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The Tale of Daddy Longlegs P.6

The Tale of Daddy Longlegs P.6

Released Monday, 5th December 2022
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The Tale of Daddy Longlegs P.6

The Tale of Daddy Longlegs P.6

The Tale of Daddy Longlegs P.6

The Tale of Daddy Longlegs P.6

Monday, 5th December 2022
Good episode? Give it some love!
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Episode Transcript

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0:05

Hello, I'm Cheryl and

0:07

this is sleep Tight Relax,

0:10

a calming bedtime podcast

0:13

for the young and young at

0:15

heart. It's

0:23

time to get cozy in bed and

0:26

listen to tonight's story.

0:32

Our sleep story. Tonight is the

0:34

final part of the Tale

0:36

of Daddy long Legs. Everyone

0:40

thinks that Daddy long Legs looks different,

0:43

but no one can figure out why

0:47

is it new pants new

0:50

wings. Finally,

0:53

they decide to go and ask Daddy

0:56

long Legs and try to figure

0:58

out what has changed. When

1:01

they find out, they think he

1:03

deserves a new name. But

1:06

when they tell him the name not

1:08

everyone thinks it is a good

1:10

idea. No

1:13

matter how your day was, let's

1:16

forget about it for now and

1:18

focus on slowing down and

1:21

feeling relaxed. Close

1:25

your eyes and feel warm and

1:28

secure.

1:32

Next, I would like you to take

1:34

a slow, deep breath in

1:36

through your nose, as

1:39

big a breath as you can and

1:42

as slowly as you can, then

1:47

slowly let the air out through your

1:49

mouth. Taking

1:54

deep belly breaths helps us relax

1:57

at any time of the day, but

1:59

it's it's a great habit to have before

2:02

sleep. Try

2:05

it again. Take

2:07

a deep breath in and

2:11

let the air slowly flow

2:13

out. Take

2:18

a deep breath in and

2:23

now out. Breathe

2:28

in deeply, filling your body

2:30

with air and relaxation.

2:35

Breathe out slowly, expelling

2:38

any tension. Try

2:42

to keep breathing slowly and deeply

2:45

as we continue with the

2:47

final part of the tail

2:50

of Daddy long Legs. It

3:01

was after his adventure with Johnny

3:03

Green that Daddy longlegs

3:05

neighbors first noticed something

3:08

strange about him. They

3:11

knew that he was not the same,

3:14

but strangely enough, no

3:16

two of them could agree as

3:18

to what had changed him.

3:22

Chirpy Cricket said that he thought

3:24

that Daddy Longlegs was wearing a new

3:27

coat, for his coat

3:29

tails seemed to flap differently

3:31

when he walked. Buster

3:35

Bumblebee claimed that Daddy Longlegs

3:37

had bought himself a new hat

3:40

which tipped at an unusual

3:42

angle, and

3:45

little Miss Ladybug insisted

3:48

that Daddy longlegs odd look

3:50

was due to nothing more or less than

3:53

some new checked trousers

3:56

she remembered. She said that he

3:59

had always worn and striped ones before.

4:02

Those were the opinions of only

4:05

three of Daddy long Leg's

4:07

friends. It seemed

4:09

as if everybody in Pleasant

4:11

Valley had his own idea

4:14

about the reason why Daddy Longlegs

4:17

was changed. Naturally,

4:21

many disputes arose because

4:23

everyone declared that his own

4:25

idea was the right one.

4:28

And at last several excited

4:31

persons went to old mister

4:33

Crow and asked him to

4:36

settle the trouble. But

4:40

mister Crow would have nothing to

4:42

do with the affair. He

4:44

did not like Daddy long Legs,

4:47

and he said he preferred not to

4:49

think about him at all.

4:53

That was something of a setback for

4:56

them until somebody

4:58

said, let's go and

5:00

ask Solomon Owl. There's

5:03

no one in Pleasant Valley that looks

5:05

so wise as he, So

5:10

they hurried off to the Hemlock Woods

5:13

where Solomon Owl lived. He

5:16

was at home, and he listened

5:18

carefully to each of his callers,

5:21

although they all talked at once.

5:27

At last he shouted loudly

5:29

for silence, though it was

5:31

some time before he had it. Hush,

5:35

hush. Some of the quieter

5:37

ones said, we want

5:39

to hear what wise mister Solomon

5:41

Owl says.

5:45

And then Solomon Owl

5:48

spoke, if you want

5:50

to know what's the matter with Daddy

5:52

long Legs, why don't

5:54

you go and ask him?

5:59

Every buddy exclaimed at once

6:01

that that was a splendid

6:03

plan, and thanking mister

6:06

Owl for his excellent advice,

6:08

the party hurried away.

6:14

When they reached the stone wall later,

6:16

they found Daddy long Legs sunning

6:19

himself. He

6:22

seemed glad to see his collars, and

6:24

when they asked him what it was that made

6:27

him appear differently, he

6:29

threw back his head as far

6:31

as he could and laughed

6:33

heartily. Why

6:36

don't you know, he said, can't

6:38

you see? I've lost a leg? Daddy

6:44

Longlegs. News made everyone

6:46

gasp, and for a few

6:49

moments not a soul

6:51

could speak, but

6:53

the callers all stared at Daddy

6:56

long Legs, and then each

6:58

one of them began to count. Allowed

7:01

one, two, three,

7:04

four, five, six, seven.

7:09

They were counting Daddy long Legs

7:12

legs, and after they

7:14

had counted seven, they

7:16

all saw that his eighth leg

7:18

was missing. That is all,

7:21

but Buster Bumblebee, being

7:23

a blundering sort of person, he

7:26

made a mistake and counted one leg twice,

7:30

but the other callers soon set

7:32

him right. It's

7:36

no wonder you look different, Daddy

7:38

Longlegs. Friends began telling him,

7:41

how did you meet with such an awful

7:44

accident? I

7:47

lost my leg trying to escape

7:49

from Johnny Green. Daddy explained,

7:53

either he pulled the leg off my body

7:56

or I pulled my body off the leg.

7:59

I haven't been to decide which

8:01

way it happened. You

8:05

must miss your leg terribly,

8:07

several of the company cried, not

8:10

at all, replied Daddy long Legs

8:13

cheerfully, to the great surprise

8:15

of all those present. I

8:19

have seven legs left, and

8:21

that ought to be enough for anybody, I

8:23

should think. But

8:26

little missus Ladybug couldn't

8:28

help shuddering. Oh, I

8:31

think it's just too dreadful, she

8:33

cried. Johnny Green is a very

8:35

careless boy. Oh

8:39

he didn't mean any harm, I know, Daddy

8:42

long Legs assured her. He

8:45

tried not to injure me. But

8:48

I'll admit there's one thing

8:51

that has caused me a good deal

8:53

of annoyance. What's

8:55

that, everyone asked, I

8:58

had to get a new pair of seven

9:01

legged trousers, Daddy

9:03

long Legs explained, And

9:05

if any of you has ever tried

9:07

to find such a garment at

9:09

short notice, he will understand

9:12

that I've been in great trouble.

9:17

Then Daddy Longlegs wished his callers

9:20

a pleasant afternoon and asked

9:23

to be excused on account

9:25

of important business. And

9:29

as they watched him walk briskly

9:31

away, his neighbors all

9:33

agreed that for a person who had

9:36

just lost a leg, he seemed

9:38

wonderfully spry.

9:44

Daddy Longlegs neighbor little

9:46

mister Chippy had an idea,

9:49

and since he thought it was a good one,

9:52

he at once arranged a meeting

9:54

of a number of his friends who lived

9:57

near him.

9:59

Among them was present were Buster

10:01

Bumblebee, Betsy Butterfly,

10:04

Rusty Wren, and several

10:06

others. They

10:09

met in Farmer Green's apple orchard,

10:13

and after all arrived there

10:15

early because everybody

10:17

was eager to know what mister Chippy had

10:19

to say. My idea,

10:23

mister Chippy began. My idea

10:25

is this, Since

10:28

Daddy long Legs is so changed

10:31

after losing one of his legs, we

10:33

really ought to call him by a different

10:36

name now

10:38

that he has only seven legs instead

10:40

of eight. It doesn't seem polite

10:43

to say anything about legs in

10:45

his hearing. As

10:47

mister Chippy paused and looked around

10:49

him, the whole company

10:51

agreed that his idea was

10:54

an excellent one.

10:57

But I don't know where we're going to find

10:59

a name for him, said

11:01

Buster Bumblebee, who never

11:04

had many ideas of his own. That's

11:08

easy, mister Chippy told him. I've

11:10

thought of a splendid name,

11:14

and I'm perfectly willing to let you

11:16

use it. It's

11:19

Grandfather Graybeard.

11:23

Most of the company clapped their hands

11:26

when mister Chippy said that, but

11:29

Buster Bumblebee spoke up and said

11:32

that he didn't think much of that name

11:34

because Daddy Longlegs

11:36

had no beard. Well,

11:40

for all you know, he may decide

11:42

to wear one any day, mister Chippy

11:45

replied, and then

11:47

all the company applauded again

11:50

except Buster Bumblebee.

11:54

How do you know Daddy Longlegs

11:56

is a grandfather, he asked,

11:58

mister Chippy. How

12:01

do you know he isn't, Mister Chippy

12:03

asked him, And

12:05

then everybody but Buster cried

12:08

out that Grandfather Graybeard

12:11

was a fine name for Daddy long Legs,

12:14

and many remarked that Daddy

12:17

would be greatly pleased when he heard

12:19

the news. Thank

12:23

you, said mister Chippy, making a low

12:25

bow with his hand on his heart. And

12:28

now, if it is the pleasure of

12:30

the meeting, I will go back to

12:32

the stone wall at once and

12:35

tell Daddy Longlegs what we

12:37

have decided to do. To

12:42

mister Chippy's surprise, a

12:44

murmur of dissent greeted his

12:47

proposal. What's

12:50

the matter, asked mister Chippy. I

12:52

thought you liked my idea, so

12:55

we do. Rusty Wren

12:57

replied, but we think

13:00

it would be better if we all called

13:02

on Daddy long Legs and explained

13:05

to him about the change.

13:10

Very well, little mister Chippy answered,

13:12

the more the merrier. I

13:15

will be the spokesperson, and I

13:17

will suggest that we start

13:19

for the stone wall right now, for

13:21

there's no time like the present, you know. Even

13:27

Buster Bumblebee approved of

13:30

mister Chippy's retort, and

13:32

with that everybody started

13:34

quickly for the stone wall. Daddy

13:39

long Legs was taken entirely

13:42

by surprise. It

13:44

was rather early in the morning, and

13:46

he had not expected callers,

13:49

at least not so many

13:51

as suddenly appeared at the stone

13:54

Wall, where he was usually

13:56

to be found. He

14:00

was dressed in his very best clothes.

14:04

Indeed, he was quite smartly

14:06

dressed for him, a

14:08

bright yellow scarf tied

14:10

in a big bow beneath his chin,

14:13

and he was wearing a bottle green

14:16

coat lined with pink goodness,

14:20

said Buster Bumblebee. He looks

14:22

like a bridegroom, but

14:24

his companions all told him

14:26

to hush and not to be

14:29

disrespectful to his elders.

14:34

Good morning, said mister Chippy

14:36

to Daddy long Legs. We've

14:38

come to tell you some good news. We

14:41

are going to call you by a different name,

14:44

and we hope you will like it. I

14:48

hope so, Daddy Longlegs

14:50

echoed, what is it? Please? It's

14:54

Grandfather Graybeard. Little

14:56

mister Chippy informed him with

14:58

an air of pride.

15:01

Why that's a beautiful

15:04

name, Daddy Longlegs

15:07

cried, as a look of pleasure

15:09

crossed his face. I'm

15:12

glad you think so, said mister Chippy.

15:14

It's only fair to tell you that

15:16

I thought of it myself. And

15:19

then he called for three cheers for

15:22

Grandfather Graybeard. They

15:25

gave them with a right good

15:27

will, and

15:31

after the sound had died away, mister

15:33

Chippy said something in a whisper to Daddy

15:36

long Legs. What

15:38

is it, Rusty Wren demanded, what's he

15:40

talking about? He

15:42

thinks we ought to give three cheers for him,

15:45

Daddy long Legs explained. But

15:49

before they had time to do that, a

15:51

large lady bustled out from the stone

15:54

wall and walked straight up

15:56

to Daddy long Legs. She

15:59

was one of his own kind too. The

16:02

whole company agreed to that afterwards,

16:05

because they had all counted her

16:07

feet and she had eight.

16:11

What's this, the newcomer demanded,

16:14

what's going on here? I should like

16:16

to know, and

16:19

Daddy Longlegs looked a bit uncomfortable

16:22

as he explained that he had a new

16:24

name and told her what it

16:26

was. You

16:29

haven't given your consent, I hope,

16:31

she said, I'm afraid

16:33

I have, Daddy Longlegs

16:36

replied meekly, then

16:38

withdraw it at once. She

16:40

commanded, sharply, I don't

16:42

like this new name at all. Poor

16:48

Daddy long Legs looked as if he

16:50

wished he might sink into the ground

16:52

and vanish, but

16:55

since he couldn't do that, he stammered

16:57

that he was much obliged to his friends

17:00

for their kindness, but he

17:02

really would have to insist that

17:04

they call him by his old name, and

17:07

he hoped they would understand. But

17:13

they didn't understand even then,

17:16

and the whole company stood silent

17:19

with their mouths open, and

17:21

watched Daddy Longlegs follow

17:24

the strange lady away. She

17:27

had gestured to him, and

17:29

he had started after her without

17:31

a word of protest.

17:35

His friends noticed that she was

17:37

considerably bigger than he was.

17:42

Well, they might have been standing

17:44

there yet if little missus

17:47

Ladybug hadn't arrived just

17:49

then, quite out of breath

17:51

from hurrying. And of

17:53

course she wanted to know what had

17:56

happened. For pity's

17:58

sake, she cried, after she had

18:01

listened to the strange story. Do

18:04

you mean to say you haven't heard the

18:06

news? Didn't

18:08

you know that Daddy Longlegs had

18:10

a new wife.

18:13

Naturally a bride wouldn't

18:15

care to have her young husband known

18:18

as Grandfather Graybeard.

18:21

Ah, but he's very old,

18:23

said little mister Chippy. How

18:26

do you know, missus Ladybug

18:29

inquired. Mister

18:31

Chippy had to admit that he had

18:34

no means of knowing, And

18:37

then missus Ladybug looked very

18:39

wise. I

18:43

have reason to believe, she said,

18:46

that Daddy long Legs is a much

18:48

younger person than we have always

18:51

supposed. And

18:59

that is the end end of this story. Good

19:02

Night, sleep tight.

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