For Litile Childven—Prometheus. 95

Prometheus saw that there was only one thing
which would help them.

That was jive.

Fire was the most precious thing Zeus had, and
he kept it ever burning around his throne.

When Prometheus asked for fire Zeus was angry.

“I have already given too much to your people,”
he said. “Let them now help themselves.”

Prometheus was sad, indeed.

He loved his people more than he did himself.

At last he said: “They shall have the fire. I will
pay for it with my life.”

“He went straight to Zeus’ throne and filled a
ferule with it, and carried it to his people.

Then the people began to be wise.

He taught them to cook, and to build houses, and
to sail their ships upon the ocean.

He showed them how to get rich ores from the
mountains and prepare them for use.

They learned how to plow and to reap and to |
store up their food for the winter.

Zeus was angry with Prometheus.

He chained him to a rock on the top ofa high
mountain.

He sent a great bird each day to torment him.

Zeus said that he must stay there until he
repented and returned the fire to heaven.

There Prometheus stayed and suffered for many
burning summers and long, cold winters.