stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第15节
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into the fold and began killing the lambs。 In great fright； the boy ran for
help。 〃Wolf！ Wolf！〃 he screamed。 〃There is a wolf in the flock！ Help！〃
The villagers heard him； but they thought it was another mean trick； no
one paid the least attention； or went near him。 And the shepherd…boy lost
all his sheep。
That is the kind of thing that happens to people who lie： even when
they tell the truth no one believes them。
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THE FROG KING
Did you ever hear the old story about the foolish Frogs？ The Frogs in
a certain swamp decided that they needed a king； they had always got
along perfectly well without one； but they suddenly made up their minds
that a king they must have。 They sent a messenger to Jove and begged him
to send a king to rule over them。
Jove saw how stupid they were； and sent a king who could not harm
them： he tossed a big log into the middle of the pond。
At the splash the Frogs were terribly frightened； and dove into their
holes to hide from King Log。 But after a while； when they saw that the
king never moved； they got over their fright and went and sat on him。 And
as soon as they found he really could not hurt them they began to despise
him； and finally they sent another messenger to Jove to ask for a new king。
Jove sent an eel。
The Frogs were much pleased and a good deal frightened when King
Eel came wriggling and swimming among them。 But as the days went on；
and the eel was perfectly harmless； they stopped being afraid； and as soon
as they stopped fearing King Eel they stopped respecting him。
Soon they sent a third messenger to Jove； and begged that they might
have a better king；a king who was worth while。
It was too much； Jove was angry at their stupidity at last。 〃I will give
you a king such as you deserve！〃 he said； and he sent them a Stork。
As soon as the Frogs came to the surface to greet the new king； King
Stork caught them in his long bill and gobbled them up。 One after another
they came bobbing up； and one after another the stork ate them。 He was
indeed a king worthy of them！
THE SUN AND THE WIND
The Sun and the Wind once had a quarrel as to which was the
stronger。 Each believed himself to be the more powerful。 While they were
arguing they saw a traveler walking along the country highway； wearing a
great cloak。
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〃Here is a chance to test our strength；〃 said the Wind； 〃let us see which
of us is strong enough to make that traveler take off his cloak； the one who
can do that shall be acknowledged the more powerful。〃
〃Agreed；〃 said the Sun。
Instantly the Wind began to blow； he puffed and tugged at the man's
cloak； and raised a storm of hail and rain； to beat at it。 But the colder it
grew and the more it stormed； the tighter the traveler held his cloak around
him。 The Wind could not get it off。
Now it was the Sun's turn。 He shone with all his beams on the man's
shoulders。 As it grew hotter and hotter； the man unfastened his cloak； then
he threw it back； at last he took it off！ The Sun had won。
THE LITTLE JACKAL AND THE ALLIGATOR
The little Jackal was very fond of shell… fish。 He used to go down by
the river and hunt along the edges for crabs and such things。 And once；
when he was hunting for crabs； he was so hungry that he put his paw into
the water after a crab without looking first；which you never should do！
The minute he put in his paw； SNAP！ the big Alligator who lives in the
mud down there had it in his jaws。
〃Oh； dear！〃 thought the little Jackal； 〃the big Alligator has my paw in
his mouth！ In another minute he will pull me down and gobble me up！
What shall I do？ what shall I do？〃 Then he thought； suddenly； 〃I'll deceive
him！〃
So he put on a very cheerful voice； as if nothing at all were the matter；
and he said；
〃Ho！ ho！ Clever Mr。 Alligator！ Smart Mr。 Alligator； to take that old
bulrush root for my paw！ I'll hope you'll find it very tender！〃
The old Alligator was hidden away beneath the mud and bulrush
leaves； and he couldn't see anything。 He thought； 〃Pshaw！ I've made a
mistake。〃 So he opened his mouth and let the little Jackal go。
The little Jackal ran away as fast as he could； and as he ran he called
out；
〃Thank you； Mr。 Alligator！ Kind Mr。 Alligator！ SO kind of you to let
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me go！〃
The old Alligator lashed with his tail and snapped with his jaws； but it
was too late； the little Jackal was out of reach。
After this the little Jackal kept away from the river； out of danger。 But
after about a week he got such an appetite for crabs that nothing else
would do at all； he felt that he must have a crab。 So he went down by the
river and looked all around； very carefully。 He didn't see the old Alligator；
but he thought to himself； 〃I think I'll not take any chances。〃 So he stood
still and began to talk out loud to himself。 He said；
〃When I don't see any little crabs on the land I most generally see them
sticking out of the water； and then I put my paw in and catch them。 I
wonder if there are any fat little crabs in the water today？〃
The old Alligator was hidden down in the mud at the bottom of the
river； and when he heard what the little Jackal said； he thought； 〃Aha！ I'll
pretend to be a little crab； and when he puts his paw in； I'll make my
dinner of him。〃 So he stuck the black end of his snout above the water and
waited。
The little Jackal took one look； and then he said；
〃Thank you； Mr。 Alligator！ Kind Mr。 Alligator！ You are
EXCEEDINGLY kind to show me where you are！ I will have dinner
elsewhere。〃 And he ran away like the wind。
The old Alligator foamed at the mouth； he was so angry； but the little
Jackal was gone。
For two whole weeks the little Jackal kept away from the river。 Then；
one day he got a feeling inside him that nothing but crabs could satisfy； he
felt that he must have at least one crab。 Very cautiously； he went down to
the river and looked all around。 He saw no sign of the old Alligator。 Still；
he did not mean to take any chances。 So he stood quite still and began to
talk to himself；it was a little way he had。 He said；
〃When I don't see any little crabs on the shore； or sticking up out of the
water； I usually see them blowing bubbles from under the water； the little
bubbles go PUFF； PUFF； PUFF； and then they go POP； POP； POP； and
they show me where the little juicy crabs are； so I can put my paw in and
catch them。 I wonder if I shall see any little bubbles to…day？〃
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The old Alligator； lying low in the mud and weeds； heard this； and he
thought； 〃Pooh！ THAT'S easy enough； I'll just blow some little crab…
bubbles； and then he will put his paw in where I can get it。〃
So he blew； and he blew； a mighty blast； and the bubbles rose in a
perfect whirlpool； fizzing and swirling。
The little Jackal didn't have to be told who was underneath those
bubbles： he took one quick look； and off he ran。 But as he went； he sang；
〃Thank you； Mr。 Alligator！ Kind Mr。 Alligator！ You are the kindest
Alligator in the world； to show me where you are； so nicely！ I'll breakfast
at another part of the river。〃
The old Alligator was so furious that he crawled up on the bank and
went after the little Jackal； but； dear； dear； he couldn't catch the little
Jackal； he ran far too fast。
After this； the little Jackal did not like to risk going near the water； so
he ate no more crabs。 But he found a garden of wild figs； which were so
good that he went there every day； and ate them instead of shell…fish。
Now the old Alligator found this out； and he made up his mind to have
the little Jackal for supper； or to die trying。 So he crept； and crawled； and
dragged himself over the ground t
