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ripen； so the Rat King went to find the Sun。 He climbed up the highest
mountain； ran up the path of a rainbow； and travelled and travelled across
the sky till he came to the Sun's house。
〃What do you want； little brother？〃 the Sun said； when he saw him。
〃I come；〃 said the Rat King； very importantly； 〃to offer you the hand
of my daughter； the princess； because you are the most powerful person in
the world； no one else is good enough。〃
〃Ha； ha！〃 laughed the jolly round Sun； and winked with his eye。 〃You
are very kind； little brother； but if that is the case the princess is not for me；
the Cloud is more powerful than I am； when he passes over me I cannot
shine。〃
〃Oh； indeed；〃 said the Rat King； 〃then you are not my man at all〃； and
he left the Sun without more words。 The Sun laughed and winked to
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himself。 And the Rat King travelled and travelled across the sky till he
came to the Cloud's house。
〃What do you want； little brother？〃 sighed the Cloud when he saw
him。
〃I come to offer you the hand of my daughter； the princess；〃 said the
Rat King； 〃because you are the most powerful person in the world； the
Sun said so； and no one else is good enough。〃
The Cloud sighed again。 〃I am not the most powerful person；〃 he said；
〃the Wind is stronger than I；when he blows； I have to go wherever he
sends me。〃
〃Then you are not the person for my daughter；〃 said the Rat King
proudly； and he started at once to find the Wind。 He travelled and travelled
across the sky； till he came at last to the Wind's house； at the very edge of
the world。
When the Wind saw him coming he laughed a big； gusty laugh； 〃Ho；
ho！〃 and asked him what he wanted； and when the Rat King told him that
he had come to offer him the Rat Princess's hand because he was the most
powerful person in the world； the Wind shouted a great gusty shout； and
said； 〃No； no； I am not the strongest； the Wall that man has made is
stronger than I； I cannot make him move； with all my blowing； go to the
Wall； little brother！〃
And the Rat King climbed down the sky… path again； and travelled and
travelled across the earth till he came to the Wall。 It was quite near his
own ricefield。
〃What do you want； little brother？〃 grumbled the Wall when he saw
him。
〃I come to offer you the hand of the princess； my daughter； because
you are the most powerful person in the world； and no one else is good
enough。〃
〃Ugh； ugh；〃 grumbled the Wall； 〃I am not the strongest； the big grey
Rat who lives in the cellar is stronger than I。 When he gnaws and gnaws at
me I crumble and crumble； and at last I fall； go to the Rat； little brother。〃
And so； after going all over the world to find the strongest person； the
Rat King had to marry his daughter to a rat； after all； but the princess was
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very glad of it； for she wanted to marry the grey Rat； all the time。
THE FROG AND THE OX
Once a little Frog sat by a big Frog； by the side of a pool。 〃Oh；
father；〃 said he； 〃I have just seen the biggest animal in the world； it was as
big as a mountain； and it had horns on its head； and it had hoofs divided in
two。〃
〃Pooh； child；〃 said the old Frog； 〃that was only Farmer White's Ox。 He
is not so very big。 I could easily make myself as big as he。〃 And he blew；
and he blew； and he blew； and swelled himself out。
〃Was he as big as that？〃 he asked the little Frog。
〃Oh； much bigger；〃 said the little Frog。
The old Frog blew； and blew； and blew again； and swelled himself out；
more than ever。
〃Was he bigger than that？〃 he said。
〃Much； much bigger；〃 said the little Frog。
〃I can make myself as big；〃 said the old Frog。 And once more he blew；
and blew； and blew； and swelled himself out；and he burst！
Self…conceit leads to self…destruction。
THE FIRE…BRINGER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from The Basket Woman； by Mary Austin。
This is the Indian story of how fire was brought to the tribes。 It was
long； long ago； when men and beasts talked together with understanding；
and the grey Coyote was friend and counsellor of man。
There was a Boy of the tribe who was swift of foot and keen of eye；
and he and the Coyote ranged the wood together。 They saw the men
catching fish in the creeks with their hands； and the women digging roots
with sharp stones。 This was in summer。 But when winter came on； they
saw the people running naked in the snow； or huddled in caves of the
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rocks； and most miserable。 The Boy noticed this； and was very unhappy
for the misery of his people。
〃I do not feel it；〃 said the Coyote。
〃You have a coat of good fur；〃 said the Boy； 〃and my people have not。〃
〃Come to the hunt；〃 said the Coyote。
〃I will hunt no more； till I have found a way to help my people against
the cold；〃 said the Boy。 〃Help me； O Counsellor！〃
Then the Coyote ran away； and came back after a long time； he said he
had found a way； but it was a hard way。
〃No way is too hard；〃 said the Boy。 So the Coyote told him that they
must go to the Burning Mountain and bring fire to the people。
〃What is fire？〃 said the Boy。 And the Coyote told him that fire was red
like a flower； yet not a flower； swift to run in the grass and to destroy； like
a beast； yet no beast； fierce and hurtful； yet a good servant to keep one
warm； if kept among stones and fed with small sticks。
〃We will get this fire；〃 said the Boy。
First the Boy had to persuade the people to give him one hundred swift
runners。 Then he and they and the Coyote started at a good pace for the far
away Burning Mountain。 At the end of the first day's trail they left the
weakest of the runners； to wait； at the end of the second； the next stronger；
at the end of the third； the next； and so for each of the hundred days of the
journey； and the Boy was the strongest runner； and went to the last trail
with the Counsellor。 High mountains they crossed； and great plains； and
giant woods； and at last they came to the Big Water； quaking along the
sand at th