stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第13章
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river； and when he heard what the little Jackal said； he thought； 〃Aha！ I'll
pretend to be a little crab； and when he puts his paw in； I'll make my
dinner of him。〃 So he stuck the black end of his snout above the water and
waited。
The little Jackal took one look； and then he said；
〃Thank you； Mr。 Alligator！ Kind Mr。 Alligator！ You are
EXCEEDINGLY kind to show me where you are！ I will have dinner
elsewhere。〃 And he ran away like the wind。
The old Alligator foamed at the mouth； he was so angry； but the little
Jackal was gone。
For two whole weeks the little Jackal kept away from the river。 Then；
one day he got a feeling inside him that nothing but crabs could satisfy； he
felt that he must have at least one crab。 Very cautiously； he went down to
the river and looked all around。 He saw no sign of the old Alligator。 Still；
he did not mean to take any chances。 So he stood quite still and began to
talk to himself；it was a little way he had。 He said；
〃When I don't see any little crabs on the shore； or sticking up out of the
water； I usually see them blowing bubbles from under the water； the little
bubbles go PUFF； PUFF； PUFF； and then they go POP； POP； POP； and
they show me where the little juicy crabs are； so I can put my paw in and
catch them。 I wonder if I shall see any little bubbles to…day？〃
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The old Alligator； lying low in the mud and weeds； heard this； and he
thought； 〃Pooh！ THAT'S easy enough； I'll just blow some little crab…
bubbles； and then he will put his paw in where I can get it。〃
So he blew； and he blew； a mighty blast； and the bubbles rose in a
perfect whirlpool； fizzing and swirling。
The little Jackal didn't have to be told who was underneath those
bubbles： he took one quick look； and off he ran。 But as he went； he sang；
〃Thank you； Mr。 Alligator！ Kind Mr。 Alligator！ You are the kindest
Alligator in the world； to show me where you are； so nicely！ I'll breakfast
at another part of the river。〃
The old Alligator was so furious that he crawled up on the bank and
went after the little Jackal； but； dear； dear； he couldn't catch the little
Jackal； he ran far too fast。
After this； the little Jackal did not like to risk going near the water； so
he ate no more crabs。 But he found a garden of wild figs； which were so
good that he went there every day； and ate them instead of shell…fish。
Now the old Alligator found this out； and he made up his mind to have
the little Jackal for supper； or to die trying。 So he crept； and crawled； and
dragged himself over the ground to the garden of wild figs。 There he made
a huge pile of figs under the biggest of the wild fig trees； and hid himself
in the pile。
After a while the little Jackal came dancing into the garden； very
happy and care…free；BUT looking all around。 He saw the huge pile of
figs under the big fig tree。
〃H…m；〃 he thought； 〃that looks singularly like my friend； the Alligator。
I'll investigate a bit。〃
He stood quite still and began to talk to himself；it was a little way he
had。 He said；
〃The little figs I like best are the fat； ripe； juicy ones that drop off
when the breeze blows； and then the wind blows them about on the ground；
this way and that； the great heap of figs over there is so still that I think
they must be all bad figs。〃
The old Alligator； underneath his fig pile； thought；
〃Bother the suspicious little Jackal； I shall have to make these figs roll
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about； so that he will think the wind moves them。〃 And straightway he
humped himself up and moved； and sent the little figs flying；and his
back showed through。
The little Jackal did not wait for a second look。 He ran out of the
garden like the wind。 But as he ran he called back；
〃Thank you； again； Mr。 Alligator； very sweet of you to show me where
you are； I can't stay to thank you as I should like： good…by！〃
At this the old Alligator was beside himself with rage。 He vowed that
he would have the little Jackal for supper this time； come what might。 So
he crept and crawled over the ground till he came to the little Jackal's
house。 Then he crept and crawled inside； and hid himself there in the
house； to wait till the little Jackal should come home。
By and by the little Jackal came dancing home； happy and care…free；
BUT looking all around。 Presently； as he came along； he saw that the
ground was all scratched up as if something very heavy had been dragged
over it。 The little Jackal stopped and looked。
〃What's this？ what's this？〃 he said。
Then he saw that the door of his house was crushed at the sides and
broken； as if something very big had gone through it。
〃What's this？ What's this？〃 the little Jackal said。 〃I think I'll investigate
a little！〃
So he stood quite still and began to talk to himself （you remember； it
was a little way he had）； but loudly。 He said；
〃How strange that my little House doesn't speak to me！ Why don't you
speak to me； little House？ You always speak to me； if everything is all
right； when I come home。 I wonder if anything is wrong with my little
House？〃
The old Alligator thought to himself that he must certainly pretend to
be the little House； or the little Jackal would never come in。 So he put on
as pleasant a voice as he could （which is not saying much） and said；
〃Hullo； little Jackal！〃
Oh！ when the little Jackal heard that； he was frightened enough； for
once。
〃It's the old Alligator；〃 he said； 〃and if I don't make an end of him this
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time he will certainly make an end of me。 What shall I do？〃
He thought very fast。 Then he spoke out pleasantly。
〃Thank you； little House；〃 he said； 〃it's good to hear your pretty voice；
dear little House； and I will be in with you in a minute； only first I must
gather some firewood for dinner。〃
Then he went and gathered firewood； and more firewood； and more
firewood； and he piled it all up solid against the door and round the house；
and then he set fire to it！
And it smoked and burned till it smoked that old Alligator to smoked
herring！
THE LARKS IN THE CORNFIELD
There was once a family of little Larks who lived with their mother in
a nest in a cornfield。 When the corn was ripe the mother Lark watched
very carefully to see if there were any sign of the reapers' coming； for she
knew that when they came their sharp knives would cut down the nest and
hurt the baby Larks。 So every day； when she went out for food； she told
the little Larks to look and listen very closely to everything that went on；
and to tell her all they saw and heard when she came home。
One day when she came home the little Larks were much frightened。
〃Oh； Mother； dear Mother；〃 they said； 〃you must move us away to…
night！ The farmer was in the field to…day； and he said； ‘The corn is ready
to cut； we must call in the neighbors to help。' And then he told his son to
go out to…night and ask all the neighbors to come and reap the corn to…
morrow。〃
The mother Lark laughed。 〃Don't be frightened；〃 she said； 〃if he waits
for his neighbors to reap the corn we shall have plenty of time to move；
tell me what he says to…morrow。〃
The next night the little Larks were quite trembling with fear； the
moment their mother got home they cried out； 〃Mother； you must surely
move us to…night！ The farmer came to…day and said； ‘The corn is getting
too ripe； we cannot wait for our neighbors； we must ask our relatives to
help us。' And then he called his son and told him to ask all the uncles and
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cousins to come to…morrow and cut the corn。 Shall we not move to…night？〃
〃Don't worry；〃 said the mother Lark； 〃the uncles and cousins have
plenty of reaping to do for themselves； we'll not move yet。〃
The third night； when the mother Lark came home； the baby Larks
said； 〃Mother； dear； the farmer came to the field to…day； and when he
looked at the corn he was quite angry； he said； ‘This will never do！ The
corn is getting too ripe； it's no use to wait for our relatives； we shall have
to cut this corn ourselves。' And then he called his son and said； ‘Go out to…
night and hire reapers； and to…morrow we will begin to cut。'〃
〃Well；〃 said the mother； 〃that is another story； when a man begins to
do his own business； instead of asking somebody else to do it； things get
done。 I will move you out to…night。〃
A TRUE STORY ABOUT A GIRL
Once there were four little girls who lived in a big； bare house； in the
country。 They were very poor； but they had the happiest times you ever
heard of； because they were very rich in everything except just money。
They had a wonderful； wise father； who knew stories to tell； and who
taught them their lessons in such a beautiful way that it was better than
play； they had a lovely； merry； kind mother； who was never too tired to
help them work or watch them play； and they had all the great green
country to play in。 There were dark； shadowy woods； and fields of flowers；
and a river。 And there was a big barn。
One of the little girls was named Louisa。 She was very pretty； and ever
so strong； she could run for miles through the woods and not get tired。
And she had a splendid brain in her little head； it liked study； and it
thought interesting thoughts all day long。
