the iceberg express(冰山直通车)-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
grass and in a few minutes came back with a little package done up in sea
weed； and after he had unwrapped it； what do you suppose Mary Louise
saw？ Why； a beautiful pale sea green coat made of sea silk。 It was very
beautiful and looked just like the shimmery green of the waves。
〃Here is a coat of the great Crab King； It's finer than silk or anything；
For none but a merman has ever worn A coat so beautifully shimmery
shorn；〃
cried the King Crab； handing it to Mary Louise。 Then he crawled
away； for he wised to have the doctor see his wounded elbow； I imagine。
34
… Page 35…
The Iceberg Express
Candy City
Just then a little bird began to sing：
〃In the valley； green and neat； I see the print of little feet； And way；
way yonder in the glen I see a host of little men。〃
〃Dear me！〃 sighed Mary Louise。 〃I am too tired to walk any further。〃
〃Jump on my back！〃 cried a happy voice； and up trotted a little pony
named Dapple Gray。
〃Oh； how nice；〃 laughed Mary Louise； and climbing up on the saddle；
rode off on this pretty little pony； and pretty soon； not so very far； they
came to the place where the little men were at work。 And what do you
suppose they were doing。 Why； you'd never guess if I gave you until the
4th of July。
They were making maple sugar out of the sap from the maple trees。
First they boiled the sap in great big pots and then put it away to cool in
queer little dishes of various shapes； and when the sugar hardened it was
in the forms of funny little fish； queer little houses； strange animals； and；
goodness knows； what not。
〃Oh； we are the Sugar Candy Men； And we work all day in the
snow To make the maple sugar cakes To sell in the town below；〃
sang one little man who wore a red peaked hat and long turned…up
pointed shoes。
But when little Mary Louise rode up； they all stopped their work and
looked at her； and the little man with the long turned up pointed shoes
pulled off his red peaked cap and asked：
〃What brings you here； Mary Louise？ Are you fond of maple sugar
candy？〃
〃I know lots of little boys and girls who are；〃 answered Mary Louise
with a smile。
〃Well； hold open your pockets；〃 said the little man； and he stood up on
a stump alongside Dapple Gray and filled her pockets to overflowing。
Wasn't that nice of him？
35
… Page 36…
The Iceberg Express
〃You're very generous；〃 said Mary Louise。 〃What can I do for you？〃
〃Go to yonder town and tell the dear old lady who keeps the 'Goody
Sweet Tooth…Shop' that we will bring her candy tomorrow morning just
as
〃The little red rooster From his home on the hill Sounds his merry
cock…a…doo Like a whistle shrill。〃
〃All right；〃 answered Mary Louise； and off she went to the little town
down in the valley。
Well； by and by； after a while； and many a mile； and a song and a smile；
for Mary Louise felt very happy with all those nice candies in her pocket；
she came to a bridge over a river； on the other side of which nestled a little
town among the trees。
Now there was a toll keeper； a funny little old lady with a crutch under
her arm； at the entrance to the bridge。
〃Give me a penny； Mary Louise； For that is the toll you must pay；
If you would cross over the river to Dover； Dover； just over the way。〃
Sang the little old lady toll keeper。
〃Here is the penny；〃 laughed Mary Louise； leaning down from Dapple
Gray and dropping it into the old lady's apron； which she help up in both
hands。
〃Pass on； little girl；〃 she said； opening the gate； and in a few minutes
Dapple Gray was clattering over the bridge。 And pretty soon he drew up
before the Goody Sweet Tooth Shop。
〃I bring you good news from the little men of the glen；〃 cried Mary
Louise to the little old woman who just then looked out of the door。
〃What is the news； dearie？〃 she asked； shading her eyes with her
withered hand。
〃Tomorrow morning； just at dawn； When the little red rooster blows
on his horn； The maple sugar candy hearts； Cute little cupids and
candy darts； In a great big box will be laid at your door to give to the
children who come to your store。〃
said little Mary Louise。 And how she ever could have spoken in
poetry is more than I can tell； but perhaps the fairy maple sugar candy；
which she had eaten on her way to town； had lent magic to her tongue。
36
… Page 37…
The Iceberg Express
Then the little old woman made a curtsy； and Mary Louise continued
on her way； and by and by； after a while； she came to a great big bear
sitting on a stone by the roadside。 On the ground by his side was a big
bundle tied with a thick leather strap。
Well； as soon as the bear saw Mary Louise； he took off his cap and
said；
〃I wish I had a pony； Either brown or gray； So I could ride
whate'er betide For many miles away。〃
〃Why； what's the matter？〃 asked little Mary Louise。
〃I have a splinter in my foot；〃 answered the bear。
So Mary Louise dismounted and looked at the bear's foot； and when
she found the splinter； she said：
〃Now don't you cry； and don't you pout； And I will pull the splinter
out。〃
And would you believe it； in less than five hundred short seconds； she
held the splinter under the bear's nose so he could see it； for the bear was
very near sighted and couldn't even see the end of his toes。
〃Dear me；〃 sighed little Mary Louise； 〃I wish I were safe at home with
Mother；〃 she set out once more； and by and by she came to Candy Town。
Now I guess many a little boy and girl wonders where all the
Christmas candies come from； but they wouldn't if they had once seen
Peppermint City； all painted white with red stripes； just like a stick of
peppermint candy。
Each house was built of white candy with columns of peppermint
sticks supporting the roof。 On either side the door stood lovely
peppermint statues and striped pillars held up the little porches and big
piazzas。
The opera house was guarded by a candy lion； and a fountain in the
middle of the town spouted maple syrup。 Rock candy crystal chandeliers
hung from the ceilings in the rich man's house and little peppermint
candlesticks made light for the workman's hut。 Even the lamp posts on
the corners were peppermint sticks and so were the barber poles。
〃Goodness me；〃 said Mary Louise to herself； 〃I wonder what would
happen if it rained。〃 But you see it never rained in Candy Country；
37
… Page 38…
The Iceberg Express
which was mighty lucky。
〃What do you wish？〃 asked a Chocolate Man； as she knocked on the
Candy Town Gate。
The next moment the gate swung open and out marched a regiment of
Lemon Soldiers dressed in Lemon Khaki Uniforms。
〃Oh； I'm just lost；〃 replied Mary Louise with a sigh。
〃I'm a little traveler who goes For miles and miles upon her toes。
But sometimes when I'm tired out I think I hear a kind of voice shout；
'Come； ride with me upon my Goose；' And other times it is a Moose；
And then again a steed with wings； Or maybe some kind stranger brings
A ship that sails the ocean wide； And so instead of walk； I ride。〃
〃Well； well； your a little poetry maker；〃 said the Chocolate Man。 〃Now
you are the very person to write pretty little verses on our round
peppermint candies。〃 And then he held out his chocolate hand and drew
tired Mary Louise inside the gate； after which he locked it with a silver
key。
〃Come with me to our Candy Factory；〃 and
