小學英語英語故事（童話故事）The Fir Tree樅樹

TheFirTree楓樹

Outinthewoodsstoodsuchaprettylittlefirtree.Itgrewinagoodplace,where

ithadplentyofsunandplentyoffreshair.Arounditstoodmanytallcomrades,

bothfirtreesandpines.

Thelittlefirtreewasinaheadlonghurrytogrowup.Itdidn，tcareathingfor

thewarmsunshine,orthefreshair,andittooknointerestinthepeasantchildren

whoranaboutchatteringwhentheycametopickstrawberriesorraspberries.Often

whenthechildrenhadpickedtheirpailsfull,orhadgatheredlongstringsofberries

threadedonstraws,theywouldsitdowntorestnearthelittlefir.〃0h,isn'tit

anicelittletree?”theywouldsay.〃It'sthebabyofthewoods.Thelittletree

didn'tliketheirremarksatall.

Nextyearitshotupalongjointofnewgrowth,andthefollowingyearanotherjoint,

stilllonger.Youcanalwaystellhowoldafirtreeisbycountingthenumberof

jointsithas.

〃IwishIwereagrown-uptree,1ikemycomrades,/zthelittletreesighed."Then

Icouldstretchoutmybranchesandseefrommytopwhattheworldislike.Thebirds

wouldmakemetheirnestingplace,andwhenthewindblewIcouldbowbackandforth

withallthegreattrees.，z

Ittooknopleasureinthesunshine,norinthebirds.Theglowingclouds,thatsailed

overheadatsunriseandsunset,meantnothingtoit.

Inwinter,whenthesnowlaysparklingontheground,aharewouldoftencomehopping

alongandjumprightoverthelittletree.Oh,howirritatingthatwas!Thathappened

fortwowinters,butwhenthethirdwintercamethetreewassotai1thatthehare

hadtoturnasideandhoparoundit.

〃0h,togrow,grow!Togetolderandtaller,thelittletreethought."Thatisthe

mostwonderfulthinginthisworld.

Intheautumn,woodcutterscameandcutdownafewofthelargesttrees.Thishappened

everyyear.Theyoungfirwasnolongerababytree,andittrembledtoseehowthose

statelygreattreescrashedtotheground,howtheirlimbswereloppedoff,andhow

leantheylookedasthenakedtrunkswereloadedintocarts.Itcouldhardlyrecognize

thetreesithadknown,whenthehorsespulledthemoutofthewoods.

Whereweretheygoing?Whatwouldbecomeofthem?

Inthespringtime,whenswallowsandstorkscameback,thetreeaskedthem,〃Doyou

knowwheretheothertreeswent?Haveyoumetthem?”

Theswallowsknewnothingaboutit,butthestorklookedthoughtfulandnoddedhis

head.〃Yes,IthinkImetthem,〃hesaid.〃0nmywayfromEgyptImetmanynewships,

andsomehadtall,statelymasts.Theymaywellhavebeenthetreesyoumean,for

Irememberthesmelloffir.Theywantedtoberememberedtoyou.，z

〃0h,IwishIwereoldenoughtotravelonthesea.Pleasetellmewhatitreally

is,andhowitlooks.〃

“Thatwouldtaketoolongtotell,saidthestork,andoffhestrode.

“Rejoiceinyouryouth,〃saidthesunbeams."Takeprideinyourgrowingstrength

andinthestiroflifewithinyou.”

Andthewindkissedthetree,andthedewweptoverit,forthetreewasyoungand

withoutunderstanding.

WhenChristmascamenear,manyyoungtreeswerecutdown.Somewerenotevenasold

orastallasthisfirtreeofours,whowasinsuchahurryandfrettogotraveling.

Theseyoungtrees,whichwerealwaysthehandsomestones,hadtheirbranchesleft

onthemwhentheywereloadedoncartsandthehorsesdrewthemoutofthewoods.

Wherecantheybegoing?”thefirtreewondered."TheyarenotallerthanIam.

OnewasreallymuchsmallerthanIam.Andwhyaretheyallowedtokeepalltheir

branches?”Wherecantheybegoing?”

Z/Weknow!Weknow!，zthesparrowschirped.〃Wehavebeentotownandpeepedinthe

windows.Weknowwheretheyaregoing.Thegreatestsplendorandgloryyoucanimagine

awaitsthem.We'vepeepedthroughwindows.We'veseenthemplantedrightinthe

middleofawarmroom,anddeckedoutwiththemostsplendidthings-goldapples,

goodgingerbread,gaytoys,andmanyhundredsofcandles.

“Andthen?”askedthefirtree,tremblingineverytwig."Andthen?Whathappens

then?”

〃Wesawnothingmore.Andneverhaveweseenanythingthatcouldmatchit.〃

〃IwonderifIwascreatedforsuchagloriousfuture?”Thefirtreerejoiced."Why,

thatisbetterthantocrossthesea.I'mtormentedwithlonging.Oh,ifChristmas

wouldonlycome!I'mjustastallandgrown-upasthetreestheychoselastyear.

HowIwishIwerealreadyinthecart,onmywaytothewarmroomwherethere，sso

muchsplendorandglory.Then-thensomethingevenbetter,somethingstillmore

importantisboundtohappen,orwhyshouldtheydeckmesofine?Yes,theremust

besomethingstillgrander!Butwhat?Oh,howIlong:Idon'tknowwhat'sthematter

withme.〃

Enjoyuswhileyoumay,“theairandsunlighttoldhim."Rejoiceinthedaysof

youryouth,outhereintheopen.〃

Butthetreedidnotrejoiceatall.Itjustgrew.Itgrewandwasgreenbothwinter

andsummer-darkevergreen.Peoplewhopasseditsaid,“There'sabeautifultree!，z

AndwhenChristmastimecameagaintheycutitdownfirst.Theaxstruckdeepinto

itsmarrow.Thetreesighedasitfelltotheground.Itfeltfaintwithpain.Instead

ofthehappinessithadexpected,thetreewassorrytoleavethehomewhereithad

grownup.Itknewthatneveragainwoulditseeitsdearoldcomrades,thelittle

bushesandtheflowersaboutit-andperhapsnoteventhebirds.Thedeparturewas

anythingbutpleasant.

Thetreedidnotgetoverituntilallthetreeswereunloadedintheyard,andit

heardamansay,"That'sasplendidone.That'sthetreeforus.〃Thentwoservants

cameinfinelivery,andcarriedthefirtreeintoabigsplendiddrawing-room.

Portraitswerehungallaroundthewalls.Oneithersideofthewhiteporcelainstove

stoodgreatChinesevases,withlionsonthelidsofthem.Therewereeasychairs,

silk-coveredsofasandlongtablesstrewnwithpicturebooks,andwithtoysthat

wereworthamintofmoney,orsothechildrensaid.

Thefirtreewasplantedinalargetubfilledwithsand,butnoonecouldseethat

itwasatub,becauseitwaswrappedinagaygreenclothandsetonamany-colored

carpet.Howthetreequivered!Whatwouldcomenext?Theservantsandeventheyoung

ladieshelpeditonwithitsfinedecorations.Fromitsbranchestheyhunglittle

netscutoutofcoloredpaper,andeachnetwasfilledwithcandies.Gildedapples

andwalnutshunginclustersasiftheygrewthere,andahundredlittlewhite,blue,

andevenred,candleswerefastenedtoitstwigs.Amongitsgreenbranchesswayed

dollsthatittooktobereallivingpeople,forthetreehadneverseentheirlike

before.Andupatitsverytopwassetalargegoldtinselstar.Itwassplendid,

Itellyou,splendidbeyondal1words!

“Tonight,“theyallsaid,“ah,tonighthowthetreewillshine!z/

〃0h,〃thoughtthetree,〃iftonightwouldonlycome!Ifonlythecandleswerelit!

Andafterthat,whathappensthen?Willthetreescometroopingoutofthewoods

toseeme?Willthesparrowsflocktothewindows?ShallItakeroothere,andstand

infineornamentsallwinterandsummerlong?”

Thatwashowmuchitknewaboutit.Al1itslonginghadgonetoitsbarkandset

ittoarching,whichisasbadforatreeasaheadacheisforus.

Nowthecandleswerelighted.Whatdazzlingsplendor!Whatablazeoflight!The

treequiveredsoineveryboughthatacandlesetoneofitstwigsablaze.Ithurt

terribly.

“Mercyme!〃criedeveryyounglady,andthefirewasquicklyputout.Thetreeno

longerdaredrustleatwig-itwasawful!Wouldn，titbeterribleifitweretodrop

oneofitsornaments?Itsownbrilliancedazzledit.

Suddenlythefoldingdoorswerethrownback,andawholeflockofchildrenburst

inasiftheywouldoverturnthetreecompletely.Theireldersmarchedinafterthem,

moresedately.Foramoment,butonlyforamoment,theyoungoneswerestricken

speechless.Thentheyshoutedtilltheraftersrang.Theydancedaboutthetreeand

pluckedoffonepresentafteranother.

〃Whataretheyupto?〃thetreewondered."Whatwillhappennext?”

Asthecandlesburneddowntothebarktheyweresnuffedout,onebyone,andthen

thechildrenhadpermissiontoplunderthetree.Theywentaboutitinsuchearnest

thatthebranchescrackledand,ifthetreehadnotbeentiedtotheceilingbythe

goldstarattop,itwouldhavetumbledheadlong.

Thechildrendancedaboutwiththeirsplendidplaythings.Noonelookedatthetree

now,exceptanoldnursewhopeeredinamongthebranches,butthiswasonlytomake

surethatnotanappleorfighadbeenoverlooked.

“Tellusastory!Tellusastory!thechildrenclamored,astheytowedafatlittle

mantothetree.Hesatdownbeneathitandsaid,“Hereweareinthewoods,and

itwilldothetreealotofgoodtolistentoourstory.Mindyou,I'11tellonly

one.Whichwillyouhave,thestoryofIvedy-Avedy,ortheoneaboutHumpty-Dumpty

whotumbleddownstairs,yetascendedthethroneandmarriedthePrincess?”

〃Ivedy-Avedy,〃criedsome."Humpty-Dumpty,〃criedtheothers.Andtherewasagreat

hullabaloo.Onlythefirtreehelditspeace,thoughitthoughttoitself,〃AmI

tobeleftoutofthis?Isn'tthereanythingIcando?〃Forallthefunoftheevening

hadcentereduponit,andithadplayeditspartwell.

ThefatlittlemantoldthemallaboutHumpty-Dumpty,whotumbleddownstairs,yet

ascendedthethroneandmarriedthePrincess.Andthechildrenclappedandshouted,

“Tellusanotherone!Tellusanotherone!”FortheywantedtohearaboutIvedy-Avedy

too,butafterHumpty-Dumptythestorytellingstopped.Thefirtreestoodverystill

asitponderedhowthebirdsinthewoodshadnevertolditastorytoequalthis.

“Humpty-Dumptytumbleddownstairs,yethemarriedthePrincess.Imagine!Thatmust

behowthingshappenintheworld.Younevercantell.MaybeI'11tumbledownstairs

andmarryaprincesstoo,〃thoughtthefirtree,whobelievedeverywordofthestory

becausesuchanicemanhadtoldit.

Thetreelookedforwardtothefollowingday,whentheywoulddeckitagainwith

fruitandtoys,candlesandgold."TomorrowIshallnotquiver,，zitdecided.〃I'11

enjoymysplendortothefull.TomorrowIshallhearaboutHumpty-Dumptyagain,and

perhapsaboutIvedy-Avedytoo.〃Allnightlongthetreestoodsilentasitdreamed

itsdreams,andnextmorningthebutlerandthemaidcameinwiththeirdusters.

“Nowmysplendorwillberenewed,，zthefirtreethought.Buttheydraggeditupstairs

tothegarret,andtheretheyleftitinadarkcornerwherenodaylightevercame.

"What'sthemeaningofthis?”thetreewondered.〃WhatamIgoingtodohere?What

storiesshallIhear?”Itleanedagainstthewall,lostindreams.Ithadplenty

oftimefordreaming,asthedaysandthenightswentby.Nobodycametothegarret.

Andwhenatlastsomeonedidcome,itwasonlytoputmanybigboxesawayinthe

corner.Thetreewasquitehidden.Onemightthinkithadbeenentirelyforgotten.

〃It'sstillwinteroutside,thetreethought."Theearthistoohardandcovered

withsnowforthemtoplantmenow.Imusthavebeenputhereforshelteruntil

springtimecomes.Howthoughtfulofthem!Howgoodpeopleare!Only,Iwishitweren*t

sodarkhere,andsovery,verylonely.There，snotevenalittlehare.Itwasso

friendlyoutinthewoodswhenthesnowwasonthegroundandtheharecamehopping

along.Yes,hewasfriendlyevenwhenhejumpedrightoverme,thoughIdidnotthink

sothen.Hereit'sallsoterriblylonely./z

“Squeak,squeak!”saidalittlemousejustthen.Hecreptacrossthefloor,and

anotheronefollowedhim.Theysniffedthefirtree,andrustledinandoutamong

itsbranches.

〃Itisfearfullycold,“oneofthemsaid."Exceptforthat,itwouldbeverynice

here,wouldn，tit,youoldfirtree?”

〃I'mnotatallold,“saidthefirtree."ManytreesaremucholderthanIam.〃

Wheredidyoucomefrom?”themiceaskedhim."Andwhatdoyouknow?”Theywere

mostinquisitivecreatures.

“Tellusaboutthemostbeautifulplaceintheworld.Haveyoubeenthere?Wereyou

everinthelarder,wheretherearecheesesonshelvesandhamsthathangfromthe

rafters?It'stheplacewhereyoucandanceupontallowcandles-whereyoucandart

inthinandsqueezeoutfat.〃

〃Iknownothingofthatplace,〃saidthetree."ButIknowthewoodswherethesun

shinesandthe1ittlebirdssing."Thenittoldthemaboutitsyouth.Thelittle

micehadneverheardthelikeofit.Theylistenedveryintently,andsaid,〃My!

Howmuchyouhaveseen!Andhowhappyitmusthavemadeyou.〃

〃I?〃thefirtreethoughtaboutit."Yes,thosedayswereratheramusing.〃Andhe

wentontotellthemaboutChristmasEve,whenitwasdeckedoutwithcandiesand

candles.

〃0h,〃saidthelittlemice,“howluckyyouhavebeen,youoldfirtree!”

〃Iamnotatallold,〃itinsisted.〃Icameoutofthewoodsjustthiswinter,and

rmreallyintheprimeoflife,thoughatthemomentmygrowthissuspended.”

z，Hownicelyyoutellthings,〃saidthemice.Thenextnighttheycamewithfourother

micetohearwhatthetreehadtosay.Themoreittalked,themoreclearlyitrecalled

things,anditthought,“Thosewerehappytimes.Buttheymaystillcomeback-they

maycomebackagain.Humpty-Dumptyfelldownstairs,andyethemarriedthePrincess.

Maybethesamethingwillhappentome.〃Itthoughtaboutacharminglittlebirch

treethatgrewoutinthewoods.TothefirtreeshewasarealandlovelyPrincess.

“WhoisHumpty-Dumpty?”themiceaskedit.Sothefirtreetoldthemthewholestory,

foritcouldrememberitwordbyword.Thelittlemicewerereadytojumptothe

topofthetreeforjoy.Thenextnightmanymoremicecametoseethefirtree,

andonSundaytworatspaiditacal1,buttheysaidthatthestorywasnotvery

amusing.Thismadethelittlemicetosadthattheybegantofinditnotsovery

interestingeither.

〃Isthattheonlystoryyouknow?”theratsasked.

“Onlythatone,〃thetreeanswered.〃Ihearditonthehappiesteveningofmylife,

butIdidnotknowthenhowhappyIwas.〃

〃It'saverysillystory.Don'tyouknowonethattellsaboutbaconandcandles?

Can，tyoutellusagoodlarderstory?”

〃No,〃saidthetree.

“Thengood-by,andwewon'tbeback,〃theratssaid,andwentaway.

Atlastthelittlemicetooktostayingawaytoo.Thetreesighed,〃0h,wasn'tit

pleasantwhenthosegaylittlemicesataroundandlistenedtoallthatIhadto

say.Nowthat,too,ispastandgone.ButIwilltakegoodcaretoenjoymyself,

oncetheyletmeoutofhere.〃

Whenwouldthatbe?Well,itcametopassonamorningwhenpeoplecameuptoclean

outthegarret.Theboxesweremoved,thetreewaspulledoutandthrown-thrown

hard-onthefloor.Butaservantdraggeditatoncetothestairway,wherethere

wasdaylightagain.

“Nowmylifewillstartallover,，zthetreethought.Itfeltthefreshairandthe

firstsunbeamstrikeitasifitcameoutintothecourtyard.Thisallhappenedso

quicklyandtherewassomuchgoingaroundit,thatthetreeforgottogiveeven

aglanceatitself.Thecourtyardadjoinedagarden,whereflowerswereblooming.

Greatmassesoffragrantroseshungoverthepicketfence.Thelindentreeswere

inblossom,andbetweenthemtheswallowsskimmedpast,calling,^Tilira-lira-lee,

mylove'scomebacktome."Butitwasnotthefirtreeofwhomtheyspoke.

“NowIshallliveagain,〃itrejoiced,andtriedtostretchoutitsbranches.Alas,

theywerewithered,andbrown,andbrittle.Itwastossedintoacorner,amon