HELENA AT THE FAIR
“Mama Chocolate, you are such a beautiful goat,� the Goatherd said one morning. “I’m going to take you and your babies to the goat show
at the fair.� He looked at Helena. “Do you think you can make your little Helena be good?�
“Helena,� Mama Chocolate said when the Goatherd had gone, “You will need to stay close to me at the fair. There will be many strange goats,
humans, cows and horses there. If you run away, you might get hurt.�
“I’ll be good, Mama,� Helena said.
The next morning, the Goatherd took them all to the fair. He took Helena into a ring with many other goat kids and she won a purple ribbon. Helena’s
mother and brothers won ribbons, too.
Many people came to see Helena’s mother. They talked about what a pretty goat she was. One of the men who came to see them was wearing a blue
shirt. He wanted to buy Helena.
“She’s not for sale,� the Goatherd said.
That afternoon all the goats settled down for their naps. Helena’s two little brothers cuddled beside Mama Chocolate. Helena walked around the pen
until the others went to sleep. Then she saw a small hole in the fence. It was very small, but big enough for a little kid to wiggle through!
Helena wiggled through the hole and found herself outside the goat barn. There were lots of strange things for a curious little goat kid to investigate.
“Hello, little goat!� a man said. It was the man in the blue shirt. The man reached into his pocket and held out a piece of apple. Helena sniffed it and
took a bite. It tasted delicious. He reached down and scratched Helena’s back. She liked that. The man picked Helena up and began to carry her
away.
Helena looked around. She could barely see the goat barn. Then she began to bleat. “Maaahhh! Mahhh! Mama help me! Help me! Someone is
taking me away!� She began to wiggle and kick. “Mahh!� she called.
Mama Chocolate and all the other goats began to bleat.
Then the Goatherd came around the side of the barn. “Stop, thief!� he called. “Put my little goat down!�
The man ran faster. Other people began to chase him.
Suddenly a policeman stepped out in front of the man. “Stop!� he called.
The man dropped Helena and began to run toward the cars and trucks. The policeman followed him.
The goatherd picked up little Helena and carried her back to the goat barn. She was scared, but not badly hurt. She took a drink of milk and felt much
better.
“Helena, you were very naughty,� Mama Goat said, “but you did one thing right.�
“What was that?� Helena asked.
“You called for help and tried to get away from that bad person,â€� Mama Chocolate said. “That man could have hurt you. If someone you donâ
€™t know tries to take you away from me, you should always call for help and try to get away. Never get into a car or truck with someone you don’t
know, even if he offers you a present or something good to eat.�
Mama Goat licked Helena’s ears. “You’re my little kid, and I love you,� she said. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I'm here to protect
you, but I can only keep you safe if you do as I say."
What a story Helena had to tell when they arrived back at the farm! All the other little kids crowded around her to hear about her adventure. Helena
warned them all about strangers and how to be safe when away from home.
THE SNAKE
Every morning and every evening Mama Chocolate led the goats down to the pond for a drink. “Be careful,â€� she told the little goat kids. “Donâ
€™t go near the deep water. Never come down to the pond without your mothers or an adult goat.â€�
“Mama, why do you tell us to be careful around the pond?� Castor asked. He was one of Helena’s little brothers.
“Is it because we might fall in the water?� asked Pollex. He was Helena’s other little brother.
“Yes, you could fall into the deep water,� Mama Chocolate said. “You might not be able to get out of the pond.�
“You might also meet a snake,� said a soft voice from up above. It was Possum the barn cat. She was sitting on a tree limb. “There are many
snakes around the pond.�
“What is a snake?� Castor asked.
“A snake is a long animal with no legs,� Possum said. “It crawls along the ground. If a snake is scared, it coils up and tries to bite. Some snakes
have venom that will make you very sick. A snake moves fast,� Possum said with a smile and a twitch of her tail, “but I am faster. The snakes are
scared of me. Be careful, little goats!�
The next day, Helena was helping her mother by watching Castor and Pollex. Mama Chocolate was busy tasting some leaves to see if they were good for
the other goats to eat. Castor and Pollex were playing. They would chase each other around and around and jump over fallen logs.
“Come back,� Helena called. “You’re getting too close to the pond.�
Suddenly Castor stopped. Pollex ran into him and they both tumbled down and began to bleat. Helena ran toward them. By the time she reached them,
they were standing up and looking at something.
“Who are you?� Castor said. He was wagging his tail and talking to a long, brown animal. “Do you want to play with us?� Castor stood up
on his hind legs and came down again. Pollex jumped into the air and twisted around.
The animal coiled up and began to hiss. Helena could see the animal’s long teeth. It was a snake! She was so scared that she didn’t know what to
do.
“RRROOOW!� came a growl from nearby. Possum the Cat leaped down from a branch overhead. The snake saw her and struck, but the cat was
too fast. The snake turned and slithered away toward the pond. Possum chased it as far as the water.
“Thank you, Possum,� Mama Chocolate said.
“That’s part of my job,� Possum said, licking the mud from her paws. “You little goats need to be more careful in the future,� she said
to Castor and Pollex. “If you ever see a snake, don’t try to play with it. Go and tell a grownup!�
“I’m glad that for once it wasn’t you who got into trouble,â€� Mama Chocolate said to Helena. She licked Helena and nuzzled her. “Youâ
€™re getting to be my big girl!â€�
“Mama Chocolate, you are such a beautiful goat,� the Goatherd said one morning. “I’m going to take you and your babies to the goat show
at the fair.� He looked at Helena. “Do you think you can make your little Helena be good?�
“Helena,� Mama Chocolate said when the Goatherd had gone, “You will need to stay close to me at the fair. There will be many strange goats,
humans, cows and horses there. If you run away, you might get hurt.�
“I’ll be good, Mama,� Helena said.
The next morning, the Goatherd took them all to the fair. He took Helena into a ring with many other goat kids and she won a purple ribbon. Helena’s
mother and brothers won ribbons, too.
Many people came to see Helena’s mother. They talked about what a pretty goat she was. One of the men who came to see them was wearing a blue
shirt. He wanted to buy Helena.
“She’s not for sale,� the Goatherd said.
That afternoon all the goats settled down for their naps. Helena’s two little brothers cuddled beside Mama Chocolate. Helena walked around the pen
until the others went to sleep. Then she saw a small hole in the fence. It was very small, but big enough for a little kid to wiggle through!
Helena wiggled through the hole and found herself outside the goat barn. There were lots of strange things for a curious little goat kid to investigate.
“Hello, little goat!� a man said. It was the man in the blue shirt. The man reached into his pocket and held out a piece of apple. Helena sniffed it and
took a bite. It tasted delicious. He reached down and scratched Helena’s back. She liked that. The man picked Helena up and began to carry her
away.
Helena looked around. She could barely see the goat barn. Then she began to bleat. “Maaahhh! Mahhh! Mama help me! Help me! Someone is
taking me away!� She began to wiggle and kick. “Mahh!� she called.
Mama Chocolate and all the other goats began to bleat.
Then the Goatherd came around the side of the barn. “Stop, thief!� he called. “Put my little goat down!�
The man ran faster. Other people began to chase him.
Suddenly a policeman stepped out in front of the man. “Stop!� he called.
The man dropped Helena and began to run toward the cars and trucks. The policeman followed him.
The goatherd picked up little Helena and carried her back to the goat barn. She was scared, but not badly hurt. She took a drink of milk and felt much
better.
“Helena, you were very naughty,� Mama Goat said, “but you did one thing right.�
“What was that?� Helena asked.
“You called for help and tried to get away from that bad person,â€� Mama Chocolate said. “That man could have hurt you. If someone you donâ
€™t know tries to take you away from me, you should always call for help and try to get away. Never get into a car or truck with someone you don’t
know, even if he offers you a present or something good to eat.�
Mama Goat licked Helena’s ears. “You’re my little kid, and I love you,� she said. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I'm here to protect
you, but I can only keep you safe if you do as I say."
What a story Helena had to tell when they arrived back at the farm! All the other little kids crowded around her to hear about her adventure. Helena
warned them all about strangers and how to be safe when away from home.
THE SNAKE
Every morning and every evening Mama Chocolate led the goats down to the pond for a drink. “Be careful,â€� she told the little goat kids. “Donâ
€™t go near the deep water. Never come down to the pond without your mothers or an adult goat.â€�
“Mama, why do you tell us to be careful around the pond?� Castor asked. He was one of Helena’s little brothers.
“Is it because we might fall in the water?� asked Pollex. He was Helena’s other little brother.
“Yes, you could fall into the deep water,� Mama Chocolate said. “You might not be able to get out of the pond.�
“You might also meet a snake,� said a soft voice from up above. It was Possum the barn cat. She was sitting on a tree limb. “There are many
snakes around the pond.�
“What is a snake?� Castor asked.
“A snake is a long animal with no legs,� Possum said. “It crawls along the ground. If a snake is scared, it coils up and tries to bite. Some snakes
have venom that will make you very sick. A snake moves fast,� Possum said with a smile and a twitch of her tail, “but I am faster. The snakes are
scared of me. Be careful, little goats!�
The next day, Helena was helping her mother by watching Castor and Pollex. Mama Chocolate was busy tasting some leaves to see if they were good for
the other goats to eat. Castor and Pollex were playing. They would chase each other around and around and jump over fallen logs.
“Come back,� Helena called. “You’re getting too close to the pond.�
Suddenly Castor stopped. Pollex ran into him and they both tumbled down and began to bleat. Helena ran toward them. By the time she reached them,
they were standing up and looking at something.
“Who are you?� Castor said. He was wagging his tail and talking to a long, brown animal. “Do you want to play with us?� Castor stood up
on his hind legs and came down again. Pollex jumped into the air and twisted around.
The animal coiled up and began to hiss. Helena could see the animal’s long teeth. It was a snake! She was so scared that she didn’t know what to
do.
“RRROOOW!� came a growl from nearby. Possum the Cat leaped down from a branch overhead. The snake saw her and struck, but the cat was
too fast. The snake turned and slithered away toward the pond. Possum chased it as far as the water.
“Thank you, Possum,� Mama Chocolate said.
“That’s part of my job,� Possum said, licking the mud from her paws. “You little goats need to be more careful in the future,� she said
to Castor and Pollex. “If you ever see a snake, don’t try to play with it. Go and tell a grownup!�
“I’m glad that for once it wasn’t you who got into trouble,â€� Mama Chocolate said to Helena. She licked Helena and nuzzled her. “Youâ
€™re getting to be my big girl!â€�
HELENA GETS LOST
Baby Helena was a small goat kid. She had fuzzy brown fur and blue eyes.
Helena’s mother was named Chocolate. She was brown and white, and she wore a
brass bell on her blue collar.
Helena’s two brothers were named Castor and Pollex. They were good little goats, but
Helena was sometimes naughty.
“Helena,� Mama Chocolate said one morning, “Never wander away by yourself.
You might get lost.�
“No, Mama,� Helena said.
That afternoon, Helena saw some berries. Mama Chocolate was busy feeding Castor and
Pollex. Helena went over to the berries and began to eat them.
Further down the path, Helena saw a tree with little leaves. She loved to eat leaves. She went
to the little tree and began to eat.
Baby Helena was a small goat kid. She had fuzzy brown fur and blue eyes.
Helena’s mother was named Chocolate. She was brown and white, and she wore a
brass bell on her blue collar.
Helena’s two brothers were named Castor and Pollex. They were good little goats, but
Helena was sometimes naughty.
“Helena,� Mama Chocolate said one morning, “Never wander away by yourself.
You might get lost.�
“No, Mama,� Helena said.
That afternoon, Helena saw some berries. Mama Chocolate was busy feeding Castor and
Pollex. Helena went over to the berries and began to eat them.
Further down the path, Helena saw a tree with little leaves. She loved to eat leaves. She went
to the little tree and began to eat.
Helena went from one plant to another, farther and farther away from Mama Chocolate. Suddenly, she looked around. She was in the woods and could
not see her mama or the other goats anywhere. It was getting dark and she could hear strange sounds.
“Baahhhh! Mahhhh!� Helena bleated, “Mama, come and find me!� Helena listened, but she could not hear her Mama bleating for her.
She bleated again and again.
Suddenly, she heard a loud noise. Something crashed through the bushes! It was the Goatherd’s dog. It saw Helena and began to bark.
“There you are!� the Goatherd said. He picked Helena up and carried her back to her Mama.
“Did you learn your lesson, Helena?� Mama Chocolate asked that night. “You wandered away and got lost.�
“I’ll stay close by you from now on,� Helena answered, "and I won't go into the woods alone." She cuddled up beside her brothers and fell
fast asleep.
not see her mama or the other goats anywhere. It was getting dark and she could hear strange sounds.
“Baahhhh! Mahhhh!� Helena bleated, “Mama, come and find me!� Helena listened, but she could not hear her Mama bleating for her.
She bleated again and again.
Suddenly, she heard a loud noise. Something crashed through the bushes! It was the Goatherd’s dog. It saw Helena and began to bark.
“There you are!� the Goatherd said. He picked Helena up and carried her back to her Mama.
“Did you learn your lesson, Helena?� Mama Chocolate asked that night. “You wandered away and got lost.�
“I’ll stay close by you from now on,� Helena answered, "and I won't go into the woods alone." She cuddled up beside her brothers and fell
fast asleep.
MAMA GOLDY’S SON
Helena’s mama was the head of the goat herd, but there were many other mama goats in the herd.
Mama Goldy was a very old mother goat. All of the goat kids liked her because she was kind to them. She let them eat with her. The other goats
respected her because she was very old and very wise. She knew the best places to eat and where to cross the creek on stones so that the goats didn't
get their feet wet.
One day, Mama Goldy did not come to eat with the other goats. When Helena and the others came back to the barn, Mama Goldy was standing in a
corner.
“Shhh!� Mama Goldy said. On the straw in front of her was a thin, tiny black kid. The kid was sleeping. “This is Sam,� Goldy said. “He
comes from another farm. His mother was very sick when he was born and she can’t take care of him. My last little kid is too big to drink milk
anymore, but I still have plenty of milk, so the Goatherd brought Sam to me. I’ve adopted him.�
Sam stretched and opened his eyes. He stood up and slowly made his way over to Mama Goldy. He was so weak that he could hardly walk. Mama
Goldy nuzzled the kid closer to her. He took a drink of milk and Mama Goldy licked him.
“Mama,� he bleated. “Who are these goats?�
“They’re your new friends.� Mama Goldy said. “You’ll soon be playing with them.�
Little Sam snuggled down into the straw and Mama Goldy lay down beside him. “Go to sleep,� Mama Goldy said. "When you wake up, you may
feel like playing."
“Mama Goldy has a new kid,� Helena told her mother.
“I know,� Chocolate said. “She’ll take very good care of him and he’ll be playing with you before long!�
Little Sam grew into a big, strong little buck. Every day he played with Castor, Pollex, Helena and the other kids. Every night he slept beside Mama
Goldy.
“Your little Sam is a fine kid,� Mama Chocolate said to Goldy. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t become a champion one day.�
“He’s already a champion to me. He’s my son,� Goldy told her as they watched Sam bounce through the pasture.
Helena’s mama was the head of the goat herd, but there were many other mama goats in the herd.
Mama Goldy was a very old mother goat. All of the goat kids liked her because she was kind to them. She let them eat with her. The other goats
respected her because she was very old and very wise. She knew the best places to eat and where to cross the creek on stones so that the goats didn't
get their feet wet.
One day, Mama Goldy did not come to eat with the other goats. When Helena and the others came back to the barn, Mama Goldy was standing in a
corner.
“Shhh!� Mama Goldy said. On the straw in front of her was a thin, tiny black kid. The kid was sleeping. “This is Sam,� Goldy said. “He
comes from another farm. His mother was very sick when he was born and she can’t take care of him. My last little kid is too big to drink milk
anymore, but I still have plenty of milk, so the Goatherd brought Sam to me. I’ve adopted him.�
Sam stretched and opened his eyes. He stood up and slowly made his way over to Mama Goldy. He was so weak that he could hardly walk. Mama
Goldy nuzzled the kid closer to her. He took a drink of milk and Mama Goldy licked him.
“Mama,� he bleated. “Who are these goats?�
“They’re your new friends.� Mama Goldy said. “You’ll soon be playing with them.�
Little Sam snuggled down into the straw and Mama Goldy lay down beside him. “Go to sleep,� Mama Goldy said. "When you wake up, you may
feel like playing."
“Mama Goldy has a new kid,� Helena told her mother.
“I know,� Chocolate said. “She’ll take very good care of him and he’ll be playing with you before long!�
Little Sam grew into a big, strong little buck. Every day he played with Castor, Pollex, Helena and the other kids. Every night he slept beside Mama
Goldy.
“Your little Sam is a fine kid,� Mama Chocolate said to Goldy. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t become a champion one day.�
“He’s already a champion to me. He’s my son,� Goldy told her as they watched Sam bounce through the pasture.