White Seal

White Seal – A story of seals on the beach, and about striving for a better life. Contains some graphic content. One of the stories from the Jungle Book. A subtle message about conservation, environmental issues, and seal culling.

By: Rudyard Kipling

Text from White Seal

The White Seal
Rudyard Kippling

Seal Lullaby
Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to fnd us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
Ah, weary wee fipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas!

Chapter 1 Sea Catch
All these things happened several years ago at a place called Novastoshnah, or North East Point, on the Island of St. Paul, far and away in the Bering Sea. Limmershin, the Winter Wren, told me the tale when he was blown on to the rigging of my steamer enroute to Japan, where I took him down into my cabin and warmed and fed him for a couple of days till he was ft to fy back to St. Paul’s again.

Limmershin is a very quaint little bird, but he knows how to tell the truth. Nobody comes to Novastoshnah except on business, and the only people who have regular business there are the seals. They come in the summer months by hundreds and hundreds of thousands out of the cold gray sea. For Novastoshnah Beach has the fnest accommodation for seals of any place in all the world.

Sea Catch knew that, and every spring would swim from whatever place he happened to be in—would swim like a torpedo-boat straight for Novastoshnah and spend a month fghting with his companions for a good place on the rocks, as close to the sea as possible. Sea Catch was ffteen years old, a huge gray fur seal with almost a mane on his shoulders, and long, wicked dog teeth. When he heaved himself up on his front fippers he stood more than four feet clear of the ground, and his weight, if anyone had been bold enough to weigh him, was nearly seven hundred pounds. He was scarred all over with the marks of savage fghts, but he was always ready for just one fght more. He would put his head on one side, as though he were afraid to look his enemy in the face; then he would shoot it out like lightning, and when the big teeth were frmly fxed on the other seal’s neck, the other seal might get away if he could, but Sea Catch would not help him.

<end of sample>

The audio version of this book is available here: https://www.free-ebooks.net/audiobook/White-Seal

See more books about Animals below

Conversations Among Cats - Gabriel Rosenstock overhears these delightful conversations among cats set to the beautiful images of Elizabeth Fearne Bonsall. Sample Page from Conversations Among Cats What will we do today?” “Kill a mouse. What else?” “Kill a mouse? Do we have to?” “Yes.” “Meeow! Well, if you insist.” “I insist.” “Come on. Shake a leg! Let’s tell ...

The Fox Who Wanted to Fly - The fox sees the birds, bees, and bats, and greatly desires to fly – will perseverance win? Sample Text: One night, Fox told her kits a bedtime story. It was the tale of a fox. This fox wanted to fly. Her kits said they wanted to fly. They said, “Flying looks like fun!” Let’s listen ...

Under My Pillow - An adventure about a five-year-old girl who loses her first tooth. She puts it under her pillow as many children do but discovers that there is no tooth or present the next day. She then goes on a quest to solve the mystery with the help of her mom, the Tooth Fairy, and the Tooth ...

The Good Fox – A new fable - The Good Fox is a fable about a fox who succeeds through kindness. It reinforces how doing good is rewarding and being kind to others is important. The book also has lots of fun repetition so can be suitable for children learning to read. Sample Text from The Good Fox Fox awoke and she was ...

Welcome to Cripley Hollow - Celeste gets more than she bargained for in the move to Cripley Hollow - with magic, an imp named Grumblemunch who loves cookies, and Professor Prettypaws, an eloquent tabby.

Always Be Good – Be Nice series book 5, revised edition - Always Be Good is a short simple book for young children, and beginner ESL readers, promoting important behaviours young children need to learn. Book 5 in the FKB Always Be Nice series featuring cute animals and alliteration.

Save the Planet – Be Nice series book 4, revised edition - Save the Planet is a short simple book for young children, and beginner ESL readers, promoting values of conservation and ecologically-friendly behaviour. This book teaches children ten important lessons about conservation and actions that can help preserve and conserve our natural environment and the resources, for those of us, people and animals, who inhabit it. ...

Odd One Out – An anti-discrimination story for elementary school age children - Psychedelic seal is not like all the others – he doesn’t blend in like the other seals, not only is he in danger to the world at large, he gets teased by the other seal pups. Learn about how psychedelic seal learns to triumph in spite of his differences and even because of them in ...

Thangwang and Bhalluka - Baby Thangwang and Bhalluka the Bear are best friends. They like to talk and growl together,  This cute short story has lots of sound words for early readers to practice sounding out or to have fun sounding out when reading to a toddler / kindergartener. Sample Page – Thangwang and Bhalluka Baby Thangwang likes to ...

Don’t Be a Bully – Be Nice Book 3 – Revised Edition - Don’t be a Bully is a short simple book for young children, and beginner ESL readers, promoting values of anti-bullying and anti-discrimination. This book teaches children ten important life lessons about values and the importance of treating everyone equal, no matter what race, religion, gender, or abilities. There are exercises supporting the topics at the ...