The Talking Machine

Bubba is a talking machine. He reminds all of the talking heads on the sport network.

In his presence, no one can get a word in or have a serious conversation. He interrupts and blabbers on about all and nothing. A talking machine!

During the dinner one night, while the family is again being bombarded by Bubba’s chatter, Rex, the family dog, starts to bark nonstop. Bubba interjects impatiently: “ Dad, that dog is terribly annoying. I cannot hear myself talk. Can we not get rid of Rex?”

Father replies: “If we got rid of everyone who annoys others in this house, Rex would not be the only one to leave.”

Bubba’s brothers and sisters laugh. Bubba’s face becomes as red as a cherry.

For once the talking machine has nothing to say.

What’s That Noise?

Frédric is a four years old boy.

One night he cannot fall asleep. He has the hiccups.

He is surprised by the movement of his torso and especially by the noise. And so he asks his father, “ Papa, what is making this noise?”

“You have the hiccups, my boy.” replies his father.

“Why?” questions Frédric.

“ I suppose because you are growing.” reassures Papa.

The next morning, Frédric awakens in the best of humors. He cannot wait to tell his sister Fauve, “You know I grew last night. I could tell by the noise it makes.”

Hic! Cup! Hic! Cup! Hic! Cup!

The Rattrap

One day, a young rat saw a funny contraption near the entrance of his abode.

The THING looked like a rectangular box with three holes on top. In each hole a piece of lard was suspended on a string.

“ This must be a RATTRAP,” he told himself. “ My father has strictly prohibited me from entering such devices. He said they were deadly dangerous. So, I will listen to my father. He knows best.”

But the smell of the meat was a temptation hard to resist. And so, the young rat decided to have a closer look. “I will be very careful and only examine it a bit closer.”

One step, two steps, three steps closer and young rat could almost taste the lard. He stretched his neck and with the tip of his muzzle he attempted a n-i-b-b-l-e ….


CLIC, the string broke and VLAM… Our bold young rat was no more. He received the same fate the rattrap reserves for all rats that cannot resist temptation.


Activity: 1. Draw a rattrap as in the story.
2. Using a shoe box, make a rattrap as in the story.
3. Invent your own contraption and build a story around it.

Sweet Chicks

Old Lady Snoopy lives in a small town where neighbors know each other very well. She loves to walk about and look this way and that way just to make sure she knows all that is going on and that everything is in order.

In this small town, people are allowed to have backyard animals. Eve and her family have hens and chicks. Eve has a keen interest in these familiar birds.

One evening, Mrs. Snoopy sees Jacinthe running after the chicks. Mother Hen is in distress. She sends cries of alarm, spreads and flaps her wings and calls to her chicks to come to her.

Eve’s father, attracted by the noise, comes upon the incident and reprimands Eve for scaring the hen and her chicks.

The following evening, Mrs. Snoopy again sees Eve on her way to the henhouse. The birds are again in a panic. Mrs. Snoopy informs Eve’s father.

“Eve, what are you doing?” He asks.

“I was so sorry for scaring the chicks yesterday. I wanted to kiss the little chicks and tell them I meant them no harm.” replies Eve.

Father and Mrs. Snoopy are warmed by Eve’s good heart. But they both warn her that the hen and chicks are by nature very nervous and should be loved from a distance.

Mrs. Snoopy is happy that her curiosity, which is sometimes criticized, has restored order to her small town.

Hector and his Dog

Hector is a charming eight-year-old boy. In class he is very attentive and studious- and successful.

At the end of the school year, his parents give him a lovely dog. Caramel is a golden Labrador.

Hector and Caramel fast become inseparable friends. All summer they spend their time together. They are seen at the Old Mill Park playing ball, jumping, and running. In fact, having a very happy time. Hector laughs and Caramel wags his tail.

On other days, Caramel accompanies Hector on fishing excursions. Along the shore of Blue-Sea Creek, they spent hours waiting for the specked trout to bite. Life could not be better.

In September classes resume. Hector sadly goes back to school. All day Caramel waits for his play companion to return home. For both Hector and Caramel the day is very long.

Even though it is very hard continuing to be a model student, Hector applies himself. After all, Caramel and the perfect summer were the rewards of his diligence.

Cry Baby

Swallow is a little girl. She is five years old. She is usually well behaved. But today she is disobedient.

And so, to punish her, her mother has sent her to her room until she is ready to apologize and behave.

For the past hour, we can hear Swallow crying. Sometimes it’s loud and sometimes one can barely hear it.

After a while, the crying stops.

“So, you are no longer pouting? You are done with your crying?” Asks her mother.

Quite flustered by these questions, Swallow relies in a rough voice, “NO, I am not done, I am just taking a break!”

Julia is Afraid

One evening after sundown, Julia goes to her room to get her favorite doll Lulu. The lights are not turned on in the upstairs hall and bedrooms.

Julia is very hesitant … She does not feel very brave entering the dark bedroom. Nevertheless she advances very slowly.

As she proceeds into the room, she sees two eyes glowing in the dark, at the floor level. Julia is now very afraid and shouts, “ Mama! Mama!”

But before her mother can come to her, something very soft and fluffy rubs against her legs…. Julia suddenly recognizes the familiar feel of her little kitten’s fur.

Julia picks up Fluff Ball in her arms and cuddles him. “My precious kitty, you did give me a fright.”

“Meow, meow,” replies Fluff Ball.

All is forgotten in the warm embrace: Lulu the doll, the darkness and the fright.

Golden Button

Golden Button is a pretty chick with fluffy yellow down. He is adorably cute but very disobedient.

Often he wanders off while his brothers and sisters are taking a nap. Mother Hen notices and calls, “ Cot Cot Cot. Golden Button where are you. Come back now. You could be in danger… Come back. Cot Cot Cot.”

Golden Button lends a deaf ear. He goes off and does not answer his mother’s caution to come back to the safety of the henhouse. He adores his delinquent adventures.

One day, on such an outing, he meets Mister Fox who greets him with a warm and mellow voice. “ Button, Golden Button. It seems you enjoy stimulating adventures? Well, come with me. I will show you things that are rare and amusing.”

Golden Button is so happy with the invitation that without further thought, he follows Mister Fox. They walk for a long, long, L O N G time. Golden Button is getting very tired. He now wants to return to the henhouse, to his Mother Hen. The sun is slowly disappearing on the horizon. The air is getting cooler and night is falling. It is late. IT IS TOO LATE!

Mister Fox grabs Golden Button and in a bite or two he is gone. Fox licks his chops with his long pink tongue happy to have lured this silly chick from the protection of his Mother. With little effort he has made quite a feast.

Back at the henhouse, Mother Hen calls and calls “ Cot, Cot, Cot Golden Button it is time to come home.”

Silence!

Mother Hen will never, never see her Golden Button again.

The Walnut

While playing underneath a walnut tree, Christian and Patrick found a large walnut.

"It is mine", said Christian, " I saw it first. "

"No", replied Patrick, "it is mine, for I picked it up."

This started a quarrel between the two friends. Each wanted to have the nut; both were risking their friendship.

"I will help you reach an amiable solution," said M. White, a neighbor, as he was passing by.

Standing between the two boys, he opened the walnut in two pieces. "Here is a shell for you Patrick and here is a shell for you Christian. As for the nut, I will keep it. It is the price of the advice I have given you."

As he walked away a smiling, M. White added: "It is good that you learn at an early age that most disputes end up this way. The desired prize ends up in the hands of others."




Food for thought:

1. Was the prize worth the price?

2. Does this story remind you of King Solomon’s judgment in the Old Testament?

3. What was the real prize that Christian and Patrick almost lost because of the quarrel over the walnut?




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I’m a Big Boy Now

Matthew is six years old. His Mother buys him a two-piece suit like his father’s. Matthew looks like a little man. He thinks he is one too.

He will not play with Julia, his young sister. "She is just a baby!"

At mealtime, Matthew eats what his Father eats. And all day, he follows his Dad around and imitates him. What joy he takes in doing so; what a wonderful feeling to feel so manly.

When it's time for bed, his Mother tells him, "Tonight Matthew, you will go to bed by yourself." Matthew has big tears in his eyes and starts to sob. With his hands over his face he admits, "I think I am still a little boy. I am not all grown-up yet."

Mother puts him to bed with Hugs & Kisses.
Matthew is not a man yet, but he is a much wiser little boy.




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Visitez http://www.lulu.com/content/851430 pour d’autres historiettes et activités

Visit http://www.lulu.com/content/851430 for more stories and activities