The Project Gutenberg EBook of The White Elephant, by Georgene Faulkner This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: The White Elephant And Other Tales From India Author: Georgene Faulkner Illustrator: Frederick Richardson Release Date: July 7, 2016 [EBook #52515] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WHITE ELEPHANT *** Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net The White Elephant The White Elephant “No, no,” said the Queen.... “I never coax the King to do anything against his will.” The White Elephant And Other Tales from Old India The White Elephant And Other Tales from Old India Retold by Georgene Faulkner “The Story Lady” Illustrated by Frederick Richardson Published by The P. F. Volland Company Joliet New York Chicago Boston The White Elephant, Copyright, 1929 By THE P. F. VOLLAND COMPANY All Rights Reserved :: Printed in U. S. A. P. F. Volland Logo TO MY RADIO FAMILY Who, unseen but appreciative, always request more Animal Tales The White Elephant The Grain of Corn The Timid Little Rabbit Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals The Kingdom of Mouseland Storyteller with scroll Illuminated Table of Contents Table of Contents 11 17 22 29 35 The Alligator and the Jackal The Bold Blackbird The Kid and the Tiger The Brahmin and the Tiger The Bear’s Bad Bargain The Man Who Rode a Tiger 9 8 10 42 50 59 67 75 84 Storks My Dear Children: These old, old tales from India have been favorites for many, many years; some have come down to us from the early days of Buddha, and were taken from a book, called the “Jataka Tales,” telling of the Buddha’s previous existences. Some of these old tales have been translated from the Pali by Eugene Watson Burlinghame, and they have also been retold for us in attractive form by Ellen C. Babbitt. These stories are somewhat similar to stories which we have all known in another form; for instance, our first story of “The White Elephant” is somewhat like the story of Androcles and the lion. While the story of “The Timid Little Rabbit” is like the old English tale of “Chicken Little.” “The Story of the Grain of Corn” (which is repeated from “Tales of the Punjab” by Flora Annie Steel) compares with our well-known version of “The Old Woman and the Pig.” In this same book, we find the story of “The Bear’s Bad Bargain,” and we learn how a stupid and clumsy bear is outwitted by a grasping old woman and her greedy husband. Even if they have the best of the bargain, our sympathies are all with the poor old bear. “The King of the Mice,” “The Bold Blackbird,” and “The Kid and the Tiger” (retold from “The Talking Thrush and Other Tales from India,” collected by W. Crooke and retold by W. H. D. Rouse) are all stories of the triumph of the weak and cunning over the brutish and strong. “The Bold Blackbird” may remind you of the old French tale of “Drakesbill and His Friends.” In many of these old tales, the little Jackal is the hero, and, like Reynard the Fox of European folk lore, and our own Bre’r Rabbit in the “Uncle Remus” tales, we find the Jackal through his wit and strategy overcoming the larger, stronger animals. For example, in the stories of “Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals,” “The Alligator and the Jackal,” and “The Brahmin and the Tiger,” the Jackal wins his victories by his cunning. These stories of the little Jackal have been retold from “Old Deccan Days” by M. Frere, a most interesting book of tales collected from oral tradition. “The Valiant Chattee-Maker” is also from the same book. The pictures drawn by our artist, Frederick Richardson, will delight you. Mr. Richardson always makes each illustration true to life: his people dress in the costumes of the country, and his animals are real animals; you can almost hear the big beasts roaring with rage when the little jackal tricks them. All these tales I have told to you many times over the radio; now I am glad to place them in your own hands to read and retell yourselves. Your Story Lady. Storks 12 13 11 Flower THE WHITE ELEPHANT Elephant Once upon a time there stood on the banks of a river, near a large forest, a village of Woodcutters. These Woodcutters would go in their boats to the forest and there they would chop down trees. Then they would roll the logs down to the river, and the river would carry the logs to the village, where they were cut into boards and used by the carpenters in building houses and temples. One day, when the Woodcutters were all busily at work chopping down trees, they heard a great bellowing. A huge Elephant came limping along on three legs, and every little while he gave a great snort. One of the Woodcutters went up to the Elephant and examined his sore foot. “Come here and help me pull out this big splinter in the Elephant’s foot!” he called to the other men. “No wonder the poor fellow is crying with pain.” The Woodcutters all helped. They pulled the splinter out of the Elephant’s foot and they brought water from the river and washed the wound carefully. They brought mud from the river banks and spread a mud plaster upon it, and one man tore up his scarf and bound it about the sore foot. Then the men gave the Elephant some food, and he stretched out under the trees to rest. While he was resting, he watched the Woodcutters at their work. “These men have done so much for me I should like to help them,” said the Elephant. So, a few days after that, when his foot was well, the Elephant came again to the place where the Woodcutters were working. The Woodcutters were cutting down a tree, chop, chop, went their axes and a great tree fell to the ground. Then the Elephant took the log and rolled it over and over until he had pushed it into the river. “Why, our friend, the Elephant, is helping us with our work!” exclaimed the Woodcutters. Every day the great Elephant came back. Sometimes he would pull down the trees, and roll them to the water. Other times he would carry the tools for the Woodcutters; and every day the Woodcutters fed him, morning, noon and night, and give him fresh water to drink. He saved them much hard work and the Woodcutters grew very fond of the big Elephant. He worked for them many years. Now, this Elephant had a young baby Elephant, who was white all over; and he was very beautiful, indeed. When the old Elephant saw that his Baby Elephant was strong enough to work, he said to himself: “I must take my son to the Woodcutters, for I am getting old and I am no longer strong. He can learn to do my work and be of service to them.” So the old Elephant said to his son: “White Elephant, now that you have grown large and strong, I want you to help my friends, the Woodcutters. One day, many years ago, when I had a cruel splinter in my foot, they pulled it out for me and bound me up, and gave me food. I have tried to repay their kindness by serving them each day. And each day they give me food and water and are most kind to me. They are my friends and I wish now that you would be friendly with them, also.” So the old Elephant took the White Elephant to the Woodcutters and soon the White Elephant learned to help them, just as his father had done, and they fed him and treated him kindly. 14 15 The White Elephant became very friendly with the Woodcutters and every night, when he had finished his work, he would go down on the banks of the river and take a bath and play in the water; and the children of the Woodcutters played with him. Sometimes he would pick the children up in his long trunk and swing them back and forth. Sometimes he would pick them up and put them on his back, and give them a fine ride. And sometimes he would lift them up into the branches of the tall trees. When it was very warm, he would wade out into the water and take a bath, and often he would take a deep drink of water and then let it out upon the children like a shower bath. The children loved to romp and play with the White Elephant, and he loved to play with them. One day the Rajah of the country came down the river and when he saw the White Elephant working for the Woodcutters, he ordered his men to stop while he watched the Elephant. Then the Rajah said: “I wish to own that Elephant, for I want to ride upon him, myself. He looks so very kind and gentle, and he is very beautiful.” So the Woodcutters had to sell their friend the White Elephant to the Rajah. He paid them a very large price, and then the servants of the Rajah led the Elephant away. So the old Elephant took the White Elephant to the Woodcutters. 16 So the old Elephant took the White Elephant to the Woodcutters. But, as he left the forest, he gave one last look at his playmates, the children, as though he was sorry to say goodbye to them. The Rajah was so very proud of his beautiful White Elephant he had made for him a robe of crimson velvet embroidered in gold. On his back, the White Elephant carried a throne of gold covered by a gorgeous canopy of cloth of gold. When the Rajah rode out in great processions he always went upon the back of the beautiful White Elephant. All the days of his life the Rajah cared for the White Elephant, and always the White Elephant served his master, the Rajah, gladly and proudly. 17 18 Elephant heads and flowers. THE GRAIN OF CORN Woman and crow. Once upon a time a farmer’s wife was cutting corn in a field when a crow came flying down, swooped off with a bit of the grain and carried it up to a tree to eat it. The farmer’s wife was very angry and scolded loudly: “You robber, you, to steal my corn!” Picking up a clod of earth, she threw it at the bird with such good aim that the crow fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn which rolled into a crack in the tree. The farmer’s wife ran up to the crow and, seizing him by the tail, she cried; “You, robber, you! give me back my grain of corn, or I will kill you.” “Caw, caw, caw!” cried the crow. “If you will set me free, I promise to get it for you.” But, lo and behold, when the crow came to search for the corn, it had rolled so far into the crack in the tree that he could not reach it with his beak nor with his claw. So the poor crow flew off through the forest until he met a woodman and he said: “Caw, caw! Man, Man! Cut tree, I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the woodman refused to cut the tree. 19 20 So the crow flew and flew until at last he reached the palace of the king. There were the king and the queen, walking in the courtyard. So the crow flew down to the king and said: “Caw, caw! King, King! Kill man! Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the king refused to kill the man. So the crow pulled at the royal robes of the queen, and said: “Caw, caw! Queen, Queen! Coax king, King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” “No, no,” said the queen. “I never coax the king to do anything against his will.” So the crow was very angry and he flew and flew until he met a snake, and he said to the snake: “Caw, caw! Snake, Snake! Bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” “Hiss-ss! Hiss-ss!” hissed the snake. “I will not bite the queen.” So the crow flew to a stick and said: “Caw, caw! Stick, Stick! Beat snake! Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the stick refused to beat the snake. So the crow flew on until he saw the fire, and said: “Caw, caw! Fire, Fire! Burn stick; Stick won’t beat snake; Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the fire refused to burn the stick. So the crow flew and flew until he saw some water, and he said: “Caw, caw! Water, Water! Quench fire; Fire won’t burn stick; Stick won’t beat snake; Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the water ran along as fast as possible and refused to quench the fire. So the crow flew on until he met an ox, and said: “Caw, caw! Ox, Ox! Drink water; Water won’t quench fire; Fire won’t burn stick; Stick won’t beat snake; Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the ox refused to drink the water. So the crow flew and flew until he met a rope and said: 21 “Caw, caw! Rope, Rope! Bind ox; Ox won’t drink water; Water won’t quench fire; Fire won’t burn stick; Stick won’t beat snake; Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” But the rope wouldn’t bind the ox. So the crow flew on until he met a mouse, and said: “Caw, caw! Mouse, Mouse! Gnaw rope; Rope won’t bind ox; Ox won’t drink water; Water won’t quench fire; Fire won’t burn stick; Stick won’t beat snake; Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” “Ee-EE-Ee-e-e-ee,” squeaked the mouse. “I won’t help you.” So the crow flew and flew until he met a cat; and he said: “Caw, caw! Cat, Cat! Catch mouse; Mouse won’t gnaw rope; Rope won’t bind ox; Ox won’t drink water; Water won’t quench fire; Fire won’t burn stick; Stick won’t beat snake; Snake won’t bite queen; Queen won’t coax king; King won’t kill man; Man won’t cut tree; I can’t get the grain of corn To save my life from the farmer’s wife!” “Miaow! Miaow!” said the cat. “I will—I will.” And the moment she heard the word “mouse,” she was after it in a rush. So— “The Cat began to catch the Mouse; The Mouse began to gnaw the Rope; The Rope began to bind the Ox; The Ox began to drink the Water; The Water began to quench the Fire; The Fire began to burn the Stick; The Stick began to beat the Snake; The Snake began to bite the Queen; The Queen began to coax the King; The King began to kill the Man; The Man began to cut the Tree; So the Crow got the grain of corn And saved his life from the farmer’s wife!” 22 23 24 Tiger. THE TIMID LITTLE RABBIT Rabbits. Once upon a time there lived a very timid little Rabbit who was always trembling for fear that something terrible was going to happen to him. One day he went to sleep under a big palm-tree and, when he awoke, he shivered and shook with fright, and said, “What if the earth should fall in? What would become of me, then?” Just at that very moment, some monkeys up in the tree dropped a big cocoanut. It fell down with a bang upon the ground. “Oh, dear me! oh, dear me! what a terrible noise!” gasped the little Rabbit. “Oh, dear me! the earth is falling in. Where shall I run and hide?” and the little Rabbit ran bouncing away through the jungle. He never looked behind him to see what had made the noise; he just ran on and on in a panic of fear. Another little Rabbit saw him running and called out, “Why do you run so fast—and where are you running?” “Oh, don’t ask me, for I cannot stop to tell you,” he shrieked, as he galloped along. The second little Rabbit ran by his side saying, “Tell me! Tell me! What is the matter!” “Run, run!” gasped the first little Rabbit. “The earth is falling in. The earth is falling in, and I am running away.” So the second Rabbit ran as fast as he could go. And soon they met another frightened Rabbit, and then they were joined by another and another, until there were hundreds of them, running as fast as they could go, and all shrieking out, “Run! Run! The earth is falling in! The earth is falling in!” They passed a Deer and the Deer called out, “Where are you all running, and what is the matter?” “Run! Run!” they cried in terror. “The earth is falling in! The earth is falling in!” “Oh, oh, where shall we run?” cried the Deer, wildly, for deer are always very timid creatures. And the Deer bounced away after the rabbits. Next they met a Fox and when he barked out, “What is the matter? Where are you running?” they called to him, “Run! Run! Brother Fox! The earth is falling in! The earth is falling in!” So the Fox ran with them. On and on they ran—faster and faster—until they met a Camel and the Fox called out, “Run! Run! Brother Camel! The earth is falling in! The earth is falling in!” So the Camel ran with them. On and on, they ran, faster and faster, until presently they met a big Elephant. He snorted at them through his long trumpet. “Why do you all run so fast, and where are you going?” “Run! Run! Brother Elephant! The earth is falling in! The earth is falling in!” called the Camel. So the Elephant joined them and went madly rushing along through the jungle, blowing a blast through his trumpet and shouting, “Run! Run! The earth is falling in! The earth is falling in!” Presently they met a big Lion and when he saw them all running in a wild panic, he roared in a loud voice three times, “Grr-rr! Grr-rr! Grr-rr! Stop at 25 26 27 once, I command you, and tell me the meaning of this!” Now this big Lion was the Rajah Lion and he ruled over all the animals in the jungle, so that, when he ordered them to stop, they all stopped at once, and stood still, quivering with fright. “What is this that you are crying out, and why were you all running in such a panic?” roared the Lion. “Oh, great and mighty Rajah,” they answered, “the earth is falling in and we are running away to save our lives!” “But if the earth is falling in, how then can you run from it?” asked the Rajah Lion. “I see no signs to show that the earth is falling in. How do you know this, Brother Elephant?” “Why, I did not know it myself, but Brother Camel told me,” answered the Elephant. “Brother Camel, how did you hear that the earth was falling in?” asked the Lion. “Why, I did not hear it myself, but Brother Fox told me,” answered the Camel. “How do you know this, Brother Fox?” asked the Lion. “Why, I did not hear it myself, but the Deer told me,” answered the Fox. “How do you know this, Brother Deer?” “Why, I did not hear it myself, but the Rabbits told me,” answered the Deer. “Little Rabbits—little Rabbits,” said the Rajah Lion, “how do you know that the earth is falling in? Who told you this?” Then each Rabbit pointed his paw at another Rabbit and said, “That Rabbit told me.” Finally the Lion asked the little Rabbit who had first told the tale, “Is it true that you are the one who first cried out that the earth is falling in?” “Yes, Mighty Rajah,” answered the little Rabbit, trembling with fear. “Why, Brother Rabbit, what made you say that the earth is falling in? Is that the truth?” roared the Lion. “Oh, yes, Mighty Rajah,” answered the little Rabbit. “I was asleep under a palm-tree and I awoke in fright and thought ‘What would become of me if the earth should fall in?’ Then, right behind me I heard a terrible bang! I was afraid to look around, for I knew that the earth was falling in. And so I ran away as fast as I could.” “Well, little Rabbit,” said the Rajah Lion, “since you started all this running, you must come back with me to the place where you heard the sound, and we will see if the earth is falling in. All you other animals, wait here until we come back.” So the big strong Rajah Lion took the timid little Rabbit upon his back, and away they went through the jungle. When they came to the very tree where the little Rabbit had slept, the Lion looked all about and there upon the ground he saw the large cocoanut which the monkeys had dropped from the tree. “Oh, you foolish little Rabbit, it was the sound of this large cocoanut falling upon the ground that you heard. Now, you see that the earth is not falling in. We must go back and you must tell all the other animals the truth,” said the Lion. “Run! Run! The earth is falling in.” 28 “Run! Run! The earth is falling in.” When they came back to the place where the animals were waiting, the little Rabbit stood before all the animals and said, “The earth is not falling in; the noise that I heard was made by a big cocoanut falling to the ground. I was so startled that I did not look to see what had happened. I am sorry that I frightened you, for the earth is not falling in.” The animals all began to repeat this, and they ran away through the jungle, saying to themselves: “The earth is not falling in! The earth is not falling in!” 29 30 Elephant heads and flowers. SINGH RAJAH AND THE CUNNING LITTLE JACKALS Lion Once upon a time there lived in a jungle a great lion. He was so strong a lion that he had made himself Rajah of all the jungle. Every day when this Rajah lion was hungry he would come out from his cave in the deep dark rocks, and roar in an angry voice: “Grr-rr-rr! Grr-rr-rr! Grr-rr-rr! Come here, all you animals in this jungle! You are all my subjects, and I will eat you up! Grr-rr-rr, Grr-rr-rr!” Then all of the frightened little animals would run here, there and everywhere, trying to hide from the angry lion. But Singh Rajah would always catch them and eat them for his dinner. Now, this went on for a long, long time until at last he had left no living creatures in the jungle except two little jackals, a Rajah Jackal and a Ranee Jackal, who were husband and wife.