations on the part of three- and four-year-olds arising largely from their trips on the city streets. The children should be allowed to name the various kinds of food.

THE DINNER HORSES

In a certain house on a certain street there lives a certain little girl and her name is Ruth (one of children's names). She sleeps in a little bed in a room with a big window opening on to the street. She sleeps all night in the little bed with her eyes closed tight. In the morning she opens her eyes and it's just beginning to get light. Then she stretches and stretches her legs. Then she stops still and listens. For she hears him coming, coming, coming down the street. Clopperty, clopperty, clopperty, clop! comes the milk horse down the street! He stops in front of Ruth's house. Ruth hears him. Then she hears the driver jump out and pat, pat, pat, she hears his feet coming to the door. Clank, clink, clank, go the milk bottles in his hands. Clank! she hears him put them down. Then fast she hears his feet, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat. "Go on, Dan!" she hears him call, and clopperty, clopperty, clopperty, clop! off goes the milk horse down the street.

Then after a while she hears something else. It's quite light now. Ruth thinks it must be time to get up. She stretches and stretches her legs. Then she stretches and stretches her arms. Then she stops still and listens.

For she hears him coming, coming, coming down the street. Clippety, lip, lip, lip, clippety, lip, lip, lip! comes the bread horse down the street. He stops in front of Ruth's house. Ruth hears him. Then she hears the driver jump out and pat, pat, pat, she hears his feet coming to the door. Rattle, crackle, goes the paper as he puts down the loaves of bread all wrapped up to keep them clean. Then fast she hears his feet, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat. "Go on, Bill!" she hears him call and clippety, lip, lip, lip, clippety, lip, lip, lip! off goes the bread horse down the street.

After breakfast when Ruth is all ready to go to school she hears a big auto coming down the street. Kachug-a-chug-a-chug comes the grocery auto down the street. It stops at Ruth's house. Ruth runs and looks out of the window. She sees the driver jump out and take from the back of the auto a basket all full of things. She can see spinach and potatoes and a package of sugar and----and----and----.

Then pat, pat, pat, the driver runs to the door. Prrrrrr! she hears the bell ring and Ruth knows that the driver is giving Bessie all the things at the kitchen door. Then pat, pat, pat back comes the driver, jumps into the auto and kachug-a-chug-a-chug! off goes the grocery auto down the street!

On the way to school Ruth passes another wagon. Rattling and clattering, she hears the butcher's wagon come down the street. "Is there anything in that wagon for us?" asks Ruth. And her mother answers, "Yes, a little chicken." Then rattling and clattering off to Ruth's house goes the butcher's wagon down the street.

Now while Ruth is away at school Bessie washes the spinach and chops it up fine and puts it on the stove to boil. She puts the little chicken in a pan and puts it in the oven to roast. Then she puts some big potatoes in the oven to bake. Then she slices some bread and cuts off a piece of butter and pours out some glasses of milk.

When Ruth comes home from school she smells something good. "Dinner's all ready," calls Bessie. Ruth answers, "Come father, come mother. I'm hungry."

So Ruth and her father and mother sit down at the table and they drink the milk and they eat the bread and the spinach and the potatoes and the chicken which the milk horse and the bread horse and the grocery auto and the butcher's wagon brought in the morning.

THE GROCERY MAN

Prrrip! prrrip! prrrip! the telephone rings in the grocery store. "Hello," says the grocery man. "Who are you?"

"I'm Ruth's mother. Good morning, Mr. Grocery Man."

"Good morning, Ruth's Mother. What can I send you today?"

"Please, Mr. Grocery Man, send me some potatoes and some graham crackers and a package of sugar and some carrots."

"Is that all, Ruth's Mother?"

"Yes, that's all. Goodbye, Mr. Grocery Man."

"Goodbye, Ruth's Mother."

So the grocery man hangs up the telephone and takes a basket and in the basket he puts some potatoes, some graham crackers, a package of sugar and some carrots.

Then prrrip! prrrip! prrrip! the telephone rings again.

"Hello!" says the Grocery Man. "Who is this?"

"This is John's Mother. Good morning, Mr. Grocery Man."

"Good morning, John's Mother. What can I send you today?"

"Please, Mr. Grocery Man, send me some spinach and some apples and some butter and some eggs."

"Is that all, John's Mother?"

"Yes, that's all. Goodbye, Mr. Grocery Man."

"Goodbye, John's Mother."

So the Grocery Man hangs up the telephone and takes another basket and in the basket he puts some spinach and some apples and some butter and some eggs.

Then prrrip! prrrip, prrrip! the telephone rings another time.

"Hello!" says the Grocery Man. "Who are you?"

"I'm Robert's Mother. Good morning, Mr. Grocery Man."

"Good morning, Robert's Mother. What can I send you today?"

"Please, Mr. Grocery Man, send me some prunes and some macaroni and some salt and some oatmeal."

"Is that all, Robert's Mother?"

"Yes, that's all. Goodbye, Mr. Grocery Man."

"Goodbye, Robert's Mother."

So the Grocery Man hangs up the telephone and takes another basket and in the basket he puts some prunes and some macaroni and some salt and some oatmeal. Then he carries Ruth's basket out and puts it in a wagon on the street. Then he carries John's basket out and puts it in the wagon. At last he carries Robert's basket out and puts that in the wagon with the others. Then the driver jumps to the seat and gathers up the reins and says "Go on, Old Dan," and clopperty, clopperty clop! off goes Old Dan down the street.

Old Dan goes clopperty, clopperty, clop till he gets to Ruth's house and there he stops. The driver jumps out and takes the basket and pat, pat, pat, go his feet running to the door. Prrrr! he rings the bell and gives Ruth's mother the potatoes, the graham crackers, the sugar and the carrots. Then pat, pat, pat, he is back in the wagon. "Go on, Old Dan," and clopperty, clopperty, clop! off goes Old Dan down the street.

Old Dan goes clopperty, clopperty, clop till he gets to John's house and there he stops. The driver jumps out and takes another basket and pat, pat, pat go his feet running to the door. Prrrr! he rings the bell and gives John's mother the spinach, the apples, the butter and the eggs. Then pat, pat, pat, he is back in the wagon. "Go on, Old Dan," and clopperty, clopperty, clop! off goes Old Dan down the street.

Old Dan goes clopperty, clopperty, clop till he gets to Robert's house and there he stops. The driver jumps out, takes another basket and pat, pat, pat, he is at the door. Prrrr! he rings the bell and gives Robert's mother the prunes, the macaroni, the salt and the oatmeal. Then pat, pat, pat, he is back in the wagon. "Go on, Old Dan," and clopperty, clopperty, clop! off goes old Dan down the street.

So Old Dan goes clopperty, clopperty, clop from house to house until he has left a basket with everybody who telephoned to the grocery man in the morning.

THE JOURNEY

This story, which is an adaptation of a five-year-old's story quoted in the introduction, embodies the details given to me by another three-year-old child. The sound of the train should be intoned, as it was in the original telling.

THE JOURNEY

Once Ruth's father was going to take a journey. He got out his suitcase. And in his suitcase he put his slippers, his pajamas, his tooth brush, some tooth paste, some clean underclothes, some clean shirts, some collars, some socks and some handkerchiefs. Then he kissed Ruth goodbye as she lay asleep in her bed and he kissed her mother goodbye and with his suitcase in his hand went up to the Pennsylvania Station.

At the train he met the negro porter. "What berth, sir?" said the porter. "Lower 10", said Ruth's father. So the porter took the suitcase and put it down at Number 10 which was all made up into two beds, one above the other, with green curtains hanging in front. Then Ruth's father undressed. And in a few minutes he was asleep behind the green curtains.

Soon the train started and Ruth's father never woke up. "Thum," said the train (on many different keys) all through the night. "Thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum. _Philadelphia!_ Thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum. _Baltimore!_ Thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum. _Washington!_"

Then Ruth's father got up and dressed himself, for it was morning. The negro porter carried his suitcase to the platform. "Goodbye, sir," he said. "Goodbye, Porter," said Ruth's father. And then he went off to a hotel.

The next day it was time for him to go home. So Ruth's father packed his suitcase again. In his suitcase he put his slippers, his pajamas, his tooth brush, some tooth paste, his dirty underclothes, his dirty shirts, his collars, his socks and his handkerchiefs. Then he went to the Pennsylvania Station in Washington.

At the train he met another negro porter. "What berth, sir?" said the porter. "Upper 6," said Ruth's father. So the porter took the suitcase and put it in the top bed of Number 6. Ruth's father climbed up into the upper berth. Then he undressed and in a few minutes he was asleep behind the green curtains.

Soon the train started. "Thum," said the train, though Ruth's father never heard it he was so sound asleep. "Thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum. _Baltimore!_ Thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum. _Philadelphia!_ Thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum; thum, thum, thum, thum. _New York!_"

Then Ruth's father got up and dressed himself for it was morning. The negro porter carried his suitcase to the platform. "Goodbye, sir," he said. "Goodbye, Porter," said Ruth's father.

Then Ruth's father jumped into a taxi and in a few minutes he was at home. Ruth came running down the stairs. "Here's father," she cried. "Here's father in time for breakfast!" "My," said Ruth's father, giving her a hug, "It's good to be home!"

PEDRO'S FEET

Here there is a definite attempt to let the sounds tell their own story.

PEDRO'S FEET

Little Pedro was a dog. He lived in New York City. He was owned by a little boy who loved him. For Pedro had big brown eyes and curly brown hair and when he wanted anything he would go:

"Hu-u-u, hu-u-u, hu-u-u!" And any one would have loved Pedro.

One day Pedro was lying on his front steps in the warm, warm sun. He put his nose on his little fore paws and went to sleep.

"Bzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzbz!" went a little fly in his ear.

"Yap, yap!" went Pedro's jaws as he snapped at the fly. But he missed the fly.

"Bzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzbz!" went the little fly.

"Yap, yap!" went Pedro's jaws. But he missed the fly again.

"Bzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzbz!"

"Yap, yap, yap!"

"Bzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzbz!"

"Yap, yap, yap, yap!"

Up jumped Pedro. "I can't sleep with that fly in my ear! I'll take a walk!" Down the steps he went. Skippety, skippety, skippety, skippety. He reached the sidewalk. On the sidewalk went his feet. You could hear them as they beat. Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter down the street.

When he came to the end of the block, he started across the street. Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter pat----

"Honk, honk! Look out, look out! Honk, honk!"

Jump-thump! went Pedro's feet. Jump-jump jump-jump, jump-jump, thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump, jump-jump, jump-jump, jump-jump, pitter patter, pitter patter,--he'd reached the other side! And the auto hadn't hurt him!

Again on the sidewalk went his feet. You could hear them as they beat pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter down the street.

When he came to the end of this block, he started across the next street.

Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter pat----

"Clopperty, clopperty, clopperty, clopperty! Get out of my way, get out of my way! Clopperty, clopperty, clopperty, clopperty!"

Jump-thump! went Pedro's feet. Jump-jump jump-jump, jump-jump, thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump, jump-jump, jump-jump, jump-jump, pitter patter, pitter patter,--he'd reached the other side! And the horse hadn't hurt him either!

Again on the sidewalk went his feet. You could hear them as they beat,--pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter down the street.

When he came to the end of this block, he started across the next street.

Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter pat---- Pedro stopped with one little front foot up in the air. In the middle of the street stood a man. He had on high rubber boots and he held a big hose.

Shrzshrzshrzshrzshrz--came the water out of the hose. It hit the street. Splsh splsh splsh splsh splsh! It ran in a little stream into the hole in the gutter,--gubble, gubble, gubble, gubble, gubble! This was something new to Pedro. He didn't understand.

Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter. He thought he'd better find out about it.

"Hie, you little dog! Look out!" shouted the man.

Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter.

"Hie, you little dog. I say look out!"

Pitter patter, pitter pat--ssssssssss bang! the water hit him!

"Ki-eye! yow! yow!" Kathump, kathump, kathump, kathump; kathump, kathump, kathump, kathump! Fast, fast went Pedro's feet, running, tearing down the street.

"Ki-eye! I'm going home!" Kathump, kathump, kathump, kathump! Down the sidewalk, 'cross the street, 'nother sidewalk, 'nother street, kathump, kathump, kathump, kathump! Pedro was at home. Skippety, skippety up the stairs. Pedro was at his own front door.

He stopped. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr--he shook himself. He scattered the water all around.

"Bow, wow, I'm glad I'm home! Bow, wow, I'm glad I'm home!"

Then he lay down in the warm, warm sun. And he put his nose on his little fore paws. And he closed his eyes and he went to sleep.

"Bzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzbz!"

But Pedro was too sound asleep to hear the fly.

"Whe-whuhuhu, whe-whuhuhu, whe-whuhuhu." That's the way he was breathing. For he was oh, so sound asleep! And there he is sleeping now.

HOW THE ENGINE LEARNED
THE KNOWING SONG

This story stresses the relationship of use in response to what seems to be a five-year-old method of thinking.

The school has found it best to let the younger children take the parts individually but to omit the parts in unison. The joy of the mere noise makes it difficult to bring them back for the close of the story. All the children have repeated the refrains after a few readings with evident enjoyment.

HOW THE ENGINE LEARNED THE KNOWING SONG

Once there was a new engine. He had a great big boiler; he had a smoke stack; he had a bell; he had a whistle; he had a sand-dome; he had a headlight; he had four big driving wheels; he had a cab. But he was very sad, was this engine, for he didn't know how to use any of his parts. All around him on the tracks were other engines, puffing or whistling or ringing their bells and squirting steam. One big engine moved his wheels slowly, softly muttering to himself, "I'm going, I'm going, I'm going." Now the new engine knew this was the end of the Knowing Song of Engines. He wanted desperately to sing it. So he called out:

"I want to go
But I don't know how;
I want to know,
Please teach me now.
Please somebody teach me how."

Now there were two men who had come just on purpose to teach him how. And who do you suppose they were? The engineer and the fireman! When the engineer heard the new engine call out, he asked, "What do you want, new engine?"

And the engine answered:

"I want the sound
Of my wheels going round.
I want to stream
A jet of steam.
I want to puff
Smoke and stuff.
I want to ring
Ding, ding-a-ding.
I want to blow
My whistle so.
I want my light
To shine out bright.
I want to go ringing and singing the song,
The humming song of the engine coming,
The clear, near song of the engine here,
The knowing song of the engine going."

Now the engineer and the fireman were pleased when they heard what the new engine wanted. But the engineer said:

"All in good time, my engine,
Steady, steady,
'Til you're ready.
Learn to know
Before you go."

Then he said to the fireman, "First we must give our engine some water." So they put the end of a hose hanging from a big high-up tank right into a little tank under the engine's tender. The water filled up this little tank and then ran into the big boiler and filled that all up too. And while they were doing this the water kept saying:

"I am water from a stream
When I'm hot I turn to steam."

When the engine felt his boiler full of water he asked eagerly:

"Now I have water,
Now do I know
How I should go?"

But the fireman said:

"All in good time, my engine,
Steady, steady,
'Til you're ready,
Learn to know
Before you go."

Then he said to the engineer, "Now we must give our engine some coal." So they filled the tender with coal, and then under the boiler the fireman built a fire. Then the fireman began blowing and the coals began glowing. And as he built the fire, the fire said:

"I am fire,
The coal I eat
To make the heat
To turn the stream
Into the steam."

When the engine felt the sleeping fire wake up and begin to live inside him and turn the water into steam he said eagerly:

"Now I have water,
Now I have coal,
Now do I know
How I should go?"

But the engineer said:

"All in good time, my engine,
Steady, steady,
'Til you're ready.
Learn to know
Before you go."

Then he said to the fireman, "We must oil our engine well." So they took oil cans with funny long noses and they oiled all the machinery, the piston-rods, the levers, the wheels, everything that moved or went round. And all the time the oil kept saying:

"No creak,
No squeak."

When the engine felt the oil smoothing all his machinery, he said eagerly:

"Now I have water,
Now I have coal,
Now I am oiled,
Now do I know
How I should go?"

But the fireman said:

"All in good time, my engine,
Steady, steady,
'Til you're ready.
Learn to know
Before you go."

Then he said to the engineer, "We must give our engine some sand." So they took some sand and they filled the sand domes on top of the boiler so that he could send sand down through his two little pipes and sprinkle it in front of his wheels when the rails were slippery. And all the time the sand kept saying:

"When ice drips,
And wheel slips,
I am sand
Close at hand."

When the new engine felt his sand-dome filled with sand he said eagerly:

"Now I have water,
Now I have coal,
Now I am oiled,
Now I have sand,
Now do I know
How I should go?"

But the engineer said:

"All in good time, my engine,
Steady, steady,
'Til you're ready.
Learn to know
Before you go."

Then he said to the fireman, "We must light our engine's headlight." So the fireman took a cloth and he wiped the mirror behind the light and polished the brass around it. Then he filled the lamp with oil. Then the engineer struck a match and lighted the lamp and closed the little door in front of it. And all the time the light kept saying:

"I'm the headlight shining bright
Like a sunbeam through the night."

Now when the engine saw the great golden path of brightness streaming out ahead of him, he said eagerly:

"Now I have water,
Now I have coal,
Now I am oiled,
Now I have sand,
Now I make light,
Now do I know
How I should go?"

And the engineer said, "We will see if you are ready, my new engine." So he climbed into the cab and the fireman got in behind him. Then he said, "Engine, can you blow your whistle so?" And he pulled a handle which let the steam into the whistle and the engine whistled (who wants to be the whistle?) "Toot, toot, toot." Then he said, "Can you puff smoke and stuff?" And the engine puffed black smoke (who wants to be the smoke?), saying, "Puff, puff, puff, puff, puff." Then he said, "Engine, can you squirt a stream of steam?" And he opened a valve (who wants to be the steam?) and the engine went, "Szszszszsz." Then he said, "Engine, can you sprinkle sand?" And he pulled a little handle (who wants to be the sand?) and the sand trickled drip, drip, drip, down on the tracks in front of the engine's wheels. Then he said, "Engine, does your light shine out bright?" And he looked (who wants to be the headlight?) and there was a great golden flood of light on the track in front of him. Then he said, "Engine, can you make the sound of your wheels going round?" And he pulled another lever and the great wheels began to move (who wants to be the wheels?) Then the engineer said:

"Now is the time,
Now is the time.
Steady, steady,
Now you are ready.

Blow whistle, ring bell, puff smoke, hiss steam, sprinkle sand, shine light, turn wheels!

'Tis time to be ringing and singing the song,
The humming song of the engine coming,
The clear, near song of the engine here,
The knowing song of the engine going."

Then whistle blew, bell rang, smoke puffed, steam hissed, sand sprinkled, light shone and wheels turned like this: (Eventually the children can do this together, each performing his chosen part.)

"Toot-toot, ding-a-ding, puff-puff,
Szszszszsz, drip-drip, chug-chug."

(After a moment stop the children)

That's the way the new engine sounded when he started on his first ride and didn't know how to do things very well. But that's not the way he sounded when he had learned to go really smooth and fast. Then it was that he learned _really_ to sing "The Knowing Song of the Engine." He sang it better than any one else for he became the fastest, the steadiest, the most knowing of all express engines. And this is the song he sang. You could hear it humming on the rails long before he came and hear it humming on the rails long after he had passed. Now listen to the song.

(Begin very softly rising to a climax with "I'm here" and gradually dying to a faint whisper)

"I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming,
I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming,
I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming,
I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming.
I'M HERE, I'M HERE, I'M HERE, I'M HERE,
I'M HERE, I'M HERE, I'M HERE, I'M HERE.
I'm Going, I'm Going, I'm Going, I'm Going,
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going, I'm going,
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going, I'm going,
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going, I'm going."

THE FOG BOAT STORY

The refrains must be intoned if not sung to get the proper effect. Most of the informational parts of the original story have been cut out. The story grew out of questions asked before breakfast on foggy days, and was originally told to the sound of the distant fog horns.

THE FOG BOAT STORY

Early, early one morning, all the fog boats were talking. This is the way they were going:

"Toot, toot, toot, too-oot, to-oo-oot!" (on many different keys.)

Way down at the wharf a big steamer was being pulled out into the river. The furnaces were all going for the stokers were down in the hole shoveling coal, down in the hole shoveling coal, shoveling coal, and a lot of black smoke was coming out of the smoke stack. And the engines were working, chug, chug, chug. And all the baggage and freight had been put down in the hold. And all the food had been put on the ice. And all the passengers were on board and the gang-plank had been pulled up. And this is what the big steamer was saying:

And do you know what was making the steamer move? What was pulling her out into the river? It was a little tug boat and the tug boat had hold of one end of a big rope and the other end of the rope was tied fast to the steamer. And the little tug boat was puffing and chucking and working away as hard as he could and calling out:

And do you know why the tug boat and the steamer were talking like this? It is because they were afraid they might bump into some other ship in the fog for they can't see in the fog. You know how white and thick the fog can be.

So the old steamer and the little tug boat both kept tooting until they were way out in the middle of the river.

"Toot, toot, I'm moving." "Tootootootootoot, I'm awful smart."

Now when they were way out in the middle of the river, the little tug boat dropped the rope from the big steamer and turned around. As it puffed away it called out:

"Too-too-too-tootoot, I'm going home
Too-too-too-tootoot, I'm awful smart."

Then the big steamer moved slowly down the river towards the great ocean calling through the fog:

"Toot, toot, I'm moving."

Up on the captain's bridge stood the pilot. He is the man who tells just where to make the steamer go in the harbor. He knows where everything is. He knows where the rocks are on the right and he didn't let the steamer bump them. He knows where the sand reef is on the left and he didn't let the steamer get on to that. He knows just where the deep water is and he kept the steamer in it all the time.

Now down on the right so close that it almost bumped, there went a flat boat. This boat was saying:

And that was a coal barge. And then down on the left so close that it almost bumped on the other side they heard another boat saying:

And that was a ferry boat! Then off on the right they heard a great big deep voice. This is what it said:

And that was a war boat! And every time the old steamer answered:

"Toot, toot, I'm moving."

Once off on the left the passengers could hear this:

"Ding----g! dong----g!
Hear my song----g!
Ding----g! dong----g!"

And what bell do you think that was way out there? A bell buoy rocking on the water! Every time the wave went up it said, "ding" and every time the wave went down it said, "dong."

By this time the old steamer was out of the harbor way out in the open sea. The pilot came down from the captain's deck; he climbed down the rope ladder to the little pilot boat that was tied close to the big steamer. Then the little pilot boat pushed away into the fog calling:

And again the big steamer answered:

"Toot, toot, I'm moving."

Then way off on the left so far away it could barely hear it, it heard:

And that was a sail boat! Then way off on the right so far away it could barely hear it, it heard

"Toot, toot, I'm moving"

and that was another steamer.

And again the big steamer answered:

"Toot, toot, I'm moving."

And so the old steamer went out into the fog calling, calling so that no boat would hit it. And all the other boats that passed it, they went calling, calling too.

HAMMER AND SAW AND PLANE

This story is a slight extension of the children's own experience. It is purposely limited to the tools they themselves handle familiarly.

HAMMER AND SAW AND PLANE

Once there was a carpenter. He had built himself a fine new house. And now it was all done. The walls, the floors and the roof were done. The stairs were done. The windows and doors were done. And the carpenter had moved into his new house.

In his house he had a stove and he had electric lights. He had beds and chairs and bureaus and bookcases. He had everything except a table to eat off of. He still had to stand up when he ate his meals!

So the carpenter thought he would make him a table. But he had no lumber left. So off he went to the lumber mill. At the lumber mill he saw lots and lots of lumber piled in the yard. The carpenter told the man at the lumber mill just how much lumber he wanted and just how long he wanted it and how broad he wanted it and how thick he wanted it.

So the man at the lumber mill put all this lumber,--just what the carpenter had ordered,--on a wagon and sent it out to the carpenter's house.

And then the carpenter began. He said to himself, "First I must make my boards just the right length." So he measured a board just as long as he wanted the top to be; then he put the board on a sawhorse and he took his saw and began to saw:

"Zzzu," went the saw,
"Zzzu, zzzu, zzzu."
The sawdust flew
The saw ripped through
Down dropped the board sawed right in two.

And then the carpenter took another board and he measured this just the same length. Then he put this board on the sawhorse and he took the saw and began to saw:

"Zzzu," went the saw,
"Zzzu, zzzu, zzzu."
The sawdust flew
The saw ripped through
Down dropped the board sawed right in two.

And then the carpenter took still another board and "Zzzu," went the saw until this board too was sawed right in two. Then he had enough for the top of the table. Then he took the pieces that were going to make the legs and he sawed four of them just the right length. Then he sawed the boards that were going to be the braces until they too were just the right length. And underneath his sawhorse there was a little pile of sawdust.

Then after this the carpenter says to himself, "I must make my boards smooth." So he puts a board in the vise and he begins to plane the board.

The plane he guides
The plane it glides
It smooths, it slides
All over the sides.

And when this board is all smooth, the carpenter takes it out of the vise and puts in another board. Then he takes his plane.

The plane he guides
The plane it glides
It smooths, it slides
All over the sides.

And then the carpenter takes still another board and he guides and slides the plane until this board too is all smooth. And he does this until all the boards that are going to make the top and the legs and the braces are all smooth. And underneath his bench there is a pile of shavings.

And then the carpenter he says to himself, "I must nail my boards together." So he puts the boards that are going to make the top together and he takes a nail and then he swings his hammer:

The hammer it gives a swinging pound.
The nail it gives a ringing sound.
Bing! bang! bing! bing!
And the boards are tight together!

And then the carpenter takes another piece of the top and puts it beside the other two and he takes another nail and then he swings his hammer again.

The hammer it gives a swinging pound.
The nail it gives a ringing sound.
Bing! bang! bing! bing!
And the boards are tight together!