how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第20章
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〃I don't want pig…wash！〃 said the child； and he began to cry。
Just then the Tidy Angel came out。
〃I have set everything to rights；〃 she said； 〃and so it must stay。 Now；
will you go with the Pig Brother； or will you come back with me； and be a
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tidy child？〃
〃With you； with you！〃 cried the child； and he clung to the Angel's
dress。
The Pig Brother grunted。
〃Small loss！〃 he said。 〃There will be all the more wash for me！〃 And
he trotted off。
THE CAKE＇1＇
＇1＇ From The Golden Windows； by Laura E Richards。 （H。 R。 Allenson
Ltd。 2s 6d。 net。）
A child quarrelled with his brother one day about a cake。
〃It is my cake！〃 said the child。
〃No； it is mine！〃 said his brother。
〃You shall not have it！〃 said the child。 〃Give it to me this minute！〃
And he fell upon his brother and beat him。
Just then came by an Angel who knew the child。
〃Who is this that you are beating？〃 asked the Angel。
〃It is my brother；〃 said the child。
〃No； but truly；〃 said the Angel； 〃who is it？〃
〃It is my brother； I tell you！〃 said the child。
〃Oh no；〃 said the Angel； 〃that cannot be； and it seems a pity for you to
tell an untruth； because that makes spots on your soul。 If it were your
brother； you would not beat him。〃
〃But he has my cake！〃 said the child。
〃Oh；〃 said the Angel； 〃now I see my mistake。 You mean that the cake
is your brother； and that seems a pity； too； for it does not look like a very
good cake；and； besides； it is all crumbled to pieces。〃
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN TOWN＇1＇
＇1＇ From traditions； with rhymes from Browning's The Pied Piper of
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Hamelin。
Once I made a pleasure trip to a country called Germany； and I went
to a funny little town； where all the streets ran uphill。 At the top there was
a big mountain； steep like the roof of a house； and at the bottom there was
a big river； broad and slow。 And the funniest thing about the little town
was that all the shops had the same thing in them； bakers' shops； grocers'
shops； everywhere we went we saw the same thing；big chocolate rats；
rats and mice； made out of chocolate。 We were so surprised that after a
while； 〃Why do you have rats in your shops？〃 we asked。
〃Don't you know this is Hamelin town？〃 they said。 〃What of that？〃
said we。 〃Why； Hamelin town is where the Pied Piper came；〃 they told us；
〃surely you know about the Pied Piper？〃 〃WHAT about the Pied Piper？〃
we said。 And this is what they told us about him。
It seems that once； long； long ago； that little town was dreadfully
troubled with rats。 The houses were full of them； the shops were full of
them； the churches were full of them； they were EVERYWHERE。 The
people were all but eaten out of house and home。 Those rats；
They fought the dogs and killed the cats； And bit the babies in the
cradles； And ate the cheeses out of the vats； And licked the soup from the
cooks' own ladles； Split open the kegs of salted sprats； Made nests inside
men's Sunday hats； And even spoiled the women's chats By drowning their
speaking With shrieking and squeaking In fifty different sharps and flats！
At last it got so bad that the people simply couldn't stand it any longer。
So they all came together and went to the town hall； and they said to the
Mayor （you know what a mayor is？）； 〃See here； what do we pay you your
salary for？ What are you good for； if you can't do a little thing like getting
rid of these rats？ You must go to work and clear the town of them； find the
remedy that's lacking； orwe'll send you packing！〃
Well； the poor Mayor was in a terrible way。 What to do he didn't know。
He sat with his head in his hands； and thought and thought and thought。
Suddenly there came a little rat…tat at the door。 Oh！ how the Mayor
jumped！ His poor old heart went pit…a…pat at anything like the sound of a
rat。 But it was only the scraping of shoes on the mat。 So the Mayor sat up；
and said； 〃Come in！〃
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And in came the strangest figure！ It was a man； very tall and very thin；
with a sharp chin and a mouth where the smiles went out and in； and two
blue eyes； each like a pin； and he was dressed half in red and half in
yellowhe really was the strangest fellow！and round his neck he had a
long red and yellow ribbon； and on it was hung a thing something like a
flute； and his fingers went straying up and down it as if he wanted to be
playing。
He came up to the Mayor and said； 〃I hear you are troubled with rats
in this town。〃
〃I should say we were；〃 groaned the Mayor。
〃Would you like to get rid of them？ I can do it for you。〃
〃You can？〃 cried the Mayor。 〃How？ Who are you？〃
〃Men call me the Pied Piper；〃 said the man； 〃and I know a way to
draw after me everything that walks； or flies； or swims。 What will you
give me if I rid your town of rats？〃
〃Anything； anything；〃 said the Mayor。 〃I don't believe you can do it；
but if you can； I'll give you a thousand guineas。〃
〃All right；〃 said the Piper； 〃it is a bargain。〃
And then he went to the door and stepped out into the street and stood；
and put the long flute…like thing to his lips； and began to play a little tune。
A strange； high； little tune。 And before
three shrill notes the pipe uttered； You heard as if an army muttered；
And the muttering grew to a grumbling； And the grumbling grew to a
mighty rumbling； And out of the houses the rats came tumbling I Great
rats； small rats； lean rats； brawny rats； Brown rats； black rats； gray rats；
tawny rats； Grave old plodders； gay young friskers； Fathers； mothers；
uncles； cousins； Cocking tails and pricking whiskers； Families by tens and
dozens； Brothers； sisters； husbands； wives Followed the Piper for their
lives！
From street to street he piped； advancing； from street to street they
followed； dancing。 Up one street and down another； till they came to the
edge of the big river； and there the piper turned sharply about and stepped
aside； and all those rats tumbled hurry skurry； head over heels； down the
bank into the river ANDWERE DROWNED。 Every single one。 No；
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there was one big old fat rat； he was so fat he didn't sink； and he swam
across； and ran away to tell the tale。
Then the Piper came back to the town hall。 And all the people were
waving their hats and shouting for joy。 The Mayor said they would have a
big celebration； and build a tremendous bonfire in the middle of the town。
He asked the Piper to stay and see the bonfire；very politely。
〃Yes；〃 said the Piper； 〃that will be very nice； but first； if you please； I
should like my thousand guineas。〃
〃H'm；erahem！〃 said the Mayor。 〃You mean that little joke of mine；
of course that was a joke。〃 （You see it is always harder to pay for a thing
when you no longer need it。）
〃I do not joke；〃 said the Piper very quietly； 〃my thousand guineas； if
you please。〃
〃Oh； come； now；〃 said the Mayor； 〃you know very well it wasn't worth
sixpence to play a little tune like that； call it one guinea； and let it go at
that。〃
〃A bargain is a bargain；〃 said the Piper； 〃for the last time；will you
give me my thousand guineas？〃
〃I'll give you a pipe of tobacco； something good to eat； and call you
lucky at that！〃 said the Mayor； tossing his head。
Then the Piper's mouth grew strange and thin； and sharp blue and
green lights began dancing in his eyes； and he said to the Mayor very
softly； 〃I know another tune than that I played； I play it to those who play
me false。〃
〃Play what you please！ You can't frighten me！ Do your worst！〃 said the
Mayor； making himself big。
Then the Piper stood high up on the steps of the town hall； and put the
pipe to his lips； and began to play a little tune。 It was quite a different little
tune； this time； very soft and sweet； and very； very strange。 And before he
had played three notes； you heard
a rustling； that seemed like a bustling Of merry crowds justling at
pitching and hustling； Small feet were pattering； wooden shoes clattering；
Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering； And like fowls in a
farmyard when barley is scattering； Out came the children running。 All the
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little boys and girls； With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls； And sparkling eyes
and teeth like pearls； Tripping and skipping； ran merrily after The
wonderful music with shouting and laughter。
〃Stop； stop！〃 cried the people。 〃He is taking our children！ Stop him；
Mr Mayor！〃
〃I will give you your money； I will！〃 cried the Mayor； and tried to run
after the Piper。
But the very same music that made the children dance made the
grown…up people stand stock…still； it was as if their feet had been tied to
the ground； they could not move a muscle。 There they stood and saw the
Piper move slowly down the street； playing his little tune； with the
children at his heels。 On and on he went； on and on the children danced；
till he came to the bank of the river。
〃Oh； oh！ He will drown our children in the river！〃 cried the people。
But the Piper turned and went along by the bank； and all the children
followed after。 Up； and up； and up the hill they went； straight toward the
mountain which is like the roof of a house。 And just as they got to it； the
mountain OPENED；like two great doors； and the Piper went in through
the openin
