Frank R. Stockton's The Griffin and the Minor Canon

"Over the great door of an old, old church, which stood in a quiet town of a faraway land, there was carved in stone the figure of a large griffin...a great many plans were proposed to prevent the Griffin from coming into the town...someone said it would be a good thing to destroy the stone image so that the Griffin would have no excuse for entering the town..."

"...When the Griffin found that the Minor Canon had left town, he seemed sorry, but showed no disposition to go and look for him...The griffin now thought that he ought to visit the sick and the poor; and he began to go about the town for that purpose. The effect upon the sick was miraculous. All, except those who were very ill indeed, jumped from their beds when they heard he was coming, and declared themselves quite well."

Seven Tales by H.C. Andersen

"Far out in the forest stood the most charming little fir tree. It had plenty of room to grow in, lots of sunshine, and all the fresh air it wanted, and it was surrounded on all sides by tall, sturdy comrades, pine trees as well as firs..."



"But this particular little fir tree was so anxious to grow up that it gave no thought to the warm sunshine or fresh air; and it paid no attention to the merry chatter of the children who came into the woods looking for wild strawberries or blackberries..."



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