€€god's creation of the world

in the beginning god d the heavens and the earth.now the earth was formless and empty，darkness was over the suce of the deep， and the spirit of god was hovering over the waters.

and god said，"let there be light，"and there was light.god saw that the light was good，and he separated the light from the darkness.god called the light "day"，and the darkness he called "night".and there was evening，and there was morning-the first day.

and god said，"let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."so god made the espanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water about it.and it was so.god called the expanse"sky".and there was evening，and there was morning-the second day.

and god said，"let the water under the sky be gathered to one place，and let dry gound apper."and it was so.god called the dry ground "land"，and the gathered waters he called "seas".and god say that it was good.

then god said."let the land produce vegetation：seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it，according to their various kinds."and it was so.the land produced vegetation：plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit withseed in it according to their kinds.and god saw that it was good.and there was evening，and there was morning-the third day.

and god said，"let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night，and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years，and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth."and it was so.god made two great lights-the greater light go govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.he also made the stars.god sell them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth，to govern the day and the night.and to separate light from darkness.and god saw that it was good.and there was evening，and there was morning-the fourth day.

and god said，"let the water teem with living creatures，and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."so god d the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems，according to their kinds，and every winged bird according to its kind.and god saw that it was good.god blessed them and said，"be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas，and let the birds increase on the earth."and there was evening，and there was morning-the fifth day.

and god said，"let the land produce living creatrues according to their kinds：live stock，creatures that move along the ground，and wild animals，each according to its kind."and it was so.god saw that it was good.

then god said，"let us make man in our image，in our likeness，and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air，over the livestock，over all the earth，and over all the creatures that move along the ground."so god d man in his own image，in the image of god he creatcd him；male and female he d them.god blessed them and said to them，"be fruitful and increase in number；fill the earth and subdue it.rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

then god said，"i give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.they will be yours for food."and it was so.god saw all that he had made，and it was very good.and there was evening，and there was morning-the sixth day.

thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.by the seventh day god had finished the work he had been doing；so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.and god blessed the seventh day and made it holy，because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

this is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were d.

【译文】

上帝创世

起初，上帝创造天地时，大地一片混沌，渊面黑暗。上帝的灵气运行在水面上。

上帝说："要有光！"立刻就有了光，上帝见有光很好，就把光明与黑暗分开，称光明为"昼"，黑暗为"夜"，于是黑夜降临，晨光现。这是第一天。

上帝说："诸水之间要有空气，将水分为上和下。"上帝就造出分隔，将以上和以下的水分开了。事就这样成了。上帝称之为"天"。黑夜再临，晨光再现。这是第二天。

上帝说："天下的水要聚在一处，使旱地露出来！"事就这样成了。上帝称旱地为"陆"，汇集之水为"海"。上帝见如此很好。

上帝说："要让大地生机勃勃，地上长出能结果子的树木，果子要有籽实，各从其类！"于是，事就这样成了，大地生机蓬勃，长出了瓜果树木，果实累累。上帝见如此很好。黑夜又临，晨光再现。这是第三天。

上帝说："天上要有光体，以区分昼夜，并标志节气、日子和年岁，并在天上发光，普照大地！"事就这样成了。上帝创造了两个巨大光体，较大的管昼，较小的司夜。上帝又造出星辰，置于空气中照亮大地，司昼夜，分明暗。上帝见如此很好。黑夜临，晨光现，这是第四天。

上帝说："水要多多滋生生物，要有雀鸟飞在地面之上，天空之中！"于是上帝创造出大鱼和各种水物生，又造出各种飞鸟，各从其类。上帝见如此很好，于是赐福给它们，说："让海中游鱼，空中飞鸟多多滋生繁衍！"黑夜临，晨光现。这是第五天。

上帝说："地要生出各种活物来，牲畜、爬行动物和野兽，各从其类！"事就这样成了。上帝见如此很好。

上帝说："要按我的形象造人管理海中之鱼，空中之鸟以及地上的牲畜和各种爬虫走兽。"于是上帝按照自己的形象造出人类，造出男女。上帝赐福给他们，说："要多多生养，布满全球，治理世界，管理海中的鱼、空中的鸟和地上的各种动物。"

上帝又说："我要使地上到处长满树木，结满籽果，生长果子，赐与你们为食。"事就这样成了。上帝见所造的一切，觉得甚好。黑夜临，晨光现，到了第六天。

天地万物都造齐了。到了第七日，上帝创世完毕，就停止了工作，他赐福给第七天，定为圣日，因为此时他已完成了要做的一切，无须工作了。

这就是上帝创世的故事。

€€adam and eve

when the lord god made the earth and the heavens-and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth，for the lord god had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground，but streams came up from the earch and wateredthe whole suce of the ground-the lord god formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life，and the man became a living being.

now the lord god had planted a garden in the east，in eden；and there he put the man he had formed.and the lord god made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

a river watering the garden flowed from eden；from there it was separated into four headwaters.

the lord god took the man and put him in the carden of eden to work it and take care of it.and the lord god commanded the man，"you are free to eat from any tree in the garden；but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil，for when you eat of it you will surely die."

the lord god said，"it is not good for the man to be alone.i will make a helper suitable for him."

now the lord god had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air.he brought them to the man to see what he would name them；and whatever the man called each living creature，that was its name.so the man gave names to all the livestock，the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.

but for adam no suitable helper was found.so the lord god caused the man to fall into a deep sleep；and while he was sleeping，he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.then the lord god made a woman from the rib he had taden out of the man，and he brought her to the man.

the man said，

"this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh；she shall be called'woman'，for she was taken out of man."

for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife，and they will become one flesh.

the man and his wife were both naked，and they felt no shame towards one another.

【译文】

亚当和夏娃

上帝创造天地之时，地上全无草木，因为造世之主没有降雨到地上，也无人耕地，只有地下涌出的水滋润地面。上帝用地上的尘土造人，将生气吹进他的鼻孔，他就有了生命。

上帝在东边的伊甸建造了一座园子，他把所造的人安置在那里。上帝让地面长出各种树木，这些树木不但秀美悦目，而且结有果实可供食用。在园正中，他种下了一种生命之树和一株能辨善恶的树。

有河从伊甸流出来滋润那园子，水从那里分为四股。

上帝把他造的男人带到伊甸园，让他在园中耕耘管理，并对他说："你可以随意采食园中树上的果实，惟独那能辨善恶的树上的果子，你不能吃，因为吃它必死。"

上帝又说："一个人独居不好。我要为他造一个配偶作帮手。"

上帝用泥土造出各种飞禽走兽，并把它们带到此人面前，看他如何称呼它们。此人对每种动物的称呼就成了这种动物的名字。于是，此人就给所有的牲畜、飞禽和走兽定了名。

但亚当自己还是没有合适的配偶。于是上帝让他沉睡，然后乘他熟睡的时候取出了他的一根肋骨，又把皮肉合好。上帝用男人身上取出的肋骨造了一个女人，并领她到这男人面前。

亚当说："如今这生灵，骨取自我骨，肉取自我肉，就称之为'女人'，因为她是从男人身上取出来的。"

因此，男人要离开父母跟妻子连合，二人成为一体。

此时，他们两人，男人和妻子都赤身露体，但他们彼此相对时并不难为情。

€€the princess on the pea

there was once a prince who wanted to marry a princess；but she was to be a real princess.so he travelled about，all through the world， to find a real one，but everywhere there was something in the way.there were princesses enough，but whether they were real princesses he could not quite make out： there was always something that did not seem quite right.so he came home again，and was quite sad； for he wished so much to have a real princess.

one evening a terrible storm came on.it lightened and thundered， the rain streamed down； it was quite fearful！ then there was a knocking at the town-gate，and the old king went out to open it.

it was a princess who stood outside the gate.but，mercy！ how she looked，from the rain and the rough weather！ the water ran down her hair and her clothes； it ran in at the points of her shoes，and out at the heels； and yet she declared that she was a real princess.

"yes， we will soon find that out，" thought the old queen.but she said nothing，only went into the bedchamber， took all the bedding off，and put a pea on the bottom of the bedstead； then she took twenty mattresses and laid them upon the pea，and then lwenty eider-down quilts upon the mattresses.on this the princess had to lie all night.in the morning she was asked how she had slept.

"oh， miserably！" said the princess."i scarcely closed my eyes all night long.goodness knows what was in my bed.i lay upon something hard， so that i am black and blue all over.it is quite dreadful！"

now they saw that she was a real princess，for through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts she had felt the pea.no one but a real princess could be so tender-skinned.

so the prince took her for his wife， for now he knew that he had a true princess and the pea was put in the museum，and it is still to be seen there， unless somebody has carried it off.

look you，this is a true story.

豌豆上的公主

从前有一位王子，他想找一位公主结婚；但是她必须是一位真正的公主。所以他就走遍了全世界，要想寻到这样的一位公主。可是无论他到什么地方，他总是碰到一些障碍。公主倒有的是；不过他没有办法断定她们究竟是不是真正的公主。她们总是有些地方不大对头。结果他只好回家来，心中很不快活，因为他是那么渴望着得到一位真正的公主。

有一天晚上，忽然起了一阵可怕的暴风雨。天空在掣电，在打雷，在下着大雨。这真有点使人害怕！这时有人在敲着城门。老国王就走过去开门。

站在城门外的是一位公主。可是，天啦！经过了风吹雨打以后，她的样子是多么难看啊！水沿着她的头发和衣服向下面流，流进鞋尖，又从脚跟流出来。她说她是一个真正的公主。

"是的，这点我们马上就可以弄清楚，"老皇后心里想，可是她什么也没有说。她走进卧室，把所有的被褥都搬开，在床榻上放了一粒豌豆。然后她取出20床垫子，把它们压在豌豆上；随后她又在这些垫上放了20床鸭绒被。

这位公主夜里就睡在这些东西上面。

早晨大家问她昨晚睡得怎样。

"啊，不舒服极了！"公主说。"我差不多整夜没有合眼！天晓得我床上有件什么东西。有一粒很硬的东西硌着我，弄得我全身发青发紫。这真怕人！"

现在大家就看出来了，她是一位真正的公主，因为压在这20床垫子和20床鸭绒被下面的一粒豌豆，她居然还能感觉得出来。除了真正的公主以外，任何人都不会有这么嫩的皮肤的。

因此那位王子就选她为妻子了，因为现在他知道他得到了一位真正的公主。这粒豌豆因此也就送进了博物馆。如果没有人把它拿走的话，人们现在还可以在那儿看到它呢。

请注意，这是一个真的故事。

€€a story

in the garden all the apple-trees were in blossom.they had hurried up to get flowers before green leaves， and in the farm-yard all the ducklings were out and the cat with them： he licked real sunshine， licked it from his own paws； and if one looked along to the field， the corn stood magnifntly green and there was a twittering and a chirping of all the little birds， as if it were a great festival， and indeed one might also say that it was so， for it was sunday.the bells rang， and people in their best clothes went to church， and looked so well pleased； yes， there was something so pleasant about every thint； it was certainly a day so warm and blessed， that one could say，"our lord is really very good to his peo-ple！"

but inside the church， the priest stood in the pulpit and spoke very loudly and very angrily； he said that the people were so ungodly， and that god would punish them for it， and when they died， the wicked should go down to hell， where they should burn for ever， and he said that their worm never died， and their fire was never quenched； and never did they get peace or rest.it was terrible to hear it， and he said it so positively； he described hell to them as a stinking hole， where all the world's filthiness flowed together， there was no air except the hot sulphur-flame， there was no bottom， they sank and sank in an everlasting silence.it was gruesome merely to listen to it， but the priest said it from the heart， and all the people in the church were quite terrified.

but outside all the little birds sang so happily， and the sun shone so warmly， it seemed as if every little flower said，"god is so very good to all of us，" yes， outside it was certainly not as the preacher had said.

in the evening towards bedtime， the clergyman saw his wife sitting silent and thoughtful.

"what ails you？" he said to her.

"what ails me？" said she，"i can not collect my thoughts properly， i cannot get clearly into my head what you said， that there were so many ungodly， and that they should burn for ever； for ever， o， how long！ i am only a sinful woman， but i could not bear to let even the worst sinner burn for ever； how then should our lord be able to do it who is so in finitely good， and who knows how the evil comes both from without and from within？ no， i cannot think it， even although you say it."

it was autumn， the leaves fell from the trees； the severe， earnest priest sat by the death-bed of his wife.

"if any one should get peace in the grave and mercy from god， it is you！" said the priest， and he folded her hands and read a psalm over her body.

and she was carried to her grave； two heavy tears rolled down over the cheeks of the earnest priest； and in his house it was quiet and lonely， the sunshine was extinguished； she had gone away.

it was night； a cold wind blew over the head of the priest， he opened his eyes， and it seemed as if the moon shone into his room， but the moon was not shining； it was a figure which stood before his bed； he saw the ghost of his dead wife； she looked at him sorrowfully， it seemed as if she wanted to say something.

and the man raised himself half up， and stretched out his arms to her；"have you not been granted eternal rest either？ do you suffer-you the best， the most pious？" and the departed one bowed her head for "yes"， and laid her hands on her breast.

"and can i obtain rest for you in the grave？"

"yes，" it answered him.

"and how？"

"give me a hair， only a single hair， from the head of the sinner whose fire will never be quenched， the sinner whom god will thrust down into everlasting punishment."

"yes， so easily can you be set free， you pure and pious soul！"

"then follow me！" said the departed one.it is so vouchsafed to us.by my side you can float whither your thoughts will；unseen by men we stand in their most secret corners， but with steady hand you must point to the one consecrated to everlasting pain， and before cook-crow he must be found.

and quickly， as if carried by thought， they were in the great town； and from the walls of the houses shone in letters of fire the names of the deadly sins： pride， avar， drunkenness， self-indulgence， in short， the whole seven-hued rainbow of sin.

"yes， in there， as i thought， as i knew，" said the priest， "dwell those who are destined for eternal fire." and they stood before the gorgeously lighted portal， where the broad stair was decorated with carpets and flowers， and dance-music sounded through the festive halls.the footman stood in silk and velvet with silver-mounted stick.

"our ball can compare with that of the king，" said he， and he turned to the crowd on the street； form top to toe the thought shone out of him，"poor pack， who stare in at the portal， you are common people compared with me， all of you！"

"pride，" said the departed one."do you see him？"

"yes， but he is a ton， only a fool， and will not be con-demned to everlasting fire and pain！"

"only a fool！" sounded through the whole house of pride； they were all"only fools" there.

and they flew within the four bare walls of avar， where， lean， chattering with cold， hungry and thirsty， the old one clung to his gold with all his thoughts； they saw how he sprang from his miserable couch， as in a fever， and took a loose stone out of the wall， where goldmoney lay in a stoking-leg； he fingered his patched coat into which gold pieces were sewn， and the moist fingers trembled.

"he is ill， it is madness， a joyless madness， beset with fear and evil dreams."

and they departed in haste， and stood by the couches of the criminals where they slept in long rows， side by side.

like a wild animal， one of them started up out of his sleep， utte-ring a horrid shriek； he dug his pointed elbow into his comrade， who turned sleepily.

"hold your tongue， you blockhead， and sleep！-it is the same ev-ery night！"

"every night，" he repeated，"yes， every night he comes and howls and suffocates me.in passion have i done one thing and another， an angry mind was i born with； it has brought me here a second time； but if i have done wrong， then i have had my punishment.only one thing have i not acknowledged.when i last came out of here and passed my master's farm， one thing and another boiled up in me，-i scratched a sulphur match along the wall， it ran a little too near the thatch of the roof， everything burned.passion came over it， as it comes over me.i helped to save the cattle and effects.nothing living was burned but a flock of pigeons， which flew into the fire， and the watchdog.i had not thought of it.one could hear it howling， and that howl i always hear still， when i want to sleep， and when i fall asleep， then comes the dog， so big and shaggy； he lays himself on me， howls， presses me.and suffocales me.then listen to what i tell you； you can snore， snore the whole night， and i not a short quarter of an hour." and the blood shone in his eyes， he threw himself over his comrade and hit him with clenched fist in the face.

"angry mads has gone mad again！" was the cry round about， and the other scoundrels caught hold of him， wrestled with him， and bent him so that his head sat between his legs where they bound it fast； the blood was almost springing out of his eyes and all his pores.

"you will kill him，" shouted the priest，"the miserable one！" and whilst he， in order to hinder them， stretched out his hand over the sinner， who already in this world suffered too severly， the scene changed； they flew through rich halls， and through poor rooms； self-indulgence， envy， all the deadly sins marched past them； an angel of judgement read their sins， their defence； this was but weak before god， but god reads the hearts， he who is mercy and love.the hand of the priest trembled， he dared not stretch it forth to pull a hair from the sinner's head.and the tears streamed from his eyes， like the water of mercy and love， which quench the everlasting fires of hell.and the cock crew.

"merciful god！" thou will give her that rest in the grave， which i have not been able to obtain."

"i have it now！" said the dead one，"it was thy hard words， thy dark belief about god and his works， which drove me to thee！ learn to know men； even in the wicked there is something of god， something which will triumph， and quench the fire of hell."

a kiss was pressed on the mouth of the priest， light beamed round a-bout him； god's clear sun shone into the chamber， where his wife， gentle and loving， wakened him from a dream sent by god.

一个故事

花园里的苹果树都开了花。它们想要在绿叶没有长好以前就赶快开出花朵。院子里的小鸭都跑出来了，猫儿也跟着一起跑出来了：他是在舔着真正的太阳光——舔着他的脚爪上的太阳光。如果你朝田野里望，你可以看到一片青翠的小麦。所有的小鸟都在吱吱喳喳地叫，好像这是一个盛大的节日似的。的确，你也可以说这是一个节日，因为这是星期天。

教堂的钟声在响着。大家穿着最好的衣服到教堂去，而且都显出非常高兴的样子。是的，所有的东西都表现出一种愉快的神情。这的确是一个温暖和幸福的日子。人们可以说："我们的上帝对我们真好！"

不过在教堂里，站在讲台上的牧师却是大叫大喊，非常生气。他说：人们都不信上帝，上帝一定要惩罚他们；他们死了以后，坏的就被打入地狱，而且在地狱里他们将永远被烈火焚烧。他还说，他们良心的责备将永远不停，他们的火焰也永远不灭，他们将永远得不到休息和安静。

听他的这番讲道真叫人害怕，而且他讲得那么肯定。他把地狱描写成为一个腐臭的地洞；世界上所有的脏东西都流进里面去；那里面除了磷火以外，一点儿空气也没有；它是一个无底洞，不声不响地往下沉，永远往下沉。就是光听这个故事，也够叫人心惊胆战的了。但是牧师的这番话语是从心里讲出来的，所以教堂里的听众都给吓得魂不附体。

但是外面的许多小鸟却唱得非常愉快，太阳光也非常温暖，每一朵小花都好像在说："上帝对我们大家太好了。"是的，外面的情形一点也不像牧师描写得那么糟。

在晚上要睡觉的时候，牧师看见他的太太坐着一声不响，好像有什么心事似的。

"你在想什么呢？"他问她。

"我在想什么？"她说。"我觉得我想不通，我不能同意你所讲的话。你把不敬上帝的人说得那么多，你说他们要永远受火烧的刑罚。永远，唉，永远到什么时候呢？连像我这样一个有罪的女人都不忍让最坏的恶人永远受着火刑，我们的上帝怎么能呢？他是那么仁慈，他知道罪过的形成有内在的原因，也有外在的原因。不，虽然你说得千真万确，我却没有办法相信。"

这时正是秋天，叶子从树上落下来。这位严峻和认真的牧师坐在一个死人的旁边；死者怀着虔诚的信心把眼睛合上了。这就是牧师的妻子。

"如果说世上有一个人应该得到上帝的慈悲和墓中的安息的话，这个人就是你！"牧师说。他把他的双手合起来，对死者的尸体念了一首圣诗。

她被抬到墓地里去，这位一本正经的牧师的脸上滚下了两滴眼泪。他家里现在是静寂无声，太阳光消逝了，因为没有了她。

这正是黑夜，一阵冷风吹到牧师的头上来，他把眼睛睁开；这好像月亮已经照进他的房间里来了，但是并没有月亮在照着。在他的床面前站着一个人形。这就是他的死去了的妻子的幽灵。她用一种非常悲哀的眼光望着他，好像她有一件什么事情要说似的。

他直起一半身子，把手向她伸过来："你没有得到永恒的安息吗？你在受苦吗？你——最善良的、最虔诚的人！"

死者低下头，作为一个肯定的回答。她把双手按在胸口。

"我能想办法使你在墓里得到安息吗？"

"能！"幽灵回答说。

"怎样能呢？"

"你只须给我一根头发，一根被不灭的火所烧着的罪人头上的头发——这是一个上帝要打下地狱、永远受苦的罪人！"

"你，纯洁而虔诚的人，你把得救看得这样容易！"

"跟着我来吧！"死者说，"上帝给了我们这种力量。只要你心中想到什么地方去，你就可以从我身边飞到什么地方去。凡人看不见我们，我们可以飞到他们最秘密的角落里去。你必须用肯定的手，指出那个注定永远受苦的人，而且你必须在鸡叫以前就把这个人指出来。"

他们好像是被思想的翅膀托着似的，很快地就飞到一个大城市里去了。所有房子的墙上都燃着火焰所写成的几件大罪的名称：骄傲、贪婪、酗酒、任性——总之，是一整条7种颜色的罪孽所组成的长虹。

"是的，"牧师说，"在这些房子里面，我相信——同时我也知道——就住着那些注定永远受火刑的人。"

他们站在一个灯火辉煌的、漂亮的大门口。宽广的台阶上铺着地毯和摆满花朵，欢乐的大厅里飘出跳舞的音乐。侍者穿着丝绸和天鹅绒的衣服，手中拿着包银的手杖。

"我们的舞会比得上皇帝的舞会，"他说。他向街上的人群望了一眼；他的全身——从头到脚——射出这样一个思想："你们这群可怜的东西，你们朝门里望；比起我来，你们简直是一群叫花子！"

"这是骄傲！"死者说，"你看到他没有？"

"看到了，但是他不过是一个傻瓜，一个呆子。他不会受永恒的火刑和痛苦的。"

"他不过是一个傻子！"整个"骄傲"的屋子发出这样的一个声音。他们都"只不过是傻子"。

他们飞到"贪婪"的四堵墙里面去。这里有一个干瘦的老家伙，又饥又渴，冻得发抖，但是他却聚精会神地抱着他的金子。他们看到他怎样像发热似地从一个破烂的睡榻上跳下来，挪开墙上一块活动的石头，因为那里面藏着他的装在一只袜子里的许多金币。他抚摸着褴褛的上衣，因为它里面也缝的有金币；他的潮湿的手指在发抖。

"他病了。他害的是一种疯病，一种没有乐趣的、充满了恐怖和噩梦的疯病。"

他们匆忙地走开了。他们站在一批罪犯的木板床旁边。这些人紧挨着睡成一排。

他们之中有一个人像一只野兽似地从睡梦中跳起来，发出一个可怕的尖叫声。他用他的瘦削的手肘把他旁边的一个人推了几下。这人在睡梦中翻了一个身，说：

"闭住嘴吧，你这个畜生，赶快睡呀！你每天晚上总是来这一套！"

"每天晚上？"他重复着说。"是的，他每天晚上总是来对我乱叫，折磨着我。我一发起脾气来，不做这就要做那，我生下来就是脾气坏的。这已经是我第二次被关在这儿了。不过，假如说我做了坏事，我已经得到了惩罚。只有一件事情我没有承认。上次我从牢里出来的时候，从我主人的田庄附近走过，心里不知怎的忽然闹起别扭来。我在墙上划了一根火柴——我划得离开草顶太近，立刻就烧起来了。火燎起来正她像脾气在我身上发作一样。我尽量帮忙救这屋子里的牲口和家具。除了飞进火里去的一群鸽子和套在链子上的看门狗以外，什么活东西也没有烧死。我没有想到这只狗，人们可以听见它在号叫——我现在在睡觉的时候还能听见它号叫。我一睡着，这只毛茸茸的大狗子就来了。它躺在我身上号叫，压着我，使我喘不过气来。我告诉你吧：你可以睡得打呼噜，一整夜打呼噜，但是我只能睡短短的一刻钟。"

这人的眼睛里射出血丝。他倒到他的朋友身上，紧捏着一个拳头朝他的脸上打来。

"疯子又发作了！"周围的人齐声说。其余的罪犯都把他抓住，和他揪作一团。他们把他弯过来，使他的头夹在两腿中间，然后再把他紧紧地绑住。他的一双眼睛和全身的毛孔几乎都要喷出血来了。

"你们这样会把他弄死的，"牧师大声说，"可怜的东西！"他向这个受够了苦的罪人身上伸出一只保护的手来；正在这时候，情景变了。他们飞过富丽的大厅，他们飞过贫穷的房间。"任性"、"嫉妒"和其他主要的"罪孽"都在他们身边走过。一个作为裁判官的安琪儿宣读这些东西的罪过和辩护。在上帝面前，这并不是重要的事情，因为上帝能够洞察人的内心；他知道心里心外的一切罪过；他本身就是慈悲和博爱。牧师的手颤抖起来，他不敢伸出手在这罪人的头上拔下一根头发。眼泪像慈悲和博爱的水一样，从他的眼睛里流出来，把地狱里的永恒的火滴熄了。

这时鸡叫了。

"慈悲的上帝！只有您能让她在墓里安息，我做不到这件事情。"

"我现在已经得到安息了，"死者说。"因为你说出那样骇人的话语，你对他和他的造物感到那样悲观，所以我才不得不到你这儿来！好好地把人类认识一下吧，就是最坏的人身上也有一点上帝的成份——这点成份可以战胜和熄灭地狱里的火。"

牧师的嘴上得到了一个吻，他的周围充满了阳光。上帝的明朗的太阳光射进房间里来。他的活着的、温柔和蔼的妻子把他从上帝送来的一个梦中唤醒。

€€a leaf from the sky

high up， in the thin chear air， flew an angel with a flower from the heavenly garden.as he was kissing the flower， a very little leaf fell down into the soft soil in the midst of the wood， and immediately took root， and sprouted， and sent forth shoots among the other plants.

"a funny kind of slip， that，"said the plants.

and neither thistle nor stinging-nettle would recognize the stranger.

"that must be a kind of garden plant，"said they.and they sneered； and the plant was despised by them as being a thing out of the garden， but it grew and grew， like none of the others， and shot its branches far and wide.

"where are you coming？"cried the lofty thistles， whose leaves are all armed with thorns."you give yourself a good deal of space！ that's all nonsense-we are not here to support you！"

and winter came， and snow covered the plant； but the plant imparted to the snowy covering a lustre as if the sun was shining upon it from below as from above.when spring came， the plant appeared as flourishing and more beautiful than any growth of the forest.

and now appeared on the scene the botanical professor， who could

what he was in black and white.he inspected the plant and tested it， but found it was not included in his botanical system； and he could not possibly find out to what class it belonged.

"it must be some subordinate species，" he said."i don't know it.it's not included in any system."

"not included in any system！"repeated the thistles and the nettles.

the great trees that stood round about heard what was said， and they also saw that it was not a tree of their kind but they said not a word， good or bad， which is the wisest thing for people to do who are stupid.

there came through the forest a poor innocent girl.her heart was pure， and her understanding was enlarged by faith.her whole inheritance was an old bible； but out of its pages a vo said to her，"if people wish to do us evil， remember how it was said of joseph：-they imagined evil in their hearts， but god turned it to good.if we suffer wrong-if we are misunderstood and despised-then we may recall the words of him who was purity and goodness itself， and who forgave and prayed for those who buffeted and nailed him to the cross."

the girl stood still in front of the wonderful plant， whose great leaves exhaled a sweet and refreshing fragrance， and whose flowers glittered like coloured flames in the sun； and from each flower there came a sound as though it concealed within itself a deep fount of melody that thousands of years could not exhaust.with pious gratilude the girl looked on this beautiful work of the greator， and bent down one of the branches towards herself to breathe its sweetness； and a light arose in her soul.it seemed to do her heart good； and gladly would she have plucked a flower， but she could not make up her mind to break one off， for it would soon fade if she did so.therefore the girl only took a single leaf， and laid it in her bible at home； and it there quite fresh， always green， and never fading.

among the pages of the bible it was kept； and ，with the bible， it was laid under the young girl's head when， afew weeks a fterwards， she lay in her coffin， with the solemn calm of death on her gentle face， as if the earthly remains bore the impress of the truth that she now stood before her grealor.

but the wonder ful plant still bloomed without in the forest.soon it was like a tree to look upon； and all the birds of passage bowed before it， especially the swallow and the stork.

"there are foreign airs now，"said the thistles and the burdocks；"we never behave like that here."

and the black snails actually spat at the flower.

then came the swineherd.he was collecting thistles and shrubs， to burn them for the ashes.the wonder ful plant was pulled up with all its roots and placed in his bundle.

"it shall be made useful，"he said； and so said， so done.

but for more than a year and a day， the king of the country was troubled with a terrible depression of spirils.he was busy and industrious， but that did him no good.they read him deep and learned books， and then they read from the very lightest that they could find； but it was of no use.then one of the wise men of the world， to whom they had applied， sent a messenger to tell the king that there was one remedy to give him relief and to cure him.he said：

"in the king's own country there grows in a forest a plant of heavenly origin.its appearance is thus.it cannot be mistaken."and here was added a drawing of the plant， which was easy to recognize."it remains green winter and summer.take every evening a fresh leaf of it， and lay that on the king's forehead； then his thoughts will become clear， and during the night a beautiful dream will strengthen him for the coming day."

this was all clear enough， and all the doctors and the professor of botany went out into the forest.-yes， but where was the plant？

"i fancy it was taken up in my bundle， and burned to ashes ling ago，"said the swineherd；"but i did not know any better."

"you did not know any better！"said they all together."o，igno-rance， ignorance， how great thou art！"

and those words the swineherd might well take to himself， for they were， meant for him， and for no one else.

not another leaf was to be found； the only one lay in the coffin of the dead girl， and no one knew anything about that.

and the king himself， in his melancholy， wandered out to the spot in the wood.

"here is where the plant stood，"he said； "it is a sacred place."

and the place was surrounded with a golden railing， and a sentry was posted there both by night and by day.

the botanical professor wrote a long treatise upin the heavenly plant.for this he was decorated， and that was a great delight to him， and the decoration suited him and his family very well.

and indeed that was the most agreeable part of the whole story， for the plant was gone， and the king remained as low-spirited as before； but that he had always been， at least so the sentry said.

天上落下来的一片叶子

在稀薄的、清爽的空中，有一个安琪儿拿着天上花园中的一朵花在高高地飞。当他在吻着这朵花的时候，有一小片花瓣落到树林中松软的地上。这花瓣马上就生了根，并且在许多别的植物中间冒出芽来。

"这真是一根很滑稽的插枝，"别的植物说。蓟和荨麻都不认识它。

"这一定是花园里长的一种植物！"它们说，并且还发出一声冷笑。它们认为它是花园里的一种植物而开它的玩笑。但是它跟别的植物不同；它在不停地生长；它把长枝子向四面伸开来。

"你要伸到什么地方去呢？"高大的蓟说。它的每片叶子都长满了刺。"你占的地方太多！这真是岂有此理！我们可不能扶持你呀！"

冬天来了；雪把植物盖住了。不过这棵植物给雪层增添了一片光彩，好像有太阳从底下照一来似的。在春天的时候，这棵植物开出花来；它比树林里的任何植物都要美丽。

这时来了一位植物学教授。他有许多学位来说明他的身份。他对这棵植物望了一眼，检验了一番；但是他发现他的植物体系内没有这种东西。他简直没有办法把它分类。

"它是一种变种！"他说。"我不认识它，它不属于任何一科！"

"不属于任何一科！"蓟和荨麻说。

周围的许多大树都听到了这些话。它们也看出来了，这种植物不属于它们的系统。但是它们什么话也不说——不说坏话，也不说好话。对于傻子说来，这是一种最聪明的办法。

这时有一个贫苦的天真女孩走过树林。她的心很纯洁；因为她有信仰，所以她的理解力很强，她全部的财产只是一部很旧的《圣经》，不过她在每页书上都听见上帝的声音：如果有人想对你做坏事，你要记住约瑟的故事——"他们在心里想着坏事情，但是上帝把它变成好事情。"如果你受到委屈，被人误解或者被人侮辱，你只须记住上帝的话。他是一个最纯洁、最善良的人。他为那些讥笑他和把他钉上十字架的人祈祷："天父，请原谅他们吧，他们不知道他们自己在做什么事情！"

女孩子站在这棵稀奇的植物面前——它的绿叶发出甜密和清新的香气，它的花朵在太阳光中射出五光十色的焰火般的光彩。每朵花发出一种音乐，好像它里面有一股音乐的泉水，几千年也流不尽。女孩子怀着虔诚的心情，望着造物主的这些美丽的创造。她顺手把一根枝条拉过来，细看上面的花朵，闻一闻这些花朵的香气。她心里轻松起来，感到一种愉快。她很想摘下一朵花，但是她不忍把它折断，因为这样花就会凋谢了。她只是摘下一片绿叶。她把它带回家来，夹在《圣经》里。叶子在这本书里永远保持新鲜，从来没有凋谢。

叶子就这样藏在《圣经》里。几个星期以后，当这女孩子躺在棺材里的时候，《圣经》就放在她的头底下。她温柔的脸上露出了一种死亡的庄严和宁静，好像她的这个尘世的躯壳，就是说明她现在已经在上帝面前的印证。

但是那棵奇异的植物仍然在树林里开着花。它很快就要长成一棵树了。许多侯鸟，特别是鹳鸟和燕子，都飞到这儿来，在它面前低头致敬。

"这东西已经有点洋派头了！"蓟和牛蒡说。"我们这些本乡生长的植物从来没有这副样子！"

黑蜗牛实际上已经在这植物身上吐粘液了。

这时有一个猪倌来了。他正在采集荨麻和蔓藤，目的是要把它们烧出一点灰来。这棵奇异的植物也被连根拔起来了，扎在一个柴捆里。

"也叫它能够有点用处！"他说，同时他也就这样做了。

但是这个国家的君主多少年来一直害着很重的忧郁病。他是非常忙碌和勤俭，但是这对他的病却没有什么帮助。人们念些深奥的书给他听，或念些世上最轻松的读物给他听，但这对他的病也没有什么好处。人们请教世界上一个最聪明的人，这人派来一个信使。信使对大家说，要减轻和治好国王的病，现在只有一种药方。他说："在国王的领土里，有一个树林里长着一棵来自天上的植物。它的形状是如此这般，人们决不会弄错。"它不论在冬天或夏天都是绿的。人们只须每天晚上摘下一片新鲜的叶子，把它放在国王的额上，那么国王的头脑就会变得清新，他夜间就会做一个美丽的梦，他第二天也就会有精神了。"

这个说明已经是够清楚了。所有的医生和那位植物学教授都到树林里去-是的，不过这棵植物在什么地方呢？

"我想我已经把它扎进柴捆里去了！"猪倌说；"它早就已经烧成灰了。别的事情我不知道！"

"你不知道！"大家齐声说。"啊，愚蠢啊！愚蠢啊！你是多么伟大啊！"

€€the angel

"whenever good child dies， an angel from heaven comes down to earth and takes the dead child in his arms， spreads out his great white wings， and flies away over all the places the child has loved， and picks quite a handful of flowers， which he carries up to the almighty， that they may bloom in heaven more brightly than on earth.and the father presses all the flowers to his heart； but he kisses the flower that pleases him best， and the flower is then endowed with a vo， and can join in the great chorus of praise！"

"see"-this is what an angel said， as he carried a dead child up to heaven ， and the child heard， as if in a dream， and they went on over the regions of home where the little child had played， and they came through gardens with beautiful

flowers-"which of these shall we take with us to plant in heaven？"asked the angel.

now there stood near them a slender， beautiful rose bush ；but a wicked hand had broken the stem，so that all the branches， covered with half opened ands， were hanging around， quite withered.

"the poor rose bush！"said the child."take it， that it may bloom up yonder."

and the angel took it， and kissed the child， and the little one half opened his eyes.they plucked some of the rich flowers， but also took with them the despised buttercup and the wild pansy.

"now we have flowers，"said the child.

and the angel nodded， but he did not yet fly upwards to heaven.it was night and quite silent.they remained in the great city； they floated about there in one of the narrowset streets， where lay whole heaps of straw， ashes， and sweepings， for it had been removal-day.there lay fragments of plates， bits of plates， bits of plaster， rags， and old hats， and all this did not look well.and the angel pointed amid all this confusion to a few fragments of a flower-pot， and to a lump of earth which had fallen out， and which was kept together by the roots of a great dried field flower， which was of no use， and had therefore been thrown out into the street.

"we will take that with us，"said the angel."i will tell you why， as we fly onward."

so they flew， and the angel related，

"down yonder in the narrow lane， in the low cellar， lived a poor sick boy； from his childhood he had been bed-ridden.when he was at his best he could go up and down the room a few times， leaning on crutches； that was the utmost he could do.for a few days in summer the sunbeams would penetrate for a few hours to the front of the cellar， and when the poor boy sat there and the sun shone on him， and he looked at the red blood in his fine fingers， as he held them up before his face， they would say， 'yes， today he has been out！'he knew the forest with its beautiful vernal green only from the fact that the neighbour's son brought him the first green branch of a beech tree， and he held that up over his head， and dreamed he was in the beech wood where the sun shone and the birds sang.on a spring day the neighbour's boy also brought him field flowers， and among these was， by chance， one to which the root was hanging；and so it was planted in a flower-pot， and placed by the bed， close to the window.and the flower had been planted by a fortunate hand； and it grew， threw out new shoots， and bore flowers every year.it became as a splendid flower garden to the sickly boy -his little treasure here on earth.

he watered it， and tended it， and took care that it had the benefit of every tay of sunlight， down to the last that struggled in through the narrow window； and the flower itself was woven into his dreams， for it grew for him and gladdened his eyes， and spread its pagrance about hom； and towards it he turned in death， when the father called him.

he has now been with the atmighty for a year； for a year the flower has stood forgotten in the window， and is withered； and thus， at the removal，it has been thrown out into the dust of streel.and this is the flower， the poor withered flower， which we have taken into our nosegay； for this flower has given more joy than the richest flower in a queen's garden！"

"but how do you know all this？"asked the child which the angel was carrying to heaven.

"i know it，"said the angel，"for i myself was that little boy who went on crutches！ i know my flower well！"

and the child opened his eyes and looked into the glorious happy face of the angel； and at the same moment they entered the regions where there is peace and joy.and the father pressed the dead child to his bosom， and then it received wings like the angel， and flew hand in hand with him.and the almighty pressed all the flowers to his heart；but he kissed the dry withered field flower， and it received a vo and sang with all the angels hovering around-some near， and some in wider circles， and some in infinite distance，but all equally happy.

and they all sang，little and great， the good happy child， and the poor field flower that had lain there withered， thrown among the dust， in the rubbish of the removal-day，in the narrow dark lane.

安琪儿

"只要有一个好孩子死去，就会有一个上帝的安琪儿飞到世界上来。她把死去的孩子抱在怀里，展开他的白色的翅膀，在孩子生前喜爱的地方飞翔。他摘下一大把花，把它们带到天上去，好叫它们开得比在人间更美丽。仁慈的上帝把这些花紧紧搂在胸前，但是他只吻那棵他认为最可爱的花。这棵花于是就有了声音，能跟大家一起唱着幸福的颂歌。"

"瞧——这就是上帝的安琪儿抱着一个死孩子飞上天时所讲的话。孩子听到这些话的时候，就像在做梦一样。他们飞过了他在家里玩过的许多地方，飞过了开满美丽的花朵的花园。

"我们把哪一朵花儿带去栽在天上呢？"安琪儿问。

他们看见一棵细长的、美丽的玫瑰，但是它的花梗已被一只恶毒的手摘断了。所以它那些长满了半开的花苞的枝子都垂了下来，萎谢了。

"可怜的玫瑰花！"孩子说，"把它带走吧。它可以在上帝的面前开出花来的！"

安琪儿就把这朵花带走了，同时还吻了孩子一下。孩子半睁开他的眼睛。他们摘下了几朵美丽的花，但也带走了几朵被人瞧不起的金凤花和野生的三角堇花。

"现在我们可有了花儿了，"孩子说。安琪儿点点头，可是他们并没有飞到天上去。这是夜晚，非常静寂。他们停留在这座大城里。他们在一条最狭窄的街上飞。街上堆着很多干草、尘土的垃圾，因为这是一个搬家的日子。这儿还有破碎的碗盘、墙上脱落下来的泥块、烂布和破帽子——这一切都不太好看。

安琪儿在这堆烂东西中间指着几块花盆的碎片和花盆里面掉出来的一团干泥块。一大棵枯萎了的野花用它的根把自己和这块土维系在一起。这棵花现在已经没有用。因此被人抛到街上来了。

"我们要把这棵花带走！"安琪儿说，"我在飞行的时候再把理由告诉你。"

于是他们就飞走了，安琪儿讲了这样一个故事：

"在下面这条窄街上的一个很低的地下室里，住着一个生病的穷孩子。从很小的时候起，他就一直躺在床上。他身体最好的时候，可以拄着拐杖在那个小房间里来回地走一两次。他至多只能做到这一点。每年夏天，太阳光有几天可以射进这个地下室的前房，每次大约有几个小时的光景。当小孩坐在那儿、让温暖的太阳光照在身上的时候，他就把瘦小的指头伸到面前，望着里面的鲜红的血色。这时人们就说：'今天这孩子出来了。'

"他对于树林的知识是从春天的绿色体会出来的。因为邻家的孩子带给了他第一根山毛榉的绿枝。他把它举在头上，幻想自己来到了一个山毛榉的树林里——这儿有太阳光射进来，有鸟儿在唱歌。

"在一个春天的日子里，那个邻家的孩子又带给他几棵野花。在这些野花中间，有一棵还很偶然的样子。因此这棵花就被栽在一个花盆里，放在床边。紧靠着窗子了。这棵花是一只幸运的手栽种的，因此它就生长起来，冒出新芽，每年开出花朵，成了这个病孩子的最美丽的花园——他在这世界上的一个宝库。

他为它浇水，照料它，尽量使它得到射进这扇低矮的窗子里来的每一线阳光。这棵花儿常常来到他的梦里，因为它为他开出了花，为他散发出香气，使他的眼睛得到快感。当上帝召他去的时候，他在死神面前最后要看的东西就是这棵花。

"现在他住在天上已经有一年了。在这一年中，这棵花在窗子上完全被人忘掉了。它已经枯萎，因此搬家的时候，就被人扔在街上的垃圾堆里。我们现在把这棵可怜的、萎谢了的花收进我们的花束中来。因为它给与人的快乐，大大地超过了皇家花园里面那些最艳丽的花。"

"你怎么知道这件事的呢？"这个被安琪儿带上天去的孩子问。

"我当然知道，"安琪儿说，"因为我就是那个拄着拐杖走路的病孩子呀！我当然认识我的花！"

孩子睁着一双大眼睛，凝望着安琪儿的美丽幸福的脸。正在这时候，他们来到了天上，来到了和平幸福的天堂。上帝把孩子紧紧地搂在胸前，于是他获得了安琪儿那样的翅膀，与他手拉手一起飞翔。上帝还把花儿拥到胸前，特地吻了吻那棵可怜的、萎谢了的野花。因此那棵野花就有了声音。现在它能跟在周围飞翔的所有安琪儿一齐歌唱了——他们有的飞得很近，有的绕着大圈子，飞得很远，飞到无垠的远方，但他们全都是幸福的。

他们都唱着歌——大大小小的、善良快乐的孩子们，还有搬家那天被扔在狭巷里垃圾堆上的那棵枯萎了的可怜的野花，大家都唱着歌。

€€the happy family

the biggest leaf here in the country is certainly the burdock leaf.put one in front of your waist and it's just like an apron，and if you lay it upon your head it is almost as good as an umbrella， for it is quite remardably large.a burdock never grows alone； where there is one there are several more.it's splendid to behold！ and all this splendour is snails'meat.

the great white snails， which the grand people in old times used to have made into fricassees， and when they had eaten them they would say，"h'm， how good that is！" for they had the idea that it tasted delicious.these snails lives，and that's why burdocks were sown.

now there was an old estate， on which people ate snails no longer.the snails had died out， but the burdocks had not.these latter grew and grew in all the walks and on all the beds-there was no stopping them； the place became a complete forest of burdocks.here and there stood an apple or plum tree； but for this， nobody would have thought a garden had been there.everything was burdock， and among the burdocks lived the two last ancient snails.

they did not know themselves how old they were， but they could very well remember that there had been a great many more of them， that they had descended from a foreign family， and that the whole forest had been planted for them and theirs.they had never been away from home， but it was known to them that smoething existed in the world called the manorhouse， and that there one was boiled，and one became black， and was laid upon a silver dish； but what was done afterwards they did not know.moreover， they could not imagine what that might be， beingboiled and laid upon a silver dish； but it was said to be fine， and particularly grand！ neither the cockchafer， nor the toad， nor the earth worm， whom they questioned about it，could give them any information， for none of their kind had ever been boiled and laid on silver dishes.

the old white snails were the grandest in the world； they knew that！ the forest was there for their sake， and the manor-house too， so that they might be boiled and laid on silver dishes.

they led a very retired and happy life， and as they themselves were childless， they had adopted a little common snail， which they brought up as their own child.but the little thing would not grow， for it was only a common snail， though the old people， and particularly the mother， declared one could easily see how he grew.and when the father could not see it.she requested him to feel the little snail's shell， and he felt it， and acknowledged that she was right.

one day it rained very hard.

"listen， how it's drumming on the burdock leaves， rum-dum-dum！ rum-dum-dum！" said the father-suail.

"that's what i call drops." said the mother."it's coming straight down the stalks.you'll see it will be wet here directly.i'm only glad that we have our good house， and that the little one has his own.there has been more done for us than for any other creature； one can see very plainly that we are the grand folks of the world！ we have houses from our birth， and the burdock forest has been planted for us： i should like to know how far it extends， and what lies beyond it."

"there's nothing outside of it，" said the father-snail， "no place can be better than here at home； i have nothing at all to wish for."

"yes，" said the mother， "i should like to be taken to the manor-house and boiled， and laid upon a silver dish； that has been done to all our ancestors， and you may be sure it's quite a distinguished honour."

"the manor-house has perhaps fallen in，" said the father-snail， "or the forest of burdocks may have grown over it， so that the people can't get out at all.you need not be in a hurry-but you always hurry so， and the little one is beginning just the same way.has he not been creeping up that stalk these three days？ my head quite aches when i look up at him."

"you must not scold him，" said the mother-snail."he crawls very deliberately.we shall have much joy in him； and we old people have nothing else to live for.but have you ever thought where we shall get a wife for him？ don't you think that farther in the wood there may be some more of our kind？"

"there may be black snails there， i think，" said the old man，"black snails without house！ but they're too vulgar.and they're conceited， for all that.but we can give the commission to the ants： they run to and fro，as if they had business； they're sure to know of a wife for our young gentleman."

"i certainly know the most beautiful of brides，" said one of the ants； "but i fear she would not do， for she is the queen！" "that does not matter，" said the two old snails."has she a house？

"she has a castle！" replied the ant."the most beautiful ant's castle， with seven hundred passages."

"thank you，" said the mother-snail； "our boy shall not go into an ant-hill.if you know of nothing better， we'll give the commission to the white gnats； they fly far about in rain and sunshine， and they know the burdock wood， inside and outside."

"we have a wife for him，" said the gnats."a hundred man-steps from here a little snail with a house is sitting on a gooseberry bush， she is quite alone， and old enough to marry.it's only a hundred man-steps from here."

"yes， let her come to him，" said the old people."he has a whole burdock forest， and she has only a bush."

and so they brought the little maiden snail.eight days passed before she arrived，but that was the rare circumstance about it， for by this one could see that she was of the right kind.

and then they had a wedding.six glow-worms lighted as well as they could： with this exception it went very quietly， for the old snail people could not bear feasting and dissipation.but a capital speech was made by the mother-snail.the father could not speak， he was so much moved.then they gave the young couple the

whole burdock forest for an inheritance，and said，what they had always said， namely-that it was the best place in the world， and that the young people， if they lived honourably， and increased and multiplied， would some day be taken with their children to the manor-house， and boiled black， and laid upon a silver dish.and when the speech was finished， the old people crept into their houses and never came out again， for they slept.

the young snail pair now ruled in the forest， and had a numerous proneny.but as the young ones were never boiled and put into silver dishes， they concluded that the manor-house had fallen in，and that all the people in the world had died out.and as nobody contradicted them， they must have been right.and the rain fell down upon the burdock leaves to play the drum for them， and the sun shone to colour the burdock forest for them， and they were happy， very happy-the whole family was happy， uncommonly happy！

幸福的家庭

这个国家里最大的绿叶子，无疑要算是牛蒡的叶子了。你拿一片放在你的肚皮上，那么它就像一条围裙。如果你把它放在头上，那么在雨天里它就可以当作一把伞用，因为它出奇地宽大。牛蒡从来不单独地生长；不，凡是长着一棵牛蒡的地方，你一定可以找到好几棵。这是它最可爱的一点，而这些可爱的东西正是蜗牛的食料。

在古时候，许多大人物把这些白色的大蜗牛做成"碎肉"；当他们吃着的时候，就说："哼，味道真好！"因为他们认为蜗牛的味道很美。这些蜗牛都靠牛蒡叶子活着；因此人们才种植牛蒡。

现在有一个古老的公馆，住在里面的人已经不再吃蜗牛了。所以蜗牛都死光了，不过牛蒡还活着，这植物在小径上和花畦上长得非常茂盛，人们怎么也没有办法制止它们。这地方简直成了一个牛蒡森林。要不是这儿那儿有几株苹果树和海子树，谁也不会想到这是一个花园。处处都是牛蒡；在它们中间住着最后的两个蜗牛遗老。

它们不知道自己究竟有多大年纪。不过它们记得很清楚；它们的数目曾经是很多很多，而且都属于一个从国外迁来的家庭，整个森林就是为它们和它们的家族而发展起来的。它们从来没有离开过家，不过却听说过：这个世界上还有一个什么叫做"公馆"的东西。它们在那里面被烹调着，然后变成黑色，最后被盛在一个银盘子里。不过结果怎样，它们一点也不知道。此外，它们也想象不出来，烹调完了以后盛在银盘子里，究竟是一种什么味道。那一定很美，特别排场！它们请教过小金虫、癞蛤蟆和蝗蚓，但是一点道理也问不出来，因为它们谁也没有被烹调过或盛在银盘子里面过。

那对古老的白蜗牛要算世界上最有身份的人物了。它们自己知道森林就是为了它们而存在的，公馆也是为了使它们能被烹调和放在银盘子里而存在的。

它们过着安静和幸福的生活。因为它们自己没有孩子，所以就收养了一个普通的小蜗牛。它们把它作为自己的孩子抚育。不过这小东西长不大，因为它不过是一个普通的蜗牛而已。但是这对老蜗牛——尤其是妈妈——觉得她能看出它在长大。假如爸爸看不出的话，她要求他摸摸它的外壳。因此他就摸了一下；他发现妈妈说的话有道理。

有一天雨下得很大。

"请听牛蒡叶子上的响声——咚咚咚！咚咚咚！"蜗牛爸爸说。

"这就是我所说的雨点，"蜗牛妈妈说，"它沿着梗子滴下来了！你可以看到，这儿马上就会变得潮湿了！我很高兴，我们有我们自己的房子；小家伙也有他自己的。我们的优点比任何的生物都多。大家一眼就可以看出，我们是世界上最高贵的人！我们一生下来就有房子住，而且这堆牛蒡林完全是为了我们而种植的——我倒很想知道它究竟有多大，在它的外边还有些什么别的东西！"

"它的外边什么别的东西也没有！"蜗牛爸爸说，"世界上再也没有比我们这儿更好的地方了。我什么别的想头也没有。"

"对，"妈妈说，"我倒很想到公馆里去被烹调一下，然后放到银盘子里去。我们的祖先们都是这们；你要知道，这是一种光荣呢！"

"公馆也许已经塌了，"蜗牛爸爸说，"或者牛蒡草已经长成了树林，弄得人们连走都走不到森林，你不要急——或者是那么急，连那个小家伙也开始学起你来了，这三天来不断地往梗子上爬么？当我抬头看看他的时候，我的头都昏了。"

"请你无论如何不要骂他，"蜗牛妈妈说，"他爬得很有把握。他使我们得到许多快乐。我们这对老夫妇没有什么别的东西值得活下去了。不过，你想到过没有：我们在什么地方可以为他找个太太呢？在这林子的深处，可以有住着我们的族人，你想过没有？"

"我相信那儿住着些黑蜗牛，"老头儿说，"没有房子的黑蜗牛！不过他们都是一帮卑下的东西，而且还喜欢摆架子。不过我们可以托蚂蚁办办这件事情，他们跑来跑去，好像很忙的。他们一定能为我们的小少爷找个太太。"

"我认识一位最美丽的姑娘！"蚂蚁说，"不过我恐怕她不成，因为她是一个王后！"

"这没有什么关系，"两位老蜗牛说，"她有一座房子吗？"

"她有一座宫殿！"蚂蚁说，"一座最美丽的蚂蚁宫殿，里面有700条走廊。"

"谢谢你！"蜗牛妈妈说："我们的孩子可不会钻蚂蚁窟的。假如你找不到更好的对象的话，我们可以托白蚊蚋来办这件差事。他们天晴下雨都在外面飞。牛蒡林的里里外外，他们都知道。"

"我们为他找到一个太太，"蚊蚋说，"离这儿100步路远的地方，有一个房子的小蜗牛住在醋栗丛上。她是很寂寞的，她已经够结婚年龄。她住的地方离此地只不过100步远！"

"是的，让她来找他吧，"这对老夫妇说，"他拥有整个的牛蒡林，而她只不过有小醋栗丛！"

这样，它们就去请那位小蜗牛姑娘来。她足足过了8天才到来，但是这是一种很珍贵的现象，因为这说明她是一个很正经的女子。

于是它们就举行了婚礼。6个萤火虫尽量发出光来照着。除此以外，一切是非常安静的，因为这对老蜗牛夫妇不喜欢大喜大闹。不过蜗牛妈妈发表了一篇动人的演说。蜗牛爸爸一句话也讲不出来，因为他受到了极大的感动。于是它们把整座牛蒡林送给这对年轻夫妇，作为遗产；并且说了一大套它们常说的话，那就是——这地方是世界上最好的一块地方，如果它们要体面地生活和繁殖下去的话，它们和它们的孩子将来就应该到那个公馆里去，以便被煮得漆黑、放到银盘子上面。

当这番演说讲完了以后，这对老夫妇就钻进了它们的屋子里去，再也不出来。它们睡着了。

年轻的夫妇现在占有了这座森林，同时生了一大堆孩子。不过它们从来没有被烹调过，也没有到银盘子里去过。因此它们就下了一个结论，认为那个公馆已经塌了，全世界的人类都已经死去了。谁敢没有反对它们这种看法，因此它们的看法一定是对的。雨打在牛蒡叶子上，为它们发出咚咚的音乐来。太阳为它们发出亮光，使这牛蒡林增添了不少光彩。这样，它们过得非常幸福——这整个家庭是幸福的，说不出的幸福！

€€vanity fair（《名利场》）

1

sir pitt crawley was a philosopher with a taste for what is called low life.his first marriage with the daughter of the noble binkie had been made

under the ausps of his parents； and as she often told lady crawley in his lifetime she was such a confounded quarrelsome high-bred jade that when she died he was hanged if he would ever

take another of her sort， and at her aldyship's demise

he kept his promise， and ed for a second wife miss rose dawson， daughter of mr john thomas dawson， iron monger， of mudbury.what a happy woman was rose to be my lady crawley！

【译文】

毕脱·克劳莱爵士为人豁达，喜欢所谓下层阶级的生活。他第一次结婚的时候，奉父母之命娶了一位贵族小姐，是平葛家里的女儿。克劳莱夫人活着的时候，他就常常当面说她是个讨人嫌的婆子，礼数又足，嘴巴子又碎；并且说等她死了之后，死也不愿意再娶这么一个老婆了。他说到做到；妻子去世以后，他就挑了墨特白莱铁器商人约翰·汤姆士·道生的女儿露丝·道生做填房。露丝真是好福气，居然做了克劳莱爵士夫人。

2

"the girls were up at four this morning， packing her trunks， sister，" replied miss jemina； "we have made her a bow-pot."

"say a bouquet， sister jemina， its more genteel."

"well， a booky as big almost as a hay-stack， i have put up two bottles of the gillyflower water for mrs sedley， and the receipt for

it， in amelia's box."

【译文】

"女孩子们清晨四点钟就起来帮她理箱子了，姐姐。我们还给她扎了一捆花儿。"

"妹妹，用字文雅点儿，说一束花。"

"好的。这一簇儿大得像个草堆儿。我还包了两瓶子香花露送给赛特笠太太，连方子都在爱米利亚的箱子里。"

3

she was small and slight in person； pale， sandy-haired， and with eyes habitually cast down； when they looked up they were

very large， odd，and attractive， so attractive， that the reverend mr.crisp， fresh from oxford，and curate to the vicar of chiswick， the reverend mr.flowerdew， fell in love with miss sharp； being shot dead by

a glance of her eyes which was fired all the way across chiswick church from the school-pew to the reading-desk.this infatuated young man used wonetimes to take tea with miss pinkerton， to whom he had been presented by his mamma，and actually proposed something like marriage in an intercepted note， which the one-eyed apple-woman was charged to deliver.mrs， crisp was summoned from buxton， and abruptly carried off her

darling boy； but the idea， even， of such

an eagle in the chiswick dovecot

carsed a great flutter in the breast of miss pinkerton， who would have sent away miss sharp， but that she was bound to her under a forfeit， and who（9） never could thoroughly believe the young lady's protestations that she had never exchanged a single word with mr.crisp except under her own eyes on the two occasions when she had met him at tea.

【译文】

她身量瘦小，脸色苍白，头发是淡黄色的。她惯常低眉垂目，抬起眼来看人的时候，眼睛显得很特别，不但大，而且动人。契息克的弗拉沃丢牧师手下有一个副牧师，名叫克里斯泼，刚从牛津大学毕业，竟因此爱上了她。夏泼小姐的眼风穿过契息克教堂，从学校的包座直射到牧师的讲台上，一下子就把克里斯泼牧师结果了。这昏了头的小伙子曾经由她妈妈介绍给平克顿小姐，偶然也到她学校喝茶。他托那个独眼的卖苹果的女人给她传递情书，被人发现，信里面的话简直等于向夏泼小姐求婚。克里斯泼太太得到消息，连忙从勃克思登赶来，立刻把她的宝贝儿子带走。平克顿小姐想到自己的鸽笼里藏了一只老鹰，不由得心慌意乱，若不是有约在先，真想把她赶走。那女孩竭力辨白，说她只在平克顿小姐监视之下和克里斯泼先生在茶会上见过两面，从来没有跟他说过话。她虽然这么说，平克顿小姐仍旧将信将疑。

4

when the great crash came-the announcement of ruin， and the departure from russell aquare， and the declaration that all was over between her and george-all over between her and love， her and happiness， her and faith in the world-a brutal letter from john osborne told her in a few curt lines that her father's conduct had been of such a nature that all engagements between the families were at an end-when the final award came， it did not shock her so much as her parents，as her mother rather expented （for john sedley himself was entirely prostrate in the ruins of his own affairs and shattered honor）.amelia took the news very palely and calmly.it was only the confirmation of the sentence-of the crime she long ago been guilty-the crime of loving wrongly， too violently， against reason.she told no more of her thoughts now than she had before.she seemed scarcely more unhappy now when

convinced all hope was over， than before she felt but dared not confess that it was gone.so she changed from the large house to the small one without any mark or difference； remained in her little room for the most part； pined silently； and died away day by day.i do not mean so say that all females are so.my dear miss bullock，

i do not think your heart would break in this way.you are a strongminded young woman， with proper principles.i do not ventrue to say that mine would；

it has suffered，and，

it must be confessed， survived.but there are some souls thus gently constituted， thus frail， and delicate， and tender.

【译文】

大祸临头了，父亲宣告破产，全家搬出勒塞尔广场，爱米丽亚知道自己和乔治的关系斩断了，她和爱情，和幸福已经无缘，对于这世界也失去了信念。正在这时候，约翰·奥斯本寄给她一封措词恶毒的信，里面短短几行，说是她父亲行为恶劣到这步田地，两家之间的婚约当然应该取消。最后的判决下来的时候，她并不怎么惊骇，倒是她爹妈料不到的——我该说是她妈妈意料不到的，因为约翰·塞特笠那时候事业失败，名誉扫地，自己都弄得精疲力尽了。爱米丽亚得信的时候，颜色苍白，样子倒很镇静。那一阵子她早已有过许多不吉利的预兆，如今不过坐实一下。最后的判决虽然现在刚批下来，她的罪过是老早就犯下了的。总之，她不该爱错了人，不该爱得那么热烈，不该让情感淹没了理智。她还像本来一样，把一切都藏在心里不说。从前她虽然知道事情不妙，却不肯明白承认，现在索性断绝了想头，倒也不见得比以前更痛苦。她从大房子搬到小房子，根本没有觉得有什么分别。大半的时候她都闷在自己的小房间里默默的伤心，一天天的憔悴下去。我并不是说所有的女人都像爱米丽亚这样。亲爱的勃洛葛小姐，我想你就不像她那么容易心碎。你是个性格刚强的女孩子，有一套正确的见解。我呢，也不敢说像她那样容易心碎。说句老实话，虽然我经历过一番伤心事，过后也就慢慢的忘怀了，不过话又说回来，有些人天生成温柔的心肠，的确比别人更娇嫩，更脆弱，更禁不起风波。

5

so mr osborne， having a firm conviction in his own mind that he was a

woman-killer and destined to conquer， did not run counter to his fate， but yielded himself up to it quite complacently.and as emmy did not say much or plague him with her jealousy， but merely became unhappy and pined over it miserably in secret， he chose to fancy that she was not suspicious of what all his acquaintance were perfectly aware-namely， that he was carring on a desperate flirtation with mrs crawley.he rode with her whenever she was free.he pretended regimental business to amelia （by which falsehood she was not in the least deceived）， and consigning his wife to solitude or her brother's society， passed his evenings

in the crawley's company； losing money to the husband and flattering himself that the wife was

dying of love for him.it is very likely that this worthy couple never absolutely conspired and agreed together in so many words； the one to cajole the

young gentleman， whilst the other won his money at cards： but they understood each other perfectly well， and rawdon

let osborne come and go with entire good humor.

【译文】

奥斯本先生自信是风月场上的能手，注定是太太小姐的心上人，因此不愿意跟命运闹别扭，洋洋自得的顺着定数做人。爱米不爱多说话，也不把心里的妒忌去麻烦他，只不过私底下自悲自叹的伤心罢了。虽然他的朋友都知道他和克劳菜太太眉来眼去，下死劲的兜搭，他自己只算爱米丽亚是不知就里的。利蓓加一有空闲，他就骑着马陪她出去兜风。对有米丽亚，他只说联队里有事，爱米丽亚也明明知道他在撒谎。他把妻子扔在一边，有时让她独自一个人，有时把她交给她哥哥，自己却一黄昏一黄昏的跟克劳菜夫妇俩混在一起。他把钱输给丈夫，还自以为那妻子在为他销魂。看来这对好夫妻并没有同谋协议，明白规定由女的哄着小伙子，再由男的跟他斗牌赢他的钱。反正他们俩心里有数，罗登（6）听凭奥斯本出出进进，一点也不生气。

6

after the first movement of terror in amelia's mind-when rebecca's green eyes lighted upon her， and rustling in her fresh silks and brilliant ornaments， the latter tripped up with extended arms to embrace her-a feeling of anger succeeded，and she returned rebecca's look after a moment with a steadiness which surprised and somewhat abashed her rival.

【译文】

利蓓加的绿眼睛看着爱米丽亚，她的新绸袍子悉嗦悉嗦的响，周身都是亮晶晶的首饰。她张开了手，轻移小步奔上前来和爱米搂抱。爱米丽亚心上先是害怕，接下来就是一阵气恨，原来死白的脸蛋儿涨得通红。她愣了一下，一眼不眨的瞪着眼向她的对头看。蓓基见她这样，倒觉事出意外，同时又有些羞惭。

€€tress of d'urbervilles（《苔丝》）

the young girls formed， indeed， the majority of the band， and their heads of luxuriant hair reflected in the sunshine

every tone of gold， and black， and brown.some had beautiful eyes， others a beautiful nose， others a beautiful mouth and figure： few， if any， had all.a difficulty of arranging their lips in this crude exposure to pubic scrutiny， an inability to balance their heads， and to dissociate self-consiousness form their features， was apparent in them， and ed that they were genuine country girls， unaccustomed to many eyes.

and as each and all of them were warmed without by the sun， so each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in；

some dream， some affection， some hobby， at least some remote and distant hope which， though perhaps starving to nothing， still lived on， as hopes will.thus they were all cheerful， and many of them merry.

they came round by the pure drop inn，and were turning out of the high road to pass through a wicket-gate into the meadows，

when one of the women said：

"the lord-a-lord！ why， tess durbeyfield， if there isn't thy father riding hwome in a carriage！"

a young member of the band turned her head at the exclamation.she was a fine and handsome girl-not handsomer than some others， possibly-but her mobile

peony mouth and large innocent eyes

added eloquence to color and shape.she wore a red ribbon in her air， and was the only one of the white company who could boast of such a pronounced adornment.as she looked round durbeyfield was seen moving along the road in a chaise belonging to the pure drop， driven by a frizzled-headed brawny damsel with her gown-sleeves rolled above her elbows.this was the cheerful servant of that establishment， who， in her part of factotum，truned groom and ostler at times.durbeyfield， leaning back，and with his eyes closed

luxuriorsly， was waving his hand above his head and singing in a slow recitative： "i've-got-a-gr't-family-vault-at-kingsbere-and-knighted-forefathers-in-lead-coffins-there！"

【译文】

的确，在游行队伍中，年轻姑娘占了大多数，她们那一头的浓发，在阳光的辉映下，呈现出各种色调的金色、黑色和棕色。她们有的长着漂亮的眼睛，有的生着俏丽的鼻子，有的有着妩媚的嘴巴、婀娜的身段；但是，这样样都美的，虽然不能说一个没有，却也是寥寥无几。显然，硬要在大庭广众面前抛头露面，她们一个个不知道嘴唇应该做出怎样的形态，脑袋应该摆了怎样的姿势，脸上怎样才能消除忸怩的神情，这些都表明，她们是地地道道地乡下姑娘，不习惯受众人的注视。

她们大家，不仅个个身上都给太阳晒和暖烘烘的，而且人人心里都有一个小太阳，温暖着各自的心灵。那是一种迷梦，一种痴情，一种癖好，至少是种渺茫的希望，这种希望虽然可能正在化为泡影，但却依然活在各人的心中，因为一切希望都是如此。因此，她们大家全都喜气洋洋，好些人还兴高采烈。

她们走过醇沥酒店，正要离开大路，从一道栅门进入草场，只听一个妇人说道：

"天哪！你瞧，苔丝·德贝菲尔，那不是你爹坐着马车回家来了嘛！"听到这声叫喊，队列中有一个年轻姑娘扭过头来，她是个标准俊俏的姑娘——也许不比有些姑娘更漂亮——不过她那两片灵动红艳的嘴唇，那一双天真烂漫的大眼睛，又给她的姿色平添了儿分慑人的魅力。她头发上扎着一根红绸带，在这白色的队伍中，能够显耀这种引人注意的装饰的，还只有她一个人。且说她扭过头来，看见德贝菲尔坐着醇沥酒店的马车，一路驶来，赶车的是一个头发卷曲、体魄健壮的姑娘，两只衣袖卷到胳膊肘上面。这是醇沥酒那位开心的伙计，因为他是打杂的，有时也做喂马赶车的差事。德贝菲尔仰着身子，（11）惬意地闭着眼睛，一只手在头上挥来挥去，嘴里用慢悠悠的宣叙调唱道：（12）"俺-家-在-金-斯-比-尔-有-一-大-片-祖-坟-俺-那-些-封-为-爵-士-的-祖-宗-都-葬-在-那-儿-的-铅-棺-里！

2

clare per for med the irrelevanl of stirring the fire： the intelli-gence had not even yet got to the bottom of him.after stirring the embers he rose to his feet： all the force of her dischosure had im parted itself now.his face had withered.in the stren uousness of his concentration he treadled fitfully on the floor.he could not， by any contrivance， think closely enough； that was in the most inadequale， commonplace vo of the many varied tones she had heard from him.

"tess！"

"yes， dearest."

"am i to believe this？ "from your manner i am to take it as true.

o you cannot be out of your mind！ you ought to be！ yet you are not.wife， my tess-nothing in you warrants such a supposition as that？

"i am not out of my mind"，she said.

"and yet-"he looked vacantly at her， to resume with dazed senses："why didn't you tell me before？ ah yes-you would have told me-in a way；but i hindered you.i remember！"

these， and other of his words， were nothing but the perfunctory babble of the suce while the depths remained paralyzed.he turned away， and bent over a chair.tess followed him to the middle of the room where he was， and stood there staring at him with her eyes that did not weep.presently she slid down upon her knees beside his foot， and from this position she crouched in a heap.

"in the name of our love， forgive me，"she whispered with a dry nouth."i have forgiven you for the same."and as he did not answer she said again；"forgive me， as you are forgiven i forgier you， angel".

"you，-yes， you do."

"but you do not forgive me？"

"o tess， forgiveness does not apply to the case.you were one person： now you are another.my god- how can forgiveness meet such a grotesque-prestidigiation as that？"

he paused，contemplating this definition；then suddenly brokeinto horrible laughter-as unnatural and ghastly as a laugh in hell.

【译文】

克菜尔作了一件毫不相干的事。他拨起火来。那消息还没有落到他的心底。拨完火他站起身来，她那番袒露的分量此时才充分起了作用，但是，无论他怎么想方设法，思想仍然不能集中，因此他仍然意义不明地走着。他终于说话了，语气很不合时宜，他的语调一向富于变化，但此刻却是平板的。

"苔丝！"

"哎，最亲爱的。"

"我应该相信你的话么？看你的态度我倒是应该相信的。唉！可惜你又不像是发了疯！你要是发了疯反倒好了，但你并没有。我的妻子，我的苔丝！你就不能证明你是发了疯吗？"

"我是正常的，"她说。

"可是-"他茫然地望着她，又恢复了刚才不知所措的感觉。"你为什么过去没有告诉我呢？啊，是的，说来倒也是，你原是可能早就告诉我的，-是我没让你讲下去，我记得！"

他这些话，东一句，西一句，其实并无意义，全是些不着边际的信口开河，在他内心深处他已经瘫痪了。他转过身去伏到了一张椅子上。苔丝跟着他，然后身子一软便葡匐在他的脚边，在那儿缩成了一团。

"看在我俩的爱情的份上，原谅我吧！"她口干舌燥地低声说。"我已经原谅了你同样的行为呀！"

他没有作声，她又说-

"你得到了我的原谅，希望你也能原谅我！我原谅了你，安琪儿。

"你-是的，你原谅了我。"

"但是你就不肯原谅了我么？"

"啊苔丝，这种情况谈不上什么原谅。你过去是一个人，现在却成了另外一个人。我的上帝，对这种荒唐可笑的障眼人，现在却成了另外一个人。我的上帝，对这种荒唐可笑的一障眼法怎么谈得上原谅呢！"

他住了口，掂量着这词的含义。然后突然爆发出一阵可怕的狂笑-像地狱里笑声那么反常，那么阴森。

€€pride and prejud（《傲慢与偏则》）

1

as no objection was made to the young peoples engagement with their aunt， aunt， and all mr.collinsrs scruples of leaving mr.and mrs.bennet for a single everning during his visit were most steadily resisted，the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitalbe hour to meryton； and the girls

had the pleasure of hearing， as they entered the drawing-room， that mr.wickham had accepled their unclers invitation， and was then in the house.

when this in formation was given， and they had all taken their seats， mr collins was at leisure to look around him and admire， and he

was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment， that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer break fast parlour at rosings； a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification； but when mrs， philips understood from him what rosings was， and who was its proprietor， when she had listened to the description of omly one of lady catheriners drawing-rooms， and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds， she felt all the force of the compliment， and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeepers room.

in describing to her all the grandear of lady catherine and her mansion， with occasional sigressions in praise of his own humble abode， and the improvements it was receiving， he

was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them；and he found in mrs.philips a very attentive listener， whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard， and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbors as soon as she could.to the girls， who could not listen to their cousin， and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument， and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantlepiece， the interval of waiting appeared very long.it was over at last however.the gentlemen did approach； and when mr.wickham walked into the room， elizabeth felt that she had meither been seeing him before， nor thinking of him since， with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration.the offrs of the shire were in general a very creditable， gentlemanlike set， and the best of them were of the present party； but mr.wickham was as far beyond them all in person， countenance， air， and walk， as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle philips， bueathing port wine， who followed them into the room.

mr.wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned， and elizabeth was the happy wonan by whom he finally seated himself；and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation， though it was only on itsd being a wet night， and on the probability of a rainy season， made her feel that the commonest， dullest， most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.

with such rivals for the not of the， as mr.wickham and the offrs， mr.collins seemed likely to

sink into insignificance； to the young ladies he certainly was nothing； but he had still at intervals a kind listener in mrs.philips， and was， by her watch fulness， most abundantly supplied with coffee muffin.

【译文】

年轻人跟姨妈的约会并没遭到反对。柯林斯先生觉得来此做客，不好意思把贝内特夫妇整晚丢在家里，可那夫妇俩叫他千万不要这么想。于是，他和五个表妹便乘着马车，准时来到了梅里顿。姑娘们一起进客厅，便欣喜地听说威克姆先生接受了姨夫的邀请，现在已经光临。

大家听到这个消息都坐下之后，柯林斯先生悠然自得地朝四下望望，想要赞赏一番。他十分惊羡屋子的面积和陈设，说他好像走进了罗辛斯那间消夏的小餐厅。这个对比开头并不怎么令人高兴，后来菲利普斯太太听明白了罗辛斯是个什么地方，谁是它的主人，又听对方说起凯瑟夫人的一问客厅的情形，发觉光是那个壁炉架就花费了八百镑，她这才体会到那个比较的全部分量。这时她想，即时把她这里比作罗辛斯管家婆的住房，她也不会有意见。

柯林斯先生一面描绘凯瑟琳夫人及其大厦的富丽堂皇，一面还要偶尔穿插几句，来夸耀他自己的寒舍，以及他正在进行的种种修缮。他就这样自得其乐地唠叨到男宾们进来为止。他发觉菲利普斯太太听得非常专心，而且越听也就越把他看得了不起，决计把他的话尽快传播给邻居。再说几位小姐，她们听不进表兄唠唠叨叨，又没事可做，想弹琴也弹不成，只能照着壁炉架上的瓷摆设描摹些蹩脚的画子，端详来端详去。等候的时间似乎太久了，不过最后还是结束了。男宾们终于出现了，威克姆先生一走进来，伊丽莎白使觉得，无论是上次见到他的时候，还是以后想起他的时候，她丝毫也没有错爱了他。某郡民兵团的军官们都是些十分体面、颇有绅士气派的人物，参加这次晚宴的这些人可谓他们之间的佼佼者。但是，威克姆先生在人品、相貌、风度和地位上，又远远超过了其他军官，而其他军官又远远超过了那位肥头胖耳、老气横秋的菲利普斯姨夫，他带着满口的葡萄酒味，跟着众人走进屋来。

威克姆先生是当晚最得意的男子，差不多每个女人都拿眼睛望着他。伊丽莎白则是当晚最得意的女子，威克姆先生最后在她旁边坐了下来。他立即与她攀谈起来，虽然谈的只是当晚下雨和雨季可能到来之类的话题，但他那样和颜悦色，使她不禁感到，即使最平凡、最无聊、最陈腐的话题，只要说话人卓有技巧，同样可以说得很动听。

面对着威克姆先生和其也军官这样的劲敌，再想博得女士们的青睐，柯斯林先生似乎落得微不足道了。在年轻小姐们看来，他确实无足轻重。不过，菲利普斯太太间或还好心好意地听他说说话，而且亏她留心关照，总是源源不断地给他倒咖啡，添松饼。

2

elizabeths astonishment was beyond expression.she stared， colored， doubted，and was silent silent.this he considered sufficient encouragement， and the avowal of all that he fell and had long felt her， immediately followed， and he not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride.his sense of her inferiority -of its being a degradation-of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination， were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

in spite of her

deeply-rooted dislike， she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a mans affection， and though her intentions did not vary for an instant，she was at first sory for the pain he was to receive； till， roused to resentment by his subsequent language， she lost all compassion in anger.she tried， however， to compose herself to answer him

with patience， when he should have done.he concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which， in spite of all his endeavors， he had found impossible to conquer；and with expressing his hope that it would now be uewarded by her acceptance of his hand， as he said this， she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favorable answer， he spoke of apprehension and anxiety， but his countenance expressed when he ceased， the color rose into her cheeks， and she said.

"in such cass as this， it is， i believe， the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed， however unequally they may be returned， it is natural that obligation should be felt， and if i could feel gratitude，

i would now thank you.but i cannot-i have never desired your good opinion， and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly.i am sorry to have occasioned pain to any one.it has been most unconsciously done， however， and i hope will be of short duration.the feelings which， you tell me， have long prevented the acknowledgment of your regard， can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation."

mr.darcy， who was leaning against the mantle-piece with his eyes fixed on her face， seemed to catch her words

with no less resentment than surprise.his complexion

became pale with anger， and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature.he was struggling for the appearance of composure， and would not open his lips， till he believed himself to have attained it.the pause was to elizabethrs feelings dreadful.at length， in a vo of forced calmness， he said，

"and this is all the reply which i am to have the honor of expecting！ i might， perhaps， wish to be in formed why， with so little so little endeavor at civlity， i am thus rejected.but it is of small importance."

"i might as well inquire，"replied she，"why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me， you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will， against your reason， and even against your character？ was not this some excuse for incivility， if i was uncivil？ but i have other provocations.you know i have.had not my own feelings decided against you， had they been indifferent， or had they even been favorable， do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man， who has been the means of ruining， perhaps for ever， the happiness of a most beloved sister？"

as she pronounced these words， mr.darcy changed color， but the emotion was short， and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she continued，

"i have every reason in the world to think ill of you.no motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there.you dare not， you cannot deny that you have been the principle， if not the only means of dividing them from each other， of exposing one to the censure of the world for capr and instability， the other to its derision for disappointed hopes， and involving them both in misery of the acutest kind."

【译文】

伊丽莎白惊讶得简直无法形容。她瞪着眼，红着脸，满腹狐疑，闷声不响。达西见此情景，以为她在怂恿他讲下去，便立即倾诉了目前和以往对她的一片深情。他说的十分动听，但是除了爱慕之情之外，还在详尽表明其他种种情感，……而且吐露起傲慢之情来，决不比倾诉柔情密意来得逊色。他觉得伊丽莎白出身低微，他自己是降格以求，而这家庭方面的障碍，又使得理智与心愿总是相矛盾。他说得如此激动，似乎由于他在屈尊俯就的缘故，但却未必能使他的求婚受到欢迎。

伊丽莎白尽管打心眼里厌恶他，但是能受到这样一个人的爱慕，她又不能不觉得是一种恭维。虽说她的决心不曾有过片刻的动摇，但她知道这会给对方带来痛苦，因此开头还有些过意不去，然而他后来的话激起了她的怨恨，她的怜悯之情完全化作了愤怒。不过她还是尽量保持镇定，准备等他把话说完，再耐着性子回答他。达西临了向她表明，他爱她爱得太强烈了，尽管一再克制，还是觉得克制不住；并且表示说，希望她能接受他的求婚。伊丽莎白不难看出，他说这些话的时候，自以为肯定会得到个满意的答复。他虽嘴里说自己又担忧又焦急，但是脸上却流露出一副稳操胜券的神气。这种情态只会惹对方更加恼怒，因此，等他一讲完，伊丽莎白便红着脸说道：

"在这种情况下，按照常规，人家向你表白了深情厚意，你不管能不能给以同样的报答，都应该表示一下自己的感激之情。有点感激之情，这也是很自然的，我要是真觉得感激的话，现在也会向你表示谢意的。可惜我不能这么做-我从不企望博得你的青睐，再说你这种青睐也表露得极为勉强。很抱歉，我会给别人带来痛苦。不过那完全是无意造成的，而且我希望很快就会过去。你告诉我说，你以前有种种顾虑，一直未能向我表明你的好感，现在经过这番解释之后，你很容易就能克制住这种好感。"

达西先生这时正倚着壁炉架，两眼直瞪瞪地盯着她，好像听了她的这番话，心里又烦扰不安。他竭力装出镇定自如若的样子，不等到自以为装像了就不开口。这番沉默使伊丽莎白感到可怕。最后，达西以强作镇定的口气说道：

"我真荣幸，竟然得到这样的回答！也许我可以请教一下，我怎么会遭到如此无礼的拒绝？不过这也无关紧要。"

"我也想请问一声，"伊丽莎白答道，"你为什么要这样如此露骨地冒犯我，侮辱我，非要告诉我你是违背自己的意志、理智甚至人格而喜欢我？如果说我当真无礼的话，这难道不也有情可原吗？不过令我恼怒的还有别的事情。这一点你也知道。退一万步说，即是我对你没有反感，跟你毫无芥蒂，甚至还有几分好感，难道你认为我会那么鬼迷心窍，居然去爱一个毁了（也许永远毁了）我最心爱的姐姐的幸福人吗？"

达西先生听了她这些话，脸色刷地变了。不过他很快又平静下来，也没想着去打断她，只管听她继续说下去：

"我有充分的理由鄙视你。你在那件事上扮演了很不正当、很不光彩的角色，不管你动机如何，都是无可宽容的。说起他们两人被拆散，即使不是你一手造成的，你也是主谋，这你不敢抵赖，也抵赖不了。看你把他们搞的，一个被世人指责为朝三暮四，另一个被世人讥笑为痴心妄想，害得他们痛苦至极。"

€€gone with the wind（《飘》）

1

scarlett o'hara was not beautiful， but men seldom realized itwhen caught by her charm as the tarleton twins were.in her face were too sharply blended the delicate features of her mother， a coast aristocrat of french descent， and the heavy ones of her florid irish father.but it was an arresting face， pointed of chin， square of jaw.her eyes were pale without a touch of hazel， starred with bristly black laches and slightly tilted at the ends.above them， her thick black brows slanted upward， cutting a startling oblique line in her magnolia-white skin-that skin so prixed by southern women and so carefully guarded with bonnets， veils and mittens against hot georgia suns.

【译文】

那郝思嘉小姐长得并不美，可是极富于魅力，男人见了她，往往要着迷，就像汤家那一对双胞胎兄弟似的。原来这位小姐脸上显然混杂着两种特质：一种是母亲给她的娇柔，一种是父亲给她的豪爽。因为她母亲是个法兰西血统的海滨贵族，父亲是个皮色深浓的爱尔兰人，所以遗传给她的质地难免不调和。可是质地虽然不调和，她那一张脸蛋儿却实在迷人得很，下巴颏儿尖尖的，牙床骨儿方方的。她的眼珠子是一味的淡绿色，不杂一丝儿茶褐，周围竖着一圈儿粗黑的睫毛，眼角微微有点翘，上面斜竖着两撇墨墨的蛾眉，在她那木兰花一般白的皮肤上，划出两条异常惹眼的斜线。就是她那一身皮肤，也正是南方女人最最喜爱的，谁要长着这样的皮肤，就要拿帽子、面罩、手套之类当心保护着，舍不得让那太热的阳光晒黑。

2

to the ears of the three on the porch came the sounds of hooves，the jingling of harness chains and the shrill careless laughter of negro vos， as the field hands and mules came in from the fields.from within the house the soft vo of scarlett's mother， ellen o'hara， as she called to the little black girl who carried her basket of keys.the high-pitched childish vo answered"yas'm，'and there were sounds of footsteps going out the back way toward the smokehouse where ellen would ration out the food to the home -coming hands.there was the click of china and the rattle of silver as pork， the valet-butler of tara， laid the table for supper.

【译文】

当时走廊上那三个人的耳朵里，传来了哒哒的蹄声，缰辔相撞的锒铛声，以及黑奴们尖利的浪笑声，因为那些在外作活的人手和骡子都从田里回来了。同时从屋子里飘出了思嘉伯母亲艾伦奥哈拉的柔和声浪，在那里呼唤那个管钥匙箩儿的小黑女。便听见一个尖脆的女孩子声音应了一声："来啦，太太。"接着就是一阵脚步声从背后的过道里向熏腊贮藏室那边响了过去，原来郝太太到那里去分配食物，预备给作活的人们吃饭了。再后便是一阵瓷器和银器玲琅嚓喀的声音，那是兼充食事总管的管家鲍克在那里铺排食桌。

3

she thought of melanie and saw suddenly her quiet brown eyes will their far-off look， her placid little hands in their black lace mills， her gentle silences.and then her rage broke， the same rage that drove gerald to murder and other irish ancestors to misdeeds that cost them their necks.there was nothing in her now of the well-bred

robillards who could

bear with white silence anything the world might cast.

【译文】

她想起了媚兰，突然看见她那双安静的褐色眼睛，带着那种飘飘欲仙的神气，看见她那安静的小手，套着那么一双黑色线织的手套，又看见她那种温和的静默。于是她的忿怒，也就是曾经逼得她的其他爱尔兰祖宗去做非法行为以至于断送头颅的那种忿怒。至于她母亲罗氏累世相传的那种优良品性，那种无论怎样天大的事情也可以白着面孔、闭着嘴唇忍受的品性，现在在她身上是一丝儿都没有了。

4

"yes， i will！"

she leaped to her feet， her heart hammering so wildly she feared she could not stand，hammering with the thrill of being the center of attention again， of being the most highly desired girl present and oh， best of all， at the prospect of dancing again.

"oh， i don't care！ i don't care what they

say！"she whispered， as a sweet madness swept over her.she

tossed her head and sped out of the booth， tapping her geels like castanets， snapping open her black silk fan to its widest.for a fleeting instant she saw melanie's incredulous face， the look on the chaperons'faces， the petulanl girls， the enthusiastic approval of the soldiers.

【译文】

"我肯的。"

说着，她就一跳跳了起来，她的心不住发狂似的捶着，她只怕被它捶得要立不住脚，因为她又要去做众人注意的中心了，又成了全场里面的惟一红人，而且，尤其妙的，又有舞可以跳了，这一下激动得多厉害，怎由她的心不怦怦地大捶呢！

"啊，我不管了！我不管他们怎么说法了！"她心里扫过一阵舒适的疯狂，嘴里不觉这么自言自语着。当即她将头一翘，从摊儿里奔了出来，两个脚跟碰得夹板一般响，一柄黑油扇大大地撑开。只在一刹那之间，她瞥见了媚兰惊愣的面孔，瞥见了那些监护人的愠怒神情，瞥见了一般女孩子们的嬷嬷的烦闷，瞥见了一般士兵们的热烈的赞成。

€€wuthering heights（《呼啸山庄》）

perceiving myself in a blunder， i attempled to correct it.i might have seen that there was too great a disparily between

the ages of the parties to make it likely that they were man amd wife.one was about forty； a period of mental vigour at which men seldom cherish the delusion of being married for love， by girls： that dream is reserved for the solace of our declining years.the other did not look seventeen.

then it flashed upon me- the clown at my elbow， who is drinking his tea out of a basin and eating his bread with unwashed hands， may be her husband.heathcliff junior， of course.here is the consequence of being buried alive： she has thrown herself away up-on that boor， from sheer ignorance that better individuals existed！ a sad pity-i must beware how i cause her to regret her cho.'the last reflec-tion may seem conceited；it was not， my neighbour struck me as bordering on repulsive； i knew， through experience， that i was tolerably attractive.

'mrs.heathcliff is my daughter - in - law.'said heathcliff， corrob - orating my surmise.he turned， as he spoke， a peculiar look in her direction， a look of hatred unless he has a most perverse set of facial muscles that will not， like those of other people， interpret the language of his soul.

【译文】

我自知失言，便想要补救过来。我应当看出双方的年龄相差太大，不见得会是一对夫妻。一个是四十岁模样，正是理智最成熟的时期，男子到了那个阶段，很少会抱着幻想，以为女孩子是为了爱情才嫁给他的-那一种好梦是留给我们在暮年聊以自慰的。那另一个看来还不满十七岁呢。

于是我灵机一动，想到-"那个在我胳膊肘旁边正捧着盆子喝茶、手没有洗就抓面包来吃的大老粗，不会就是她的丈夫吧-那不用说，他当然是小希克厉了。嫁到这里来真好比活埋。她这样轻易把把一朵鲜花插在牛粪里，只因为不知道天下还有好的多得人儿呢！真是太可惜了啊！我得留神些儿，别让她对自己的婚烟起悔心才好呢。"

这最后的思相活动未免有点儿抬高自己。其实并不。坐在我身旁的那一位，叫我一看到就觉得简直"面目可憎"；而我根据经验，知道自己是相当讨人喜欢的。

"希克厉太太是我的儿媳妇，"希克厉说，正好证实了我的猜想。他这么说着，掉过头来，向她看了一眼-不是平常那种看人，而是带着一种憎恨的眼色-除非他生就那一副横肉，不能像旁人那样，拿他的表情当做发自他心坎里的言语。

2

heatheliff-mr.heaththcliff i should say in future-used the liberty of visiting at thrushcross grange cautiously， at first： he seemed estinating how far is owner would bear his intrusion.catherine， also， deemed it judicious to moderate her expression of pleasure in receiving him； and he gradually established his right to be expected.he retained a great deal the reserve for which his boyhood was remarkable； and that served to repress all startling demonstrations of feeling.my master's uneasiness experienced a lull， and further circumstances diverted it into another channd for a space.

his new source of trouble sprang from the not anticipated miortune of isabella linton evincing a sudden and irresistible attraction towards the tolerated guest.she was at that time a charming young lady of eighteen；infantile in manners， though possessed of keen will， keen feelings， and a keen temper， too， if irritated.her brother， who loved her tenderly， was appalled at this fantastic preference.leaving aside the degradation of an alliance with a nameless man， and the possible fact that his property， in default of heirs male， might pass into such a one's power， he had sense to comprehend heathcliff's disposition： to know that， though his

exterior was ed， his mind was unchangeable， and unchanged.and he dreaded that mind：

it revolted him： he shrank forebodingly from the idea of committing isabella to its keeping.he would have recoiled still more had he been aware that her attachment rose unsolicited， and was bestowed where it amakened no reciprocation of sentiment； for the minute he discovered its existence， he laid the blame on heathcliff's deliberate designing.

【译文】

希克厉——往后我得称呼希克厉先生了——起初很谨慎，不随便到画眉田庄来作客访问，他似乎在试探主人对于他闯进来究竟容忍到什么程度。卡瑟琳也认为在接待他的时候不要把心里的喜悦一齐显露出来，这样稳妥一些。他就这样逐步地建立起了来这里做客的权利。

他从小就沉默寡言，这种突出的性格现在仍然没有改变多少，因此也就看不到他有什么哭啊笑啊的种种表现。东家的不安总算暂时平息下来，而事情的发展又把他的不安在一个时期里引导到另一方面去了。

原来那意想不到的新的烦恼来自伊莎蓓拉·林敦。那时候，她已是十八岁的姑娘了，出落得十分漂亮，一举一动还不脱稚气，然而头脑非常敏锐，感情强烈，逢到恼怒时脾气也强烈。不幸不是，她对于那个被容忍的客人突然感到了不可抑制的爱慕。

她的哥哥本是十分疼爱她的，发现她竟然荒唐到看中了这么个人物，不由得吓坏了。不说跟一个没名没姓的人配亲眷，辱没了门楣；也不说万一他日后没有男嗣继承人，他这份财产有可能落进这样一个人的手里；他还识透希克厉生就怎么一种脾气，懂得他虽然外表上看来改变了，他的本性却并没有变，也改变不了。他就是害怕这种性子。这一种性子叫他怎么也受不了。一想到让伊莎蓓拉在他手下去过日子，他不由得打了个寒噤。

要是让他知道了她这一番种情原是一厢情愿，她看上的对象并没有拿同样的情意来回报她，那他更要坐立不安了。他不知道底细，所以发现有这回事，便怪在希克厉头上，以为是他有意勾引。

3

and he had earthly consolation and affections， also.for a few days， i said， he seemed regardless of the puny successor to the departed： that coldness melted as fast as snow in april， and ere the tiny thing could stammer a word or totter a step， it wielded a despot's sceptre in his heart.it was named catherine； but he never called it the name in full， as he had never called the first catherine short：probably because heathcliff had a habit of doing so.the little one was always cathy：it formed to him a distinction from the mother， and yet， a connection with her； and his attachment sprang from its relation to her， far more than from its being his own.

i used to draw a comparison between him and hindley earnshaw，and perplex myself to explain satiactorily why their conduct was so opposite in similar circumstances.they had both been fond husbands， and were both attached to their children； and i could not see how they shouldn't both have taken the same road， for good or evil.but， i thought in my mind， hindley， with apparently the stronger head， has n himself sadly the worse and the weaker man.when his ship struck， the captain abandoned his post； and the crew， instead of trying to save her， rushed ynto riot and confusion， leaving no hope for their luckless vessel.linton， on the contrary， displayed the true courage of a loyal and faith soul： he trusted god； and god comforted him.one hoped， and the other despaired： they chose their own lots， and were righteously doomed to endure them.but you'll not want to hear my moralizing.mr， lockwood； you'll judge as well as i can， all these things： at least， you'll think you will， and that's the same.the end of earnshaw-was what might have been expected； it followed fast on his sister's： there were scarcely six months between them.we， at the grange， never got a very succinct account of his stat preceding it； all that i did learn was on occasion of going to aid in the preparations for the funeral.mr.kenneth came to announce the event to my master.

【译文】

再说，他也自有他在尘世的乐趣和寄托。我说过，在开头几天，他对亡妻留下的一株嫩弱的幼苗好像根本没有放在心上；不过这种冷淡就像四月里的雪那样融化得快，这小东西在还没开始牙牙学语，或者还没能摇摇晃晃地跨出一步之前，已经盘踞在他的心里，成为他的专横的暴君了。

小东西取名叫卡瑟琳，可是他从来不叫她全名，正像他从来不用小名称呼那原来第一个卡瑟琳-这也许因为希克厉向来叫她小名的缘故吧。他总是把东西叫做"卡茜"，这样称呼，他觉得既跟她的妈妈有个区别，却又保持着关系。他把这孩子看作心脏一般，倒不是因为她是他的亲骨肉，而多半为了她是卡瑟琳的亲生女儿。

我总是拿他来和亨德菜·欧肖相比较，他们两个处境相似，可是行为却截然相反，这是什么缘故呢？我想来想去也没法作出一个叫自己满意的解答来。他们两个都是热爱妻子的丈夫，又都疼爱孩子的父亲，按理说，这两上应该不管好歹，走同一条路才对。可是照我的看法，亨德菜原来分明是个更有毅力的男人，现在却表现得很不像样，成了一个更软弱、更灰心丧气的男人。当他那条船触礁时，船长就放弃了他的职守，全体船员再也无心救船，只顾仓皇奔走，乱成一团，这条不幸的船是再没什么希望了。

林敦就不同了，他拿出了真正的勇气来，不愧是一个诚心诚意的人。他信赖上帝，上帝就给予他安慰。这一个看到了希望，那一个却在绝望。两人各自选择了自己的命运，理应各自还各自的账。-可是你不会呆听我说教吧，洛克乌先生？对这一切你自会作出判断-不比我差。至少，你会认为你做得到这一点，那还不是一样。

欧肖的一生走到了尽头，这本是料得到的事。他妹妹故世之后，他也紧路着而去了，这中间相隔不到六个月。欧肖临死前的情况怎么样，我们住在田庄这边的人始终没有听到什么很确切的话；我所知道的一切都是我后来去帮着料理丧事时所说的。

是坎纳斯先生来我家向东家报的讯。

4

my walk home was lengthened by a diversion in the direction of the kirk.when beneath its walls， i perceived decay had made progress， even in seven months： many a window ed black gaps deprived of glass； and slates jutted off， here and there， beyond the right line of the roof， to be gradually worked off in coming autumn storms.

i sought， and soon discovered， the three headstones on the slope next the moor：the niddle one grey， and half buried in heath； edgar linton's only harmonized by the turf， and moss creeping up its foot； heathcliff's still bare.

i lingered round them， under benign sky：watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells； listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass； and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleeps in that quiet earth.

【译文】

我步行回家时，绕道经过教堂，因此路程拉长了。不过隔了七个月时间，我发觉这座建筑已显示出在衰败下去的痕迹。好几扇窗子，碎掉了玻璃，露出黑洞洞的缺口来。屋顶上，只见处处有石板歪离了原来的窝儿，突了出来，等到秋天的几场暴风雨一来，就要渐渐地掉光了。

我在靠近原野的斜坡上寻找那三块墓碑，不一会就给我找到了-那中间的一块是灰色的，一半埋在石楠树丛里；埃德加·林敦的墓脚下已爬了草皮和苔藓，总算和周围的景色已有些协调；只有希克厉一的墓碑还是光秃秃的。

在那温和的露天，我在那三块墓碑前留连徘徊，望着飞蛾在石楠丛中和钓钟柳中闪扑着翼翅，倾听着柔风在草上飘过的呼吸声，不禁感到奇怪，怎么会有人能想象，在这么一片安静的土地下面，那长眠者竟会不得安睡呢。

麦琪的礼物

欧·享利，本名威廉·西德尼·波特，1862年生于美国北卡罗来纳州的格林斯博罗，1910年在纽约病逝。作为美国最为多产的短篇小说作家之一，欧·享利的作品以其新颖的构思，诙谐的语言，悬念突变的手法以及出人意料的结局而著称。所有这一切都来自作家本人丰富的人生阅历以及他对周围人和事物的细心观察和深刻了解。

年轻时，波特曾从事过许多不同的工作。他在德克萍斯州奥斯汀第一国民银行工作时被控贪污公款，被迫逃往洪都拉斯。1987年他返回奥斯汀被捕，受审后在俄亥俄州的哥伦布监狱服刑3年。就是在这里，波特发现了自己的写作才能，开始尝试写作并且以许多不同的笔名发表作品，其中欧·享利是他最常使用的一个。获释后他在纽约定居，继续自己成功的文学创作生涯。

短篇小说在美国曾一度是最受大众欢迎的一种写作形式。在此期间欧·享利创作了大量的作品表现20世纪初的美国社会。这些作品构思巧妙，描写生动，文字简炼，悬念设置出人意料，集矛盾和怪异、幽默为一体，被誉为"美国生活的幽默百科全书"。在他创作的的近300篇短篇小说中，《白菜与皇帝》（1904）和《四百万》（1906）被公认为是最优秀的两部小说集。

o.henry

€€the gift of the magi

o.henry， pseudonym of william sidney porter， was born in gnsboro.usa in 1802 and died in new york in 1910.one of the most prolifie american short-story writers， he was， above all， famous for the unexpected concluding "twist" he would givetohis stories which were based on his own various adventrou experiences and his acute capacity of observation of people and their imbits.

after a youth spent in passing from from one occupation to another， he was acctised of embezzling funds from the first national bank of austin textas， where he worked and so he fled to bonduras.he retarned to austin in 1897 and after bemgured and senteneed he spent three years in the columbus prison in ohio where he discovered his vocation for writing and began to publish his first works under different psendonyms， o.hemy being the most used.when he was released he settled in new york where he continued his strecesul literary eareer.

in a period when the short was the most popular narrative form in america， henry produced a vast quantity， the best of which combine paradox and the grotesque with vivid description and anthentic narrative tension."cabbages and kings" （1904） and "the four million" （1906） are considered his best collections.

the gift of the magi

one dollar adn elghty seven cents.that was all.and sixty cents of it was in pennies.pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.three times della counted it.one dollar and eighty-seven cents.and the next day would be christmas.

there was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.so della did it.which instingates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs， sniffles， and smiles， with sniffles predominating.

while the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second， take a look at the home.afurnished flat at 8 per week.it did not exactily beggar description， but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.

in the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go， and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring.also appertaining there unto was a card bearing the name"mr james dillingham young".

the"dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid 30 per week.now， when the income was shrunk to 20， the thinking seriously of contractiong to a modest and unassuming d.but whenever mr james dillingham young came home and reached his flat above he was called"jim" and greatly hugged by mrs james dillingham young， already introduced to you as della.which is all very good.

della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag.she stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.tomorrow would be christmas day and she had only 1.87 with which to buy jim a present.she had been saving every penny she could for months， with this result.twenty dollars a week doesn't go far.expenses had been greater than she had calculated.they always are.only 1.87 to buy a present for jim.her jim.many a happy hour she had spent planning for something n for him.something fine and rare and sterling——something just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor of being owned by jim.

there was a pier-glass between the windows of the room.perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an 8 flat.a very thin and very agile person may， by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips， obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks.della， being slender， had mastered： he art.

suddenly she whirfed from the window and stood before the glass.her eyes were shining brilliantly， but her face had lost its color within twenty seconds.rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it fall to its full length.

now， there were two possessions of the james dillingham youngs in which they both took a mighty pride.one was jin's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's.the other was della's hair.had the queen of sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft， della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry justto depreciate her majesty's jewels and gifts.had king solomon been the janitor， with all his treasures piled up in the basement， jin would have pulled out his watch every time he passed， just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.

so now della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters.it reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her.and then she did it up again nervously and quickly.once she fed for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.

on went her old brown jacket； on went her old brown hat.with a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes， she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.

where she stopped the sign read："mme sofronie.hair goods of all kinds."one flight up dellar ran， and collected herself， panting.madame， large， too white， chilly， hardly looked the "sofronie".

"will you buy my hair？"asked della.

"i buy hair-said madame.-take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."

down rippled the brown cascade.

"twenty dollars-said madame，-lifting the mass with a practised hand.

"give it to me quick，"said della.

oh， and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings.forget the hashed metaphor.she was ransacking the stores for jim's present.

she found it at last.it surely had been made for jim and no one else.there was no other like it in any of the stores， and she had turned all of them inside out.it was a platinum fob chain

and chaste in design， properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious ornamentation-as all good things should do.it was even worthy of the watch.as soon as she saw it she know that it must be jim's.it was like him.quietness and value-the description applied to both.twenty-one dollars they took from her for it， and she hurried home with the 87 cents.with that chain on his watch jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company.grand as the watch was， he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.

when della reached home her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason.she got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love.which is always a tremendous task， dear friends-a mammoth task.

within forty mimutes her head was covered with tiny.close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy.she looked at her reflection in the mirror long， carefully， and critically.

"if jim doesn't kill me-she said to herself，-before he takes a second look at me， he'll say i look like a coney island chorus girl.but what could i do-oh， what could i do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents？"

at 7 o'clock the coffee was made and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove hot and ready to cook the chops.

jim was never late.della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table near the door that he always entered.then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight， and she turned white for just a moment.she had a habit of saying little silent prayers about the st everyday things， and now she whispered："please god， make him think i am still pretty."

the door opened and jim stepped in and closed it.he looked thin and very serious.poor fellow， he was only twenty-two-and to be burdened with a family！ he needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.

jim stepped inside the door， as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail.his eyes were fixed upon della， and there was an expression in them that she could not read， and it terrified her.it was not anger， nor surprise， nor disap-proval， nor horror， nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for.he simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.

della wriggled off the table and went for him.

"jim， darling-she cried，-don't look at me that way.i had my hair cut off and sold it because i couldn't have lived through christmas without giving you a present.it'll grow out again-you won't mind， will you？ i just had to do it.my hair grows awfully fast.say merry christmas！' jim， and let's be happy.you don't know what a n-what a beautiful， n gift i've got for you."

"you've cut off your hair？"asked jim， laboriously， as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor.

"cut it off and sold it-said della.-don't you like me just as well， anyhow？ i'm me without my hair， ain't i？"

jim looked about the room curiously.

"you say your hair is gone？"he said， with an air almost of idiocy.

"you needn't look for it -said della.-it's sold.it ell you-sold and gone， too.it's christmas eve， boy.be good to me， for it went for you.maybe the hairs on my head were numbered-she went on with a sudden scrious sweetness.-but nobody could ever count my love for you.shall i put the chops on，jim？"

out of his trance jim seemed quickly to wake.he enfolded his della.for ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction.eight dollars a week or a million a year-what is the difference？ a mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer.the magi brought valuable gifts， but that was not among them.this dark assertion will be illuminated later on.

jim drew a package from his over coat pocket and threw it upon the table.

"don't make any mistake， dell-he said，-about me.i don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less.but if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first."

white fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper.and then an ecstatie seream of joy； and then， alas！ a quick feminine crange to hysterical tears and wails， necessitat-ing the immediate employment of all the comforting powere of the lord of the flat.

for there lay the combs-the set of combs， side and back， that della had worshipped for long in a brondway window.beautiful combs， pure tortoise shell， with jewelled rims-just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.they were a pensive combs， she knew， and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession.and now， they were hers， but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adormnents were gone.

but she hugged them to her bosom， and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say："my hair grows so fast， jim！".

and then della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried， "oh， oh！"

jim had not yet seen his beautiful present.she held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm.the dull precious metal seemed to flash with a refleetion of her bright and ardent spirit.

"isn't it a dandy， jim？ i hunted all over town to find it.you'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now.give me your watch.i want to see how it looks on it."

instead of obeying， jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.

"dell-said he，-let's put our christmas presents away and keep'em a while.they're too n to use just at present.i sold the watch to get the moncy to buy your combs.and now suppose you put the chops on."

the magi， as you know， were wise men-wonderfully wise men-who brought gifts to the babe in the manger.they invented the art of giving christmas presents.being wise， their gifts were no doubt wise ones， possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication.and here i have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrifd for each other the greatest treastires of their house.but in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.of all who give and receive gifts， such as they are wisest.everywhere they are wisest.they are the magi.

mammon and the archer

old anthony rockwall， retired manufacturer and proprietor of rockwall's eureka soap， looked out the library window of his fifth avenue mansion and grinned.his neighbor to the right-the aristocratic clubman， g.van schuylight suffolkjones-came out to his waiting motorcar， wrinkling a contumelious nostril， as usual， at the italian renaissance sculpture of the soap palace's front elevation.

"stuck-up old statuette of nothing doing！ -commented the ex-soap king.-the eden musee'll get that old frozen nesselrode yet if he don't watch out.i'll have this house painted red， white， and blue next summer and see if that'll make his dutch nose turn up any higher."

and then anthony rockwall， who never cared for bells went to the door of his library and shouted of the welkin on the kansas prairies.

"tell my son-said anthony to the answering menial-to come in here before he leaves house."

when young rock wall entered the libriary the old man laid aside his newspaper， looked at him with a kindly grimness on his big， smooth， ruddy countenance， rumpled his mop of white hair with one hand and rattled the keys in his pocket with the other.

"richard-said anthony rock wall， -what do you pay for the seep that you use？"

richard， only six months home from college， was startled a little.he had not yet taken the measure of this sire of his， who was as full of unexpectedness as a girl at her first party.

"six dollars a dozen.i think， dad."

"and your clothes？"

"i suppose about sixty dollars， as a rule."

"you're a gentleman-said anthony， decidedly.-i've heard of these young bloods spending 24 a dozen for soap， and going over the hundred mark for clothes.you've got as much monny to wasteas any of'em and yet you stick to what's decent and moderate.now i use the old eureka-not only for sentiment， but it's the purest soap made.whenever you pay more than 10 cents a cake for soap you buy bad perfumes and labels.but 50 cents is doing very well for a young man in your generation， position and condition.as i said， you're gentleman.they say it takes three generations to make one.they're off.money'll do it as slick as soap grease.it's made you one.by hokey！ it's almost made one of me.i'm nearly as impolite and disagreeable and ill-mannered as these two old knickerbocker gents on each side of me that can't sleep of nights because i bought in between'em."

"there are some things that money can't accomplish，"remarked young rockwall， rather gloomily.

"now， don't say that-said old anthony， shocked.-i bet my money on money every time.i've been through the encyclopedia down to y looking for something you can't buy with it； and i expect to have to take up the appendix next week.i'm for money against the field.tell me something money won't buy."

"for one thing-answered richard， rankling a little，-it won't buy one into the exciusive cireles of society."

"oho！ won't it？-thundered the champion of the root of evil.-you tell me where your exclusive cireles would be if the first astor hadn't had the money to pay for his steerage passage over？"

richard sighed.

"and that's what i was coming to -said the old man， less boisterously，-that's why i asked you to come in.

there's something going wrong with you， boy.i've been noticing it for two weeks.out with it.i guess i could lay my hands on eleven millions within twenty-four hours， besides the real estate.if it's your liver， there's the rambler down in the bay， coaled and ready to steam down to the bahamas in two days."

"not a bad guess， dad； you haven't missed it far."

"ah，"said anthony， keenly；"what's her name？"

richard began to walk up and down the library floor.there was enough comrades ship and sympathy in this crude old father of his to draw his confidence.

"why don't you ask her？"demanded old anthony."she'll jump at you.you've got the money and the looks， and you're a decent boy.your hands are clean.you've got no eureka soap on'em.you've been to college， but she'll overlook that."

"i haven't had a chance."said richard.

"make one -said anthony.-take her for a walk in the park， or a straw ride， or walk home with her from church.chance！ pshaw！"

"you don't know the social mill， dad.she's part of the stream that turns it.every hour and minute of her time is arranged for days in advance.i must have that girl， dad， or this town is a blackjack swamp forevemore.and i can't write it- i can't do that."

"tut！-said the old man.-do you mean to tell me that with all the money i've got you can't get an hour or two of a girl's time for yourself？"

"i've put it off too late.she's going to sail for europe at noon day after to-morrow for a two years' stay.i'm to see her alone to-morrow evening for a few minutes.she's at larchmont now at her aunt's.i can't go there.but i'm allowed to meet her with a cab at the grand central station to-morrow evening at the 8：30 train.we drive down broadway to wallack's at a gallop， where her mother and a box party will be waiting for us in the lobby.do you think she would listen to a declaration from me during that six or eight minutes under those eircumstances？ no.and what chance would i have in the theatre or afterward？ none.no， dad， this is one tangle that your money can't unravel.we can't buy one minute of time with cash： if we could， rich people would live longer.there's no hope of getting a talk with miss lantry before she sails."

"all right， richard， my boy-said old anthony， cheerfully，-you may run along down to your club now.i'm glad it ain't your liver.but don't forget to burn a few punk sticks in the joss house to the great god mazuma from time to time.you say money won't buy time？ well， of course， you can't order eternity wrapped up and delivered at your residence for a pr， but i've seen father time get pretty bad stone bruises on his heels when he walked through the gold diggings."

that night came aunt ellen， gentle，sentimental， wrinkled， siging， oppressed by wealth， in to brother anthony at his evening paper， and began discourse on the subject of lovers woes.

"he told me all about it-said brother anthony.yawning.-i told him my bank account was at his serv.and then he began to knock money.said money couldn't help.said the rules of society couldn't be bucked for a yard by a team of ten millionaires."

"oh， anthony-sighed aunt ellen.-i wish you would not think so much of money.wealth is nothing where a true affection is concerned.love is all powerful.if he only had spoken earlier！ she could not have retused our richard.but now i fear it is too late.he will have no opportunity to address her.all your gold cannot bring happiness to your son.

at eight o'clock the next evening aunt ellen took a quaint old gold ring from a moth-eaten ease and gave it to richard.

"wear it to-night， nephew-she begged.-your mother gave it to me.good luck in love she said it brought.she asked me to give it to you when you had found the one you loved."

young rockwall took the ring reverently and tried it on his smallest finger.it slipped as far as the second joint and stopped.he took it off and stuffed it into his vest pocket， after the manner of man.and then he' phoned for his cab.

at the station he captured miss lantry out of the gabbing mob at eight thirty-two.

"we mustn't keep mamma and the others waiting，"said she.

"to wallack's theatre as fast as you can drive！"said richard， loyally.

they whirled up forty-second to broadway， and then down the white-starred lane that leads from the soft meadows of sunset to the rocky hills of morning.

at thirty-fourth street young richard quickly thrust up the trap and ordered the cabman to stop.

"i've dropped a ring-he apologized， as he climbed out.-it was my mother's，and i'd hate to lose it.i won't detain you a minute-i saw where it fell."

in less than a minute he was back in the cab with the ring.

but within that minute a crosstown car had stopped directly in front of the cab.the cab-man tried to pass to the left， but a dropped his reins and swore dutifully.he was blockaded in a tangled mess of vehicles and horses.

one of those street blockades had occurred that some-times tie up commerce and movement quite suddenly in the big city.

"why don't you drive on？-said miss lantry， impa-tiently.-we'll be late."

richard stood up in the cab and looked around.he saw a congested flood of wagons， trucks， cabs， vans and street cars filling the vast space where broadway， sixth avenue， and thirty-fourth street cross one another as a twenty-six inch maiden fills her twenty-two inch girdle.and still from all the cross streets they were hurrying and rattling to ward the converging point at full speed， and hurling themselves into the straggling mass，locking wheels and adding their drivers imprecations to have jarmmed itself around them.the oldest new yorker among the thousands of spectators that lined the sidewalks had not withessed a street blockade of the proportions of this one.

"i'm very sorry，"said richard， as the resumed his seat， "but it looks as if we are stuck.they won't get this jumble loosened up in an hour.it was my fault.if i hadn't dropped the ring we——"

"let me see the ring-said miss lantry.-now that it can't be helped， i don't care.i think theatres are stupid， anyway."

at 11 o'clock that night somebody tapped lightly on anthony rock wall's door.

"come in，"shouted anthony， who was in a red dressing gown， reading a book of piratical adventures.

somebody was aunt ellen， looking like a gray-haired angel that had been left on earth by mistake.

"they're engaged， anthony，"she said， softly.she has promised to marry our richard.on their way to the theatre there was a street blockade， and it was two hours before their cab could get out of it.

"and oh， brother anthony，don't ever boast of the power of money again.a little emblem of true love-a little ring that symbolized unending and unmercenary affection-was the cause of our richard finding his happiness.he dropped it in the street， and got out to recover it.and before they could continue the blockade occurred.he spoke to his love and won her there while the cab was hemmed in.money is dross compared with true love， anthony."

"all right-said old anthony.-i'm glad the boy has got what he wanted.i told him i wouldn't spare any expense in the matter if——"

"but， brother anthony， what good could your money have done？"

"sister-said anthony rockwall，-i've got my pirate in a devil of a scrape.his ship has just been scuttled， and he's too good a judge of the value of money to let drown.i wish you would let me go on with this chapter."

the story should end here.i wish it would as heartily as you who read it wish it did.but we must go to the bottom of the well for truth.

the next day a person with red hands and a blue polkadot necktie， who called himself kelly， called at anthony rock wall's house， and was at once received in the library.

"well-said anthony， reaching for his check-book，-it was a good bilin' of soap.let's see -you had 5，000 in cash."

"i paid out 300 more of my own-said kelly.-i had to go a little above the estimate.i got the express wagons and cabs mostly for 5； but the trucks and two-horse teams mostly raised me to 10.the motormen wanted 10， and some of the loaded teams 20.the cops struck me hardest -50 i paid two， and the rest 20 and 25.but didn't it work beautiful， mr rock wall？ i'm glad william a.braby wasn't onto that little outdoor vehicle mob scene.i wouldn't want william to break his heart with jealousy.and never a rehearsal， either！ the boys was on time to the fraction of a second.it was two hours before a snake could get below greeley's statue."

"thirteen hundred-here you are， kelly-said anthony， tearing off a check.-your thousand， and the 300 you were out.you don't despise money， do you， kelly？"

"me？-said kelly.-i can lick the man that invented poverty."

anthony called kelly when he was at the door.

"you didn't not-said he， -anywhere in the tie-up， a kind of a fat boy without any clothes on shooting arrows around with a bow， did you？"

"why， no，"said kelly， mystified."i didn't.if he was like you say， maybe the cops pinched him before i got there."

"i thought the little rascal wouldn't be on hand-chuckled anthony.-good-by，kelly."

a blackjack bargainer

the most disreputable thing in yancey goree's law off was goree himself， sprawled in his creaky old armchair.the rickety little off， built of red brick ，was set flush with the street-the main street of the town of bethel.

bethel rested upon the foot-hills of the blue ridge.above it the mountains were piled to the sky.far below it the turbid catawba gleamed yellow along its disconsolate valley.

the june day was at its sultriest hour.bethel dozed in the tepid shade.trade was not.it was so still that goree， reclining in his chair， distinetly heard the clicking of the chips in the grand-jury room， where the "court-house gang"was playing poker.from the open back door of the off a well-worn path meandered across the grassy lot to the court-house.the treading out of that path had cost goree all he ever had -first in her itance of a few thousand dollars， next the old family home， and， latterly， the last shreds of his self-respect and manhood.the "gang" had cleaned him out.the broken gambler had turned drunkard and parasite； he had lived to see this day come when the men who had stripped him denied him a seat at the .his word was no longer to be taken.the daily bout at cards had arranged itself accordingly， and to him was assigned the ignoble part of the onlooker.the sheriff， the county clerk ，a sportive deputy， a gay attorney， and a chalk-faced man hailing "from the valley，"sat at table， and the sheared one was thus tacitly advised to go and grow more wool.

soon wearying of his ostracism， goree had departed for his off， muttering to himself as he unsteadily traversed the unlucky pathway.after a drink of corn whiskey from a demijohn under the table， he had flung himself into the chair， staring ，in a sort of maudlin apathy， out at the mountains immersed in the summer haze.the little white patch he saw away up on the side of blackjack was laurel， the village near which he had been born and bred.there， also， was the birthplace of the feud between the gorees and the coltranes.now no direct heir of the gorees survived except this plucked and singed bird of miortune.to the coltranes， also， but one male supporter was left-colonel abner coltrane， a man of substance and standing， a member of the state legislature and a contemporary with goree's father.the feud had been a typical one of the region； it had left a red record of hate， wrong， and slaughter.

but yancey goree was not thinking of feuds.his befuddled brain was hopelessly attacking the problem of the future maintenance of himself and his favorite follies.of late， old friends of the family had seen to it that he had where of to eat and a place to sleep， but whiskey they would not buy for him， and he must have whiskey.his law business was extinct； no case had been intrusted to him in two years.he had been a borrower and a sponge， and it seemed that if he fell no lower it would be from lack of opportunity.one more chance-he was saying to himself -if he had one more stake at the ， he thought he could win； but he had nothing left to sell， and his credit was more than exhausted.

he could not help smiling， even in his misery， as he thought of the man to whom ，six months before， he had sold the old goree homestead.there had come from"back yan'"in the mountains two of the strangest creatures， a man named pike garvey and his wife."back yan'，"with a wave of the hand toward the hills， was understood among the mountaineers to designate the remotest fastnesses， the unplumbed gorges， the haunts of lawbreakers， the wolf's den， and the boudoir of the bear.in the cabin far up on black jack's shoulder， in the wildest part of these retreats， this odd couple had lived for twenty years.they had neither dog nor children to mitigate the heavy silence of the hill.pick garvey was little known in the settlements， but all who had dealt with him pronounced him"crazy as a loon."he acknowledged no occupation save that of a spuirrel hunter， but he"moonshined"occasionally by way of diversion.once the "revenues"had draggted him from his lair， fighting silently and desperately like a terrier， and he had been sent to state's prison for two years.released， he popped back into his hole like an angry weasel.

fortune， passing over many anxious wooers， made a freakish flight into blackjack's bosky pockets to smile upon pike and his faithful partner.

one day a party of spectacled， knickerbockered， and altogether absurd prospectors invaded the vicinity of the garveys cabin pike lifted his squirrel rifle off the hook and took a shot at them at long range on the chance of their being revenues.happily he missed， and the unconscious agents of good luck drew nearer， disclosing their innocence of anything resembling law or just.later on， they offered the garveys an enormous quantity of ready， green， crisp money for their thirty-acre patch of cleared land， mentioning， as an excuse for such a mad action， some irrelevant and inadequate nonsense about a bed of mica underlying the said property.

when the garveys became possessed of so many dollars that they fed in computing them， the deficiencies of life on black jack began to grow prominent.pike began to talk of new shoes， a hogshead of tobacco to set in the corner， a new lock to his rifle；and， leading martella to a certain spot on the mountainside， he pointed out to her how a small cannon-doubtless a thing not beyond the scope of their fortune in pr-might be planted so as to command and defent the sole accessible trail to the cabin， to the confusion of revenues and meddling strangers forever.

but adam reckoned without his eve.these things represented to him the applied power of wealth， but there slumbered in his dingy cabin an ambition that soared far above his primitive wants.somewhere in mrs garvey's bosom still survived a spot of femininity unstarved by twenty years of blackjack.for so long a time the sounds in her ears had been the scaly-barks dropping in the woods at noon， and the wolves singing among the rocks at night， and it was enough to have purged her vanities.she had grown fat and sad and yellow and dull.but when the means came， she felt a rekindled desire to assume the perquisites of her sex-to sit at tea tables； to buy inutile things； to white wash the hideous veracity of life with a little form and ceremony.so she coldly vetoed pike's proposed system of fortifications， and announced that they would descend upon the world， and gyrate socially.

and thus， at length， it was decided， and the thing done.the village of laurel was their compromise between mrs garvey's preference for one of the large valley towns and pike's hankering for primeval solitudes.laurel yielded a halting round of feeble social distractions comportable with martella's ambitions， and was not entirely without recommendation to pike， its contiguity to the mountains presenting advantages for sudden retreat in case fashion-able society should make it advisable.

their descent upon laurel had been coincident with yancey goree's feverish desire to convert property into cash， and they bought the old goree homestead， paying four thousand dollars ready money into spendthrift's shaking hand.

thus it happened that while the disreputable last of the gorees spraw led in his disreputable off， at the end of his row， spurned by the cronies whom he had gorged， strangers dwelt in the halls of his fathers.

a cloud of dust was rolling slowly up the parched street， with something traveling in the midst of it.a little breeze wafted the cloud to one side， and a new， brightly painted carryall， drawn by a slothful gray horse， became visible.the vehicle deflected from the middle of the street as it neared goree's off， and stopped in the gutter directly in front of his door.

on the front seat sat a gaunt， tall man， dressed in black broadcloth， his rigid hands incarcerated in yellow kid gloves.on the back seat was a lady who triumphed over the june heat.her stout form was armored in a skin-tight silk dress of the description known as "changeable，"being a gorgeous combination of shifting hues.she sat erect， waving a much-ornamented fan， with her eyes fixed ston-ily far down the street.however martella garvey's heart might be rejoicing at the pleasures of her new life， blackjack had done his work with her exterior.he had carved her countenance to the image of emptiness and inanity； had imbued her with the stolidity of his crags and the reserve of his hushed interiors.she always seemed to hear， whatever her surroundings were， the scaly-barks falling and pattering down the mountainside.she could always hear the awful silence of blackjack sounding through the stillest of nights.

goree watched this solemn equipage， as it drove to his door， with only faint interest but when the lank driver wrapped the reins about his whip， and awkwardly descended， and stepped into the off， he rose unsteadily to receive him，recognizing pike garvey，the new， the tranormed， the recently civilized.

the mountaineer took the chair goree offered him.they who cast doubts upon garvey's soundness of mind had a strong witness in the man's countenance.his face was too long， a dull saffron in hue， and immobile as a statue's.pale blue， unwinking round eyes without lashes added to the singularity of his gruesome visage.goree was at a loss to account for the visit.

"everything all right at laurel， mr garvey？ -he inquired.-everything all right， sir， and mighty pleased is missis garvey and me with the property.missis garvey likes yo'old place， and she likes the neighborhood.society is what she' lows she wants，and she is gettin' of it.the rogerses， the hapgoods， the pratts， and the troys hew been to see missis garvey， and she hev et meals to most of thar houses.the best folks hev axed her to differ'nt kinds of doin's.i cyan't say， mr goree， that sech things suits me-fur me， give me them thar." garvey's huge yellow-gloved hand flourished in the direction of the mountains."that's whar i b'long，' mongst the wild honey bees and the b'ars.but that ain't what i come fur to say， mr goree.thar's somethin' you got what me and missis garvey wants to buy."

"buy！-echoed goree.-from me？-then he laughed harshly.-i reckon you are mistaken about that.i sold out to you， as you yourself expressed it， lock， stock， and barrel，' there isn't even a ramrod ieft to sell."

"you've got it； and we'uns want it.take the money-says missis garvey， -and buy it fa'r and squar'.'"

goree shook his head."the cupboard's bare，" he said.

"we've riz-pursued the mountaineer， undeflected from his object， -a

heap.we was pore as possums， and now we could hev folks to dinner every day.we been reco'nized， missis garvey says， by the best society.but there's somethin'we need we ain't got.she says it ought to been put in the' ventory ov the sale， but it' tain't thar.'take the money，then -she says， -and buy it fa'r and squar'.'"

"out with it， "said goree， his racked nerves growing impatient.

garvey threw his slouch hat upon the table，and leaned forward， fixing his unblinking eyes upon goree's.

"thar's a old feud-he said， distinctly and slowly，-'tween you'uns and the coltranes."

goree frowned ominously.to speak of his feud to a feudist is a serious breach of the mountain etiquette.the man from "back yan'" knew it as well as the lawyer did.

"na offense-he went on， -but purely in the way of business.missis garvey hev studied all about feuds.most of the quality foks in the mountains boyds， the silers and the galloways， hev all been cyarin' on feuds f'om twenty to a hundred year.the last man to drap was wheny o'uncle， ledge paisley goree，'journed co't and shot len coltrane f'om the bench.missis garvey and me， we come f'om the po'white trash.nobody wouldn't pick a feud with we'uns， no mo'n with a fam'ly of treetoads.quality people everywhar， says missis garvey，-and buy mr gorce's feud， fa'r and squar'.'"

the squirrel hunter straightened a leg half across the room， drew a roll of bills from his pocket， and threw them on the table.

"thar's two hundred dollars， mr goree， what you would call a fa'r pr for a feud that's been' lowed to run down like yourn hev.thar's only you left to cyar'on yo' side of it， and you'd make mighty po' killin'.i'll take it off yo'hands， and it'll set me and missis garvey up among the quality.thar's the money."

the little roll of currency on the table slowly untwisted itself， writhing and jumping as its folds relaxed.in the silence that followed garvey's last speech the rattling of the poker chips in the court-house could be plainly heard.goree knew that the sheriff had just won a pot， for the subdued whoop with which he always greeted a victory floated acrossthe square upon the crinkly heat waves.gbeads of moisture stood on goree's brow.stooping， he drew the wicker-covered demijohn from under the table， and filled a tumbler from it.

"a little com liquor， mr garvey？ of course you are joking about-what you spoke of？ opens quite a new market， doesn't it？ fends， prime， two-fifty to three.fends， slightly damaged- two hundred.i believe you said， mr garvey？"

goree laughed self-consciously.

the mountaineer took the glass goree handed him， and drank the whiskey without a tremor of the lids of his staring eye.the lawyer applauded the feat by a look of envious admiration.he poured his own drink， and took it like a drunkard， by gulps， and with shudders at the smell and taste.

"two hundred-repeated garvey.-thar's the money."

a sudden passion flared up in goree's brain.he struck the table with his fist.one of the bills flipped over and touched his hand.he flinched as if something had stung him.

"do you come to me - he shouted， -seriously with such a ridiculous， insulting， darn-fool proposition？ "

"it's fa'r and squar'，"said the squirrel hunter，but he reached out his hand as if to take back the money； and then goree knew that his own flurry of rage had not been from pride or resentment， but from anger at himself， knowing that he would set foot in the deeper depths that were being opened to him.he turned in an instant from an outraged gentleman to an anxious chafferer recommending his goods.

"don't be in a hurry.garvey-he said， his face crimson and his speech thick.- i accept your p-p-proposition， though it's dirt cheap at two hundred.a t-trade's all right when both p-purchaser and b-buyer are s-satiied.shall i w-wrap it up for you.mr garvey？"

garvey rose， and shook out his broadcloth."missis garvey will be pleased.you air out of it， and it stands coltrane and garvey.just a scrap ov writin，' mr goree， you bein'a lawyer， to

we traded."

goree seized a sheet of paper and a pen.the money was clutched in his moist hand.everything else suddenly seemed to grow trivial and light.

"bill of sale， by all means.right， title， and interest in and to'. forever warrant and ——'no， garvey， we'll have to leave out that' defend，'"said goree with a loud laugh."you'll have to defend this title yourself."

the mountaineer received the amazing screed that the lawyer handed him， folded it with immense labor， and placed it carefully in his pocket.

goree was standing near the window， "step here- he said， raising his finger，-and i'll

you your recently purchased enemy.there hs goes， down the other side of the street."

the mountaineer crooked his long frame to look through the window in the direction indicated by the other.colonel abner coltrane， an erect， portly pentleman of about fifty wearing the inevitable long， double-breasted frock coat afthe southern lawmaker， and an old high silk had， was passing on the opposite sidewalk.as garvey looked.goree glanced at his face.if there be such a thing as a yellow wolf， here wasits counterpart.garvey snarled as his unhuman eyes followed the moving figure， disclosing long amber-colored fangs.

"is that him？ why， that's the man who sent me to the pen'tentiary once！"

"he used to be district attorney-said goree， care-lessly.-and， by the way， he's a first-class shot."

"i kin hit a squirrel's eye at a hundred yard-said garvey.-so that thar's coltrane！ i made a better trade than i was thinkin'.i'll take keer ov this feud.mr goree， better'n you ever did！"

he moved toward the door， but lingered there， betraying a slight perplexity.

"anything else to-day？"inquired goree with frothy sarcasm."any family traditions， ancestral ghosts， or skeletons in the closet？ prs as low as the lowest."

"thar was another thing-replied the unmoved squirrel hunter， -that missis garvey was thinkin' of.tain't so much in my line as t'other， but she wanted partic'lar that i should inquire， and ef you was willin'， pay fur it-she say， -fa'r and squar'.' thar' a buryin' groun'， as you know， mr goree， in the yerd of yo'old place， under the cedars.them that lies thar is yo'folks what was killed by the coltranes.the monyments has the names on'em.missis garvey says a fam'ly buryin' groun' is a sho' sign of quality.she says ef we git the feud， thar's somethin'else ought to go with it.the names on them monyments is goree，'but they can be changed to ourn by——"

"go！ go！"screamed goree， his face turning purple.he stretched out both hands toward the mountaineer， his fingers hooked and both hands toward the mountaineer， his fingers hooked and shaking."go， you ghoul！ even a ch-chinaman protects the g-graves of his ancestors-go！"

the squirrel hunter slouched out of the door to his carryall.while he was climbing over the wheel goree was collecting， with feverish celerity， the money that had fallen from his hand to the floor.as the vehicle slowly turned about， the sheep with a coat of newly grown woo， was hurrying， in indecent haste， along the path to the courthouse.

at three o'clock in the morning they brought him back to his off， shorn and unconscious.the sheriff， the sportive deputy， the county clerk， and the gay attorney carried him the chalk-faced man "from the valley"acting as escort.

"on the table，"said one of them， and they deposited him there among the litter of his unprofitable books and papers.

"yance thinks a lot of a pair of deuces when he's liquored up，"sighed the sheriff， reflectively.

"too much _ said the gay attorney.-a man has no business to play poker who drinks as much as he does.i wonder how much he dropped to-night."

"close to two hundred.what i wonder is whar he got it.yance ain't had a cent fur over a month， i know."

"struck a client， maybe.well， let's get home before daylight.he'll be all right when he wakes up， except for a sort of beehive about the cranium."

the gang slipped away through the early morning twilight.the next eye to gaze upon the miserable goree was the orb of day.he peered through the uncurtained window， first deluging the sleeper in a flood of faint gold， but soon pouring upon the mottled red of his flesh a searching， white， summer heat.goree stirred， half uncon-sciously， among the table's debris， and turned his face from the window.his movement dislodged a heavy law book， which crashed upon the floor.opening his eyes， he saw， bending over him， a man in a black frock coat.looking higher， he discovered a well -worn silk hat， and beneath it the kindly， smooth face of colonel abner coltrane.

a little uncertain of the outcome，the colonel waited for the other to make some sign of recognition.not in twenty years had male members of these two families faced each other in peace.goree's eyes lids puckered as he strained his blurred sight toward his visitor， and then he smiled serenely.

"have you brought stella and lucy over to play？"he said， calmly.

"do you know me， yancey？"asked coltrane.

"of course i do.you brought me a whip with a whistle in the end."

so he had-twenty-four years ago； when yancey father was his best friend.

goree's eyes wandered about the room.the colone understood."lie still， and i'll bring you some，"said he there was a pump in the yard at the rear， and goree close his eyes.listening with rapture so the click of its handle and the bubbling of the falling stream.coltrane brought a pitcher of the cool water， and held it for him to drink.presently goree sat up-a most forlorn object.his summer suit of flax soiled and crumpled， his discredi table head tousled and unsteady.he tried to wave one of his hands toward the colonel.

"ex-excuse-everything， will you？ -he said.-i must have drunk too much whiskey last night， and gone to bed on the table." his brows knitted into a puzzled frown.

"out with the boys a while？"asked coltrane， kindly.

"no， i went nowhere.i haven't had a dollar to spend in the last two months.struck the demijohn too often， i reckon， as usual."

colonel coltrane touched him on the shoulder.

"a little while ago， yancey-he began， -you asked me if i had brought stella and lucy over to play.you weren't quite awake then， and must have been dreaming you were a boy again.you are awake now， and i want you to listen to me.i have come from stella and lucy to their old playmate， and to my old friend's son.they know that i am going to bring you home with me， and you will find them as ready with a welcome as they were in the old days.i want you to come to my house and stay until you are yourself again， and as much longer as you will.we heard of your being down in the world，and in the midst of temptation， and we agreed that you should comem over and play at our house once more.will you come， my boy？ will you drop our old family trouble and come with me？"

"trouble！-said gorce， opening his eyes wide.-there was never any trouble between us that i know of.i'm sure we've always beenthe best of friends.but， good lord， colonel，how could i go to your home as i am-a drunken wretch.a miserable.degraded spendthrift and gambler-"

he lurched from the table to his armchair， and began to weep maudlin tears.mingled with genuine drops of remorse and shame.coltrane talked to him persistently and reasonably， reminding him of the

mountain pleasures of which he had once been so fond.and insisting upon the genuineness of the invitation.

finally he landed goree by telling him he was counting upon his help in the engineering and transportation of a large amount of felled timber from a high mountainside to a waterway.he knew that goree had once invented a dev for this purpose-a series of slides and chutes-upon which he had justly prided himself.in an instant the poor fellow.delighted at the idea of his being of use to any one， had paper spread upon the table， and was drawing rapid but pitifully shaky lines in demonstration of what he could and would do.

the man was sickened of the husks： his prodigat heart was turning again toward the mountains.his mind was yet strangely elogged， and his thoughts and memories were returning to his brain one by one，like carrier pigeons over a stormy sea.but coltrane was satiied with the progress he had made.

bethel received the surprise of its existence that afternoon when a coltrane and a goree rode amicably together through the town.side by side they rode， outfrom the creek bridge， and washed and combed himself to a more decent figure， but he was unsteady in the saddle， and he seemed to be deep in the contemplation of some vexing problem.coltrane left him in his mood relying upon the influence of changed surroundings to restore his equilibriun.

once goree was seized with a shaking fit.and almost came to a collapse.he had to dismount and rest at the side of the road.the colonel.foreseeing such a condition.had provided a small flask of whiskey for the journey but when it was offered to him goree refused it almost with violence， declaring he would never touch it again.by and by he was recovered，and went quietly enough for a mile or two.then he pulled up his horse suddenly.and said：

"i lost two hundred dollars last night，playing toker.now.where did i get that money？"

"take it easy.yancey.the mountam air will soon clear it up.we'll go fishing.first thing，at the pinnacle falls.the trout are jumping there like bullfrogs.we'll take stella and lucy along， and have a picnic on eagle rock.have you forgotten how a hickory-cured-ham sandwich tastes， yancey， to a hungry fisherman？"

evidently the colonel didnot believe the story of his lost wealth； so goree retired again into brooding silence.

by late afternoon they had traveled ten of the twelve miles between bethel and laurel.half a mile this side of laurel lay the old goree place； a mile or two beyond the village lived the coltranes.the road was now steep and laborious， but the compensations were many.the tilted aisles of the forest were opulent with leaf and bird and bloom.the tonic air put to shame the pharmacopaeia.the glades were dark with mossy shade， and bright with shy rivulets winking from the ferns and laurels.on the lower side they viewed， framed in the near foliage， exquisite coltrane was pleased to see that his companion was yielding to the spell of the hills and woods.for now they had but to skirt the base of painter's cliff： to cross elder branch and mount the hill beyond and goree would have to face the squandered home of his fathers.every rock he passed， every tree， every foot of the roadway，was familiar to him.though he had forgotten the woods， they thrilled him like the music of"home.sweet home".

they rounded the cliff.descended into elder branch.and paused there to let the horses drink and splash in the swift water.on the right was a rail fence that comered there， and followed the road and stream.inclosed by it was the old apple orchard of the home place： the house was yet concealed by the brow of the steephill.inside and along the fence，pokebrries.elders，sassafras， and srmac grew high and dense.at a rustle of their branches， both goree and coltrane glanced up，and saw a long， yellow，wolfish face above the fence， staring at them with pale，unwinking eyes.the head quickly disappeared； there was a violent swaying of the bushes， and an ungainly figure ran up through the apple orchard in the direction of the house zig-zagging among the trees.

"that's garvey-said coltrane：-the man you sold out to.there's no doubt but he's considerably crached.i had to send him up for moonshining once， several years ago， in spite of the fact that i believed him irresponsible.why， what's the matter， yancey？"

goree was wiping his forehead， and his face had lost its color， "do i look queer， too？-he asked， trying to smile.-i'm just remembering a few more things.-some of the alcohol had evaporated from his brain.-i recollect now where i got that two hundred dollars."

"don't think of it-said coltrane， cheerfully.-later on we'll figure it all out together."

they rode out of the branch， and when they reached the foot of the hill goree stopped again.

"did you ever suspect i was a very vain kind of fellow， colonel？-he asked.-sort of foolish proud about appearances？"

the colonel's eyes refused to wander to the soiled， sagging suit of flax and the faded slouch hat.

"it's seems to me-he replied，mystified.but humoring him，-i remember a young buck about twenty， with the tightest coat， the sleekest hair， and the prancingest saddle horse in the blue ridge."

"right you are-said goree， eagerly.-and it's in me yet， though it don't .oh， i'm as vain as a turkey gobbler， and as proud as lucifer.i'm going to ask you to indulge this weakness of mine in a little matter."

"speak out， yancey.we'll

you duke of laurel and baron of blue ridge， if you choose； and you shall have a feather out of stella's speacock's tail to wear in your hat."

"i'm in earnest.in a few minutes we'll pass the house up there on the hill where i was born， and where my people have lived for nearly a century.strangers live there now-and look at me！ i am about to

myself to them ragged and poverty stricken， a wastrel and a beggar.colonel coltrane， i'm ashamed to do it.i want you to let me wear your coat and hat until we are out of sight beyond.i know you think it a foolish pride， but i want， to make as good a ing as i can when i pass the old place."

"now， what does this mean？" said coltrane to himself， as he compared his compaion's sane looks and quiet demeanor with his strange request.but he was already unbuttoning the coat， assenting readily， as if the fancy were in no wise to be considered strange.

the coat and hat fitted goree well.he buttoned the former about him with a look of satiaction and dignity.he and coltrane were hearly the same size-rather tall， protly， and erect.twenty-five years were between them， but in appearance they might have been brothers.goree looked older than his age； his face was puffy and lined； the colonel bad the smooth， fresh complexion of a temperate liver.he put on goree's disreputable old flax coat and faded slouch hat.

"now-said goree， taking up the reins，-i'm all right.i want you to ride about ten feet in the rear as we go by， colonel， so that they can get a good look at me.they'll see i'm no back number yet， by any means.i guess i'll

up pretty well to them once more， anyhow.let's ride on."

he set out up the hill at a smart trot， the colonel following， as he had been requested.

goree sat straight in the saddle， with head erect， but his eyes were turned to the right， sharply scanning every shrub and fence and hiding-place in the old homestead yard.once he muttered to himself，"will the crazy fool try it， or did i dream half of it？"

it was when he came opposite the little family burying ground that he saw what he had been looking for-a puff of white smoke， coming from the thick cedars in one corner.he toppled so slowly to the left that coltrane had time to urge his horse to that side， and catch him with one arm.

the squirrel hunter had not overpraised his aim.he had sent the bullet where he intended， and where goree had expected that it would pass-through the breast of colonel abner coltrane's black frock coat.

goree leaned heavily against coltrane，but he did not fall.the horses kept pace，side by side， and the colonel's arm kept him steady.the little white houses of laurel shone through the trees， half a mile away.goree reached out one hand and groped until it rested upon coltrane's fingers， which held his bridle.

"good friend，" he said， and that was all.

thus did yancey goree， as he rode past his old home， make， considering all things， the best ing that was in his power.

a lickpenny lover

there were 3，000 girls in the biggest store.masie was one of them.she was eighteen and a saleslady in the gents' gloves.here she became versed in two varieties of human beings-the kind of gents who buy their gloves in department stores and the kind of women who buy gloves for unfortunate gents.besides this wide knowledge of the human species， masic had acquired other information.she had listened to the promulgated wisdom of the 2，999 other girls and had stored it in a brain that was as secretive and wary as that of a maltese cat.perhaps nature， foreseeing that she would lack wise counsellors， had mingled the saving ingredient of shrewdness along with her beauty.as she has endowed the silver fox of the prless fur above the other animals with cunning.

for masie was beautiful.she was a deep-tinted blonde， with the calm poise of a lady who cooks butter cakes in a window.she stood behind her counter in the biggest store； and as you closed your hand over the tape-line for your glove measure you thought of hebe； and as you looked again you wondered how she had come by minerva's eyes.

when the floorwalker was not looking masie chewed tutti frutti； when he was looking she gazed up as if at the clouds and smiled wistfully.

that is the shopgirl smile， and i enjoin you to shun it unless you are well fortified with callosity of the heart， caramels， and a congeniality for the capers of cupid.this smile belonged to masie's recreation hours and not to the store； but the floorwalker must have his own.he is the shylock of the stores.when he comes nosing around the bridge of the stores.when he comes nosing around the bridge of his nose is a toll-bridge.it is goo-goo eyes or "git" when he looks toward a pretty girl.of course not all floorwalkers are thus.only a few days ago the papers printed news of one over eighty years of age.

one day irving carter， painter， millionaire.traveller， poet， automobilist， happened to enter the biggest store.it is due to him add that his visit was not voluntary.filial duty took him by the collar and dragged him inside.while his mother philandered among the bronze and terra-cotta statuettes.

carter strolled across to the glove counter in order to shoot a few minutes on the wing.his need for gloves was genuine； he had forgotten to bring a pair with him.but his action hardly calls for apology， because he had never

heard of glovecounter flirtations.

as he neared the vicinity of his fate he hesitated， suddenly conscious of this unknown phase of cupid's less worthy profession.

three or four cheap fellows.sonorously garbed， were leaning over the counters， wrestling with the mediatorial hand-coverings， while giggling girls played vivacious seconds to their lead upon the strident string of coquetry.carter would have retreated， but he had gone too far.masie confronted him behind her counter with a questioning look in eyes as coldly， beautifully， warmly blue as the glint of summer sun shine on an berg drifting in southern seas.

and then lrving carter， painter，millionaire， etc， felt a warm flush rise to his aristocratically pale face.but not from diffidence.the blush was intellectual in origin.he knew in a moment that he stood in the ranks of the ready-made youths who wooed the giggling girls at other counters.himself leaned against the oaken trysting girls at other counters.himself leaned against the oaken trysting place of a cockney cupid with a desire in his heart for the favor of a glove salesgirl.he was no more than bill and jack and mickey.and then he felt a sudden tolerance for them， and an elating， courageous contempt for the conventions upon which he had fed， and an unhesitating determination to have this perfect creature for his own.

when the gloves were paid for and wrapped carter lingered fr a moment.the dimples at the cornrs of masie's damask mouth deepened.all gentlemen who bought gloves lingered in just that way.she curved an arm， ing like psyche's through her shirt-waist sleeve， and rested an elbow upon the -case edge.

carter had never before encountered a situation of which he had not been perfect master.but now he stood far more awkward than bill of jack of mickey.he had no chance of meeting this beautiful girl socially.his mind struggled to recall the nature and habits of shopgirls as he had read of heard of them.somehow he had received the idea that they sometimes did not insist too strictly upon the regular channels of introduction.his heart beat loudly at the thought of proposing an unconventional meeting with this lovely and virginal being.but the tumult in his heart gave him courage.

after a few friendly and well-received remarks on general subjects， he laid his card by her hand on the counter.

"will you please pardon me-he said，-if i seem too bold； but i earnestly hope you will allow me the pleasure of seeing you again.there is my name； i assure you that it is with the greatest respect that i ask the favor of becoming one of your fr-acquaintances.may i not hope for the privilege？"

masie knew men-especially men who buy gloves.without hesitation she looked him frankly and smilingly in the eyes， and said：

"sure， i guess you're all right.i don't usually go out with strange gentlemen， though.it ain't quite ladylike.when should you want to see me again？"

"as soon as i may-said carter.-if you would allow me to call at your home， i-"

masie laughed musically."oh， gee，no！-she said.emphatically.-if you could see our flat once！ there's five of us in three rooms.i'd just like to see ma's face if i was to bring a gentleman friend there！"

"anywhere， then-said the enamored carter，-that will be convenient to you."

"say-suggested masie， with a bright-idea look in her pearch-blow face；-i guess thursday night will about suit me.suppose you come to the corner of eighth avenue and forty-eighth street at 7：30.i live right near the corner.but i've got to be back home by eleven.ma never lets me stay out after eleven."

carter promised gratefully to keep the tryst， and then hastened to his mother， who was looking about for him to ratify her purchase of a bronze diana.

a salesgirl， with small eyes and an obtuse nose， strolled near masie， with a friendly leer.

"did you make a hit with his nobs， masie？" she asked， familiarly.

"the gentleman asked permission to call，" answered masie， with the grand air， as she slipped carter's card into the bosom of her waist.

"permission to call！-echoed small eyes， with a snigger.-did he say anything about dinner in the waldorf and a spin in his auto afterward？"

"oh， cheese it！-said masie， wearily.-you've been used to swell things， i don't think.you've had a swelled head ever since that hose-cart driver took you out to a swelled head ever since that hose-cart driver took you out to a chop suey joint.no， he never mentioned the waldorf； but there's a fifth avenue address on his card， and if he buys the supper you can bet your life there won't be no pigtail on the waiter what takes the order."

as carter glided away from the biggest store with his mother in his electric runabout， he bit his lip with a dull pain at his heart.he knew that love had come to him for the first time in all the twenty-nine years of his life.and that the object of it should make so readily an appointment with him at a street corner， though it was a step toward his desires， tortured him with misgivings.

carter did not know the shopgirl.he did not know that her home is often either a scarcely habitable tiny room or a domicile filled to overflowing with kith and kin.the street corner is her parlor， the park is her drawing room； the avenuc is her garden walk； yet for the most part she is as inviolate mistress of herself in them as is my lady inside her tapestried chamber.

one evening at dusk， two weeks after their first meeting.carter and masie strolled arm-in-arm into a little， dimly-lit park.they found a bench， tree-shadowed and sectuded， and sat there.

for the first time his arm stole gently around her.her golden-bronze head slid restfully against his shoulder.

"gee！-sighed masie， thankfully.-why didn't you ever think of that before？"

"masie-said carter， earnestly，-you surely know that i love you.i ask you sincerely to marry me.you know me well enough by this time to have no doubts of me.i want you， and i must have you.i care nothing for the difference in our stations."

"what is the difference？" asked masie， curiously.

"well， there isn't any-said carter， quickly.-except in the minds of foolish people.it is in my power to give you a life of luxury.my social position is beyond dispute， and my means are ample."

"they all say that-remarked masie.-it's the kid they all give you.i suppose you really work in a delicatessen or follow the races.i ain't as green as i look."

"i can furnish you all the proofs you want-said carter， gently.-and i want you， masie.i loved you the first day i saw you."

"they all do-said masie， with an amused laugh.-to hear'em talk.if i could meet a man that got stuck on me the third time he'd seen me i think i'd get mashed on him."

"please don't say such things-pleaded into your eyes you have been the only woman in the world for me."

"oh， ain't you the kidder！-smiled masie.-how many other girls did you ever tell that？"

but carter persisted.and at length he reached the flimsy， fluttering little soul of the shopgirl that existed somewhere deep down in her lovely bosom.his words penetrated the heart whose very lighness was its safest armor.she looked up at him with eyes that saw.and a warm glow visited her cool cheeks.tremblingly， awfully， her moth wings closed， and she seemed about to settle upon the flower of love.some faint glimmer of life and its possibilities on the other side of her glove counter dawned upon her.carter felt the change and crowded the opportunity.

"marry me， masie-he whispered， softly，-and we will go away from this ugly city to beautiful ones.we will forget work and business， and life will be one long holiday.i know where i should take you-i have been there often.just think of a shore where summer is eternal，where the waves are always rippling on the lovely beach and the people are happy and free as children.we will sail to those shores and remain there as long as you please.in one of those faraway cities there are grand and lovely palaces and towers full of beautiful pictures and statues.the streets of the city are water， and one travels about in-"

"i know-said masie， sitting up suddenly.-gondolas."

"yes，" smiled carter.

"i thought so，" said masie.

"and then-continued carter，-we will travel on and see whatever we wish in the world.after the european cities we will visit india and the ancient cities there， and ride on elephants and see the wonderful temples of the hindoos and the brahmins and the japanese gardens and the camel trains and charion races in persia， and all the queer sights of foreign countries.don't you think you would like it， masie？"

masie rose to her feet.

"i think we had better be going home-she said， coolly.-it's getting late."

carter humored her.he had come to know her varying， thistle-down

moods， and that it was useless to combat them.but he felt a certain happy triumph.he had held for a moment， though but by a silken thread.the soul of his wild psyche， and hope was stronger within him.once she had folded her wings and her cool hand had closed about his own.

at the biggest store the next day masie's chum， lulu， waylaid her in an angle of the counter.

"how are you and your swell friend

it？" she asked.

"oh，him？-said masie， patting her side curls.-he ain't in it any more.say， lu，what do you think that fellow wanted me to do ？"

"go on the stage？" guessed lulu，beathlessly.

"nit； he's too cheap a guy for that.he wanted me to marry him and go down to coney island for a wedding tour！"

comprehension questions

the gift of the magi

1.how much has della been able to save？

2.how has she saved this money？

3.why do her cheeks burn when she deals with shopdeepers？

4.why does she cry after she counts the money she has saved？

5.what kind of flat

do they have？

6.how much does jim earn now？

7.why do you think the letters of the word"dillingham" look ready to contract？

8.what impression is given by "she looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard"？ why do you think "gray" is repeated？

9.why hasn't she been able to save more？

10.what kind of present does she want to buy for jim？

11.why does a person have to be slim and agile to see himselff or herself in the youngs' mirror？

12.what are the possessions in which the youngs take so much pride？ why？

13.why do you think della cried a little before going out？

14.what kind of business does mme sofronie do？

15.how does della obtain the twenty dollars？

16.what does she do as soon as she has the money？

17.why is the fob chain"worthy" of the watch？

18.what is meat by "quietness and value-the description applied to both"？

19.what is meat by "with that chain on his watch jim might be properly anxious about the time in any company"？

20.why does jim sometimes look at his watch "on the sly"？

21.why is "repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love" a "mammoth task？"

22.what does she look like after her work with the curling irons？

23.what do you think a "coney isiand chorus girl" looks like？why might jim not be pleased？

24.how does della feel while waiting for jim？

25.what， in jim's appearance， s the youngs have not much money？

26.how does jim react when he sees della？

27.how does della expect him to teact？ why is she surprised？

28.why does the writer invite his readers to "regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction"？

29.what is meant by"if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first"？

30.how does della react on seeing the combs？

31.what is jim's reaction when he sees his present？ what does he suggest they should do？ why？

32.who were the magi？

33.why does the writer affirm "let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest"？

mammon and the archer

1.how has anthorny rockwall made his fortune？

2.why does he grin at the sight of his neighbour？

3.why does he think his neighbour belongs in a museum？

4.what is meant by "i'll have this house painted red， white， and bule next summer and see if that'll make his dutch nose turn up any higher"？ does he really intend to paint his house？

5.what kind of man do you think rockwall is？

6.what is meant by "he had not yet taken the measure of this sire of his"？ why not？

7.what makes rockwall decide his son is a gentleman？

8.what does rockwall think of expensive soap？

9.what， in rockwall's opinion， can make a gentleman？

10.on what grouds does rockwall think he， himself，is"almost" a gentleman？

11.why does he think the "two old knickerbocker gents on each side" can't sleep at night？

12.what is young rockwall's opinion of money？

13.what does rockwall think money can do？

14.what is meant by "you tell me where your exclusive circles would be if the first astor hadn't had the money to pay for his steerage passage over"？ what does this tell you about the first astor？

15.what does rockwall think may be wrong with his son at first？

16.why does rockwall say"she'll jump at you" when his son admits he's in love？

17.what is the difficulty in the way of young rockwall's love affair？

18.where and when is the girl going？

19.how much time has young rockwall got with her before she leaves？

20.what is meant by "we can't buy one minute of time with cash； if we could， rich people would live longer"？

21.does rockwall agree with his son's opinion on time and money？

22.why do you think aunt ellen is "opressed by wealth"？

23.what is aunt ellen's opinion of money and love？

24.what is meant by "all your gold cannot bring happiness to your son"？

25.why does aunt ellen give him the ring？

26.why does he put the ring in his pocket？

27.how do richard and miss lantry travel to wallack's theatre？

28.why does richard stop the cab？

29.what happens during the minute richard is picking up the ring？

30.what happens during the street blockade？

31.why does anthony rockwall object to being disturbed that evening？

32.what part does kelly play in the street blockade？

33.why does kelly go to

see rockwall？

34.why do you think rockwall asks kelly if he has seen "a kind of a fat boy without any clothes on shooting arrows around with a bow"？

a blackjack bargainer

1.what kind of place is bethel？ where is it？

2.what do the words "sprawled"，"creaky" and"rickety" tell you about goree and his off？

3.why can goree hear the noise of the chips in the grand-jury room？

4.what is meant by "the treading of that path had cost goree all he ever had"？

5.what is meant by "the broken gambler had turned drundard and parasite"？

6.what is the final humiliation as far as goree is concerned？

7.what does goree do after being excluded from the ？

8.what is meant by "now no direct heir of the gorees survived except this plucked and singed bird of miortune"？

9.what is the difference between the only descendent of the gorees and the only descendent of the collranes？

10.why are there only these two descendents of the two familes？

11.what is groee thinking about on that sultry atternoon？

12.how has he been living since he lost all his money？ what is his problem？

13.what is meant by "if he fell no lower it would be from lack of opportunity"？

14.why does he smile when he remembers the people who bought his homestead？

15.where and what is "back yan"？

16.what kind of man is pike garvey？

17.how does rike live？

18.what is meant by "fortune， passing over many anxious wooers，made a treakish flight into blackjaok's bosky pockets to smife upon pike and his faithful partner"？

19.what does pike do when he first sees the prospectors？ why？

20.what does pike want to do with the money？

21.what does pike's

wife decide to do with the money？ why？

22.how does laurel represent a "compromise"？

23.describe pike and his wife.

24.what contacts have the garverys had with"society"？ are they satiied？

25.why does goree frown "ominously" when pike speaks of his feud？

26.why does pike think that nobody would pick a feud with them？ why does he want goree's？

27.how does goree react towards pike's other to buy his frud？

28.what is meant by"goree knew that his own flurry of rage had not been from pride and resentment， but from anger at himself，knowing that he would set foot in the deeper depths that were being opened to him"？

29.describe colonel abner collrane.

30.why is pike pleased when goree points coltane out to him？

31.what other thing does pike want to buy"fa'r and squar"？

32.what is goree's reaction to this？

33.what happens to the two hundred dollars？

34.in what state is goree the next morning？ what s this？

35.why has cltrane come to see goree？

36.how does coltrane persuade goree to go with him？

37.what is the countryside like？

38.when does goree's memory begin to return？ what makes him remember everything？

39.how does goree persuade coltrane to change hats and coats with him？

40.what happens？

41.what is meant by "thus did yancey goree.make， considering all things， the best ing that was in his power"？

a lickpenny lover

1.describe masie's appearance and character.

2.how does lving carter come to meet masie？

3.why does lving carter blush？

4.why is carter "far more awkward than bill of jack or mickey"？

5.why doesn't masie want him to call at her home？

6.what's meant by"you've been used to swell things， i don't think"？

7.why is carter shocked despite himself by masle's acceptance of his invitation without hesitation？

8.why is it normal for a shopgirl to meet somebody on the street？

9.why can't carter understand this fact？

10.does masie talk carter's proposal of mamiage seriously？ why？ why not？

11.what is meant by "at length he teached the flimsy， fluttering little soul of the shopgirl"？

12.what is meant by "the heart whose very lightness was its safest armor"？

13.where does carter prpose to take her？

14.what is meant by "he had come to know her varying， thistledown moods， and that it was useless to combat them"？

15.why does masie decide to finish with carter？

16.what do you think caused the misunderstanding？

内容梗概

麦琪的礼物

纽约一套周租八美元的公寓房里，年轻的主妇德拉跌坐在破旧的沙发里啜泣着。桌子上是分分角角的零钱，总共一元八角七分。只有这些了，德拉已数过三遍了，而且这还是她省吃俭用了几个月积攒起来的——丈夫每周二十美元的工资的确不大够用。可明天就是圣诞节了，这么点钱又能买什么礼物呢？

渐渐地，德拉止住了抽泣，走向穿衣镜前。突然她眼前一亮，但同时脸上却失去了血色。她望着镜中自己那瀑布般的棕色长发，泪水再一次溅落在破旧的地毯上。对于吉姆和德拉来说，有两样东西令他们引以自豪，一个吉姆祖传的金表，另一个便是德拉的满头秀发。迟疑了片刻之后，德拉将头发盘起，穿上破旧的外套，戴上帽子，奔出门去。

不一会儿，德拉便攥着二十美元，穿梭在各家商店，为吉姆挑选礼物了。最后她选中了一条漂亮的表链来配他的金表。

七点钟左右，吉姆下班回到家。一推开门，他便惊呆在门口，眼睛紧盯着德拉的短发，脸上呈现出一种古怪的表情。一直坐在桌前等候的德拉一边仰向丈夫，一边解释着，而吉姆却只是困惑不解的追问："你把头发剪了？" 随后，他从大衣口袋里掏出一个包裹，放在桌上。那是他送给妻子的圣诞礼物——一套昂贵的玳瑁梳子！可是他哪来这么多的钱呢？原来他把自己的金表卖了！

财神与爱神

退休的肥皂大王安东尼·罗克华尔没受过什么教育，但令他引以自豪的是自己白手起家，创下了一份很大的家业。用他自己的话说，"有了钱就好办。它几乎使我成了个上流人物。"对此，他的儿子理查德却不以为然。在理查德看来，金钱不是万能的——金钱买不到时间，也换不来爱情。

理查德的这一看法立刻博得了艾伦姑妈的赞同。当她听说侄子爱上了一位周旋于社交界的美丽姑娘兰特小姐却又苦于没有时间和机会向她表白心迹时，马上送来了一枚式样古朴的金戒指，并特别说明这是理查德的妈妈去世前托她转交的，能够给情人带来好运和幸福。但是戒指太小了，理查德没能戴上，便随手把它放入了马夹口袋，随后便出发去车站，接刚刚从拉奇蒙的姨妈家作客归来的兰特小姐去剧院看戏。

在他们乘马车去剧院的路上，理查德突然发现戒指掉了，便立刻让车夫停车，他下车去找。谁知他们这一停车却引起了一场交通阻塞。足足耽搁了两个小时。这漫长的两个小时中发生了什么事呢？

当晚十一时，艾伦姑妈兴冲冲地跑来告诉安东尼："他们订婚了！……"

故事到此本该结束了吧？可是第二天一个名叫凯利的人来到安尼东的书房向他报帐。报什么帐？原来那场交通阻塞是他奉安东尼之命雇人制造的！

黑桷的买主

在贝瑟尔镇开办律师事务所的扬西·戈里出生于、成长于黑桷山边的月桂村，那里也是戈里和科尔特兰两家世仇的发源地。现如今这两大家族却只剩下了一位男性后代——扬西·戈里和艾布纳·科尔特兰少校。少校是州议会的议员，有钱有势；而扬西却由于赌博、酗酒成性几乎输掉了自己所有的一切——遗产、房宅、甚至自尊心。

六个月前，扬西不得已将自家的老宅卖给了"山那边来的"派克·加维夫妇。他们之所以买得起是因为他们原先所居住的地方发现了云母矿，探矿队高价买下了他们的三十亩开垦地。派克没有正当的职业，但枪法却很好，以打松鼠为营生，并曾因贩私酒而坐过两年牢。

这一天，当扬西在自己的事务所里醉意正浓时，派克·加维再次来访。当他说明来意——要买戈里家同科尔特兰家的世仇，以便成为"上流人"——时，扬西心头火起。但是一看到那二百块钱，……

当扬西把加维"新买到的"仇人指给他看时，加维惊呼，"原来是他！"

加维走后，扬西迫不及待地奔向赌场……清晨三时，他被抬回事务所。第二天醒来时，他所看到的是科尔特兰少校和气光润的面孔。此时扬西混乱不清的脑海中忆起的却不是两家的世仇，而是小时候自己同少校的女儿们一起嬉戏的场面。当少校再三垦请他帮忙搞个设计，把一大批砍伐好的木材从高山边运到水道时，他同意了。两人马上前往月桂村。然而，马背上的颠簸却令扬西突然记起了昨晚发生的一切……路过戈里家老宅时，他们停下来稍事休息，瞥见了林中加维窥视的眼睛。

再次上马后，扬西提出要与少校换穿衣服，以免在旧日的朋友邻居面前丢人现眼，少校同意了……

吝啬的情人

芳龄十八的梅西姑娘美丽超群而且聪明机灵，是一家大百货公司男式手套柜台的售货员。遗憾的是，梅西家境贫寒却又虚荣心极强。她看不起那些同她一起站柜台的姑娘们，却又为自己也是他们中的一员而苦恼不已……

一天，画家、百万富翁、游客、诗人兼汽车商欧文·卡特先生被母亲硬拖进这家商店选购青铜雕像。当母亲在艺术品柜台前流连忘返时，卡特漫步到手套柜台，想要给自己买副手套。一看到梅西，卡特立刻被她的美貌所吸引，一见钟情爱上了她。付了钱，接过手套，卡特又在柜台前逗留了一会儿——他还从未面临过这种自己不知如何去应付的局面：怎样去邀一位素不相识的姑娘呢？但是心中燃烧的爱情之火终于令他鼓起了勇气，走上前去……

相识两周后的一个傍晚，在一个树林掩映的幽静公园里，卡特向梅西求婚，并且许诺要带她去周游世界——游威尼斯到印度，去日本……

那么梅西呢？她答应他了吗？

快乐王子

奥斯卡·王尔德（1854～1900）1854年生于爱尔兰。曾就读于都柏林三一学院和牛津大学马格德兰学院。大学期间，王尔德投身于唯美派文学运动，由于智慧过人而赢得广泛的声望。

大学毕业后，王尔德迁居伦敦，不久便成为伦敦各界的宠儿。他的讽刺，辛辣的社会批评和和洞察力，反传统的思想以及奇异的行为成为伦敦人街谈巷议的话题。1895年，他被指控有同性恋行为，判处两年监禁。这件丑闻使先前的崇拜者和朋友疏远了他。最后穷困潦倒的他于1900年死在巴黎。

《快子王子及其它故事》发表于1888年。这本童话集具有象征意义及道德内容，老少咸宜，经久不衰。

王尔德的其它主要作品包括他惟一的一部小说《道林·格雷的画》，剧本《温德米尔夫人的扇子》（1892）、《一个无足轻重的女人》（1893）、《理想丈夫》（1895）及《诚挚的重要性》（1895）。

€€the happy princeand and other tales

oscer wilde （1854-1900） was born in ireland in 1854.he attended trinity college in dublin and magdalen college at oxford.while still a university student， wilde became involved in the aesthetic movement， and gained a wide-spread reputation for his brilliant wit.

after completing his studies， wilde moved to the capital， and rapidly became the darling of london society.his irony， biting social criticism and insight， unconventional ideas， and eccentric behaviour made him the talk of the town.a scandal brought his downfall in 1895.he was accused of homosexuality， and sentenced to two years in prison.ostracized by his former admirers and friends， demoralized and in poor health， wilde died in paris in 1900.

the happy prince and other tales was published in 1888.it is a collection of fairy tales with symbolic and moral content.this famous work of oscar wilde has been read and re-read by young and old alike over several generations.

other well-known works by oscar wilde include his only novel， the picture of dorian gray （1891）， and his plays：lady windermere's fan （1892）， a woman of no lmportance（1893），an ideal husbant （1895），and the importance of being earnest （1895）， which is considered his masterpiece.

the happy prince

high above the city， on a tall column， stood the statue of the happy prince.he was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold， for eyes he had two bright sapphires， and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

he was very much admired indeed.he is as beautiful as a weathercock，' remarked one of the town councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes； only not quite so useful，' he added， fearing lest people should think him unpractical， which he really was not.

'why can't you be like the happy prince？' asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon.the happy prince never dreams of crying for anything.'

'i am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy，' muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

'he looks just like an angel，' said the charity children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks， and their clean white pinafores.

'how do you know？' said the mathematical master， you have never seen one.'

'ah！ but we have， in our dreams，'answered the children； and the mathematical master frowned and looked very severe， for he did not approve of children dreaming.

one night there flew over the city a little swallow.his friends had gone away to egypt six weeks before， but he had stayed behind， for he was in love with the most beautiful reed.he had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth， and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.

'shall i love you？'said the swallow， who liked to come to the point at once， and the reed made him a low bow.so he flew round and round her， touching the water with his wings， and

silver ripples.this was his courtship， and it lasted all through the summer.

'it is ridicnious attachment，'twittered the other swallows， she has no money， and far too many relations： and indeed the river was quite full of reeds.then， when the autumn came， they all flew away.

after they had gone he felt lonely， and began to tire of his lady-love.she has no conversation，'he said， and i am afraid that she is a coquette， for she is always flirting with the wind.'and certainly， whenever the wind blew， the reed made the most graceful cursies.i admit that she is domestic，'he continued，but i love travelling， and my wife， consequently， should love travelling also.'

'will you come away with me？'he said finally to her； but the reed shook her head， she was so attached to her home.

'yow have been trifling with me，' he cried， i am off to the pyramids.good-bye！'and he flew away.

all day long the flew， and at night-time he arrived at the city.where shall i put up？'he said； i hope the town has made preparations.'

then he saw the statue on the tall column.i will put up there，' he cried； it is a fine position with plenty of fresh air.'so he alighted just between the feet of the happy prince.

'i have a golden bedroom，' he said softly to himself as he looked round， and he prepared to go to sleep； but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him.what a curious thing！' he cried，there is not a single cloud in the sky， the stars are quite clear and bright， and yet it is raining.the climate in the north of europe is really dreadful.the reed used to like the rain， but that was merely her selfishness.'

then another drop fell.

'what is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off？'he said； i must look for a good chimney-pot，'and he determined to fly away.

but before he had opened his wings， a third drop fell， and he looked up， and saw-ah！ what did he see？

the eyes of the happy prince were filled with tears， and tears were running down his golden cheeks.his face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little swallow was filled with pity.

'who are you？'he said.

'i am the happy pr.'

'why are you weeping then？'asked the swallow， you have quite drenched me.'

'when i was alive and had a human heart，'answered the statue，i did not know what tears were， for i lived in the palace of sans-souci， where sorrow is not allowed to enter.in the daytime i played with my companions in the garden， and in the evening i led the dance in the great hall， round the garden ran a very lofty wall， but i never cared to ask what lay beyond it， everything about me was so beautiful.my courtiers called me the happy prince， and happy indeed i was， if pleasure be happiness.so i lived， and so i died.and now that i am dead they have set me up here so high that i can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city， and though my heart is made of lead yet i cannot choose but weep.'

'what is he not solid gold？'said the swallow to himself.he was too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.

'far away，'continued the statue in a low musical vo，far away in a little street there is a poor house.one of the windows is open， and through it i can see a woman seated at a table.her face is thin and worn， and she has coarse， red hands， all pricked by the needle， for she is a seamstress.she is embroidering passion-flowers on a satin gown for the love liest of the queen's maids-of -honour to wear at the next court-ball.in a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill.he has a fever， and is asking for oranges.his mother has nothing to give him but river water， so he is crying.swallow， swallow， little swallow， will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt？ my feet are fastened to this pedestal and i cannot move.'

'i am waited for in egypt，'said the swallow.my friends are flying up and down the nile， and talking to the large lotus-flowers.soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great king.the king is there himself in his painted coffin.he is wrapped in yellow linen， and embalmed with sps.round his neck is a chain of pale green jade， and his hands are like withered leaves.'

'swallow， swallow， little swallow，'said the prince， will you not stay with me for one night， and be my messenger？ the boy is so thirsty， and the mother so sad.'

'i don't think i like boys，'answered the swallow.last summer， when i was staying on the river， there were two rude boys， the miller's sons， who were always throwing stones at me.they never hit me， of course； we swallows fly far too well for that， and besides， i come of a family famous for its agility； but still， it was a mark of disrespect.'

but the happy prince looked so sad that the little swallow was sorry.it is very cold here，'he said； but i will stay with you for one night， and be your messenger.'

'thank you， little swallow，'said the prince.

so the swallow picked out the great ruby from the prince's sword， and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.

he passed by the cathedral tower， where the white marble angels were sculptured.he passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing.a beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover.how wonderful the stars are，' he said to her and how wonderful is the power of love！' i hope my dress will be ready in time for the state-ball，' she answered； i have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it； but the seamstresses are so lazy.'

he passed over the river， and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships.he passed over the ghetto， and saw the old jews bargaining with each.other， and weighing out money in copper scales.at last he came to the poor house and looked in.the boy was tossing feverishly on his bed， and the mother had fallen asleep， she was so tired.in he hopped， and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman's thimble.then he flew gently round the bed， fanning the boy's forehead with his wings.how cool i feel，'said the boy， i must be getting better；'and he sank into a delicious slumber.

then the swallow flew back to the happy prince，and told him what he had done.it is curious，'he remarked， but i feel quite warm now， although it is so cold.'

'that is because you have done a good action，'said the prince.and the little swallow began to think， and then he fell asleep.thinking always made him sleepy.

when day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath.what a remarkable phenomenon，'said the professor of orni-thology， as he was passing over the bridge.a swallow in winter！' and he wrote a long letter about it to the local news paper.every one quoted it， it was full of so many words that they could not understand.

'to-night i go to egypt，'said the swallow， and he was in high spirits at the prospect.he visited all the public monuments， and sat a long time on top of the church steeple.wherever he went the sparrows chirruped， and said to each other， what a distinguished stranger！'so he enjoyed himself very much.

when the moon rose he flew back to the happy prince.have you any commissions for egypt？'he cried； i am just starting.'

'swallow， swallow， little swallow，'said the prince， will you not stay with me one night longer？'

'i am waited not in egypt，'answered the swallow， tomor-row my friends will fly up to the second cataract.the river-horse crouches there among the bulrushes， and on a great granite throne sits the god memmon.all night long he watches the stars.and when the morning star shines he utters one cry to joy， and then he is silent.at noon the yellow lions come down to the water's edge to drink.they have eyes like green beryls， and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.'

'swallow， swallow， little swallow，'said the prince， far away across the city i see a young man in a garret.he is leaning over a desk covered with papers， and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered violets.his hair is brown and crisp， and his lips are red as a pomegranate， and he has large and dreamy eyes.he is trying to finish a play for the director of the theatre， but he is too cold to write any more.there is no fire in the grate， and hunger has made him faint.'

'i will wait with you one night longer，'said the swallow， who really had a good heart.shall i take him another ruby？'

'alas！ i have no ruby now，'said the prince：my eyes are all that i have left.they are made of rare sapphires.which were brought out of india a thousand years ago.pluck out one of them and take it to him.he will sell it to the jeweller， and buy food and firewood， and finish his play.'

'dear prince，'said the swallow， i cannot do that；'and he began to weep.

'swallow， swallow， little swallo，'said the prince， do as i command you.'

so the swallow plucked out the prince's eye， and flew away to the student's garret.it was easy enough to get in， as there was a hole in the roof.through this he darted， and came into the room.the young man had his head buried in his hands， so he did not hear the flutter of the bird's wings， and when he looked up he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

'i am beginning to be appreciated，'he cried； this is from some great admirer.now i can finish my play，'and he looked quite happy.

the next day the swallow flew down to the harbour.he sat on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests out of the hold with ropes.heave a-boy！'they shouted

as each chest came up.i am going to egypt！'cried the swallow， but nobody minded， and when the moon rose he flew back to the happy prince.

'i am come to bid you good-bye，'he cried.

'swallow， swallow， little swallow，'said the prince， will you not stay with me one night longer？'

'it is winter，'answered the swallow， and the chill snow will soon be here.in egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees， and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them.my companions are building a nest in the temple of baalbec， and the pink and white doves are watching them and cooing to each other.dear prince， i must leave you， but i will never forget， you， and next spring i will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away.the ruby shall be redder than a red rose， and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea.'

'in the square below，'said the happy prince， there stands a little match-girl.she has let her matches fall in the gutter， and they are all spoiled.her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money， and she is crying.she has no shoes or stockings， and her little head is bare.pluck out my other eye ，and give it to her， and her father will not beat her.'

'i will stay with you one night longer，'said the swallow， but i cannot pluck out your eye.you would be quite blind then.'

'swallow， swallow， little swallow，'said the prince， do as i command you.'

so he plucked out the prince's other eye， and darted down with it.he swooped past the match-girl， and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand.what a lovely bit of glass，'cried the little girl； and she ran home， laughing.

then the swallow came back to the prince.you are blind now，'he said， so i will stay with you always.'

'no， little swallow，'said the poor prince， you must go away to egypt.'

'i will stay with you always，'said the swallow， and he slept at the prince's feet.

all the next day he sat on the prince's shoulder， and told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands.he told him of the red ibises， who stand in long rows on the banks of the nile， and catch gold fish in their beaks；of the sphinx， who is as old as the world itself， and lives in the desert， and knows everything； of the merchants， who walk slowly by the side of their camels， and carry amber beads in their hands； of the king of the mountains of the moon， who is as black as ebony， and worships a large crystal； of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree， and has twenty priests to feed it with honey-cakes； and of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves， and are always at war with the butterflies.

'dear little swallow，'said the prince，' you tell me of marvellous things， but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women.there is no my stery so great as misery.fly over my city， little swallow， and tell me what you see there.'

so the swallow flew over the great city， and saw the rich

merry in their beautiful houses.while the beggars were sitting at the gates.he flew into dark lanes， and saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets.under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one another's arms to try and keep themselves warm.how hungry we are！'they said.you must not lie here，'shouted the watchman， and they wandered out into the rain.

then he flew back and told the prince what he had seen.

i am covered with fine gold，' said the prince， you must take if off， leaf by leaf， and give it to my poor； the living always think that gold can make them happy.'

leaf after leaf of the fine gold the swallow picked off， till the happy prince looked quite dull and grey.leaf after leaf of the fine gold he brought to the poor， and the children's faces grew rosier， and they laughed and played s in the street.we have bread now！'they cried.

then the snow came， and after the snow came the frost.the street looked as if they were made of silver， they were so bright and glistening； long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the eaves of the houses， everybody went about in furs， and the little boys wore scariet caps and skated on the .

the poor little swallow grew colder and colder， but he would not leave the prince， he loved him too well.he picked up crumbs outside the baker's door when the baker was not looking， and tried to keep himself warm by flapping his wings.

but at last he knew that he was going to die.he had just strength to fly up to the prince's shoulder once more.goodbye， dear prince！'he murmured， will you let me kiss you hand？'

'i am glad that you are going to egypt at last， little swallow，'said the prince， you have stayed too long here； but you must kiss me on lips， for i love you.'

'it is not to egypt that i am going，' said the swallow.i am going to the house of death.death is the brother of sleep， is he not？'

and he kissed the happy prince on the lips， and fell down dead at his feet.

at that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue， as if something had broken.the fact is that the leaden heart had smapped right in two.it certainly was a dreadfully heart had snapped right in two.it certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.

early the next morning the mayor was walking in the square below in company with the town councillors.as they passed the column he looked up at the statue：dear me！ how shabby the happy prince looks！'he said.

'how shabby indeed！'cried the town councillors， who always agreed with the mayor， and they went up to look at it.

'the ruby has fallen out of his sword， his eyes are gone， and he is golden no longer，'said the mayor； in fact， he is little better than a beggar！'

'little better than a beggar，'said the town councillors.

'and here is actually a dead bird at his feet！'continued the mayor.we must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here.'and the town clerk made a note of the suggestion.

so they pulled down the statue of the happy prince.as he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful，'said the art professor at the university.

then they melted the statue in a furnace， and the mayor held a meeting of the corporation to decide what was to be done with the metal， we must have another statue， of course，'he said， and it shall be a statue of myself.'

'of myself，'said cach of the town councillors， and they quarrelled.when i last heard of them they were quarrelling still.

'what a strange thing！'said the overseer of the workmen at the foundry.this broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace.we must throw it away.'so they threw it on a dustheap where the dead swallow was also lying.

'bring me the two most precious things in the city.'said god to one of his angels； and she angel brought him the leaden heart and the dead bird.

'you have rightly chosen，'said god.for in my garden of paradise this little bird shall sing for evemore， and in my city of gold the happy prince shall praise me.'

the nightingale and the rose

'she said that the would dance with me if i brought her red roses，'cried the young student；' but in all my garden there is no red rose.'

from her nest in the holm-oak tree the nightingale heard him， and she looked out through the leaves， and wondered.

'no red rose in all my garden！'he cried， and his beautiful eyes filled with tears.'ah， on what little things does happiness depend！ i have read all that the wise men have written， and all the secrets of philosophy are mine， yet for want of a red rose is my life made wretched.'

'here at last is a true lover，'said the nightingale.'night after night have i sung of him， though i knew him not： night after night have i told his story to the stars， and now i see him.his hair is dark as the hyacinth-blossom， and his lips are red as the rose of his desire； but passion has made his face like pale ivory， and sorrow has set her seal upon his brow.'

'the prince gives a ball to-morrow night，'murmured the young student，'and my love will be of the company.if i bring her a red rose she will dance with me till dawn.if i bring her a red rose， i shall hold her in my arms.and she will lean her head upon my shoulder， and her hand will be clasped in mine.but there is no red rose in my garden， so i shall sit lonely， and she will pass me by.she will have no heed of me， and my heart will break.'

'here indeed is the true lover，'said the nightingale.'what i sing of， he suffers' what is joy to me， to him is pain.surely love is a wonderful thing.it is more precious than emeralds， and dearer than fine opats.pearls and pome granates can not byu it， nor is it set forth in the market-place.it may not be purchased of the merchants nor can it be weighed out in the balance for gold.'

'the musicians will sit in their gallery，'said the young student，'and play upon their stringed instruments， and my love will dance to the sound of the harp and the violin.she will dance so lightly that her feet willnot touch the floor.and the courtiers in their gay dresses will throng round her.but with me she will not dance， for i have nored rose to give her，' and he flung himself down on the grass，and buried his face in his hands， and wept.

'why is he weeping？'asked a little green lizard， as he ran past him with his tall in the air.

'why， indeed？'whispered a daisy to his neighbour， in a soft， low vo.

'he is weeping for a red rose，'said the nightingale.

'for a red rose！'they cried：'how very ridiculous！'and the little lizard， who was something of a cvnic， laughed outright.

but the nightingale understood the secret of the student's sorrow， and she sat silent in the oak-tree， and thought about the mystery of love.

suddenly she spread her brown wings for flight， and soared into the air.she passed through the grove like a shadow， and like a shadow she sailed across the garden.

in the centre of the grass-plot was standing a beautiful rose-tree， and when she saw it， she flew over to it， and lit upon a spray.

'give me a red rose，'she cried，'and i will sing you my sweetest song.'but the tree shook its head.

'my roses are white.'it answered；'as white as the foam of the sea， and whiter than the snow upon the mountain.but go to my brother who grows round the old sun-dial， and perhaps he will give you what you want.'

so the nightingale flew over to the rose-tree that was growing round the old sun-dial.

'give me a red rose，'she cried，'and i will sing you my sweetest song.'

but the tree shook its head.

'my roses are yellow，'it answered；'as yellow as the hair of the mermaiden who sits upon an amber throne， and yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the meadow before the mower comes with his scythe.but go to my brother who grows beneath the student's window， and perhaps he will give you what you want.'

so the nightingale flew over to the rose-tree that was growing beneath the student's window.

'give me a red rose，'she cried，'and i will sing you my sweetest song.'

but the tree shook its head.

'my roses are red.'it answered.as red as the feet of the dove， and redder than the great fans of coral that wave and wave in the ocean-cavern.but the winter has chilled my veins， and the frost has nipped my buds.and the storm has broken my branches.and i shall have no roses at all this year.'

'one red rose is all i want，'sried the nightingale，'only one red rose！ is there no way by which i can get it？'

'there is a way，'answered the tree：'but it is so terrible that i dare not tell it to you.'

'tell it to me，'said the nightingale，'i am not afraid.'

'if you want a red rose，'said the tree，'you must build it out of music by moonlight， and stain it with your own heart's-blood.you must sing to me with your breast against a thorn.all night long you must sing to me， and the thon， must pierce your heart， and your life-blood must flow into my veins， and become mine.'

'death is a great pr to pay for a red rose，'cried the nightingale，'and life is very dear to all.it is pleasant to sit in the green wood， and to watch the sun in his chariot of gold， and the moon in her chariot of pearl.sweet is the scent of the hawthorn， and sweet are the bluebells that hide in the velley and the heather that blows on the hill.yet love is better than life， and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man？'

so she spread her brown wings for flight， and soared into the air.she swept over the garden like a shadow， and like a shadow she sailed through the grove.

the young student was still lying on the grass.where she had left him， and the tears were not yet dry in his beautiful eyes.

'be happy，'cried the nightingale，'be happy； you shall have your red rose.i will build it out of music by moon light， and stain it with my own heart's-blood.all that i ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover， for love is wiser than philosophy， though she is wise， and mightier than power， though he is mighty.flame-coloured are his wings， and coloured like flame is his body.his lips are sweet as honey， and his breath is like frankincense.'

the student looked up from the grass， and listened， but he could not understand what the nightingale was saying to him， for he only knew the things that are written down in books.

but the oak-tree understood， and felf sad， for he was very fond of the little nightingale who had built her nest in his branches.

'sing me one last song，'he whispered；'i shall feel very lonely when you are gone.'

so the nightingale sang to the oak-tree， and her vo was like water bubbling from a silver jar.

when she had finished her song the student got up， and pulled a note-book and a lead-pencil out of his pocket.

'she has form，'he said to himself， as he walked away through the grove-'that cannot be denied to her； but has she got feeling？ i am afraid not.in fact， she is like most artists； she is all style， without any sincerity.she would not sacrif herself for others.she thinks merely of music， and everybody knows that the arts are selfish.still， it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in the vo.what a pity it is that they do not mean anything， or do any practical good.'and he went into his room， and lay down on his little pallet-bed， and began to think of his love； and， after a time， he fell asleep.

and when the moon shone in the heavens the nightingale flew to the rose-tree， and set her breast against the thorn.all night long she sang with her breast against the thorn， and the cold crystal moon leaned down and listened.all night long she sang， and the thorn went deeper and deeper into her breast， and her life-blood ebbed away from her.

she sang first of the birth of love in the heart of a boy and a girl.and on the topmost spray of the rose-tree there blossomed a marvellous rose， petal following petal， as song followed song.pale was it， at first， as the mist that hangs over the dawn.as the shadow of a rose in a mirror of silver， as the shadow of a rose in a water-pool， so was the rose that blossomed on the topmost spray of the tree.

but the tree cried to the nightingale to press closer against the thorn，'press closer， little nightingale，'cried the tree， 'or the day will come before the rose is finished.'

so the nightingale pressed closer against the thorn， and louder and louder grew her song， for she sang of the birth of passion in the soul of a man and a maid.

and a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose， like the flush in the face of the brideg room when he kisses the lips of the bride.but the thorn had not yet reached her heart， so the rose's heart remained white， for only a nightingale's heart's-blood can crimson the heart of a rose.

and the tree cried to the nightingale to press closer against the thorn.'press closer， little nightingale， ' cried the tree， 'or the day will come before the rose is finished.'

so the nightingale pressed closer agains the thorn， and the thorn touched her heart， and a fierce pang of pain shot through her.bitter， bitter was the pain， and wilder and wilder grew her song， for she sang of the love that is perfected by death， of the love that dies not in the tomb.

and the marvellous rose became crimson， like the rose of the eastern sky.crimson was the girdle of petals， and crimson as a ruby was the heart.

but the nightingale's vo grew fainter， and her little wings began to beat， and a film came over her eyes.fainter and fainter grew her song， and she felt something choking her in her throat.

then she gave one last burst of music.the white moon heard it， and she forgot the dawn， and lingered on in the sky.the red rose heard it， and it trembled all over with ecstasy， and opened its petals to the cold morning air.echo bore it to her purple cavern in the hill， and woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams.it floated through the reeds of the river.and they carried its message to the sea.

'look， look！'cried the tree， 'the rose is finished now；'but the nightingale made no answer， for the was lying dead in the long grass， with the thorn in her heart.

and at noon the studnet opened his window and looked out.

'why， what a wonderful piece of luck！'he cried；'here is a red rose！ i have never seen any rose like it in all my life.it is so beautiful that i am sure it has a long latin name；'and he leaned down and plucked it.

then he put on his hat， and ran up to the professor's house with the rose in his hand.

the daughter of the professor was sitting in the doorway winding blue silk on a reel， and her little dog was lying at her feet.

'you said that you would dance with me if i brought you a red rose，'cried the student.'here is the reddest rose in all the world.you will wear it to-night ext your heart， and as we dance together it will tell you how i love you.'

but the girl frowned.

'i am afraid it will not go with my dress.'she answered；'and， besides， the chamberlain's nephew has sent me some real jewels， and everybody knows that jewels cost far more than flowers.'

'well， upon my word， you are very ungrateful，'said the student angrily； and he threw the rose into the street， where it fell into the gutter， and a cart-wheet went over it.

'ungrateful！'said the girl，'hell you what， you are very rude； and， after all， who are you？ only a student.why， i don't believeyou have even got silver buckles to your shoes as the chamber-lain's nephew has； and she got up from her chair and went into the house.

'what a silly thing love is.'said the student as he walked away.'it is not half as useful as logic， for it does not grove anything， and it is always telling oneof things that are not true.in fact， it is quite unpractical， and， as in this age to be practical is everything， i shall go back to philosophy and study metaphysics.'

so he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book， and began to read.

the selfish giant

every afternoon， as they were coming from school， the children used to go and play in the giant's garden.

it was a large lovely garden， with soft green grass.here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars， and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl， and in the autumn bore rich fruit.the birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their s in order to listen to them'how happy we are here！'they cried to each other.

one day the giant came back.he had been to visit his friend the cornish ogre， and had stayed with him for seven years.after the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say， for his conversation was limited， and he determined to return to his own castle.when he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden.

'what are you doing there？'he cried in a very gruff vo， and the children ran away.

'my own garden is my own garden，'said the giant，'any one can understand that， and i will allow nobody it play in to but myself.'so he built a high wall all round it， and put up a not-board.

trespassers will be prosecuted

he was a very selfish giant.

the poor children had now nowhere to play.they tried to play on the road， but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones， and they did not like it.they used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over， and talk about the beautiful garden inside.'how happy we were ，'they said to each other.

then the spring came， and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds.only in the garden of the selfish giant it was still winter.the birds did not care tosing in it as there were no children， and the strees forgot to blossom.once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass ，but when it saw the not-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again， and went off to sleep.the only people who were pleased were the snow and the frost.'spring has forgotten this garden，'they cried.'so we will live here all the year round.'the snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak， and the frost painted all the trees silver.then they invited the north windto stay with them， and he came.he was wrapped in furs， and he roared all day about the garden， and blew the chimney-pots down.'this is a delightful spot，'he said，'we must ask the hail on a visit.'so the hail came.every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates， and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go.he was dressed in grey， and his breath was like .

'i cannot understand why the spring is so late in coming，'said the selfish giant， as he sat at the window and looked out at his could white garden；'i hope there will be a change in the weather.'

but the spring never came， nor the summer.the autumn gave golden fruit to every garden， but to the giant's garden she gave none.'he is too selfish，'she said.so it was always winter there， and the north wind and the hail， and the frost， and the snow danced about through the trees.

one morning the giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music.it sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the king's musicians passing by.it was really only a little linnet singing outside his window， but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world.then the hail stopped dancing over his head， and the north wind ceased roaring， and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement.'i believe the spring has come at last，'said the giant； and he jumped out of bed and looked out.

what did he see？

he saw a most wonderful sight.through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in， and they were sitting in the branches of the tress.in every tree that he could see there was a little child.and the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms， and were waving their arms gently above the children's heads.the birds were flying about and twittering with delight， and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing.it was the farthest corner of the garden， and in it was standing a little boy.he was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree， and he was wandering all round it， crying bitterly.the poo tree was still quite covered with frost and snow， and the north wind was blowing and roaring above it.'climb up！ little boy，'said the tree， adn it bent its branches down as low as it could； but the boy was too tiny.

and the giant's heart melted as he looked out.'how selfish i have been！'he said；'now i know why the spring would not come here.i will put that poorlittle boy on the top of the tree， and then i will knock down the wall， and my garden shall be the children's playground for ever and ever.'he was really very sorry for what he had done.

so he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly， and went out into the garden.but when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away， and the garden became winter again.only the little boy did not run， for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the giant coming.and the giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand， and put him up into the tree.and the tree broke at once into blossom， and the birds came and sang on it， and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the giant's neck， and kissed him.and the other children， when they saw that the giant was not wicked any longer， came running back， and with them came the spring.'it is your garden now， little children，'said the giant， and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall.and when the people were going to market at twelve o'ckock they found the giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen.

all day long they played， and in the evening they came to the giant bid him goodbye.

'but where is your little companion？'he said ：'the boy i put into the tree.' the giant loved him the best because he had kissed him.

'we don't know，'answered the children ；'he has gone away.'

'you must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow，'said the giant.but the children said that they did not know where he lived， and had vever seen him be fore；and the giant felt very sad.

every afternoon， when school was over， the children came and played with the giant.but the little boy whom the giant loved was never seen again.the giant was very kind to all the children， yet he longed for his first little friend， and often， spoke of him.'how i would like to see him！'he used to say.

years went over， and the giant grew very old and feeble， he could not play about any more， sohe sat in a huge armchair， and watched the children at their ganes， and admired his garden， 'i have many beautiful flowers，'he said；'but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.'

one winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing.he did not hate the winter now， for he knew that it was merely the spring asleep， and that flowers were resting.

suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder， and looked and looked.it certainly was a marvellous sight， in the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms.its branches were all golden， and silver fruit hung down from them， and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved.

downstairs ran giant in great joy， and out into the garden.he hastened across the grass， and came near to the child.and when he came quite close his face grew red with anger， and he said， who hath dared to wound thee？'for on the palras of two nail's were on the little feet.

'who hath dared to wound thee？'cried the giant；'tell me that i may big sword and slay him.'

'nay！'ansered the child；'but these are the wounds of love.'

'who art thou？'said giant， ane a strange awe fell on him， and he knelt before the little child.

and the child smiled on the giant， and said to him， 'you let me play once in your garden， to-day shall come with me to my garden， which is parndise.'

and when the children ran in that afternoon， they found the giantying dead under the tree， all covered with white blossoms.

the devoted friend

one morning the old water-rat put his head out his hole.he had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers， and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber.the little ducks were swimming about in the pond， looking just like a lot of yellow canaries， and their mother， who was pure white with real red legs， was trying to teach them how to stand on their heads in the water.

'you will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your heads.'she kept saying to them； and every now and then she ed them how it was done.but the little ducks paid no attention to her.they were so young that did not know what an advantage it is to be in society at all.

'what disobedient children！'cied the old water-rat；'they really deserve to be drowned.'

'nothing of the kind，'answered the duck，'every one must make a beginning， and parents cannot be too patient.'

'ah！ know nothing about the feelings of parents，'said the water-rat； 'i am not a family man.in fact， i have never been married， and i never intend to be.love is all very well in its way， but friendship is much higher.indeed， i know of nothing in the world that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship.'

'and what， pray， is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend？'asked a green linnet， who was sitting in a willow-tree hard by， and had overheard the conversation.

'yes， that is just what i want to know，'said the duck， and she swam away to the end of the pond， and stood upon her head， in order to give her children a good example.

'what a silly question！'cred the water-rat.'i should expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me.of course.'

'and what would you do in return？'said the little bird， swinging upon a silver spray， and flapping his tiny wings.

'i don't understand you.'answered the water-rat.

'let me tell you a story on the subject，'said the linnet.muts.in the winter， also he was extremely lonely， as the miller never came to see him then.

"there is no good in my going see little hans as long as the snow lasts，"the miller used to say to his wife."for when people are in trouble they should be left alone， and not be bothered by visitors.that at least is my idea about friendship， and i am sure i am right.so i shall wait till the spring comes， and then i shall pay him a visit， and he will be able to give me a large basket of primroses， and he will be able to give me a large badket of primroses， and that will make him so happy."

"you are certainly very thoughtful about others，"answered the wife， as she sat in her comfortable armchair by the big pinewood fire；"very thoughtrul indeed.it is quite a treat to hear you atlk about friendship.i am sure the elergy man him self could not say such beautiful things as you do， though he does live in a therr-storied house， and wear a gold ring on his ittle finger."

"but could we not ask little hans up here ？"said the miller's youngest son."if poor hans is in trouble i will give him half my porridge， and

him my white rabbits."

"what a silly boy you are！"cried the miller，"i really don't know what is the use of sending you to school.you seem not to learn anytheing.why.if little hans came up here， and saw our warm fire， and our good supper， and our great cask of red wine， he might get envious， and envy is a most terrible thing， and would spoil anybody's nature.i certainly will not allow hans's nature to be spoiled.iam his best friend， and i will always watch over him ，and see that he is not led into any temptations.besides， if.hans came here， he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit， and that i could not do.flour is one thing， and friendship is another， and they should not be confused.why， the words are spelt differently， and mean quite different things.everybody can see that."

'"how well you talk！"said the miller's wife.pouring herself out a large glass of warm ale； "really i feel quite drowsy.it is just like being in church."

'"lots of people act well，"answcred the miller；"but very few people talk well， which s that talking is much the nore difficult thing of the two， and much the finer thing also；"and he looked sternly across the table at his little son， who felt so ashamed of himse the table at his little son， who felt so ashamed of himself that he hung his head down， and grew quite scarlet， and began to cry into his tea.however， he was so young that you must excuse him.

'is that the end of the story？ asked the

water-tat.'

'is rhw aroey about me？'asked the water-rat.'if so， i will listen to it， for i am extremely fond of fiction.'

'it is applicable to you 'answered the linnet； and he flew down， and alighting upon the bank， he told the story of the devoted friend.

'once upon a time，'said the linnet，'there was an honest little fellow named hans.'

'was he very distinguished？'asked the water-rat.

'no，'answered the linnet， 'i don't think he was

distin-guished at all.except for his kind heart， and his funny round good-humoured face.he lived in a tiny cottage all by himself and every day he worked in his garden.in all the country-side there was no garden so lovely as his.sweet-william grew there， and gilly-flowcrs， and shepherds' purses and fairmaids of france.there were damask roses， and yellow roses， lilac crocuses， and gold， purple violets and white.columbine and ladysmock.marjoram and wild basil， the cowslip and the flower-de-luce，the daffodil and the clove-pink blooned or blossomed in their proper order as the months went by， one flower taking another flower's place， so that there were always beautiful things to look at， and pleasant odours to smell.'

'little hans had a great many friends，but the most devoted friend of all was big hugh the miller.indeed， so devoted was the rich miller to little hans， that he would never go by his garden without leaning over the wall and plucking a large nosegay， or a handful of sweet herbs， or filling his pockets with plums and cherries if it was the fruit season.

"real friends should have every thing in common，" the miller used to say， and little hans nodded and smiled， and felt very proud of having a friend with such noble ideas.

'sometimes， indeed， the neighbours thought it strange that the rich miller never gave little hans anything in return though he had a hundred sacks of flour stored away in his mill and six milch cows， and a large flock of woolly sheep； but hans never troubled his head about these things， and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to all the wonderful things the millet used to say about the unselfishness of true friendship.

'so little hans worked away in his garden.during the spring，the summer， and the autumn he was very happy， but when the winter came， and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market， he suffered a good deal from cold and hunger， and

often had to go to bed without any supper but a few dried pcars or some hard muts， in the winter， also he was extremely lonely， as the miller never came to see him then.

'"there is no good in my going to see little hans as ling as the snow lasts." the miller used to say to his wife，"for when people are in trouble they should be left alone， and not be bothered by visitors.that at least is my ides about friendship， and i am sure iam right.so i shall wait till the spring comes， and then i shall pay him a visit， and that will make him so happy."

'"you are certainly very thoughtful about others."answered the

wife， as she sat in her com for table armchair by the big pinewood fire，"very thoughtful indeed.it is quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship.am sure the clergyman himself could not say such beautiful things as you do， though he does live in a three-storied house， and wear a gold ring on his little finger."

'"but could we not ask little hans came up here？" saidthe miller's youngest son."if poor hans is in trouble i will give him half my porridge， and

him my white rabbits."

'"what a silly boy you are！"cried the miller； "i really don't know what is the use of sending you to school.you seem not to learn anything.why， if little hans came up here， and saw our warm fire， and our good supper， and our great cask of red wine， he might get envious， and envy is a most terrible thing， and would spoil anybody's nature.i certainly will not allow hans's nature to be spoiled.i am his best friend， and i will always watch over him， and see that he is not led into any temptations.besides， if.hans came here， he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit， and that i could not do.flour is one thing， and friendship is another， and they should not be confused.why， the words are spelt differently， and mean quite different things.everybody can see that."

'"how well you talk！"said the miller's wife， pouring herself out a large glass of warm ale；"really i feel quite drowsy.it is just like being in church."

'"lots of people act well，"answered the miller； but very few people talk well， which s that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two， and much the finer thing also；"and he loodked sternly across the table at his little son ，who felt so ashamed of himself that he hung his head down， and grew quite scarlet， and began to cry into his tea， how ever， he was so young that you must excuse him."

'is that the end of the story？'asked the water-rat.

'then you are qulte behind the age said the wnter-rut，'every good story-telier nowadays starts with the end， and then goes on to the beginning， and concludes with the middle.that is the new nethod， i heard all about it the other day from a critic who was walking round the pond with a young man made any remark， he always answered"pooh！"but pray go on with your story.i like the miller immensely， i have all kinds of beautiful sentiments my self， so there is a great sympathy between us.'

'well，said the linnet， hopping now on one leg and mow on the other， as soon as the winter was over，and the primroses began to open their pale yellow stars， the miller said to his wife that he would go down and see little hans.

'"why， what a good heart you have！"cried his wife."you are always thinking of others.and mind you take the big basket with you for the flowers."

'so the miller tied the sails of the windmill together with a strong iron chain， and went down the hill with the basket on his arm.

'"good mornig， little hans."said the miller.

'"good mornig，"said hans， leaning on his spade， and smiling from ear to ear.

'"and how have you been all the winter？"said the miller.

'"well， really，"cried hans，"it is very good of you to ask， very good indeed.i am afraid i had rather a hard time of it but now the spring has come， and i am quite happy， and all my flowers are doing well."

'"we often talked of you during the winter， hans."said the miller， "and wondered how you were getting on."

'"that was kind of you，"said hans； " i was half afraid you had forgotten me."

'"hans.i am surprised at you，"said the miller，"friendship never forgets.that is the wonderful thing about it.but i am afraid you don't understand the poetry of life.how lovely your primroses are looking， by-the-bye！"

'"they are certainly very lovely，"said hans，"and it is a most lucky thing for me that i have so many.i am going to bring them into the market and sell them to the burgomaster's daughter.and buy back my wheelbarrow with the money."

'"buy back your wheelbarrow？ you don't mean to say you have sold it？ what a very stupid thing to do ！"

'"well， the fact is，"said hans."that i was obliged to.you see the winter was a very bad time for me， and i really had no money at all to buy bread with.so i first sold the silver buttons off my sunday coat， and then i sold my silver chain.and then i sold my big pipe.and at last i sold my wheelbarrow.but i amgoing to buy them all back again now."

'"hans，"said the miller."i will give you my wheelbarrow.it is not in very good repair， indeed.one side is gone， and there is something wrong with the wheel-spokes： but in spite of that i will give it to you.i know it is very generous of me， and a great many people would think me extremely foolish for farting with it.but i am not like the rest of the world i think that generosity is the essence of friendship， and.besides.i have got a mew wheclbarrow for myself.yes.you may set your mind at ease.i will give you my wheelbarrow."

'"well， really， that is generous of you，"said little hans.and his runny round face glowed all over with pleasure."i can easily pur it in repair， as i have a plank of wood in the house."

'"a plank of wood！"said the miller；"why， that is just what i want for the roof of my barn.there is a very large hole in it.and the corn will all get damp if i don't stop it up.how lucky you mentioned it！ it is quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another.i have given you my wheelbarrow.and now you are going to give me your plank.of course， the wheelbarrow is worth far more than the plank，but true friendship mever nots things like that.pray get it at once， and i will set to work at my barn this very day."

'"certainly，"cried little hans.and ran into the shed and dragged the plank out.

'"it is not a very big plank."said the miller.looking at it "and i am afraid that after i have mended my barn-roof.there won't be any left for you to mend the wheelbarrow with， but of course.that is not my fault.andnow， as i have given you my wheelbarrow.i am sure you would like to give me some flowers in return.here is the basket， and mind you！fill it quite full."

"quite full？"said little hans， rather sorrowfully， for it was really a very big basket， and he knew that if he filled it he would have no flowers left for the market， and he was very anxious to get his silver buttonsback.

'"well， really，"answered the miller，"as i have given you my wheelbarrow，i don't think that it is much to ask you for few flowers.i may be wrong， but i should have thought that friendship， friendship.was quite free from selfishness of any kind."

"my dear friend， my bestfriend."cried little hans."you are welcome to all the flowers in my garden.i would much sooner have your good opinion than my silver buttons ， any day；"and he ran and plucked all his pretty primroses， and filled the miller's basket.

"good-bye，little hans."said the miller.as he went up the hill with the plank on his shoulder， and the big basket in his hand.

"good-bye."said little hans.and he began to dig away quite merrily， he was so pleased about the wheelbarrow.

'the next day he was nailing up some honeysuckle against the porch， when he heard the miller's vo calling to him from the road.so he jumped off the ladder.and ran down the garden.and looked over the wall.

'there was the miller with a large sack of flour on his back.

'"dear little hans，"said the miller，"would you mind carrying his sack of flour for me to market？"

'"oh， i am so sorry，"said hans，"but i am really very busy to-day.i have got all my creepers to nail up， and all my flowers to water， and all my grass to roll."

'"well， really，"said the miller."i think that.considering that i am going to give you my wheelbarrow.it is rather unfriendly of you to refuse."

'"oh，don't say that."cried little hans，"i wouldn't be unfriendly for the whole world；"and the he ran in for his cap his cap， and trudged off with with the big sack on his shoulders.

'it was a very hot day， and the road was terribly dusy， and before hans had reached the sixth milestone he was so tired that be had to sit down and rest.however， he went on bravely， and at last he reached market.after he had waited there some time.he sold the sack of flour for a very good pr，and then he retuined home at once， for he was afraid that if he stopped too late he might meet some some robbers on the way.

'"it has cetrainly been a hard day，"said little hans to himself as he was going to bed， "but i am gland i did not refuse the miller， for he is my best friend， and， besides， he is going to give me his wheelbarrow."

'early the next morning the miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour，but little hans was so tired that he was still in bed.'

'"upon my word，"said the miller，"you are very lazy.really， considering that i am going to give you my wheelbar-row， i think you might work harder， idieness is a great sin， and i certainly don't like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish.you must not mind my speaking quite plainly to you.of course i should not dream of doing so if i were not your friend.but what is the good of friendship if i were not your friend.but what is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means？ anybody can say charming things and try to please and to flatter， but a true friend always says unpleasant things， and does not mind giving pain.indeed， if he is a really true friend he prefers it， for he knows that then he is doing good."

'"i am very sorry，"said little hans， rubbing his eyes and pulling off his night-cap，"but i was so tired that i thought i would lie in bed for a little time， and listen to the birds singing.do you know that i always work better after hearing the birds sing ？"

'"well， i am glad of that，"said the miller， clapping little hans on the back，"for i want you to come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed， and mend my barn-roof for me."

'poor little hans was， very anxious to go and work in his garden， for his flowers had not been watered for two days， but he did not like to refuse the miller， as he was such a good friend to him.

'"do you think it would be unfriendly of me if i said i was busy？"he inquired in a shy and timid vo.

'"well， really，"answered the miller，"i do not think it is much to ask of you， considering that i am going to give you my wheelbarrow； but of course if you refuse i will go and do it myself."

'"oh！ on no account，"cried little hans； and he jumped out of bed， and dressed himself， and went up to the barn.

'he worked there all day long， till sunset， and at sunset the miller came to see how he was getting on.

'"have you mended the hole in the roof yet， little hans？"cried the miller in a cheery vo.

'"it is quite mended，"answered little hans， coming down the ladder.

'"ah！"said the miller，"there is no work so delingtful as the work one does for others."

'"it is certainly a great privilege to hear you talk，"answered little hans， sitting down and wiping his forehead， "a very great privilege.but i am afraid i shall never have such beautiful ideas as you have."

'"oh！ they will come to you，"said the miller，"but you must take more pains.at present you have the theory also."

'"do you really think i shall？"asked little hans.

'"i have no doubt of it，"answered the miller，"but now that you have mended the roof， you had better go home

and rest， for i want you to drive my sheep to the mountain tomorrow."

'poor little hans was afraid to say anything to this，and early the next morning the miller brought his sheep round to the cottage， and hans started off with them to the mountain， it took him the whole day to get there and back， and when he returned be was so tired that he went off to sleep in his chair and did not wake up till it was broad daylight.

'"what a delightful time i shall have in my garden，"he said，and he went to work at once.

'but somehow he was never able to look after his flowers at all， for his friend the miller was always coming round and sending him off on long errands， of getting him to help at the mill.little hans was very much distressed at times， as he was afraid his flowers would think he had forgotten them， but he consoled himself by the reflection that the miller was his best friend."besides，"he used to say，"he is going to give me his wheelbarrow，and that is an act of pure generosity."

'so little hans worked worked away for the miller， and the miller said all kinds of beautiful things about friendship， which hans took down in a note-book， and used to read over at night， for he was a very good scholar.

'now it happened that one evening little hans was sitting by his fireside when a loud rap came at the door.it was a very wild night， and the wind was blowing and roaring round the house so terribly that at first he thought it was merely the storm.but a second rap came， and then a third， louder than either of the others.

'"it is some poor traveller，" said little hans to himself， and he ran to the door.

'there stood the miller with a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other.

'"dear little hans，"cried the miller，"i am in great trouble.my little boy has fallen off a ladder and hurt himsclf， and i am going for the doctor but he lives so far awny and it is such a bad night， that it has just occurred to me that it would be much better it you went instead of me.you know i am going to give you my wheelbarrow， and so it is only fair that you should do something for me if return."

'"certainly，"cried little hans，"i take it quite as a compli-ment your coming to me， and i will start off at once.but you must lend me your lantern， as the night is so dark that i am afraid i might fall into the ditch."

'"i am very sorry，"answered the miller，"but it is my new lantern， and it would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it."

'"well， never mind， i will do without it，"cried little hans， and the took down his great fur coat， and his warm scarlet cap， and tied a muffler round his throat， and started off.

'what a dreadful storm it was！ the night was so black that little hans could hardly see， and the wind was so strong that he could scarcely stand.however， he was so strong that he could scarcely stand.however， he was very courageous， and after he had been walking about three hours， he arrived at the doctor's house， and knocked at the door.

'"who is there？"cried the doctor， putting his head out of his bedroom window.

'"little hans， doctor."

'"what do you want， little hans？"

'"the miller'son has fallen from a ladder， and has hurt himself，and the miller wants you to come at once."

'"all right！"said the doctor，and he ordered his horse， and his big boots， and his lantern， and came downstairs， and rode off in the direction of the miller's house， little hans trudging behind him.

'but the storm grew worse and worse， and the rain fell in torrents， and little hans could not see where he was going， or keep up with the hores.at last he lost his way， and wandered off on the moor， which was a very erous place， as it was full of deep holes， and there poor little hans was drowned.his body was found the next day by some goatherds， floating in a great pool of water， and was brought back by them to the cottage.

'everybody went to little hans's funeral， as he was so popular， and the miller was the chief mourner.

'"as i was his best friend，"said the miller，"it is only fair that i should have the best place，"so he walked at the head of the procession in a long black cloak， and every now and then he wiped his eyes with a big pocket-handkerchief.

'"little hans is certainly a great loss to every one，"said the blacksmith.when the funeral was over， and they were all seated comfortably in the inn， dring spieed wine and eating sweet cakes.

'"a great loss to me at any rate，"answered the miller"why， i had as good as given him my wheelbarrow， and now i really don't know what to do with it.it is very much in my way at home， and it is in such bad repair that i could not get anything for it if i sold it.i will certainly take care not to give away any thing again.one always suffers for being generous."'

'well？' said the water-rat， after a long pause.

'well， that is the end，said the linnet.

'but what became of the miller？ asked the water-rat.'

'oh！ really don't know，'replied the linnet；'and i am sure that i don't care.'

'it is quite evident then that you have no sympathy in your nature，'said the

water-rat.

'i am afraid you don't quite see the moral of the story，'remarked the linnet.

'the what？'sereamed the water-rat.

'the moral'

'do you mean to say that the story has a moral？'

'certainly'said the linnet.

'well， really，'said the whter-rat，in a very ang ymanner，'i think you should have told me that before you began.it you had done so.i certainly would not have listened to you； in fact， i should have said "pooh，"like the critic.however， i can say it now；'so he shouted out 'pooh'at the top of his vo， gave a whisk with his tail， and went back into his hole.

'and how do you like the water-rat？'asked the duck，who came paddling up some up some minutes afterwards.'he has a great many good points， but for my own part i have a mother's feelings， and i can never look at a confirmed bachelor without the tears coming into my eyes.'

'i am rather afraid that i have annoyed him，'answered the linnet.'the fact is that i told him a story with a moral.'

'ah！ that is always a very erous thing to do，'said the duck.

and i quite agree with her.

the remarkable rocket

the king's son was going to be married， so there general rejoicings.he had waited a whole year for his bride， and at last she had arrived.she was russian prineess， and had driven all the way from finland in a slesge drawn by six reindeer.the sledge was shaped like a great golden swan， and between the swan's wings lay the little prineess herself.her long ermine cloak reached right down to her feet.on her head was a tiny cap of silver tissue，and she was as pale as the snow palace in which she had always lived.so pale was she that as she drove through the streets all the people wonderd.'she is like a white rose！'they cried and they threw down flowers on her from the balconies.

at the gate of the castle the prince was waiting to receiveher.he had dreamy violeteyes， and his hair was like fine gold.when he saw her he sank upon one knee， and kissed her hand.

'your picture was beautiful，'he murmured，'but you are more beautiful than your pieture； 'and the little princess blushed.

'she was like a white rose before.'said a young page to his neighbour.'but she is like a red rose now ；'and the whole court was delighted.

forthe next three days wverybody went about saying，'white rose， red rose， red， white rose； and the king gave orders that the page's salary was to be doubled.as he received no salary at all this was not of much use to him， but it was considered a great honour， and was published in the court gazette.

when the three days were over the marriage was celebrated.it was a magnifnt ecremony， and the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand under a canopy of purple velvet embroidered with little pearls.then there was a state banquet， which lasted for five hours.the prince and princess sat at the top of the great hall and drank out of a cup clear crystal.only true lovers could drink out of this cup， for if false lips touched it，it grew grey and dull and cloudy.

'it is quite clear that they love each other.'said the little page 'as clear as crystal！'and the king doubled his salary a second time，'what an honour！'cried all the courtiers.

afrer the banquet there was to be a ball.the bride and bridegroom were to dance the rose-dance together， and the king had promised to play the flute.he played very badly， but no one had ever dared to tell him so， because he was the king.indeed， he only knew two airs， and was never quite certain which one he was playing； but it made no matter， for， whatever he did， everybody cried out， charming！charming！'

the last

on the programme was a grand display of fireworks， to be let off exactly at midnight， the little princess had never seen a firework in her life， so the king had given orders that the royal pyrotechnist should be in attendance on the day of her marriage.

'what are fireworks loke？'she had asked the prince.one morning， as she was walking on the terrace.

they are like the aurora borealis， said the king， who always answered questions that were addressed to other people， 'only much more natural， i prefer them to stars my self.as you always know when they are going to appear， and they are as delightful as my own flute-playing.you must certaingly see them.'

so at the end of the king's garden a great stand had been set up.and as soon as the royal pyrotechnist had put everything in its proper place， the fireworks began to talk to each other.

'the world is certainly very beautiful.'cried a squib.'just look at those yellow tulips.why！ if they were real crackers they could not be lovelier.i am very glad i have travelled.travel improves the mind wonderfully， and does away with all one's prejuds.'

'the king's garden is not the world.you foolish squib.'said a big roman candle； 'the world is an enormous place.and it would take you three days to see it thoroughly.'

'any place you love is the world to you.exclaimed a pensive catharine wheel.who had been attached to an old deal box in early life， and prided herself on her broken heart；'but love is not fashionable any more， the poets have killed it'.

they wrote so much about it that nobody believed them，and i am not surprised.true love suffers.and is silent， i remember myself once-but it is no matter now.romance is a thing of the past.

'nonsense！' said the roman candle，'romance never dies.it is like the moon， and lives for ever.the bride and bridegroom.for instance.love each other very dearly， i heard all about them this mornig from a brown-paper cartridge， who happened to be staying in the same drawer as myself， and knew the latest court news.'

but the catharine whell shook her head.'romance is dead， romance is dead， romance is dead，'she murmured， she was one of those people who think that， if you say the same thing over and over a great many times， it becomes true in the end.

suddenly， a sharp， dry cough was heard， and thev all looked round.

it came from a tall， supercilious-looking rocket， who was tied to the end of a long stick.he always coughed before he made any observation， so as to attract attention.

'ahem！ ahem！' he said， and everybody listened except the poor catharine wheel， who was still shaking her head， and murmuring， 'romance is dead.'

'order！ order！'cried out a cracker.he was something of a politician， and had always taken a prominent part in the local elections， so he knew the proper parliamentary expressions to use.

'quite dead，'whispered the catharine wheel，and she went off to sleep.

as soon as there was perfect silence， the rocket coughed a third time and began.he spoke with a very slow， distinct vo， as if he was dictating his memoris， and always looked over the shoulder of the person to whom he was talking.in fact， he had a most distinguished manner.

'how fortunate it is for the king's son，'he remarked，'that he is to be married on the very day on which i am to be let off.really， if it had been arranged beforehand， it could not have turned out better for him； but princes are always lucky.'

'dear me！ 'said the little squib， 'i thought it was quite the

other way， and that we were to be let off in the prince's honour.'

'it may be so with you，'he answered； indeed， i have no doubt that it is， but with me it is different.i am a very remarkable rocket， and come of remarkable parents.my mother was the most celebrated catharine wheel of her day， and was renowned for her graceful dancing.when she made her great public appearance she spun round nineteen times before she went out， and each time that she did so she threw into the air seven pink stars.she was three feet and a half in diameter， and made of the very best gunpowder.my father was a rocket like myself.and of french extruction.he flew so high that the people were afrald that he would never come down again.he did， though， for he was of a kindly disposition， and he made a most brilliant descent in a er of golden rain.the newspapers wrote about his performance in very flattering terms.indeed， the court gazette called him a triuph of pylotechnic art.'

'pyrotechnic， pyrotechnic， you mean，'said a bengal light； 'i know it is

pyrotechnic， for i saw it written on my own canister.'

'well， i said plyotechnic，'answered the rocket， in a severe tone of vo， and the bengal linght felt so crudhed that he began at once to bully the little squibs， in order to

that he was still a person of some importance.

'i was saying，'continued the rocket，'i was saying-what was i saying？'

'you were talking about yourself，'replied the roman candle.

'of course； i knew i was discussing some interesting subject when i was so rudely interrupted.i hate rudeness and bad manners of every kind， for i am， i am quite sure of that.'

'what is a sensitive person？'said the cracker to the roman candle.

'a person who， because he has corns himself always treads on other people's toes，'answered the roman candle in a low whisper； and the cracker nearly exploded with laughter

'pray， what are you larghing at？ 'inquired the rocket；'i am not laughing.'

'i am laughing because i am happy，'replied the cracker.

'that is a very selfish reason.' said the rocket angrily.'what right have you to be happy？ you should be thinking a bout others.in fact， you should be thinking about me.i am always thinking about myself， and i expect every body else to do the same.that is what is called sympathy.it is a beautiful virtue，and i possess it in a high degree.suppose， for instance anything happened to me to-night， waht a miortune that would be for every one！ the prince and princess woild never be happy again.their whole married life would be spoiled-and as for the king， i know he would not get over it.really when i begin to reflect on the importance of my position i am almost moved to tears.'

'if you want to give pleasure to others.'cried the roman candle，'you had better keep yourself dry.'

'certainly，'exclaimed the bengal light， who was now in better spirits；'that is only common sense.'

'common sense， sense， indeed！'said the rocket indingnantly； you forget that i am very uncommon， and very remarkable.why.anybody can have common sense， provided that they have no imagination.but i have imagination， for i never think of things as they really are； i always think of them as being quite different.as for keeping myself dry， there is evidently no one here who can at all appreciate an emotional nature.fortunately for myself， i don't care.the only thing that sustains one through life is the consciousness of the immense in feriority of everybody else， and this is a feeling that i have always cultivated.but none of you have any hearts.here you are larghing and

merry just as if the prince and princess had not just been married.'

'well.really，'exclaimed a small fire-balloon，'why not？ it is a most joyful occasion， and when i soar up into the air i intend to tell the stars all about it.you will see them twinkle when i talk to them about the pretty bride.'

'ah！ what a trivial view of life！'said the rocket， 'but it is only what i wxpected.there is nothing in you， you are hollow and empty.why， perhaps the prince and princess may go to live in a country where there is a deep river， and perhaps they may have one only son， a little fair-haired boy with violet eyes like the prince himself； and perhaps the nurse may go to sleep under a great elder-tree； and perhaps the little boy may fall into the deep river and be drowned.what a terrible miortune！ poor people to lose their only son！ it is really too dreadful！ i shall never get over it.'

'but they have not lost their only son.'said the roman candle； 'no miortune has happened to them at all.'

'i never said that they had，'replied the rocket；'i said that they might， if they had lost their only son there would be no use in saying anything more about the matter.i hate people who cry over spilt milk.but when i think that they might lose their only son， i certainly am very much affected.'

'you certainly are！'cried the bengal light.'in fact， you are the most affected person i ever met.'

'you are the rudest person i ever met.'said the rocket，'and you cannot understand my friendship for the prince.'

'why， you don't even know him.'growled the roman candle.

'i never said i knew him.'answered the rocket.'i dare say that if i knew him i should not be his friend at all.it is a very erous thing to know one's friends.'

'you had really better keep yourself dry.'said the fire-balloon.'that is the important thing.'

'very important for you.i have no doubt.'answered the rocket.'but i shall weep of i choose；'and he actually burst into realtears， which flowed down his stick like raindrons， and nearly drowned two little beetles， who were just thinking of setting up house together， and were looking for a n dry spot to live in.

'he must have a truly romantic nature.'said the catharine wheel.'for he weeps when there is nothing at all to weep about；'and she heaved a deep sigh， and thought about the deal box.

but the roman candle and the bengal light were quite indingnant， and kept saying.humbug！ humbug！'at the top of their vos.they were extremely practical， and whenever they objccted to anything they called it humbug.'

then the moon tose like a wonderful silver shield， and the stars began to shine， and a sound of music came from the palace.

the prince and princess were leading the dance.they danced so beautifully that the tall white lilies peeped in at the window and watched them， and the great red poppies nodded their heads and beat time.

then ten o'clock struck， and then eleven，and then twelve and at the last strode of midnight every one came out on the terrace， and the king sent for the royal pyrotechnist.

'let the fireworks begin，'said the king； and the royal pyrotechnist made a low bow， and marched down to the end of the garden.he had six attendants with him， cach of whom carried a lighted torch at the end of a long pole.

it was cerainly a magnifnt display.

whizz！ whizz！ went the catharine wheel， as she spun round and round.boom！ boom！ went the roman candle.then the squibs daneed all over the place.and the bengal lights made everything look sxarlet.'good-bye.'cried the fire-balloon.as he soared away dropping tiny blue sparks.band！ bang！answered the crackers， who were enjoying themselves immensely.every one was a great success except the remarkable rocket.he was so damp with crying that he could not go off at all.the best thing in him was the gunpowder， and that was

so wet with tears that it was of no use.all his poor relations， to whom he would never speak， except with a sneer.shot up into the sky like wonderful golden flowers with blossons of fire.huzza！ huzza！cried the court and the little princess laughed with pleasure.

'i suppose they are reserving me for some grand occasion.'said the rocket；'no doubt that is what it means.'and he looked more supercilious than ever.

the next day the work men came to put everything tidy.'this is evidently a deputation'said the rocket；'i will receive them with becoming dignity；'so he put his nose in the air， and began to frown severely as if he were thinking about some very important subject.but they took no not of him at all till they were just going away.then one of them caught sight of him.'hallo！'he cried， 'what a bad rocket！'and he threw him over the wall into the ditch.

'bad rocket ocket？ bad rocket？'he said as he whirled through the air；'jmpossible！ grand rocket，that is what the man said.b a d and grand sound very much the same， indeed they they often are the same；'and he fell into the mud.

'it is not comfortable here，'he remarked，'but no doubt it is some fashionable watering-place， and they have sent me away to recruit my health.my nerves are certainly very much shattered， and i require rest.'

then a little frog，with bright jewelled eyes， and a green mottled coat， swam up to him.

'a new arrival，i see！'said the frog.'well，after all there is nothing like mud.give me rainy weather and a ditch， and i am quite happy.do you think it will be a wet afternoon？ i am sure i hope so， but the sky is quite blue and cloudless.what a pity！'

'ahem！ ahem！'said the rocket， and he began to cough.

'what a delightful vo you have！'cried the frog.'really it is quite like a croak， and croaking is of course the most musical sound in the world.you will hear our glee-club this evening.we sit in the old duck-pond close by the farmer's house，and as soon as the moon rises we begin.it is so entrancing that everybody lies awake to listen to us.in fact， it was only yesterday that i heard the farmer's wife say to her mother that she could not get a wink of sleep at night on account of un.it is most gratifying to find oneself so popular.'

'ahem！ ahem！'said the rocket angrily.he was very much annoyed that he could not get a word in.

'a delightful vo， certainly，'continued the frog；'i hope you will come over to the duck-bond.i am off to look for my daughters.i have six beautiful daughters.and i am so afraid the pike may meet them.he is a perfect monster， and would have no hesitation in break fasting off them.well， good-bye； i have enjoyed our conversation very much.i assure you.'

'conversation， indeed！'said the rocket.'you have talked the whole time yourself.that is not conversation.'

'somedoby must listen！ answered the frog； and i have to do all the talking myself.it saves time，and prevents artguments.'

'i hope not，'said the frong complacently.'arguments are extremely vulgar， for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions.good-bye a second time； i see my daughters in the distance；'and the little fronswam away.

'you are a very irritating person.'said the rocket，'and very ill-bred.i hate peope who talk about themselves， as you do， when one wants to talk about oneself.as i do.it is what i call selfishness， and selfishness is amost detestable thing， especially to any one of my temperament， for i am well known for my sympathetic nature.in fact， you should take example by me， you could not possibly have a better model.now that you have the chance you had better avail yourself of it， for i am going back to court almost immediately.i am a great favourite at court；in fact， the prince and princess were married yesterday in my honour.of course you know nothing of these matters， for you are a provincial.'

'there is no good talking to him，'said a dragon-fly， who was sitting on the top of a large brown bulrush；'no good at all，for he has gone away.'

'well， that is his loss， not mine，'answered the rocket.'i am not going to stop talking to him merely.it is one of my greatest pleasures.i often have long conversations all by my self， and i am so clever that sometimes i don't understand a single word of what i am saying.'

'then you should certainly lecture on philosophy，'said the dragon-fly； and he spread a pair of lovely gauze wings and soared away into the sky.

'how very silly of him not to stay here！'said the rocket.'i am sure that he has not often got such a chance of improving his mind.however， i don't care a bit.genius like mine is sure to be appreciated some day；'and he sank down a little deeper into the mud.

after some time a large white duck swam up to him.she had yellow legs， and webbed feet， and was considered a great beauty on account of her waddle.

'quack， quack， quack，'she said.what a curious shape you are！ 'may i ask were you born like that， or is it the result of an accident？'

'it is quite evident that you have always lived in the country.'answered the rocket，'otherwise you would know who i am， however， i excuse your ignorance.it would be unfair to expect other people to be as remarkable as oneself you will no doubt be surprised to hear that i can fly up into the sky， and come down in a er of golden rain.'

'i don't think much of that，'said the duck，'as i cannot see what use it is to any one.now， if you could plough the fields like the ox， or draw a cart like the house， or look after the sheep like the collie-dog， that would be something.'

'my good creature，'cried the rocket in a very haughty tone of vo，'i see that you belong to the lower ouders.a person of my position is never useful.we have certain accomplishments， and that is more than sufficient.i have no sympathy myself with industry of any kind， least of all with such industries as you seem to recommend.in deed， i have always been of opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do.'

'well， well，'said the duck， who was of a very peaceable disposition，and never quarrelled with any one，'everbody has different tastes.i hope， at any rate， that you are going to take up your residence here.'

'oh！ dear no，'cried the rocket.'i am merely a visitor， a distinguished visitor.the fact is that i find this place rather tedious.there is neither society here， nor solitude.in court， for i konw that i am destined.i shall probably go back to court， for i know that i am destined to make a sensation in the world.'

'i had thoughts of entering public life once myself，'remarked the duck；'there are so many things that need reforming.indeed， i took the chair at a meeting some time ago， and we passed resolutions condemning everything that we did not like.however， they did not seem to have much effect.now i go in for domesticity， and look after my family.'

'i am made for public life，'said the rocket，'and so are all my relations， even the humblest of them.whenver we appear we excite great attention.i have not actually appeared myself， but when i do so it will be a mangifnt sight.as for domesticity， it ages one rapidly， and distracts one's mind from higher things.'

'ah！ the higher things of life， how fine they are！'said the duck；'and that reminds me how hungry i feel；'and she swam away down the stream， saying 'quack， quack， quack.'

'come back！ come back！'sereamced the rocket，'i have a great deal to say to you；'but the duek paid no attention to him， i am plad that she had gone？ he said to himself，''she has a decidedly middle-class mind；'and he sank a little deeper still into the mud， and began to think about the loneliness of genius， when suddenly two little boys in white smocks came running down the bank， with a kettle and some faggots.

'this must be the deputation.'said the rocket.and he tried to look very dingnified.

'hallo！'cried one of the boys，'look at this old stick！ i wonder how it came here；'and he picked the roket out of the ditch.

'old stick！'said the rocket.'impossible！ gold stick.i that is what he said.gold sitck is very complimentary.in fact.he mistakes me for one of the court dignitaries！'

'let us put it into the fire！'said the other boy， 'it will help to boil the kettle.'

so they poled the faggots to gather， and put the rocket on top.boil the fire.

'this is magnifnt，'cried the rocket，'they are going to let me off in broad boiled；'and they lay down on the grass， and shut their eyes.

the rocket was very damp.so he took a long time to burn.at last， however， the fire caught him.

'now i am going off！'he cried， and he made himself very stiff and straight.' i know i shall go much higher than the stars， much higher than the moon， much higher than the sun.in fact， i shall go so high that-'

fizz！ fizz！ fizz！ and he went straight up into the air.

delightful！ he cried，' i shall go on like this forever.what a success i am ！'

but nobody saw him.

then he began to feel a curious tingling sensation all over him.

'now i am going to explode，'he cried.'i shall set the whole woeld on fire，

and make such a noise， that nobody will talk about anything else for a whole year， and he certainly did explode.bang！ bang！ bang！ went the gunpowder.there was no doubt about it.

but nobody heard him.not even the two little boys， for they were sound asleep.

then all that was left of him was the stick， and this fell down on

the back of a goose who was taking a walk by the side of the ditch.

'good heavens！'cried the goose.'it is going to rain sticks；'and she rushed into the water.

'i knew i should

a great sensation.'gasped the rocket， and he went out.

exercises

answer the following questions about wilde：

1.what nationality was wilde？

2.when was wilde born？ when did he die？

3.what was the name of the movement he became involved in while at oxford？

4.what characteristics made wilde popular in london society？

5.what happened in 1895？

6.did oscar wilde die happy？ explain.

7.when was the happy prince and other tales published？

8.how many novels did wilde write？

9.what is the name of wilde's most famous play？

answer the fo llowing questions about the happy prince：

1.who are the two main characters in the happy prince？

2.are the main characters human？

3.describe the life of the prince while he was alive.

4.why was the prince so sad？

5.why did the swallow agree to stay for one night？ what did he do for the prince？

6.what did the swallow do with do with the sapphire eyes of the prince？

7.why did the swallow decide not to fly to egypt？

8.what happened to the prince when the swallow died？

9.why did the mayor pull down the statue of the prince？

10.what two precious objects did the angel take from the city to paradise？

11.what is the moral of this story？

answer the following questions about the devoted frlend：

1.who are the main characters of this story？

2.where does the story take place？

3.describe the miller's character.

4.describe little hans's character.

5.do you prefer the miller or little hans？ why？

6"acting well"versus"talking well"：which of the two did the miller believe nore important？ what is your opinion？

7.what happened to little hans in the end？

8.do you think that the miller was a true and generous friend？

9.what is yor definition of friendship？

内容梗概

快乐王子

在一座城市里耸立着一尊高高的披金塑像。城市的人们称他为快乐王子。每天人们都赞美和羡慕他。一天，一只去埃及越冬的燕子飞落在塑像脚下。燕子从塑像那里得知，他曾是无忧宫的王子，生前一直过着快乐的生活，从不知痛苦是什么，因此王宫里的人都叫他"快乐王子。"他死后，人们竖起他的塑像。高高的位置使他看到了人间的丑恶和痛苦。王子请求小燕子留下来，取下他配剑上的红宝石，摘下他两支蓝宝石的眼睛，送给城里的穷人。小燕子为了帮助王子一天天留了下来。每日它飞翔在城市上空，遍察穷人的苦难，回去讲给王子。王子则一次次地让燕子把他身上的金片揭下来送给穷人。天愈来愈冷，小燕子终于被冻死了。快乐王子也由于日益丑陋，被拆除后送入熔炉熔化。王子的心是铅做的，不能熔化，于是工人把它扔入垃圾堆。

后来，上帝派天使去城市中将最珍贵的东西带给他。天使带来了铅心和死去的燕子。上帝把燕子和铅心放在天堂，让鸟儿为自己歌唱，让王子赞美他。

夜莺和玫瑰

一个年轻的大学生为没有红玫瑰而陷入痛苦中不能自拔。教授的女儿曾答应他，如果他能在即将举行的宫庭舞会上带给她一朵红玫瑰，她就会整晚与他跳舞。而他是那么地爱她。

夜莺被青年的真情所感动。为了人类崇高的爱情，它决定帮助他。它开始到处寻找红玫瑰。但是当它终于找到一棵红玫瑰树时，这棵树却困风寒而凋零了。玫瑰树告诉它，只有一种办法可以获得红玫瑰。夜莺必须在月光下将胸脯伏在玫瑰的刺上，一边歌唱，一边让自己的心灵之血流入枯萎的枝干，只有这样玫瑰才能绽放。

夜莺为了比生命更美好的爱情，飞向玫瑰树。它让玫瑰的刺穿透自己的胸脯，深入心脏。夜莺的鲜血培养出红霞般的玫瑰，而它自己却死在了树上。

青年打开窗户看到了红玫瑰。他迫不急待地带着它来到教授家。但是，教授的女儿已经有皇宫内侍的侄子送来的珠宝，不再稀罕玫瑰。

青年不再相信爱情这个不切实际的东西。回到家后，他重又钻入哲学和玄学的书堆中。

自私的巨人

巨人去拜访朋友，一去七年没有回来。他有个很大很美的花园，孩子们每天下午放学后都在里面玩耍。

但是有一天，巨人回来了。他把孩子们都赶出了花园，并在四周建立起高高的围墙。

春天来了，到处鸟语花香，但是巨人的花园中却风霜肃杀。

一天，巨人听到红雀优美的歌声。他打开窗子，看到孩子们从墙上的一个洞中钻进了花园，花园立即生机盎然。但在一个角落里，一个男孩站在树下，那里却依然冷若寒冬。巨人走过去，轻轻地把孩子放在树上，这个角落也春色一片了。

从此，孩子们整天在花园中嬉戏。可是就是不见那个男孩。这时的巨人已经很老了。

一个冬日的早晨，男孩又出现在花园里。他说："你曾经让我在你的花园中玩耍，现在我要带你去我的花园-天堂。"

第二天下午，孩子们看到巨人死在树下，身上覆盖着白花。

忠实的朋友

一天，水塘里的水鼠和红雀谈论起友情。水鼠说友情是最高贵，最稀有的东西。他愿他的朋友对他忠心不二。红雀问："那你又该怎么做呢？"水鼠不明白他的问题，于是红雀讲了一个故事。

从前有个诚实的人，叫汉斯。他有一个最美丽的花园。在他的许多朋友中，米勒是最忠实的。每逢路过米勒的花园，他总要采花、摘果。米勒就带着硕大的花篮采摘鲜花来了。汉斯说起他为生活所迫曾把自己的手推车卖掉了，现在要卖花把车赎回来。米勒答应将自己的旧车送给汉斯。汉斯感动万分。在给汉斯手推车的许诺下，米勒利用汉斯的善良支使他为自己做这做那。终于有一天，汉斯在为米勒的儿子请医生的途中迷路，淹死在沼泽里。

原来米勒要给汉斯的手推车是破得不能再修补，卖不上好价钱的东西。

故事讲完了，水鼠认为这个故事对他没什么寓意，而且非常不屑地钻回洞去。

非凡的爆竹

王子的婚礼上要燃放大量的烟花以示庆祝。

烟花燃放师把各种各样的烟花安排就位后，烟花之间谈话便开始了。

他们之中有一个叫"rocket"的大爆竹。他自命不凡，傲慢无礼，成了谈话的中心人物。他认为王子和公主非常幸运，因为他们要在他被燃放的日子里结婚。这对两位新人来说是无尚的光荣。大爆竹为自己的重要地位激动得泪盈眶。

午夜来临，其它的烟花都飞上了天空，尽显辉煌，只剩下大爆竹自己，因为他的泪水把自己染湿了。

工作人员第二天收拾燃放场时，把大爆竹当作废物扔进水沟。大爆竹不仅没有为此悲伤，反而更加洋洋自得，认为他来到了一处可以休息的好地方。在水沟中他对遇到的青蛙、蜻蜓和鸭子大讲自己如何聪明绝顶，身世不凡，并且认为他的讲话对每个人都不无裨益。

然而他在水沟中愈陷愈深。一天，两个孩子来到水沟旁，将其捞出扔进火里用来烧火。大爆竹终于燃起来，之后直冲云霄。他以为自己会点燃整个世界。他爆炸了。可是在白天既没有人看见他；也没人听到他。只是当他最后燃尽落下砸在鹅子背上时，才有一点点反应。可是大爆竹却以为他确实引起了巨大的轰动。