Mousedeer

By Charles Bryce

A children’s favourite in Southeast Asia for 1000 years, the little Mousedeer outsmarts jungle bullies. Each of the ten stories is self-contained, and authentic to the tradition of imparting correct behaviour. As every Mum knows, a child needs guidance. The well-proven method of centuries is employed here, read-aloud fun. Ages 4 and up.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darling Newspaper Press
• Release date: May 17, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452309675

Charles Bryce

A lifelong journalist and observer of humanity. Born in Glasgow, Scotland. Former editor of The Borneo Bulletin newspaper, editor with Reuters in London, founder and editor of The Darling Newspaper in Western Australia. Memoirs include Bugles At Sunset (twilight of the Raj) and Gone To Bed (pioneering the suburban newspaper in Western Australia).

Book preview

MOUSEDEER

by Charles Bryce

Small but smart,

the mousedeer outwits jungle bullies

isbn 9781452309675

Smashwords edition licence notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

These tales are traditional in

the forests of Southeast Asia.

They were collected, revised

and rewritten by the author

from oral sources.

Recommended for read-aloud

to children aged 4-7.

© copyright Charles Bryce

First published by Darling Newspaper Press 2009

in digital format.

Darling Newspaper Press

http://www.booktaste.com

[e-mail]

COVER IMAGE by DICK DE WILDE

The Greedy Giant

DEEP in the forest comes a breeze. Hush! Hear it whisper: The trees seem to be saying All bow to the hero, greatest of them all.

Is it the biggest animal? No. Not an elephant.

Is it the fiercest animal? No. Not a tiger.

Is it the meanest, the most feared, the terror of the jungle? No. Not a crocodile with big teeth, nor a snake with poisonous fangs, nor a buffalo snorting and shaking its horns. It is Mousedeer, no bigger than a lamb.

Here he is: Mousedeer the small, Mousedeer the brave, also known as Mousedeer the clever. And, for all these reasons, he is famous everywhere and rides a white rhinoceros.

The white rhinoceros is feared for her great strength. She is also bad tempered and had to be talked into carrying Mousedeer on her back.

Give me a ride and I will show you to the sweetest grass to eat, Mousedeer told her. And I will lead you to the coolest trees to shelter from the hot sun.

So the little one got his way, but Mousedeer was a bit of a trickster. Yes he would take the rhinoceros to sweet grass and cool trees, but in that place was a nasty giant. Mousedeer wanted to arrive in grand style by riding the rhinoceros to impress the other animals. Otherwise, they would not let him fight the cruel giant, who was knocking down trees and trampling their homes under his big feet.

This giant, whose name was Greedy, had come down from the highest mountain to bully the jungle creatures.

I will steal your food, he shouted at them. Everything is now mine. The frightened forest creatures ran away. They bellowed or grunted or chirped but all meant the same thing: He is too big, we cannot stop him!

The giant shouted: I will take over the river. All mine. You are not allowed to drink. He tore trees apart with his bare hands and snarled. See how I destroy the place where you live. He was a very bad giant.

I can fight him, said Mr Buffalo. I will snort at him and show how angry I am and chase him away with my sharp horns.

So the sharp-horned buffalo went to fight the giant. The ground began to tremble. Here he comes, said the others and ran away.

Crack, crash, wallop! The tallest trees were squashed like grass beneath the feet of the giant. The brave buffalo faced the invader as the big head appeared high above.

Go away, snorted Mr Buffalo. Go back to your mountain or I will charge at you with my sharp horns.

"Ha-ha-ha, with one finger I