the iceberg express(冰山直通车)-第7章
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that I may plant them on each side of our front door？〃 Then digging a
hole in the ground on each side of the step she planted the seeds。 And；
would you believe it？ all of a sudden a yellow stalk sprung up； and pretty
soon it was as high as the door and then it was higher than the roof and
before long it reached way up into the sky； so far and so high that you
couldn't see the top。
〃Goodness gracious me！〃 exclaimed the old woman。 〃What kind of
seeds are these？〃
〃I'll climb up and see；〃 and up the stalk went little Mary Louise。
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Bigger and bigger it grew until finally it spread out altogether into a great
big meadow covered with sunflowers。
Everywhere the birds were singing and little rabbits hopping about；
and nearby a flock of lambs nibbling the fresh green grass。
〃Oh my！〃 exclaimed little Mary Louise； 〃this is strange； very strange！〃
When； all of a sudden； one of the sunflowers began to sing：
〃I love the sun in the big blue sky； As he rolls along his pathway
high； Through the clouds and over the blue While he brightly shines on
me and you。 There's no one else that I love so much As the golden sun
with his soft warm touch。〃
And then all the sunflowers joined in the chorus：
〃Beautiful； beautiful； beautiful sun； We turn and follow you as you
run Over the soft and azure sky； Beautiful sun with your golden eye。〃
When the song was finished； little Mary Louise went on her way； and
it was very lucky for her that the grass was soft； for she wore no boots；
which I forgot to mention she had left a the foot of the big giant sunflower
by the side of the poor woodman's hut。
Well； by and by； she came to a little shoemaker's shop； where the
shoemaker sat just outside the door。
〃Have you a pair of red top boots？〃 she asked。 And would you
believe it？ That shoemaker got up and walked inside his shop and took
down a box from the top shelf； and there inside was a beautiful pair of red
top boots； which fitted as if they had been made for her。 Well wasn't that
the luckiest thing that could have happened？
But perhaps it was just as lucky that she found money enough in her
pocket to pay for them。
Pretty soon； not so very far； she came to a fountain where all day long
the water played a soft little song：
〃Over the pebbles and over the sand I run till I reach the sea…shore
land； Where the pink shells sing and the big waves roar； And the
mermaids comb their hair on the shore。〃
〃I think I'll follow this pretty book；〃 said Mary Louise； 〃and maybe it
will take me home。〃
She ran along its mossy banks until she came to the seashore。 Right
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there on the soft warm sand sat a mermaid combing her long hair。
With a glad cry Mary Louise ran towards her。 But it wasn't her friend
the Mermaid Princess。 No； she was a strange little mermaid； who gave a
frightful scream and with a flop of her graceful tail； glided into the water。
Just as she was about to dive down out of sight； she saw her pretty pearl
comb on the beach。
〃Don't be afraid of me；〃 said Mary Louise； picking it up and leaning
over the water。 〃I know your Princess Mermaiddaughter of King
Seaphus；〃 and she handed the little mermaid the pearly comb； who then
swam away to her island of coral and pearl。
〃Heigh ho；〃 sighed little Mary Louise； 〃here I am by the sad sea waves
with nobody to talk to；〃 and as she had nothing to do； she dug a hole in the
sand and thrusting in both her feet； covered them up。 All of a sudden a
tremendous crab crawled up and before she could run away； fastened his
great claw in her sleeve。
〃Oh I am king of the blue sea crabs； And king of the sandy shore；
And I can fight as well as bite With my big tre…men…dous claw。 Oh； I
can pinch as well as a clam； I'm king of all pinchers； you bet I am。〃
Now little Mary Louise was a brave girl； and unclasping her breastpin；
she stuck the point right in the wrist of the Crab King's claw； after which
he began to sing a different kind of song； and the tears came out of his
eyes； and pretty soon he begged to be let alone。
〃I'll give you the most beautiful pearl in all the world；〃 he said； but
Mary Louise only laughed and pointed to her torn sleeve：
〃That won't mend my sleeve； King Crab。 What right had you to tear
it？〃
〃Oh； please take the pin out of my elbow；〃 begged the tearful Crab
King； so frightened that he couldn't tell whether it was his wrist or his
elbow that Mary Louise was pricking。 〃I'll give you two pearls。 Oh；
please pull out your pin。〃
As soon as she had put away her breastpin； the Crab King started to
dig in the sand and pretty soon he brought up two lovely pearls。
〃But what am I to do with my torn sleeve？〃 asked Mary Louise； for
she was still angry with that disagreeable old crab。
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Without answering； the King of the Crabs crawled off into the tall sea
grass and in a few minutes came back with a little package done up in sea
weed； and after he had unwrapped it； what do you suppose Mary Louise
saw？ Why； a beautiful pale sea green coat made of sea silk。 It was very
beautiful and looked just like the shimmery green of the waves。
〃Here is a coat of the great Crab King； It's finer than silk or anything；
For none but a merman has ever worn A coat so beautifully shimmery
shorn；〃
cried the King Crab； handing it to Mary Louise。 Then he crawled
away； for he wised to have the doctor see his wounded elbow； I imagine。
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Candy City
Just then a little bird began to sing：
〃In the valley； green and neat； I see the print of little feet； And way；
way yonder in the glen I see a host of little men。〃
〃Dear me！〃 sighed Mary Louise。 〃I am too tired to walk any further。〃
〃Jump on my back！〃 cried a happy voice； and up trotted a little pony
named Dapple Gray。
〃Oh； how nice；〃 laughed Mary Louise； and climbing up on the saddle；
rode off on this pretty little pony； and pretty soon； not so very far； they
came to the place where the little men were at work。 And what do you
suppose they were doing。 Why； you'd never guess if I gave you until the
4th of July。
They were making maple sugar out of the sap from the maple trees。
First they boiled the sap in great big pots and then put it away to cool in
queer little dishes of various shapes； and when the sugar hardened it was
in the forms of funny little fish； queer little houses； strange animals； and；
goodness knows； what not。
〃Oh； we are the Sugar Candy Men； And we work all day in the
snow To make the maple sugar cakes To sell in the town below；〃
sang one little man who wore a red peaked hat and long turned…up
pointed shoes。
But when little Mary Louise rode up； they all stopped their work and
looked at her； and the little man with the long turned up pointed shoes
pulled off his red peaked cap and asked：
〃What brings you here； Mary Louise？ Are you fond of maple sugar
candy？〃
〃I know lots of little boys and girls who are；〃 answered Mary Louise
with a smile。
〃Well； hold open your pockets；〃 said the little man； and he stood up on
a stump alongside Dapple Gray and filled her pockets to overflowing。
Wasn't that nice of him？
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〃You're very generous；〃 said Mary Louise。 〃What can I do for you？〃
〃Go to yonder town and tell the dear old lady who keeps the 'Goody
Sweet Tooth…Shop' that we will bring her candy tomorrow morning just
as
〃The little red rooster From his home on the hill Sounds his merry
cock…a…doo Like a whistle shrill。〃
〃All right；〃 answered Mary Louise； and off she went to the little town
down in the valley。
Well； by and by； after a while； and many a mile； and a song and a smile；
for Mary Louise felt very happy with all those nice candies in her pocket；
she came to a bridge over a river； on the other side of which nestled a little
town among the trees。
Now there was a toll keeper； a funny little old lady with a crutch under
her arm； at the entrance to the bridge。
〃Give me a penny； Mary Louise； For that is the toll you must pay；
If you would cross over the river to Dover； Dover； just over the way。〃
Sang the little old lady toll keeper。
〃Here is the penny；〃 laughed Mary Louise； leaning down from Dapple
Gray and dropping it into the old lady's apron； which she help up in both
hands。
〃Pass on； little girl；〃 she said； opening the gate； and in a few minutes
Dapple Gray was clattering over the bridge。 And pretty soon he drew up
before the Goody Sweet Tooth Shop。
〃I bring you good news from the little men of the glen；〃 cried Mary
Louise to the little old woman who just then looked out of the door。
〃What is the news； dearie？〃 she asked； shading her eyes with her
withered hand。
〃Tomorrow morning； just at dawn； When the little red rooster blows
on his horn； The maple sugar candy hearts； Cute little cupids and
candy darts； In a great big box will be laid at your door to give to the
children who come to your store。〃
said little Mary Louise。 And how she ever could have spoken in
poetry is more than I
