Lessons
Learned
Lessons
Learned
adapted by Jacqueline Laing illustrations by Emily Ludington
Table of Contents Her Old, Worn Sweater Page 3 Her Small, Narrow Pitcher Page 17 Her Glittering, Golden Flower Page 31
Her Old, Worn Sweater
I
t was announced that there would be an elected
ruler over all the village. On a named day, those wishing to be appointed would present themselves in front of the villagers.
The prospective rulers rushed to the common market and busied themselves in trading for the finest clothes and scarves. Dawn watched in awe. She gazed down at her worn sweater and empty pockets and thought she would have no chance of being chosen if she did not look like the rest.
She waited till they were all gone, and then picked up the most colourful of the garments the others had dropped, and fastened them about herself.
On her way home, she caught her reflection. She looked at the mounds of clothing she was wearing and felt without herself.
When the named day came, she shed her borrowed garments and presented herself proudly in her worn sweater.
“It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.�
Her Small, Narrow Pitcher
A
girl, half-dead with thirst, came upon a
pitcher which had once been full of water. When Crow went to grab it, she found that it was lodged into the ground. She tried to stick her hand in and scoop some water out, but the spout was too narrow, and the water level was too low.
She tried, and she tried, but at last had to give up in despair.
Then a thought came to her.
She took a pebble and dropped it into the pitcher. Then she took another pebble and dropped it into the pitcher. Then she took another pebble and dropped it into the pitcher. Then she took another pebble and dropped it into the pitcher.
At last, at last, she saw the water mount up near her, and after casting in a few more pebbles she was able to quench her thirst and save her life.
“Little by little does the trick.”
Her Glittering, Golden Flower
O ne day, a girl was wandering through the forest.
Suddenly, she came upon a glittering, golden flower. When she picked it, it was as heavy as lead. She knew at once that it was gold. She took it into town and sold it for a good price.
The next day, she wandered to the same part of the forest and was delighted to see that the flower had blossomed again. She picked the flower again. Every morning the same thing occurred, and she soon became rich by selling her flowers.
As she grew rich she grew greedy. Thinking she could get all the gold the flower had to offer all at once, she dug it up.
Instead of a hoard of gold, however, all she found was soil, and her flower had wilted and died.
“Greed often over reaches itself.”
Published in an edition of one copy as part of a student assignment for Publication Design 305, Emily Carr University of Art + Design Illustrations Š Emily Ludington Text (if altered) Š Jacqueline Laing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. Design Jacqueline Laing Printed in Canada
Have you ever felt out of place? Have you ever discovered a trick? Have you ever found something special? Follow these three different girls through their stories as they learn lessons about value, independence and greed.