how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第29节
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sand at the foot of the Burning Mountain。
It stood up in a high peaked cone； and smoke rolled out from it
endlessly along the sky。 At night； the Fire Spirits danced； and the glare
reddened the Big Water far out。
There the Counsellor said to the Boy； 〃Stay thou here till I bring thee a
brand from the burning； be ready and right for running； for I shall be far
spent when I come again； and the Fire Spirits will pursue me。〃
Then he went up to the mountain； and the Fire Spirits only laughed
when they saw him； for he looked so slinking； inconsiderable； and mean；
that none of them thought harm from him。 And in the night； when they
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were at their dance about the mountain； the Coyote stole the fire； and ran
with it down the slope of the burning mountain。 When the Fire Spirits saw
what he had done they streamed out after him； red and angry； with a
humming sound like a swarm of bees。 But the Coyote was still ahead； the
sparks of the brand streamed out along his flanks； as he carried it in his
mouth； and he stretched his body to the trail。
The Boy saw him coming； like a failing star against the mountain； he
heard the singing sound of the Fire Spirits close behind； and the labouring
breath of the Counsellor。 And when the good beast panted down beside
him； the Boy caught the brand from his jaws and was off； like an arrow
from a bent bow。 Out he shot on the homeward path； and the Fire Spirits
snapped and sang behind him。 But fast as they pursued he fled faster； till
he saw the next runner standing in his place； his body bent for the running。
To him he passed it； and it was off and away； with the Fire Spirits raging
in chase。
So it passed from hand to hand； and the Fire Spirits tore after it
through the scrub； till they came to the mountains of the snows； these they
could not pass。 Then the dark； sleek runners with the backward streaming
brand bore it forward； shining starlike in the night； glowing red in sultry
noons； violet pale in twilight glooms； until they came in safety to their
own land。
And there they kept it among stones and fed it with small sticks； as the
Counsellor advised； and it kept the people warm。
Ever after the Boy was called the Fire…Bringer； and ever after the
Coyote bore the sign of the bringing； for the fur along his flanks was
singed and yellow from the flames that streamed backward from the
brand。
THE BURNING OF THE RICEFIELDS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Gleanings in Buddha…Fields； by Lafeadio Hearn。
（Kegan Paul； Trench； Trubner and Co； Ltd。 5s。 net。）
Once there was a good old man who lived up on a mountain； far
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away in Japan。 All round his little house the mountain was flat； and the
ground was rich； and there were the ricefields of all the people who lived
in the village at the mountain's foot。 Mornings and evenings； the old man
and his little grandson； who lived with him； used to look far down on the
people at work in the village； and watch the blue sea which lay all round
the land； so close that there was no room for fields below； only for houses。
The little boy loved the ricefields； dearly； for he knew that all the good
food for all the people came from them； and he often helped his
grandfather to watch over them。
One day； the grandfather was standing alone； before his house； looking
far down at the people； and out at the sea； when； suddenly； he saw
something very strange far off where the sea and sky meet。 Something like
a great cloud was rising there； as if the sea were lifting itself high into the
sky。 The old man put his hands to his eyes and looked again； hard as his
old sight could。 Then he turned and ran to the house。 〃Yone； Yone！〃 he
cried； 〃bring a brand from the hearth！〃
The little grandson could not imagine what his grandfather wanted
with fire； but he always obeyed； so he ran quickly and brought the brand。
The old man already had one； and was running for the ricefields。 Yone ran
after。 But what was his horror to see his grandfather thrust his burning
brand into the ripe dry rice； where it stood。
〃Oh； Grandfather； Grandfather！〃 screamed the little boy； 〃what are you
doing？〃
〃Quick； set fire！ thrust your brand in！〃 said the grandfather。
Yone thought his dear grandfather had lost his mind； and he began to
sob； but a little Japanese boy always obeys； so though he sobbed； he thrust
his torch in； and the sharp flame ran up the dry stalks； red and yellow。 In
an instant； the field was ablaze； and thick black smoke began to pour up；
on the mountain side。 It rose like a cloud； black and fierce； and in no time
the people below saw that their precious ricefields were on fire。 Ah； how
they ran！ Men； women； and children climbed the mountain； running as fast
as they could to save the rice； not one soul stayed behind。
And when they came to the mountain top； and saw the beautiful rice…
crop all in flames； beyond help； they cried bitterly； 〃Who has done this
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thing？ How did it happen？〃
〃I set fire；〃 said the old man； very solemnly； and the little grandson
sobbed； 〃Grandfather set fire。〃
But when they came fiercely round the old man； with 〃Why？ Why？〃
he only turned and pointed to the sea。 〃Look！〃 he said。
They all turned and looked。 And there； where the blue sea had lain； so
calm； a mighty wall of water； reaching from earth to sky； was rolling in。
No one could scream； so terrible was the sight。 The wall of water rolled in
on the land； passed quite over the place where the village had been； and
broke； with an awful sound； on the mountain side。 One wave more； and
still one more； came； and then all was water； as far as they could look；
below； the village where they had been was under the sea。
But the people were all safe。 And when they saw what the old man had
done； they honoured him above all men for the quick wit which had saved
them all from the tidal wave。
THE STORY OF WYLIE＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Rab and his Friends； by Dr John Brown。
This is a story about a dog；not the kind of dog you often see in the
street here； not a fat； wrinkly pugdog； nor a smooth…skinned bulldog； nor
even a big shaggy fellow； but a slim； silky… haired； sharp…eared little dog；
the prettiest thing you can imagine。 Her name was Wylie； and she lived in
Scotland； far up on the hills； and helped her master take care of his sheep。
You can't think how clever she was！ She watched over the sheep and
the little lambs like a soldier； and never let anything hurt them。 She drove
them out to pasture when it was time； and brought them safely home when
it was time for that。 When the silly sheep got frightened and ran this way
and that； hurting themselves and getting lost； Wylie knew exactly what to
do；round on one side she would run； barking and scolding； driving them
back； then round on the other； barking and scolding； driving them back； till
they were all bunched together in front of the right gate。 Then she drove
them through as neatly as any person。 She loved her work； and was a
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wonderfully fine sheepdog。
At last her master grew too old to stay alone on the hills； and so he
went away to live。 Before he went； he gave Wylie to two kind young men
who lived in the nearest town； he knew they would be good to her。 They
grew very fond of her； and so did their old grandmother and the little
children： she was so gentle and handsome and well behaved。
So now Wylie lived in the city where there were no sheep farms； only
streets and houses； and she did not have to do any work at all； she was
just a pet dog。 She seemed very happy and she was always good。
But after a while； the family noticed something odd； somethin
