Daniel P. Kidder

“ But if a tale about giants, that was not true, and that added nothing to my knowledge, amused me, why should not a story about giants, which is true, and which gives good information, be equally entertaining to you? I see no reason why it should not be so, and therefore it is my determination to tell you the tale of the Five Giants.
Three of the five giants are old, so very old that you would hardly believe me were I to tell you their ages; and the other two are much [7] older than many people imagine ”

“ Giant Blow grinds a great deal of corn, and has a method of his own for cooling the earth in hot weather. Common report says that, on some occasions, he has removed the plague; and no physician on the earth has effected such extraordinary cures as he has done. ”

“ It may be long before you again hear a true story of five giants; you will therefore do well to try [34] to turn this one to advantage, and to inquire what it is, in each case, that gives force to the power. For you ought to understand that, in and with all the powers of nature, although man is allowed to make much use of them, and often to set them in operation; yet there is a greater Hand than his, though all unseen, which alone can control them. ”

“ I have now come to the last of the giants, and his character shall be summed up in few words. If you remember, I told you that, in winter nights, Giant Flare was a very agreeable companion, and the same thing may be said of Giant Rush. When the tea-urn simmers, and friends gather round the winter tea-table, Giants Flare and Rush ought always to be there. They are good company [28] even when you have them one at a time; but still better when they are together.
Giant Rush is thought to be younger than his brother Bounce ”

“ Giant Blow is kind, whimsical, mischievous, and dangerous, by fits. One day, as I went by the common, he was good-naturedly helping a group of school boys to fly their kites. I hardly think they could have managed without his assistance; but, [17] in ten minutes after, he tore two of their kites all to shivers. ”

“ Whenever, then, we see either the water or the fire, or hear the wind, let us remember that these are so many elements [35] which God has intrusted to the use of man, and that for an abuse of their capacities we shall be held accountable. ”

“ It was he who first persuaded people to make guns, pistols, and cannon mortars, bombshells, and congreve rockets, so that widows and orphans have been multiplied by him, and [27] millions of men, by his means, have been destroyed. ”

“ He is fond of constructing baths, and fishing ponds, and canals, and of rendering assistance in cultivating gardens. He is largely connected with ships and sailors. Many think he has more power by sea than by land ”