how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第26章
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But when she was quite close； the prince saw that she was not a fairy
after all； but a real human maiden；the loveliest maiden he had ever seen。
Her hair was like yellow corn； and her smile made all the place merry。 Her
white gown fluttered as she danced； and her little song sounded like a bird
note。
The prince watched her till she danced out of sight； and then until she
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once more came toward him； and she seemed so like a moon… beam
herself； as she lifted her face to the sky； that he was almost afraid to
breathe。 He had never seen anything so lovely。 By the time she had danced
twice round the circle； he could think of nothing in the world except the
hope of finding out who she was； and staying near her。
But while he was waiting for her to appear the third time； his
weariness overcame him； and he fell asleep。 And when he awoke； it was
broad day； and the beautiful maiden had vanished。
He hunted about； hoping to find where she lived； and on the other side
of the glade he came upon a lovely little house； covered with moss and
climbing roses。 He thought she must live there； so he went round to the
kitchen door and asked the kind cook for a drink of water； and while he
was drinking it he asked who lived there。 She told him it was the house of
the Princess Daylight； but she told him nothing else about her； because she
was not allowed to talk about her mistress。 But she gave him a very good
meal and told him other things。
He did not go back to the little old woman who had been so kind to
him first； but wandered all day in the wood； waiting for the moontime。
Again he waited at the edge of the dell； and when the white moon was
high in the heavens； once more he saw the glimmering in the distance； and
once more the lovely maiden floated toward him。 He knew her name was
the Princess Daylight； but this time she seemed to him much lovelier than
before。 She was all in blue like the blue of the sky in summer。 （She really
was more lovely； you know； because the moon was almost at the full。） All
night he watched her； quite forgetting that he ought not to be doing it； till
she disappeared on the opposite side of the glade。 Then； very tired； he
found his way to the little old woman's house； had breakfast with her； and
fell fast asleep in the bed she gave him。
The fairy knew well enough by his face that he had seen Daylight； and
when he woke up in the evening and started off again she gave him a
strange little flask and told him to use it if ever he needed it。
This night the princess did not appear in the dell until midnight； at the
very full of the moon。 But when she came； she was so lovely that she took
the prince's breath away。 Just think！she was dressed in a gown that
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looked as if it were made of fireflies' wings； em… broidered in gold。 She
danced around and around； singing； swaying； and flitting like a beam of
sunlight； till the prince grew quite dazzled。
But while he had been watching her； he had not noticed that the sky
was growing dark and the wind was rising。 Suddenly there was a clap of
thunder。 The princess danced on。 But another clap came louder； and then a
sudden great flash of lightning that lit up the sky from end to end。 The
prince couldn't help shutting his eyes； but he opened them quickly to see if
Daylight was hurt。 Alas； she was lying on the ground。 The prince ran to
her； but she was already up again。
〃Who are you？〃 she said。
〃I thought；〃 stammered the prince； 〃you might be hurt。〃
〃There is nothing the matter。 Go away。〃
The prince went sadly。
〃Come back；〃 said the princess。 The prince came。 〃I like you； you do
as you are told。 Are you good？〃
〃Not so good as I should like to be；〃 said the prince。
〃Then go and grow better；〃 said the princess。
The prince went； more sadly。
〃Come back；〃 said the princess。 The prince came。 〃I think you must be
a prince；〃 she said。
〃Why？〃 said the prince。
〃Because you do as you are told； and you tell the truth。 Will you tell
me what the sun looks like？〃
〃Why； everybody knows that；〃 said the prince。
〃I am different from everybody；〃 said the princess；〃I don't know。〃
〃But；〃 said the prince； 〃do you not look when you wake up in the
morning？〃
〃That's just it；〃 said the princess； 〃I never do wake up in the morning。 I
never can wake up until〃 Then the princess remembered that she was
talking to a prince； and putting her hands over her face she walked swiftly
away。 The prince followed her； but she turned and put up her hand to tell
him not to。 And like the gentleman prince that he was； he obeyed her at
once。
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Now all this time； the wicked swamp fairy had not known a word
about what was going on。 But now she found out； and she was furious； for
fear that little Daylight should be delivered from her spell。 So she cast her
spells to keep the prince from finding Daylight again。 Night after night the
poor prince wandered and wandered； and never could find the little dell。
And when daytime came； of course； there was no princess to be seen。
Finally； at the time that the moon was almost gone； the swamp fairy
stopped her spells； because she knew that by this time Daylight would be
so changed and ugly that the prince would never know her if he did see
her。 She said to herself with a wicked laugh：
〃No fear of his wanting to kiss her now！〃
That night the prince did find the dell； but no princess came。 A little
after midnight he passed near the lovely little house where she lived； and
there he overheard her waiting… women talking about her。 They seemed in
great distress。 They were saying that the princess had wandered into the
woods and was lost。 The prince didn't know； of course； what it meant； but
he did understand that the princess was lost somewhere； and he started off
to find her。 After he had gone a long way without finding her； he came to a
big old tree； and there he thought he would light a fire to show her the way
if she should happen to see it。
As the blaze flared up； he suddenly saw a little black heap on the other
side of the tree。 Somebody was lying there。 He ran to the spot； his heart
beating with hope。 But when he lifted the cloak which was huddled about
the form； he saw at once that it was not Daylight。 A pinched； withered；
white； little old woman's face shone out at him。 The hood was drawn close
down over her forehead； the eyes were closed； and as the prince lifted the
cloak； the old woman's lips moaned faintly。
〃Oh； poor mother；〃 said the prince； 〃what is the matter？〃 The old
woman only moaned again。 The prince lifted her and carried her over to
the warm fire； and rubbed her hands； trying to find out what was the
matter。 But she only moaned； and her face was so terribly strange and
white that the prince's tender heart ached for her。 Remembering his little
flask； he poured some of his liquid between her lips； and then he thought
the best thing he could do was to carry her to the princess's house； where
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she could be taken care of。
As he lifted the poor little form in his arms； two great tears stole out
from the old woman's closed eyes and ran down her wrinkled cheeks。
〃Oh； poor； poor mother；〃 said the prince pityingly； and he stooped and
kissed her withered lips。
As he walked through the forest with the old woman in his arms； it
seemed to him that she grew heavier and heavier； he could hardly carry
her at all； and then she stirred； and at last he was obliged to set her down；
to rest。 He meant to lay her on the ground。 But the old woman stood upon
her feet。
And then the hood fell back from her face。 As she looked up at the
prince； the first； long； yellow ray of the rising sun struck full upon her；
and it was the Princess Daylight！ Her hair was golden as the sun itself； and
her eyes as blue as the flower that grows in the corn。
The prince fell on his knees before her。 But she gave him her hand and
made him rise。
〃You kissed me when I was an old woman；〃 said the princess； 〃I'll kiss
you now that I am a young princess。〃 And she did。
And then she turned her face toward the dawn。
〃Dear Prince；〃 she said； 〃is that the sun？〃
THE SAILOR MAN＇1＇
＇1＇ From The Golden Windows； by Laura E。 Richards。 （H。 R。 Allenson
Ltd。 2s。 6d。 net。）
Once upon a time； two children came to the house of a sailor man；
who lived beside the salt sea； and they found the sailor man sitting in his
doorway knotting ropes。
〃How do you do？〃 asked the sailor man。
〃We are very well； thank you；〃 said the children； who had learned
manners； 〃and we hope you are the same。 We heard that you had a boat；
and we thought that perhaps you would take us out in her； and teach us
how to sail； for that is what we most wish to know。〃
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〃All in good time；〃 said the sailor man。 〃I am busy now； but by…and…by；
when my work is done； I may perhaps take one of you if you are ready to
learn。 Meantime here are some ropes that need knotting； you might be
doing that； since it has to be done。〃 And he showed them how the knots
should be tied； and went away and left them。
When he was gone the first child ran to the window and looked out。
〃There is the sea；〃 he said。 〃The waves come up on the beach； almost
to the door of the house。 They run up all white； like prancing horses； and
then they go dragging back。 Come and look！〃
〃I cannot；〃 said the second child。 〃I am tying a knot。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried the first child；
