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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Community / Home
- Published: 09/19/2014
Earth Shake! House Break!
Born 1935, M, from Rock Hall, Md, United States.jpg)
Earth Shake! House Break!
Once on an island far, far to the east- or maybe to the west- there were three brothers. In those days, everyone on that island lived in caves. But the three brothers were not happy about it.
“Why must we live in a cave?” the oldest asked their mother.
“It is because of the Earthquake Ogre,” she told them. “If we built a house, he would come to wreck it.”
“What if we built a house he couldn’t wreck?” said the middle brother.
“No one knows how,” said their mother.
“Then we shall try and find out,” said the youngest.
The brothers all agreed they should build such a house, but they could not agree how. So each set off to the valley to build their own houses.
The oldest brother built his house from stone and mortar. He told himself, “It is as strong as a mountain.”
The middle brother built his house from wood and pegs. He said, “It is as strong as a tree.”
The youngest brother built his house from bamboo and rope. He said, “It is as strong as the grass.”
Soon after, the Earthquake Ogre came down the mountain. On legs like giant tree trunks, he strode up to the oldest brother’s house of stone.
“So!” he said. “They try to build houses, do they?”
The Earthquake Ogre stomped his feet. And as he stomped, he shouted,
“EARTH SHAKE!
HOUSE BREAK!”
The earth shook and the house shivered. The mortar cracked and the stones fell down. The Earthquake Ogre laughed.
Somehow, the oldest brother got out safely and ran to his brother’s house of wood. But it was not long before the Earthquake Ogre arrived.
“Another one! Well, this one won’t last any longer.” He stomped his feet and shouted,
“EARTH SHAKE!
HOUSE BREAK!”
The earth shook and the house shuddered. The pegs snapped and the walls leaned over. The Earthquake Ogre laughed.
The two brothers got out quickly and ran to their brother’s house of bamboo. But soon the Earthquake Ogre arrived there too.
“Still another! But this one looks weakest of all!” He stomped and shouted,
“EARTH SHAKE!
HOUSE BREAK!”
The earth shook and the house swayed. The ropes strained and the bamboo wobbled, but then it sprang back straight!
The Earthquake Ogre frowned. He stomped harder, and then harder still. The ground shook and trembled but there was nothing he could do to wreck the bamboo house.
At last, in a fury, he stomped back up the mountain.
The brothers were happy to see him go. But the oldest asked the youngest, “Why did your house stand when ours did not?” And the middle brother said, “Yes, why?”
The youngest brother answered, “You tried to make your houses stronger than the Earthquake Ogre. But I made mine weaker. You see, whatever bends does not break.”
And that is why, forever after, everyone on that island built their houses from bamboo.
Poor Earthquake Ogre!
Earth Shake! House Break!(Len Daniels)
Earth Shake! House Break!
Once on an island far, far to the east- or maybe to the west- there were three brothers. In those days, everyone on that island lived in caves. But the three brothers were not happy about it.
“Why must we live in a cave?” the oldest asked their mother.
“It is because of the Earthquake Ogre,” she told them. “If we built a house, he would come to wreck it.”
“What if we built a house he couldn’t wreck?” said the middle brother.
“No one knows how,” said their mother.
“Then we shall try and find out,” said the youngest.
The brothers all agreed they should build such a house, but they could not agree how. So each set off to the valley to build their own houses.
The oldest brother built his house from stone and mortar. He told himself, “It is as strong as a mountain.”
The middle brother built his house from wood and pegs. He said, “It is as strong as a tree.”
The youngest brother built his house from bamboo and rope. He said, “It is as strong as the grass.”
Soon after, the Earthquake Ogre came down the mountain. On legs like giant tree trunks, he strode up to the oldest brother’s house of stone.
“So!” he said. “They try to build houses, do they?”
The Earthquake Ogre stomped his feet. And as he stomped, he shouted,
“EARTH SHAKE!
HOUSE BREAK!”
The earth shook and the house shivered. The mortar cracked and the stones fell down. The Earthquake Ogre laughed.
Somehow, the oldest brother got out safely and ran to his brother’s house of wood. But it was not long before the Earthquake Ogre arrived.
“Another one! Well, this one won’t last any longer.” He stomped his feet and shouted,
“EARTH SHAKE!
HOUSE BREAK!”
The earth shook and the house shuddered. The pegs snapped and the walls leaned over. The Earthquake Ogre laughed.
The two brothers got out quickly and ran to their brother’s house of bamboo. But soon the Earthquake Ogre arrived there too.
“Still another! But this one looks weakest of all!” He stomped and shouted,
“EARTH SHAKE!
HOUSE BREAK!”
The earth shook and the house swayed. The ropes strained and the bamboo wobbled, but then it sprang back straight!
The Earthquake Ogre frowned. He stomped harder, and then harder still. The ground shook and trembled but there was nothing he could do to wreck the bamboo house.
At last, in a fury, he stomped back up the mountain.
The brothers were happy to see him go. But the oldest asked the youngest, “Why did your house stand when ours did not?” And the middle brother said, “Yes, why?”
The youngest brother answered, “You tried to make your houses stronger than the Earthquake Ogre. But I made mine weaker. You see, whatever bends does not break.”
And that is why, forever after, everyone on that island built their houses from bamboo.
Poor Earthquake Ogre!
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