naturally, when our work is done, and our strength gone, which has no
more tragedy than the falling of a leaf from the tree. In this way,
we can give children the first idea that the individual is so much
less than the whole.

Little children often take death very naturally. A boy of five met
two of his older companions at the school door. They said sadly and
solemnly: "We have just seen a dead man!" "Well," said the little
philosopher, "that's all right. We've _all_ got to die when our
work is done."


In one of the Buddha stories which I reproduce at the end of this
book, the little Hare (who is, I think, a symbol of nervous
individualism) constantly says: "Suppose the Earth were to fall
in, what would become of me?"

As an antidote to the ordinary attitude towards death, I commend an
episode from a German folklore story which is called "Unlucky John,"
and which is included in the list of stories recommended at the end
of this book.

The following sums up in poetic form some of the material necessary
for the wants of a child.


THE CHILD

The little new soul has come to earth,
He has taken his staff for the pilgrim's way.