how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第31节
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to this； but the rest of the bad fairy's gift was a great deal worse；that
about waxing and waning with the moon。 You know how the moon grows
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bigger and brighter each night； from the time it is a curly silver thread low
in the sky till it is round and golden； flooding the whole sky with light？
That is the waxing moon。 Then； you know； it wanes； it grows smaller and
paler again； night by night； till at last it disappears for a while； altogether。
Well； poor little Daylight waxed and waned with it。 She was the rosiest；
plumpest； merriest baby in the world when the moon was at the full； but as
it began to wane her little cheeks grew paler； her tiny hands thinner； with
every night； till she lay in her cradle like a shadow…baby； without sound or
motion。 At first they thought she was dead； when the moon disappeared；
but after some months they got used to this too； and only waited eagerly
for the new moon； to see her revive。 When it shone again； faint and silver；
on the horizon； the baby stirred weakly； and then they fed her gently； each
night she grew a little better； and when the moon was near the full again；
she was again a lively； rosy； lovely child。
So it went on till she grew up。 She grew to be the most beautiful
maiden the moon ever shone on； and everyone loved her so much； for her
sweet ways and her merry heart； that someone was always planning to stay
up at night； to be near her。 But she did not like to be watched； especially
when she felt the bad time of waning coming on； so her ladies…in…waiting
had to be very careful。 When the moon waned she became shrunken and
pale and bent； like an old； old woman； worn out with sorrow。 Only her
golden hair and her blue eyes remained unchanged； and this gave her a
terribly strange look。 At last； as the moon disappeared； she faded away to a
little； bowed； old creature； asleep and helpless。
No wonder she liked best to be alone！ She got in the way of wandering
by herself in the beautiful wood； playing in the moonlight when she was
well； stealing away in the shadows when she was fading with the moon。
Her father had a lovely little house of roses and vines built for her； there。 It
stood at the edge of a most beautiful open glade； inside the wood； where
the moon shone best。 There the princess lived with her ladies。 And there
she danced when the moon was full。 But when the moon waned； her ladies
often lost her altogether； so far did she wander； and sometimes they found
her sleeping under a great tree； and brought her home in their arms。
When the princess was about seventeen years old； there was a
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rebellion in a kingdom not far from her father's。 Wicked nobles murdered
the king of the country and stole his throne； and would have murdered the
young prince； too； if he had not escaped； dressed in peasant's clothes。
Dressed in his poor rags； the prince wandered about a long time； till
one day he got into a great wood； and lost his way。 It was the wood where
the Princess Daylight lived； but of course he did not know anything about
that nor about her。 He wandered till night； and then he came to a queer
little house。 One of the good fairies lived there； and the minute she saw
him she knew all about everything； but to him she looked only like a kind
old woman。 She gave him a good supper and a bed for the night； and told
him to come back to her if he found no better place for the next night。 But
the prince said he must get out of the wood at once； so in the morning he
took leave of the fairy。
All day long he walked； and walked； but at nightfall he had not found
his way out of the wood； so he lay down to rest till the moon should rise
and light his path。
When he woke the moon was glorious； it was three days from the full；
and bright as silver。 By its light he saw what he thought to be the edge of
the wood； and he hastened toward it。 But when he came to it； it was only
an open space； surrounded with trees。 It was so very lovely； in the white
moonlight； that the prince stood a minute to look。 And as he looked；
something white moved out of the trees on the far side of the open space。
It was something slim and white； that swayed in the dim light like a young
birch。
〃It must be a moon fairy；〃 thought the prince； and he stepped into the
shadow。
The moon fairy came nearer and nearer； dancing and swaying in the
moonlight。 And as she came； she began to sing a soft； gay little song。
But when she was quite close； the prince saw that she was not a fairy
after all； but a real human maiden；the loveliest maiden he had ever seen。
Her hair was like yellow corn； and her smile made all the place merry。 Her
white gown fluttered as she danced； and her little song sounded like a bird
note。
The prince watched her till she danced out of sight； and then until she
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once more came toward him； and she seemed so like a moon… beam
herself； as she lifted her face to the sky； that he was almost afraid to
breathe。 He had never seen anything so lovely。 By the time she had danced
twice round the circle； he could think of nothing in the world except the
hope of finding out who she was； and staying near her。
But while he was waiting for her to appear the third time； his
weariness overcame him； and he fell asleep。 And when he awoke； it was
broad day； and the beautiful maiden had vanished。
He hunted about； hoping to find where she lived； and on the other side
of the glade he came upon a lovely little house； covered with moss and
climbing roses。 He thought she must live there； so he went round to the
kitchen door and asked the kind cook for a drink of water； and while he
was drinking it he asked who lived there。 She told him it was the house of
the Princess Daylight； but she told him nothing else about her； because she
was not allowed to talk about her mistress。 But she gave him a very good
meal and told him other things。
He did not go back to the little old woman who had been so kind to
him first； but wandered all day in the wood； waiting for the moontime。
Again he waited at the edge of the dell； and when the white moon was
high in the heavens； once more he saw the glimmering in the distance； and
once more the lovely maiden floated toward him。 He knew her name was
the Princess Daylight； but this time she seemed to him much lovelier than
before。 She was all in blue like the blue of the sky in summer。 （She really
was more lovely； you know； because the moon was almost at the full。） All
night he watched her； quite forgetting that he ought not to be doing it； till
she disappeared on the opposite side of the glade。 Then； very tired； he
found his way to the little old woman's house； had breakfast with her； and
fell fast asleep in the bed she gave him。
The fairy knew well enough by his face that he had seen Daylight； and
when he woke up in the evening and started off again she gave him a
strange little flask and told him to use it if ever he needed it。
This night the princess did not appear in the dell until midnight； at the
very full of the moon。 But when she came； she was so lovely that she took
the prince's breath away。 Just think！she was dressed in a gown that
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looked as if it were made of fireflies' wings； em… broidered in gold。 She
danced around and around； singing； swaying； and flitting like a beam of
sunlight； till the prince grew quite dazzled。
But while he had been watching her； he had not noticed that the sky
was growing dark and the wind was rising。 Suddenly there was a clap of
thunder。 The princess danced on。 But another clap came louder； and then a
sudden great flash of lightning that lit up the sky from end to end。 The
prince couldn't help shutting his eyes； but he opened them quickly to see if
Daylight was hurt。 Alas； she was lying on the ground。 The prince ran to
her； but she was already up again。
