"How? Why, by doing it little by little. Suppose you try," said the father, as he left for his office.
So Charley got the snowshovel and set to work. He threw up first one shovelful, and then another; but it was slow work.
"I don't think I can do it, mother," he said. "A shovelful is so little, and there is such a heap of snow."
"Little by little, Charley," said his mother. "That snow fell in tiny bits, flake by flake, but you see what a great pile it has made."
"Yes, mother, I see," said Charley. "If I throw it away little by little, it will soon be gone."
So he worked on.
When his father came home to dinner, he was pleased to see the fine path. The next day he gave little Charley a fine blue sled, and on it was painted in yellow letters, "Little by Little."
#LITTLE STORIES =that= GROW BIG#
TO MOTHER:
This is the kind of stories that the kindergartners call "cumulative," or "repetitive." They keep repeating and then adding to themselves until they are quite long. The repetition helps the children memorize them, and adding to them holds the children's attention and interest.
You will find these very useful to read and teach to the little ones.
THE EDITORS.
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
This is the house that Jack built. This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tattered and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tattered and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crowed in the morn, That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tattered and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer sowing his corn, That kept the cock that crowed in the morn, That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tattered and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt, That lay in the house that Jack built.
GIANT THUNDER BONES
I This is Giant Thunder Bones.
II This is the Dwarf with anxious looks Who guarded the castle and kept the books For Giant Thunder Bones.
III This is the Gnome with beard so gray Who digged for gems all night and day To please the Dwarf with anxious looks Who guarded the castle and kept the books For Giant Thunder Bones.
IV This is the Princess of Wandeltreg Who, while playing a game of Mumblepeg, Was caught by the Gnome with beard so gray Who digged for gems all night and day To please the Dwarf with anxious looks Who guarded the castle and kept the books For Giant Thunder Bones.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.