Children's Stories

Prologue

When first searching through Bobby’s writings, I came across a neatly organized folder of carefully typed pages, which included all of the children stories that follow. I read them with delight and was impressed by their simplicity and the innovative story lines, all ending with a simple moral. Though I had no knowledge that he wrote children stories I was immediately pleased and found his ability to write children stories consistent with his demeanor. I was not surprised at his skill and interest in writing for children. The stories not being dated, we do not know when they were written and if it was a genre he pursued at some specific time.

The birth of my first grandson, Jake, in 1999, generated the idea to write a book which was called Stories for Jake, and was eventually renamed Stories for Jake and Juliet, when precious Juliet came along in 2003. The idea was to provide a legacy of stories, poems, songs, and family history for the grandchildren. The book continues to be a work in progress. One section of Stories for Jake and Juliet, contains all of the children stories written by Bobby. The following prologue was written for Stories for Jake and Juliet and is presented here. It was initially written for Jake, and then Juliet, and hopefully they will read it one day and their interest will be stirred to search for the Uncle Bobby they never knew, but have the opportunity to know him through his writings.

The stories are playful and sometimes funny and all have a little moral, sometimes stated, but usually implied. When I have read these stories to Jake and Juliet, we have had discussions about the moral of the story and the children quickly get to the point and the moral. The discussions about the moral with the children are fascinating and fun. I hope some day they will come to know the Uncle they shall never meet, through his writings.

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The Story of the Friendly Cow

There was once a very friendly cow. She was the friendliest cow in the farm yard, and went about all day greeting the other farm animals.

She would go to the horse corral and greet the horses. “Moo Moo,” she would say to the horses. And all the horses would turn and bow to the very friendly cow. Then off she went to the chicken coop. “Moo Moo,” she said to the chickens. And all the chickens stood up and greeted the very friendly cow. And off she would go to the turkey yard. “Moo Moo,” she said to the turkeys.

And all the turkeys gobble gobbled to the very friendly cow. Then on she moved to the pig pen where she greeted the pigs. “Moo Moo.” she said to the pigs. And all the pigs greeted the very friendly cow. And she continued on the whole day greeting all the other farm animals.

”Why, what a friendly cow,” said one pig to another one hot summer day.
“Oh, yes,” replied the other. “She is the friendliest cow on the farm. Everyday she walks about greeting all the other farm animals.”
“How very nice indeed,” replied the other pig.
“Yes, indeed,” said the other pig. “But, I am afraid our farmer will not stand for it.”
“Why whatever do you mean?”
“The friendly cow spends the whole day being friendly, and she never eats except for a few bits of straw for breakfast. And so, she never gives milk. And I’m afraid our farmer will not stand for it much longer.”
“Why this is dreadful,” the other pig replied. “What do you think he will do?”
“He will most certainly keep her locked up in her stall all day long so that she has nothing to do but eat and no time to be friendly.”
“But this is terrible,” the other said. “She will not be happy locked up in her stall all day.”
“It certainly is. But there is nothing we can do about it I’m afraid,” the other answered and they both went back to sleep in their pen.

The very next day, the farmer did exactly what the pig predicted. The other farm animals knew it at once when the entire morning had passed, and the very friendly cow had not appeared making her daily friendly greeting. There was much talk and sorrow as all the farm animals gathered in the yard.

“What shall we do about this?” a goat asked a nearby horse.
“The friendly cow will never be happy as long as she is locked in her stall all day and cannot be friendly,” the horse replied.
“Well,” a chicken interrupted. “We shall all have to visit the friendly cow everyday. And then she will still be able to be friendly and that will surely make her happy.”
“Why that is a wonderful idea,” said a pig.
And all the other farm animals agreed and they wall went together to the barn to greet the very friendly cow. In the barn they found her standing in her stall looking very unhappy. Then, all together they yelled, “Hello friendly cow.”
The friendly cow looked up and saw that all of her friends had come to greet her and she was so happy, she said, “Moo Moo.”

Then each farm animal greeted her personally and she greeted each with a very special, very friendly Moo Moo. And the friendly cow was friendly one again and she was no longer unhappy because all the animals promised to come to greet her every day so that she could still be the very friendly cow. This made her very happy and gave her such an appetite that soon she gave more milk than any other cow on the farm. And all the farm animals were very happy indeed.

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The Story of the Lovely Red Rose

There once was a lovely red rose, who lived in a garden, and who spent the whole day lying out in the sun. She would open her petals early in the morning, as soon as the sun rose in the east. And the petals stayed open all day, until the sun set in the west. Of course, some days were not sunny the entire day and some days were not sunny at all because the sky was filled with clouds. On these days, the lovely red rose was not very happy because she loved the sun so much.

In fact, she loved the sun so much, that she dreamed of it every night as soon as the sun vanished over the horizon. And in the morning, she was always the first flower to wake up and to catch the first rays of the day.

Some days, when the sky was filled with clouds, it rained. She was a bit sad on these days, but she still enjoyed the rain because she knew the rain would make her grow higher and higher and closer to the sun. But her favorite days were those when there was a sun shower. She had both the sun and the rain. On those days she was the happiest and she would open her petals and smile all day

One very hot spring day, a lily-of-the-valley said to the lovely red rose, “Lovely red rose, you should not lie out in the sun all day. You will wither away into the earth and will never be lovely again.”
“Nonsense,” replied the lovely red rose. “Whenever there is sun, I fell lovely and so I will always be lovely.”
“You are very vain,” said the lily-of-the-valley, and she turned away toward the ground.
Shortly later, a curious caterpillar crawled up the stem of the lovely red rose. “My, how sweet you smell,” said the curious caterpillar to the lovely red rose.
“That is very kind of you to say,” said the lovely red rose.
“But you should not lie out in the hot sun all day,” said the curious caterpillar. “You will dry up and not smell sweet any longer.”
“Nonsense,” said the lovely red rose. “Whenever there is sun, I feel very happy and so I will always smell sweet.”
“You are very silly,” said the curious caterpillar, and he crawled down the stem of the lovely red rose.
Later that day, a humming humming bird flew by the lovely red rose and said, “Lovely red rose, you should not lie out in the sun all day. You will burn in the heat and lose your lovely red color.”
“Nonsense,” said the lovely red rose. “I love the sun, and it makes me feel happy and very bright and red.”
“You are very foolish,” said the humming hummingbird, and off he hummed.

And finally, that day, just before sundown, a gay little girl came skipping through the garden and noticed the lovely red rose and said, “Oh, what a lovely red rose.” And she picked the red rose and went on skipping gaily through the garden. And that was the end of the lovely red rose.

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The Unhappy Grasshopper

There once was a grasshopper who, naturally, did nothing all day but hop over grass. He hopped over the grass across the meadows and over the grass through the forests and over the grass up and down the hills. Yes, he most certainly was a very hopping grasshopper. But he was a very unhappy grasshopper. All day long, as he hopped over the grass across the meadows, through the forests and up and down the hills, he thought to himself, I wish I were a fish, I wish I were a fish. And this went on for such a long time, that he began to put his thoughts into words and would hop over the grass across the meadow, through the forests, and up and down the hills, saying, “I wish I were a fish. I wish I were a fish.”

Early one morning, a sleepy weasel was just waking up end heard the grasshopper hopping overhead. He thought he was still dreaming but then woke up immediately when he heard the word, fish, because the sleepy weasel liked to eat fish. Without even bothering to wash, he popped his head out of his little hole and saw the grasshopper hopping toward him and saying, “I wish I were a fish. I wish I were a fish.” My, how curious, the weasel thought. And he wished the grasshopper were a fish too, because he hadn’t had breakfast yet.

As the grasshopper hopped nearer and nearer, the weasel can out of his hole and called, “Grasshopper, tell me. Why do you wish you were a fish?” Thee grasshopper came nearer and said, “I am a very unhappy grasshopper.” And he hopped around the hole of the weasel.
The weasel followed him with his eyes as he hopped and hopped around the hole and he began to become dizzy. “But, why are you unhappy” he asked.
“Because I am a grasshopper,” the grasshopper said. “All I do all day is hop and hop and hop and hop, across the meadows, through the forests, up and down the hills. Nothing but hopping. It is a very boring life, the life of a grasshopper,” he said sadly.
“And that is why you wish you were a fish?” the weasel asked.
“Yes, of course,” the grasshopper said. “Fish have such wonderful lives. They just swim and swim and swim.”
“Yes, perhaps that is why they taste so good,” the weasel mumbled.
“What did you say?” asked the grasshopper.
“It is not important,” the weasel answered.
“Oh, my. I am becoming dizzy hopping around your home. I must be off,” the grasshopper said.
The weasel felt sorry for the unhappy grasshopper and said, “Wait a moment. Perhaps I can help you.”

The grasshopper, of course remained, and was eager to know of any help he might get to have his wish. He continued to hop and hop around the weasel’s hole as the weasel thought and thought.

Then the weasel exclaimed, “Yes, it could be!”
“What could be?” the grasshopper asked eagerly.
“There is a great wizard of whom I’ve heard. His powers are not of this world. Perhaps he can help.”
“A great wizard!” the grasshopper exclaimed. He had never heard of such a great wizard. “How did you hear of such a great wizard?”

“One day, the mother blue jay, who lives in the peach tree, flew by to visit me. She told me the story of her baby blue jays that couldn’t fly. They just stayed in their next day after day, getting bigger and bigger, until the nest was so crowded they began falling out to the ground. They just couldn’t fly. And then she had the heavy task of carrying them back up to their nest or else someone like would come by and eat them. She naturally, became very worried and flew immediately to see the great wizard to ask for his help. The great wizard gave her something to feed her baby blue jays and only one day after they had eaten it, they were flying about as though they had been flying for years.”

“Why, this is truly amazing,” the grasshopper said. “The great wizard’s power is most certainly not of this world. Where can I find this great wizard?” he asked.

“It is a long journey from here,” the weasel answered “If you must go through the apple orchard, then across the meadow of the yellow and pink flowers. On the other side of the meadow, you will find a long row of chestnuts trees leading up a hill. At the eighth chestnut tree, turn right and go across the hill until you come to a stream on the other side. Follow the stream down into the valley until you come to a small pond. Go around the pond to the opposite side and there you will find a second stream, but this one will be much wider than the first. Follow it into the next valley, and there you will find a great lake. Go around the great lake until you come to two great oak trees. Between the two great oak trees you will find a great blue and orange rock. And the great wizard lives on this great rock.”

The grasshopper remembered all of this in his head as he continued hopping around the weasel’s hole. “Oh, I am so excited,” he said. “But do you really think the great wizard can help me?”

“Well, I don’t see why not,” the weasel replied.
“Yes, you’re right. If the great wizard could make the baby blue jays fly, then he most surely could give me my wish. Oh, my wish will finally come true,” he said happily.
The weasel smiled seeing the grasshopper so happy. “Well, if you leave now, you should be with the great wizard in two days.”
“Oh, yes, I will,” the grasshopper said happily. “Thank you so very very much,” he said to the weasel and off he hopped away saying, “I wish I were a fish. I wish I were a fish.” And the weasel went back into his hole and thought about what to have for breakfast.

Soon, the grasshopper arrived at the apple orchard. He hopped through it and there on the other side were three meadows: the first had red and yellow flowers, the second had yellow and pink flowers, and the third had pink and violet flowers. Now, which one did the weasel say I must cross, he thought, as he hopped around in a circle. Yellow and pink, that’s it. And he hopped across the meadows and there on the other side was the row of chestnut trees leading up a hill, just as the weasel had said.

He hopped along the trees, counting each, until he came to the eight trees, and he hopped around it thinking, left or right, right or left. Right! And he turned right and hopped across the hill until he came to the stream leading down into the valley.
By this time, it was nightfall. But I will not become lost, he thought. I will just follow the sound of the stream, which he did, and at sunrise he’d arrived at the little pond and said, “What is your wish?”

He hopped around the pond to the other side, and there found the second stream which was much wider, just as the weasel had said. And on he hopped following the flow of the stream down into the next valley. But this stream was not only much wider, it was also much longer than the first. As it flowed down into the valley it became wider and wider and by nightfall, he still hadn’t reached the great lake. But he didn’t worry. The weasel had said it would take two days to reach the great wizard, and he knew he wouldn’t become lost as long as he could hear the sound of the water. So on he hopped happily into the night, saying, “I wish I wee a fish. I wish I were a fish.”

In the middle of the night, he finally arrived at the great lake. And it was a very great lake indeed. There was still much hopping to be done around to the other side.

As the sun began to rise, he had his first glimpse of the two great oak trees. And they were also very great, indeed. It was a great lake and they were great oak trees, so the great wizard, too, must be every great, the grasshopper thought. And on he hopped and hopped.

By mid-morning, he finally reached the first great oak tree, and from there he saw the great blue and orange rock. And there, sitting on the top was the great wizard.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my,” said the grasshopper and he hopped and hopped nearer and nearer, until there he was at the bottom of the great blue and orange rock. But, of course, he couldn’t stop hopping, so he hopped around the rock and called, “Great wizard. Great wizard.”

And the great wizard looked down and saw the grasshopper hopping around his great blue and orange rock.

“I wish I were a fish” the grasshopper said eagerly. “I wish I were a fish.”
The great wizard continued looking down at the grasshopper hopping around his great blue and orange rock, but said nothing.
The grasshopper looked up and aid again, “I wish I were a fish, great wizard. I wish I wee a fish.”
And the great wizard, looking down, asked, “Why do you wish you wee a fish?”
“Because I am an unhappy grasshopper,” the grasshopper said. “All I do all day is hop and hop and hop and hop, across the meadows, through the forest, and up and down the hills. It is such a boring life, the life of a grasshopper. All I wish is to be a fish. Please great wizard. Can you not give me my wish,” he said.

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The Story of the Ferocious Lion

And the grasshopper was so happy, he hopped higher than he’d ever hopped before and he never touched the ground again because just as the great wizard had said, he had his wish. He became a fish in the great lake, and naturally, he swam and swam and swam as all the other fish did.

And then one day, he felt very unhappy and thought, this is such a boring life, the life of a fish, just swimming swimming, swimming, I whish I were a red robin, he thought. And he thought it over and over until he began to put it into words. And he swam and swam and swam, all day saying, “I wish I were a red robin. I wish I were a red robin.”

There once was as ferocious lion that lived alone in a jungle. He’d lived all of his life in the jungle and all of the time alone because he had no friends. He was so ferocious, that everyone was too afraid of him to be his friend. Of course, he had no enemies either, because he was so ferocious, no one would dare be his enemy. And so the ferocious lion lived for many years in the jungle, being very ferocious and very alone.

The ferocious lion was not only ferocious but he was also very wise. One hot summer afternoon, he was walking thorough the jungle and realized how alone he was. There was not a bird or a monkey among the trees, there were no buzzing bumble bees, no dear or zebra or laughing hyena, there was not even any beautiful butterflies sitting on blades of grass to rest their tired wings. It was as though the jungle were a forbidden place where no bird or animal or insect dare enter. And all because of the ferocious lion. It is a very lonely life, the life of a ferocious lion, the ferocious lion said to himself. And for some time, he thought about why no one wanted to be his friend.

As time went on, the ferocious lion became older and wiser and lonelier, because he still lived alone in the jungle where no bird or animal or insect dare enter. But then one night, just before going to sleep, he realized why he lived alone in the jungle, and why he had no friends. It is because I am a ferocious lion, the ferocious lion said to himself. I am so ferocious, that all the birds and animals and insects are afraid of me, and so I live alone here in the jungle and I have no friends, he thought.

He became excited by this discovery because not only was he ferocious and wise lion, he was also a very noble lion who was very proud of his wisdom. Now that I know why I live alone in the jungle and why I have no friends, what can I do about it, he asked himself. And he thought and thought about it so much that he couldn’t sleep. And then it hit him like a streak of lightning striking the earth. I must stop being a ferocious lion, the ferocious lion thought. And before going to sleep that night, he deiced that from the next day on, he would never be a ferocious lion again and he would have many friends and they would all come to live in the jungle with him. The whole idea of it was so very exciting that he hardly slept that night as he looked forward to the next day.

Early the next day, he woke from his light sleep and decided that before having friends, he must first find them. So he hurried through the jungle to the meadow. The meadow was very large. It stretched for as far as he could see. And in the distance he could just barely see a grazing gazelle. The gazelle will be my friend, he thought, and I will invite him to come and live with me in the jungle. And so he raced across the meadow.

He was very excited, of course, and a bit nervous because he’d never had a friend. What shall I say to the gazelle, he asked himself? “Good morning gazelle. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the lion who lives in the jungle and I would like you to be my friend. ” No, no, that is not good. It is too formal, he thought. I will just say, ”Good morning gazelle. How are you today?” And he came nearer and nearer to the gazelle and just as he approached him and was about to shout, “Good morning gazelle. How are you today?” the gazelle looked up, saw the approaching lion, and off he sped away to the other side of the meadow.

“Wait,” the lion shouted. But the gazelle did not wait. He just ran off until he was miles and miles away. And the lion stopped running and felt a bit sad and said, “That was not very nice. I jut wanted to be your friend. “He lowered his head sadly and thought, I must have done something wrong. And he thought and thought about it and decided that he should not run after anyone, “Because then they will think I am chasing them and they will be afraid. Yes, I must walk slowly toward everyone,” he said. And on he walked across the meadow feeling very proud of this kno

wledge.

The giraffe moved very slowly because it was so big, and in a short time, the lion was quite near to him.
“Hello giraffe,” the lion said to the giraffe.
And the giraffe turned and saw the approaching lion and sped away so quickly that even the lion was surprised by his speed.
“Wait,” the lion called. But the giraffe did not wait. He just ran away as the gazelle had done.

“Why, this is a very tricky business, finding friends,” said the lion a bit disappointed. “It must be doing something wrong.” And the thought and thought about it and decided, “It must be my voice,” he said. “Surely the giraffe only heard my roar, not my voice. Perhaps my voice is not friendly. I will walk slowly and silently. And again, he felt very proud of his wisdom and on he walked slowly and silently across the meadow.

By then, it was mid-day and very hot in the mid-day sun. The lio0n had gone very far from the jungle and he was glad to walk. He walked slowly in the hot, mid-day and he began to feel a bit weak in th4e head. He thought he saw a mirage. There in the middle of the endless meadow was one single solitary tree. That is a very strange place for a tree, he thought, and he walked toward it to investigate and, of course, to improve his knowledge.

When he came closer to it, he realized it was not a tree at all. It was an ostrich who seemed to be resting in the hot mid-day sun. Why an ostrich would make a very good friend, he thought, and he continued walking very slowly toward the resting ostrich. I will say nothing this time, and wait for the ostrich to speak, he decided. And on he moved closer and closer, slowly and silently toward the resting ostrich.

Soon, just as he was within some yards of the resting ostrich, it opened its eyes, saw the approaching lion, and quickly ran away flapping its wings even thought it couldn’t fly.

But wait,” the lion shouted, But the ostrich did not wait. “Now what have I done wrong now,” the lion said. “I have run and walked and spoken and been silent. I must be doing something wrong.” And he thought and thought about it and realized what he was doing wrong. I must smile, he said to himself. Yes, I must smile and everyone will think I am a friendly lion and they will want to be my friend and come to live with me in the jungle. And he felt very proud of this knowledge. And on he walked, slowly, silently and smiling across the meadow.

Soon, he came upon a mother elephant with her baby elephant. Well, perhaps the mother and baby elephant will be my friends, he thought. “And I will invite them to come live with me in the jungle even though they will probably knock down the trees,” he said. And he walked nearer and nearer until the mother elephant noticed the approaching lion. As soon as the lion realized he was being watched, he smiled such a big smile. But the mother and baby elephant did not smile back. Instead, they turned their heads away from the lion, and moved as fast as they could away from him.

”Wait,” the lion called through his smiling mouth. But the mother and baby elephant did not wait. Why that is not very friendly, the lion thought. And he thought, I just have done something wrong again. And he thought and thought about it and realized, the mother and baby elephant did not see his smile at all, “They only saw my teeth, and they were afraid of my teeth,” he said. I must not smile, he decided, and he was very proud of himself for having discovered this knowledge. And on he walked, slowly, silently and seriously across the meadow.

Soon, he came to a small watering hole, where there was a small herd of zebra. The zebra were drinking water and must have been very thirsty because none noticed the approaching lion. The lion walked slowly, silently and seriously toward the zebra until he was just a few feet away from the nearest zebra. He was very silent as he moved and said nothing and made sure that none of his teeth were showing. But then, just as he’d reached the water’s edge, the nearest zebra looked up and saw the nearby lion. Then all the zebras looked up and saw the lion and they all quickly sped away just as the fleeing gazelle and giraffe and ostrich and mother and baby elephant.

“But wait,” the lion shouted. But the zebra did not wait. And the lion lowered his head into the water but found he wasn’t thirsty at all.

“Oh, I have been shunned by the gazelle and the giraffe, and the ostrich and the mother and baby elephant, and now by a whole herd of zebras. Oh, what have I done wrong now?” he cried to his reflection in the waster. And upon seeing his reflection, he suddenly realized whit it was. It hit him like a streak of lightening striking the earth. He realized he couldn’t have friends because he wasn’t meant to have friends because he was a lion. Yes, he was meant to have no friends and to live alone in the jungle simply because he was a lion.

And he was very proud of this knowledge and walked proudly back to the jungle, to live out the rest of his days, alone, but very proud. And soon, he was known as the very proud lion of the jungle. He was a very proud lion indeed.

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The Weeping Willow

There once was a weeping willow tree, who did nothing all day but weep. He wept when the sun shined and he wept when it rained, he wept when the wind blew and when it was calm, and he wept in summer and he wept in winter. Yes, he was most certainly a weeping willow.

One cold, snowy winter day, a lost, little squirrel went scurrying through the forest and passed by the weeping willow. He was very cold and scurried up the trunk of the weeping willow and curled up on a branch. He was shivering from the snow but soon began to feel warmer and warmer curled up on the branch of the weeping willow. As he became warmer and warmer, he noticed the weeping willow.

“Why weeping willow,” he said. “Why are you weeping?”
“Because I am a weeping willow,” the weeping willow answered.
“Well, you must not weep,” said the lost little squirrel. “I am a lost little squirrel and I became so cold searching for my home. And you have given me shelter and warmth from the snow.
That is certainly nothing to weep about.”
“Yes, you are right,” said the weeping willow. “That is nothing to weep about. But I am still a weeping willow.”
“But that doesn’t mean you must weep. You have given me shelter from the cold and snow, and you should feel happy.”

The weeping willow thought about this for a moment, and then said, “Yes, you are right. I have sheltered you from the cold and snow, and I am happy to have done so. I will not weep anymore this afternoon. I will be happy.”

The lost squirrel was very glad to hear this and thanked the happy willow for having given him shelter. And later that day, it finally stopped snowing, and the sun even began to shine a bit, and the lost little squirrel became warmer and warmer.

“Well,” he said. “I must be off now. Now that the snow has stopped, I must continue searching for my home.”

He thanked the happy willow again, then scurried down the trunk of the happy willow and off he went through the forest in search of his home. And the happy willow didn’t weep the whole afternoon, until the sun set, on the cold winter day. It became much colder and it even began to snow again, and the happy willow became a weeping willow once again.

One day, early in spring, a cat that was being chased by a barking dog, climbed up the trunk of the weeping willow to escape from the barking dog. The barking dog barked at the cat resting safely above on a branch of the weeping willow. But soon, he went away, realizing the cat was too far from his reach. The cat felt very safe and rested on the branch of the weeping willow and was glad the barking dog went away. As she rested, she noticed the weeping willow.

“Why weeping willow,” she said. “Why are you weeping?”
“Because I am a weeping willow,” replied the weeping willow.
“Well, you must not weep,” said the cat “You have just saved my life from the barking dog,. That is certainly nothing to weep about.”
“Yes, you are right,” said the weeping willow. “That is nothing to weep about. But I am still a weeping willow.”
“But that doesn’t mean you must weep. You have just saved my life, and you should feel happy.”

The weeping willow thought about this for a moment, and then said, “Yes, you are right. I have saved your life and I am happy to have done so. I will not weep anymore today. I will be happy.”

The cat was very glad to hear this and thanked the happy willow for saving her life. As soon as she knew the barking dog was far away, she climbed down from the happy willow and off she went away. The happy willow was happy the whole day. But then, the next day he became a weeping willow once again.

One day, early in summer, there came a red robin in search of a tree where she could make her nest. She flew to the oak tree, but there she discovered a blue jay had already made its nest. So she flew on to the maple tree, but there, a sparrow had made its nest. And on she flew to the weeping willow, and discovered no nest there. I will make my nest here in the weeping willow, she thought. And she began the work of building a nest, carrying bits of grass and twigs from the ground to a branch in the weeping willow above. Soon, she had built a very cozy nest for herself, and she sat in it feeling very proud of her new summer home. Then she noticed the weeping willow.

“Why weeping willow,” she said. “Why are you weeping?”
“Because I am a weeping willow,” the weeping willow answered.
“Well, you must not weep,” said the red robin sitting in her nest. “You have given me a cozy home for the summer. That is certainly nothing to weep about.”
Yes, you are right. But I am still a weeping willow,” the weeping willow said.
“But that doesn’t mean that you must weep. You have given me a cozy home for the summer, and you should feel happy.”

“The weeping willow thought about this for a moment, and then said, “Yes, you are right. I have given you a cozy home for the summer and I am happy to have done so. I will not weep anymore this summer, as long as you live in your cozy summer home. I will be a happy willow the whole summer.”

The red robin was very glad to here this. In fact, she was so happy, that later that summer, she gave birth to six baby red robins. This was quite a surprise to her because she never gave birth to six baby red robins before. The happy willow was also quite surprised, but was very glad to have the six baby robins living in him.

Then one day, late in summer, when the six baby red robins grew up into six young red robins. The mother red robin brought them all together in their cozy summer home to tell them about their journey to the south. They were all very excited and looked forward to their long flight south, and they spent the next days exercising their wings.

The happy willow overheard this discussion among the red robins and he felt a bit sad. He almost began to weep. But he forced back the tears because he had told the mother red robin that he would be happy the whole summer and that he wouldn’t weep.

The mother red robin, realizing that she and her young red robins would soon be flying south, said one day to the happy willow, “Happy willow, you know that I and my young red robins will be leaving soon for the south.”

“Yes, I know,” the happy willow said. “And I will became a weeping willow again,” he said almost weeping.
“But you must not weep,” she said. “You are a happy willow now and you must not weep.”
“Yes, but not for long.”
“Well, I have thought about this,” the mother red robin said smiling. “My young red robins and I have had such a fine summer in our cozy summer home, that we have talked it over and decide d to always make this our summer home. We will return here every summer.”

The happy willow was so happy to hear this, that he hugged the mother red robin very carefully with his branches.

“You shall never be a weeping willow again,” she said smiling.
“Oh, I am so happy,” the happy willow said. “I have been so happy this summer and I will always be happy now that I know you and your young red robins will return to me each summer. I will never weep again.”

The mother red robin was very happy to hear this, and some days later in the early days of autumn, she and her young red robins said goodbye to the happy willow, and off they flew to the south. The happy willow said, “Goodbye. See you next summer.” And the happy willow smiled such a happy smile.

And every summer after that, the mother red robin and her young red robins returned to their cozy summer home in the happy willow. And the happy willow was so happy, he never was a weeping willow again.

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The Lost Baby Cat

There once was a terrible storm. It came very suddenly and lasted for days and days. There was thunder and lightening and rain and rain and rain. It was very dark too. There was no sun for days and days. The terrible storm went on for days and days.

All the little villagers stayed in their houses with their doors and windows shut tight, lest they be washed away with the rain. They were very worried indeed. But they were very frightened too. During those days and days of the storm, they heard Mrs. Cat meowing constantly. Something must be wrong with Mrs. Cat, they all thought. Of course, they tried to telephone her but all the telephone lines went down in the storm. And they dare not go out in the storm, lest they be washed away in the rain. So they just waited for days and days listening to Mrs. Cat meowing for days and days until the storm ended. It finally did, after days and days.

As soon as the rain had stopped and the skies had cleared, and the sun came shining through, all the little villages rushed out of their houses into the street. “We must go to Mrs. Cat,” they all shouted. And they all hurried down the street to the house of Mrs. Cat.

When they arrived, they discovered Mrs. Cat walking back and forth on her front porch, looking terribly weak and pale.
“Why Mrs. Cat,” they all shouted. “Whatever is the matter?”
“My baby cat went out to play in the meadow just before the storm began,” she said tearfully. “And he hasn’t returned. There was so much rain. And he never learned to swim.”
“Hasn’t returned!” all the little villagers exclaimed. “Well, we will begin searching for him this very moment.”

And so all the little villages quickly put their heads and thoughts together and decided to divide into small groups so they might find the lost baby cat sooner. In the first group was the fox and the butterfly and the sparrow and the squirrel. In the second group were the rabbit and the dog and the red robin and the chicken. And in the third group were the crow and the bumble bee and the chipmunk, and the weasel. They decided that the parakeet should stay behind to comfort Mrs. Cat. She was very glad to have the parakeet with her and she thanked al the little villagers for their help.

“We will find your lost baby cat,” they all reassured her and off they went to the meadow. Once they arrived in the meadow, each of the three groups set out in a different direction. They decided that if the first group found the baby cat, the sparrow would chirp chirp. And if the second group found him, the red robin would sing a song. And if the third group found him, the crow would caw.

They separated and searched for hours and hours. Still no chirp chirp, no song, no caw. They all began to worry. “But we must find the baby cat,” they all said to each other. They all know it would break Mrs. Cat’s heart if her baby cat were lost forever. And so they searched and searched across the meadow, down the meadow, up the meadow, until they were once again all together. But still no baby cat.

Then the very bright fox had a very bright idea. “Just a moment,” he shouted. And everyone came to his side to listen. “If I were a baby cat,” he said, “caught in a terrible rainy storm and I didn’t know how to swim, what would I do?”

All the little villagers looked at each other and shook their heads.
“I would climb a tree and wait for the rain to pass,” he smiled.
“Why of course,” all the little villagers said and nodded. “The baby cat must be in the forest.”
All the little villages hurried quickly together to the forest.
“Baby cat,” they all called. “Bay cat, where are you?”

And no sooner had they shouted when they heard a very faint meow meow. They all looked up and there was the baby cat all curled up under an oak branch. The squirrel and the chipmunk quickly climbed up the tree and carried the shivering baby cat down to the ground. And everyone was so happy.

“But we must get him home in bed immediately. He is so cold and wet, he will die of illness. So they quickly carried him out of the forest, across the meadow and to the village.

When they arrived at Mrs. Cat’s house, she was still walking back and forth on her front porch meow meowing. But then she saw all the smiling little villagers, and knew that they must have found her baby cat. And then she saw him, and she was so happy. She ran across the garden to greet the villagers, then took her baby cat in her arms and hugged him every so lovingly.

“I’m so happy,” she said to all the little villages. And she hugged and kissed each and every one of them.

Then they all brought the baby cat indoors and they dried him and wrapped him in the warmest blankets and put him to bed. And Mrs. Cat was so happy, she invited all the little villages into the parlor and served them hot cocoa and freshly baked cookies. And all the little villagers were so happy to see Mrs. Cat happy that they stayed the whole afternoon, even though there was much work to be done in the village after the storm.

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The Fairy Who Painted Beautiful Rainbows

There once was a fairy who lived on a far away star, and who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky. He was very famous for this among all the fairies from among al the stars because his rainbows were the most beautiful rainbows that any fairy had ever seen. They were very red and blue and violet and yellow and orange and pink and green. Yes, they are very beautiful rainbows, indeed.

Whenever the fairies from among the stars were feeling said or lonely, they would just look up at the sky at one of the beautiful rainbows and it made them so happy, that they would not longer feel sad or lonely. And one day, a fairy from among the stars decided that the fairy who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky, should be called the happy fairy who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky, because the surely must be happy to paint such beautiful rainbows.

Then, early one morning, a fairy from among the stars decided to visit the happy fairy who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky, to thank him for all the happiness he had brought to all the fairies among the stars. She had a light breakfast, and then opened her wings and off she flew to the star of the happy fairy.

When she arrived at the star of the happy fairy, she was much surprised by what she saw. There was the happy fairy, jut waking up, looking ever so sad and lonely. He did not look like a happy fairy at all, she thought.

“Happy fairy,” she called. But the fairy who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky did not answer. “Happy fairy who paints beautiful rainbows across the sky,” she called again. . And then the fairy turned and answered.

“I am the fairy who does nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky,” he answered. “But I am not happy,” he said.

“But this cannot be,” the fairy from among the stars answered. “Your rainbows are the most beautiful rainbows that any fairy from among the stars has ever seen. They have made us so happy. How can it be that you are not happy?"

“I am so lonely and sad on this star,” he answered. “I only paint beautiful rainbows across the sky so that I may forget how lonely and said I am,” he said.

“Well, this cannot go on,” the fairy from among the stars said. “You have made all the fairies from among the stars so happy, and we will make you happy in return. This morning, you shall return with me to my star and you will never be lonely and said again.”

The fairy who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky smiled such a happy smile. It was the first time that he’d felt happy for as long as he could remember. “Yes, yes,” he said. “I will come with you to your star,” he answered. And he quickly opened his wings, and off they flew together to the star of the fairy from among the stars.

And from then on, the fairy who did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky, was never lonely or sad again. But he became known only as the happy fairy from among the stars because he never painted another beautiful rainbow across the sky again. And whenever the fairies from among the stars felt lonely or sad, they never had a beautiful rainbow to look up at to make them feel happy. But the fairy who once did nothing all day but paint beautiful rainbows across the sky was the happiest fairy among al the stars.

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The Last Day of Autumn

It was an autumn day. Oh, and what a lovely autumn day. There was a summer breeze from the south. The sun was bright. The air was warm. The trees were a rainbow of colors: red, yellow, orange, green, and brown. And there was the sound of everyone preparing for the impending winter, which would surely be cold and harsh. But oh, it was such a lovely autumn day.

Naturally, there was much to be done. The squirrels were out and about collecting their nuts. They held them in their mouths until they nearly burst, then ran to their nests where they would stored them for winter The raccoons went about inspecting their homes, discussing amongst themselves where their food should be stored and where they would spend those long winter days and nights sleeping. It was a very lively discussion. The birds flew about anxiously, looking forward to their journey to the south. “It’ll be a fine journey,” they all agreed. “Oh, by the way, Mr. Squirrel,” said a bird to a passing squirrel. “I just spotted a whole pile of nuts lying under the chestnut tree on the other side of the meadow.”

“Why, thank you very much, Mrs. Bird,” said the squirrel. Oh, it was a lovely autumn day indeed.

The rabbits were hopping about admiring each others new coasts of fur. “My, how lovely you look in your new fur,” they all said to each other. “I never would have recognized you.” The mice were scampering about, collecting their bits of straw and grass to make their winter nests. “My, you have a very warm nest,” they all said to each other. And all the sly foxes were slying about looking for their winter’s food. Awfully sly, those sly foxes. Indeed, it was a lovely autumn day.

But--- then came the wind. That warm summer breeze from the south was suddenly gone. And there came a chilling winter wind from the north. It was the moment that everybody was dreading---the moment to say goodbye.

Everyone gathered around in the meadow and all had such long faces. “Don’t be sad,” said a squirrel to a teary eyed mouse. “We’ll see each other again in spring.”
“I wish you a good flight,” said a raccoon to a nearby bird.
“Thank you very much,” replied the bird. “I wish you a good sleep.”
“I hope you have a long healthy rest so that you don’t lose any weight,” said a sly fox to a rabbit. Awfully sly those foxes.
And everyone hugged and cried and made good wishes as that chilling winter wind blew down from the north. “Goodbye,” everyone called. “See you next spring.”

And then, everything was silent. The squirrels went to their trees. The mice went to their nests. The birds flew south. The rabbits and raccoons went to their holes and the foxes to their caves.

Winter had come.

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A Day in the Life of Nobody

There once was as boy named Nobody, who lived on Nobody’s street, and he went every morning to the bakery around the corner to buy fresh bread for breakfast.
The very nice young ladies in the baker were very nice and always said, “Good morning, Nobody. What would you like today?"
And Nobody would look among the shelves of freshly baked breads and cakes and biscuits and would say, “I’ll have one of this, and two of that, and a dozen of those, and some of these.” “Oh, my,” said the nice young ladies. “Who are you having for breakfast today?”
“Nobody,” Nobody would answer. And off he would go to have breakfast with the birds on his balcony.

Every afternoon, Nobody went for a walk in the park with Nobody. He always took the bread left over from breakfast with him to feed the birds. He would sit by the pond throwing bread to the ducks and swans, and he would walk across the meadow dropping bread as he walked.

One day, a curious bird who had just moved into the park, asked another bird, “Who is feeding us this wonderful fresh bread everyday?”
“Nobody,” the other bird answered.
“Why, that’s a very kind Nobody,” the other replied, and they both flew off with a stomach full of fresh bread.

In the evenings, Nobody would always go to a very fine restaurant in the city for dinner. He was very famous in the city, and whenever he walked into a very fine restaurant, everyone would turn and say, “Good evening, Nobody.” And he would smile and be given the best table in the house because he was Nobody.

All of the waiters would argue over who would serve Nobody because Nobody was very generous and would always leave a very generous tip. But then, Nobody would become very upset by these arguments and always said, “Nobody will serve Nobody this evening,” and he would walk out of the very fine restaurant without every eating. And Nobody would walk home every night hungry.

Late at night, Nobody would often sit out on his balcony looking at the stars and the city lights. He had a fine view of the stars. He lived on the top floor of his building. “And he had a very fine view of the city, and so he would sit out there dreaming of the night with Nobody.

Sometimes a passing bird would land on the balcony and say,”Good evening, Nobody. Isn’t it a lovely night?”
“Yes, it is indeed,” Nobody would say and he always smiled because the birds were his friends.
“Did you have a fine day?” the birds asked Nobody.
“Oh, yes,” Nobody always answered. “I saw all of my friends in the park today.”
“That is very fine,” answered the birds and they would peck him on the cheek and say “Good night, Nobody,” and off they flew away.
“Good night,” Nobody would say to the night and he would go into his little room, and get into his warm bed with Nobody.

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