The Storybook of Science: Chapters 1 and 2

The Storybook of Science by Jean Henri Fabre (translation by Elizur Wright, Jr.)

Chapter 1: The Six

Uncle Paul is a revered and respected man in his village, one who labours on the farm by day. He takes time to notice the bees and plants when he is out among the fields, stopping to watch and listen and think. In the evenings, he rests with his books, books of many kinds and subjects. He is known as Maitre Paul, because he is always willing to share his knowledge with others and help them in so sharing.

Uncle Paul lives with old Ambroisine and her old husband Jacques, who have been family servants and friends since the time Uncle Paul was born. Ambroisine takes care of the house, and Jacques cares for the animals and farm. They are like parents to Uncle Paul. And because Uncle Paul is so very fond of children and their endless curiosity, he has prevailed upon his brother to allow his niece and nephews to stay with him for part of the year.

Claire is the oldest, nearly twelve years old. She is obedient and happy to oblige and be helpful. She can make useful things with her hands.

Jules is ten and is full of questions about everything. He is wiry and full of energy, but he has one fault, that of a temper that flares up too easily. Uncle Paul wishes to help him learn to control it.

Emile is the youngest and is just learning to pay attention to the world around him, though in the meantime he has a box full of playthings of all kinds to distract him and keep him entertained.

Chapter 2: The Fairy Tale and the True Story

The six members of Uncle Paul's family were all sitting around the fire one evening, pursuing various methods of passing the evening. Uncle Paul was reading a book, Jacques was mending a basket, Ambroisine was sitting with her distaff, Claire was doing some handwork, and Jules and Emile were setting up the Noah's ark with all the animals. The younger boys got bored of their play and asked Ambroisine for a story.

"Once there was an ant and a grasshopper who were going to the fair in the winter. The grasshopper hopped across a patch of ice along the way. The ant asked the grasshopper to carry him over, but the grasshopper replied that the ant should give a great leap just as he had done. The ant having done this hurt his leg by slipping on the ice. Ice, ice, the strong should be good, but you have broken the ant's leg. The ice said, 'The sun is stronger than me, she melts me.' Sun, sun, the strong should be good, but you melt the ice, and the ice hurt the ant's leg. 'The clouds are stronger than me, they hide me.' Clouds, clouds, the strong should be good, but you cover the sun, the sun melts the ice, and the ice hurt the ant's leg. 'The wind is stronger than me, it blows me away.' Wind, wind, the strong should be good, but you blow away the clouds, the clouds cover the sun, the sun melts the ice, and the ice hurt the ant's leg. 'The walls are stronger than me, they stop me.' Walls, walls, the strong should be good, but you stop the wind, the wind blows the clouds away, the clouds cover the sun, the sun melts the ice, and the ice hurt the ant's leg."

Jules interrupted the story to ask if the story ever had an end, and Ambroisine responded that it can have no end, as there is always something stronger. She tried to being another fairy story which Emile already knew, and Jules requested a real story.

At this, Uncle Paul looked up from his reading and asked the children if they would like to hear the story of a real ant, not just a fairy tale one like Ambroisine told them. The children excitedly assented. Uncle Paul said that the beauty of a real story is that it is marvelous and surprising, while all the time being true. And he began the story of the ant.