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suggestive interest which heightens later enjoyment of the original。 I
suggest the adaptation of Kate Douglas Wiggin； in The Story Hour； since
in view of the existence of a satisfactory adaptation it seems
unappreciative to offer a second。 The one I made for my own use some
years ago is not dissimilar to this； and I have no reason to suppose it more
desirable。
Ruskin's King of the Golden River is somewhat difficult to adapt。 Not
only is it long； but its style is mature； highly descriptive； and closely
allegorical。 Yet the tale is too beautiful and too suggestive to be lost to the
story…teller。 And it is； also； so recognised a part of the standard literary
equipment of youth that teachers need to be able to introduce children to
its charm。 To make it available for telling； we must choose the most
essential events of the series leading up to the climax； and present these so
simply as to appeal to children's ears； and so briefly as not to tire them。
The printed story is eight thousand words in length。 The first three
thousand words depict the beauty and fertility of the Treasure Valley； and
the cruel habits of Hans and Schwartz； its owners； and give the
culminating incident which leads to their banishment by 〃West Wind。〃
This episode；the West Wind's appearance in the shape of an aged
traveller； his kind reception by the younger brother； little Gluck； and the
subsequent wrath of Hans and Schwartz； with their resulting punishment；
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
occupies about two thousand words。 The rest of the story deals with the
three brothers after the decree of West Wind has turned Treasure Valley
into a desert。 In the little house where they are plying their trade of
goldsmiths； the King of the Golden River appears to Gluck and tells him
the magic secret of turning the river's waters to gold。 Hans and Schwartz
in turn attempt the miracle； and in turn incur the penalty attached to failure。
Gluck tries； and wins the treasure through self…sacrifice。 The form of the
treasure is a renewal of the fertility of Treasure Valley； and the moral of
the whole story is summed up in Ruskin's words； 〃So the inheritance
which was lost by cruelty was regained by love。〃
It is easy to see that the dramatic part of the story and that which most
pointedly illustrates the underlying idea； is the triple attempt to win the
treasure；the two failures and the one success。 But this is necessarily
introduced by the episode of the King of the Golden River； which is； also；
an incident sure to appeal to a child's imagination。 And the regaining of
the inheritance is meaningless without the fact of its previous loss； and the
reason for the loss； as a contrast with the reason for its recovery。 We need；
then； the main facts recorded in the first three thousand words。 But the
West Wind episode must be avoided； not only for brevity； but because two
supernatural appearances； so similar； yet of different personalities； would
hopelessly confuse a told story。
Our oral story is now to be made out of a condensed statement of the
character of the Valley and of its owners； and the manner of its loss； the
intervention of the King of the Golden River； the three attempts to turn the
river to gold； and Gluck's success。 Gluck is to be our hero； and our
underlying idea is the power of love versus cruelty。 Description is to be
reduced to its lowest terms； and the language made simple and concrete。
With this outline in mind； it may be useful to compare the following
adaptation with the original story。 The adaptation is not intended in any
sense as a substitute for the original； but merely as that form of it which
can be TOLD； while the original remains for reading。
THE GOLDEN RIVER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Ruskin's King of the Golden River。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
There was once a beautiful little valley； where the sun was warm； and
the rains fell softly； its apples were so red； its corn so yellow； its grapes so
blue； that it was called the Treasure Valley。 Not a river ran into it； but one
great river flowed down the mountains on the other side； and because the
setting sun always tinged its high cataract with gold after the rest of the
world was dark； it was called the Golden River。 The lovely valley
belonged to three brothers。 The youngest； little Gluck； was happy…hearted
and kind； but he had a hard life with his brothers； for Hans and Schwartz
were so cruel and so mean that they were known everywhere around as the
〃Black Brothers。〃 They were hard to their farm hands； hard to their
customers； hard to the poor； and hardest of all to Gluck。
At last the Black Brothers became so bad that the Spirit of the West
Wind took vengeance on them； he forbade any of the gentle winds； south
and west； to bring rain to the valley。 Then； since there were no rivers in it；
it dried up； and instead of a treasure valley it became a desert of dry； red
sand。 The Black Brothers could get nothing out of it； and they wandered
out into the world on the other side of the mountain…peaks； and little Gluck
went with them。
Hans and Schwartz went out every day； wasting their time in
wickedness； but they left Gluck in the house to work。 And they lived on
the gold and silver they had saved in Treasure Valley； till at last it was all
gone。 The only precious thing left was Gluck's gold mug。 This the Black
Brothers decided to melt into spoons； to sell； and in spite of Gluck's tears；
they put it in the melting pot； and went out； leaving him to watch it。
Poor little Gluck sat at the window； trying not to cry for his dear
golden mug； and as the sun began to go down； he saw the beautiful
cataract of the Golden River turn red； and yellow； and then pure gold。
〃Oh； dear！〃 he said to himself； 〃how fine it would be if the river were
really golden！ I needn't be poor； then。〃
〃It wouldn't be fine at all！〃 said a thin； metallic little voice； in his ear。
〃Mercy； what's that！〃 said Gluck； looking all about。 But nobody was
there。
Suddenly the sharp little voice came again。
〃Pour me out；〃 it said； 〃I