They were for dinner.

Little Vanya had never tasted plums in all his life and was very curious. First he sniffed the fruit, wrinkled his nose at the pleasing smell, and decided he liked them very much. Dinnertime was still a long way off and Vanya could not wait.

As soon as he was alone in the dining room, he seized a big plum and ate it quickly.

When dinnertime came, Mother counted the plums and noticed that one was missing. She informed Father.

The whole family sat around the table to eat and, in the course of the meal, Father asked, “Now then, children, have any of you eaten a plum?”

Each child answered in turn: “No”

But Vanya turned as red as a lobster.

Then Father said, “It is wrong to steal a plum; but that’s not all. You see, plums have stones and if you swallow a stone you’ll die. That’s what really bothers me.”

This time Vanya went as pale as a sheet.

“No, no,” he stuttered. “I threw the stone out of the window”

At that everyone laughed.

Poor Vanya burst into tears.

BETTER TO BE LEAN
AND FREE THAN PLUMP
AND CHAINED

A lean and hungry wolf came prowling by a village one frosty morning when he met a dog, sleek and well fed.

“Tell me, Cousin,” said the wolf, “how is it you’re so plump?”

“People feed me,” said the dog.

“Is that so?” said the wolf in amazement. “And is your job hard in earning your keep?”

“Oh no,” replied the dog. “All I do is guard the farmyard at night”

“And you get food for that?” asked the wolf “If that’s all there is to it, I’ll join you. You’ve no idea how tough it is to find food in the wild”

“The Master is sure to feed you well,” said the dog.

Eagerly licking his lips, the wolf set off with the dog to serve people. But just as the two animals were entering the yard, the wolf noticed a bald patch on the dog’s neck.

“Hold on, Cousin,” he exclaimed. “How did you come to lose your fur?”

“The chain rubbed it away . . . You see, for most of the day and night I’m chained to a post.”

“Then farewell to you, my poor Cousin,” called the wolf as he ran off. “I’ve changed my mind about serving people after all. I may go hungry, but I prefer to be lean and free than plump and chained”

A YOUNG BOY’S STORY
OF HOW HE DID NOT
GO TO TOWN

Dad was going off to town.

“’Dad, take me with you,” I said. But he shook his head. “You’ll freeze there. Stay home”

I turned around, burst into tears, and hid in the scullery I cried and cried until I fell asleep.

In my dream I see a small path leading from our village to the chapel, and I see Dad walking along this path. So I catch up to him and off we go together to the city As I go I see a chimney smoking ahead of us. So I say,

“Dad, is that the city?“

And he says,

“That’s it.”

Then we reach the chimney and I see them baking crusty rolls.

“Please, Dad, buy me a roll,” I say

So he does and gives it to me.

Then I woke up, put on my sandals and gloves and went outside. I could see my friends on the Ice slides and sleds. I started to slide, too, and went on sliding until I was frozen stiff I had only just got back home and climbed on top of the stove, when I heard Dad back from town. That cheered me up.

I jumped down and said, “Hello, Dad, did you buy me a crusty roll?”

“I did,” he said, handing it over.

I hopped onto the bench and began to dance with joy.

DEW UPON THE GRASS

When upon a sunny summer’s morning you go to the woods or fields, you may find diamonds among the grass. Those diamonds all sparkle and glitter in the sun with different colors — yellows and reds and blues. As you come nearer and take a closer look, however, you see it is really dewdrops caught in triangular blades of grass, glittering in the sunshine.

On the inside the blade of grass is as mossy and fluffy as velvet, and the droplets roll down it without leaving a wet mark.

If you’re not careful in plucking a dewy blade, the droplet may cascade like a bright marble and disappear off the end of the stem before you notice it. Sometimes you can pick a tiny cup, put it slowly to your mouth, and drink the dew. That dew is sweeter than any drink in the world.

UNCLE JACOB’S DOG

Uncle Jacob was a watchman, that is to say he kept the village safe from wolves and bears. And he had a good helper in Old Bob — his shaggy dog with a white nose and large brown eyes.

Once, Uncle Jacob went into the forest for wood.