21-the history of dwarf long nose-第1章
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THE HISTORY OF DWARF LONG NOSE
It is a great mistake to think that fairies； witches； magicians；
and such people lived only in Eastern countries and in such times
as those of the Caliph Haroun Al…Raschid。 Fairies and their
like belong to every country and every age； and no doubt we
should see plenty of them nowif we only knew how。
In a large town in Germany there lived； some couple of hundred
years ago； a cobbler and his wife。 They were poor and
hard…working。 The man sat all day in a little stall at the
street corner and mended any shoes that were brought him。 His
wife sold the fruit and vegetables they grew in their garden in
the Market Place； and as she was always neat and clean and her
goods were temptingly spread out she had plenty of customers。
The couple had one boy called Jem。 A handsome； pleasant…faced
boy of twelve； and tall for his age。 He used to sit by his
mother in the market and would carry home what people bought from
her； for which they often gave him a pretty flower； or a slice of
cake； or even some small coin。
One day Jem and his mother sat as usual in the Market Place with
plenty of nice herbs and vegetables spread out on the board； and
in some smaller baskets early pears； apples； and apricots。 Jem
cried his wares at the top of his voice：
'This way； gentlemen！ See these lovely cabbages and these fresh
herbs！ Early apples； ladies； early pears and apricots； and all
cheap。 Come； buy； buy！'
As he cried an old woman came across the Market Place。 She
looked very torn and ragged； and had a small sharp face； all
wrinkled； with red eyes； and a thin hooked nose which nearly met
her chin。 She leant on a tall stick and limped and shuffled and
stumbled along as if she were going to fall on her nose at any
moment。
In this fashion she came along till she got to the stall where
Jem and his mother were； and there she stopped。
'Are you Hannah the herb seller？' she asked in a croaky voice as
her head shook to and fro。
'Yes； I am；' was the answer。 'Can I serve you？'
'We'll see； we'll see！ Let me look at those herbs。 I wonder if
you've got what I want；' said the old woman as she thrust a pair
of hideous brown hands into the herb basket； and began turning
over all the neatly packed herbs with her skinny fingers； often
holding them up to her nose and sniffing at them。
The cobbler's wife felt much disgusted at seeing her wares
treated like this； but she dared not speak。 When the old hag had
turned over the whole basket she muttered； 'Bad stuff； bad stuff；
much better fifty years agoall bad。'
This made Jem very angry
'You are a very rude old woman；' he cried out。 'First you mess
all our nice herbs about with your horrid brown fingers and sniff
at them with your long nose till no one else will care to buy
them； and then you say it's all bad stuff； though the duke's cook
himself buys all his herbs from us。'
The old woman looked sharply at the saucy boy； laughed
unpleasantly； and said：
'So you don't like my long nose； sonny？ Well； you shall have
one yourself； right down to your chin。'
As she spoke she shuffled towards the hamper of cabbages； took up
one after another； squeezed them hard； and threw them back；
muttering again； 'Bad stuff； bad stuff。'
'Don't waggle your head in that horrid way；' begged Jem
anxiously。 'Your neck is as thin as a cabbage…stalk； and it
might easily break and your head fall into the basket； and then
who would buy anything？'
'Don't you like thin necks？' laughed the old woman。 'Then you
sha'n't have any； but a head stuck close between your shoulders
so that it may be quite sure not to fall off。'
'Don't talk such nonsense to the child；' said the mother at last。
'If you wish to buy； please make haste； as you are keeping other
customers away。'
'Very well； I will do as you ask；' said the old woman； with an
angry look。 'I will buy these six cabbages； but； as you see； I
can only walk with my stick and can carry nothing。 Let your boy
carry them home for me and I'll pay him for his trouble。'
The little fellow didn't like this； and began to cry； for he was
afraid of the old woman； but his mother ordered him to go； for
she thought it wrong not to help such a weakly old creature； so；
still crying； he gathered the cabbages into a basket and followed
the old woman across the Market Place。
It took her more than half an hour to get to a distant part of
the little town； but at last she stopped in front of a small
tumble…down house。 She drew a rusty old hook from her pocket and
stuck it into a little hole in the door； which suddenly flew
open。 How surprised Jem was when they went in！ The house was
splendidly furnished； the walls and ceiling of marble； the
furniture of ebony inlaid with gold and precious stones； the
floor of such smooth slippery glass that the little fellow
tumbled down more than once。
The old woman took out a silver whistle and blew it till the
sound rang through the house。 Immediately a lot of guinea pigs
came running down the stairs； but Jem thought it rather odd that
they all walked on their hind legs； wore nutshells for shoes； and
men's clothes； whilst even their hats were put on in the newest
fashion。
'Where are my slippers； lazy crew？' cried the old woman； and hit
about with her stick。 'How long am I to stand waiting here？'
They rushed upstairs again and returned with a pair of cocoa nuts
lined with leather； which she put on her feet。 Now all limping
and shuffling was at an end。 She threw away her stick and walked
briskly across the glass floor； drawing little Jem after her。 At
last she paused in a room which looked almost like a kitchen； it
was so full of pots and pans； but the tables were of mahogany and
the sofas and chairs covered with the richest stuffs。
'Sit down；' said the old woman pleasantly； and she pushed Jem
into a corner of a sofa and put a table close in front of him。
'Sit down； you've had a long walk and a heavy load to carry； and
I must give you something for your trouble。 Wait a bit； and I'll
give you some nice soup； which you'll remember as long as you
live。'
So saying； she whistled again。 First came in guinea pigs in
men's clothing。 They had tied on large kitchen aprons； and in
their belts were stuck carving knives and sauce ladles and such
things。 After them hopped in a number of squirrels。 They too
walked on their hind legs； wore full Turkish trousers； and little
green velvet caps on their heads。 They seemed to be the
scullions； for they clambered up the walls and brought down pots
and pans； eggs； flour； butter； and herbs； which they carried to
the stove。 Here the old woman was bustling about； and Jem could
see that she was cooking something very special for him。 At last
the broth began to bubble and boil； and she drew off the saucepan
and poured its contents into a silver bowl； which she set before
Jem。
'There； my boy；' said she； 'eat this soup and then you'll have
everything which pleased you so much about me。 And you shall be
a clever cook too； but the real herbno； the REAL herb you'll
never find。 Why had your mother not got it in her basket？'
The child could not think what she was talking about； but he
quite understood the soup； which tasted most delicious。 His
mother had often given him nice things； but nothing had ever
seemed so good as this。 The smell of the herbs and spices rose
from the bowl； and the soup tasted both sweet and sharp at the
same time； and was very strong。 As he was finishing it the
guinea pigs lit some Arabian incense； which gradually filled the
room with clouds of blue vapour。 They grew thicker and thicker
and the scent nearly overpowered the boy。 He reminded himself
that he must get back to his mother； but whenever he tried to
rouse himself to go he sank back again drowsily； and at last he
fell sound asleep in the corner of the sofa。
Strange dreams came to him。 He thought the old woman took off
all his clothes and wrapped him up in a squirrel skin； and that
he went about with the other squirrels and guinea pigs； who were
all very pleasant and well mannered； and waited on the old woman。
First he learned to clean he
