按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
kick； hoppity…kick。
When he had hoppity…kicked a good way； and was near Madrid； he
came to a clump of bushes； where the Wind was caught fast。 The Wind
was whimpering； and begging to be set free。
〃Little Half…Chick；〃 said the Wind； 〃you are just in time to help me； if
you will brush aside these twigs and leaves； I can get my breath； help me；
quickly！〃
〃Ho！ the idea！〃 said the little Half… Chick。 〃I have no time to bother
with you。 I am going to Madrid； to see the King。〃 And he went off；
hoppity…kick； hoppity… kick； leaving the Wind to smother。
After a while he came to Madrid and to the palace of the King。
Hoppity…kick； hoppity…kick； the little Half…Chick skipped past the sentry at
the gate； and hoppity… kick； hoppity…kick； he crossed the court。 But as he
was passing the windows of the kitchen the Cook looked out and saw him。
〃The very thing for the King's dinner！〃 she said。 〃I was needing a
chicken！〃 And she seized the little Half…Chick by his one wing and threw
him into a kettle of water on the fire。
The Water came over the little Half… Chick's feathers； over his head；
into his eye； It was terribly uncomfortable。 The little Half…Chick cried
out；
〃Water； don't drown me！ Stay down； don't come so high！〃
But the Water said； 〃Little Half…Chick； little Half…Chick； when I was in
trouble you would not help me；〃 and came higher than ever。
Now the Water grew warm； hot； hotter； frightfully hot； the little Half…
Chick cried out； 〃Do not burn so hot； Fire！ You are burning me to death！
Stop！〃
But the Fire said； 〃Little Half…Chick； little Half…Chick； when I was in
trouble you would not help me；〃 and burned hotter than ever。
Just as the little Half…Chick thought he must suffocate； the Cook took
the cover off； to look at the dinner。 〃Dear me；〃 she said； 〃this chicken is no
good； it is burned to a cinder。〃 And she picked the little Half…Chick up by
one leg and threw him out of the window。
39
… Page 40…
Stories To Tell Children
In the air he was caught by a breeze and taken up higher than the trees。
Round and round he was twirled till he was so dizzy he thought he must
perish。 〃Don't blow me so？ Wind；〃 he cried； 〃let me down！〃
〃Little Half…Chick； little Half…Chick；〃 said the Wind； 〃when I was in
trouble you would not help me！〃 And the Wind blew him straight up to the
top of the church steeple； and stuck him there； fast！
There he stands to this day； with his one eye； his one wing； and his one
leg。 He cannot hoppity…kick any more； but he turns slowly round when the
wind blows； and keeps his head toward it； to hear what it says。
THE LAMBIKIN＇1＇
＇1＇ From Indian Fairy Tales。 By Joseph Jacobs （David Nutt）。
Once upon a time there was a wee； wee Lambikin； who frolicked
about on his little tottery legs； and enjoyed himself amazingly。
Now one day he set off to visit his Granny； and was jumping with joy
to think of all the good things he should get from her； when whom should
he meet but a Jackal； who looked at the tender young morsel and said；
〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But Lambikin only gave a little frisk and said；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat
me so。〃
The Jackal thought this reasonable； and let Lambikin pass。
By and by he met a Vulture； and the Vulture； looking hungrily at the
tender morsel before him； said； 〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But Lambikin only gave a little frisk； and said；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat
me so。〃
The Vulture thought this reasonable； and let Lambikin pass。
And by and by he met a Tiger； and then a Wolf and a Dog and an
Eagle； and all these； when they saw the tender little morsel； said；
〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But to all of them Lambikin replied； with a little frisk；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat
40
… Page 41…
Stories To Tell Children
me so。〃
At last he reached his Granny's house； and said； all in a great hurry；
〃Granny； dear； I've promised to get very fat； so； as people ought to keep
their promises； please put me into the corn…bin AT ONCE。〃
So his Granny said he was a good boy； and put him into the corn…bin；
and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days； and ate； and ate；
and ate； until he could scarcely waddle； and his Granny said he was fat
enough for anything； and must go home。 But cunning little Lambikin said
that would never do； for some animal would be sure to eat him on the way
back； he was so plump and tender。
〃I'll tell you what you must do；〃 said Master Lambikin； 〃you must
make a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died； and
then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely； for I'm as tight as a drum
myself。〃
So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin；
with the wool inside； and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in
the middle and trundled away gayly。 Soon he met with the Eagle； who
called out；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And Mr。 Lambikin； curled up in his soft； warm nest； replied；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa；
tum…too！〃
〃How very annoying！〃 sighed the Eagle； thinking regretfully of the
tender morsel he had let slip。
Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along； laughing to himself； and
singing；
〃Tum…pa； tum…too； Tum…pa； tum…too！〃
Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And to each of them the little slyboots replied；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa；
tum…too！〃 Tum…pa； tum…too！ tum…pa； tum…too！〃
Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let
slip。
41
… Page 42…
Stories To Tell Children
At last the Jackal came limping along； for all his sorry looks as sharp
as a needle； and he； too； called out；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And Lam