The Winston Readers

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1918. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Hush, my darling, and listen, Then pay for the story with kisses: Father was lost in the pitch-black night, In just such a storm as this is, High up on the lonely mountains, Where the wild men watched and waited; Wolves in the forest, and bears in the bush, And I on my path belated. The rain and the night together Came down, and the wind came after, Bending the props of the pine-tree roof, And snapping many a rafter. I crept along in the darkness, Stunned, and bruised, and blinded, -- Crept to a fir with thick-set boughs, And a sheltering rock behind it. There, from the blowing and raining, Crouching, I sought to hide me: Something rustled, two green eyes shone, And a wolf lay down beside me. Little one, be not frightened: I and the wolf together, Side by side, through the long, long night, Hid from the awful weather. His wet fur pressed against me; Each of us warmed the other; Each of us felt, in the stormy dark, That beast and man was brother. And when the falling forest No longer crashed in warning, Each of us went from our hiding place Forth in the wild wet morning. --Bayard Taylor. THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE Yes, he was the most beautiful prince that ever was born! Of course, being a prince, people said this; but it was true besides. When he looked at the candle, his eyes had an expression quite unusual in a new-born baby. His nose, although there was not much of it, seemed well shaped. His complexion was a charming, healthy red. He was round, fat and straight-limbed-- in fact, a splendid baby, and everybody was exceedingly proud of him, especially his father and mother, the king and queen of Nomansland. The only person who was not quite happy was the king's brother who would have been king one day if the baby had not been born. But as his majesty was very kind ..