stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第29章
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his knees on the stones。 But no donkey was there。 He would have lain
down to sleep again； but he could hear now the howls of hungry wolves in
the woods； that did not sound pleasant。 Finally； his hand struck against
something that felt like a saddle。 He grasped it； thankfully； and started to
mount his donkey。
The beast he took hold of seemed very small； and； as he mounted； he
felt that its sides were moist and slimy。 It gave him a shudder； and he
hesitated； but at that moment he heard a distant clock strike。 It was striking
eleven！ There was still time to reach the castle of fortune； but no more
than enough； so he mounted his new steed and rode on once more。 The
animal was easier to sit on than the donkey； and the saddle seemed
remarkably high behind； it was good to lean against。 But even the donkey
was not so slow as this； the new steed was slower than he。 After a while；
however； he pushed his way out of the woods into the open； and there
stood the castle； only a little way ahead！ All its windows were ablaze with
lights。 A ray from them fell on the lazy man's beast； and he saw what he
was riding： it was a gigantic snail！ a snail as large as a calf！
A cold shudder ran over the lazy man's body； and he would have got
off his horrid animal then and there； but just then the clock struck once
more。 It was the first of the long； slow strokes that mark mid… night！ The
man grew frantic when he heard it。 He drove his heels into the snail's sides；
to make him hurry。 Instantly； the snail drew in his head； curled up in his
shell； and left the lazy man sitting in a heap on the ground！
The clock struck twice。 If the man had run for it； he could still have
reached the castle； but； instead； he sat still and shouted for a horse。
〃A beast； a beast！〃 he wailed； 〃any kind of a beast that will take me to
the castle！〃
The clock struck three times。 And as it struck the third note； something
came rustling and rattling out of the darkness； something that sounded like
a horse with harness。 The lazy man jumped on its back； a very queer； low
back。 As he mounted； he saw the doors of the castle open； and saw his
friend standing on the threshold； waving his cap and beckoning to him。
The clock struck four times； and the new steed began to stir； as it
struck five； he moved a pace forward； as it struck six； he stopped； as it
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struck seven； he turned himself about； as it struck eight； he began to move
backward； away from the castle！
The lazy man shouted； and beat him； but the beast went slowly
backward。 And the clock struck nine。 The man tried to slide off； then； but
from all sides of his strange animal great arms came reaching up and held
him fast。 And in the next ray of moonlight that broke the dark clouds； he
saw that he was mounted on a monster crab！
One by one； the lights went out； in the castle windows。 The clock
struck ten。 Backward went the crab。 Eleven！ Still the crab went backward。
The clock struck twelve！ Then the great doors shut with a clang； and the
castle of fortune was closed forever to the lazy man。
What became of him and his crab no one knows to this day； and no
one cares。 But the industrious man was received by the Fairy of Fortune；
and made happy in the castle as long as he wanted to stay。 And ever
afterward she was his friend； helping him not only to happiness for
himself； but also showing him how to help others； wherever he went。
DAVID AND GOLIATH＇1＇
＇1＇ From the text of the King James version of the Old Testament； with
introduction and slight interpolations； changes of order； and omissions。
A long time ago； there was a boy named David； who lived in a
country far east of this。 He was good to look upon； for he had fair hair and
a ruddy skin； and he was very strong and brave and modest。 He was
shepherd…boy for his father； and all dayoften all nighthe was out in the
fields； far from home； watching over the sheep。 He had to guard them
from wild animals； and lead them to the right pastures； and care for them。
By and by； war broke out between the people of David's country and a
people that lived near at hand； these men were called Philistines； and the
people of David's country were named Israel。 All the strong men of Israel
went up to the battle； to fight for their king。 David's three older brothers
went； but he was only a boy； so he was left behind to care for the sheep。
After the brothers had been gone some time； David's father longed
very much to hear from them； and to know if they were safe； so he sent for
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David； from the fields； and said to him； 〃Take now for thy brothers an
ephah of this parched corn； and these ten loaves； and run to the camp；
where thy brothers are； and carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their
thousand； and see how thy brothers fare； and bring me word again。〃 （An
ephah is about three pecks。）
David rose early in the morning； and left the sheep with a keeper； and
took the corn and the loaves and the cheeses； as his father had commanded
him； and went to the camp of Israel。
The camp was on a mountain； Israel stood on a mountain on the one
side； and the Philistines stood on a mountain on the other side； and there
was a valley between them。 David came to the place where the Israelites
were； just as the host was going forth to the fight； shouting for the battle。
So he left his gifts in the hands of the keeper of the baggage； and ran into
the army； amongst the soldiers； to find his brothers。 When he found them；
he saluted them and began to talk with them。
But while he was asking them the questions his father had commanded；
there arose a great shouting and tumult among the Israelites； and men
came running back from the front line of battle； everything became
confusion。 David looked to see what the trouble was； and he saw a strange
sight： on the hillside of the Philistines； a warrior was striding forward；
calling out something in a taunting voice； he was a gigantic man； the
largest David had ever seen； and he was all dressed in armor； that shone in
the sun： he had a helmet of brass upon his head； and he was armed with a
coat of mail； and he had greaves of brass upon his legs； and a target of
brass between his shoulders； his spear was so tremendous that the staff of
it was like a weaver's beam； and his shield so great that a man went before
him； to carry it。
〃Who is that？〃 asked David。
〃It is Goliath； of Gath； champion of the Philistines；〃 said the soldiers
about。 〃Every day； for forty days； he has come forth； so； and challenged us
to send a man against him； in single combat； and since no one dares to go
out against him alone； the armies cannot fight。〃 （That was one of the laws
of warfare in those times。）
〃What！〃 said David； 〃does none dare go out against him？〃
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As he spoke； the giant stood still； on the hillside opposite the
Israelitish host； and shouted his challenge； scornfully。 He said； 〃Why are
ye come out to set your battle in array？ Am I not a Philistine； and ye
servants of Saul？ Choose you a man for you； and let him come down to
me。 If he be able to fight with me； and to kill me； then will we be your
servants； but if I prevail against him； and kill him； then shall ye be our
servants； and serve us。 I defy the armies of Israel this day； give me a man；
that we may fight together！〃
When King Saul heard these words； he was dismayed； and all the men
of Israel； when they saw the man； fled from him and were sore afraid。
David heard them talking among themselves； whispering and murmuring。
They were saying； 〃Have ye seen this man that is come up？ Surely if any
one killeth him that man will the king make rich； perhaps he will give him
his daughter in marriage； and make his family free in Israel！〃
David heard this； and he asked the men if it were so。 It was surely so；
they said。
〃But；〃 said David； 〃who is this Philistine； that he should defy the
armies of the living God？〃 And he was stirred with anger。
Very soon； some of the officers told the king about the youth who was
asking so many questions； and who said that a mere Philistine should not
be let defy the armies of the living God。 Immediately Saul sent for him。
When David came before Saul； he said to the king； 〃Let no man's heart fail
because of him； thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine。〃
But Saul looked at David； and said； 〃Thou art not able to go against
this Philistine； to fight with him； for thou art but a youth； and he has been
a man of war from his youth。〃
Then David said to Saul； 〃Once I was keeping my father's sheep； and
there came a lion and a bear； and took a lamb out of the flock； and I went
out after the lion； and struck him； and delivered the lamb out of his mouth；
and when he arose against me； I caught him by the beard； and struck him；
and slew him！ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear； and this
Philistine shall be as one of them； for he hath defied the armies of the
living God。 The Lord； who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out
of the paw of the bear； he will deliver me out of the hand of this
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Philistine。〃
〃Go；〃 said Saul； 〃and the Lord be with thee！〃
And he armed David with his own armor； he put a helmet of brass
upon his head； and armed him with a coat of mail。 But when David girded
his sword upon his armor； and tried to walk； he sa
