how to tell stories to children-第15节
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om my memory； so that I 〃made up〃 to suit the tastes of my audience。 Afterward I told the story to a good many children； at one time or another； and it gradually took the shape it has here。 It was not until several years later that； in re…reading Andersen for other purposes； I came upon the real story of the Little Fir Tree； and read it for myself。 Then indeed I was amused； and somewhat distressed； to find how far I had wandered from the text。
I give this explanation that the reader may know I do not presume to offer the little tale which follows as an 〃adaptation〃 of Andersen's famous story。 I offer it plainly as a story which children have liked； and which grew out of my early memories of Andersen's 〃The Little Fir Tree〃＇。
Once there was a Little Fir Tree； slim and pointed； and shiny； which stood in the great forest in the midst of some big fir trees； broad； and tall； and shadowy green。 The Little Fir Tree was very unhappy because he was not big like the others。 When the birds came flying into the woods and lit on the branches of the big trees and built their nests there； he used to call up to them；
〃Come down； come down； rest in my branches！〃 But they always said； 〃Oh； no； no； you are too little！〃
And when the splendid wind came blowing and singing through the forest； it bent and rocked and swung the tops of the big trees； and murmured to them。 Then the Little Fir Tree looked up； and called；
〃Oh； please； dear wind； come down and play with me！〃 But he always said；
〃Oh； no； you are too little； you are too little！〃
And in the winter the white snow fell softly； softly； and covered the great trees all over with wonderful caps and coats of white。 The Little Fir Tree； close down in the cover of the others； would call up；
〃Oh； please； dear snow； give me a cap； too！ I want to play； too！〃 But the snow always said；
〃Oh no； no； no； you are too little； you are too little！〃
The worst of all was when men came into the wood； with sledges and teams of horses。 They came to cut the big trees down and carry them away。 And when one had been cut down and carried away the others talked about it； and nodded their heads。 And the Little Fir Tree listened； and heard them say that when you were carried away so； you might become the mast of a mighty ship； and go far away over the ocean； and see many wonderful things； or you might be part of a fine house in a great city； and see much of life。 The Little Fir Tree wanted greatly to see life； but he was always too little； the men passed him by。
But by and by； one cold winter's morning； men came with a sledge and horses； and after they had cut here and there they came to the circle of trees round the Little Fir Tree； and looked all about。
〃There are none little enough；〃 they said。
Oh！ how the Little Fir Tree pricked up his needles！
〃Here is one；〃 said one of the men； 〃it is just little enough。〃 And he touched the Little Fir Tree。
The Little Fir Tree was happy as a bird； because he knew they were about to cut him down。 And when he was being carried away on the sledge he lay wondering； SO contentedly； whether he should be the mast of a ship or part of a fine city house。 But when they came to the town he was taken out and set upright in a tub and placed on the edge of a sidewalk in a row of other fir trees； all small； but none so little as he。 And then the Little Fir Tree began to see life。
People kept coming to look at the trees and to take them away。 But always when they saw the Little Fir Tree they shook their heads and said；
〃It is too little； too little。〃
Until； finally； two children came along； hand in hand； looking carefully at all the small trees。 When they saw the Little Fir Tree they cried out；
〃We'll take this one； it is just little enough！〃
They took him out of his tub and carried him away； between them。 And the happy Little Fir Tree spent all his time wondering what it could be that he was just little enough for； he knew it could hardly be a mast or a house； since he was going away with children。
He kept wondering； while they took him in through some big doors； and set him up in another tub； on the table； in a bare little room。 Pretty soon they went away； and came back again with a big basket； carried between them。 Then some pretty ladies； with white caps on their heads and white aprons over their blue dresses； came bringing little parcels。 The children took things out of the basket and began to play with the Little Fir Tree； just as he had often begged the wind and the snow and the birds to do。 He felt their soft little touches on his head and his twigs and his branches。 And when he looked down at himself； as far as he could look； he saw that he was all hung with gold and silver chains！ There were strings of white fluffy stuff drooping around him； his twigs held little gold nuts and pink； rosy balls and silver stars； he had pretty little pink and white candles in his arms； but last； and most wonderful of all； the children hung a beautiful white； floating doll…angel over his head！ The Little Fir Tree could not breathe； for joy and wonder。 What was it that he was； now？ Why was this glory for him？
After a time every one went away and left him。 It grew dusk； and the Little Fir Tree began to hear strange sounds through the closed doors。 Sometimes he heard a child crying。 He was beginning to be lonely。 It grew more and more shadowy。
All at once； the doors opened and the two children came in。 Two of the pretty ladies were with them。 They came up to the Little Fir Tree and quickly lighted all the little pink and white candles。 Then the two pretty ladies took hold of the table with the Little Fir Tree on it and pushed it； very smoothly and quickly； out of the doors； across a hall； and in at another door。
The Little Fir Tree had a sudden sight of a long room with many little white beds in it； of children propped up on pillows in the beds； and of other children in great wheeled chairs； and others hobbling about or sitting in little chairs。 He wondered why all the little children looked so white and tired； he did not know that he was in a hospital。 But before he could wonder any more his breath was quite taken away by the shout those little white children gave。
〃Oh！ oh！ m…m！ m…m！〃 they cried。
〃How pretty！ How beautiful！ Oh； isn't it lovely！〃
He knew they must mean him； for all their shining eyes were looking straight at him。 He stood as straight as a mast； and quivered in every needle； for joy。 Presently one little weak child…voice called out；
〃It's the nicest Christmas tree I ever saw！〃
And then； at last； the Little Fir Tree knew what he was； he was a Christmas tree！ And from his shiny head to his feet he was glad； through 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 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
