Baby Hermes

Part One

Hermes was a baby. But he was not a baby like other babies.

On his first day, he got out of his cradle. He walked out into the sun.

He found an old shell, dry and empty. "I can make music with you!" he said.

Hermes tied strings across the shell. He plucked them, and they sang. It was a lyre!

Then he had a silly idea. He took his brother Apollo's cows for a walk.

The cows had to walk backward. Their foot marks pointed the wrong way! Then he hid them in a cave.

Hermes ran home. He got back in his cradle. He tried to look sleepy.

Apollo came and said, "Where are my cows?" Hermes did not hide. "I took them," said Hermes.

"I am sorry," said Hermes. "I will show you where they are." He took Apollo to the cave.

All the cows were safe. Hermes picked up his lyre and played a tune.

Apollo laughed and laughed. He had never heard such a happy sound.

"May I have that lyre?" he asked. Hermes gave it to him.

Apollo gave him a gift, too. They were friends from then on.