stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第19节
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and through； because he was just little enough to be the nicest kind of tree
in the world！
HOW MOSES WAS SAVED
Thousands of years ago； many years before David lived； there was a
very wise and good man of his people who was a friend and adviser of the
king of Egypt。 And for love of this friend； the king of Egypt had let
numbers of the Israelites settle in his land。 But after the king and his
Israelitish friend were dead； there was a new king； who hated the Israelites。
When he saw how strong they were； and how many there were of them； he
began to be afraid that some day they might number more than the
Egyptians； and might take his land from him。
Then he and his rulers did a wicked thing。 They made the Israelites
slaves。 And they gave them terrible tasks to do； without proper rest； or
food； or clothes。 For they hoped that the hardship would kill off the
Israelites。 They thought the old men would die and the young men be so ill
and weary that they could not bring up families； and so the race would
vanish away。
But in spite of the work and suffering； the Israelites remained strong；
and more and more boys grew up； to make the king afraid。
Then he did the wickedest thing of all。 He ordered his soldiers to kill
every boy baby that should be born in an Israelitish family； he did not care
about the girls； because they could not grow up to fight。
Very soon after this evil order； a boy baby was born in a certain
Israelitish family。 When his mother first looked at him her heart was
nearly broken； for he was even more beautiful than most babies are；so
strong and fair and sweet。 But he was a boy！ How could she save him
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from death？
Somehow； she contrived to keep him hidden for three whole months。
But at the end of that time； she saw that it was not going to be possible to
keep him safe any longer。 She had been thinking all this time about what
she should do； and now she carried out her plan。
First； she took a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it all over with
pitch so that it was water…tight； and then she laid the baby in it； then she
carried it to the edge of the river and laid it in the flags by the river's brink。
It did not show at all； unless one were quite near it。 Then she kissed her
little son and left him there。 But his sister stood far off； not seeming to
watch； but really watching carefully to see what would happen to the baby。
Soon there was the sound of talk and laughter； and a train of beautiful
women came down to the water's edge。 It was the king's daughter； come
down to bathe in the river； with her maidens。 The maidens walked along
by the river's side。
As the king's daughter came near to the water； she saw the strange
little basket lying in the flags； and she sent her maid to bring it to her。 And
when she had opened it； she saw the child； the poor baby was crying。
When she saw him； so helpless and so beautiful； crying for his mother； the
king's daughter pitied him and loved him。 She knew the cruel order of her
father； and she said at once； 〃This is one of the Hebrews' children。〃
At that moment the baby's sister came to the princess and said； 〃Shall I
go and find thee a nurse from the Hebrew women； so that she may nurse
the child for thee？〃 Not a word did she say about whose child it was； but
perhaps the princess guessed； I don't know。 At all events； she told the little
girl to go。
So the maiden went； and brought her mother！
Then the king's daughter said to the baby's mother； 〃Take this child
away and nurse it for me； and I will give thee wages。〃
Was not that a strange thing？ And can you think how happy the baby's
mother was？ For now the baby would be known only as the princess's
adopted child； and would be safe。
And it was so。 The mother kept him until he was old enough to be
taken to the princess's palace。 Then he was brought and given to the king's
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daughter； and he became her son。 And she named him Moses。
But the strangest part of the whole story is； that when Moses grew to
be a man he became so strong and wise that it was he who at last saved his
people from the king and conquered the Egyptians。 The one child saved by
the king's own daughter was the very one the king would most have
wanted to kill； if he had known。
THE TEN FAIRIES＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from the facts given in the German of Die Zehn ｛Feeen？｝；
by H。 A。 Guerber。
Once upon a time there was a dear little girl； whose name was Elsa。
Elsa's father and mother worked very hard and became rich。 But they
loved Elsa so much that they did not like to have her do any work； very
foolishly； they let her play all the time。 So when Elsa grew up； she did not
know how to do anything； she could not make bread； she could not sweep
a room； she could not sew a seam； she could only laugh and sing。 But she
was so sweet and merry that everybody loved her。 And by and by； she
married one of the people who loved her； and had a house of her own to
take care of。
Then； then； my dears； came hard times for Elsa！ There were so many
things to be done in the house； and she did not know how to do any of
them！ And because she had never worked at all it made her very tired even
to try； she was tired before the morning was over； every day。 The maid
would come and say； 〃How shall I do this？〃 or 〃How shall I do that？〃 And
Elsa would have to say； 〃I don't know。〃 Then the maid would pretend that
she did not know； either； and when she saw her mistress sitting about
doing nothing； she； too； sat about； idle。
Elsa's husband had a hard time of it； he did not have good things to eat；
and they were not ready at the right time； and the house looked all in a
clutter。 It made him sad； and that made Elsa sad； for she wanted to do
everything just right。
At last； one day； Elsa's husband went away quite cross； he said to her；
as he went out the door； 〃It is no wonder that the house looks so； when you
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sit all day with your hands in your lap！〃
Little Elsa cried bitterly when he was gone； for she did not want to
make her husband unhappy and cross； and she wanted the house to look
nice。 〃Oh； dear；〃 she sobbed； 〃I wish I could do things right！ I wish I could
work！ I wishI wish I had ten good fairies to work for me！ Then I could
keep the house！〃
As she said the words； a great gray man stood before her； he was
wrapped in a strange gray cloak that covered him from head to foot； and
he smiled at Elsa。 〃What is the matter； dear？〃 he said。 〃Why do you cry？〃
〃Oh； I am crying because I do not know how to keep the house；〃 said
Elsa。 〃I cannot make bread； I cannot sweep； I cannot sew a seam； when I
was a little girl I never learned to work； and now I cannot do anything
right。 I wish I had ten good fairies to help me！〃
〃You shall have them； dear；〃 said the gray man； and he shook his
strange gray cloak。 Pouf！ Out hopped ten tiny fairies； no bigger than that！
〃These shall be your servants； Elsa；〃 said the gray man； 〃they are
faithful and clever； and they will do everything you want them to； just
right。 But the neighbors might stare and ask questions if they saw these
little chaps running about your house； so I will hide them away for you。
Give me your little useless hands。〃
Wondering； Elsa stretched out her pretty； little； white hands。
〃Now stretch out your little useless fingers； dear！〃
Elsa stretched out her pretty pink fingers。
The gray man touched each one of the ten little fingers； and as he
touched them he said their names： 〃Little Thumb； Fore… finger； Thimble…
finger； Ring…finger； Little Fi
