PERRY PARTRIDGE

After an early morning rain, the ground was like a wet sponge. 
“Hurry up,” Bushy-Red said, shaking his reddish head.
His fuzzy squirrel coat trembled in the wind.  Bushy-Red liked to cling upside down.  Sharp claws held tightly to a large maple tree. 
As usual, he was impatient.  And his black nose wiggled nervously. 
His best friend, Perry Partridge was being a slow poke.  They were supposed to go on a picnic, at least before the sun set.
Perry was busy exercising his wings.  He kept trying to fly higher than the lowest branch. 
“Be patient,” he called to his squirrel-friend.  “I’m almost finished.”
Perry was still a young Partridge.  And he had to keep in practice. 
Once more he ran down the path created by years of animal usage.  His three-toed feet left deep marks in the soft soil.  Feathers flapped faster and faster. 
This time he landed almost on top of Bushy-Red.
“Yikes! Watch it!” the squirrel squealed.
“Try running like Fred-Fox the next time.  And keep your head up,” HOOTY Owl chuckled.  She was another one of Perry’s good friends.
The little Partridge tried seven more times.  Thankfully, crash landing on the ground did not hurt.  And finally Perry was successful. 
Now three friends sat together on the conquered limb.  From here they could see most of Greenwoods, their homeland in a little valley. 
“Look at the tall woods on both sides,” Perry said.
“I see them every day,” HOOTY added. 
“Yah, but I don’t,“ Bushy-Red scolded.  “I think this view is really neat.  So there.”
“Now, now,” Perry interrupted.  He did not like his friends to argue.  And they usually did.
Pretty Pasture looked yellow under the noonday sun.  The high grass was a safe place for the Dee-Deer to sleep. 
 “I can see a tiny lake,” Perry said.  He had never flown this high before.
“That’s North Pond,” HOOTY quickly answered.
“I was at South Pond once,” Busy-Red said.
Their branch swayed like a swing, back and forth, back and forth.
Just then, two fat floppy crows flew by.  “Hello HOOTY!” they yelled.
“HELLOOO,” HOOTY politely answered.
“Cheers to you too, Bushy-Red,” they said.
Bushy-Red was puzzled.  “What does Cheers mean?” he asked HOOTY.
“It means, Be Happy,” HOOTY answered.
“Thanks,” Bushy-Red said.  “CHEERIES!” he shouted.  Somehow his word did not sound the same. 
“Bye-Bye, Perry.” By now the fat floppy crows were almost at Three-Trees.  It was a meeting place for everyone in Greenwoods. 
“Perry quickly put his wings to his beak.  “BYEEE-BYEEE!!” became an echo in the valley.
It was time for the three friends to begin their hike. 
Perry flew from branch to branch.  All those flying practices sure helped. 
Bushy-Red scurried up and down trees along their path.  And he searched around each one for any of his buried treasures. 
HOOTY fluttered along carrying the food sack.  It was heavy and she had to rest often. 
Finally they stopped beside Creepy Creek.  It sang a song of strange noises as it winded like a corkscrew through the valley. 
Perry and Bushy-Red prepared the snacks.  It was only fair since HOOTY had carried the food all this way.
There was fresh leaf-tips and bush cranberries for Perry.  And a branch full of Hazel nuts for Bushy-Red. 
HOOTY was given his favourite treat, leftover pieces of mouse. 
After full tummies they rested. 
‘”Remember what happened yesterday?” Perry asked. 
“That Ra-Rabbit was sure lucky we came along,” HOOTY answered.
“Yes,” said Bushy-Red.  “Something was wrapped around Ra-Rabbit’s front leg.” He and Perry did not know it was a circle of wire. 
“It came from the Village of Walking-Trees.  Beyond Greenwoods,” wise HOOTY added. 
Perry had never heard that name before. 
HOOTY continued with her story.  “Sounds of thunder and lightning come from their branches.  It happens during the time of autumn.  And sometimes Dee-Deer fall to the ground.  Then they go to Forever Place.”
Perry wrapped his feathery arms around Bushy-Red.  The squirrel was sure shaking. 
“Please.  No more stories about those unwelcome visitors,” Perry said.  
They had a nice cold drink from Creepy Creek.  Then there was time to play.
HOOTY hid first.  She found a low branch on a thick pine tree.  But they could not find her.  She had to call out, “Hoot! Hoot!” until they did. 
Perry Partridge decided to hide under a log pile.  But his friends could not find him either.  He finally had to beat one wing loudly against a fallen tree. 
Only then did Perry’s friends find him. 
When they tired of their game they continued on their journey.  And kept a watchful eye for “HUSHY-Hawk.”
If that nasty bird caught HOOTY, he would eat her. 
They also had to be watchful of C-C Coyote.  And W-Wolf.  They lived in the Dark Woods, way past North Pond.  Squirrel and partridge would provide a tasty meal, if they were captured.
Three friends now went for a swim. 
They jumped and flew together off huge Rough Rock.  It was like a diving board.  They shouted and splashed noisily. 
And shook wet feathers and fur at each other.
After a short rest, they headed home.
This time they walked across Pretty Pasture.  And rushed past Lightning Tree.  “Long ago, a crooked arrow came from the sky, “ HOOTY said.  “It bent that tree and left it all dark on one side.”
They sang songs and laughed and yelled a lot.  Three friends hopped, skipped and flew.  This time Perry led the way. 
Their happy sounds carried across the sky. 
High above ‘Eagle Eyes’ slowly flapped her Bald Eagle wings.  She wanted to make sure three friends returned home safely. 
Greenwoods soon turned dark. 
Perry and Bushy-Red went to their homes with sleepy eyes. 
And HOOTY flew off until tomorrow’s fun.

Devamını Oku

MITTY HAS TO WAIT

Mitty slept peacefully in the comfortable basket.  It was full  of her boys' socks and clothes.  It was in a small room right next to the eating area. The sound of footsteps awoke her.  Swiftly, she jumped out of the basket and hurried into the other room. The tall boy and the gentle boy dashed into the room, sat down at the table and began eating. Mitty began playing with their shoe strings. But they ate quickly and dashed outside. Mitty followed them. The tall boy called out to her "Gotta go to school girl.  We'll see ya later."  Sadly she watched them disappear inside a huge orange bus.  Mitty didn't understand and she didn't want to wait until later.
"Hello, my friend."  Mitty heard a small voice and  looked up to see Rita the robin flying overhead.
 "Hi, Rita," Mitty called to her. "Do you want to play today?"
Rita flew down and landed beside her good friend.  "I  can't right now.  I'm building something very special and I promise to show it to you in a couple of days."  Rita saw the disappointed expression on Mitty's face. "Why don't you go visit Kitty Gidget. We haven't seen her in a while."
"Yea," Mitty agreed.  She loved Gidget.  Gidget was a very grown up kitty and she always taught Mitty about life.  "OK, Rita.  I'll see you later." Mitty dashed towards Gidgets house.  Rita waved her small brown wing goodbye.
When Mitty arrived at Gidgets, she went to the back window and  meowed as loud as she could.  A nice man let her in.  She looked high and low but she could not find Gidget.  Using her keen since of smell she found her upstairs in a dark closet. She was asleep in a beautiful pink box on a fluffy white blanket. Slowley Gidget's eyes opened.
 "Well hello, Mitty.  I wasn't expecting you."  Her voice was unusually soft.
"I thought I'd see if you wanted to play, " Mitty asked.
"I'm sorry, but I can't play for a while."
"But, I want to play now." Mitty said unhappily.
Gidget held Mitty's paw.  "Sometimes in our lives we just have to wait.  I know being patient can be difficult but the rewards can be wonderful too. Come see me again in a few days and I'll have a surprise to show you." Her voice was barely a whisper.
Mitty felt worried about her.  "OK, you take care of  yourself."  Mitty tip toed out of the room, down the stairs and to the back door.  The man let her out.  Now she was feeling very lonely. Why, oh why did the boys have to go on the bus?  What was Rita up to?  And most of all, why did Kitty Gidget want to stay in that box?
Over the next few days, Mitty followed the mommy around the house  and watched all the curious things she did.  It proved to be quite interesting. She was a very nice lady.  One morning after Mitty ate her breakfast she noticed that the boys still weren't awake.  She dashed up to their room and jumped in the bed with them and kissed them. The laughed and hugged her tightly. The smaller boy got a small string and played with Mitty for the longest time. Mitty was happy. She followed the boys to the eating area and tickled their toes as they ate. Unexpectedly, she heard loud chirping outside.  She ran to the door and meowed. The mommy let her out.

"Over here Mitty, over here," Rita shouted as she flew  gracefully through the air. She circled the large oak tree. "Up here, climb on up. I have something to show you."

Devamını Oku

Brothers Grimm The Twelve Dancing Princesses

There was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters. They slept in twelve beds all in one room and when they went to bed, the doors were shut and locked up. However, every morning their shoes were found to be quite worn through as if they had been danced in all night. Nobody could find out how it happened, or where the princesses had been.
     So the king made it known to all the land that if any person could discover the secret and find out where it was that the princesses danced in the night, he would have the one he liked best to take as his wife, and would be king after his death. But whoever tried and did not succeed, after three days and nights, they would be put to death.
     A king's son soon came. He was well entertained, and in the evening was taken to the chamber next to the one where the princesses lay in their twelve beds. There he was to sit and watch where they went to dance; and, in order that nothing could happen without him hearing it, the door of his chamber was left open. But the king's son soon fell asleep; and when he awoke in the morning he found that the princesses had all been dancing, for the soles of their shoes were full of holes.
     The same thing happened the second and third night and so the king ordered his head to be cut off.
     After him came several others; but they all had the same luck, and all lost their lives in the same way.
     Now it happened that an old soldier, who had been wounded in battle and could fight no longer, passed through the country where this king reigned, and as he was travelling through a wood, he met an old woman, who asked him where he was going.
     'I hardly know where I am going, or what I had better do,' said the soldier; 'but I think I would like to find out where it is that the princesses dance, and then in time I might be a king.'
'Well,' said the old woman, 'that is not a very hard task: only take care not to drink any of the wine which one of the princesses will bring to you in the evening; and as soon as she leaves you pretend to be fast asleep.'
     Then she gave him a cloak, and said, 'As soon as you put that on you will become invisible, and you will then be able to follow the princesses wherever they go.' When the soldier heard all this good advice, he was determined to try his luck, so he went to the king, and said he was willing to undertake the task.
     He was as well received as the others had been, and the king ordered fine royal robes to be given him; and when the evening came he was led to the outer chamber.
     Just as he was going to lie down, the eldest of the princesses brought him a cup of wine; but the soldier threw it all away secretly, taking care not to drink a drop. Then he laid himself down on his bed, and in a little while began to snore very loudly as if he was fast asleep.
     When the twelve princesses heard this they laughed heartily; and the eldest said, 'This fellow too might have done a wiser thing than lose his life in this way!' Then they rose and opened their drawers and boxes, and took out all their fine clothes, and dressed themselves at the mirror, and skipped about as if they were eager to begin dancing.
     But the youngest said, 'I don't know why it is, but while you are so happy I feel very uneasy; I am sure some mischance will befall us.'
     'You simpleton,' said the eldest, 'you are always afraid; have you forgotten how many kings' sons have already watched in vain? And as for this soldier, even if I had not given him his sleeping draught, he would have slept soundly enough.'
When they were all ready, they went and looked at the soldier; but he snored on, and did not stir hand or foot: so they thought they were quite safe.
     Then the eldest went up to her own bed and clapped her hands, and the bed sank into the floor and a trap-door flew open. The soldier saw them going down through the trap-door one after another, the eldest leading the way; and thinking he had no time to lose, he jumped up, put on the cloak which the old woman had given him, and followed them.
     However, in the middle of the stairs he trod on the gown of the youngest princess, and she cried out to her sisters, 'All is not right; someone took hold of my gown.'
     'You silly creature!' said the eldest, 'it is nothing but a nail in the wall.'
     Down they all went, and at the bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees; and the leaves were all of silver, and glittered and sparkled beautifully. The soldier wished to take away some token of the place; so he broke off a little branch, and there came a loud noise from the tree. Then the youngest daughter said again, 'I am sure all is not right -- did not you hear that noise? That never happened before.'
     But the eldest said, 'It is only our princes, who are shouting for joy at our approach.'
     They came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds. And the soldier broke a branch from each; and every time there was a loud noise, which made the youngest sister tremble with fear. But the eldest still said it was only the princes, who were crying for joy.
     They went on till they came to a great lake; and at the side of the lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them, who seemed to be waiting there for the princesses.
One of the princesses went into each boat, and the soldier stepped into the same boat as the youngest. As they were rowing over the lake, the prince who was in the boat with the youngest princess and the soldier said, 'I do not know why it is, but though I am rowing with all my might we do not get on so fast as usual, and I am quite tired: the boat seems very heavy today.'
     'It is only the heat of the weather,' said the princess, 'I am very warm, too.'
     On the other side of the lake stood a fine, illuminated castle from which came the merry music of horns and trumpets. There they all landed, and went into the castle, and each prince danced with his princess; and the soldier, who was still invisible, danced with them too. When any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her, he drank it all up, so that when she put the cup to her mouth it was empty. At this, too, the youngest sister was terribly frightened, but the eldest always silenced her.
     They danced on till three o'clock in the morning, and then all their shoes were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave. The princes rowed them back again over the lake (but this time the soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess); and on the opposite shore they took leave of each other, the princesses promising to come again the next night.
     When they came to the stairs, the soldier ran on before the princesses, and laid himself down. And as the twelve, tired sisters slowly came up, they heard him snoring in his bed and they said, 'Now all is quite safe'. Then they undressed themselves, put away their fine clothes, pulled off their shoes, and went to bed.
     In the morning the soldier said nothing about what had happened, but determined to see more of this strange adventure, and went again on the second and third nights. Everything happened just as before: the princesses danced till their shoes were worn to pieces, and then returned home. On the third night the soldier carried away one of the golden cups as a token of where he had been.
As soon as the time came when he was to declare the secret, he was taken before the king with the three branches and the golden cup; and the twelve princesses stood listening behind the door to hear what he would say.
     The king asked him. 'Where do my twelve daughters dance at night?'
     The soldier answered, 'With twelve princes in a castle underground.' And then he told the king all that had happened, and showed him the three branches and the golden cup which he had brought with him.
     The king called for the princesses, and asked them whether what the soldier said was true and when they saw that they were discovered, and that it was of no use to deny what had happened, they confessed it all.
     So the king asked the soldier which of the princesses he would choose for his wife; and he answered, 'I am not very young, so I will have the eldest.' -- and they were married that very day, and the soldier was chosen to be the king's heir.

Devamını Oku