The Project Gutenberg eBook of The tale of Curly-Tail 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 will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: The tale of Curly-Tail Author: Laura Rountree Smith Illustrator: Mae Herrick Scannell Release date: August 23, 2022 [eBook #68822] Most recently updated: October 19, 2024 Language: English Original publication: United States: Albert Whitman Company Credits: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF CURLY-TAIL *** THE TALE OF CURLY-TAIL [Illustration] [Illustration: _Daddy Do-Little Shook His Japanese Parasol_] [Illustration] _The Tale of Curly Tail_ _TEXT BY LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH_ _AUTHOR OF JOLLY POLLY and CURLY TAIL, TIDDLYWINKS COMICAL ANIMAL STORIES, ETC._ “_The Child’s Book of Laughter_” _ILLUSTRATED BY MAE H. SCANNELL._ “_JUST RIGHT BOOKS_” _ALBERT WHITMAN COMPANY_ _PUBLISHERS_ _CHICAGO_ _ILLINOIS_ THE TALE OF CURLY-TAIL Copyright, 1923, by Albert Whitman & Co. Chicago, U. S. A. [Illustration] A JUST RIGHT BOOK MADE IN THE U. S. A. [Illustration] PREFACE The happy adventures of Curly-Tail and the fourteen Little Darling Dogs are simply told in this book. They are instructive stories and are full of humor and make enjoyable reading to all children. Daddy Do-Little, the unusual Dog, and Pedro, the Parrot, are amusing characters. “A Visit to Mrs. Santa Claus,” is something new and original for awakening the child’s attention. This book is of easy vocabulary and will aid the child’s learning. [Illustration] CONTENTS A VISIT TO MRS. SANTA CLAUS Page 9 A HAPPY NEW YEAR ” 23 TABLE MANNERS ” 42 THE COOKIE DOG ” 57 THE CIRCUS DAY PARADE ” 70 GARDEN DAYS ” 84 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Curly-Tail Jumped on a Rocking Horse Frontispiece Santa Claus Page 9 Hurrah for Mrs. Santa Claus ” 13 The Bundle Flew Out the Open Window ” 21 No One Was at the Door ” 25 And He Started Down the Road ” 29 The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs Came Trooping Down the Road ” 31 Daddy Do-Little Made Nice Moist Ginger Snaps ” 35 The Snowmen Were Singing in the Moonlight ” 41 They Danced Round and Round the Circle ” 45 Over Hill and Dale They Went ” 51 It Jumped Suddenly Out of the Pan ” 55 The Old Fellow Would Only Sit in His High Back Chair and Scold ” 59 The Sled Turned Them Head Over Heels in a Snow Drift ” 63 Sly Foot Bound Curly-Tail to a Chair ” 67 What Should He See but a Circus Parade ” 71 They Walked the Tight-Rope Together ” 75 Pedro Threw Off the Dog Skin and Flew at Sly Foot ” 79 He Found Garden Seeds Everywhere ” 87 Curly-Tail Out in the Garden ” 91 He Danced Right Out of the Book ” 95 [Illustration: _Curly-Tail Jumped On a Rocking Horse_] THE TALE OF CURLY-TAIL [Illustration] A VISIT TO MRS. SANTA CLAUS Daddy Do-Little it is true, Wears a coat red, white, and blue, He’s happier than I can tell, The new coat fits him very well! One December day, Curly-Tail, the dearest little dog in the world, jumped upon his Rocking Horse and rocked away, away, away. He said, “I will go to Santa Claus’ work-shop, perhaps I will find our old Parrot.” He rocked away all day, and when night came he found a little cave in the woods. He went in and curled up and fell asleep. Next day he woke up early and cried, “I’ve lost the right path, without fail. This is a joke on Curly-Tail!” He rocked away, away, away, again, and soon he said, “Some one is coming down the path, I hear the patter, patter of little feet.” Then he set up a shout, for who should be coming to meet him but the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs? They all set up a shout, crying, “Ha, ha, ha, the lost is found, Rocking, rocking o’er the ground.” Curly-Tail got down from the Rocking Horse and said, “I am going to Santa Claus’ work-shop and this Rocking Horse knows the way, who will go with me?” “I will, I will, I will,” cried the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs in one breath, so Curly-Tail got on the Rocking Horse and rocked away, away, away, and the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs ran on behind. “I see a light ahead,” shouted the first Little Darling Dog. “I see a light,” shouted the next, and the next. They came to a little wee house in the woods. Curly-Tail without waiting for an invitation rocked right in the open door, crying, “Hurrah for Mrs. Santa Claus! Here we are, the whole Curly-Tail family!” Mrs. Santa Claus was so surprised she cried, “Ha, ha, ha, ha, by my frilled cap, I surely must be taking a nap!” She tried to count the Little Darling Dogs, but they danced about her so fast, she never knew which ones she counted twice, and which ones she never counted at all! [Illustration: _Hurrah for Mrs. Santa Claus_] Curly-Tail begged, “Please let us go into Santa Claus work-shop!” Mrs. Santa Claus said, “This thing I will tell you true, Such an idea will not do.” She said Santa Claus was not at home, and she never let any one go in his work-shop. Then the first Little Darling Dog sat down on the floor and began to grumble, and the next Little Darling Dog began to weep, and the next Little Darling Dog got a scowly face, and such a noise you never heard. Only Curly-Tail kept good natured. He rocked gently to and fro on his wonderful Rocking Horse and said, “You make as much noise as Daddy Do-Little when he is lonesome.” Mrs. Santa Claus said, “Who is Daddy Do-Little?” Curly-Tail replied, “He’s the laziest animal in the woods, He always did little if he could.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs said, “If you could only hear him grumbling, You would think ’twas thunder rumbling.” Mrs. Santa Claus said, “If the old fellow had a new coat, perhaps he would not be so lazy or grumble so much. Here is my work basket, and some cloth, go to work if you please.” Mrs. Santa Claus opened a slide in the wall and disappeared! “Ha, ha, ha,” cried the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs. Curly-Tail cried, “Hurrah! hurrah, we will make Daddy Do-Little a new coat out of this cloth.” My, how busy they were! One Little Darling Dog got a tape measure and measured the cloth. One Little Darling Dog got a pair of scissors and went, “snip, snip, snip.” One Little Darling Dog began to unwind a spool of thread, and the other Little Darling Dogs sat around in groups threading needles! Curly-Tail skipped about giving directions. Soon they were all sewing on Daddy Do-Little’s new coat! “Oh, oh, oh,” cried the Little Darling Dogs, as they pricked themselves on the needles. Curly-Tail cried, “Cheer up, cheer up, we’re nearly through We’ll make a coat that just fits you.” Then the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs began to sing a song and their needles flew faster and faster. They would interrupt one another by shouting, “Who has the thimble? Who has the thread? Where is my needle?” and still the song sounded beautifully. Curly-Tail cried, “Where will we get buttons do you suppose To finish up this animal’s clothes?” Then they heard thump, bump, down the chimney fell six little brass buttons. They sewed the brass buttons on the coat, and soon it was finished. Then a voice cried, “Come into the chimney, ’tis large and wide, There’s room for the Curly-Tails side by side.” They looked toward the chimney. There, sure enough were little seats, and little tables. On each table was a plate with a pie smoking hot. How they all enjoyed their lunch! They cried out, “We are happy now because, Of mince pie, Mrs. Santa Claus!” Mrs. Santa Claus opened the panel in the wall and went back into the house. She asked to see the coat, which they had tied up in a neat bundle. The first Little Darling Dog began to untie the string which held the bundle, and the bundle hopped about in the strangest way. Then the next Little Darling Dog said, “Let me untie it,” and the next one said, “I will untie it in a minute.” At that very moment there, before their very noses, the bundle jumped out of the window and was gone! The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs thought their work was all lost and they began to weep and wail, but Curly-Tail said, “Cheer up, cheer up, for by the by, We had the nicest kind of pie!” So, the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs all dried their eyes and went to the door. Curly-Tail jumped on his Rocking Horse. [Illustration: _The Bundle Flew Out of the Open Window_] The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs rubbed their eyes for they saw fourteen Rocking Horses standing in a row. They shouted, “We are so happy now because, We have a present from Santa Claus.” Curly-Tail said, “I hope each horse is trusty and good, We’ll rock away through the deep green wood.” When they came to Daddy Do-Little’s house in the woods they all set up a shout, for there he stood in the doorway with his new coat on! He was happy you may be sure, and they all rocked round him on their wonderful Rocking Horses. [Illustration] A HAPPY NEW YEAR In January as you know, We always make some men of snow, And if you study well each page, You’ll find the Parrot in his cage. Little Curly-Tail called out one morning, “A Happy New Year, A Happy New Year, And January at last is here.” Curly-Tail curled his little tail up tighter and tighter, as he ran down stairs three steps at a time, and he set the table and got breakfast, before Daddy Do-Little had a chance to answer him. Curly-Tail kept humming over and over, “A Happy New Year, A Happy New Year.” “Hush, what is that? A-rap, a-tap,” cried out Daddy Do-Little, suddenly. Sure enough, there was a “rap, tap, tapping,” at the door, but when they got to the door, no one was there. “Hard lines for one of any age, To lose a parrot in a cage.” said Daddy Do-Little. [Illustration: _No One Was at the Door_] Just then, they heard a “rap, tap, tapping,” on the window pane. They ran quickly of course to the window but could see no one. They sat down to breakfast and Daddy Do-Little said, “More sugar, please.” A voice spoke up, “More sugar, please.” Curly-Tail said, “It must be the Parrot, I’ll leave the table And find him soon as I am able.” He looked about in-doors and out-doors and still he could see no one. Now Daddy Do-Little was a famous old cook, and he felt like cooking that morning, but he called, “We are out of sugar, how do you suppose I can make ginger-snaps, goodness knows.” At that, Curly-Tail got out his little red cap and cape and market basket, and said, “I will go to the grocers and get the sugar.” “Get the sugar,” repeated a familiar voice, and Daddy Do-Little said, “The Parrot is hiding, ’tis very true We’ll find him now, whatever we do.” They searched one hour and sixteen minutes but could not find the Parrot. Little Curly-Tail went out of the house, “click,” went the gate and he started down the road. Daddy Do-Little came to the door waving his red pocket handkerchief frantically, and shouted, “A handkerchief for your little nose, You had better carry I suppose.” Sure enough, Curly-Tail did have a cold, and so he came back good naturedly, and got the handkerchief and started again to the grocers after the sugar. This time he did not even get as far as the garden gate when Daddy Do-Little rapped on the window, crying, “It seems to me it’s rather funny, To go for sugar without money.” [Illustration: “_And He Started Down the Road_”] Curly-Tail laughed and came back with a hop and a skip and a bound. Will you believe it? It took Daddy Do-Little three quarters of an hour to find his rusty-hinged old pocket book, and when he found it, it only had twenty-five cents in it. Then they looked in the old cracker jar and found sixteen hundred pennies! “Pennies will do, pennies will do,” called a merry voice, but they could see no one. Curly-Tail started again. By this time it was snowing and blowing. [Illustration: “_The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs Came Trooping Down the Road_”] “Click,” went the gate, he thought he was off in good earnest this time, but Daddy Do-Little cried again, “Will you ask for white, or brown, When you come into the town?” Then a very surprising thing happened. A great shout was heard and the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs came trooping down the road. Daddy Do-Little was thoroughly and entirely cross at this unlooked for interruption, and he shouted, “Be it fairy tale or fable, To entertain them I’m not able.” Curly-Tail danced up to him and whispered, “Snowmen, let the Darling Dogs stay outside and make Snowmen.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs came on with a whoop and a bound, and Daddy Do-Little shouted, “Make some Snowmen on the ground, Make some Snowmen jolly and round.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs went to work with a will, and Curly-Tail started off saying, “I will really, truly get the sugar this time.” Just as he was nearly out of sight of the house, he heard a great shout, and the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs ran after him and brought him back. Daddy Do-Little said, “There are several kinds of sugar ’tis true, White, and brown, and red, and blue.” It took them all forty-seven minutes to decide what kind of sugar they wanted for their ginger snaps, and what kind of sugar to have on the frosting. All this time, the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs jumped up and down and said, “Oh Daddy Do-Little are you really going to make nice, moist ginger snaps? And can we all stay to lunch?” [Illustration: _Daddy Do-Little Made Nice Moist Ginger Snaps_] By and by Curly-Tail slipped off, and this time he went on safely to the grocery store. He got brown sugar to put in the ginger snaps and red sugar to put on for frosting. He went back home with a hop, and a skip, and a bound, and helped the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs make Snowmen, while Daddy Do-Little made the nice, moist ginger snaps. The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs were so cold they begged to come in and warm their paws, so by and by they all shook off the snow and crept quietly into the parlor and sat down in a semi-circle about the parlor stove, and warmed their paws. “A-kit-chew,” sneezed the First Little Darling Dog. “A-kit-chew,” sneezed the second. Just as Daddy Do-Little came to the door to scold, the Parrot came out from his hiding place under the sofa and said, “It really puts me in a rage, To spend my life inside this cage.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs crowded around and said, “It must be a magic cage, see it move.” Curly-Tail said, “Where did you come from, Sir. I have looked for you over hill and dale.” “Poor old Polly,” said Daddy Do-Little. This put the Parrot in a rage at once and he shouted, “It is, Sir, the greatest folly, To give a man, the name of Polly!” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs took out their fourteen little pocket handkerchiefs and laughed until they cried, waving their handkerchiefs in the air. The sun had come out so bright and warm the Snowmen began to melt. The Parrot cried, “If you’d take out a bucket of water or so It might freeze them up again you know.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs got fourteen little pails of water, and carried out water to pour on their Snowmen. Curly-Tail let the parrot out of his cage, and Daddy Do-Little finished his moist ginger snaps. The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs went happily homeward each with a moist ginger snap, with red sugar upon it. Late at night the Parrot called, “To tell my name I am afraid, Just listen to that serenade.” The Snowmen were singing in the moonlight, “Happy New Year you hear us call, A Happy New Year to one and all, From Mexico the Parrot came, And little PEDRO is his name.” “Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah,” cried Curly-Tail, “at last we know the Parrot’s name,” they looked about, but the Parrot was nowhere to be seen! [Illustration: _The Snowmen Were Singing in the Moonlight_] TABLE MANNERS To learn some manners at the table, Every animal is able, To be polite, please do not fail, When entertained by Curly-Tail. One day Daddy Do-Little called out, “Somebody is late, it makes me pale, To receive no answer from Curly-Tail.” There was no answer sure enough. The old clock struck twelve, and one, and still Curly-Tail did not come home. Daddy Do-Little got out his new yellow and green walking stick, and started out to look for Curly-Tail. Early that morning Curly-Tail had gone with a hop, and a skip, and a bound into Farmer Brown’s garden to get an apple to roast for dinner. “Click,” went a spring, and for the first time in his life Curly-Tail was caught in a trap! He said, “If I could only uncurl my tail, if I could only uncurl my tail I would feel happier.” His tail was caught in the trap. He was wondering what he would do when he heard the “patter, patter, patter,” of many little feet. Then a most delightful thing happened! The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs were coming into Farmer Brown’s garden to get ripe, red, rosy apples to roast for dinner. They came with a hop, and a skip and a bound, and suddenly stopped, for they saw poor Curly-Tail caught in the trap. It took them one hour and fourteen minutes to find out how to open the trap, but at last the spring gave with a “click, click, click” and Curly-Tail was free once more. They all were so glad to set Curly-Tail free that they danced round and round in a circle, and they all forgot to get the ripe, red, rosy apples for dinner. [Illustration: _They Danced Round and Round in a Circle_] The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs invited Curly-Tail to come to their home for dinner, which he gladly did. They all sat down at the table and the Darling Dogs made a great noise eating their food. Curly-Tail said, “If you will come to my little tent in the woods for supper, I will teach you some table manners.” Then he curled his funny little tail up tighter and tighter, and ran away to his own little tent in the woods. At exactly six o’clock the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs appeared at his tent. They cried, “Oh,” and “Ah” and “How very surprising.” There was a table in the tent with fifteen little chairs around it. On the table were plates, and knives, and forks, and spoons. There was a cup and saucer for each one. They all sat down at the table and began to talk at once, and drum with their silver spoons. Curly-Tail said, “It is not polite to make a noise, You act like careless girls and boys.” He gave each one of them a little red and white checked napkin. By this time they were so hungry and the food looked so good that they began to smack their lips. Curly-Tail said, “Eat with a spoon now if you please, Come, be polite and do not tease.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs took their fourteen little spoons and began to eat their broth. It was much too hot and burned their mouths and they began to weep and wail. Curly-Tail gave each one a sip of milk to cool their mouths, and at this very minute, some one rapped on a tree outside saying, “Beside this little tent I’ll stay Alas, alack, I’ve lost my way.” “Daddy Do-Little,” shouted the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs. They ran outside and hugged the old fellow and Curly-Tail was pleased to invite him into the tent. The Darling Dogs forgot all about their table manners for Daddy Do-Little carried a great basket of good things to eat, and they danced about the basket and helped themselves. By and by Daddy Do-Little grew tired of the noise and he whispered something into Curly-Tail’s left ear and they went outside. Daddy Do-Little spread out his magic red cotton handkerchief, they stepped upon it and sailed away, away, away. Over hill and dale they went and sailed right into Daddy Do-Little’s front yard and landed on his door step. Curly-Tail went into the kitchen and put on a blue and white checked apron, and made a good fire. Daddy Do-Little sat still saying, “I made some doughnuts goodness knows Some animal stole them, I suppose.” Curly-Tail was all this time measuring and sifting and mixing. By and by he got out a rolling pin and rolled out some wonderful cookies. [Illustration: “_Over the Hill and Dale They Went_”] He took the cookie cutter and cut out cookies shaped like animals. Soon he had a plate full of cookies to take to Daddy Do-Little. Daddy Do-Little was delighted, he said, “Little Curly-Tail, by my eyes, You surely take me by surprise, Did you use a spoon? Did you use a book? Tell me how did you become a cook?” Curly-Tail noticed that one cookie was larger than the rest and stuck to the pan. It grew larger, and larger and larger, crack, crack it jumped suddenly out of the pan and came and stood in the doorway, shouting, “I’m a cookie animal ho, ho, Very funny and made of dough, With a leap and a bound and scarce a sound, You’ll see me hop, skip across the ground, I’m a cookie animal ho, ho, I’ll make my bow before I go.” This funny cookie animal made a low bow and bounded out of the window. Daddy Do-Little laughed until he cried. Curly-Tail ran down the road after the cookie animal. The cookie animal shouted, “I am ahead in the race, Don’t bite the nose from my face.” Curly-Tail came nearer, and nearer, and the cookie animal cried out, “Don’t bite my paws, don’t bite my ears, Can’t you see I’ve shed some tears?” Curly-Tail came so near that the cookie animal felt his hot breath and he whispered, “I have some feelings, I’m growing pale, Don’t come any nearer Curly-Tail.” Then the cookie dog jumped into a hole in a hollow tree, and though Curly-Tail stood and coaxed for an hour he would not come out. When Curly-Tail got back he found Daddy Do-Little nodding by the fire. [Illustration: “_It Jumped Suddenly Out of the Pan_”] Just as he remarked that he thought they would see the cookie dog no more, “rap-a-tap,” was heard at the window-pane, and there stood the cookie dog singing, “I really wonder how you are, May I sleep to-night in your cookie jar?” Curly-Tail opened the window and the cookie dog jumped into the cookie jar and fell asleep. Daddy Do-Little complained, “Of a cookie dog I never heard, The whole thing now seems quite absurd.” They went to bed, and in the morning, the cookie dog was gone. [Illustration] THE COOKIE DOG If you are lonesome where you are, Just go to meet your cookie jar, Then cook a little if you’re able, And roll out cookies on your table. One day Daddy Do-Little went into the kitchen early scolding, “I may be deaf and rather old, But still you see that I can scold.” He looked into his cookie jar and his doughnut jar, and his cracker jar, and his ginger snap jar, and he found though they had been cooking to fill them up for days and days, they were all empty! Curly-Tail tried to get breakfast and make Daddy Do-Little forget his troubles, but the old fellow would only sit in his high backed chair and scold. By and by Curly-Tail said, “I have no doubt but Sly Foot, the old Wolf, knows where your cookies and crackers, and doughnuts, and ginger snaps are, and I will go and visit him to-day.” Daddy Do-Little said, “You’re a cunning fellow and ought to thrive, But you’ll never come back from there alive.” Curly-Tail laughed as he put on his new coat and cap and mittens, but Daddy Do-Little said, “He will make mince meat of you in a minute.” [Illustration: _The Old Fellow Would Only Sit in His High Backed Chair and Scold_] Though it was spring time, there had been a light fall of snow, and so Curly-Tail went down hill on his sled. Daddy Do-Little was so sorry to see him go that he cried real tears into his new pocket handkerchief. Curly-Tail rode away, away, away, until he came to Sly Foot’s den, then he stopped, for Sly Foot was within and roared. Old Sly Foot said, “Growling and thunder, who is there? Is it a doggie? Is it a bear?” Curly-Tail replied in a terrible voice, “Growling and thunder I’m hearty and hale And my name, if you please, Sir, is Curly-Tail.” Old Sly Foot was so surprised to see his visitor when he came out of the den that he had not a word to say, so Curly-Tail continued, “Your doughnut jar I’ve come to borrow Either to-day, or else to-morrow.” Old Sly Foot was so upset at the mention of the stolen doughnut jar that he turned a backward somersault in the snow crying, “Ha, ha, ha, the jar will stay With me to-morrow and yesterday.” Curly-Tail cried, “Better take back what you have said, But first come riding on my sled.” Old Sly Foot was so surprised that Curly-Tail was not afraid of him, he sat down on the sled with pleasure and the first thing, the sled turned them head over heels in a snow drift. Curly-Tail laughed and said, “Will you give up the doughnut jar, and the cookie jar, and the ginger snap jar, and the cracker jar?” “Growling and thunder, I’ll not give them up for that one little bump,” said Old Sly Foot. [Illustration: “_The Sled Turned Them Head Over Heels in a Snow Drift_”] So, they dragged the sled up hill together, when the most surprising things began to happen! The sled stood up on end, and began to chase Sly Foot down hill, it beat him too, at every step of the way. “Help, help,” he cried, “will this sled never stop beating me?” The sled chased him back into his den and he stood there growling, “I’m black and blue, ’tis very true, Here are the empty jars for you.” Curly-Tail saw it was no use to mince matters, so he went into the woods to think. He dressed up as a peddler and went back to Old Sly Foot’s den and began to sell his wares. Suddenly Sly Foot said, “Those don’t look like a peddler’s feet, those don’t look like a peddler’s hands.” Then his voice rose to a shriek and he said, “Those don’t look like a peddler’s ears,” and he pulled off Curly-Tail’s cap and saw he had been fooled. Curly-Tail only wanted to get into the den to see where Old Sly Foot had hidden the cookies, and doughnuts, and crackers, and ginger snaps. Old Sly Foot bound Curly-Tail to a chair and set a kettle over the fire to boil, saying, “I will boil you very truly, For you seem to me unruly.” Curly-Tail blew a little silver whistle and in trooped the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs, to his rescue. As they could not find anything Sly Foot had taken, they all hastened away to the grocers, rattling their pennies in their pockets. Soon they bought doughnuts, and cookies, and crackers, and ginger snaps to fill up Daddy Do-Little’s jars. As they came to his house they heard the old fellow saying, “There’s something to worry me without fail, I wonder what happened to Curly-Tail.” [Illustration: _Sly Foot Bound Curly-Tail to a Chair_] When he saw Curly-Tail and the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs with their little bags of cookies and doughnuts, and ginger snaps, and crackers, he was so pleased, he forgot he was old and cross and ran out smiling to meet them. They went inside and began to eat out of their paper bags, and Daddy Do-Little told such funny ghost stories that the hair rose on their backs a couple of inches! The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs were afraid to go home in the dark, so Daddy Do-Little said. “I have made hammocks for fourteen years, They’ll be useful too, it now appears.” He went to a big box and got out fourteen little hammocks, and strung them up on hooks for the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs to occupy. They were pleased you may be sure. Curly-Tail went up stairs to occupy his own little bed. He cried out, when he woke in the night, “The doughnut jar’s empty still I suppose, We ate them all up, as every one knows.” Sure enough, they all ate up the contents of their little paper bags, while Daddy Do-Little told ghost stories. THE CIRCUS DAY PARADE If you are bound on merriment, Just step inside a Circus Tent, The Clown tells jokes so very funny, You’ll find it’s always worth the money. One bright spring morning Curly-Tail got up early and crept down stairs very softly so he would wake no one. He went into the kitchen and packed a little red and white basket with a lunch, and soon he was off, and away. He was going to find Pedro. He said, “Daddy Do-Little is so lonesome, I will never come back until I can find Pedro to keep him company.” [Illustration: _What Should He See but a Circus Parade_] He sang merrily as he went tripping along through the woods that led to the town. It was now nine o’clock. What should he see but a Circus Parade. He came up to the band wagon and began to spin around after his curly little tail, and the Band Master said, “Ha, ha, ha, don’t be afraid, Come, join our Circus Day Parade.” “Do you mean it?” asked Curly-Tail. The Band Master replied, “I talk quite straight, not like a riddle, Ha, ha, ha, can you play the fiddle?” Curly-Tail was glad to be helped up on the band wagon. He was in a real Circus Day parade. The Clowns danced and threw colored candies to the crowd. The Band played and played. The horses pranced. The elephants walked in a long line, and all was very splendid indeed. The Band Master said, “To do your tricks you must not fail, I hope you’re a dancer, Curly-Tail.” Curly-Tail was never so proud before in his life, he danced round and round after his tight little tail, as he rode on top of the Band Wagon, and the crowd cheered, and said “What a comical little fellow.” By and by they came to a big tent and if you guessed fourteen years you could never guess who was walking outside on the tight-rope! It was his cousin Tangle-Tail, who was a famous tight-rope walker. When Tangle-Tail saw Curly-Tail, he got down off the tight-rope in the twinkling of an eye and whispered something to him, then they both swung up together and walked the tight-rope together, their funny little tails curling and twisting tighter, every step of the way. [Illustration: _They Walked the Tight-Rope Together_] The crowd cheered, and every one wanted to go inside the big tent, of course. Curly-Tail had a wonderful afternoon. He rode on the horse’s backs in the ring, and he walked the tight-rope and danced on a big drum, but his most delightful adventure was still to come. When the Circus was over, he went near one of the little side-show tents, and heard some one call out, “To be a prisoner is not jolly, And don’t you dare to call me ‘Polly’.” Curly-Tail was so excited he did not know what to do. He ran into the tent and cried, “Pedro, our dear lost Pedro.” Pedro could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Curly-Tail, but he cried, “Tho’ you know my name’s not Polly, To talk loudly would be folly.” They began to talk and plan about getting Pedro home. Just then Tangle-Tail came into the tent, and said they must get a cage, and there was no time to lose as the Circus people were coming into the tent. Then Tangle-Tail thought of an old dog-skin he had. He said they would wrap it around Pedro, and take him in it down the road. They did this, Pedro scolding all the while. All would have gone well I am sure, if they had not met Sly Foot. He cried, “Ha, ha, ha, I see my Sunday dinner right here before me.” Tangle-Tail was never so puzzled before in his life, and Curly-Tail did not know what to do either, and all the time Sly Foot was coming nearer and nearer. He came so close, they could feel his hot breath on their cheeks, and he shouted, “By my whiskers and tail I will have a fine Sunday dinner!” [Illustration: _Pedro Threw Off the Dog Skin and Flew at Sly Foot_] At this very minute, Pedro threw off the dog-skin and flew at Sly Foot, making a terrible noise, he said, “Sly Foot, if you are not wise, I’ll peck out both your big, black eyes.” Sly Foot cried, “Let me go, Sir, let me go, Sir, I really meant no harm whatever, it was just my little joke.” Then Pedro flew on top of his head, and shouted in his ear, “You may be a joker, wherever you are, But don’t you forget the doughnut jar.” Then Sly Foot howled, “Let me go, Sir, let me go, Sir.” Pedro said, “Will you leave the Curly-Tails alone, And be content with a turkey bone?” Sly Foot promised, and Pedro gave him a little peck on his head as he let him go. By and by when Sly Foot had run away, Curly-Tail set up a shout, for the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs were coming to meet them. They cried, “Hurrah, hurrah, this is very jolly, Hurrah, hurrah, for our own dear Polly.” Pedro replied, “I will bite off your ears, you little dears, And peck out the eyes of the next one who cries, ‘POLLY’!” Curly-Tail had once been to school, and learned a real yell, so he cried, “What’s the matter with Pedro? He’s all right, Who’s all right? Pedro. Who says so? WE ALL SAY SO. PEDRO.” The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs said when they got near the house, “Daddy Do-Little is fast asleep, Let us creep in and quiet keep.” Pedro flew in the open window. His cage door was open. He jumped up on his perch and began soon to swing to and fro on his little swing. The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs sat down in their fourteen little green rocking chairs, and began to rock to and fro, to and fro. Curly-Tail went after his tail and then Daddy Do-Little woke up saying, “I had a very pleasant dream, I thought I heard old Pedro scream.” Then they all laughed and made a great noise until Daddy Do-Little shook his Japanese Parasol, and pounded on the floor with it to bring the whole company to order. Once again they all shouted, “Hurrah, hurrah!” GARDEN DAYS If you ever plant a garden, This thing you should know, Plant some little magic seeds, To make your garden grow. Daddy Do-Little was not very fond of work. He woke up one morning scolding, “I must grumble, oh yes, indeed, I haven’t a single garden seed.” This happened at breakfast, and the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs laid down their fourteen little spoons, and Curly-Tail and Tangle-Tail called in one breath, “We will plant your garden, we will wish for Magic seed.” Then the funniest thing happened. Daddy Do-Little turned up his cup, and there inside, lay a package of garden seed. He took up his saucer, there lay another package of seed. He looked in his oat-meal bowl, there lay another package of seeds. He said, “I’m surprised indeed to-day, In the merry month of May!” Under everything he picked up was a package of garden seeds, a present from his little friends. Suddenly he remembered that he did not like to work very well, so he said, “I am too stiff for rake and hoe, I cannot plant seeds in a row.” Then the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs slipped out of the house and took up their fourteen little rakes and hoes and spades, and began to make a garden. Curly-Tail and Tangle-Tail dropped in the seeds. [Illustration: _He Found Garden Seeds Everywhere_] Daddy Do-Little called, “Too many beans and too many peas Plant some cabbage and lettuce please.” “Cabbages and lettuce,” shouted Pedro, “and don’t forget my sunflowers, how I do like sunflower seeds!” They worked all day with rake, and spade, and hoe, and wheelbarrow, and Daddy Do-Little and Pedro shouted directions from time to time. “Make a wide path, don’t make it narrow, Come this way with the old wheelbarrow.” The sun shone warm and bright, and then patter, patter, patter fell the rain in a sudden shower. The Fourteen Little Darling Dogs took up their fourteen little rakes and went merrily homeward, shouting, “To make a good garden we always try, Daddy Do-Little good bye, good bye.” Daddy Do-Little waved his new red handkerchief in farewell, and shouted, “I am so lazy, I wonder why, You always have to call good bye.” Tangle-Tail then made his best bow and said, “I’m a tight-rope walker, I make confession I have to go follow my profession.” As he went off down the road Daddy Do-Little began to weep, but Curly-Tail cried, “I’m not going away, I promise to stay, A year, a week, a month and day.” Then Pedro said, “If what Parrots say is ever true, I’ll NEVER say good bye to you.” Then Daddy Do-Little felt cheered up you may be sure. He said to the Parrot, “You’ll have to behave, Sir, for one of your age, I’d really expect you to stay in your cage.” Turning to Curly-Tail he said, “’Tis time for bed, oh goodness me, Each hour grows later as you see.” They all went merrily to bed. When the moon came out Curly-Tail crept down stairs and went out into the garden, singing little songs like these, [Illustration: _Curly-Tail Went Out in the Garden_] “Little seeds you must grow, grow, grow, For we have been making a garden you know.” Then the little seeds sent their roots down into the earth and they sent their green shoots up. They grew very fast, for they were magic seeds of course. Curly-Tail danced up to bed and fell asleep dreaming happy dreams. In the morning Pedro got breakfast and Daddy Do-Little was so happy to have company that he just sat in the corner and forgot to look out at his garden all day. When evening came, Curly-Tail said, “Daddy Do-Little nobody knows, As well as I, how your garden grows.” They went out together and Daddy Do-Little rubbed his eyes, for everything was coming up in even rows. At that very minute Curly-Tail set up a shout, for the Fourteen Little Darling Dogs came trooping along, and they all had picnic baskets! They sang, “A surprise party’s well if it doesn’t fail, A happy birthday to Curly-Tail!” Sure enough, it was Curly-Tail’s birthday and the funny part of it was, nobody knew how old he was. They had the picnic on the porch and Daddy Do-Little said, “I am very happy, I’m hale and hearty, I always enjoy a birthday party.” Curly-Tail danced so hard round, and round, and round, after his little tightly curled up tail, that I think he danced right out of the book, if you really want to know what became of him, Just send him a letter through the mail, And address it to Little Curly-Tail. _FINIS_ [Illustration: _He Danced Right Out of the Book_] ALBERT WHITMAN’S EASY READING JUVENILE LIBRARY “JUST RIGHT BOOKS” Profusely illustrated in colors; reinforced cloth binding; printed in large type on fine paper; jackets in color; price each, 60c. The Tiddly Winks Surprise Stories The Party Twins Washington’s Boyhood Comical Circus Stories Real Out-of-Door Stories Fifty Funny Animal Tales In and Out-Door Playgames Child’s Garden of Verses The Treasure Twins Open Air Stories Gingerbread Boy Doll Land Stories Tale of Curly Tail Reading Time Stories Knowledge Primer Games Jolly Polly and Curly Tail Flower and Berry Babies Little Boy France Busy Fingers Drawing Primer Happy Manikin in Manners Town The Vegetable and Fruit Children The Dinner That Was Always There Six Tiddly Winks and the A to Zees PUBLISHED BY ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY CHICAGO, U. S. A. *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF CURLY-TAIL *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed. Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. START: FULL LICENSE THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed: 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 will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that: • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works. • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work. • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 1.F. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org. This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.