how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第27章
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then they go dragging back。 Come and look！〃
〃I cannot；〃 said the second child。 〃I am tying a knot。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried the first child； 〃I see the boat。 She is dancing like a lady at
a ball； I never saw such a beauty。 Come and look！〃
〃I cannot；〃 said the second child。 〃I am tying a knot。〃
〃I shall have a delightful sail in that boat；〃 said the first child。 〃I expect
that the sailor man will take me； because I am the eldest and I know more
about it。 There was no need of my watching when he showed you the
knots； because I knew how already。〃
Just then the sailor man came in。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃my work is over。 What have you been doing in the
meantime？〃 〃I have been looking at the boat；〃 said the first child。 〃What a
beauty she is！ I shall have the best time in her that ever I had in my life。〃
〃I have been tying knots；〃 said the second child。
〃Come； then；〃 said the sailor man； and he held out his hand to the
second child。 〃I will take you out in the boat； and teach you to sail her。〃
〃But I am the eldest；〃 cried the first child； 〃and I know a great deal
more than she does。〃
〃That may be；〃 said the sailor man； 〃but a person must learn to tie a
knot before he can learn to sail a boat。〃
〃But I have learned to tie a knot；〃 cried the child。 〃I know all about it！〃
〃How can I tell that？〃 asked the sailor man。
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THE STORY OF JAIRUS'S DAUGHTER＇1＇
＇1＇ This should usually be prefaced by a brief statement of Jesus habit
of healing and comforting all with whom He came in close contact。 The
exact form of the preface must depend on how much of His life has
already been given in stories。
Once； while Jesus was journeying about； He passed near a town
where a man named Jairus lived。 This man was a ruler in the synagogue；
and he had just one little daughter about twelve years of age。 At the time
that Jesus was there the little daughter was very sick； and at last she lay a…
dying。
Her father heard that there was a wonderful man near the town； who
was healing sick people whom no one else could help； and in his despair
he ran out into the streets to search for Him。 He found Jesus walking in the
midst of a crowd of people； and when he saw Him he fell down at Jesus
feet and besought Him to come into his house； to heal his daughter。 And
Jesus said； Yes； he would go with him。 But there were so many people
begging to be healed； and so many looking to see what happened； that the
crowd thronged them； and kept them from moving fast。 And before they
reached the house one of the man's servants came to meet them； and said；
〃Thy daughter is dead； trouble not the Master to come farther。〃
But instantly Jesus turned to the father and said； 〃Fear not； only
believe； and she shall be made whole。〃 And He went on with Jairus； to the
house。
When they came to the house； they heard the sound of weeping and
lamentation； the household was mourning for the little daughter； who was
dead。 Jesus sent all the strangers away from the door； and only three of His
disciples and the father and mother of the child went in with Him。 And
when He was within； He said to the mourning people； 〃Weep not； she is
not dead； she sleepeth。〃
When He had passed； they laughed Him to scorn； for they knew that
she was dead。
Then Jesus left them all； and went alone into the chamber where the
little daughter lay。 And when He was there； alone； He went up to the bed
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where she was； and bent over her； and took her by the hand。 And He said；
〃Maiden； arise。〃
And her spirit came unto her again！ And she lived； and grew up in her
father's house。
ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES IV。 AND V。
ARTHUR AND THE SWORD＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Sir Thomas Malory。
Once there was a great king in Britain named Uther； and when he
died the other kings and princes disputed over the kingdom； each wanting
it for himself。 But King Uther had a son named Arthur； the rightful heir to
the throne； of whom no one knew； for he had been taken away secretly
while he was still a baby by a wise old man called Merlin； who had him
brought up in the family of a certain Sir Ector； for fear of the malice of
wicked knights。 Even the boy himself thought Sir Ector was his father； and
he loved Sir Ector's son； Sir Kay； with the love of a brother。
When the kings and princes could not be kept in check any longer； and
something had to be done to determine who was to be king； Merlin made
the Archbishop of Canterbury send for them all to come to London。 It was
Christmas time； and in the great cathedral a solemn service was held； and
prayer was made that some sign should be given； to show who was the
rightful king。 When the service was over； there appeared a strange stone in
the churchyard； against the high altar。 It was a great white stone； like
marble； with something sunk in it that looked like a steel anvil； and in the
anvil was driven a great glistening sword。 The sword had letters of gold
written on it； which read： 〃Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and
anvil is rightwise king born of all England。〃
All wondered at the strange sword and its strange writing； and when
the archbishop himself came out and gave permission； many of the knights
tried to pull the sword from the stone； hoping to be king。 But no one could
move it a hair's breadth。
〃He is not here；〃 said the archbishop； 〃that shall achieve the sword； but
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
doubt not； God will make him known。〃
Then they set a guard of ten knights to keep the stone； and the
archbishop appointed a day when all should come together to try at the
stone；kings from far and near。 In the meantime； splendid jousts were held；
outside London； and both knights and commons were bidden。
Sir Ector came up to the jousts； with others； and with him rode Kay
and Arthur。 Kay had been made a knight at Allhallowmas； and when he
found there was to be so fine a joust he wanted a sword； to join it。 But he
had left his sword behind； where his father and he had slept the night
before。 So he asked young Arthur to ride for it。
〃I will well；〃 said Arthur； and rode back for it。 But when he came to
the castle； the lady and all her household were at the jousting； and there
was none to let him in。
Thereat Arthur said to himself； 〃My brother Sir Kay shall not be
without a sword this day。〃 And he remembered the sword he had seen in
the churchyard。 〃I will to the churchyard；〃 he said； 〃and take that sword
with me。〃 So he rode into the churchyard； tied his horse to the stile； and
went up to the stone。 The guards were away to the tourney； and the sword
was there； alone。
Going up to the stone； young Arthur took the great sword by the hilt；
and lightly and fiercely he drew it out of the anvil。
Then he rode straight to Sir Kay； and gave it to him。
Sir Kay knew instantly that it was the sword of the stone； and he rode
off at once to his father and said； 〃Sir； lo； here is the sword of the stone； I
must be king of the land。〃 But Sir Ector asked him where he got the sword。
And when Sir Kay said； 〃From my brother；〃 he asked Arthur how he got it。
When Arthur told him； Sir Ector bowed his head before him。 〃Now I
understand ye must be king of this land；〃 he said to Arthur。
〃Wherefore I？〃 said Arthur。
〃For God will have it so；〃 said Ector； 〃never man should have drawn
out this sword but he that shall be rightwise king of this land。 Now let me
see whether ye can put the sword as it was in the stone； and pull it out
again。〃
Straightway Arthur put the sword back。
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Then Sir Ector tried to pull it out； and after him Sir Kay； but neither
could stir it。 Then Arthur pulled it out。 Thereupon； Sir Ector and Sir Kay
kneeled upon the ground before him。
〃Alas；〃 said Arthur； 〃mine own dear father and brother； why kneel ye
to me？〃
Sir Ector told him； then； all about his royal birth； and how he had been
taken privily away by Merlin。 But when Arthur found Sir Ector was not
truly his father； he was so sad at heart that he cared not greatly to be king。
And he begged his father and brother to love him still。 Sir Ector asked that
Sir Kay might be seneschal when Arthur was king。 Arthur promised with
all his heart。
Then they went to the archbishop and told him that the sword had
found its master。 The archbishop appointed a day for the trial to be made
in the sight of all men； and on that day the princes and knights came
together； and each tried to draw out the sword； as before。 But as before；
none could so much as stir it。
Then came Arthur； and pulled it easily from its place。
The knights and kings were terribly angry that a boy from nowhere in
particular had beaten them； and they refused to acknowledge him king。
They appointed another day； for another great trial。
Three times they did this； and every time the same thing happened。
At last； at the feast of Pentecost； Arthur again pulled out the sword
before all the knights and the commons。 And then the commons rose up
and cried that he should be king； and that they would slay any who denied
him。
So Arthur became king of Britain； and all gave him allegiance。
TARPEIA
There was once a girl named Tarpeia； whose father was guard of the
outer gate of the citadel of Rome。 It was a time of war；the Sabines were
besieging the city。 Their camp was close outside the city wall。
Tarpeia used to see the Sabine soldiers when she went to draw water
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