Emily Watson

Jack and the Beanstalk Who would ever think to look at this picture that it was taken in February? Here in Boston, where I am writing, it is very cold in February, as the little children often find when they run up and down each other’s doorsteps, Deleted: , Deleted: , Deleted: ’ leaving their valentines. Sometimes, when they have pulled the doorbell very hard and run as fast as possible to get out of sight before the door is opened, they Deleted: , have fallen right into a huge snowbank. But there are no snowbanks in the part Deleted: - of Florida where this picture was taken. The little girl whom you see is staying at Deleted: - a large hotel nearby. This hotel has a very strange name; it is called “The Ponce Deleted: de Leon.” You must ask your papa or your mama or your teacher to tell you who Deleted: , the man was for whom the hotel was named. Find out what country he was born in, what wonderful things he did, and why there should be a hotel in Florida Deleted: m Deleted: , Deleted: , named for him. And there is something else you can ask. Perhaps, you do not know where Florida is. If you do not, find that out first; then find out what the word Florida means, for it has a very pretty meaning. Now, I will tell you about the little girl in the picture. Her name is Edith; the lady to whom she is talking is her mama. The lady’s name is Mrs. Meredith; the little girl, Edith, is telling her mama she wants to go down to the the pond and Deleted: to Deleted: m Deleted: m feed the swans. Mrs. Meredith is smiling because Edith is saying so earnestly, “Mama, if I may go, I will feed them myself; I really will, I promise.” Deleted: m The last time Edith had been down to the pond to feed the swans, something very unpleasant happened. Edith had some pieces of bread to give to the beautiful great white birds, which were as tame as pigeons. The child had never seemed afraid of them, and Mrs. Meredith said, “Now, Edith, go a little nearer and throw your bread.” At that moment, one of the swans rose in the Deleted: had water to stretch himself a little, flapping his great wings and running his long neck forward As he did so, Edith screamed and began to kick. Her mother had never seen her act so before, but she saw that the child was frightened. She said very gently, “Don’t be frightened, darling. The swan is only stretching his wings the way you stretch your arms.” But Miss Edith screamed and kicked all the harder. There were a number of other children standing by the water. They, too, had been feeding the swans without a thought of fear, but when Edith screamed, they seemed to think there must be something to scream about, and every child began screaming. It was really quite dreadful, and Mrs. Meredith was very much ashamed of her little girl. Deleted: , Deleted: t