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6 Little Children are

Wiser than Men

Warm Up

● What are the festivals you celebrate?
● Which is your favourite festival? Why?

Reading skills

It was an early Easter. Sledging was only just over; snow still lay in the yards; and water ran
in streams down the village street.

Two little girls from different houses happened to meet in a lane between two homesteads,
where the dirty water after running through the farmyards had formed a large puddle. One

girl was very small, the other a little bigger. Their mothers had dressed them both in new
frocks. The little one wore a blue frock, the other a pink one and both had red kerchiefs on
their heads. They had just come from church when they met, and first they showed each

other their finery, and then they began to play. Soon the fancy took them to splash about
in the water, and the smaller one was going to step into the puddle, shoes and all, when the
elder checked her:

“Don’t go in so, Malàsha, said she. Your mother will scold
you. I will take off my shoes and stockings, and you take

off yours.”

They did so; and then, picking up their skirts, began
walking towards each other through the puddle. The
water came up to Malàsha’s ankles, and she said:

“It is deep, Akoūlya. I am afraid!”

‘Come on,’ replied the other. ‘Don’t be frightened. It
won’t get any deeper?’

When they got near each other, Akoūlya said: ‘Mind,
Malàsha, don’t splash. Walk carefully!’

She had hardly said this, when Malàsha plumped down her foot so that the water splashed,
right on to Akoūlya’s frock. The frock was splashed, and so were Akoūlya’s eyes and nose.

65 Arrow - English Plus-8