buttercup gold and other stories(一杯黄金)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
something strange had happened。 It was a midsummer night； and the
fairies were having a dance out in the meadows。 They were good； loving
little people； and despised selfishness above everything。 One little fairy
spied the glittering gold among the grasses。 She had seen the greedy man
passing by； and knew he would soon be back to hunt for his treasure。 〃It
will do him no good；〃 she said； 〃if he hides it away； and neither will it help
anybody else。 I will change it into something that will give joy to rich and
poor。〃
When the greedy man reached the meadow he could see no gold
money； but in its place were bright； yellow flowersbuttercup gold for the
children。
19
… Page 20…
BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
The Raindrops
Up above us； near the Sky Country； in a place called Cloudland； live a
great many little people； called raindrops。 They are very helpful； and
always try to do their best； because they know the great King of Cloudland
has work for them all。 One morning two tiny raindrops were sitting
together looking down at Earthdom。 〃How dusty and hot everything
looks；〃 said one drop。 〃Yes；〃 replied the other； 〃let us go down and see
how much good we can do in Earthdom to…day。〃 So these two little
raindrops called their brothers and sisters and told of their plan； and asked
them to go； too； for they always wanted to share their good time with
others。 〃Let's have a game of tag； and see who will reach the top of that
hill first；〃 said one little drop； and away they scampered。 They ran so fast
that they reached Earthdom at about the same time； and how glad Mother
Nature was to see them。 Some of them went at once to visit the flowers；
and whispered such sweet words to the tired； dusty blossoms； that they
raised their heads again； and thanked the raindrops for the comfort they
had brought。 Some of them slid down the slanting roofs of houses and
filled the wells。 Our two little raindrops with five others； went down into
the brown earth and cheered up the roots。 Then they travelled on； and by
and by they came out again further down the hill； and made a beautiful
spring； around which little children played。 The spring soon helped make a
brook； that flowed down over the hillsides； winding in and out among the
rocks； washing them smooth and round； singing as it rippled on its way。
By and by it met some more brooks and they made a stream。 The
sunbeams loved the clear stream and danced to and fro over its surface； as
it rushed joyously onward； turning the busy mill wheels； and keeping the
grass and flowers alive and beautiful。 Sometimes weary travellers walked
along its banks； and stooped and quenched their thirst with its pure； cool
water。 While the stream journeyed on； it met other streams and they made
a rivulet； and by and by the rivulet heard a low voice calling； 〃Come with
me and I will show you the mightiest of waters。〃 So the rivulet joined the
river； and together they travelled on till they heard the deep voice of the
ocean welcoming them to its cave。
20
… Page 21…
BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
Where were the little raindrops that left Cloudland early in the
morning？ They were playing among the ocean waves； and helping to rock
the ships that sailed over the waters。 At sunset a vapor…boat carried the
drops back home and in the eastern sky they stood with robes of red；
orange； yellow； green； blue； indigo； and violet； and made a bright bow of
promise。
As they looked down upon Earthdom once more； everything was fresh；
and sweet； and glad； because the little raindrops had done so much to help
others； and had left no part of their work undone。 The night shadows came；
and the rainbow faded slowly away； leaving a message for the children of
Earthdom。 〃Do your best； little children； and big children； too； for God has
work for all。〃
Glories
Laura was tired of playing with her dolls； and tired of taking care of
Baby Donald； too； he was such a big baby； and she was a little girl for nine
years old。 So as soon as nap time came； and baby was at last quiet； Laura
went out on the porch and cuddled down in the hammock； where she
swung to and fro； wishing there was something nice to do； or some new
kinds of dolls to play with。 All at once she thought she heard a faint voice
say； 〃What a queer child！ Here she is wishing for some new plaything； and
has never noticed us。 She must be blind； poor child！ for every morning we
put on our prettiest dresses and smile at her； but she always passes us by。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied another voice； 〃when she came out here to lie down in
the hammock； I brushed her hair softly and left a kiss on her forehead； but
she shook me off as if I were a bee trying to sting her。〃
Laura sat up； rubbed her eyes； and looked around in surprise。 Had
some one really spoken； or had she only fallen asleep and dreamed it all？
She could see nothing except the morning glories which covered the
side of the porch。 There seemed to be hundreds of them； blue； white； pink；
and violet； and how wide awake they looked！ 〃It must have been the
'glories' talking；〃 said Laura； 〃but I didn't know glories could talk。 Can you；
dear glories？〃
The flowers nodded； as if they understood what she said。
〃What pretty colors！ I never half noticed them before；〃 went on Laura；
21
… Page 22…
BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
〃and wouldn't that blue one make a lovely dress？〃
Just then wee Donald； fresh from his nap； came toddling out through
the open door； and stretched his little fat hands to the glories。 〃Baby wants
a trumpet；〃 he cried。
Laura laughed aloud as she said： 〃Why； they do look like trumpets；
and like parasols； too；〃 and she gathered a handful of the blossoms and
sprinkled the porch with their brightness。 〃Let's play with them； baby； see
if we can make some dolls； 〃 and Laura stood a glory on the step； and into
the tiny hole stuck the yellow center of a daisy； whose petals she had
pulled out。 On this center she marked eyes； nose； and mouth； and when a
small glory was added for a bonnet； what a pretty flower doll she had； with
a pink skirt； green waist； and white bonnet！ Then a whole family of glories
were made； and Laura gave them each a parasol to carry。
Baby used his glories for tents； and they had a good time playing； and
Laura wished she had noticed the glories more before。
By and by； when the day was over； and Laura sat again in the
hammock； watching the sleeping glories； she said： 〃I wonder if the glories
could have been talking this morning； 〃and one little sleepy bud looked as
if it could tell if it chose。 But Mamma put her arm about the little girl and
said； 〃I think it was a dream； dear。 But if the flowers could speak I think
they would tell my darling that by using her eyes more； she will find out
how much there is that is beautiful； and God made them all for us to enjoy；
because he loves us。 Every flower that blooms its sweetest； and every
child who tries to be good； is a precious part of our Heavenly Father's
glories。〃
22
… Page 23…
BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
A Fall Song
Golden and red trees Nod to the soft breeze； As it whispers； 〃Winter is
near；〃 And the brown nuts fall At the wind's loud call； For this is the Fall
of the year。
Good…by； sweet flowers！ Through bright Summer hours You have
filled our hearts with cheer We shall miss you so； And yet you must go；
For this is the Fall of the year。
Now the days grow cold； As the year grows old； And the meadows are
brown and sere； Brave robin redbreast Has gone from his nest； For this is
the Fall of the year。
I do softly pray At the close of day； That the little children； so dear；
May as purely grow As the fleecy snow That follows the Fall of the year。
23
… Page 24…
BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
The Babies' Blankets
〃Such a cold day；〃 sighed Mother Nature； 〃and no blankets to keep my
babies warm！ Little Jack Frost came over the hill last night； and what
mischief the boy is planning to do now； it is hard to tell。 He is such a
happy little fellow； but is always up to some prank。 If Father Winter does
not send me some blankets soon； I fear Jack will pinch my babies' toes；
and pull their ears； and make them shiver till they am ready to freeze。 I
have put them to bed and told them to keep quiet； and perhaps Jack will
not see them。〃
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 laughed a tinkling voice right at the dear old lady's
elbow。 〃Some of your children did not mind you。 Early this morning I
found one of them whispering to a sunbeam； and under the hedge found a
tiny blue aster。 I shook her till she was so cold she was glad to go back to
bed again。 Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 and Jack gave Mother Nature such a hug that she
shivered； and murmured： 〃Poor babies！ I must write a letter to Father
Winter。〃
This is what the letter said：
Earthdom； November 1； 1893。
Dear Father Winter：Have you any warm blankets for my babies？ The
season is coming when they should take a long； long nap； and Jack is up to
his tricks again。 Please send me some blankets soon。
From your old friend；
Mother Nature。
This letter she directed to
King Winter； The Polar Regions； Cloud…dom。
Then she called her messenger； Autumn Wind； and sent him northward
with her message。 King Winter was seated on his throne at the back of the
North Wind； planning his coming work in Earthdom； when Autumn Wind
arrived with the letter。
〃Deary me！ deary me！〃 said the king； 〃has Jack Frost gone to bother
Mother Nature？ I meant he should wait for me this year。 But s
