Third Grade Read Aloud Banquet



Songs for July




Elf and Dormouse

Under a toadstool

Crept a wee Elf,

Out of the rain

To shelter himself.


Under the toadstool,

Sound asleep,

Sat a big Dormouse

All in a heap.


Trembled the wee Elf

Frightened, and yet

Fearing to fly away

Lest he get wet.


To the next shelter

Maybe a mile

Sudden the wee Elf

Smiled a wee smile.


Tugged till the toadstool

Toppled in two

Holding it over him

Gayly he flew.


Soon he was safe home,

Dry as could be.

Soon woke the Dormouse

"Good gracious me!


Where is my toadstool!"

Loud he lamented,

And that's how umbrellas

First were invented.


  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Week 44 A Compensation from Heidi by Johanna Spyri Story of the Battle of Bannockburn from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Following the Deer (Part 2 of 6) from Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long The Death of Robin Hood from Stories of Robin Hood Told to the Children by H. E. Marshall Two Famous Admirals from The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge The Flax from Fairy Tales Too Good To Miss—Aboard the Ship by Lisa M. Ripperton The New Temple on Mount Moriah from Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
The Caliph and the Gardener from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin Sir Talis from Holiday Hill by Edith M. Patch Daniel Webster (Part 4 of 5) from Four Great Americans by James Baldwin The Frog and the Mouse from The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter Daedalus and Icarus from A Child's Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price A Look at a House-Fly from Seaside and Wayside, Book Two by Julia McNair Wright "Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears" (Part 2 of 3) from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Indian Summer by John Greenleaf Whittier Thoughts by Sara Teasdale Gaelic Lullaby, Anonymous The Frost Spirit by John Greenleaf Whittier Poem by Rachel Field Indian Summer by John Greenleaf Whittier How the Leaves Came Down by Susan Coolidge
Week 45 Winter in Dorfli from Heidi by Johanna Spyri Edward III of Windsor—The Battle of Sluys from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Following the Deer (Part 3 of 6) from Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long The Early Home of Joan from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe De Ruyter from The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge Molly Whuppie from Fairy Tales Too Good To Miss—Aboard the Ship by Lisa M. Ripperton The Beautiful Queen of Persia (Part 1 of 2) from Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
The Cowherd Who Became a Poet from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin The Vase and the Plume from Holiday Hill by Edith M. Patch Daniel Webster (Part 5 of 5) from Four Great Americans by James Baldwin The Fox and the Crab from The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter Diana and Actaeon from A Child's Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price How To Look at a Fly from Seaside and Wayside, Book Two by Julia McNair Wright "Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears" (Part 3 of 3) from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Splendor Falls by Alfred Lord Tennyson From Auguries of Innocence by William Blake November by Alice Cary ---NOVEMBER--- Sunday from Poems by Rachel Lyman Field The Tiger by William Blake Jack Frost by Hannah Flagg Gould
Week 46 The Winter Continues from Heidi by Johanna Spyri Edward III of Windsor—The Battle of Crecy from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Following the Deer (Part 4 of 6) from Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long The First Call from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe The Founder of Pennsylvania from The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge How One Turned His Trouble to Some Account from Fairy Tales Too Good To Miss—Aboard the Ship by Lisa M. Ripperton The Beautiful Queen of Persia (Part 2 of 2) from Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
The Lover of Men from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin Port of Elm from Holiday Hill by Edith M. Patch Abraham Lincoln (Part 1 of 4) from Four Great Americans by James Baldwin The Serpent and the Eagle from The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter Pegasus and Bellerophon from A Child's Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price Mrs. Fly and Her Foes from Seaside and Wayside, Book Two by Julia McNair Wright The Return of Ulysses (Part 1 of 3) from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
I Live for Those Who Love Me by G. Linnaeus Banks Rain at Night by Sara Teasdale The Pig and the Hen by Alice Cary The Owl by Alfred Lord Tennyson At the Bank from Poems by Rachel Lyman Field Robin Hood and the Ranger, Anonymous Come, Little Leaves by George Cooper
Week 47 News from Distant Friends from Heidi by Johanna Spyri Edward III of Windsor—The Siege of Calais from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Following the Deer (Part 5 of 6) from Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long The Journey to Chinon from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe The Pilgrim's Progress from The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge Little Freddy with His Fiddle from Fairy Tales Too Good To Miss—Aboard the Ship by Lisa M. Ripperton The Scribe Who Wrote the Old Testament from Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
The Charcoal Man and the King from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin Junco from Holiday Hill by Edith M. Patch Abraham Lincoln (Part 2 of 4) from Four Great Americans by James Baldwin The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing from The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter Phaeton and the Chariot of the Sun from A Child's Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price Of What Use Are Flies from Seaside and Wayside, Book Two by Julia McNair Wright The Return of Ulysses (Part 2 of 3) from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Ghost Fairies by Frank Dempster Sherman Stars by Sara Teasdale Don't Give Up by Phœbe Cary The Sandman by Margaret Vandegrift Fog from Poems by Rachel Lyman Field Thanksgiving by Amelia Barr Thanksgiving Day by Lydia Maria Child
Week 48 How Life Went On at Grandfather's from Heidi by Johanna Spyri Edward III of Windsor—The Battle of Poitiers from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Following the Deer (Part 6 of 6) from Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long The Siege of Orleans from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe The House of Orange from The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge The Wild Swans from Fairy Tales Too Good To Miss—Aboard the Ship by Lisa M. Ripperton The Nobleman Who Built the Wall of Jerusalem from Hurlbut's Story of the Bible by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
Which was the King? from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin Little Snowshoes from Holiday Hill by Edith M. Patch Abraham Lincoln (Part 3 of 4) from Four Great Americans by James Baldwin The Bull and the Goat from The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter Atalanta and Hippomenes from A Child's Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales by Margaret Evans Price A Swarm of Flies from Seaside and Wayside, Book Two by Julia McNair Wright The Return of Ulysses (Part 3 of 3) from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt To Winter by William Blake A Canadian Folk-Song by William Wilfred Campbell The First Snowfall by James Russell Lowell The Elf Tree from Poems by Rachel Lyman Field The Inchcape Rock by Robert Southey King Bruce by Eliza Cook
Week 49 Something Unexpected Happens from Heidi by Johanna Spyri Richard II of Bordeaux—Wat Tyler's Rebellion from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Kringle Valley from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Coronation at Rheims from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe Whitefoot Goes Astray from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Awakening of Tuktu from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Great Mill from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess
The Golden Tripod from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin Tuktu and Aklak from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess Abraham Lincoln (Part 4 of 4) from Four Great Americans by James Baldwin Tuktu's Soft Heart from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess Lost in the Fog from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess Some Queer Flies from Seaside and Wayside, Book Two by Julia McNair Wright The Good Spirit from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess
Why Does It Snow? by Laura E. Richards For Christmas by Rachel Lyman Field Old Winter by Thomas Noel Ceremonies for Christmas by Robert Herrick City Lights from Poems by Rachel Lyman Field While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night by Nahum Tate Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Week 50 "Good-bye Till We Meet Again" from Heidi by Johanna Spyri How King Richard Lost His Throne from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Tuktu Tells Her Story from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Siege of Paris from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe The Deer People from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Wilful Young Deer from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess When the World Was Young from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess
The Chosen Deer from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess Tuktu's Happy Thought from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess How It Happened from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller Christmas on the Prairie from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller The Legend of the Christmas Rose from Legends and Stories of Italy by Amy Steedman A Droll Santa Claus from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller How a Bear Brought Christmas from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller
Christmas Song by Eugene Field How Far Is It to Bethlehem? by Frances Chesterton Bundles by John Farrar The Friendly Beasts, Anonymous A Catch by the Hearth from Poems, Anonymous The Unbroken Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night by Nahum Tate
Week 51 The First Reindeer from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess Henry IV of Bolingbroke—Battle of Shrewsbury from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall Tuktu and Aklak Have a Secret from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Capture of the Maid from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe The Round-Up from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Christmas Story from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Great Temptation from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess
Christmas under the Snow from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller Little Spot and Tuktu Dream from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Christmas at Greccio: A Story of St. Francis from Christmas in Legend and Story: A Book for Boys and Girls by Elva S. Smith Carol's Good Will from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller Out of an Ash-Barrel from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller How a Toboggan Brought Fortune from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller The Telltale Tile from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller
An Old Christmas Greeting, Anonymous A Christmas Folk-Song by Lizette Woodworth Reese Cradle Hymn by Martin Luther A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore Bethlehem of Judea from Poems, Anonymous As I Sat Under a Sycamore Tree, Anonymous As Joseph Was A-Walking, Anonymous
Week 52 Attacked by Wolves from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Story of How Prince Hal Was Sent to Prison from Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall The Christmas Invitation from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Martyr Maid of France from The Beautiful Story of Joan of Arc by Viola Ruth Lowe The Christmas Vision from The Christmas Reindeer by Thornton W. Burgess The Wooden Shoes of Little Wolff from Good Stories for Great Holidays by Frances Jenkins Olcott The Golden Cobwebs from How To Tell Stories to Children and Some Stories To Tell by Sara Cone Bryant
The Birds' Christmas Tree from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller How the Horse Told from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller The Cat's Charm from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller May's Happy Thought from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller The Magic Figure from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller Christmas in the Alley from Kristy's Christmas Surprise by Olive Thorne Miller The Tailor of Gloucester from The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
Santa Claus and the Mouse by Emilie Poulsson Christmas Carol by Sara Teasdale The Holly by Edith King The New Year by Dinah Mulock The Joy of Giving from Poems by John Greenleaf Whittier The Glad New Year by Mary Mapes Dodge Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Week 53              
             
             
Week 54              
             
             
Week 55              
             
             
Week 56              
             
             
Week 57              
             
             
Week 58              
             
             
Week 59              
             
             
Week 60              
             
             
Week 61              
             
             
Week 62              
             
             
Week 63              
             
             
Week 64              
             
             
Week 65              
             
             
Week 66              
             
             
Week 67              
             
             
Week 68              
             
             
Week 69              
             
             
Week 70              
             
             
Week 71              
             
             
Week 72              
             
             
Week 73              
             
             
Week 74              
             
             
Week 75              
             
             
Week 76              
             
             
Week 77              
             
             
Week 78              
             
             
Week 79              
             
             
Week 80              
             
             
Week 81              
             
             
Week 82              
             
             
Week 83              
             
             
Week 84              
             
             
Week 85              
             
             
Week 86              
             
             
Week 87              
             
             
Week 88              
             
             
Week 89              
             
             
Week 90              
             
             
Week 91              
             
             
Week 92              
             
             
Week 93              
             
             
Week 94              
             
             
Week 95              
             
             
First row Previous row          Next row Last row
READING-LITERATURE: Third Reader  by Harriette Taylor Treadwell

The Ugly Duckling

It was glorious out in the country. Cornfields were waving, oats were green, and hay stood in great stacks in the meadows. Beyond the fields and meadows were great forests and pools of water. On a sunny slope stood a pleasant old farmhouse, and near it flowed a little stream of water. At the water's edge grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand under them. The spot was as wild as the middle of a deep woods.

In this snug place sat a duck upon her nest watching for her young brood to hatch. At last one eggshell after another cracked open. And from each egg a little duckling stuck out its head and cried, "Peep, peep!"

"Quack! quack!" said the mother, and out they came as fast as they could. Then the mother let them look about as much as they liked, for green is good for the eyes.

"How big the world is!" said the little ducklings.

"Do you think this is all the world?" asked the mother. "Wait till you get to the garden. The big world extends far beyond it. Are you all out of your shells? No, the largest egg is still unbroken." So she sat down again.

"Well, how goes it?" asked an old duck who came to pay her a visit.

"There is one egg that will not hatch," said the duck, "but only look at the other ducklings. They look just like their father."

"Let me see the egg that will not hatch," said the visitor. "It must be a turkey's egg. The little turkey will not go into the water, and it will give you trouble. Take my advice and leave it."

"I think I will sit on it a little longer," said the mother duck. "A few days will not matter much."

At last the great egg cracked. "Peep! peep!" said the duckling, and out it tumbled. Oh, how large and ugly it was!

"Can it really be a turkey chick?" said the mother. "We shall see when we get to the water."

Next day the mother duck went down to the water with all her little ones. She jumped into the water with a splash. "Quack! quack!" she cried, and one duckling after another plunged in. The water closed over their heads, but they all came up again. They swam about very prettily and the ugly gray duckling swam with them.

"No, he is not a turkey," said the mother. "Look how well he can use his legs. He is my own child, and he's not so very ugly."

"Quack! quack! Come with me now," said the mother. "I will lead you out into the great world and introduce you to the farmyard. But keep close to me, so that no one can step on you."

"Bow your heads before that old duck yonder, she is the grandest duck here. See, she has a red rag around her leg. That is a great honor. Come, now, don't turn your toes in. A well-bred duck turns its toes out, just like father and mother. Now bend your necks and say, Quack!"

They did as they were told, but the other ducks said, "Look, here comes another brood, and how ugly that one is! We don't want him here." Then one of the ducks, flew at the ugly duckling and bit him in the neck.

"Let him alone," said the mother; "he is doing no harm."

"But he is so ugly," said the duck who had bitten him. "He must be turned out."

"Those are pretty children that the mother has there," said the old duck with the rag around her leg. "They are all pretty but that one. He has not turned out well."

"He is not pretty, but he is a good child," said his mother, "and he swims as well as the others. I may even say he swims better. I think he will grow up to be pretty. He stayed too long in the egg." And she stroked his neck and smoothed his feathers.

When the turkey cock saw the duckling he blew himself up like a ship in full sail, and gobbled and grew quite red. The poor little duckling did not know what to do. The ducks bit him, and the hens pecked him.

The duckling was very unhappy and at last ran away. He flew over the hedge, and frightened the little birds in the bushes.

"They are afraid of me because I am so ugly," thought the duckling. Then he flew on farther and came to a moor where some wild ducks lived.

"What sort of duck are you?" they asked, coming around him.

The little duckling turned in every direction and bowed as well as he knew how.

"You are really very ugly," said the wild ducks, and they swam away.

Poor duckling, how lonely he was! He lay among the reeds and drank some of the water of the moor.

At last there came two wild geese who had not been long out of the egg. That is why they were so saucy.

"Listen, friend," said one of them, "you are so ugly that I like you. Will you come with me and be a bird of passage? Not far from here is another moor, in which there are some pretty wild geese. It is a chance for you to get a wife, ugly as you are."

Bang! bang! and the geese fell dead in the swamp. Bang! bang! and whole flocks of wild geese rose up from the reeds. A great hunt was going on. The hunters lay hidden all around. Some were even sitting on the branches of the trees. The hunting dogs came splash! splash! into the swamp, and the rushes and reeds bent down on every side.

That was a fright for the poor duckling. He turned his head and put it under his wing. At that moment a great dog dashed close to him. His tongue hung far out of his mouth and his eyes glared at the duckling. He thrust out his nose, showed his sharp teeth, and, splash! splash! on he went without touching him.

"Well, let me be thankful," sighed the duckling; "I'm so ugly that even the dogs will not bite me." So he lay quite still while gun after gun was fired, and the shots rattled through the reeds.

Late in the day all became quiet, but even then the poor little thing dared not stir. He waited for several hours before he looked around, and then he ran over field and meadow as fast as he could.

Toward night he reached a poor little cottage. The hut was so old that it did not know on which side it should fall. That is why it remained standing at this time.

The door was open, for it had lost one of its hinges. The storm grew worse and worse. The poor duckling was too tired to go on, so he slipped through the open door into the room.

Here lived an old woman with her cat and her hen. The cat could arch his back and purr and give out sparks when his fur was stroked the wrong way. The hen had little short legs and was called "chick-a-biddy-short-shanks." She laid good eggs and the woman loved her as her own child.

In the morning the old woman found the strange duckling. She could not see very well and she thought he was a fat duck. "Now we shall have duck's eggs," said she. So the duckling was allowed to stay. He stayed three weeks but no eggs came.

Now, the cat thought he was the master of the house, and the hen thought she was the mistress, and they always said, "We are the world."

"Can you lay eggs?" asked the hen.

"No," said the duckling.

"Then you'll have the goodness to hold your tongue!"

And the cat said, "Can you curve your back and purr and give out sparks?"

"No," said the duckling.

"Then keep still when we are speaking."

So the duckling sat alone in the corner and was very unhappy. The fresh air and the sunshine came in at the open door, and he longed to be out on the water.

"What are you thinking of?" said the hen.

"It is so fine to swim on the water when the water closes over your head and you plunge to the bottom," said the duckling.

"Well, that is a queer sort of pleasure," said the hen; "I think you must be crazy. Ask the cat about it. He is the wisest animal I know. Ask him if he likes to swim on the water, or plunge to the bottom. Ask our mistress, the old woman. There is no one in the world wiser than she. Do you think she has any wish to swim, or to let the water close over her head?"

"You do not understand me," said the duckling.

"What! we do not understand you? Then pray, who is to understand you? Do you think yourself wiser than the cat or the old woman? I won't say anything of myself. Be thankful for all we have done for you. Learn to lay eggs or to purr and give out sparks," said the hen.

"I think I will go out into the wide world," said the duckling.

"Yes, do go," said the hen.

And he went away. He swam on the water and dived, but he was lonesome, for all the animals passed him by because he was so ugly.

Now the autumn came and it was very cold. The air was heavy with hail and snowflakes, and on the fence stood a raven crying, "Croak! croak!" because he was so cold.

One evening a whole flock of great white birds came out of the bushes. They were swans. They had long slender necks and they uttered a strange cry.

As he watched them the ugly duckling felt quite strange and gave such a strange cry that it frightened even himself. He could not forget those beautiful, happy birds, and he loved them more than he had ever loved anyone.

The swans spread their wings and flew higher and higher. He watched them till they were out of sight. Then he dived to the bottom of the water.

The winter grew cold and the duckling swam around in the water to keep from freezing. Every night the hole in which he swam grew smaller and smaller. Then it froze so hard that the duckling had to use his legs to keep from freezing fast. At last he became tired and lay quite stiff and cold on the ice.

The next morning a farmer found the duckling and carried him home to his wife. The warm room soon revived him, but the children frightened him. In his terror he fluttered into the milk pan and splashed the milk about the room. The woman slapped her hands and that frightened him still more. He flew into the butter tub and then into the meal barrel. How strange he looked then! The children chased him with the fire tongs. They screamed and laughed at him. The door was open and he slipped out into the snow. All winter long he was cold and hungry.

Then the warm sun began to shine and the duckling shook his wings and found they were strong. Soon he found himself in a beautiful garden. The willow trees bent their long green branches into the stream and the apple trees were in full bloom. And out of the thicket came the same beautiful white swans, swimming lightly over the smooth water.

"I will fly to those royal birds," he said. "They will kill me because I am so ugly, but it does not matter. It is better to be killed than to be bitten by the ducks, pecked by the hens, and beaten by everyone."

So he flew into the water and swam toward the beautiful birds. They saw him and swam to meet him.

The poor duckling bowed his head upon the water and said, "Only kill me." But the swans stroked his neck with their beaks.

Then in the clear water beneath him he saw another swan more beautiful than the others. "That is my image," he cried, "I am no longer an ugly duckling. I am a beautiful swan." And he hid his head under his wing, for he was so happy he did not know what to do.

Some children came into the garden and cried, "See, a new swan has come and he is more beautiful than any of the others."

Then the young swan lifted his slender neck and, in the joy of his heart, said, "I never dreamed of such happiness when I was an ugly duckling."

Hans Christian Andersen