小學(xué)英語英語故事（童話故事）The Bottle Neck瓶頸

TheBottle-Neck瓶頸

Inthenarrow,crookedstreet,amongseveralshabbydwellings,stoodaverytall

andverynarrowhouse,theframeworkofwhichhadgivensothatitwasoutofjoint

ineverydirection.Onlypoorpeoplelivedhere,andpoorestofallwerethosewho

livedintheattic.Outsidethesmallatticwindowanold,bentbirdcagehungin

thesunshine;itdidn，tevenhavearealbirdglass,buthadonlyabottleneck,

upsidedown,withacorkinitsmouth,andfilledwithwater.Attheopenwindow

stoodanoldmaidwhohadjustbeendeckingthecagewithchickweed;thelittlecanary

inithoppedfromperchtoperchandsangwithallhismight.

〃Yes,youmaywellsing!，zsaidtheBottleNeck.Ofcourse,itdidn，tsayitaudibly,

aswe'reableto,forabottleneckcannotspeak,butitthoughtit,justaswhen

wehumansspeakinwardly.〃Yes,youmaywellsing-you,withyourlimbswhole!But

whatifyouhadlostyourlowerhalfasIhave,andhadonlyaneckandamouthleft,

andthenhadacorkstuffedintoyou!Youcertainlywouldn，tsingthen!Butit，s

goodthatsomebodyispleased.Ihavenoreasontosing,andIcan，tanyway;Icould

once,whenIwasawholebottle,andsomeonerubbedmewithacork;theyusedto

callmeareallarkthen,'thegrandlark.JDidn'tIsingthatdayinthewoodswhen

thefurrier，sdaughterbecameengaged?Icanrememberitasthoughitwereyesterday.

WhenIcometothinkofit,I'velivedthroughmanythings;I'vebeenthroughfire

andwater-downintheblackearth,andhigherupthanmostpeople.AndnowIhang

hereontheoutsideofthecageintheairandsunshine.Itmightbeworthwhile

tohearmystory,butI'mnotgoingtotellitaloud,becauseIcan't!”

Andsoitinwardlytold,orthought,itsstory,whichwasastrangeone,andinthe

meantimethelittlebirdsangmerrily,andpeoplerodeorwalkedthroughthestreets

downbelow.Eachthoughtofhisownstoryordidn，tthinkatall;but,atanyrate,

theBottleNeckwasengrossedinthought.

Itrememberedtheflamingfurnaceinthemanufacturingplant,whereithadbeenblown

intoexistence.Itstillrememberedhowwarmitwasatfirst,howitlookedinto

thatroaringfurnace,itsbirthplace,andlongedtoleapbackintoit.Butthenas

itgraduallycooled,itfounditselfwelloffwhereitwas,standinginalongrow

withawholeregimentofbrothersandsisters.Allhadbeenbornfromthesamefurnace,

butsomehadbeenblownintochampagnebottles,someintobeerbottles,andthat

makesadifference.Tobesure,asthingshappenintheworld,abeerbottlemay

holdthecostliestLachrymaChristiwine,whileachampagnebottlemaybefilled

withblackink;butwhateachonewasbornformaystillbeclearlyseeninitsform;

nobilityremainsnobility,evenwithblackinkinside.

Allthebottlesweresoonpackedup,ourBottleamongthem.Littlediditthinkthen

thatitwouldendasabottleneck,servingasabirdglass,andyetthatisan

honorableexistence-it，satleastsomething.Itdidnotseedaylightagainuntil

itwasunpacked,togetherwithitscomrades,inthecellarofawinemerchant;and

thenforthefirsttimeitwasrinsedout-thatwasanoddsensation.Itthenlay

emptyandcorkless,andfeltstrangelydull,asifitlackedsomething,thoughit

didn，tknowwhat.Butthenitwasfilledwithgood,gloriouswinereceivedacork,

andwassealedup;alabelwaspastedonit,“BestQuality,z/anditfeltasifit

hadbeenawardedthehighestratingastheresultofitsexamination-thoughit

hadtobeadmittedthatthewinewasgood,aswellastheBottle.

Whenoneisyoung,oneisalyricpoet!TheBottlewassinginginwardlyofthings

itknewnothingabout-green,sunlitmountains,wherethevineyardsgrow,andwhere

merrymaidensandhappyyouthssingandkiss.Yes,itiswonderfultobealive!Indeed,

theBottleinwardlysangofallthis,asdoyoungpoets,whofrequentlyalsoknow

nothingaboutthethingsofwhichtheysing.

Onemorningitwasbought.Thefurrier'sboyhadbeensenttofetchabottleofthe

bestwine;andthenitwaspackedintoalargebasket,togetherwithham,cheese,

sausages,thebestbutter,andthefinestbread.Thefurrier5sdaughterherself

packedthebasket.Shewassoyoung,sopretty;herbrowneyeslaughed,andthere

wasasmileonherlips,whichseemedasexpressiveashereyes.Herhandsweresmall,

soft,andwhite,butnotsowhiteasherforeheadandthroat.Youcouldseeatonce

thatshewasoneoftheprettiestgirlsinthevillage,andstillshewasnotyet

betrothed.

Whenthepartydroveoutintothewoods,thebasketlayinherlap.Theneckofthe

Bottlepeepedoutfromthefoldsofthewhitetablecloth;theredsealingwaxon

thecorklookedrightinthefaceoftheyounggirlandlookedalsoattheyoung

sailorwhosatbesideher.Hehadbeenherfriendsincechildhood,andwasaportrait

painter5sson.Hehadrecentlypassedhisexaminationforthenavelservicewith

highhonors,andonthenextdayhewastosailaway,faraway,toforeignlands.

Thishadbeenspokenofduringthepackingofthebasket,andithadn，tbeenquite

sopleasanttolookattheeyesandlipsofthefurrierJsprettydaughterwhile

there'dbeentalkofthat.

Thetwoyoungpeoplewentforawalkinthegreenforest,talking-andwhatdid

theytalkabout?TheBottlecouldn，thearthat,foritwasleftinthebasket.A

longtimepassedbeforethebasketwasunpacked,butwhenitwas,itwasapparent

thatsomepleasantthinghadhappenedinthemeantime,foralleyeswerefilledwith

happiness,particularlythoseofthefurrier，sdaughter,thoughshesaidlessthan

theothers,andhercheeksblushedliketworedroses.

ThefatherunwrappedtheBottleandtookupthecorkscrew.Yes,itwasastrange

sensationthattheBottlefeltwhen,forthefirsttime,thecorkwasdrawn!The

Bottleneckcouldneverforgetthatsolemnmoment;itsaid〃pop!〃asthecorkwas

pulledout,andthenthewinegurgledwhenitflowedintotheglasses.

〃Atoasttothebetrothed!/zsaidthefather,andeveryglasswasemptied,andthen

theyoungmankissedhisprettyfiancee."Goodluckandblessings,zzsaidtheold

couple.Andtheyoungmanthenrefilledtheglasses,exclaiming,〃Tomyhome-coming

andourwedding,ayearfromtoday!/zWhentheglasseshadbeenemptied;heraised

theBottleintheair,saying,〃Youhavebeenapartofthehappiestdayofmylife.

Youshallneverserveanyoneelse!”

Thenheflungithighintotheair.Littledidthefurrier'sdaughterthinkthat

shewouldeverseetheBottleagain-andyetshewould.TheBottlefelldownamong

thethickreedsfringingthelittlewoodlandlake.TheBottleneckcouldremember

clearlyhowitlaythere,thinking,〃Igavethemwine,andtheygavemeswampwater

-buttheymeantwell.，zItcouldnolongerseethehappybetrothedandtheirpleased

parents,butitcouldhearthemtalkingandsinginginthedistance.Thenaftera

whiletwopeasantboyscamealong,foundtheBottleamongthereeds,andtookit

away.Nowithadsomeonetotakecareofit.

Atthewoodlandhutwheretheboyslived,theyandtheirelderbrother,whowasa

sailor,hadpartedthedaybefore,whenhehadcomehometosaygood-bypriorto

leavingonalongvoyage.Nowtheirmotherwaspackingafewthingsthattheirfather

wasgoingtotaketohiminthetownthatevening;thiswouldgivehimanopportunity

toseehissononcemorebeforehisdepartureandtobringhimgreetingsfromhis

motherandhimself.Alittleflaskofspicedbrandywasplacedinthepackage.But

thentheboyscamehomewiththebottletheyhadfound;itwaslargerandstronger

andwouldholdmorethanthelittleflask;itwasjustrightforagood-sizedschnapps

forastomachinneedofsuch.Soitwasfilled,notwithredwineasbefore,but

withbrandycontainingherbsthataregoodforthestomach.ThenewlyfoundBottle,

ratherthanthelittleone,wouldgoonthetrip.

AndsotheBottlecontinuedonitstravels.ItwentwithPeterJensenonboardthe

verysameshipasthisyoungofficerwhohadbeenbetrothed.Hehadn51yetseenthe

Bottleagain,andifhehad,hewouldn，thaverecognizedit,orthought,“Thisis

thebottlefromwhichthetoaststoourbetrothalandmyhomecomingweredrunk!z，

Now,ofcourse,itnolongercontainedredwine,buttherewassomethingjustas

goodinit.WheneverPeterJensenbroughtitout,hisshipmatesalwayscalledit

“theApothecary”;itprovidedgoodmedicineforthestomach,theyagreed,andindeed

ithelpedthemaslongastherewasadropleftinit.Thosewerehappytimes,and

theBottlesangwhenitwasrubbedwiththecork,andthusitcametobecalled"the

grandlark,〃and"PeterJensen5slark.〃

Alongtimehadpassed;theBottlestoodemptyinacorner,anditdidnotknowwhether

itwasonthevoyageoutorboundforhome,forithadn，tbeenashore.Thenamighty

stormarose.Huge,heavy,blackwavesroseupandhurledthevesselabout.Themast

crashedoverboard;amightywavesmashedinaplank,andthepumpswereuseless.

Theshipwassinking,butinthelastminutetheyoungofficerwroteonapieceof

paper,“LordJesushavemercyonus-weperish!”Hewrotehisfiancee，sname,his

own,andthatoftheship,putthenoteintoanemptybottlehefoundnearby,pressed

thecorkintightly,andthenflungthebottleoutintothestormysea.Neverdid

herealizethatthiswastheBottlethathadprovidedwinefortoaststohisand

herhappinessandthefulfillmentoftheirhopes.Itnowtossedonthesurgingbillows,

carryingitstidingsofdeath,itsgreetingtotheliving.

Theshipsank,andthecrewwithit.TheBottlewaslikeabirdinflight,theway

itwastossedabovethewaves-and,what'smore,ithadaheartwithinit,inthe

formofalover，smessage.Thesunrose,andthesunset-andthatremindedthe

Bottleofthetimeofitsbirth,inthered,glowingfurnace;itlongedtoflyback

intotheheat.

Itwentthroughcalmseasandmorestorms;itwasneitherdashedagainstrocksnor

swallowedbyashark.Formorethanayearandadayitdrifted,nownorth,nowsouth,

asitwascarriedbythecurrents.Tobesureitwasitsownmaster,butonegets

tiredofthat.

Thenote,thatlastfarewellfromtheyoungofficertohisbetrothed,wouldbring

onlysorrowifitevershouldfallintotheproperhands.Butwherewerethosehands,

thehandsthathadgleamedsowhitewhilespreadingthetableclothoverthefresh

grassonthebetrothalday?

Wherewasthefurrier，sdaughter?Yes,andwherewasland?Whatlandlaynearest?

TheBottlehadnoidea.Itdriftedonandonandfinallybecameverywearyofdrifting

-forwhichithadneverbeenintended,anyway-butstillitdriftedon,untilat

lastitwascastashoreonaforeignland.Itcouldn，tunderstandawordthatwas

spokenhere;thiswasnotthelanguageithadalwaysheardbefore,andonemisses

agreatdealwheninacountrywhereonecannotunderstandthelanguage.

TheBottlewaspickedupandexamined;thenoteinsideitwasnoticed,takenout,

turnedaround,andturnedover,butthepeoplecouldnotunderstandwhatwaswritten

onit.Theyrealized,ofcourse,thatthebottlehadbeenthrownoverboardandthat

therewassomethingaboutthatwrittenonthepaper,butwhatitsaidwasamystery.

AndsothenotewasputbackintotheBottle,andtheBottleitselfplacedinalarge

cabinetinalargeroominalargehouse.Wheneverstrangerscametothehousethe

notewasbroughtforth,turnedaroundandover,andviewedfromeveryangle,until

thewriting-whichwasonlypencil,tobeginwith-becamemoreandmoreillegible,

andatlasttheletterscouldhardlybemadeoutatall.ForayeartheBottleremained

inthecabinet;thenitwassentuptotheattic,whereitwassmotheredwithdust

andspiderwebs.Upthereitthoughtofitsbetterdays,whenithadprovidedthe

redwineinthefreshwoods,andwhenithadbeenrockedbythebillows,andhad

hadasecret,aletter,asighoffarewell,entrustedtoitscare.

Fortwentyyearsitwasleftintheattic,anditmighthaveremainedtherestill

longerifthehousehadnotbeenrebuilt.Theroofwastorndown;theBottlewas

found,andremarksweremadeaboutit,butitstillcouldn，tunderstandthelanguage;

onedoesn51learnalanguagebystandinginanattic,evenintwentyyears.〃Ifonly

Ihadstayedintheparlordownstairs,z/itthought,〃Iwouldhavelearnedit!〃

Itnowwaswashedandrinsedout,anditneededcleaningbadly.Itfeltitselfonce

morequiteclearandtransparent;itfeltyounginitsoldage.Butthenoteithad

carriedhadbeendestroyedinthewashing.Nowitwasfilledwithseedcorn-what

sort,itdidn，tknow-waswellpacked,andcorkeduptightly;itcouldseeneither

lampnorcandle,nottomentionsunormoon."Oneshouldbeabletoseesomething

whenonegoesonajourney,zzthoughttheBottle.Butwhileitsawnothing,itdid

something-andthatisoffargreaterimportance.Ittraveled,andatlastcame

toitsdestination,whereitwasunpacked.

〃Whatalotoftroublethoseforeignershavegonetowiththat!z/itwassaid."And

yetit'sprobablycracked!ButtheBottlewasn'tcracked.Itunderstoodallthat

wassaidhere,foreverywordwasspokeninthelanguageithadheardoncomingout

ofthefurnaceatthefactory,andatthewinemerchant，s,andinthewoods,and

aboardtheship-theonlylanguagethatwasright,thegood,oldlanguagethatone

couldunderstand.TheBottlehadcomehometoitsowncountry;tohearthelanguage

wasawelcomegreetinginitself,andinitsjoyitnearlyjumpedfromthehands

thatheldit!Itwasbarelyawarethatitscorkwaspulledoutandthatitwasemptied

ofitscontentsandsentdowntothecellar-theretobekeptandforgotten;however,

thereisnoplacelikehome,eveninthecellar!Itnevergavethoughttohowlong

atimeitlaythere,foritlayincomfort;itwasthereformanyyears.Then,finally,

onedaypeoplecamedownandtookthebottlesaway,oursamongthem.

Thegardenofthehousewasmagnificentlydecorated;colorfullylightedlampswere

hungingarlands,andpaperlanternsglowedfestively,resemblingbig,seemingly

transparenttulips.Itwasabeautifulevening,too;theairwascalmandmild;the

starstwinkledbrightly,andtherewasanewmoon;peoplewithsharpeyescouldsee

thewholeroundmoon,whichlookedlikeablue-grayglobehalfencircledwithgold.

Therewassomeilluminationalongtheoutlyingwalks,too-atleastenoughtoenable

onetofindhiswayalongthem.Rowsofbottles,eachwithacandleinit,hadbeen

setupalongthehedges.AmongthesestoodtheBottleweknow-thatwhichwasto

endasabottleneck,abirdglass—anditfoundeverythingherecompletely

delightful;itwasagainoutamongthegreenery;againitheardthesoundsofgladness

andfestivity,songandmusic,thebuzzandchatterofmanypeople,especiallyfrom

thesectionofthegardenwherethelampswereburningandthepaperlanternsshowed

theirbrightcolors.ThoughtheBottlestoodalonganout-of-the-waywalk,eventhat

gaveitfoodforthought;instandinghereandbearingitslight,itwasbeingboth

usefulandenjoyabletoothers,andsuchwasitsrightfulpurpose.Inanhourlike

thatonecanforgettwentyyearsinanattic-andthatisagoodthingtoforget.

Acouplepassedcloseby,arminarm,likethebetrothedpairoutinthewoods一

thenavalofficerandthefurrier'sdaughter;itseemedtotheBottlethatitwas

livingitslifeoveragain.Guestsstrolledtoandfrointhegarden;therewere

alsopassers-bywhohadventuredhereforaglimpseoftheguestsandthefestivities,

andamongthemwasanoldmaidwhohadnorelativesorfamilybutwasnotfriendless.

ShewasthinkingofthesamethingthattheBottlewas;shethoughtofthegreen

woodsandtheyoungbetrothedcoupleofsolongago.Thatindeedconcernedher,

becauseshehadbeenapartofit-shewasoneofthetwolovers!Thathadbeen

thehappiesttimeofherlife,atimenevertobeforgotten,howeveroldanoldmaid

maybe.ButshedidnotrecognizetheBottle,nordiditrecognizeher;andthus

itisthatwepassoneanotherbyinthisworld-thoughsoonerorlaterwearesure

tomeetagain,asdidthesetwo,whowerenowresidentsofthesametown.

FromthegardentheBottlewentbacktothewinemerchant，s;thereitwasoncemore

filledwithwineandthensoldtoanaeronaut,whosenextballoonascensionwasto

beonthefollowingSunday.Acrowdofpeoplecametoseetheevent;therewasmilitary

music,andmanyelaboratepreparationshadbeenmadefortheoccasion.TheBottle

sawitallfromabasket,whereitlaywithaliverabbit,whowasverydisheartened

becauseheknewhewasgoinguponlytocomedownagainbyparachute.TheBottle

knewnothingaboutgoinguporcomingdown,butitsawhowtheballoonswelledout

largerandlarger,andthatwhenitcouldgrownolargeritbegantoraiseitself,

higherandhigher,androlleduneasily;thentheropesthathelditdownwerecut,

anditfloatedupwiththeaeronaut,thebasket,therabbit,andthebottle.The

bandplayed,andallthepeoplecried,“Hurrah!”

〃It'sfunnytogoupintheairlikethis!，zthoughttheBottle.〃Itmustbeanew

kindofsailing;youcan51runontorocksuphere!/z

Manythousandsofpeoplelookedupattheballoon,andtheoldmaidwatchedit,too.

Shewasstandingattheopenatticwindow,besidethecagewiththelittlecanary,

whoatthattimedidn，thaveaglassforhiswaterbuthadtogetalongwithanold

cup.Inthewindowwasafloweringmyrtle,whichtheoldwomanhadmovedasideso

itwouldn，tfalloutwhensheleanedforwardtoseetheproceedings.Shecouldsee

theaeronautintheballoonbasket;helettherabbitfallbyparachute,thendrank

atoasttoallthespectatorsandflungtheBottlehighintotheair.Shenaturally

hadnothoughtofhavingseenthesamebottleflythroughtheaironthathappyday

inthegreenwoods,inheryouth.

TheBottledidn，thavetimetothinkatall,sosuddenlydiditreachthehighest

pointofitslife.Farbelowlaythetowersandroofsofthetown;peoplewereso

tinythattheywerehardlyvisibleatall.

Nowitfell,butitwasaquitedifferentfallfromtherabbit's.TheBottleturned

somersaultsintheair,andfeltitselfsoyoung,sowild!Itwashalffullofwine,

butnotforlong.Whatavoyage!ThesunglitteredontheBottle,andalleyesfollowed

it;theballoonitselfwasalreadyaconsiderabledistancealoft,andsoontheBottle

wasoutofview.Itfellonaroof,andbrokeintwo,buttherewassuchspiritin

thepiecesthattheycouldn，tremainstill!Theyleapedandrolled,downward,

downwarduntiltheyreachedthecourtyard,wheretheybrokeintostillsmallerpieces.

OnlytheneckoftheBottlewasleftwhole;itlookedasifithadbeencutoffcleanly

withadiamond.

〃Itcanbeusedasabirdglass,〃saidthemanwholivedinthecellar.Buthehimself

hadneitherbirdnorcage,anditwouldhardlyhavebeenworthwhiletogetthem

justbecausehehadabottleneckthatmightbeusedasabirdglass.Heknew,however,

thattheoldmaidupintheatticcoulduseit.SotheBottleNeckwastakenupstairs,

acorkwasputin,andthepartthathadalwaysbeenthetopwasnowatthebottom

-asoftenhappens