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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