Storytime with Kray

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After an exciting meal, Mark and the child go to milk a cow, which the child repeatedly questions if it is "real" or transforms into a princess. The child recounts giving away her money to a man with a black shirt, leading to her punishment and escape from Miss Tyler. During their outing, the child falls into a pond, getting her clothes soaked, but Mark carries her home on his back.

Notable Quotes:

• "Always I wish I was a dwarf, to stay little like you." — The Child
• "Is she real, Mark?" — The Child, regarding the cow
• "You aren't singing anything! Sing!" — The Child
  
  

Summary:

• Mark and the girl deepen their bond through daily adventures like milking a cow.
• She continuously blurs reality and fantasy, questioning if animals are enchanted.
• Mark delights in her joy, revealing glimpses of the tenderness he's kept hidden.
• They form a whimsical, heartfelt companionship as they play, talk, and sing.
• Her innocence gently erodes Mark’s isolation, reconnecting him with happiness.
  
  

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Mark's business agent, Phillips, visits him in the wood, expressing frustration over Mark's neglect of his affairs and his reclusive life. Phillips delivers papers for Mark to sign and reluctantly shares news from their past, while Mark shows disinterest in his old life, prioritizing the child's needs. Mark then asks Phillips to procure several unusual items, including a doll and toys, causing Phillips to react with terror, which Mark finds amusing.

Notable Quotes:

• "I wish to goodness you would give it up, Mr. Ellery, and come home." — James Phillips
• "I aspect I'm lost." — The Child
• "Even the very bravest child may be excused for feeling a little strange..." — Narrator
  
  

Summary:

• James Phillips, Mark's concerned assistant, visits and pleads for Mark to return to his former life.
• Mark remains stubbornly isolated, though now caring for the child.
• Phillips is bewildered by Mark's requests for luxurious toys and comforts for the girl.
• The child's presence reveals Mark's deeply hidden, gentle nature.
• Phillips suspects Mark is losing his sanity, unaware of the child's full significance.
  
  

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The next morning, the child is full of questions for Mark, especially about his birds, whom he calls to feed from his hands. Mark then asks the child about her mother and if she should return home, which upsets her. They share a moment of connection over their shared dislike of Miss Tyler.

Notable Quotes:

• "How many birds have you got, dwarf?" — The Child
• "Did you sleep last night?" — The Child
• "I suppose I ought to send you home, Snow-white." — Mark Ellery

Summary:

• The child bombards Mark with delightful, endless questions about his life and surroundings.
• Mark patiently answers, indulging her fantasies of dwarf-life and magic birds.
• They enjoy a sweet friendship filled with imagination and laughter.
• Mark begins gently probing about her family, realizing he must consider returning her home.
• The girl resists going home, feeling deeply attached to Mark and their magical world.
  
  

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The child, having entered the house and started eating, is interrupted by a man she initially believes is a dwarf. He is kind and shares his meal, correcting her assumption that there are seven dwarfs, and the child explains she ran away from her caretaker, Miss Tyler. The man, who introduces himself as Mark, eventually shares that he also came to the woods to escape unpleasant people.

Notable Quotes:

• "How do you do? I am very glad to see you." — The Dwarf (Mark Ellery)
• "There aren't any more dwarfs. I'm the only one there is here." — Mark Ellery
• "Do dwarfs know about prayers? Do you know about them?" — The Child

Summary:

• The girl meets Mark Ellery, a kind man she believes to be a dwarf.
• They quickly become friends, bonding over bread, honey, and dish-washing.
• She insists there must be more dwarfs, referencing fairy tales.
• Mark gently accommodates her imagination while concealing his true, sad backstory.
• She innocently asks him to say her bedtime prayers, deeply affecting him.
  
  

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A child, tired of walking along a dusty road, discovers a small river and joyfully wades in it. She then enters a wood, feeling lost but not afraid, and determines to find a "House in the Wood" like those in her fairy tales, particularly a "Dwarf House." She eventually stumbles upon the house described in Chapter I, believing it to be the home of the Seven Dwarfs, and boldly enters.

Notable Quotes:
"I must find a House in the Wood!" — The Child
"I am in a woods!" — The Child, delighted

Summary:

• A curious, imaginative little girl wanders into the woods, enchanted by her adventure.
• She decides she's living in a fairy tale and must find a magical house.
• After becoming lost, she remains brave, expecting to meet fairies or dwarfs.
• She stumbles upon the hidden house and is certain it belongs to dwarfs, like in her favorite stories.
• She enters confidently, expecting an exciting fairy-tale experience.

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This chapter describes a secluded stone house nestled deeply within an ancient, vibrant wood, half-covered with creepers. It is surrounded by various trees, including a vast buttonwood tree with a hollow large enough to shelter two or three people. The woods are teeming with birds and animals, suggesting a deep connection between any inhabitant and the wildwood creatures.

Notable Quotes:
"The house was so well hidden, one might almost stumble against it before one became aware of it." — Narrator
"On the day when my story begins, the house in the wood was the only lifeless thing..." — Narrator

Summary:
A mysterious hidden stone house stands in a lush forest clearing.
Nature thrives around it, filled with friendly birds, squirrels, and vibrant plants.
The house appears quiet, waiting for someone to bring life inside.
The forest feels enchanted, almost magical, inviting someone or something special to arrive.
The scene is set perfectly for a mysterious visitor.

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SNOW-WHITE OR, THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD.
by Laura E. Richards | 1900

Step back to the turn of the 20th century to discover a different kind of fairy tale. We are going to explore "Snow-White; or, The House in the Wood" by Laura E. Richards. This uplifting version replaces the dark themes of the original with a narrative of adventure, empathy, and the powerful bonds of friendship. 

Learn about the author's fascinating heritage—as the daughter of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" writer Julia Ward Howe—and her role in shifting children's literature toward a more imaginative future.

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The news of Peter Rabbit's new family spreads, making the Old Briar-patch the most interesting place for all creatures. Peter's friends visit, finding him proud and happy, while Mrs. Peter is happy but also anxious due to the presence of predators like Reddy Fox, Old Man Coyote, Redtail the Hawk, and Hooty the Owl, whose hungry eyes make her shiver. 

Peter, ever optimistic, dismisses her worries, believing their babies are perfectly safe within their nursery in the thick briar patch. Mrs. Peter momentarily forgets her fears as she fondly names their four lovely babies: Little Pete, Little Jed (despite Peter's silent disapproval), Fuzzy, and Wuzzy. Peter is filled with immense pride.

Notable Quotes:

• "With home, the home you call your own, It really doesn't matter where, There is no place, in all the world, That ever will or can compare." – Peter Rabbit (epigraph)

Summary:

• The culmination of Peter's journey: finding love and establishing a family home.
• The contrasting perspectives of Peter (optimistic) and Mrs. Peter (anxious) regarding their children's safety.
• The heartwarming naming of their four new babies: Little Pete, Little Jed, Fuzzy, and Wuzzy.
• The sense of new beginnings and the clear promise of future stories about the Peter Rabbit family.

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Blacky the Crow, despite his reputation for mischief, possesses exceptionally sharp eyes. Flying over the Old Briar-patch, he recalls Jenny Wren's gossip about "great news." He flies lower and spots Peter looking worried, then sees Mrs. Peter. To his astonishment, he spots something more under a thick sweet-briar bush. 

With a hoarse chuckle, he flies off, shrieking, "Peter Rabbit's got a family!" Reddy Fox grumbles, knowing Old Man Coyote will now be interested, while Jimmy Skunk grins, and Redtail the Hawk anticipates a meal.

Notable Quotes:

• "Mischief always waits to greet Idle hands and idle feet." – Peter Rabbit (epigraph)

Summary:

• Blacky the Crow's pivotal role as the ultimate "broadcaster" of the news.
• The swift and widespread consequences of the secret being fully revealed to all.
• The unsettling implications of the predators' excited reactions to the news of Peter's family.

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Jenny Wren's gossip about a "secret" in the Old Briar-patch spreads, drawing many curious visitors to Peter. Peter cleverly deflects their questions without revealing anything. 

However, Reddy Fox, with his keen senses, visits. He acts friendly, avoids direct questions, and subtly uses his superior sense of smell to detect a stronger scent of rabbit in a specific spot. Grinning, he realizes he's uncovered Peter's secret, and departs, hoping Old Man Coyote doesn't discover it first, acknowledging the power of his nose.

Notable Quotes:

• "Nothing that you ever do, Nothing good or nothing bad, But has effect on other folks-- Gives them pain or makes them glad." – Peter Rabbit (epigraph)

Summary:

• The inevitable revelation of Peter's secret, despite his efforts to conceal it.
• Reddy Fox's cunning use of all his senses, particularly his keen nose, to deduce the truth.
• The immediate and chilling shift in tone from happy news to the looming threat of danger.

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