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buttercup gold and other stories(一杯黄金)-第4章

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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。 



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                        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。 



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                        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; 



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                        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。〃 



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                     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。 



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                        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

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