31 LITTLE GUSTAVA

Once there was a little girl.

Her name was Gustava.

One day she heard a little bird.

It sang and sang and sang.

“Oh, spring has come! ”said Gustava.

“Mother, do you hear the bird?

I am so happy! I love the spring.”

Her mother gave her some bread and milk.

She sat in the warm sun to eat it.

Little Gray Kitten saw her there.

She ran to Gustava.

“Mew, mew, ”said the kitten.

“What have you to eat? ”

“I have bread and milk, ”said Gustava.

“Will you have some?

I will give you some of my good milk.”

“Mew, mew, ”said Gray Kitten.

“It is good. Give me some more.”

“Oh, I am so happy, ”said Gustava.

“Spring is here, Gray Kitten.”

“I like spring, too, ”said Gray Kitten.

Soon little Brown Hen came by.

“Good day, Brown Hen, ”said Gustava.

“I am glad to see you.

Here is some bread for you.

Eat all you want.

Spring is here, Brown Hen.

Are you not glad?

I am so glad that winter is over.

Do take some more bread.”

“Cluck, cluck, ”said little Brown Hen.

“Spring makes me happy, too.”

“Coo, coo; coo, coo, ”said the doves.

“Oh, I hear my white doves, ”said Gustava.

They flew down to her.

“I am so glad to see you, ”she said.

“How pretty your white wings are!

Winter is over, White Doves.

Now you can find food.

But I will give you some bread today.”

She threw them some bread.

“Oh, spring has come, ”said Gustava.

“We are all so happy.”

“We like spring, too, ”said the doves.

Soon her little dog came by.

“Bow-wow, bow-wow, ”he said.

“Don't you want me, too? ”

“Oh, yes, Little Dog, ”said Gustava.

“You must have some food, too.

Spring is here, Little Dog.

We are so glad that winter is over.

Take some of this milk.

I have not had any yet.

But take all you want.

I will put it on the floor for you.

I like to see you eat.”

Then Gustava sat down on the floor.

Little Dog, Gray Kitten, Brown Hen,

and the White Doves sat around her.

Just then her mother came out.

“Oh, Gustava! ”she said.

“You have no dinner.

I will get you some more bread and milk.”

“I gave it all away, ”said Gustava.

“Spring made me so happy.”

(Adapted from Poem by Celia Thaxter)

Word list

wings: arms or limbs of birds

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Why was Gustava so happy?

2) How did Gustava know it was spring?

3) What animals came to see Gustava?

4) Why was it easier for the White Doves to find food in spring than in winter?

5) How much milk did Gustava tell Little Dog he could have?

B) Onomatopoeia is a word that makes the sound the word stands for. Examples of this are:buzz,hiss, and coo-coo. Find three more onomatopoeia words in the story and list them here.

1) _________________

2) _________________

3) _________________

C) True or False? Read the sentences carefully and write true or false for each one.

1) _____ In the story, the season is spring.

2) _____ Spring makes Gustava sad.

3) _____ Gustava likes to see animals eat.

4) _____ Gustava is very kind.

5) _____ Gustava had a big dinner.