Yesterday's Stories in Rhyme for Today's Children

By Larry Burgdorf

One of the wonderful things about being a child is enjoying a lively imagination. One can be transported into a different time-frame or to interesting, exciting places--real or imaginary. Especially appealing to those in this category are the classic tales of old, which have withstood the test of time and which overlap many generations. Fortunate also are those no-longer-children who still have a sense of wonder and excitement generated by the same things that stirred their imagination and delighted them when they were young. These emotions vary greatly in their complexity and understanding, but the same delightful effect remains.

So, to all children everywhere--regardless of age--I dedicate these verses in the hope that a poetic version of the old familiar tales will encourage or renew a sense of discovery and deep satisfaction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jul 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645367055

Larry Burgdorf

Larry Burgdorf served in the ministry for 35 years, after which he directed a major charitable foundation, traveling extensively, especially in areas affected by the fall of the Soviet Union. He retired from this activity after 27 years and now is able to spend more time with his family including many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He has authored a dozen children's books.

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About the Author

Larry Burgdorf served in the ministry for 35 years, after which he directed a major charitable foundation, traveling extensively, especially in areas affected by the fall of the Soviet Union. He retired from this activity after 27 years and now is able to spend more time with his family including many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He has authored a dozen children’s books.

About the Book

One of the wonderful things about being a child is enjoying a lively imagination. One can be transported into a different time-frame or to interesting, exciting places—real or imaginary. Especially appealing to those in this category are the classic tales of old, which have withstood the test of time and which overlap many generations.

Fortunate also are those no-longer-children who still have a sense of wonder and excitement generated by the same things that stirred their imagination and delighted them when they were young. These emotions vary greatly in their complexity and understanding, but the same delightful effect remains.

So, to all children everywhere—regardless of age—I dedicate these verses in the hope that a poetic version of the old familiar tales will encourage or renew a sense of discovery and deep satisfaction.

Dedication

To my great-grandchildren, whose enthusiasm for the poetic stories in this book greatly contributed to a decision to publish them.

Copyright Information

Copyright © Larry Burgdorf (2019)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales: special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Burgdorf, Larry

Yesterday’s Stories in Rhyme for Today’s Children

ISBN 9781643781280 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781643781297 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645367055 (ePub e-book)

The main category of the book — JUVENILE FICTION/ Nursery Rhymes

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019907969

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10005USA

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Section One

Androcles and the Lion

There was a slave named Androcles

Who used all his abilities

To flee his master and to take

A chance he saw for an escape.

It was a dang’rous thing to do;

If he were caught, his life was through.

His master probably would see

That he would pay the penalty.

Most slaves who ran and then were caught

Would quickly wish that they were not.

They might be whipped or even killed

If that is what their masters willed.

The penalty he’d likely pay

Would take his very life away.

His master wasn’t of the kind

To have a tender-hearted mind.

For now, brave Androcles was free

And thought where he would want to be.

A forest was not far away—

He thought, That’s a safe place to stay.

It seemed to be a well-thought plan,

So off into the woods he ran.

The brush and trees were thick, and so

His progress there was very slow.

Here he felt safe and that was good,

So he went farther in the wood.

As he went on, he heard a sound

That came from somewhere close around.

He thought it sounded like a groan,

Then came a pitiful, loud moan.

He saw there was a lion there

With a sore paw up in the air.

He almost ran but then he saw

The bad infection in the paw.

He noticed a great big, sharp thorn.

That’s why the paw was pierced and torn.

He carefully went up to him,

Pulled out the thorn and wrapped the limb.

That lion was one grateful cat—

One day he’d show Androcles that.

For some time Androcles had thrived,

But then a fateful day arrived.

A band of soldiers captured him

Which made his future outlook dim.

His master sentenced him to die.

He had a special plan whereby;

He’d gain the favor of the king,

Who dearly loved to see one thing.

He liked to see wild, fearsome beasts

Catch human beings for their feasts.

So in the coliseum’s cage,

Some wild, fierce beasts would roar and rage.

He gathered a huge audience

To see the special day’s events.

The emperor (who was the king)

Sat down to watch this special thing.

Poor Androcles was forced to be

In center stage where all could see.

Then they’d release a roaring beast

Who’d come and kill him for his feast!

They’d starve the beast for many a day

So he’d be hungry for his prey.

And when they opened the trapdoor,

A lion charged out with a roar!

The crowd all stood and sent a cheer—

They cheered the lion, it was clear—

But then the lion stopped dead still!

He didn’t jump in for the kill!

Androcles saw it was his friend,

The one whose pain he’d helped to end.

The lion licked Androcles’ hand

To show that he did understand.

To show his love would never end,

Androcles tightly hugged his friend.

The crowd that started out so mild…

By now was simply going wild.

This time they cheered for Androcles…

They’d never seen such things as these.

The king then had Androcles come

To tell him how these things were done.

Androcles told him ev’rything,

And this immensely pleased the king.

He freed brave Androcles, and then

They turned the lion free again.

The Hare and the Tortoise

One day a hare told everyone

How very swiftly he could run.

He bragged and bragged and said real loud,

I can beat anyone in the crowd.

He seemed to have a special need

To talk about his blazing speed.

He laughed at a poor tortoise there,

Who was much slower than the hare.

The tortoise said, "I challenge you

To have a race—just me and you."

The hare then laughed both loud and long,

How could the tortoise be so wrong!?

OK, he said, "We’ll have a race;

I’ll really put you in your place."

They both agreed how far they’d run,

And where they’d be when it was done.

And so they started off that day;

The hare was laughing all the way.

He quickly was so far ahead.

He stopped to play a while instead.

Then he was tired after play,

And stopped to rest upon some hay.

I am ahead about a mile,

He thought, I’ll sleep a little while.

He woke and looked both left and right—

The tortoise still was not in sight.

He thought, I’ll finish up this race

And get the prize for that first place.

He ran like lightning to the goal,

But right there at the finish pole,

Something amazed that cocky hare—

The tortoise was already there!

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

A shepherd boy