The Story-teller

By Maud Lindsay

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "The Story-teller" by Maud Lindsay. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DigiCat
• Release date: Jul 31, 2022
• ISBN: 8596547138167

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Maud Lindsay

The Story-teller

EAN 8596547138167

DigiCat, 2022

Contact: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

THE STORIES

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE STORY-TELLER

THE TWO BROTHERS

THE JAR OF ROSEMARY

THE PROMISE

A Christmas Wonder Story for Older Children

THE HARPER'S SONG

THE PLATE OF PANCAKES

LITTLE MAID HILDEGARDE

FIVE BRAVE KNIGHTS

THE APPLE DUMPLING

THE KING'S SERVANT

THE GREAT WHITE BEAR

THE SONG THAT TRAVELED

THE SONG THAT TRAVELED

THE QUEST FOR THE NIGHTINGALE

THE MAGIC FLOWER

THE LIONS IN THE WAY

THE END

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

I

t was a glad day in the olden time when the Story-Teller came to cottage or hall. At Christmas, or New Year; when the May-pole stood on the village green; or the chestnuts were roasting in the coals on All-hallows eve; come when he would, he was always welcome; and if, when he was least expected, he knocked at the door, what joy there was!

Many were the miles that the Story-Teller had traveled, and many were the places where he had been; and many were the tales he had to tell of what he had seen and what he had heard in the wide world.

Sometimes his voice was deep and sweet as the organ in church on Sunday; and sometimes it rang out clear as a bugle; and sometimes as the tale went on he would take the harp which was ever by his side, and touching it with skilful fingers, would weave a gay little song or a tender strain of music into his story, like a jeweled thread in a golden web.

All the children gathered around him, sturdy Gilbert and rosy Jocelyn, roguish Giles and slender Rosalind, eager for a story. Mother and father drew near, and in the background stood the servants, smiling but silent. Oh, everything was still as the house at midnight as the Story-Teller began his magic words: Once upon a time.

Perhaps the story brought with it laughter, or perhaps a tear, but Life, said the Story-Teller, is made up of smiles and tears; and the little ones, listening to him, learned to rejoice with those whose joy was great, and to mourn with the sorrowful; and were the better and not the worse for it. And so in due time grew into noble men and good women.

It is many and many a year since they lived and died; but still—knock, knock, knock—the Story-Teller comes with his harp and his story to every child's heart to-day.

Open the door and let him come in, give him a seat by the fire and gather close about him. And then you shall hear!

Maud Lindsay.

Sheffield, Alabama.

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THE STORIES

Table of Contents

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ILLUSTRATIONS

Table of Contents

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THE STORY-TELLER

Table of Contents

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THE TWO BROTHERS

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O

nce upon a time there lived two brothers, who, when they were children, were so seldom apart that those who saw one always looked for the other at his heels.

But when they had grown to manhood, and the time had come when they must make their own fortunes, the elder brother said to the younger:

Choose as you will what you shall do, and God bless your choice; but as for me I shall make haste to the court of the king, for nothing will satisfy me but to serve him and my country.

Good fortune and a blessing go with you, said the younger brother. I, too, should like to serve my country and the king, but I have neither words nor wit for a king's court. To hammer a shoe from the glowing iron while the red fire roars and the anvil rings—this is the work that I do best, and I shall be a blacksmith, even as my father was before me.

So