stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第16章
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women came down to the water's edge。 It was the king's daughter； come
down to bathe in the river； with her maidens。 The maidens walked along
by the river's side。
As the king's daughter came near to the water； she saw the strange
little basket lying in the flags； and she sent her maid to bring it to her。 And
when she had opened it； she saw the child； the poor baby was crying。
When she saw him； so helpless and so beautiful； crying for his mother； the
king's daughter pitied him and loved him。 She knew the cruel order of her
father； and she said at once； 〃This is one of the Hebrews' children。〃
At that moment the baby's sister came to the princess and said； 〃Shall I
go and find thee a nurse from the Hebrew women； so that she may nurse
the child for thee？〃 Not a word did she say about whose child it was； but
perhaps the princess guessed； I don't know。 At all events； she told the little
girl to go。
So the maiden went； and brought her mother！
Then the king's daughter said to the baby's mother； 〃Take this child
away and nurse it for me； and I will give thee wages。〃
Was not that a strange thing？ And can you think how happy the baby's
mother was？ For now the baby would be known only as the princess's
adopted child； and would be safe。
And it was so。 The mother kept him until he was old enough to be
taken to the princess's palace。 Then he was brought and given to the king's
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daughter； and he became her son。 And she named him Moses。
But the strangest part of the whole story is； that when Moses grew to
be a man he became so strong and wise that it was he who at last saved his
people from the king and conquered the Egyptians。 The one child saved by
the king's own daughter was the very one the king would most have
wanted to kill； if he had known。
THE TEN FAIRIES＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from the facts given in the German of Die Zehn ｛Feeen？｝；
by H。 A。 Guerber。
Once upon a time there was a dear little girl； whose name was Elsa。
Elsa's father and mother worked very hard and became rich。 But they
loved Elsa so much that they did not like to have her do any work； very
foolishly； they let her play all the time。 So when Elsa grew up； she did not
know how to do anything； she could not make bread； she could not sweep
a room； she could not sew a seam； she could only laugh and sing。 But she
was so sweet and merry that everybody loved her。 And by and by； she
married one of the people who loved her； and had a house of her own to
take care of。
Then； then； my dears； came hard times for Elsa！ There were so many
things to be done in the house； and she did not know how to do any of
them！ And because she had never worked at all it made her very tired even
to try； she was tired before the morning was over； every day。 The maid
would come and say； 〃How shall I do this？〃 or 〃How shall I do that？〃 And
Elsa would have to say； 〃I don't know。〃 Then the maid would pretend that
she did not know； either； and when she saw her mistress sitting about
doing nothing； she； too； sat about； idle。
Elsa's husband had a hard time of it； he did not have good things to eat；
and they were not ready at the right time； and the house looked all in a
clutter。 It made him sad； and that made Elsa sad； for she wanted to do
everything just right。
At last； one day； Elsa's husband went away quite cross； he said to her；
as he went out the door； 〃It is no wonder that the house looks so； when you
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sit all day with your hands in your lap！〃
Little Elsa cried bitterly when he was gone； for she did not want to
make her husband unhappy and cross； and she wanted the house to look
nice。 〃Oh； dear；〃 she sobbed； 〃I wish I could do things right！ I wish I could
work！ I wishI wish I had ten good fairies to work for me！ Then I could
keep the house！〃
As she said the words； a great gray man stood before her； he was
wrapped in a strange gray cloak that covered him from head to foot； and
he smiled at Elsa。 〃What is the matter； dear？〃 he said。 〃Why do you cry？〃
〃Oh； I am crying because I do not know how to keep the house；〃 said
Elsa。 〃I cannot make bread； I cannot sweep； I cannot sew a seam； when I
was a little girl I never learned to work； and now I cannot do anything
right。 I wish I had ten good fairies to help me！〃
〃You shall have them； dear；〃 said the gray man； and he shook his
strange gray cloak。 Pouf！ Out hopped ten tiny fairies； no bigger than that！
〃These shall be your servants； Elsa；〃 said the gray man； 〃they are
faithful and clever； and they will do everything you want them to； just
right。 But the neighbors might stare and ask questions if they saw these
little chaps running about your house； so I will hide them away for you。
Give me your little useless hands。〃
Wondering； Elsa stretched out her pretty； little； white hands。
〃Now stretch out your little useless fingers； dear！〃
Elsa stretched out her pretty pink fingers。
The gray man touched each one of the ten little fingers； and as he
touched them he said their names： 〃Little Thumb； Fore… finger； Thimble…
finger； Ring…finger； Little Finger； Little Thumb； Forefinger； Thimble…
finger； Ring…finger； Little Finger！〃 And as he named the fingers； one after
another； the tiny fairies bowed their tiny heads； there was a fairy for every
name。
〃Hop！ hide yourselves away！〃 said the gray man。
Hop； hop！ The fairies sprang to Elsa's knee； then to the palms of her
hands； and then…whisk！ they were all hidden away in her little pink fingers；
a fairy in every finger！ And the gray man was gone。
Elsa sat and looked with wonder at her little white hands and the ten
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useless fingers。 But suddenly the little fingers began to stir。 The tiny fairies
who were hidden away there weren't used to staying still； and they were
getting restless。 They stirred so that Elsa jumped up and ran to the cooking
table； and took hold of the bread board。 No sooner had she touched the
bread board than the little fairies began to work： they measured the flour；
mixed the bread； kneaded the loaves； and set them to rise； quicker than
you could wink； and when the bread was done； it was the nicest you could
wish。 Then the little fairy…fingers seized the broom； and in a twinkling
they were making the house clean。 And so it went； all day。 Elsa flew about
from one thing to another； and the ten fairies did it all； just right。
When the maid saw her mistress working； she began to work； too； and
when she saw how beautifully everything was done； she was ashamed to
do anything badly herself。 In a little while the housework was going
smoothly； and Elsa could laugh and sing again。
There was no more crossness in that house。 Elsa's husband grew so
proud of her that he went about saying to everybody； 〃My grandmother
was a fine housekeeper； and my mother was a fine housekeeper； but
neither of them could hold a candle to my wife。 She has only one maid；
but； to see the work done； you would think she had as many servants as
she has fingers on her hands！〃
When Elsa heard that； she used to laugh； but she never； never told。
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
Once upon a time there was an honest shoemaker； who was very poor。
He worked as hard as he could； and still he could not earn enough to keep
himself and his wife。 At last there came a day when he had nothing left but
one piece of leather； big enough to make one pair of shoes。 He cut out the
shoes； ready to stitch； and left them on the bench； then he said his prayers
and went to bed； trusting that he could finish the shoes on the next day and
sell them。
Bright and early the next morning； he rose and went to his work…bench。
There lay a pair of shoes； beautifully made； and the leather was gone！
There was no sign of any one's having been there。 The shoemaker and his
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wife did not know what to make of it。 But the first customer who came
was so pleased with the beautiful shoes that he bought them； and paid so
much that the shoemaker was able to buy leather enough for two pairs。
Happily； he cut them out； and then； as it was late； he left the pieces on
the bench； ready to sew in the morning。 But when morning came； two
pairs of shoes lay on the bench； most beautifully made； and no sign of any
one who had been there。 The shoemaker and his wife were quite at a loss。
That day a customer came and bought both pairs； and paid so much for
them that the shoemaker bought leather for four pairs； with the money。
Once more he cut out the shoes and left them on the bench。 And in the
morning all four pairs were made。
It went on like this until the shoemaker and his wife were prosperous
people。 But they could not be satisfied to have so much done for them and
not know to whom they should be grateful。 So one night； after the
shoemaker had left the pieces of leather on the bench； he and his wife hid
themselves behind a curtain； and left a light in the room。
Just as the clock struck twelve the door opened softly； and two tiny
elves came dancing into the room； hopped on to the bench； and began to
put the pieces together。 They were quite naked； but they had wee little
scissors and hammers and thread。 Tap！ tap！ went the little hammers； stitch；
stitch； went the thread； and the little elves were hard at work。 No one ever
worked so fast as they。 In almost no time all the shoes were stitched and
finished。 Then the tiny elves took hold o
