 section 30 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 30 the sword of Damocles the sword of Damocles there once was a king whose name was Dionysus he was so unjust and cruel that he won for himself the name of tyrant he knew that almost everybody hated him and so he was always in dread lest someone should take his life but he was very rich and he lived in a fine palace where there were many beautiful and costly things and he was waited upon by a host of servants who were always ready to do his bidding one day a friend of his whose name was Damocles said to him how happy you must be you have here everything that any man could wish perhaps you would like to change places with me said the tyrant no not that oh king said Damocles but i think that if i could only have your riches and your pleasures for one day i should not want any greater happiness very well said the tyrant you shall have them and so the next day Damocles was led into the palace and all the servants were bidden to treat him as their master he sat down at a table in the banquet hall and rich foods were placed before him nothing was wanting that could give him pleasure there were costly wines and beautiful flowers and rare perfumes and delightful music he rested himself among soft cushions and felt that he was the happiest man in all the world then he chanced to raise his eyes towards the ceiling what was it that was dangling above him with its point almost touching his head it was a sharp sword and it was hung by only a single horse hair what if the hair should break there was danger every moment that it would do so the smile faded from the lips of Damocles his face became ashly pale his hands trembled he wanted no more food he could drink no more wine he took no more delight in the music he longed to be out of the palace and away he cared not where what is the matter said the tyrant that sword that sword cried Damocles he was so badly frightened that he dared not move yes said Dionysus I know there is a sword above your head and that it may fall at any moment but why should that trouble you I have a sword over my head all the time I am every moment in dread there's something may cause me to lose my life let me go said Damocles I now see that I was mistaken and that the rich and powerful and not so happy as they seem let me go back to my old home in the poor little cottage among the mountains and so long as he lived he never again wanted to be rich or to change places even for a moment with the king end of section 30 recording by Ross Clement section 31 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Jean 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 31 Damon and Pytheas a young man whose name of Pytheas had done something which the tyrant Dionysus did not like for this offense he was dragged to prison and the day was set when he should be put to death his home was far away and he wanted very much to see his father and mother and friends before he died only give me leave to go home and say goodbye to those whom I love he said and then I will come back and give up my life the tyrant laughed at him how can I know that you will keep your promise he said you only want to cheat me to save yourself then a young man whose name was Damon spoke and said oh king put me in prison in place of my friend Pytheas and let him go to his own country to put his affairs in order and to bid his friends farewell I know that he will come back as he promised for he is a man who has never broken his word but if he is not here on the day which you have said then I will die in his stead the tyrant was surprised that anybody should make such an offer he at last agreed to let Pytheas go and gave orders that the young man Damon should be shut up in prison time passed and by and by the day drew near which had been set for Pytheas to die and he had not come back the tyrant ordered the jailer to keep close watch upon Damon and not let him escape but Damon did not try to escape he still had faith in the truth and honor of his friend he said if Pytheas does not come back in time it will not be his fault it will be because he is hindered against his will at last the day came and then the very hour Damon was ready to die his trust and his friend was as firm as ever and he said that he did not grieve at having to suffer for one whom he loved so much then the jailer came to lead him to his death but at the same moment Pytheas stood in the door he had been delayed by storms and shipwreck and he had feared that he was too late he greeted Damon kindly and then gave himself into the hands of the jailer he was happy because he thought that he had come in time even though it was at the last moment the tyrant was not so bad but that he could see good in others he felt that men who loved and trusted each other as the Damon and Pytheas ought not to suffer unjustly and so he set them both free I would give all my wealth to have one such friend he said end of section 31 recording by Jana Washington DC section 32 of 50 famous stories retold this is LibriVox Recording all LibriVox recordings and public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joe Pillsbury 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 32 a laconic answer many miles beyond Rome there was a famous country which we call Greece the people of Greece were not united like the Romans but instead there were several states each of which had its own rulers some of the people in the southern part of the country were called Spartans they were noted for their simple habits and their bravery neighborhood land was Laconia and so there were sometimes called Lacoms one of the strange rules which the Spartans had was that they should speak briefly and never use more words than were needed and so a short answer is often spoken of as being laconic that is as being such an answer as a Lacan would be likely to give there was in the northern part of Greece a land called Macedon and this land was at one time ruled over by the warlike king named Philip Philip of Macedon wanted to become the matter of all Greece so he raised a great army and made war upon other states until nearly all of them were forced to call them their king then he sent the letters to the Spartans in Laconia and said if I go down into your country I will lever your great city to the ground and a few days and answers brought back to him when he opened the letter he found only one word written there that word was if it was as much to say we are not afraid of you as long as the little word if stands in your way end of section 32 recording by Joe Pillsbury section 33 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 33 the ungrateful guest among the soldiers of King Philip there was a poor man who had done some brave deeds he had pleased the king in more ways than one and so the king put a good deal of trust in him one day this soldier was on board of a ship at sea when a great storm came up the winds drove the ship upon the rocks and it was wrecked the soldier was cast half drowned upon the shore and he would have died there if it had not been for the kind care of a farmer who lived close by when the soldier was well enough to go home he thanked the farmer for what he had done and promised that he would repay him for his kindness but he did not mean to keep his promise he did not tell King Philip about the man who had saved his life he only said that there was a fine farm by the seashore and that he would like very much to have it for his own would the king give it to him who owns the farm now asked Philip only a churlish farmer who has never done anything for his country said the soldier very well then said Philip you have served me for a long time and you shall have your wish go and take the farm for yourself and so the soldier made haste to drive the farmer from his house and home he took the farm for his own the poor farmer was stung to the heart by such treatment he went boldly to the king and told the whole story from beginning to end King Philip was very angry when he heard that the man whom he had trusted had done so base the deed he sent for the soldier in great haste and when he had come he caused these words to be burned in his forehead the ungrateful guest thus all the world was made to know of the mean act by which the soldier had tried to enrich himself and from that day until he died all men shunned and hated him end of section 33 recording by David Lawrence Brampton Ontario section 34 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by genre Washington DC 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 34 Alexander and Busefalis one day King Philip brought a fine horse called Busefalis he was a noble animal and the king paid a very high price for him but he was wild and savage and no man could mount him or do anything at all with him they tried to whip him but that only made him worse at last the king bait his servants take him away it is a pity to ruin so fine a horse of that said Alexander the king's young son those men do not know how to treat him perhaps you can do better than they said his father scornfully I know said Alexander that if you would only give me leave to try I could manage this horse better than anyone else and if you fail to do so what then asked Philip I will pay you the price of the horse said the lad while everybody was laughing Alexander ran up to Busefalis and turned his head toward the sun he had noticed that the horse was afraid of his own shadow he then spoke gently to the horse and patted him with his hand when he had quieted him a little he made a quick spring and leapt upon the horse's back everybody expected to see the boy killed outright but he kept his place and let the horse run as fast as he would by and by when Busefalis had become tired Alexander reigned him in and rode back to the place where his father was standing all the men who were there shouted when they saw that the boy had proved himself to be the master of the horse he left to the ground and his father ran and kissed him my son said the king Macedon is too small a place for you you must seek a larger kingdom that will be worthy of you after that Alexander and Busefalis were the best of friends they were said to be always together for when one of them was seen the other was sure to be not far away but the horse would never allow anyone to mount him but his master Alexander became the most famous king and warrior that was ever known and for that reason he's always called Alexander the great Busefalis carried him through many countries and in many fierce battles and more than once that he saved his master's life end of section 34 recording by Jean Washington DC section 35 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Jean Washington DC 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 35 the eugenies the wise man at Corinth in Greece there lived a very wise man whose name with the eugenies men came from all parts of the land to see him and hear him talk but wise as he was he had some very queer ways he did not believe that any man ought to have more things than he really needed and he said that no man needed much and so he did not live in a house but slept in a tub or barrel which he rolled about from place to place he spent his days sitting on the sun and saying wise things to those who were around him at noon one day the eugenies was seen walking through the streets with a lighted lantern and looking all around as if in search of something why do you carry a lantern when the sun is shining someone said i am looking for an honest man answered the eugenies when alexander the great went to Corinth all the foremost men in the city came out to see him and to praise him but the eugenies did not come and he was the only man for whose opinions alexander cared and so since the wise man would not come to see the king the king went to see the wise man he found the eugenies in an out-of-the-way place lying on the ground by his top he was enjoying the heat and the light of the sun when he saw the king and a great many people coming he sat up and looked at alexander alexander greeted him and said the eugenies i have heard a great deal about your wisdom is there anything that i can do for you yes said the eugenies you can stand a little on one side so it's not to keep the sunshine from me this answer was so different from what he expected that the king was much surprised but it did not make him angry it only made him admire the strange man all the more when he turned to write back he said to his officers say what you will if i were not alexander i would like to be diogenes end of section 35 recording by john washington dc section 36 of 50 famous stories retold is the libra fox recording all libra fox recordings and public domain more information or to volunteer please visit libra fox dot org recording by joe pilsbury 50 famous stories retold by james boldwin section 36 the brave 300 all greece was in danger a mighty army led by the great king of persia had come from the east it was marching along the seashore and in a few days were being greece the king had sent messengers into every city and state bidding them give him water and earth and token from that land and the sea were his but they said no we will be free until there's a great stir throughout the land the men armed themselves and made haste to go out and drive back their foe and the women stayed at home weeping and waiting and trembling with fear there was only one way by which the persian army could go into greece on that side and that was by a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea this pass was guided by leonidas the king of the spartans with 300 spartan soldiers soon the persian soldiers were coming there were so many of them that no man could count them how could a handful of men hope to stand against so great a host and yet leonidas and his spartans held their ground they made up their minds to diet their posts so one brought them word but there were so many persians that their arrows darkened the sun so much better said the spartans we shall fight in the shade bravely they stood in the narrow pass bravely they faced their foes spartans there was no such thing as fear the persians came forwards only to meet death at the points of their spears but one by one the spartans fell and the last and their spears were broken yet they still stood side by side fighting for last some fought with swords some with daggers and some with only their fists and teeth all day long the army of persians were kept at bay but when the sun went down there was not one spartan left alive where they stood there was only a heap of the slain all bristled over with spears and arrows 20 000 persian soldiers had fallen before the handful of men and griefs were saved thousands of years has passed since them but men still like to tell the story of leonidas and the brave 300 who died for their country's sake end of section 36 recording by joe pelsbury section 37 of 50 famous stories retold this is a librew vox recording all librew vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librewdox.org socrates and his house they once lived angry so very wise man whose name was socrates young man from all parts of the land went to him to learn wisdom from him and he said so many peasant things and he said them in so delightful way that no one ever go tired of listening to him one summer he built himself a house but it was so small that the neighbors wondered how he could be content with it what is the reason said they that you who are so great a man should build yourself such a little box for your dwelling house indeed there may be little reason and said he but small as the place i shall think myself happy if i can fill it with true friends end of section 37 section 38 a 50 famous stories retold this is a librew vox recording all librew vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librew vox.org 50 famous stories retold by james section 38 the king and his hawk genghis khan was a great king and warrior he led his army into china and persia and he conquered many lands in every country men told about his daring deeds and they said that since alexander the great there had been no king like him one morning when he was home from the wars he rode out into the woods to have a day's sport many of his friends were with him they rode out gaily carrying their bows and arrows behind them came servants with the hounds it was a merry hunting party the woods rang with their shouts and laughter they expected to carry much game home in the evening on the king's wrist sat his favorite hawk for in those days hawks were trained to hunt at a word from their master they would fly high up into the air and look around for prey if they chance to see a deer or a rabbit they would swoop down upon it swift as any arrow all day long genghis khan and his huntsman rode through the woods but they did not find as much game as they expected toward evening they started for home the king had often ridden through the woods and he knew all the paths so while the rest of the party took the nearest way he went by a longer road through a valley between two mountains the day had been warm and the king was very thirsty his pet hawk had left his wrist and fallen away it would be sure to find its way home the king rode slowly along he had once seen a spring of clear water near this pathway if he could only find it now but the hot days of summer had dried up all the mountain brooks at last to his joy he saw some water trickling down over the edge of a rock he knew that there was a spring farther up in the wet season a swift stream of water always poured down here but now it only came one drop at a time the king leapt from his horse he took a little silver cup from his hunting bag he held it so as to catch the slowly falling drops it took a long time to fill the cup and the king was so thirsty that he could hardly wait at last it was nearly full he put the cup to his lips and was about to drink all at once there was a whirring sound in the air and the cup was knocked from his hand the water was all spilt upon the ground the king looked up to see who had done this thing it was his pet hawk the hawk flew back and forth a few times and then alighted among the rocks by the spring the king picked up the cup and again held it to catch the trickling drops this time he did not wait so long when the cup was half full he lifted it toward his mouth but before it had touched his lips the hawk swooped down again and knocked it from his hands and now the king began to grow angry he tried again and for the third time the hawk kept him from drinking the king was now very angry indeed how do you dare to act so he cried if i had you in my hands i would ring your neck then he filled the cup again but before he tried to drink he drew his sword now sir hawk he said this is the last time he had hardly spoken before the hawk swooped down and knocked the cup from his hand but the king was looking for this with a quick sweep of the sword he struck the bird as it passed the next moment the poor hawkly bleeding and dying at its master's feet that is what you get for your pains said genghis khan but when he looked for his cup he found that it had fallen between two rocks where he could not reach it at any rate i will have a drink from that spring he said to himself with that he began to climb the steep bank to the place from which the water trickled it was hard work and the higher he climbed the thirstier he became at last he reached the place there indeed was a pool of water but what was that lying in the pool and almost filling it it was a huge dead snake of the most poisonous kind the king stopped he forgot his thirst he thought only of the poor dead bird lying on the ground below him the hawk saved my life he cried and how did i repay him he was my best friend and i have killed him he clambered down the bank he took the bird up gently and laid it in his hunting bag then he mounted his horse and rode swiftly home he said to himself i have learned a sad lesson today and that is never to do anything in anger end of section 38 recording by david warrants brampton ontario section 39 off 50 famous stories retold this is a liberivox recording all liberivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberivox.org 50 famous stories retold by james bouldwin section 39 dr goldsmith there once was a kind man whose name was oliver goldsmith he wrote many delightful books some of which you will read when you are older he had a gentle heart he was always ready to help others and to share with them anything that he had he gave away so much to the poor that he was always poor himself he was sometimes called dr goldsmith for he had studied to be a physician one day a poor woman asked dr goldsmith to go and see her husband who was sick and could not eat goldsmith did so he found that the family was in great need the man had not had worked for a long time he was not sick but in distress and as for eating there was no food in the house call at my room this evening said goldsmith to the woman and i will give you some medicine for your husband in the evening the woman called goldsmith gave her a little paper box that was very heavy here is the medicine he said use it faithfully and i think it will do your husband a great deal of good but don't open the box until you reach home what are the directions for taking it asked the woman you will find them inside of the box he answered when the woman reached her home she sat down by her husband's side and they opened the box what do you think they found in it he was full of pieces of money and on the top with the directions to be taken as often as necessity requires goldsmith had given them all the ready money that he had end of section 39 recording by ross clement section 40 of 50 famous stories retold this is a Libra box recording all Libra box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit Libra box dot o r g 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 40 the kingdoms there was once a king of Prussia whose name was Frederick William on a fine morning in June he went out alone to walk in the green woods he was tired of the noise of the city and he was glad to get away from it so as he walked among the trees he often stopped to listen to the singing birds or to look at the wild flowers that grew on every side now and then he stooped to pluck a violet or a primrose or a yellow buttercup soon his hands were full of pretty blossoms after a while he came to a little meadow in the midst of the wood some children were playing there they were running here and there and gathering the cow slips that were blooming among the grass it made the king glad to see the happy children and hear their merry voices he stood still for some time and watched them as they played then he called them around him and all sat together in the pleasant shade the children did not know who the strange gentleman was but they liked his kind face and gentle manners now my little folks said the king i want to ask you some questions and the child who gives the best answer shall have a prize then he held up an orange so that all the children could see you know that we all live in the kingdom of prussia he said but tell me to what kingdom does this orange belong the children were puzzled they looked at one another and sat very still for a little while then a brave bright boy spoke up and said it belongs to the vegetable kingdom sir why so my lad asked the king it is the fruit of a plant and all plants belong to that kingdom said the boy the king was pleased you are quite right he said and you shall have the orange for your prize he tossed it gaily to the boy catch it if you can he said then he took a yellow gold piece from his pocket and held it up so that it glittered in the sunlight now to what kingdom does this belong he asked another bright boy answered quickly to the mineral kingdom sir all metals belong to that kingdom that is a good answer said the king the gold piece is your prize the children were delighted with eager faces they waited to hear what the stranger would say next i will ask you only one more question said the king and it is an easy one then he stood up and said tell me my little folks to what kingdom do i belong the bright boys were puzzled now some thought of saying to the kingdom of prussia some wanted to say to the animal kingdom but they were a little afraid and all kept still at last a tiny blue eye child looked up into the king's smiling face and said in her simple way i think to the kingdom of heaven king frederick william stooped down and lifted the little maiden in his arms tears were in his eyes as he kissed her and said so be it my child so be it end of section 40 the kingdoms recorded by denis sears in modesto california for libravox fall 2008 section 41 a 50 famous story is retold this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recorded by joe pillsbury 50 famous stories retold by james boldwin section 41 the barma side feast there was once a rich old man who was called the barma side he lived in a beautiful palace in the midst of flowery gardens he had everything that heart could wish in the same land there was a poor man whose name was shackerback his clothing was rags and his food with the scraps which are the people have thrown away they had a light heart and was happy as a king once when shackerback had not had anything to eat for a long time he thought that he would go after barma side to help him the servant at the door said coming and talk with our master he will not send you away hungry shackerback went in and passed through many beautiful rooms looking for the barma side at last he came to a grand hall where there were soft carpets on the floor and fine picks on the walls and pleasant couches to lie down upon but the upper end of the room he saw a noble man with a long white beard it was the barma side and poor shackerback bowed low before him as was the custom in that country the barma side spoke very kindly and asked what was wanted shackerback told him about all his troubles and said that it was now two days since he had tasted bread is it possible said the barma side he must be almost dead with hunger and now I have plenty to spare then he turned and called oh boy bring in the water to wash our hands and then ordered the cook to hurry up the supper shackerback had not expected to be treated so kindly he'd gone to thank the rich man say not a word said the barma side but let us get ready for our feast then the rich man began to rub his hands as though someone was pouring water on them come and wash with me he said shackerback saw no boy nor basin nor water but he thought he ought to do as he was hidden and so like the barma side he made a pretense of washing come now said the barma side let us have supper he sat down as if to a table and pretended to be carving a roast then he said help yourself my good friend you said you were hungry so now don't be afraid of the food shackerback thought that he understood the joke and he made a pretense of taking food and passing it to his mouth then he began to chew and said you see sir I lose no time boy said the old man bring on the roast goose now my good friend tried this choice piece from the breast and here a sweet sauce honey raisins green peas and dry figs help yourself remember that other good things are coming shackerback was almost dead with hunger but he was too polite not to do as he was bitten come said the barma side have another piece of roast lamb did you ever eat anything so delicious never in my life said the shackerback your table is full of good things then eat heartily said the barma side you cannot please me better after this came the dessert the barma side spoke of sweet meats and fruits and shackerback may believe that he was eating them now is there anything else you would like said the host ah no said poor shackerback I have indeed had a great plenty let us drink then said the barma side boy bring on the wine excuse me my lord said the shackerback I'll drink no wine for it is forbidden the barma side seized him by the hand I have long wished to find a man like you he said but come now you're suppin earnest he kept his hands sevens came and he ordered supper soon they sat down to a table loaded with the very dishes of which they pretended to eat poor shackerback had never had so good a meal in all his life and when they had finished the table had been cleared away the barma side said I found you to be a man of good understanding your wits are quick and you're ready to always make the best of everything come and live with me and manage my house and so shackerback lived with the barma side for many years and never again knew what it was to be hungry end of section 41 recording by Joe Pillsbury section 42 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Clarica 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 42 the endless tale in the far east there was a great king who had no work to do every day and all day long he sat on soft cushions and listened to stories and no matter what the story was about he never grew tired of hearing it even though it was very long there is only one fault that I find with your story he often said it is too short all the storytellers in the world were invited to his palace and some of them told tales that were very long indeed but the king was always sad when a story was ended at last he sent word into every city and town and country place offering a prize to anyone who should tell him an endless tale he said to the man that will tell me a story which shall last forever I will give my fairest daughter for his wife and I will make him my heir and he shall be king after me but this was not all he added a very hard condition if any man shall try to tell such a story and then fail he shall have his head cut off the king's daughter was very pretty and there were many young men in that country who were willing to do anything to win her but none of them wanted to lose their heads and so only a few tried for the prize one young man invented a story that lasted three months but at the end of that time he could think of nothing more his fate was a warning to others and it was a long time before another storyteller was so rash as to try the king's patience but one day a stranger from the south came into the palace great king he said is it true that you offer a prize to the man who can tell a story that has no end it is true said the king and shall this man have your fairest daughter for his wife and shall he be your heir yes if he succeeds said the king but if he fails he shall lose his head very well then said the stranger i have a pleasant story about locusts which i would like to relate tell it said the king i will listen to you the storyteller began his tale once upon a time a certain king seized upon all the corn in his country and stored it away in a strong granary but a swarm of locusts came over the land and saw where the grain had been put after searching for many days they found on the east side of the granary a crevice that was just large enough for one locust to pass through at a time so one locust went in and carried away a grain of corn then another locust went in and carried away a grain of corn then another locust went in and carried away a grain of corn day after day week after week the man kept on saying then another locust went in and carried away a grain of corn a month passed a year passed at the end of two years the king said how much longer will the locusts be going in and carrying away corn oh king said the storyteller they have as yet cleared only one cubit and there are many thousand cubits in the granary man man cried the king you will drive me mad i can listen to it no longer take my daughter be my heir rule my kingdom but do not let me hear another word about those horrible locusts and so the strange storyteller married the king's daughter and he lived happily in the land for many years but his father-in-law the king did not care to listen to any more stories end of section 42 section 43 a 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Clarica 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 43 the blind men and the elephant there were once six blind men who stood by the roadside every day and begged from the people who passed they had often heard of elephants but they had never seen one for being blind how could they it so happened one morning that an elephant was driven down the road where they stood when they were told that the great beast was before them they asked the driver to let him stop so that they might see him of course they could not see him with their eyes but they thought that by touching him they could learn just what kind of animal he was the first one happened to put his hand on the elephant's side well well he said now I know all about this beast he's exactly like a wall the second felt only of the elephant's tusk my brother he said you are mistaken he is not at all like a wall he is round and smooth and sharp he is more like a spear than anything else the third happened to take hold of the elephant's trunk both of you are wrong he said anybody who knows anything can see that this elephant is like a snake the fourth reached out his arms and grasped one of the elephant's legs oh help blind you are he said it is very plain to me that he is round and tall like a tree the fifth was a very tall man and he chanced to take hold of the elephant's ear the blindest man ought to know that this beast is not like any of the things that you name he said he is exactly like a huge fan the sixth was very blind indeed and it was some time before he could find the elephant at all at last he seized the animal's tail oh foolish fellows he cried you surely have lost your senses this elephant is not like a wall or a spear or a snake or a tree neither is he like a fan but any man with a particle of sense can see that he is exactly like a rope then the elephant moved on and the six blind men sat by the roadside all day and quarreled about him each believed that he knew just how the animal looked and each called the others hard names because they did not agree with him people who have eyes sometimes act as foolishly end of section 43 section 44 one summer day king Maximilian of Bavaria was walking in the country the sun shone hot and he stopped under a tree to rest it was very pleasant in the cool shade the king lay down on the soft grass and looked up at the white clouds sailing across the sky then he took a little book from his pocket and tried to read but the king could not keep his mind on his book soon his eyes closed and he was fast asleep it was past noon when he awoke he got up from his grassy bed and looked around then he took his cane in his hand and started for home when he had walked a mile or more he happened to think of his book he felt for it in his pocket it was not there he had left it under the tree the king was already quite tired and he did not like to walk back so far but he did not wish to lose the book what should he do if there was only someone to send for it while he was thinking he happened to see a little barefooted boy in the open field near the road he was tending a large flock of geese that were picking the short grass and wading in a shallow brook the king went toward the boy he held a gold piece in his hand my boy he said how would you like to have this piece of money I would like it said the boy but I never hoped to have so much you shall have it if you will run back to the oak tree at the second turning of the road and fetch me the book that I left there the king thought that the boy would be pleased but not so he turned away and said I am not so silly as you think what do you mean said the king who says that you are silly well said the boy you think that I am silly enough to believe that you will give me that gold piece for running a mile and fetching you a book you can't catch me but if I give it to you now perhaps you will believe me said the king and he put the gold piece into the little fellow's hand the boy's eyes sparkled but he did not move what is the matter now said the king won't you go the boy said I would like to go but I can't leave the geese they will stray away and then I shall be blamed for it oh I will tend them while you are away said the king the boy laughed I should like to see you tending them he said why they would run away from you in a minute only let me try said the king at last the boy gave the king his whip and started off he had gone but a little way when he turned and came back what is the matter now said Maximilian crack the whip the king tried to do as he was bitten but he could not make a sound I thought as much said the boy you don't know how to do anything then he took the whip and gave the king lessons in whip cracking now you see how it is done he said as he handed it back if the geese try to run away crack it loud the king laughed he did his best to learn his lesson and soon the boy again started off on his errand Maximilian sat down on a stone and laughed at the thought of being a goosehead but the geese missed their master at once with a great cackling and hissing they went half flying half running across the meadow the king ran after them but he could not run fast he tried to crack the whip but it was of no use the geese were soon far away what was worse they had gotten into a garden and were feeding on the tender vegetables a few minutes afterward the goose boy came back with the book just as I thought he said I have found the book and you have lost the geese nevermind said the king I will help you get them again well then run around that way and stand by the brook while I drive them out of the garden the king did as he was told the boy ran forward with his whip and after a great deal of shouting and scolding the geese were driven back into the meadow I hope you'll pardon me for not being a better goosehead said Maximilian but as I am a king I am not used to such work a king indeed said the boy I was very silly to leave the geese with you but I am not so silly as to believe that you are a king very well said Maximilian with a smile here is another gold piece and now let us be friends the boy took the gold and thanked the giver he looked up into the king's face and said you are a very kind man and I think you might be a good king but if you were to try all your life you would never be a good goosehead end of section 44 section 45 of 50 famous stories retold this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 45 the Inch Cape Rock in the North Sea there is a great rock called the Inch Cape Rock it is 12 miles from any land and is covered most of the time with water many boats and ships have been wrecked on that rock for it is so near the top of the water that no vessel can sail over it without striking it more than a hundred years ago they lived not far away a kind-hearted man who was called the abbot of Abrahamic it is a pity he said that so many brave sailors should lose their lives on that hidden rock so the abbot caused the buoy to be fastened to the rock the buoy floated back and forth in the shallow water a strong chain kept it from floating away on the top of the buoy the abbot placed a bell and when the waves dashed against it the bell would ring out loud and clear sailors now were no longer afraid to cross the sea at that place they when they heard the bell ringing they knew just where the rock was and they steered their vessels around it god blessed the good abbot of Abrahamic they all said one calm summer day a ship with a black flag appeared to happen to sail not far from the Inch Cape Rock the ship belonged to a sea robber called Ralph the rover and she was a terror to all honest people both on sea and shore there was but little wind that day and the sea was a smooth of glass the ship stood almost still there was hardly a breath of air to fill her sails Ralph the rover was walking on the deck he looked out upon the glassy sea he saw the buoy floating above the Inch Cape Rock it looked like a big black speck upon the water but the bell was not ringing that day there were no waves to set it in motion buoyous crowd cried Ralph the rover put out the boat and brought me to the Inch Cape Rock we will play a trick on the old abbot the boat was lowered strong arms soon rode it to the Inch Cape Rock then the robber with a heavy axe broke the chain that held the buoy he cut the fastenings of the bell it fell into the water there was a gurgling sound as it sank out of sight the next one that comes this way will not bless the abbot itself said Ralph the rover soon a breeze sprang up and the black ship sailed away the sea robber left as he looked back and saw that there was nothing to mark the place of the hidden rock for many days Ralph the rovers carried the seas and many were the ships that he plundered at last he chanced to sail back toward the place from which he had started the wind had blown hard all day the waves rolled high the ship was moving swiftly but in the evening the wind died away and a thick fog came on Ralph the rover walked the deck he could not see where the ship was going if the fog was only clear away he said I thought I heard the roar of breakers said the pilot we must be near the shore I cannot tell said Ralph the rover but I think we are not far from the inchcape rock I wish we could hear the good abbot's bell the next morning there was a great crash it is the inchcape rock the sailors cried as the ship gave alerts to one side and began to sink oh what a wretch am I crowd Ralph the rover this is what comes of the joke that I played on the good abbot what was it that he heard as the waves crashed over him was that the abbot's bell ringing for him far down at the bottom of the sea end of section 45 section 46 of 50 famous stories retold this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org 50 famous stories retold by James Baldwin section 46 Whittington and his cat part one in the city there was once a little boy whose name was Richard Whittington but everyone called him dick his father and mother had died when he was only a babe and the people who had the care of him were very poor dick was not old enough to work and so he had a hard time of it indeed sometimes he had no breakfast and sometimes he had no dinner and he was glad at any time to get a crust of bread or a drop of milk now in the town where dick lived the people like to talk about London none of them had ever been to the great city but they seemed to know all about the wonderful things which were to be seen there they said that all the folks who lived in London were fine gentlemen and ladies that there were singing and music there all day long that nobody was ever hungry there and nobody had to work and that the streets were all paved with gold dick listened to these stories and wished that he could go to London one day a big wagon drawn by eight horses all with bells in their heads drove into the little town dick saw the wagon standing by the end and he thought that it must be going to the fine city of London when the driver came out and was ready to start the lad ran up and asked him if he might walk by the side of the wagon the driver asked him some questions and when he learned how poor dick was and that he had neither father or mother he told him that he might do as he liked it was a long walk for the little lad but by and by he came to the city of London he was in such a hurry to see the wonderful sights that he forgot to thank the driver of the wagon he ran as fast as he could from one street to another trying to find those that were playing with gold he had once seen a piece of money that was gold and he knew that it would buy a great great many things and now he thought that if he could get only a little bit of the pavement he would have everything that he wanted poor dick ran till he was so tired that he could run no farther it was growing dark and in every street there was only dirt instead of gold he sat down in a dark horror and cried himself to sleep when he woke up the next morning he was very hungry but there was not even a crust of bread for him to eat he forgot all about the golden pavements and thought only a food he walked about from one street to another and at last grew so hungry that he began to ask those whom he meant to give him a penny to buy something to eat go to work you idle fellow said some of them and the rest passed him without even looking i wish i could go to work said dick part two the kitchen by and by dick grew so faint and tired that he could go no further he sat down by the door of a fine house and wished that he was back again in the little town where he was born the cookmaid who was just getting dinner saw him and called out what are you doing there you little beggar if you don't get away quick i'll throw a pan full of hot dish water over you then i guess you will jump just at that time the master of the house whose name was mr fits warren came home to dinner when he saw the ragged little fellow at his door he said my lad what are you doing here i am afraid you are a lazy fellow and that you want to live without work now indeed said dick i would like to work if i could find anything to do but i do not know anybody in this town and i have not had anything to eat for a long time poor little fellow said mr fits warren come in and i will see what i can do for you and he ordered the cook to give the lot a good dinner and then to find some light work for him to do little dick would have been very happy in the new home which he had thus found if it had not been for the cross cook she would often say you are my boy now and so you must do as i tell you look sharp there make the fire scary out the ashes wash the dishes sweep the floor bring in the wood oh what a lazy fellow you are and then she would box his ears or beat him with a broomstick at last little alice his master's daughter saw how he was treated and she told the cook she would be turned off if she was not kinder to the lad after that dick had an easier time of it but his troubles were not over yet by any means his bed was in a garret at the top of the house far away from the rooms where the other people slept there were many holes in the floor and walls and every night a great number of rats and mice came in they tormented dick so much that he did not know what to do one day a gentleman gave him a penny for clearing his shoes and he made up his mind that he would buy a cat with it the very next morning he met a girl who was carrying a cat in her arms i will give you a penny for that cat he said all right the girl said you may have her and you will find the cheese a good mouse or two dick hit his cat in the garret and every day he carried a part of his dinner to her it was not long before she had driven all the rats and mice away and then dick could sleep soundly every night part three the venture sometime after that a ship that belonged to mr fritz warren was about to start an voyage across the sea it was loaded with goods which were to be sold and lands far away mr fritz warren wanted to give his servants a chance for good fortune too and so he called all of them into the parlor and asked if they had anything they would like to send out in the ship for a trade everyone had something to send everyone but dick and as he had neither money nor goods he stayed in the kitchen and did not come in with the rest little alas guessed why he did not come and so she said to her papa poor dick ought to have a chance too here's some money out of my own purse that you may put in for him now no my child said mr fritz warren he must risk something of his own and then he called very loud here dick what are you going to send out on the ship dick hurt him and came into the room i have nothing in the world he said but a cat which i bought some time ago for a penny fetch your captain lad and said mr fritz warren and let her go out who knows but that she will bring you some profit dick with tears in his eyes carried poor post down to the ship and gave her to the captain everybody laughed at his queer venture but little alas felt sorry for him and gave him money to buy another cat after that the cook was worse than before she made fun of him for sending his cat to sea do you think she would say that post would sell for enough money to buy a stick to beat you at last dick could not stand her abuse any longer and he made up his mind to go back to his old home in the little country town so very early in the morning on old hallows day he started he walked as far as the place called halloway and there he sat down on a stone which is to this day called widdington stone as he sat there very sad wondering which way he should go he heard the bells of bow church far away ringing out a merry tune he listened they seemed to say to him turn again widdington thrice lord mayor of london well well he said to him i would put up with almost anything to be lord mayor of london when i'm a man and to ride in a fine coach i think i will go back and let the old cook cuff and scold as much as she pleases dick did go back and he was lucky enough to get into the kitchen and set about his work before the cook came downstairs to get breakfast part four the cat mr fitts warren's ship made a long voyage and at last reached a strange land on the other side of the sea the people had never seen any white men before and they came in great crowds to buy the fine things with which the ship was loaded the captain wanted very much to trade with the king of the country and it was not long before the king sent word for him to come to the palace and the captain did so he was shown into a beautiful room and given a seat i'm a rich carpet all flowered with silver and gold the king and queen were seated not far away and soon a number of dishes were brought in for dinner they had hardly begun to eat when an army of rats and mice rushed in and devoured all the meat before anyone could hinder them the captain wondered at this and asked if it was not very unpleasant to have so many rats and mice about oh yes was the answer it is indeed unpleasant and the king would give half his treasure if he could get rid of them the captain jumped for joy he remembered the cat which little wittington had sent out and he told the king that he had a little creature on board his ship which would make short work of the pests then it was the king's turn to jump for joy and he jumped so high that his yellow cap or turban dropped off his head bring the creature to me he said if she will do what you say i will load your ship with gold the captain made belief that he would be very sorry to part with the cat but at last he went down to the ship and to get her while the king and queen made haste to have another dinner made ready the captain with pus under his arms reached the palace just in time to see the table crowded with rats the cat leaped out upon them and oh what havoc did she make among the troublesome creatures most of them were soon stretched dead upon the floor while the rest scampered away to their holes and did not dare to come out again the king had never been so glad in his life and the queen asked the creature which had been done that worker should be brought to her the captain called pussy pussy pussy and the cat came up and rubbed against his legs he picked her up and offered her to the queen but at first the queen was afraid to touch her however the captain stroked the cat and called pussy pussy pussy and then the queen ventured to touch her she could only say putty putty putty for she had not learned to talk english the captain then put the cat down in the queen's lap where she purred and purred until she went to sleep the king would not have missed getting the cat now for the world he had once made a bargain with the captain for all the goods on board the ship and then gave him ten times as much for the cat as all the rest came to the captain was very glad he bade the king and queen goodbye and the very next day set sail for england part five the fortune one morning mr fritz warren was sitting at his desk in his office he heard someone tap softly at his door and said who's there a friend was the answer i have come to bring you news of your ship unicorn mr fritz warren jumped up quickly and opened the door whom should he see waiting there but the captain with a bill of leading in one hand and a box of jewels in the other he was so full of joy that he lifted up his eyes and thanked heaven for sending him such good fortune the captain soon told the story of the cat and then he showed the rich present which the king and queen had sent to poor dick and payment for her as soon as the good gentleman heard this he called out to his servants go send him in and tell him of his name pray call him mr wittington by name some of the men who stood by said that so great a present ought not to be given to a mere boy but mr fritz warren frowned upon them it is his own he said and i will not hold back one penny from him dick was scarring the pots when word was brought to him that he should go to the office oh i am so dirty he said and my shoes are full of hobnails but he was told to make haste mr fritz warren ordered a chair to be said for him and then the lad began to think that they were making fun of him i beg that you won't play tricks with a poor boy like me he said please let me go back to my work mr wittington said mr fritz warren this is no joke at all the captain has sold your cat and has brought you in return for her more riches than i have in the whole world then he opened the box of jewels and showered dick with his treasured the poor boy did not know what to do he begged his master to take a part of it but mr fritz warren said no it is all your own and i feel sure that you will make good use of it dick then offered some of his jewels to his mistress and little alice they thanked him and told him that they felt great joy at his good luck but wished him to keep his riches for himself but he was too kind-hearted to keep everything for himself he gave nice presents to the captain and the sailors and to the serfans and mr fritz warren's house he even remembered the cross old cook after that wittington's face was washed and his hair curled and he was dressed in a nice suit of clothes and then he was a handsome a young man as ever walked the streets of london soon sometime after that there was a fine wedding at the finest church in london and miss alice became the wife of mr richard wittington and the lord mayor was there and the great judges and the sheriffs and many rich merchants and everybody was very happy and richard wittington became a great merchant and was one of the foremost men in london he was sheriff of the city and thrice lord mayor and king henry the fifth made him a knight he built the famous prison of newgate in london on the archway in front of the prison was a figure cut and stone of serf richard wittington and his cat and for 300 years this figure was shown to all who visited london end of section to 46 section 47 of 50 famous stories to talk this is a liverwax recording all liverwax recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liverwax.org recording by vera and real kaza bianca there was a great battle at sea one could hear nothing but the roar of the big guns the air was filled with black smoke the water was strewn with broken masts and pieces of timber which the cannonballs had knocked from the ships many men had been killed and many more had been wounded the flagship had taken fire the flames were breaking out from below the deck was all ablaze the men who were left alive made haste to launch a small boat they leaped into it and rolled swiftly away any other place was safer now than on board of that burning ship there was powder in the hold but the captain's son young kaza bianca still stood upon the deck the flames almost all around him now but he would not stir from his post his father had been in him stand up and he had been taught always obey he trusted in his father's word and he believed that when the right time came he would tell him to go he saw the men leap into the boat he heard them call to him to come he shook his head when father bids me i will go he said and now the flames are leaping up the mass their sails were all ablaze the fire blew hot upon his cheek it's scorched his hair it was before him behind him all around him oh father had cried may i not go now the men have all left the ship is it not time that we too should leave it he did not know that his father was lying in the burning cavern below that a cannonball had struck him dead at the very beginning of the fight he listened to hear his answer speak louder father he cried i cannot hear what you say above the roaring of the flames above the crashing of the falling spars above the booming of the guns he fancied that his father's voice came feinty to him through the scorching air i am here father speak once again he gasped but what is it a great flash of light fells the air loud the smoke shoot quickly upward to the sky and boom oh what a terrific sound louder than thunder louder than the roar of all the guns the air crevice the sea itself trembles the sky is black the blazing ship the sea no more there was powder in the hold a long time ago a lady whose name was mrs. Hemant wrote a poem about this brave boy Casa Bianca it is not a very well written poem and yet everybody has read it and thousands of people have learned it by heart and i doubt not but that someday you too well read it it begins in this way the boy stood on the burning deck when all but him had fled the flame that led the battle struck shone round him all the day yet beautiful and bright he stood it's born to rule this dawn a creature of heroic blood a proud though childlike form end of section 57 section 48 of 50 famous stories retold this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by alex rovinson 50 famous stories retold by james Baldwin section 48 antonio canova antonio canova a good many years ago they lived in italy a little boy whose name was antonio canova he lived with his grandfather for his own father was dead his grandfather was a stone cutter and he was very poor antonio was a puny lad and not strong enough to work he did not care to play with the other boys of the town but he liked to go with his grandfather to the stonyard while the old man was busy cutting and trimming the great blocks of stone the lad would play among the chips sometimes he would make a little statue of soft clay sometimes he would take hammer and chisel and try to cut a statue from a piece of rock he showed so much skill that his grandfather was delighted the boy will be a sculptor someday he said then when he went home in the evening the grandmother would say what have you been doing today my little sculptor and she would take him upon her lap and sing to him or tell him stories that filled his mind with pictures of wonderful and beautiful things and the next day when he went back to the stonyard he would try to make some of those pictures in stone or clay they lived in the same town a rich man who was called the count sometimes the count would have a grand dinner and his rich friends from other towns would come to visit him then antonio's grandfather would go up to the count's house to help with the work in the kitchen for he was a fine cook as well as a good stone cutter it happened one day that antonio went with his grandfather to the count's great house some people from the city were coming and there was to be a grand feast the boy could not cook and he was not old enough to wait on the table but he could wash the pans and kettles and as he was smart and quick he could help in many other ways all went well until it was time to spread the table for dinner then there was a crash in the dining room and a man rushed into the kitchen with some pieces of marble in his hands he was pale and trembling with fright oh what shall i do what shall i do he cried i've broken the statue that was to stand at the center of the table i cannot make the table look pretty without the statue what will the count say and now all the other servants were in trouble was the dinner to be a failure after all for everything depended on having the table nicely arranged the count would be very angry oh what shall we do they all asked then little antonio canova left his pans and kettles and went up to the man who would cause the trouble if you had another statue could you arrange the table he asked certainly said the man that is if the statue of the right length and height will you let me try and make one asked antonio perhaps i can make something that will do the man laughed nonsense he cried who are you that you talk of making statues on an hour's notice i'm antonio canova said the lad let the boy try what he can do said the servants who knew him and so since nothing else could be done the man allowed him to try on the kitchen table there was a large square lump of yellow butter two hundred pounds the lump weighed and it had just come in fresh and clean from the dairy on the mountain with a kitchen knife in his hand antonio began to cut and carve this butter in a few minutes he had molded it into the shape of a crouching lion and all the servants crowded around to see it how beautiful they cried it is a great deal prettier than the statue that was broken when it was finished the man carried it to its place the table will be handsomer by half than i ever hoped to make it he said when the count and his friends came into dinner the first thing they saw was the yellow lion what a beautiful work of art they cried none but a very great artist could ever carve such a figure and how odd that he should choose to make it of butter and then they asked the count to tell them the name of the artist truly my friends he said this is as much of a surprise to me as to you and then he called to his head servant and asked him where he had found so wonderful a statue it was carved only an hour ago by a little boy in the kitchen said the servant this made the counts friends wonder still more and the count bade the servant call the boy into the room my lad he said you have done a piece of work of which the greatest artists would be proud what is your name and who is your teacher my name is antonio canova said the boy and i've had no teacher but my grandfather the stone cutter by this time all the guests had crowded around antonio there were famous artists among them and they knew that the lad was a genius they could not say enough in praise of his work and when at last they sat down at the table nothing would please them but that antonio should have a seat with them and the dinner was made a feast in his honor the very next day the count sent for antonio to come and live with him the best artists in the land were employed to teach him the art in which he had shown so much skill but now instead of carving butter he chiseled marble in a few years antonio canova became known as one of the greatest sculptors in the world end of section 48 recording by alex robinson artawa alex robinson voice dot com section 49 of 50 famous stories retold this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by ronda fetterman 50 famous stories retold by james baldwin section 49 picciola many years ago there was a poor gentleman shut up in one of the great prisons of france his name was charne and he was very sad and unhappy he had been put into prison wrongfully and it seemed to him as though there was no one in the world who cared for him he could not read for there were no books in the prison he was not allowed to have pens or paper and so he could not write the time dragged slowly by there was nothing that he could do to make the days seem shorter his only past time was walking back and forth in the paved prison yard there was no work to be done no one to talk with one fine morning in spring charne was taking his walk in the yard he was counting the paving stones as he had done a thousand times before all at once he stopped what had made that little mound of earth between two of the stones he stooped down to sea a seed of some kind had fallen between the stones it had sprouted and now a tiny green leaf was pushing its way up out of the ground charne was about to crush it with his foot when he saw that there was a kind of soft coating over the leaf ah said he this coating is to keep it safe i must not harm it and he went on with his walk the next day he almost stepped upon the plant before he thought of it he stooped to look at it there were two leaves now and the plant was much stronger and greener than it was the day before he stayed by it a long time looking at all its parts every morning after that charne went at once to his little plant he wanted to see if it had been chilled by the cold or scorched by the sun he wanted to see how much it had grown one day as he was looking from his window he saw the jailer go across the yard the man brushed so close to the little plant that it seemed as though he would crush it charne trembled from head to foot oh my picciola he cried when the jailer came to bring his food he begged the grim fellow to spare his little plant he expected that the man would laugh at him but although a jailer he had a kind heart do you think i would hurt your little plant he said no indeed it would have been dead long ago if i had not seen that you thought so much of it that is very good of you indeed said charne he felt half ashamed at having thought the jailer unkind every day he watched picciola as he had named the plant every day it grew larger and more beautiful but once it was almost broken by the huge feet of the jailer's dog charne's heart sank within him picciola must have a house he said i will see if i can make one so though the nights were chilly he took day by day some part of the firewood that was allowed him and with this he built a little house around the plant the plant had a thousand pretty ways which he noticed he saw how it always bent a little toward the sun he saw how the flowers folded their petals before a storm he had never thought of such things before and yet he had often seen whole gardens of flowers and bloom one day with soot and water he made some ink he spread out his handkerchief for paper he used a sharpened stick for a pen and all for what he felt that he must write down the doings of his little pet he spent all his time with the plant see my lord and my lady the jailer would say when he saw them as the summer passed by picciola grew more lovely every day there were no fewer than 30 blossoms on its stem but one sad morning it began to droop charne did not know what to do he gave it water but it still drooped the leaves were withering the stones of the prison yard would not let the plant live charne knew that there was but one way to save his treasure alas how could he hope that it might be done the stones must be taken up at once but this was a thing which the jailer dared not do the rules of the prison were strict and no stone must be moved only the highest officers in the land could have such a thing done poor charne could not sleep picciola must die already the flowers had withered the leaves would soon fall from the stem then a new thought came to charne he would ask the great napoleon the emperor himself to save his plant it was a hard thing for charne to do to ask a favor of the man whom he hated the man who had shut him up in this very prison but for the sake of picciola he would do it he wrote his little story on his handkerchief then he gave it to the care of a young girl who promised to carry it to napoleon ah if the poor plant would only live a few days longer what a long journey that was for the young girl what a long dreary waiting it was for charne and picciola but at last news came to the prison the stones were to be taken up picciola was saved the emperor's kind wife had heard the story of charne's care for the plant she saw the handkerchief on which he had written of its pretty ways surely she said it can do us no good to keep such a man in prison and so at last charne was set free of course he was no longer sad and unloving he saw how god had cared for him and the little plant and how kind and true are the hearts of even rough men and he cherished picciola as a dear loved friend whom he could never forget and section 49 recording by ronda federman section 50 of 50 famous stories retold this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by genre washington dc 50 famous stories retold by james baldwin section 50 minion here's a story of minion as i remember having read it in a famous old book a young man named bullhelm was staying at an inn in the city one day as he was going upstairs he met a little girl coming down he would have taken her for a boy if it had not been for the long curls of black hair wound about her head as she ran by he caught her in his arms and asked her to whom she belonged he felt sure that she must be one of the roped dancers who had just come to the end she gave him a sharp dark look slipped out of his arms and ran away without speaking the next time he saw her william spoke to her again to not be afraid of me little one he said kindly what is your name they call me minion said the child how old are you he asked no one has counted the child answered willhelm went on but he could not help wondering about the child and thinking of her dark eyes in strange ways one day not long after that there was a great outcry among the crowd that was watching the rope dancers willhelm went down to find out what was the matter he saw that the master of the dancers was beating the little minion with a stick he ran and held the man by the collar let the child alone he cried if you touch her again one of us shall never leave the spot the man tried to get loose but willhelm held him fast the child crept away and hit herself in the crowd pay me what her clothes cost cried the rope dancer at last and you may take her as soon as all was quiet willhelm went to look for minion for she now belonged to him but he could not find her and it was not until the rope dancers had left the town that she came to him where have you been asked willhelm in his kindest tones but the child did not speak you are to live with me now and he must be a good child he has said i will try said minion gently from that time she tried to do all she could for willhelm and his friends she would let no one wait on him but herself she was often seen going to a basin of water to wash from her face the paint with which the rope dancers had reddened her cheeks indeed she nearly rubbed off her skin in trying to wash away its fine brown tint which she thought was some deep dye minion grew more lovely every day she never walked up and down the stairs but jumped she would spring along by the railing and before you knew it would be sitting quietly above on the landing to each one she would speak in a different way to willhelm it was with her arms crossed upon her breast often for a whole day she would not say one word and yet in waiting upon willhelm she never tired one night he came home very wary and sad minion was waiting for him she carried the light before him upstairs she set the light down upon the table and in a little while she asked him if she might dance it might easier hard a little she said willhelm to please her told her that she might then she brought a little carpet and spread it upon the floor at each corner she placed a candle and on the carpet she put a number of eggs she arranged the eggs in the form of a certain figures when this was done she called to a man who was waiting with a violin she tied a band about her eyes and then the dancing began how lightly quickly nimbly wonderfully she moved she skipped so fast among the eggs she trod so closely beside them that you would have thought she must crush them all but not one of them did she touch with all kinds of steps she passed among them not one of them was moved from its place willhelm forgot all his scares he watched every motion of the child he almost forgot who and where he was when the dance was ended minion rolled the eggs together with her foot into a little heap not one was left behind not one was harmed then she took the band from her eyes and made a little bow willhelm thanked her for showing him a dance that was so wonderful and pretty he praised her and petted her in hope that she had not tired herself too much when she had gone from the room the man with the violin told willhelm of the care she had taken to teach him the music of the dance he told how she had sung it to him over and over again he told how she had even wished to pay him with her own money for learning to play it for her there was yet another way in which minion tried to please willhelm and make him forget his scares she sang to him the song which he liked best was one whose words he had never heard before its music too was strange to him and yet it pleased him very much he asked her to speak the words over and over again he wrote them down but the sweetness of the tune was more delightful in the words the song began in this way do you know the land where citrons lemon scroll and oranges under the green leaves glow once when she had ended the song she said again do you know the land it must be italy said willhelm have you ever been there the child did not answer end of section 50