stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第7节
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floated lightly and happily across the blue sky。 Far below lay the earth；
brown； dry； and desolate； from drouth。 The little Cloud could see the poor
people of the earth working and suffering in the hot fields； while she
herself floated on the morning breeze； hither and thither； without a care。
〃Oh； if I could only help the poor people down there！〃 she thought。 〃If
I could but make their work easier； or give the hungry ones food； or the
thirsty a drink！〃
And as the day passed； and the Cloud became larger； this wish to do
something for the people of earth was ever greater in her heart。
On earth it grew hotter and hotter； the sun burned down so fiercely that
the people were fainting in its rays； it seemed as if they must die of heat；
and yet they were obliged to go on with their work； for they were very
poor。 Sometimes they stood and looked up at the Cloud； as if they were
praying； and saying； 〃Ah； if you could help us！〃
〃I will help you； I will！〃 said the Cloud。 And she began to sink softly
down toward the earth。
But suddenly； as she floated down； she remembered something which
had been told her when she was a tiny Cloud…child； in the lap of Mother
Ocean： it had been whispered that if the Clouds go too near the earth they
die。 When she remembered this she held herself from sinking； and swayed
here and there on the breeze； thinking；thinking。 But at last she stood
quite still； and spoke boldly and proudly。 She said； 〃Men of earth； I will
help you； come what may！〃
The thought made her suddenly marvelously big and strong and
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powerful。 Never had she dreamed that she could be so big。 Like a mighty
angel of blessing she stood above the earth； and lifted her head and spread
her wings far over the fields and woods。 She was so great； so majestic； that
men and animals were awe…struck at the sight； the trees and the grasses
bowed before her； yet all the earth…creatures felt that she meant them well。
〃Yes； I will help you；〃 cried the Cloud once more。 〃Take me to
yourselves； I will give my life for you！〃
As she said the words a wonderful light glowed from her heart； the
sound of thunder rolled through the sky； and a love greater than words can
tell filled the Cloud； down； down； close to the earth she swept； and gave
up her life in a blessed； healing shower of rain。
That rain was the Cloud's great deed； it was her death； too； but it was
also her glory。 Over the whole country…side； as far as the rain fell； a lovely
rainbow sprang its arch； and all the brightest rays of heaven made its
colors； it was the last greeting of a love so great that it sacrificed itself。
Soon that； too； was gone； but long； long afterward the men and
animals who were saved by the Cloud kept her blessing in their hearts。
THE LITTLE RED HEN
The little Red Hen was in the farmyard with her chickens； when she
found a grain of wheat。
〃Who will plant this wheat？〃 she said。
〃Not I；〃 said the Goose。
〃Not I；〃 said the Duck。
〃I will； then；〃 said the little Red Hen； and she planted the grain of
wheat。
When the wheat was ripe she said； 〃Who will take this wheat to the
mill？〃
〃Not I；〃 said the Goose。
〃Not I；〃 said the Duck。
〃I will； then；〃 said the little Red Hen； and she took the wheat to the
mill。
When she brought the flour home she said； 〃Who will make some
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bread with this flour？〃
〃Not I；〃 said the Goose。
〃Not I；〃 said the Duck。
〃I will； then；〃 said the little Red Hen。
When the bread was baked； she said； 〃Who will eat this bread？〃
〃I will；〃 said the Goose
〃I will；〃 said the Duck
〃No； you won't；〃 said the little Red Hen。 〃I shall eat it myself。 Cluck！
cluck！〃 And she called her chickens to help her。
THE GINGERBREAD MAN＇1＇
＇1＇ I have tried to give this story in the most familiar form； it varies a
good deal in the hands of different story…tellers； but this is substantially the
version I was 〃brought up on。〃 The form of the ending was suggested to
me by the story in Carolyn Bailey's For the Children's Hour （Milton
Bradley Co。）。
Once upon a time there was a little old woman and a little old man；
and they lived all alone in a little old house。 They hadn't any little girls or
any little boys； at all。 So one day； the little old woman made a boy out of
gingerbread； she made him a chocolate jacket； and put cinnamon seeds in
it for buttons； his eyes were made of fine； fat currants； his mouth was
made of rose…colored sugar； and he had a gay little cap of orange sugar…
candy。 When the little old woman had rolled him out； and dressed him up；
and pinched his gingerbread shoes into shape； she put him in a pan； then
she put the pan in the oven and shut the door； and she thought； 〃Now I
shall have a little boy of my own。〃
When it was time for the Gingerbread Boy to be done she opened the
oven door and pulled out the pan。 Out jumped the little Gingerbread Boy
on to the floor； and away he ran； out of the door and down the street！ The
little old woman and the little old man ran after him as fast as they could；
but he just laughed； and shouted；
〃Run！ run！ as fast as you can！
〃You can't catch me； I'm the Gingerbread Man！〃
And they couldn't catch him。
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The little Gingerbread Boy ran on and on； until he came to a cow； by
the roadside。 〃Stop； little Gingerbread Boy；〃 said the cow； 〃I want to eat
you。〃 The little Gingerbread Boy laughed； and said；
〃I have run away from a little old woman；
〃And a little old man；
〃And I can run away from you； I can！〃
And； as the cow chased him； he looked over his shoulder and cried；
〃Run！ run！ as fast as you can！
〃You can't catch me； I'm the Gingerbread Man！〃
And the cow couldn't catch him。
The little Gingerbread Boy ran on； and on； and on； till he came to a
horse； in the pasture。 〃Please stop； little Gingerbread Boy；〃 said the horse；
〃you look very good to eat。〃 But the little Gingerbread Boy laughed out
loud。 〃Oho！ oho！〃 he said；
〃I have run away from a little old woman；
〃A little old man；
〃A cow；
〃And I can run away from you； I can！〃
And； as the horse chased him； he looked over his shoulder and cried；
〃Run！ run！ as fast as you can！
〃You can't catch me； I'm the Gingerbread Man！〃
And the horse couldn't catch him。
By and by the little Gingerbread Boy came to a barn full of threshers。
When the threshers smelled the Gingerbread Boy； they tried to pick him
up； and said； 〃Don't run so fast； little Gingerbread Boy； you look very
good to eat。〃 But the little Gingerbread Boy ran harder than ever； and as he
ran he cried out；
〃I have run away from a little old woman；
〃A little old man；
〃A cow；
〃A horse；
〃And I can run away from you； I can！〃
And when he found that he was ahead of the threshers； he turned and
shouted back to them；
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〃Run！ run！ as fast as you can！
〃You can't catch me； I'm the Gingerbread Man！〃
And the threshers couldn't catch him。
Then the little Gingerbread Boy ran faster than ever。 He ran and ran
until he came to a field full of mowers。 When the mowers saw how fine he
looked； they ran after him； calling out； 〃Wait a bit！ wait a bit； little
Gingerbread Boy； we wish to eat you！〃 But the little Gingerbread Boy
laughed harder than ever； and ran like the wind。 〃Oho！ oho！〃 he said；
〃I have run away from a little old woman；
〃A little old man；
〃A cow；
〃A horse；
〃A barn full of threshers；
〃And I can run away from you； I can！〃
And when he found that he was ahead of the mowers； he turned and
shouted back to them；
〃Run！ run！ as fast as you can！
〃You can't catch me； I'
