Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. július-december (24. évfolyam, 27-52. szám)
1941-09-25 / 39. szám
Page 3 Verhovayak Lat)}a September 25, 1941 Children’s Page Conducted by AMELIA NYERS HARVEST SONG Gather the harvest now Into the fold, Sweet grapes and ripened grain: Purple and gold. Autumn’s own gifts are these. “THE ONE WHO STUBBED HIS TOE” Did you ever meet a youngster who had been an’ stubbed his toe, An’ was settin’ by the roadside, just a-c,ryin’ soft and low, A-holdin’ of his dusty foot, so hard and brown and bare, Tryin’ to keep from his eyes the tears a-gatherin’ there? You hear him sort o’ sobbin’ like, an’ sniffin’ of his nose; You stop an’ pat him on the head an’ try to ease his woes, You treat him sort o’ kind like, an’ (jrst thing that you know, He’s up and off a-smilin’—clean forgot he’s stubbed his toe. Now, ’long the road of life you’ll find a fellow goin’ slow, An’ likg as not he’s some poor man who’s been and stubbed his toe; He was makin’ swimmin’ headway till he bumped into a stone, An’ his friends kept hurryin’ onward an’ left him there alone; ' He’s not sobbin’, he’s not sniffin’, he’s just too old for cries, But he’s grievin’ just as earnest, if it only comes in sighs. An’ it does a lot of good sometimes to go a little slow, An’ speak a word of comfort to the man who’s stubbed his toe. Today, you’re bright and happy in the world’s sunlight and glow, An’ tomorrow you’re a freezin’ and trudgin’ through the snow. i The time you think you’ve got the world the tightest in your grip Is the very time you’ll find that you’re the likeliest to slip. So it does a lot o’ good sometimes to go a little slow. An’ speak a word o’ comfort to the man who’s stubbed his toe. —Author Unknown. DUSTY DESERT TALES By Louise McKee and Richard Summers Caxton Printers, Ltd. Caldwell, Idaho 192 pages—8 vo. Illustrated « Price $2.50 DUSTY DESERT TALES Is a book of Indian legends. These stories are still told and re-told among the various Indian tribes of the south-west today; and reveal the red man’s trend of thought concerning his religion. Certain tribes have different stories about the creation of the world. Most Indians have always lived a primitive life. Even today, despite the advancement of the white man, the red man continues his ancient habits .and modes of living. ' The government has built many schools for the education of the Indian. Some have adapted themselves to the American way of living; but, there are still some who, in spite of their education in American schools, return to their tribes and take up the pld ways of living. The Indian finds it difficult to give up entirely his heritage. There still exists a love for the legends and myths of his forefathers, tales that are handed down by word of mouth, from one generation to another. These stories are deeply cherished by the Indian not only because of their charm but because they help to explain many of the mysteries about him. Nature has been like an open book to the Indian. He can walk through a forest and read the many wonderful secrets told by the rustling of the leaves and the whispering of the wind. His mind is in close attunement with the Great Spirit. He looks upon animals as being closely related to him. He believes that long ago the animals talked and told many stories. These legends are still repeated among the tribes. The authors, Louise McKee and Richard Summers, take the reader through a charming book of ancient Indian life. The first visit is to the Pima Indians. This tribe lives in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. It is interesting to know that these people still make their houses much as their ancestors did, many, many years ago. There are illustrations in Dusty Desert Tales, showing these buildings. There are nine stories in the book, legends which the Pimas still tell. The next visit is to the Apaches. This tribe also has many wonderful stories to relate concerning the relationship between man and nature. The Hopi Indians are visited next. There is an illustration of a Hopi warrior. His dress is elaborate. There is a photograph of a Kachina doll; also of a group of Indian mothers who entered their babies in a contest. The last visit is to the Yuma Tribe. Although th'ere are only four stories told by this tribe, they are very interesting and charming. Dusty Desert Tales is a book that will delight children who love to read stories of the Indian who once roamed the vast plains of America. The authors, Louise McKee and Richard Summers, gathered the legends from various tribes of the southwest. These they wove into the stories that are told in Dusty Desert Tales. Powell Scott is the artist. The sketches he made for Dusty Desert Tales resulted from research work in the Arizona State museum. Waterbury, Conn., American: “Readers with a special interest in authentic Western Americana will require no higher recommendation of this book than the notation that it is a product of the Caxton’s of Idaho.” Leicester, England, Evening Mail:, “This book, which is excellently produced and well illustrated, is an in- Iteresting record.” Of wealth untold, Kissed by the summer Sun— All yours to hold. From Jasmine Petals A Book of Verse By Hasmick Vartabedian--------------O-------------ZABA IN THE LAND OF WISDOM Zaba was a little boy who lived a long time ago in a faraway country. His father was a good king. He lavished many luxuries upon his son. Zaba had sweetmeats, made of the choicest dates and figs, to eat. He had the finest silks to wear. The best teachers in all the ^and were his tutors. But all this wealth did not make the boy’s character. He constantly demanded attention and flattery. He delighted in teasing and mocking the children of the servants. The children of the royal household also were subjected to his cruelties. As a result of Zaba’s actions, those beneath him feared and disliked him immensely. His own playmates did not like to share their games with him and avoided him whenever it was possible. In spite of Zaba’s unkindness, he was a bright boy. His tutors were amazed at the speed with which he learned his lessons. The king was a just ruler. His heart was heavy because of his son’s arrogance. Often he spoke sadly to the tutors concerning Zaba’s future. “Perhaps your Majesty has been too indulgent with the boy,” Jappa, ' one of the teachers, said. “If we were to take him away from all this .wealth and teach him the simple ways of living, he might learn to be wise and just,” Zarfa, the second teacher, said. “I know of a land far away, where all students who desire wisdom, go in search of knowledge. It is a great mountainous country. I’m sure the boy’s character could be molded there,” Fari, the third teacher, said. “Very well,” the king decided. “Tomorrow morning Zaba will leave with you. May your journey be pleasant and fruitful.” The wise tutors and Zaba reached the strange land after many days of travel. The boy was pleased with the change. Nature was now his teacher, and he learned many things. Soon he learned to speak the language of the birds. They told him many wonderful things of the forest. But one day Zaba grew tired of his little feathered friends and rudely sent them away. “The boy has not yet learned kindness, Jappa said, sadly. Zaba’s new friends were some lion cubs he found in the jungle. Their mother had been captured by hunters. Zaba took the cubs to raise. They were gentle. The boy fed them meat and they thrived. He liked the feel of their soft fur against his cheeks when he fondled them. However, he soon tired of the little animals and took them back to. the jungle. “Not yet has he learned kindness,” Zarfa said, sadly. The boy was a brilliant scholar, but he too soon tired of his lessons. For a while he refused to study. He liked to lie in the cool shade and watch the white clouds pass by. He was amused by their fantastic shapes, now a flock of sheep: then, a large ship sailing through the blue sky-sea. Suddenly Zaba grew drowsy. He closed his eyes and went asleep. He dreamed the cloud-ship sailed again. Then he was surprised to find himself on board the ship. The captain told him a story of The Land of Wisdom, where knowledge was learned without any effort at all on the part of the student. Zaba laughed so loudly in his dream that he was awakened by the sound of his own voice. • He told his dream to the tutors. “He was such a