The Golden Touch The Milkmaid and Her Pail
The Greek king Midas did a good deed for a Satyr. Molly, the milkmaid’s job was to milk the cows and
This prompted Dionysus, the god of wine, to grant sell the milk at the market. She started thinking about
him a wish. Midas asked for everything he touched to the things she would spend her money on. While
turn to gold. Dionysus’ warned him not to do so, but walking to the market, she spotted a chicken and
Midas could not be swayed. Midas excitedly started thought that she could earn more money by buying a
touching everything and turning them into gold. chicken and selling its eggs. She started to think how
Soon, he became hungry. But he couldn’t eat jealous she could make the other milkmaid with all
anything because even his food turned to gold. His the things she could buy from the milk and egg
beloved daughter saw him in distress and ran to hug money. She started to skip in excitement, and soon
him. However, she, too, turned to gold. He realised the milk spilled over. She went home with empty
then the golden touch was not a blessing. pails and no money. Her mother then reminds her
that she shouldn’t count her chicken until they hatch.
Moral: Greed leads one to downfall.
Moral: Do not depend on something until you are
sure it will happen.
Elephant and Friends
The Needle Tree
A lonely elephant was looking for friends in the
forest. The monkey declined to be the elephant’s There were two brothers; the older one was
friend because the elephant could not swing in the always mean to the younger one. The older
trees. The rabbit turned the elephant because it was one would chop firewood in the forest and sell
too big to fit in the burrow. The frog refused to be the it in the market. One day, he stumbled across
elephant’s friend because it could not jump. Every
a magical tree. The tree begged him not to
other animal said no to the poor elephant. The next
cut him down and promised him golden
day, all the animals in the forest were running away
apples in exchange. The older brother felt
in fear. The elephant stopped a bear who said that
disappointed with the number of apples he
the tiger was attacking them all. The elephant nicely
received. He decided to cut down the tree
asked the tiger to stop, but the tiger told the elephant
anyway, but the tree showered him with
to stay out of the way. The elephant proceeded to
hundreds of needles. The boy was left lying on
kick the tiger and scare it away. The other animals
the forest ground in pain. His younger brother
then realised that the elephant was the perfect size
finally found him and carefully took out every
to be their friend.
needle. The older brother finally apologised
Moral: Friends can be any shape or size. for treating his brother badly. The magical
tree saw this exchange. It decided to give on my hide.
them more golden apples. No cat I remember
dislikes December
Moral: Kindness will always be rewarded.
inside.
Cat MY CAT IS FAT
BY MARILYN SINGER BY JAMES MCDONALD
I prefer
I’ve a cat named Vesters,
warm fur,
And he eats all day.
a perfect fire
He always lays around,
to lie beside,
And never wants to play.
a cozy lap
where I can nap,
Not even with a squeaky toy,
an empty chair
Nor anything that moves.
when she's not there.
When I have him exercise,
I want heat
He always disapproves.
on my feet
on my nose
So we’ve put him on a diet, near
But now he yells all day. I might even
hear
And even though he’s thinner,
his heart beat—
He still won’t come and play. but never
his quiet
feet.
On Quiet Feet Tiny Little Snowflakes
BY NIKKI GRIMES by Lucy Larcom
When my dad walks
into a room, Tiny little snowflakes,
or down In the air so high,
the street, Are you little angels,
he inches
Floating in the sky?
up on me
silent Robed so white and spotless,
as shadow, Flying like a dove,
and I don't know
Are you little creatures,
he's there
until I feel From the world above?
his hug.
Sometimes Whirling on the sidewalk,
when he is Dancing in the street,
Kissing all the faces
Of the children sweet,
Loading all the housetops,
Powdering all the trees,—
Cunning little snowflakes,
