英語經(jīng)典小故事匯總

66篇英語小故事在線閱讀

1.TheDogInTheManger（牛槽桂的狗）

Onceadogwastakinganapinthemangerofanox.It

wasfullofhay.Butsoontheoxcamebackfromhiswork

tothemanger.Hewantedtoeathisownhay.Thenthedog

awoke,stoodupandbarkedattheox.Theoxsaidtothe

dog,“Doyouwanttoeatthishay,too?”

“Ofcoursenot,“saidthedog.

“Then,goawayandletmeeatmyownhay.”

“Oh,no.Yougoawayandletmesleep.”

“Whataselfishdog!Hewillneithereatthehayhimself,

norletmeeatit!”saidtheoxtohimself.

2.TheLion,TheBearAndTheFox（才肺子、熊輿狐貍）

Longagoalionandabearsawakid.Theysprangupon

itatthesametime.Thelionsaidtothebear,“Icaught

thiskidfirst,andsothisismine.”

〃No,no,〃saidthebear."Ifounditearlierthanyou,

sothisismine."Andtheyfoughtlongandfiercely.At

lastbothofthemgotverytiredandcouldnolongerfight.

Afoxwhohidhimselfbehindatreenotfaraway

andwaswatchingthefightbetweenthelionandthebear,

cameoutandwalkedinbetweenthem,andranoffwiththe

kid.

Thelionandthebearbothsawthefox,butthey

couldnotevencatchthefox.

Thelionsaidtothebear,“Wehavefoughtfor

nothing.Thatslyfoxhasgotthekidaway.”

3.TheBoysAndTheFrogs（男孩典青蛙）

Onespringdaysomenaughtyboyswereplayingneara

pond.Theybegantothrowstonesintothewater.Inthepond

livedmanyfrogsweremuchafraidoftheboys,forthe

stoneshurtsomeofthefrogs.Atlastanoldfroglifted

hisheadoutofthewaterandsaid,“Boys,pleasedon't

throwstonesatus.”

Theboyssaid,“Weareonlyplaying.”"Iknow

that,butpleasestopthrowingstones,myboys.Whatisplay

toyouisdeathtous,“saidtheoldfrog.

Sotheboysstoppedthrowingstonesandwentaway.

4.TheTwoTravelers（雨他I旅人）

ManyyearsagotwomenweretravelingtogetherThey

werewalkingalongaroadinthewood.

Thentheyfoundabeautifulaxontheground.One

ofthempickeditupandsaid,“Lookherehavefoundan

ax.”

“Don'tsayI,butwehavefoundtheax,“saidthe

other“Wearefriends.Weoughttoshareitbetweenus.”

“No,"saidthefirstone,“Ifoundtheax,so

itismine.”

Soonaftertheyheardsomeonerunningafterthem.

Theylookedback.TheyfoundHecalledout,“Stop,thieves!

Stop,thieves!”

Thefirsttravelersaid,“Whatshallwedo?Heis

runningafterus.Weshallbecaughtbyhim.""Don'tsay

we,butIshallbecaught.Youfoundtheax,andyousay

itisyours,“saidtheother,andlefthimalone.

Thefirsttravelertriedtohidetheax,buthedid

notknowwheretohideit.Andatlasthewascaughtbythe

owneroftheax.

5.TheAntAndTheDove（或禹蟒典鎬子）

Onedayalittleantwaswalkingalongthebankof

astream.Hisfootslippedandhefellintothewater."Oh,

help,help!”criedtheant.Adovewassittingonabranch

ofatreeoverthestreamandheardhiscryofhelp."Oh,

poorant!”saidthedove."Iwillhelptheant.”

Thedovepulledoffaleafanddroppeditnearthe

ant."Hereisaleaf.Climbonit,“saidthedove.The

antclimbedonitatonceandfloatedtothebank.

Afewdaysafterthisahunterfoundthedoveand

wasgoingtoshoother.Justthentheantpassedbyandsaid

tohimself,“ThistimeImusthelpthedove."Theantran

tothehunterandbithisfoothard.Thehuntersprangup

andmissedtoshootthedove.Thedovesaidtotheant,

“Thankyouverymuch,mylittlefriend.Youhavesavedmy

life,“andshecouldflyawayhappily.

6.TheCockAndTheJewel（公維輿^石）

Onefinemorning,acocksaidtothehensandchickens,

“Come,letusgoouttofindsomefood.Wehavenothad

ourbreakfastyet.”

Thenthecockbegantodigthesoftearth.Suddenly

hecried,“Look,look!Ihavefoundsomethingstrange.I

wonderwhatitis.Itislikeaball.Butitisnotastone.

Itmaybeaneggofsomebird.”

Thehensheardhiscryandcamearoundhim.Oneof

themsaid,“Dearme!Thisisnotanegg,butajewel.

Someonehaslostit."Achickenasked,“Canweeatit?”

“No,"saidthehen,“Itisveryprecioustohumanbeings,

butitisofnousetous;wecannoteatit.Throwitaway

andtrytofindsomeworms.Iwanttohaveonewormthan

allthejewelsintheworld.”

7.TheWolfandtheGoat（狼輿山羊）

Onedayawolfsawagoatonahighcliff.Hewas

jumpingtoandfroandwasgrazing.

Thewolfwantedtoeathim,buthecouldnotclimb

uptheretocatchhim.Sohesaidtothegoat,“Goodmorning,

mygoodfriendGoat!Comedownhere!

Ifyouslipdownthecliff,youwillbreakyour

neck.Andthegrassisshortanddryupthere.Comedown!

Thegrassislongandtenderhere.”

“Thankyou,Mr.Wolf,butnevermind.Iamused

toplayinghere,andIlikethegrassherebetter.Iwould

rathereatdrygrassthanbeeatenbyawolf,“saidthe

goat.

8.TheHareandtheTortoise（野兔典，舄H）

Onedayaharemetwithatortoiseatthefootof

ahill.

uHallo,littleTortoise!Whereareyougoing?How

shortyourlegsare!”saidthehare.

“Iamgoingovertothehill.Iamaslowrunner,

butIcanrunaracewithyou,“saidthetortoise."All

right.Let'srunaracewithyoutothetopofthehill,“

saidthehare.

Thehareandthetortoisestarted.Thehareran

veryfast.Theharesaidtohimself,“Icanmuchfaster

thanthetortoise,andImayhavealittlenaphere.”

Sotheharelaydownunderatreeandwasfast

asleep.Butthetortoisedidnotstopforamoment.He

walkedonandon.Atlasthegottothetopofthehill.

Theharewokeupandlookedaround,buthecould

notseethetortoise.Hesprangupandranasfastashe

could.Whentheharegottothetopofthehill,hefound

thetortoisewasrestingtherepeacefully.

Thetortoisesaidtothehare,“Now,Mr.Hare!

Whichwasthefasterrunner,youorI?”

9.TheLionandtheMouse（才肺子輿老鼠）

Onceagreatlionwassleepinginawood.Alittlemouse

happenedtocomeandranoverhisface.Thelionawokeand

caughtthelittlemouseinanger,andwasgoingtokillher.

“Oh,dearkindLion!”Saidthelittlemouse."Please

forgiveme.Ididn'tmeantodoyouanyharm.Letmego.

Ishallreturnyourkindness.

〃Ha,ha,ha,“l(fā)aughedthelion.，?Howcanalittle

thinglikeyouhelpagreatlion?”"Thankyouverymuch,

kindLion!IhopeIshallbeabletodoyouagoodreturn

someday,“saidthelittlemouse.

Sometimeafterthis,thelionwascaughtinatrap.

Justthenthelittlemousecamealong.Atoncesheranup

tothelion,andsaid,“Youwereverykindtomeonce.Now

I,11saveyourlife,andrepayyouthekindnesswhichyou

showedmetheotherday."Soonshegnawedtheropesofthe

trapwithhersharpteeth,andthelionwashappytobefree

again.

〃Thankyou,littleMouse!saidthelion,andhe

walkedaway.

10.TheTreesandtheAx（橫［輿斧

Onceuponatimeamancameintoaforest.Hesaid

tothetrees,“Willyougivemeapieceofhardwood?”

Thetreesaid,“Yes,we'11giveyouagoodprice

ofhardwood.”

Hewasverygladtogetagoodpieceofwood.He

hurriedhomewithit.Atoncehemadeanewhandleofhis

ax.

Thenhewenttotheforestagainandbegantocut

downallthebesttreesintheforest.

Thetreeswereverysad.Theysaidtooneanother,

“Wesufferforourownfoolishness.”

11.TheFoxandtheGrapes（狐貍典葡萄）

Earlyinthefall,afoxsawripegrapesinagarden.

Hewantedtoeatthem.

Hesaidtohimself,“HowluckyIam!I'vefound

somenicegrapes."Hecreptintothegarden,andcameto

thegrapes.Hejumpedupatthegrapes,buthecouldnot

reachthem.Hejumpedagainandagain,butinvain.

Atlasthegaveitup,andsaidtohimself,“The

grapesaresour.Idon，twantsourgrapes."Andhewent

away.

12.TheDog,theCockandtheFox（狗、公荽隹和狐貍）

Adogandacockweregoodfriendsandtheywere

travelingtogether.

Whennightcameon,thecockflewuptoatreeand

sleptthere,andthegodfoundahollowinthesametree

andsleptinit.Whenthemorningcame,thecockwokeup

andbegantocrow.

Ahungryfoxheardthiscrowandwantedtogetthe

cockforhisdinner.Thenthefoxsaidtothecock,uWhat

abeautifulmorningthisis!Iwanttotalktoyou.Youhave

averysweetvoice.Won'tyoucomedownandhaveachat

withme?”

“Thankyou,Mr.Fox.Buthowaboutyourcomingup

here?Itisveryniceandcoolhere,“repliedthecock.

“Allright,Iwill.ButhowcanIgetup?”askedthefox.

“Justgoroundthetrunkbelowme,andwakemyservantin

ahollow.Hewillopenthedoorforyou,“saidthecock.

Thefoxcamenearthehollow.Andthedogrushedout,sprang

uponthefoxandkilleditatonce.

13.TheWolfandtheCrane（狼典鬻）

Onedayawolfwaseatinghisdinnerhastilyand

swallowedabone.Itstuckinhisthroat.Hetriedtoget

itout,buthecouldnot.

Justthenacraneflewdowntohim."DearCrane!v

saidthewolftothecrane."I'mintrouble.Abonehas

stuckinmythroat.Willyouputyourheadintomythroat

andpullitout?YouhaveaverylongneckandI'msureyou

canreachit.Iwillpayyouwellforit.”

“Allright.I'11helpyou.Openyourmouthaswide

asyoucan,“saidthecrane,andputhisheadintothe

wolf'smouthandpulledoutthebone.Thankyouverymuch,

myfriend,“saidthewolf."NowImustbepaidforthe

work,“saidthecrane.

“Well,“saidthewolf."Youputyourheadinto

mythroat,butIdidnotbiteoffyourhead.Isn'tthat

enoughforyou?Goalonganddon'ttalkaboutrewards.”

14.Theman,hisSonandtheirDonkey（一彳固人和他的兄子典

他憑的It子）

Amanandhissonweredrivingtheirdonkeyalong

acountryroad.Theysawsomegirlsdrawingwateratawell.

Oneofthegirlssaid,“oh,look!Howsillythey

are!Amanandaboyarewalkingalongbesidetheirdonkey,

andnobodyisridingit.”

Themanheardthisandsaidtohisson,“Youhad

betterrideourdonkey.Youarelight,soyouwillnottire

ourdonkey."Inalittlewhiletheymetthreeoldmen.One

ofthemsaid,“seehere!Theboyisridingadonkeyand

hisoldfatheriswalkingbyhisside.Theyoungboydoes

oftakecareofhisoldfather.”

Andthemangotonthedonkeyandhissonwalked

alongbesideit.Nowtheywereveryhappy.Butsoon

afterwardtheymetthreewomen.Fastenedittoapole.They

liftedittotheirshouldersandcarrieditalongtothe

town.Whentheycametoabridge,everyonelaughedatthem.

Andthedonkeydidnotlikethenoiseandbegantokick.

Itbroketherope,fellintothewaterandwasdrowned.So

theoldmanhadtotakehissonandgohome.Themansaid

tohisson,“Hewhotriestopleaseeverybodypleases

nobodyafterall.”

15.TheAntsandtheGrasshopper（由母蟒典蚱蠕）

Onefinewinterdaysomeantswereworkinginthe

field.Theyweredryingtheirfoodinthesun,andwerevery

busy.Justthenagrasshopperpassedby.Hewasveryhungry.

“Goodday,kindAnts,“saidthegrasshopper."I

amveryhungry.Won，tyoulendmealittlefood?Ihave

nothingtoeat.Iwillpayyoubeforethenextfall.”

“Haveyounofoodofyourown?Whydidyounotgatherany

foodduringthesummer?Youknowtherewasmuchfoodinthe

fieldlastsummer.Whatwereyoudoingthen?”askedanold

ant.

Thegrasshopperreplied;"Iwassingingallday

andnightduringthesummer.AndsoIhadnotimetogather

anyfood.Pleaselendmesomefood.v"Well,then,“said

theant."Asyousangallthesummer,youhadbetterdance

allthewinter.Youonlyplayedanddidnotworkduringthe

summer.We'11neverlendyouanyfood."Andtheantswent

onworking.

16.JackandtheRobber（彳桀克典弓金盔）

Jackwasafarmer*sboy.Oncehedrovehiscartto

market.Hehadbutterandeggstosell.

Hemetawomanontheway.Shegavehimapieceof

silverforalittlebutter.Thenhemetaboy.Theboygave

himapieceofsilverforsixeggs.

SoonJackhadplentyofsilverinhispocket.As

Jackwentalong,amancameuptohim,andsaid,"Stop!”

SoJackstoppedonthewayagain.Themangavehim

somewine.Jackdrankit,andfellasleepontheroadside.

WhenJackwokeup,hissilverwasnotinhispocket.Itwas

allgone.

Themanwasarobber,andpoorJackwenthome

sadly.

17.AbrahamLincoln（55伯拉罕?林肯）

ABRAHAMLINC0LN，Sfatherandmotherwerevery-

poorandthefamilylivedinalogcabininthewood.

Abrahamhadtowalkaboutfivemilestoschool,as

therewasnoschoolnearhiselevenyearsold,hehadto

leaveschoolandworkHelovedtostudyandafterworking

hardallday,heusertostudytostudybythefirelight.

Hegrewtobeawiseandgoodman.HewaselectedPresident

oftheUnitedStates.

AtthattimetherewasawarbetweentheNorthand

theSouth.ThepeopleoftheSouthwantedtoownslaves,

butthoseoftheNorththoughtthatitwaswrongtoown

slaves.

ThentheSouthandtheNorthfoughtforfouryears

andatlasttheNorthwonandtheslavesweresetfree.

18.ABadDream（一彳固悲蘿）

OneafternoonBenwasplayinginthebackyard,A

bigblackcatjumpedoverthefenceandlaydownamonghis

mother'splants.Bencreptuptothecat.Hecaughtitby

thetailanddroppeditintoatubofwater.

Hismotherlookedoutofthewindowandsawhim.

Shecalledhimintothehouseandscoldedhimforsucha

cruelty.Thenshetoldhimthathemustgotobedandstay

theretillevening.

BeforelongBenfellasleep.Hedreamedthathe

grewverysmallAveryverybigcatseizedhiminitsmouth

andranawaywithhimHekickedandscreamed,buthecould

notgetaway,Atlastthecatdroppedhimandhefellinto

abigpond.Hesanddown,downintothecoldwater.Then

hewokeup.

19.KingAlfredandtheCakes（阿佛列王典糕胡O

KingALFRED0fEnglandonceledhisarmy

tofightwithanotherarmyandwasbeaten.Sohehadtorun

awaythroughthewoodsandswampstosavehislife.

Oneeveninghecametoawoodcutter'shut.Hewas

verytiredandhungry,sohebeggedthewoodcutter?swife

togivehimsomethingtoeatandaplacetosleepin.He

wasraggedanddirtyandshedidnotknowthathewasthe

king.Shefeltsosorryforhimthatshetoldhimtocome

inandgavehemaseatnearthefire.

Shewasbakingsomecakes.ShesaidtoKingAlfred,

“Imustgoandmilkthecow.Watchthecakesanddonot

letthemburn."Thekingwaswillingtodothis,buthe

keptthinkingabouthisarmyandsoonforgotallaboutthe

cakes.Inafewminutesthewomancamebackandfoundthe

cakesburning.Shewassoangrythatshestrucktheking

withastickandcried,“Youlazyfellow!Youwanttoeat,

butyoudonotwanttowork.”

20.Tony，sLie（浸尼的^言）

OnedayTonywasaverybadboy.Hetoldalieto

hismother.Thatnightfeltveryunhappy.Hedidnotwant

toplaywiththechildren.

Hesatonthedoorstepalone.Helookedupinthe

skyandsawthebigroundmoon.Hethoughtthatitwas

lookingdownuponhim,becauseitknewaboutthelie.He

randownthestreettogetawayfromit,butitkept

followinghim.Thenhecreptintothehouseandwenttobed,

butthemoonlookedathimthroughthewindow.Hepulled

thesheetoverhishead,buthecouldnotsleep.Thenhe

crawledunderthebedandlaythereinthedark.Hethought

andthoughtaboutthelie.

Atlasthedecidedtotellhismotherallaboutit.

Hetoldherthetruthandsheforgavehim.Hepromisednever

totellalieagain.

Hewentbacktobedandwassoonfastasleep.He

dreamedthatthemoonsmileddownuponhim.

21.JackandtheBeanstalk(彳桀克和豌豆)

(Part1)

Onceuponatimetherewasapoorwidowwhohadanonlyson

namedJack.Allthattheyhadwasthehousetheylivedin

andacow.Atlasttheybecametoopoortokeepthecow.

ThewidowsaidtoJackoneday,“Takethiscowtothemarket

andsellher.Thenwe'11beabletobuybread.Trytoget

asmuchmoneyasyoucan."Jack,whowasagood,but

thoughtlessboy,startedforthemarketwithhiscow.On

hismaytothemarkethemetamanwhohadapigwithhim.

“Goodmorning,“saidtheman."Goodmorning,“answered

Jack."Won'tyougivemeyouroldcowforthisfatyoung

pig?”saidtheman.Jackthoughtitagoodidea.Sohe

ax-changedhisoldcowfortheyoungpigHewalkedon

happilyuntilhemetanothermanwhohadsomefinebeans.

“Thesearemagicbeans,“saidtheman.'T11giveyou

oneofthem,ifyougivemethatpig."Jackthoughtit

wonderfultohaveamagicbean.Soheconsentedtoitand

carriedthebeanproudlybackhome.Heshowedthebeanto

hismother."Isthisallthatyouhavegotforthatcow?”

shesaid."Now,wehaveoncowtogiveusmilk.Allwehave

isthisbean."Shegotangry.Shethrewitoutofthewindow.

Thebeanfallintheirgarden.Duringthatnightissprouted

andgrewinawonderfulway.Whenjackandhismotherwoke

thenextmorning,theysawthatthebeanstalkhadgrownso

highthattheycouldnotseethetopJackmadeuphismind

toclimbtothetopofthebeanstalk.Higherandhigherup

heclimbeduntilhefoundhimselfnearawindowofanold

castle.Lookingin,Jacksawagianteatinghis,dinner.

Thegiantfinishedhisdinnerandorderedhisservantto

bringhischieftreasures,ahenandaharp.Layeggs,“

saidthegianttothehen.Thehenbegantolayeggs.They

wereeggsofgold."Play,“saidthegianttotheharp.

Theharpbegantoplaysweetmusic.Theharpplayedonand

onuntilthegiantgrewtiredandfellasleep.

(Part2)

Jackhadcrawledintotheroombythistime.Whenthegiant

wasasleep,aservantbeckonedtoJack."Lookhere.These

arethetreasureswhichthegiantstolefromyourfather

beforeyouwereborn,“saidhe."Takethembacktoyour

mother,ifyoulike.But,bequiet.Hemaywake."Jack

thankedhim,andpickedupthehenandtheharpvery

carefully.Whenhewasclimbingdownthebeanstalk,the

harphappenedtomakealoudnoise.Thegiantwoke.Jack

climbeddownthebeanstalk,withthehenandtheharpunder

hisarms.ThegiantrandownafterJack,butJackranfaster

thanthegiant.Whenhewasnearhishome,hecalledout

tohismother,uMother,bringanax."Hismotherbrought

anax.Shesawhersonclimbingdownthebeanstalk.Assoon

ashegotdowntotheground,hechoppeddownthebeanstalk.

Downfellthegiantwiththebeanstalk.Hebrokehisneck,

andwasdead.Jackandhismotherwererichalltherest

oftheirlivesandlivedhappilyeverafter.

22.TheHappyShoemaker(快架的鞋匠)

(1)

Oncetherelivedarichmerchantandapoorshoemakerin

thesamehouse.Themerchantoccupiedinthesamehouse.

Themerchantoccupiedthesecondfloor,buttheshoemaker

livedandworkedinasmallroomonthefirstfloor.The

shoemakerwasoneofthehappiestpersonsonearth.He

workedfrommorningtillnight,singingmerrily.Hisheart

wasfilledwithjoy,wheneverhelookedatthebootsand

shoestoberepaired.Nowthemerchantupstairswassorich

thathehardlyknewhowmuchwealthhehad.Hewasalways

countingoverhisgoldandsilvercoinsfarintothenight.

Eveninbedhisuneasinessabouthisricheskepthimawake

whenatlasthehadbeenasleepforanhourortwo,upcame

thesongofthehappyshoemaker,whowasanearlyriser.

Itcontinuedalldayandwasatroubletothemerchantday

bydaythemerchantgrewmoreandmoretiredthroughwant

ofsleepheaskedawisefriendofhishowhecouldputan

endtotheshoemaker,ssong."Well,ifIwereyou,Iwould

givetheshoemakerahundredpounds,“answeredhisfriend.

“Youarerichenoughtodothat,Isuppose.Askfornothing

inreturn.Simplygivethemoney."Themerchantreadily

followedtheadvice.

(2)

Whentheshoemakeropenedthebagthathadbeensentbythe

merchant,hewasamazedtofindshiningcoins.uImusthide

thisfromtheeyesofmyneighbors.Iftheyseeit,they

willthinkthatIhavestolenit,“hethought."Iwill

keepitawayevenfrommywife."Sohehidthebagofmoney

underthefloor.Fromthenonheavoidedhisneighborsas

muchashecould.Hiswifewhohadbeenthebestcompanion

tohim,becametroublesomenowhismindwastoomuchset

onthemoneybagtoattendtohisworkwithdiligence.He

couldnotsingmerrilynow.Wheneverhethoughtofthemoney

bag,hebecameuneasyandunhappy.Atlengthonedayhis

wifesaidtohimintears,---"dearhusband,whatmakes

yousosadanduneasy?Allourneighborssayyouhave

changed.Iwishyouwereasgoodandgentleasbefore.”

Hewassosorryforherthathetoldhereverything."We

werehappybeforethemerchantgaveusthemoney,“said

hiswife,whensheheardthestory."Wehavegoodhealth.

Wehaveplentyofworktodo.Whatmoredoweneed?Send

themoneybacktothemerchant,andthehappylifethatwas

onceourswillreturntous."Theshoemakeragreedandwent

tothemerchanttoreturnthebagofmoney."Sir”hesaid,

“l(fā)etmereturnthistoyou.Bygivingthistome,youhave

spoiledmyhappyandeasylife.SoIwanttohaveitback

byreturningyourpresent."Merrysongwasagainheardall

overthehouse.Hewasashappyashehadeverbeen.

23.TheThreeWishes三他顧望

Amanandhiswifewerealwayswishingforluck.Onenight

afairycametothemandsaid,“Youmayhavethree

wishes."Inthemorningthewomanwenttoaneighbor,s

housetogetsomebread.Shesawanicepuddingthere.When

shecameback,shesaid,“IwishIhadapuddinglikethat!

Shedidnotthinkofthethreewishes,buttherewasa

puddingbesideher."Silly!”criedtheman,youhavelost

oneofyourwishes,andwehaveonlyapudding.Iwishit

wereonyournose!”Atthat,thepuddingjumpedupandgrew

fasttohernose."Silly,yourself!”criedthewoman,

“youhavelostanotherwish.Wehaveonlyonewishmore.”

“Whatshallitbe?”askedtheman."Wemustwishthis

puddingoff,“saidthewoman."Ican'thaveitonmy

nose."Sotheywisheditwouldgoaway,andawayitwent.

Theyhadhadtheirthreewishes,buttheywereonbetter

offthanwhenthefairycametothem.

24.ChildeRowland恰德箍U

(1)LongagotherewasalittleprincessnamedEllen.She

livedwithhermother,thequeeninagreatcastlebythe

sea.Shehadthreebrothers.Oneday.Astheywereplaying

ball,oneofherbrothersthrewtheballoverthecastle.

Ellenrantogetit,anddidnotcomeback.Thethree

brotherslookedforher.Theylookedandlooked,butthey

couldnotfindher.Dayafterdaywentby.Atlasttheoldest

brotherwenttoawisemanandaskedthatman.Thewiseman

toldhimashehadtoldtheoldestbrother.Thenthenext

brothersetouttofindthedarktower.Theyoungestbrother

waited.Hewaitedlong,butnoonecameback.Nowthe

youngestbrotherwascalledchildeRowland.Atlastchilde

Rowlandwenttohismother,thequeen,andsaid,umother,

letmegoandfindthedarktowerandbringhomeEllenand

mybrothers."Icannotletyougo.YouareallthatIhave

now,“saidthequeen.ButchildeRowlandaskedagainand

again,untilatlastthequeensaid,“go,myboy."then

shegavehimhisfather'ssword,andhesetout.Hewent

tothewisemanandaskedtheway.Thewisemantoldhim

andsaid:"Iwilltellyoutwothings:onethingisfor

youtodo,andonethingisforyounottodo."thething

todoisthis:whenyougettothecountryoftheelves,

holdyourfather'ssword,pullitoutquickly,andcutoff

theheadofanyonewhospeakstoyou,untilyoufindthe

princessEllen,“thethingnottodoisthis:bitenobit

anddrinknodropuntilyoucomeback.Gohungryandthirsty

whileyouareinthecountryoftheelves."ChildeRowland

saidthetwothingsoverandover,lestheshouldforget.

Thenhewentonhisway.Hewentonandonandon,until

hecametosomehorseswitheyesoffire.Thenheknewhe

wasinthecountryoftheelves.Amanwaswiththehorses.

“whereisthedarktower?waskedchildeRowland."I

cannottell.Askthewomanthatkeepsthehens,“saidthe

man.ChildeRowlandtooktheswordandoffwenttheman,s

head.Thenhewentonandon,untilhecametosomehens

witheyesoff