HANS AND THE FOUR BIG GIANTS.
(Text from “In Story Land,” by Elizabeth Harrison.)
I.
Preparation.
The story of a boy who lived in the country. The story tells of his home life, how he went away to work in a great city, how he wished to serve a lovely princess, and how four great giants helped him. First, we shall hear of his home in the country. Talk of country sights and sounds. Children give their experiences.
Narration.
THE HOME IN THE COUNTRY.
Once upon a time there lived a little boy whose name was Hans. His home was in a village where the tall trees shaded the green grass that grew around the houses. Hans loved his home very much. He loved to hear the birds sing and to watch them fly high in the air, and he often threw crumbs upon the ground for them to eat.
He loved the bright red and blue and yellow flowers which grew in the garden behind the house. He delighted in sweet odors which came all unseen from their very hearts. So he gladly watered them when they looked thirsty. His mother soon taught him how to place strong, straight sticks beside the weak vines so that they, too, could climb up and get the sunlight.
Hans loved the dear old hens and their downy chickens that were not afraid to peck the grain out of his hand. In fact, Hans loved everything and everybody about him, from the small naked worms which crawled about among the clods of earth, up to the strange and beautiful stars which shone so high above his head. He was a very happy little fellow, always busy, always finding something to do for somebody.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen and connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. A talk about gardens and flowers, chickens and how they are cared for. Earth worms, their habits, appearance, habitat, uses.
Explain clods.
3. Kindness to dependent creatures. Recall Cinderella’s kindness to birds. Kindness of Rose-red and Snow-white to animals.
II.
Preparation.
How Hans helped his father work in the forest, and how he left home to work in a big city.
Talk of work in a forest and in the city.
Narration.
LEAVING HOME.
By and by, when Hans grew to be a tall, strong lad, he used to go with his father to the forest to chop wood and thus help earn money which went to buy food and clothes for his mother and his three younger brothers. For Hans’ father was poor, and money was scarce in his family.
After a time, when Hans had grown so tall that you and I would call him a young man, his father said to him, “Hans, my boy, it is time now that you started out to hunt some work for yourself. Your next younger brother can help me with the wood-chopping and the smaller ones can help the mother in the work about the house. You must go out into the world and learn how to take care of yourself; and perhaps, some day, you may have to take care of your mother and me, when we grow too old to work.”
So Hans’ mother packed his clothes in a little bundle; and, as she kissed him good-bye, she said, “Hans, my precious son, always be brave and true, and the good God will take care of you.” Hans then bade farewell to his father and his younger brothers and started on his journey.
Suggestions.
1. Question to emphasize the thought of the story.
2. Reproduction.
3. A talk of how each one in this family had his share of the work.
Talk about the mother’s parting words to Hans.
Motto: Be brave and true.
III.
Preparation.
How Hans came to a large city and found work there. Talk about the sights and sounds of a great city. Recall idea of village. Children imagine what kind of work Hans looked for.
Narration.
HANS IN THE CITY.
Hans walked a long way until, by and by, he came to a great city, where the houses looked dingy with smoke and the rattle of the carts and wagons made a roaring noise.
After a time he found some work in the shop of a blacksmith and, although the work was grimy and rather hard to do, Hans used to like to see the sparks fly from the red-hot iron every time he struck a blow with his heavy hammer.
He was very proud when, at last, he could shape the iron into a fine horse-shoe almost as well as the smith himself. Hans did not know it, but this very work was making his arms grow big and strong, and his chest broad and full.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen and connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. Country and city. Blacksmith work.
Iron; things made from iron; qualities and source of iron.
3. Determination and industry of Hans.
Recall examples of industry and laziness in other stories.
Motto: Try, try again.
IV.
Preparation.
Hans sees a lovely princess and wishes to serve her. He goes to her father’s palace.
How could Hans serve a princess?
Recall explanation of princess and palace.
Explain governor, provinces, enchanted.
Narration.
THE KING’S PALACE.
Every day Hans used to see a beautiful princess drive past the blacksmith’s shop. She was the most beautiful princess in the world; and, although her blue eyes and golden hair were admired by everyone, she was chiefly beloved because of her sweet smile.
Hans used often to say to himself, “How I wish I could serve this lovely princess.” At last one day he went to the palace gate and asked the gate-keeper if there was not some work in the palace which he could do. “What can you do?” asked the gate-keeper. “I am willing to do any kind of work which the king may need to have done,” answered Hans.
Then the gate-keeper passed him on to the keeper of the king’s palace. “What can you do?” asked the keeper of the king’s palace, also. “I am willing to do any kind of work which the king may need to have done,” replied Hans. So the keeper of the palace told the king that there was a strong, tall young man without who wanted to serve him.
When Hans came into the presence of the mighty king, the monarch looked at him very hard for a few moments and then said, “What can you do, young man?” And again Hans replied, “I am willing to do anything that you need to have done. I would like to serve the lovely princess.” “You would, would you?” cried the king. “Now, I will test you. In the bottom of the North Sea there lies a string of enchanted pearls. If you will get those pearls and bring them to me, you shall serve my daughter, the princess, and in time I may make you governor over one of my provinces,—who knows?” And the king laughed to himself. Hans was wild with delight and, turning, hastened out of the palace.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen and connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. Talk of sea and the North Sea; of pearls.
3. Hans’ ability to do hard work. The value of being able to work. Courageous disposition.
V.
Preparation.
Hans starts on his journey and meets a giant, who helps him on his way.
Talk of possible ways in which Hans may journey.
Narration.
HANS STARTS ON HIS JOURNEY.
The very next day Hans started on his journey to the North Sea. He walked a long ways, and until he was very tired. At length, just ahead of him he saw a big giant rushing along in a very strange fashion.
“Good morning,” said Hans, as he caught up with the giant. “What a very large giant you are!” “Yes,” replied the giant, looking down at Hans, “I have need to be both large and strong. Where are you going, young man?” “I am going,” answered Hans, “to the North Sea, to get a string of enchanted pearls which lies at the bottom of the sea.” “Ah!” said the tall giant, “it will take a long time to get there. Now, if you could walk as fast as I can, it would be an easy matter.”
“How fast can you walk?” asked Hans. “I can walk faster than a greyhound can run,” said the giant, “and when I run swiftly, a river cannot keep pace with me.” “Can you, indeed?” exclaimed Hans; “what a fine fellow you are! I wish you would come along with me. After I find the string of pearls I want to get back to the king’s palace as soon as possible, for I am to serve the beautiful princess.” “If that’s the case,” said the giant, “I think I will go along with you.” And the two went along together.
Suggestions.
1. Question to deepen the story.
Reproduction.
2. Talk of different modes of travel known to the children.
3. Hans’ politeness to strangers. Friendliness.
VI.
Preparation.
Hans meets another giant who offers to help him. Recall the first giant and his aid. Children imagine who the second giant may be.
Narration.
HANS MEETS A SECOND GIANT.
Hans and the first giant went along together until they saw what Hans thought must be a huge, round stone lying in the road. When, however, they came up to it, he saw that it was another big giant lying asleep by the roadside. The hot sun was pouring down upon his face. “Stay here,” said Hans, “until I can cut a branch from some tree to shade that poor fellow’s face. The sun is so hot it will soon blister him.”
At these words, the first giant laughed aloud. “Ho, ho!” he cried, “don’t you know who that is? He is a neighbor of mine. He has such strong eyes that he can see a fly on a leaf of a tree a mile away.”
The loud laugh of the first giant awoke the sleeping giant, and he opened his great eyes and stared at Hans. “What are you doing, young man?” growled he. “Oh, nothing,” said Hans; “I was merely sticking these branches into the ground so that they might keep the sun out of your face.” “Bah!” cried the great giant, sitting up. “Did you not know that my eyes are so strong that I could look the noonday sun straight in the face?”
“Indeed! Indeed!” said Hans; “what a wonderful giant you must be! I wish you would come with me. I may need your strong eyes, for I am on my way to the North Sea to search for an enchanted necklace of pearls which lies at the bottom of the sea.” “Oh, ho!” said the giant, “if that’s the case, I think I will go with you.” So Hans and the two big giants walked on together.
Suggestions.
1. Question to connect the story.
Reproduction.
2. Talk of things that magnify;—spectacles; opera glasses; microscopes; telescopes. Their uses.
3. The willingness of the great giants to help.
VII.
Preparation.
Hans meets a third giant who goes with him on his journey to the North Sea.
Recall the other giants and their work. Children imagine who the third giant may be.
Narration.
HANS MEETS A THIRD GIANT.
Hans and the two big giants went on together. They had not gone more than three or four miles when Hans spied another great giant sitting under a tall tree.
As they came up to him the wind blew his hat off his head. “I will fetch it for you,” cried Hans, as he ran forward after the hat. But, before he could get to the spot where the hat lay, the big giant reached out his long arm and himself picked up his hat and put it again on his head.
At this all three of the huge giants laughed. “Didn’t you know that he is the giant who can reach five hundred yards?” asked the long-legged giant. “No,” exclaimed Hans, clapping his hands with delight. “You are just the giant I need. When I get to the North Sea you can reach down to the bottom of it and pick up the enchanted necklace of pearls. Will you not come and help me?” The new giant thought for a minute or two, and then said, “Oh, yes, I will go along if I can be of any use to you.”
So Hans and the three big giants started gayly forward on their journey to the North Sea.
Suggestions.
1. Reproduction.
2. Talk about things that lift. Their uses.
3. Obligingness. Recall instances of in “Mother Frost” and in “Snow-white and Rose-red” stories.
VIII.
Preparation.
Hans meets a fourth giant. Who can this giant be?
Narration.
HANS MEETS A FOURTH GIANT.
Hans and the three big giants had not gone far before Hans saw in the distance another giant quietly leaning up against a very large rock. He seemed so deep in thought that he did not see Hans and his fellow travelers until they came near to where he stood.
Hans noticed that both of this giant’s ears were stopped with cotton. “Have you earache?” asked Hans. “Perhaps I can do something to ease your pain.”
“Oh, no,” said the giant, “I merely stuffed cotton into my ears to shut off some of the sounds about me. I can hear so well that I can tell what men are saying a hundred miles away from me.”
“What a valuable giant you must be!” exclaimed Hans. “Will you not come with us? When I get the enchanted necklace of pearls, you can tell me whether it will be safe to take it back to the king’s palace.”
The giant, being very good-natured, said, “You think you will need me, do you? Well, I’ll go along.” So Hans and the four big giants walked on.
Suggestions.
1. Talk of things that help us hear:—speaking-tubes, telephones, etc.
2. Taking time to be kind. Instances in other stories of people stopping to do a kindness.
IX.
Preparation.
The story tells how Hans got the necklace, how the giants helped him, and how he carried the necklace to the lovely princess.
Recall position of the necklace. The children imagine how the giants aided Hans.
Narration.
HOW HANS GOT THE NECKLACE.
Hans and the four giants went on until they came to the North Sea. Then they got a boat and rowed out to the deep water. The giant who could see so far soon found the place where the necklace lay on the sand at the bottom of the sea.
Then the giant whose arms were long reached down and picked up the necklace and laid it in the boat.
Hans and the giants now rowed back to the shore. As soon as they had landed, the giant who could hear so well took the cotton out of his right ear and listened to what was being said at the king’s palace. He heard the people in the palace talking of a grand festival which was to take place the next night in honor of the birthday of the beautiful princess.
He told Hans what he had heard, and the giant who could run so fast stooped down and let Hans climb up and seat himself on his great shoulders. Away the two sped, faster than a bird could fly. They reached the palace in time for Hans to give the enchanted necklace of pearls to the king, just as he was about to seat his beautiful daughter on a throne beside his own.
The king was so pleased to get the necklace that he at once gave Hans the office of serving the beautiful princess. Hans served her so faithfully that she learned to love him dearly, and in time they were married.
When the old king died, Hans was made king and the beautiful princess was queen.
Hans, you may be sure, took good care of his old father and mother, and both he and his queen did everything they could to make all the people in their kingdom industrious and happy.
Hans persuaded his four friends, the giants, to come and live in his kingdom and through them it became the richest and most prosperous country on the face of the earth, so that travelers came from all over the world to visit it.
Suggestions.
Question to deepen and connect story. Reproduction.
A talk about the four giants and their work.
Everyone helps him who helps himself.
Gratitude to and loving remembrance of parents.