Department of Communications and Speech

Storytelling Pathways for Literacy

Voice and Diction Exercise #2:

Professor Richard Green

 

The Baker’s Smell

A Traditional Folktale

As Retold by Heather Forest

And Recited Here by Professor Green

 

     Once, long ago, there was a baker, whose bread smelled so good, when he opened his ovens and took out his loaves, the smell would rise out of them like a hand.  It would drift out the doorway, go down the street, and collect noses. 

 

     So sweet was the smell of the baker’s bread that it made a poor hungry man stop.  He smelled, “(make smelling sounds),” he smiled, “AHHHHHHHH, ” then he smelled some more. Finally he sat down on the street in front of the store.  The baker himself came out on the street and shouted out loud, “STOP THAT, YOU THIEF!” 

 

     “Stop what?” said the man, who was lost in scent.

 

     “STOP STEALING THE SMELL OF MY FRESH BAKED BREAD.  YOU CAN’T STEAL A SMELL FROM ME WITHOUT PAYING A FEE!  POLICE, COME HERE, ARREST THIS THIEF”

 

     So, the police came, and they dragged the man before the judge, and, the judge heard the baker’s story from beginning to end, and after awhile agreed, “This man has stolen the smell of the bread and so he must pay a fee!”

 

     “A FEE!?” cried the poor man, “BUT I ONLY HAVE THESE FEW SMALL COINS, I FEAR!!”

 

     “Good,” said the judge, “Hold them up to the baker’s ear.  Whether justice be fair or funny, you can pay for the smell of the baker’s bread with the sound of your jingling money!”