The Rock of the Measuring Worm

"The Rock of the Measuring Worm" by Julia Darrow Cowles is a charming children's story that explores themes of curiosity and adventure through the eyes of young protagonists. Set against a backdrop of nature, the narrative follows their imaginative journey as they encounter various creatures and landscapes, prompting them to reflect on the wonders of the world around them. With lyrical prose and enchanting illustrations, the book encourages young readers to embrace exploration and the beauty of discovery in their everyday lives.

• Children
• Short story

								
EL CAPITÁN, IN THE YOSEMITE

TWO small Indian boys were seated before the tepee fashioning bows and
arrows.

“Mine is not good!” exclaimed one of the boys, throwing aside the
stick with which he had been working. “Besides, I am tired of sitting
still. Let us go for a swim in the river.”

Away they dashed, running swiftly, as the Indian child is taught to
run. Into the water they jumped, swimming, diving, splashing, and
stopping now and then for a water battle.

At length they had had enough of the water, so out upon the bank they
came.

“Let us climb upon this rock to dry ourselves. Its top is flat, and
the sun is warm upon it.”

So they climbed upon the flat rock, and in a few moments both boys
were fast asleep. Then a strange thing began to occur. The rock slowly
and gradually commenced to stretch itself up, up, up, higher, and
higher, and higher. And the boys continued to sleep.

Taller, and taller grew the rock, carrying the boys upward on its flat
surface until at last their faces were bathed by the clouds that
floated in the sky. And still they slept.

For many moons they slept; for a whole snow.

In the meantime the people of their village missed them and began to
search. They searched by the river, and in the forest, but no one
could find the missing boys. There was great sorrow in the village.

None of the people knew of the great rock. Only the animals knew.

Then one day the animals came together, and they said, “What is to be
done? The people are sorrowing because of the boys that are lost. Can
we not return them to their friends?”

So the animals decided to try to get the boys off the great rock.

“You are littlest,” said the lion to the mouse, “you try first.”

So the mouse made ready and sprang as high as she could up the side of
the rock. Just a hand-breadth she jumped, and fell back into the
valley.

So the rat tried next, and he made a mighty effort, and jumped two
hand-breadths, and then he too fell back into the valley.

Alter that every sort of animal jumped in turn, the otter, and the
badger, the fox, and the wolf, and the bear, and though each one
jumped as high as he could, he jumped only against the side of the
rock, and went tumbling back into the valley.

Last of all came the lion. With a mighty roar he sprang--but it was of
no use: he too struck the side of the great rock and fell back with
the others.

They were about to give up and go back to their homes in the river and
in the forest, when a tiny measuring-worm came creeping over the
grass. “By your leave,” she said quite humbly, addressing the lion, “I
should like to try and see what I can do.”

“Ho-ho,” laughed all the animals together. “Ho-ho!”

But without waiting for their consent, the measuring-worm made her way
slowly to the foot of the great rock, and then, little by little,
little by little, she drew herself up, up, up the side of the mighty
rock.

Up, and up, and up she went, until she was lost to sight of the
animals waiting below.

At last she reached the top, and drew herself over the edge. And there
lay the two boys, still sleeping.

Then the measuring-worm took the two boys, and started back. She
climbed with them down the side of the rock, little by little, down,
and down, and down.

At last she came within sight of the waiting animals.

Down, and down still she climbed until she was in their midst.

So mighty was the noise made by the assembled animals that it wakened
the sleeping boys, and brought the men and women of the village to the
foot of the great rock.

And so the boys were restored to their people.

But the great rock with its almost perpendicular sides stands to-day,
lofty and imposing.
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