stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第34节
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had it all poured into the skin； and the giant thought he had it drunk。 The
giant drank another gallon then； and the tailor let another gallon down into
the skin； but the giant thought he was drinking it。
〃I'll do a thing now that it won't come with you to do；〃 said the tailor。
〃You will not；〃 said the giant。 〃What is it you would do？〃
〃Make a hole and let out the broth again；〃 said the tailor。
〃Do it yourself first；〃 said the giant。
The tailor gave a prod of the knife； and he let the broth out of the skin。
〃Do that you；〃 said he。
〃I will；〃 said the giant； giving such a prod of the knife into his own
stomach that he killed himself。 That is the way the tailor killed the third
giant。
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He went to the king then； and desired him to send him out his wife and
his money； for that he would throw down the court again unless he should
get the wife。 They were afraid then that he would throw down the court；
and they sent the wife to him。
When the tailor was a day gone； himself and his wife； they repented
and followed him to take his wife off him again。 The people who were
after him were following him till they came to the place where the lion
was； and the lion said to them： 〃The tailor and his wife were here
yesterday。 I saw them going by； and if ye loose me now； I am swifter than
ye； and I will follow them till I overtake them。〃 When they heard that； they
loosed out the lion。
The lion and the people of Dublin went on； and they were pursuing
him； until they came to the place where the fox was； and the fox greeted
them； and said： 〃The tailor and his wife were here this morning； and if ye
will loose me out； I am swifter than ye； and I will follow them； and
overtake them。〃 They loosed out the fox then。
The lion and the fox and the army of Dublin went on then； trying
would they catch the tailor； and they were going till they came to the place
where the old white garraun was； and the old white garraun said to them
that the tailor and his wife were there in the morning； and 〃Loose me out；〃
said he； 〃I am swifter than ye； and I'll overtake them。〃 They loosed out the
old white garraun then； and the old white garraun； the fox； the lion； and the
army of Dublin pursued the tailor and his wife together； and it was not
long till they came up with him； and saw himself and the wife out before
them。
When the tailor saw them coming； he got out of the coach with his
wife； and he sat down on the ground。
When the old white garraun saw the tailor sitting down on the ground；
he said； 〃That's the position he had when he made the hole for me； that I
couldn't come up out of； when I went down into it。 I'll go no nearer to
him。〃
〃No！〃 said the fox； 〃but that's the way he was when he was making the
thing for me； and I'll go no nearer to him。〃
〃No！〃 says the lion； 〃but that's the very way he had； when he was
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making the plough that I was caught in。 I'll go no nearer to him。〃
They all went from him then and returned。 The tailor and his wife
came home to Galway。
THE CASTLE OF FORTUNE＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from the German of Der Faule und der Fleissige by
Robert Reinick。
One lovely summer morning； just as the sun rose； two travelers
started on a journey。 They were both strong young men； but one was a lazy
fellow and the other was a worker。
As the first sunbeams came over the hills； they shone on a great castle
standing on the heights； as far away as the eye could see。 It was a
wonderful and beautiful castle； all glistening towers that gleamed like
marble； and glancing windows that shone like crystal。 The two young men
looked at it eagerly； and longed to go nearer。
Suddenly； out of the distance； something like a great butterfly； of white
and gold； swept toward them。 And when it came nearer； they saw that it
was a most beautiful lady； robed in floating garments as fine as cobwebs
and wearing on her head a crown so bright that no one could tell whether
it was of diamonds or of dew。 She stood； light as air； on a great； shining；
golden ball； which rolled along with her； swifter than the wind。 As she
passed the travelers； she turned her face to them and smiled。
〃Follow me！〃 she said。
The lazy man sat down in the grass with a discontented sigh。 〃She has
an easy time of it！〃 he said。
But the industrious man ran after the lovely lady and caught the hem
of her floating robe in his grasp。 〃Who are you； and whither are you
going？〃 he asked。
〃I am the Fairy of Fortune；〃 the beautiful lady said； 〃and that is my
castle。 You may reach it to…day； if you will； there is time； if you waste
none。 If you reach it before the last stroke of midnight； I will receive you
there； and will be your friend。 But if you come one second after midnight；
it will be too late。〃
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When she had said this； her robe slipped from the traveler's hand and
she was gone。
The industrious man hurried back to his friend； and told him what the
fairy had said。
〃The idea！〃 said the lazy man； and he laughed； 〃of course； if a body
had a horse there would be some chance； but WALK all that way？ No；
thank you！〃
〃Then good…by；〃 said his friend； 〃I am off。〃 And he set out； down the
road toward the shining castle； with a good steady stride； his eyes straight
ahead。
The lazy man lay down in the soft grass； and looked rather wistfully at
the faraway towers。 〃If I only had a good horse！〃 he sighed。
Just at that moment he felt something warm nosing about at his
shoulder； and heard a little whinny。 He turned round； and there stood a
little horse！ It was a dainty creature； gentle…looking； and finely built； and it
was saddled and bridled。
〃Hola！〃 said the lazy man。 〃Luck often comes when one isn't looking
for it！〃 And in an instant he had leaped on the horse； and headed him for
the castle of fortune。 The little horse started at a fine pace； and in a very
few minutes they overtook the other traveler； plodding along on foot。
〃How do you like shank's mare？〃 laughed the lazy man； as he passed
his friend。
The industrious man only nodded； and kept on with his steady stride；
eyes straight ahead。
The horse kept his good pace； and by noon the towers of the castle
stood out against the sky； much nearer and more beautiful。 Exactly at noon；
the horse turned aside from the road； into a shady grove on a hill； and
stopped。
〃Wise beast；〃 said his rider； 〃‘haste makes waste；' and all things are
better in moderation。 I'll follow your example； and eat and rest a bit。〃 He
dismounted and sat down in the cool moss； with his back against a tree。 He
had a lunch in his traveler's pouch； and he ate it comfortably。 Then he felt
drowsy from the heat and the early ride； so he pulled his hat over his eyes；
and settled himself for a nap。 〃It will go all the better for a little rest；〃 he
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said。
That WAS a sleep！ He slept like the seven sleepers； and he dreamed
the most beautiful things you could imagine。 At last； he dreamed that he
had entered the castle of fortune and was being received with great
festivities。 Everything he wanted was brought to him； and music played
while fireworks were set off in his honor。 The music was so loud that he
awoke。 He sat up； rubbing his eyes； and behold； the fireworks were the
very last rays of the setting sun； and the music was the voice of the other
traveler； passing the grove on foot！
〃Time to be off；〃 said the lazy man； and looked about him for the
pretty horse。 No horse was
