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Children of wax
Children of wax
ˈtʃɪɫdɹən ˈəv ˈwæks
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Darshan Soni
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
ˈwəns əˈpɑn ˈeɪ ˈtaɪm
ˈðɛɹ ˈɫaɪvd ˈeɪ ˈhæpi
ˈfæməɫi
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
ˈðeɪ ˈnɛvɝ ˈfɔt ˈwɪð
ˈitʃ ˈəðɝ ˈðeɪ ˈhɛɫpt
ˈðɛɹ ˈpɛɹənts ˈæt ˈhoʊm
ˈænd ˈɪn ˈðə ˈfiɫdz
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
ˈbət ˈðeɪ ˈwɝ ˈnɑt
əˈɫaʊd ˈtu ˈɡoʊ ˈnɪɹ ˈeɪ
ˈfaɪɝ
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
ˈðeɪ ˈhæd ˈtu ˈdu ˈɔɫ ˈðɛɹ
ˈwɝk ˈdɝɪŋ ˈðə ˈnaɪt
bɪˈkɑz ˈðeɪ ˈwɝ ˈmeɪd ˈəv ˈwæks
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
ˈbət ˈwən ˈəv ˈðə ˈbɔɪz
ˈɫɔŋd ˈtu ˈɡoʊ ˈaʊt ˈɪn ˈðə
ˈsənˌɫaɪt
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
ˈwən ˈdeɪ ˈðə ˈɫɔŋɪŋ
ˈwɑz ˈtu ˈstɹɔŋ ˈhɪz
ˈbɹəðɝz ˈwɔɹnd ˈhɪm
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
ˈbət ˈɪt ˈwɑz ˈtu ˈɫeɪt
ˈhi ˈmɛɫtəd ˈɪn ˈðə ˈhɑt
ˈsən
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
ˈðə ˈwæks ˈtʃɪɫdɹən ˈwɝ
ˈsoʊ ˈsæd ˈtu ˈsi ˈðɛɹ
ˈbɹəðɝ ˈmɛɫtɪŋ əˈweɪ
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
ˈbət ˈðeɪ ˈmeɪd ˈeɪ ˈpɫæn
ˈðeɪ ˈʃeɪpt ˈðə ˈɫəmp
ˈəv ˈmɛɫtəd ˈwæks ˈɪntu ˈeɪ
ˈbɝd
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
ˈðeɪ ˈtʊk ˈðɛɹ ˈbɝd
ˈbɹəðɝ ˈəp ˈtu ˈeɪ ˈhaɪ
ˈmaʊntən
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
ˈænd ˈæz ˈðə ˈsən ˈɹoʊz ˈhi
ˈfɫu əˈweɪ ˈsɪŋɪŋ ˈɪntu
ˈðə ˈmɔɹnɪŋ ˈɫaɪt
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
