how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第42章
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up to the king's town； to see a great sight。 〃What will it be？〃 said Billy。
〃The king's daughter is to be eaten by a fiery dragon；〃 said his master；
〃unless the champion fighter they've been feed… ing for six weeks on
purpose kills the dragon。〃 〃Oh；〃 said Billy。
After he was left alone； there were people passing on horses and afoot；
in coaches and chaises； in carriages and in wheelbarrows； all going to see
the great sight。 And all asked Billy why he was not on his way。 But Billy
said he didn't care about going。
When the last passer…by was out of sight； Billy ran and dressed himself
in his master's best suit of clothes； took the brown mare from the stable；
and was off to the king's town。
When he came there； he saw a big round place with great high seats
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built up around it； and all the people sitting there。 Down in the midst was
the champion； walking up and down proudly； with two men behind him to
carry his heavy sword。 And up in the centre of the seats was the princess；
with her maidens； she was looking very pretty； but nervous。
The fight was about to begin when Billy got there； and the herald was
crying out how the champion would fight the dragon for the princess's
sake； when suddenly there was heard a fearsome great roaring； and the
people shouted； 〃Here he is now； the dragon！〃
The dragon had more heads than the biggest of the giants； and fire and
smoke came from every one of them。 And when the champion saw the
creature； he never waited even to take his sword；he turned and ran； and
he never stopped till he came to a deep well； where he jumped in and hid
himself； up to the neck。
When the princess saw that her champion was gone； she began
wringing her hands； and crying； 〃Oh； please； kind gentlemen； fight the
dragon； some of you； and keep me from being eaten！ Will no one fight the
dragon for me？〃 But no one stepped up； at all。 And the dragon made to eat
the princess。
Just then； out stepped Billy from the crowd； with his fine suit of
clothes and his hide belt on him。 〃I'll fight the beast；〃 he says； and
swinging his stick three times round his head； to give him the strength of a
thousand men besides his own； he walked up to the dragon； with easy gait。
The princess and all the people were looking； you may be sure； and the
dragon raged at Billy with all his mouths； and they at it and fought。 It was
a terrible fight； but in the end Billy Beg had the dragon down； and he cut
off his heads with the sword。
There was great shouting； then； and crying that the strange champion
must come to the king to be made prince； and to the princess； to be seen。
But in the midst of the hullabaloo Billy Begs slips on the brown mare and
is off and away before anyone has seen his face。 But； quick as he was； he
was not so quick but that the princess caught hold of him as he jumped on
his horse； and he got away with one shoe left in her hand。 And home he
rode； to his master's house； and had his old clothes on and the mare in the
stable before his master came back。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
When his master came back； he had a great tale for Billy； how the
princess's champion had run from the dragon； and a strange knight had
come out of the clouds and killed the dragon； and before anyone could
stop him had disappeared in the sky。 〃Wasn't it wonderful？〃 said the old
gentleman to Billy。 〃I should say so；〃 said Billy to him。
Soon there was proclamation made that the man who killed the dragon
was to be found； and to be made son of the king and husband of the
princess； for that； everyone should come up to the king's town and try on
the shoe which the princess had pulled from off the foot of the strange
champion； that he whom it fitted should be known to be the man。 On the
day set； there was passing of coaches and chaises； of carriages and
wheelbarrows； people on horseback and afoot； and Billy's master was the
first to go。
While Billy was watching； at last came along a raggedy man。
〃Will you change clothes with me； and I'll give you boot？〃 said Billy
to him。
〃Shame to you to mock a poor raggedy man！〃 said the raggedy man to
Billy。
〃It's no mock；〃 said Billy； and he changed clothes with the raggedy
man； and gave him boot。
When Billy came to the king's town； in his dreadful old clothes； no one
knew him for the champion at all； and none would let him come forward
to try the shoe。 But after all had tried； Billy spoke up that he wanted to try。
They laughed at him； and pushed him back； with his rags。 But the princess
would have it that he should try。 〃I like his face；〃 said she； 〃let him try；
now。〃
So up stepped Billy； and put on the shoe； and it fitted him like his own
skin。
Then Billy confessed that it was he that killed the dragon。 And that he
was a king's son。 And they put a velvet suit on him； and hung a gold chain
round his neck； and everyone said a finer…looking boy they'd never seen。
So Billy married the princess； and was the prince of that place。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
THE LITTLE HERO OF HAARLEM＇1＇
＇1＇ Told from memory of the story told me when a child。
A long way off； across the ocean； there is a little country where the
ground is lower than the level of the sea； instead of higher； as it is here。 Of
course the water would run in and cover the land and houses； if something
were not done to keep it out。 But something is done。 The people build
great； thick walls all round the country； and the walls keep the sea out。 You
see how much depends on those walls； the good crops； the houses； and
even the safety of the people。 Even the small children in that country know
that an accident to one of the walls is a terrible thing。 These walls are
really great banks； as wide as roads； and they are called 〃dikes。〃
Once there was a little boy who lived in that country； whose name was
Hans。 One day； he took his little brother out to play。 They went a long way
out of the town； and came to where there were no houses； but ever so
many flowers and green fields。 By…and…by； Hans climbed up on the dike；
and sat down； the little brother was playing about at the foot of the bank。
Suddenly the little brother called out； 〃Oh； what a funny little hole！ It
bubbles！〃
〃Hole？ Where？〃 said Hans。
〃Here in the bank；〃 said the little brother； 〃water's in it。〃
〃What！〃 said Hans； and he slid down as fast as he could to where his
brother was playing。
There was the tiniest little hole in the bank。 Just an air…hole。 A drop of
water bubbled slowly through。
〃It is a hole in the dike！〃 cried Hans。 〃What shall we do？〃
He looked all round； not a person or a house in sight。 He looked at the
hole； the little drops oozed steadily through； he knew that the water would
soon break a great gap； because that tiny hole gave it a chance。 The town
was so far awayif they ran for help it would be too late； what should he
do？ Once more he looked； the hole was larger； now； and
