〃Time to be off；〃 said the lazy man； and looked about him for the
pretty horse。 No horse was to be found。 The only living thing near was an
old； bony； gray donkey。 The man called； and whistled； and looked； but no
little horse appeared。 After a long while he gave it up； and； since there was
nothing better to do； he mounted the old gray donkey and set out again。
The donkey was slow； and he was hard to ride； but he was better than
nothing； and gradually the lazy man saw the towers of the castle draw
nearer。
Now it began to grow dark； in the castle windows the lights began to
show。 Then came trouble！ Slower； and slower； went the gray donkey；
slower； and slower； till； in the very middle of a pitch…black wood； he
stopped and stood still。 Not a step would he budge for all the coaxing and
scolding and beating his rider could give。 At last the rider kicked him； as
well as beat him； and at that the donkey felt that he had had enough。 Up
went his hind heels； and down went his head； and over it went the lazy
man on to the stony ground。
There he lay groaning for many minutes； for it was not a soft place； I
can assure you。 How he wished he were in a soft； warm bed； with his
aching bones comfortable in blankets！ The very thought of it made him
remember the castle of fortune； for he knew there must be fine beds there。
To get to those beds he was even willing to bestir his bruised limbs； so he
sat up and felt about him for the donkey。
No donkey was to be found。
The lazy man crept round and round the spot where he had fallen；
scratched his hands on the stumps； tore his face in the briers； and bumped
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his knees on the stones。 But no donkey was there。 He would have lain
down to sleep again； but he could hear now the howls of hungry wolves in
the woods； that did not sound pleasant。 Finally； his hand struck against
something that felt like a saddle。 He grasped it； thankfully； and started to
mount his donkey。
The beast he took hold of seemed very small； and； as he mounted； he
felt that its sides were moist and slimy。 It gave him a shudder； and he
hesitated； but at that moment he heard a distant clock strike。 It was striking
eleven！ There was still time to reach the castle of fortune； but no more
than enough； so he mounted his new steed and rode on once more。 The
animal was easier to sit on than the donkey； and the saddle seemed
remarkably high behind； it was good to lean against。 But even the donkey
was not so slow as this； the new steed was slower than he。 After a while；
however； he pushed his way out of the woods into the open； and there
stood the castle； only a little way ahead！ All its windows were ablaze with
lights。 A ray from them fell on the lazy man's beast； and he saw what he
was riding： it was a gigantic snail！ a snail as large as a calf！
A cold shudder ran over the lazy man's body； and he would have got
off his horrid animal then and there； but just then the clock struck once
more。 It was the first of the long； slow strokes that mark mid… night！ The
man grew frantic when he heard it。 He drove his heels into the snail's sides；
to make him hurry。 Instantly； the snail drew in his head； curled up in his
shell； and left the lazy man sitting in a heap on the ground！
The clock struck twice。 If the man had run for it； he could still have
reached the castle； but； instead； he sat still and shouted for a horse。
〃A beast； a beast！〃 he wailed； 〃any kind of a beast that will take me to
the castle！〃
The clock struck three times。 And as it struck the third note； something
came rustling and rattling out of the darkness； something that sounded like
a horse with harness。 The lazy man jumped on its back； a very queer； low
back。 As he mounted； he saw the doors of the castle open； and saw his
friend standing on the threshold； waving his cap and beckoning to him。
The clock struck four times； and the new steed began to stir； as it
struck five； he moved a pace forward； as it struck six； he stopped； as it
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struck seven； he turned himself about； as it struck eight； he began to move
backward； away from the castle！
The lazy man shouted； and beat him； but the beast went slowly
backward。 And the clock struck nine。 The man tried to slide off； then； but
from all sides of his strange animal great arms came reaching up and held
him fast。 And in the next ray of moonlight that broke the dark clouds； he
saw that he was mounted on a monster crab！
One by one； the lights went out； in the castle windows。 The clock
struck ten。 Backward went the crab。 Eleven！ Still the crab went backward。
The clock struck twelve！ Then the great doors shut with a clang； and the
castle of fortune was closed forever to the lazy man。
What became of him and his crab no one knows to this day； and no
one cares。 But the industrious man was received by the Fairy of Fortune；
and made happy in the castle as long as he wanted to stay。 And ever
afterward she was his friend； helping him not only to happiness for
himself； but also showing him how to help others； wherever he went。
DAVID AND GOLIATH＇1＇
＇1＇ From the text of the King James version of the Old Testament； with
introduction and slight interpolations； changes of order； and omissions。
A long time ago； there was a boy named David； who lived in a
country far east of this。 He was good to look upon； for he had fair hair and
a ruddy skin； and he was very strong and brave and modest。 He was
shepherd…boy for his father； and all dayoften all nighthe was out in the
fields； far from home； watching over the sheep。 He had to guard them
from wild animals； and lead them to the right pastures； and care for them。
By and by； war broke out between the people of David's country and a
people that lived near at hand； these men were called Philistines； and the
people of David's country were named Israel。 All the strong men of Israel
went up to the battle； to fight for their king。 David's three older brothers
went； but he was only a boy； so he was left behind to care for the sheep。
After the brothers had been gone some time； David's father longed
very much to hear from them； and to know if they were safe； so he sent for
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David； from the fields； and said to him； 〃Take now for thy brothers an
ephah of this parched corn； and these ten loaves； and run to the camp；
where thy brothers are； and carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their
thousand； and see how thy brothers fare； and bring me word again。〃 （An
ephah is about three pecks。）
David rose early in the morning； and left the sheep with a keeper； and
took the corn and the loaves and the cheeses； as his father had commanded
him； and went to the camp of Israel。
The camp was on a mountain； Israel stood on a mountain on the one
side； and the Philistines stood on a mountain on the other side； and there
was a valley between them。 David came to the place where the Israelites
were； just as the host was going forth to the fight； shouting for the battle。
So he left his gifts in the hands of the keeper of the baggage； and ran into
the army； amongst the soldiers； to find his brothers。 When he found them；
he saluted them and began to talk with them。
But while he was asking them the questions his father had commanded；
there arose a great shouting and tumult among the Israelites； and men
came running back from the front line of battle； everything became
confusion。 David looked to see what the trouble was； and he saw a strange
sight： on the hillside of the Philistines； a warrior was striding forward；
calling out something in a taunting voice； he was a gigantic man； the
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