how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第12章
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
have to read into it again all that has been left between the lines。
Moreover； the order must be slightly changed； if we are to end with the
proper 〃snap；〃 the final sting of surprise and admiration given by the point
of the story； the point must be prepared for。 The purpose of the original is
equally well served by the explanation at the end； but we must never
forget that the place for the climax； or effective point in a story told； is the
last thing said。 That is what makes a story 〃go off〃 well。
Imagining vividly the situation suggested； and keeping the logical
sequence of facts in mind； shall we not find the story telling itself to boys
and girls in somewhat this form？
THE RED THREAD OF COURAGE＇1＇
＇1＇ See also The Red Thread of Honour； by Sir Francis Doyle； in Lyra
Heroica；
This story which I am going to tell you is a true one。 It happened
while the English troops in India were fighting against some of the native
tribes。 The natives who were making trouble were people from the hill…
country； called Hillsmen； and they were strong enemies。 The English knew
very little about them； except their courage； but they had noticed one
peculiar custom； after certain battles；the Hillsmen had a way of marking
the bodies of their greatest chiefs who were killed in battle by binding a
red thread about the wrist； this was the highest tribute they could pay a
hero。 The English； however； found the common men of them quite enough
to handle； for they had proved themselves good fighters and clever at
ambushes。
One day； a small body of the English had marched a long way into the
hill country； after the enemy； and in the afternoon they found themselves
in a part of the country strange even to the guides。 The men moved
forward very slowly and cautiously； for fear of an ambush。 The trail led
into a narrow valley with very steep； high； rocky sides； topped with woods
in which the enemy might easily hide。
Here the soldiers were ordered to advance more quickly； though with
caution； to get out of the dangerous place。
After a little they came suddenly to a place where the passage was
divided in two by a big three…cornered boulder which seemed to rise from
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
the midst of the valley。 The main line of men kept to the right； to save
crowding the path； a sergeant and eleven men took the left； meaning to go
round the rock and meet the rest beyond it。
They had been in the path only a few minutes when they saw that the
rock was not a single boulder at all； but an arm of the left wall of the
valley； and that they were marching into a deep ravine with no outlet
except the way they came。 Both sides were sheer rock； almost
perpendicular； with thick trees at the top； in front of them the ground rose
in a steep hill； bare of woods。 As they looked up； they saw that the top was
barricaded by the trunks of trees； and guarded by a strong body of
Hillsmen。 As the English hesitated； looking at this； a shower of spears fell
from the wood's edge； aimed by hidden foes。 The place was a death trap。
At this moment； their danger was seen by the officer in command of
the main body； and he signalled to the sergeant to retreat。
By some terrible mischance； the signal was misunderstood。 The men
took it for the signal to charge。 Without a moment's pause； straight up the
slope； they charged on the run； cheering as they ran。
Some were killed by the spears that were thrown from the cliffs；
before they had gone half way； some were stabbed as they reached the
crest； and hurled backward from the precipice； two or three got to the top；
and fought hand to hand with the Hillsmen。 They were outnumbered；
seven to one； but when the last of the English soldiers lay dead； twice their
number of Hillsmen lay dead around them！
When the relief party reached the spot； later in the day； they found the
bodies of their comrades； full of wounds； huddled over and in the
barricade； or crushed on the rocks below。 They were mutilated and
battered； and bore every sign of the terrible struggle。 BUT ROUND
BOTH WRISTS OF EVERY BRITISH SOLDIER WAS BOUND THE
RED THREAD！
The Hillsmen had paid greater honour to their heroic foes than to the
bravest of their own brave dead。
Another instance is the short poem； which； while being perfectly
simple； is rich in suggestion of more than the young child will see for
himself。 The following example shows the working out of details in order
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
to provide a satisfactorily rounded story。
THE ELF AND THE DORMOUSE＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from The Elf and the Dormouse； by Oliver Herford； in A
Treasury of Verse for Little Children。 （Harrap。 1s。 net。）
Once upon a time a dormouse lived in the wood with his mother。 She
had made a snug little nest； but Sleepy…head； as she called her little mousie；
loved to roam about among the grass and fallen leaves； and it was a hard
task to keep him at home。 One day the mother went off as usual to look for
food； leaving Sleepy… head curled up comfortably in a corner of the nest。
〃He will lie there safely till I come back；〃 she thought。 Presently； however；
Sleepy…head opened his eyes and thought he would like to take a walk out
in the fresh air。 So he crept out of the nest and through the long grass that
nodded over the hole in the bank。 He ran here and he ran there； stopping
again an again to cock his little ears for sound of any creeping thing that
might be close at hand。 His little fur coat was soft and silky as velvet。
Mother had licked it clean before starting her day's work； you may be sure。
As Sleepy…head moved from place to place his long tail swayed from side
to side and tickled the daisies so that they could not hold themselves still
for laughing。
Presently something very cold fell on Sleepy… head's nose。 What could
it be？ He put up his little paw and dabbed at the place。 Then the same
thing happened to his tail。 He whisked it quickly round to the front。 Ah； it
was raining！ Now Sleepy…head couldn't bear rain； and he had got a long
way from home。 What would mother say if his nice furry coat got wet and
draggled？ He crept under a bush； but soon the rain found him out。 Then he
ran to a tree； but this was poor shelter。 He began to think that he was in for
a soaking when what should he spy； a little distance off； but a fine
toadstool which stood bolt upright just like an umbrella。 The next moment
Sleepy… head was crawling underneath the friendly shelter。 He fixed
himself up as snugly as he could； with his little nose upon his paws and his
little tail curled round all； and before you could count six； eight； ten；
twenty； he was fast asleep。
Now it happened that Sleepy…head was not the only creature that was
caught by the rain that morning in the wood。 A little elf had been flitting
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
about in search of fun or mischief； and he； too； had got far from home
when the raindrops began to come pattering through the leafy roof of the
beautiful wood。 It would never do to get his pretty wings wet； for he hated
to walkit was such slow work and； besides； he might meet some big
wretched animal that could run faster than himself。 However； he was
beginning to think that there was no help for it； when； on a sudden； there
before him was the toadstool； with Sleepy…head snug and dry underneath！
There was room for another little fellow； thought the elf； and ere long he
had safely bestowed himself under the other half of the toadstool； which
was just like an umbrella。
Sleepy…head slept on； warm and comfortable in his furry coat； and the
elf began to feel annoyed with him for being so happy。 He was always a
great mischief； and he could not bear to sit still for long at a time。
Presently he laughed a queer little laugh。 He had got an idea！ Putting his
two small arms round the stem of the toadstool he tugged and he pulled
until； of a sudden； snap！ He had broken the stem； and a moment later was
soaring in air safely sheltered under the toadstool； which he held upright
by its stem as he flew。
Sleepy…head had been dreaming； oh； so cosy a dream！ It seemed to
him that he had discovered a storehouse filled with golden grain and soft
juicy nuts with little bunches of sweet… smelling hay； where tired mousies
might sleep dull hours away。 He thought that he was settled in the sweetest
bunch of all； with nothing in the world to disturb his nap； when gradually
he became aware that something had happened。 He shook himself in his
sleep and settled down again； but the dream had altered。 He opened his
eyes。 Rain was falling； pit…a…pat； and he was without cover on a wet patch
of grass。 What could be the matter？ Sleepy… head was now wide awake。
Said he；
〃DEAR ME； WHERE IS MY TOADSTOOL？〃
From these four instances we may； perhaps； deduce certain general
principles of adaptation which have at least proved valuable to those using
them。
These are suggestions which the practised story…teller will find trite。
But to others they may prove a fair foundation on which to build a
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
personal method to be developed by experience。 I have given them a
tabular arrangement below。
The preliminary step in all cases is
Analysis of
