初中趣味閱讀

初中生必讀的趣味英語(yǔ)故事

34.BellingtheCat（把金令掛卜在貓身上）

Oncesomemicewerelivinginafarmhouse.Theyallmettogetherandtalked

aboutthecatinthefarmhouse/'Wecannotstayherelongwiththatcatnearus.She

haseatenmanyofus.Howcanwekeepherfromkillingus?”saidoneoldmouse.One

proudyoungmousesaid,“Ihaveagoodidea.Weneverhearherwhenshecomes.What

doyousaytohangabellaroundherneck?Thenwecanhearherwhensheis

coming.”“Thatisasplendididea.Letustieabellaroundherneck.Nowwecanrun

awaybeforeshecatchesus,“saidanother.Justthentheoldmousestoodupand

said,"Yourplanisveryfine,butwhocanhangabellaroundthecafsneck?”Anthe

youngmiceweresilent,andonlylookedatoneanother.

35.TheBearandtheTwoTravelers（熊和麗f0旅客）

Twomenweretravelingtogetherthroughthewood.Thenadigbearsuddenly

appearedbeforethem.Oneofthemclimbedupquicklyintoatreeandhidhimselfin

thebranches.Theotherwantedtoclimbupanothertree,buttherewasnotimetodo

so.Thebearwasjustnearhim.Sohefellflatonthegroundandpretendedthathewas

dead,forheknewthatabearwillnottouchadeadbody.Thebigbearcameupto

him,andsmelledhimallover.Helayasstillashecould,heldhisbreathandpretended

tobedead.Thebearexaminedhimcloselyandwalkedslowlyaway.Whenthebear

hadgone,thetravelerinthetreecamedown,andsaid,“Thebearlookedasifhewere

talkingtoyou.Whatdidhewhisperinyourears?Hereplied,"Hegavemethis

advice:Nevertrustafriendwhodesertsyouintimeofneed!”

36.TheStagattheLake（在湖遴的雄鹿）

Onehotdayastagcametoalaketodrink,andsawhisownshadowinthe

water."Howbeautifulmyantlersare!ButPmverysorrymylegsareverythinand

ugly,"saidhetohimself.Justthenhesawalioncomingtowardhim.Heranawayas

fastasfastashecould,andthelioncouldnotcatchhim."Oh,howthankfulIamformy

good,longlegs!Theselegshavesavedmylife,"hesaid.Butwhenhecametoathick

wood,hisantlerscaughtinthebranchesofatree.Hetriedtofreehimselffromthe

branches,buthecouldnot.Atlastthelionfoundthestagandcaughthim,andkilled

him.

37.TheFatherandHisSons（父貌和他的兄子相號(hào)）

Afatherhadthreesons,butthebrotherswerealwaysquarreling.Theirfathertried

tomakethemgoodfiends,andcalledallhissonstohim.Heshowedthemthreesticks

andsaid,“Iwanttotalktoyou.Takethesesticksandtiethemtogether.Thentryto

breakthebundleofsticks.'Theoldestsontriedwithallhisstrengthbuthecouldnot

breakit.Thentheothertwodidthesame,butneitherofthemcouldbreak

it."Now,"saidthefather,"untiethebundleandeachofyoutakeonestickandtryto

breakit."Eitherofthemcouldbreakthestickeasily.Thenthefathersaid,“My

sons,whenthesticksareboundtogether,itisverystrong,andyoucannotbreakit.But

whentheyareunited,youcanbreakeachstickeasily.Whenyouworktogetherand

helponeanother,youcanbecomeasstrongasthebundle.Butifyouonlyquarreland

donotstandtogether,youwillbebrokenaseasilyasthesesticks/9

38.TheFarmerandtheSnake（晨夫和蛇）

Onecolddayinwinterafarmerwasworkinginhisfields.Thenhefounda

snake.ltwasstiffandnearlydeadwithcold.Hesaid,uoh,poorthinglFlltakeit

home.^Atoncehelaiditnearthefire,andgotitwarm.Butasitgrewwarmandfelt

pleasant,itraiseditshead,sprangatthefarmerandtriedtobitethekindman."You

ungratefulcreature!,?saidthefarmer.can'tkeepyoualive."Sosaying,hekilledthe

snakewithastick.

39.TheAssintheLion'sSkin（披著卿i皮的St）

Onceanassfoundalion'sskinontheroad.Hewasverygladtogettheskin.At

onceheputiton.Hesaidtohimself/nowcangoanywhereinthefbrest.Iamtheking

ofbeasts.Well,Iwillfrightenthetimidanimals.,9Hewasveryproudoftheskin,and

wentintotheforest.Soonhemethares.Whentheysawhisface,theywereall

frightenedandranaway.Thenhemetagoat.Shewasfrightened,too,andwentaway.At

lasthemetafbx.Hetriedtofrightenthefoxandcriedoutinaloudvoice.Butthewise

fbxsaidtohim,“oh,youarenotareallion.Youareanass.Youarebraying,andnot

roaring.Ifyoukeepsilent,youwillfrightenme.ButIknowyoubyyourvoice.^Soon

afterthattheowneroftheskincaughttheass,andkilledhim.

4O.TheBirds,theBeastsandtheBat（M>野猷和蝙蝠）

Therewasonceagreatbattlebetweenthebirdsandthebeasts.Thebeastswon

thebattle.Ontheirwayhome,oneofthebeastsmetabat/4oh,youareabird.rileat

you“up,"saidthebeast.“no,no,“saidthebat."Iamnotabird.Iamamouse.Lookatthe

furallovermybody,andatmymouthwithitssharpteeth,“andthebatsafelyran

away.Afewdayslatertherewasasecondbattle.Thistimethebirdswon.Whenoneof

thebirdsfoundthebat,hesaid/youareamouse.Imustkillyou.”"no,no,“saidthe

bat.'Tamnotamouse.Iamabird.Lookatmywings.Afterseveralbattlesbetweenthe

birdsandthebeasts,theywerefriendsagain.Buttheycouldnottrustthebat.Andthe

bathadtohideindarkplacesinthedaytime.Thisiswhyabatfliesaboutonlyat

night.

41.TheNorthWindandtheSun（北凰和太隔）

Onedayinwinter,thecoldnorthwindwasblowinghard.Thenthesunbeganto

shinefromamongtheclouds.Thenorthwindsaidtothesun,“Iamverystrong.Iam

strongerthanyou.Iamthestrongestintheworld.'Thesunsaid,6UNo,no.Youarenotso

strongasL,,uWell,rilshowyouhowstrongIamjsaidthenorthwind.Justthena

travelercamealong.Hehadathickcloakon."Icanmakethatmantakeoffhis

cloak,“saidthenorthwind.Andheblewandblew.Butthetravelerheldhiscloak

closelyabouthim.Thenthesunsaid,“NowFiltry.'Thesunbegantoshineupon

him.ltbecamewarmerandwarmer.Thetravelersaid/Howwarmitis!”andtookoff

hiscloak/'NowyouseeIamstrongerthanyou,Mr.NorthWind,“saidthesun.

42.TheFoxandtheCrane（狐貍和鶴）

Onedayafoxmetacraneintheplain.Thefoxsaidtothecrane,64Hello,dear

Crane!Willyoucometodinewithme?,,Andthecranesaid/Oh,thankyou,Iwill/The

cranewenttohishouse.Whenthecranesatattable,shefoundonlyaveryshallow

dishbeforeher.Therewassomesoupinthedish.Thefoxbegantoeatthesoup

easily.Thecranetriedtoeatit,butshecouldonlywetthetipofherlongbill,andshe

hadtoleavemostofit.Thenthefbxsaidtothecrane,“Pmverysorry.Youdon'tlike

soup,doyou?"Butthecranesaidtothefbx,“Thankyouforyournicesoup,“andwent

home.Afewdayslaterthecraneinvitedthefoxtodinner.Whentheysatattable,two

long-neckedjarswereputbeforethem.Inthejarswassomemeat.Thecraneenjoyed

themeat,butthefoxcouldnotreachit,forthemouthofthejarwasverynarrow.The

foxcouldonlylickthemouthofthejar.Thefoxwasmuchashamedofhisown

folly,andhurriedbacktohishouse.

43.ACleverDog（一集聰明的狗）

Mrs.HellenhadaverycleverdognamedBlack.Heoftenhelpedherbygoingto

buybread.Onemorningshegavehimabasketwithtwentycentsinitandtoldhimto

gotothebakeryandgettwoloavesofbread.Hetookthebasketinhismouthand

trotteddownthestreettothebakery.ThebakerwantedtoteaseBlack.Sohetookthe

moneyandputitintothedrawer,buthedidnotgivehimanybread.Blackputdown

thebasketandbegantobark.Thebakerlaughedandpattedhimonthedead.He

said,"You'reagooddog."Hetooktwoloavesofbreadandputthemintothe

basket.Blackwaggedhistail,pickeduphisbasketandstartedforhome.Hewalked

proudlydownthestreet.Hecarriedthebasketinhismouth.Everybodylookedathim

andsmiled.

44.Piccola可拉）

OncetherelivedinFrancealittlegirLHernamewasPiccola.Herfatherwasdead

andhermotherwasvery,verypoor.OnChristmasevePiccolasaidtohermother/will

SantaClauscometoourhousetonight?,,hermotherlookedverysadandshookher

head.AtbedtimePiccolapulledoffherlittlewoodenshoesandputthemonthefloor

nearthechimneyshesaidtohermother,“perhapsSantaClauswillcome."Inthenight

alittlebirdwithabrokenwingfelldownthechimneyandhoppedintooneofthe

shoes.VeryearlyinthemorningPiccolawokeup.Shejumpedoutofbedandranto

lookintohershoes.Thereshesawthelittlebirdinoneofhershoes.Shepickeduthe

shoeandrantoshowherChristmaspresenttohermother,and,"SantaClausdidnot

forgetme.”

45.GraceDarling（葛瑞逵玲）

OneSeptembermorningtherewasastormatseaandashipwasdrivenona

rock.ltwasbrokenintwobythewavesandhalfofitwaswashedaway.Someofthe

sailorsclungtotheotherhalf.Therewasalighthouse.Onanislandnotfarawaygrace

darlingandherfatherlivedinthelighthouse.Theysawthepoorsailorsclingingtothe

wreck.Gracesaidtoherfather,uwemusttrytosavethosemen.'"'itisonuseJsaidher

father.64Wecannotreachthem.^Gracewasnotwillingtogiveup.Sosheandherfather

startedinaheavyrowboat.Gracepulledoneoarandherfatherpulledtheother,itwas

hardtorowagainstthebigwaves.Atlasttheyreachedthewreckandtookthepoor

sailorsintotheirboat.Theyrowedbacktothelighthousewiththemandgavethem

warmfoodanddryclothes.Inafewdaysthestormwasoverandthesailorswantto

theirhomes.TheyfeltverygratefultoGraceDarlingandherfather.

46.Pandora（潘多娜）

Long,longagothepeopleliedveryhappilyinthebeautifulworld,andnobody

waseversick.AtthattimetherewasabeautifullittlegirlnamedPandora.Onedaya

fairygaveherawonderfulbox.Itwastiedwithagoldencordandthefairymadeher

promisenottoopenit.Pandoraandherlittlefriend,Epimetheus,oftenlookedatthe

boxandwonderedwhatwasinit.ForalongtimePandorakeptherpromisetothe

fairy,butatlastshewantedtopeepintothebox.Sheuntiedthecordandliftedthelida

verylittle.Thenhundredsofbadlittlefairiescameout.TheystungPandoraandshe

fellscreamingonthefloor.TheystungEpimetheus,too.Thentheyflewoutofthedoor

andstungallthechildrenintheworld.ByandbyPandoraheardalittlevoice.lt

said/ietmeoutandIwillhelpyou."Sheopenedtheboxandoutflewabeautifullittle

fairy.ShetoldPandorathathernamewashope.ShekissedherandEpimetheusand

madethemwell.Thensheflewawaytohelptheotherchildren.Tothisday,when

peoplearesickandunhappy,thegoodlittlefairy,hope,comestocomfortthem.

47.AnIll-NaturedNeighbor（一值佳襄心月易的鄢居）

Anill-natured,jealouspeasantsawhisneighbor'sgettingaverygoodharvest.As

hewasunabletobegladofhisneighbor'sblessingfromGod,hedevisedthewayhow

todestroyhisneighbor'shappiness.Toattainhispurposehecaughtafox,tiedalighted

torchtoitstailanddroveitinthedirectionofhisneighbor'sfields.Seeingthefbx

reachedthefield,itchangeditsdirection,andbegan,tohissamazement,plunginginto

hisownfieldswherethegrainshadalmostbeenripe.Afewminuteshadpassedbefore

allhisfieldswereenvelopedinvolumesofflames.Hesorrowed,lamented,rushing

aboutinhisneighborhood,anddevisedtolaytheblameathisneighbor'sdoor.Butas

hisneighborhadbeenbelievedtobeveryhonestsinceagesago,and,onthe

contrary,hehadbeenreputedasanill-naturedman,nonecouldplaceanyconfidencein

hiswords.Amisdeedonlyleadsonetoasnaresetforothers.

48.AMiserMan（一值I守時(shí)奴）

Averystingymanwhohadnopleasurebutthatofmakingmoneysoldhis

all,namely,hisplaceandfields,andforgedallthemoneyhereceivedintoamassof

gold,andburieditintheground.Everydayhevisitedthespot,whichwasoneofhis

dailygreatestpleasures.Thenamanwhooccasionallycametotheneighborhoodsaw

thismiserdigginguptheearthwithjoy.Whenthisneighborwentthereanddugthe

earth,hefoundaburiedtreasure,tohisgreatastonishment.Heresolvedtorunoffwith

itoutright.Whenthemisercametothespotthefollowingday,hefoundhistreasure

missing,tohisgreatamazement.ltfuriousagonyanddesperation,hecursedGodand

mantearinghishairlikeamadman.Whenapedestrianaskedhisofhisbitter

sorrow,themisertoldhisstoryingreatdetail,butthepassengercomfortedand

consoledhim,saying,“Youneednotcryoveryourlossoftreasure.Ithinkyourlossis

notsogreatasyouthink.Buryinthatplaceastoneofthesamesizeinplaceofyour

massofgold,andregarditasyourlostone.Youwillhardlytellthedifferencethe

two,because,asfarasyouareconcerned,goldisallonewithastoneinpointof

utility,"Happinessdoesnotconsistinowningmoney,butinreasonableusingofit.

49.TheHareandtheTortoise（野兔輿島It）

OnefinehotbayMr.HaremetwithMts.Tortoise.Mr.Haresaidto

Mrs.Tortoise/'Whataslowwalkeryouare!YoucannotrunsofastasI,tobe

sure!,,6UWell,myfriend,letusrunaraceandseewhichofuswillwin.Letusrunupto

thetopofthathill,"saidMrs.Tortoise/'Allright!”saidMr.Hare.Sotheystarteda

race.Mrs.Tortoisewalkedwithaslow,steadypace,uptothetopofthehill.Shenever

stoppedamoment.ButMr.Hareran,almostflyinglikeanarrow.Onthewayheoften

stoppedtoeatgrass.Whenhewenthalfwayupthehill,helaydownfora

nap,saying,uIfMrs.Tortoisepassesbyme,Icaneasilycatchupwithher.,9Whenhe

awokeandlookedaround,hecouldnotseeher.Thenheranupthehillasfastalhe

could,andattheverytop,hefoundMrs.Tortoiseatrest.Shehadwonher

success.64Slowandsteadywinstherace.,,**,,Slowandsteadywinstherace.”

5O.TheDogandHisShadow（狗和他的影子）

Adogwhowascrossingariverwithapieceofmeatinhismouthhappenedto

lookoverthesideofthebridgesawhisownshadowinthewater.Thefoolishdogtook

hisownshadowforanotherdogwithapieceofmeatlargerthanhisown,andletgo

hisownmeatsothathecouldattacktheotherdogandgethismeatfromhim.Of

coursehelosthisownmeatbythis,foritsanktothebottomandhewasnotabletoget

itback.Thenhesawthattheotherdoghadlosthispiece,too.Andhewentsadly

home.***uGraspallJoseair

5l.TheFoxandtheCrow（狐貍輿，舄%鳥）

Onceuponatimeacrowstoleapieceofcheese,andflewwithittoatree.Shesat

onabranchofthetreeandbegantoeatit.Justatthattimeafoxwaspassingbyand

sawher.Hewashungryandwantedthecheese.44!wanttohavethatpieceofcheesefor

mydinner,“hesaidtohimself;4CbuthowcanIgetit?Icannotclimbthetree.”"Good

morning,Mrs.Crow,goodmorning,9,saidMr.Fox/4Howbeautifulyourfeathers

are!Yourvoicemustbeasbeautifulasyourfeathersare.Justsingonesongfor

me.AfterthatIwillcallyoutheQueenofBirds.^Mrs.Crowwasmuchdelighted,and

begantosing"Caw!Caw!Caw!”Downfelltheslyfoxwanted.Andwithoutwaitingto

heartherestofthesong,Mr.Foxpickeditupquickly,andawaywithit,saying,“Your

voiceisreallysweetandbeautiful,Mrs.Crow,butyounotveryclever.^^

52.TheCrowandthePitcher（島無(wú)鳥輿水罐｝1

Onedayacrowsawapitcherand,feelingreadytodiewiththirst,flewtoitwith

joyhopingtofinditfullofwater.Whenhereachedithediscovered,tohisgreat

disappointment,thatitcontainedbutaverylittlewater,andthatsolowinthepitcher

thathecouldnotreachit.Hetriedeverymeansinhispowertogetatthewater,even

endeavoringtooverturnthevessel,butthishewasnotstrongenoughtodo.At

last,seeingsomepeddleslyingabout,hebroughtthemonebyoneanddroppedthem

downtheneckofthepitcher,and,thus,bydegrees,heraisedthewateruptothe

brim,whenhewasabletodrinktohisheart'scontent.***t4Necessityisthemotherof

invention.^^

53.TheLionandtheMouse（羽幣子輿老鼠）

Longagoagreatlionwasfastasleepinthewood.Amouseranoverthelion's

paw.Thegreatlionwokeupandcaughtthelittlemouse,andwasgoingtokillher.The

poormouselookedup."OdearLion!”CriedtheMouse;"Doyoukillme?Pleasespare

mylife.Ifyousparemylifenow,Iwillrepayyousomeday.”"Howcanyourepay

me?”saidtheLion."Youaretoosmalltohelpagreatlion.^Butheliftedthepawand

awaythemouseran.Notlongafterward,thelionwascaughtinanet,andcouldnotget

out."Ican'tbreakthisnetjhesaid/TmafraidIshallbekilled."Justthenthelittle

mousehappenedtopassby.SheranuptothelionandsaidJKindfriend,!willhelp

you."Shecuttheropesofthestrongnetwithhersharpteeth."Thankyou,“saidthe

Lionelseethatevenalittlemousecanhelpagreatlion/9

54.TheMan,HisSonandHisAss（男人、他的兄子輿他的醯子）

Amanandhissonwereoncedrivingtheirassalongacountryroad,tosellhimat

thefair.Theysoonpassedsomegirls,whoweredrawingwateratawell/'Look^said

oneofthegirls;cuseethosesillypeopletrudgingalonginthedust,whiletheirasswalks

atease.'Themanheardwhattheysaid,andputhisboyontheass'sback.Theyhadnot

gonefarbeforetheycametosomeoldmen."Seehere,now,^saidoneofthemtothe

others.6UThisshowsthatwhatIsaidistrue.Nowadaystheyoungtakeoncareofthe

old.Seethisboyridingwhilehispooroldfatherhastowalkbyhissontoget

down,andhemountedtheasshimself.Inalittlewhile,theymetthreewomenwith

childrenintheirarms/Torshame!”saidthewomen."Howcanyouletthatpoorboy

walkwhenhelookssotired,andyouridelikeaking?,9Themanthentooktheboyup

behindhimonthesaddle,andtheyrodeontothetown.Justbeforetheygotthere,some

youngmenstoppedthem,andsaid/'Isthatassyours?”"Yes,"saidtheman."Onewould

notthinkso,“saidthey/bythewayyouloadhim.Youlookmorefittocarryhimthan

hetocarryyou.^Sothemanandtheboygoto境tiedtheass'slegswitharope,and

fastenedhimtoapole;and,eachtakingoneofthepole,carriedhimalong,while

everyonetheymetlaughedatthem.Byandbytheycametoabridge.Thentheass

begantokick,and,breakingtherope,fellintothewater,andwasdrowned.Theoldman

tookhisson,andwenthomeasbesthecould,thinkingtohimself/Whenwetryto

pleaseeverybody,wepleasenobody.^^

55.TheLarkandHerYoungOnes（雪雀輿她的幼兄相號(hào)）

AlarkhadmadehernestinspringinafieldofyounggreenwheatHerlittleones

hadbeengrowinglargerandstrongerallthesummer,whilethewheatgrewtallerand

closerabouttheirhome.Asautumndrewnear,theyoungbirdswerealmostoldenough

tofly,andthewheatwasnearlyripe.Onedaytheownerofthewheat-fledcame,and

thelittleLarksherdhimsaytohisson,thelittleLarksheardhimsaytohisson,"I

thinkthewheatisalreadyripe,sowemustaskourfriendstocomeandhelpusgather

itin."Thisstartledthelittlebirds.Whentheirmothercamehometheytoldherwhat

theyhadheard."Thereisnoneedformovingyetmychildrensaidthemother.But

whensheleftthemasusualthenextmorningshetoldthemtolistentowhatthe

Farmerwouldsayifhecameagain,andtotellherexactlywhatitwas,whenshecame

backtothem.Afterafewdaystheownerofthefieldcameagain,andtheeagerbirds

listenedtogetmorenewsfortheirmother."Sinceourfriendshavenotcome,“the

formertheFarmersaidtohisson,“goandaskyouf'Notyet^saidthemotherf'theman

whoonlyaskshisfriendstohelphimisnotwhoonlyaskshisfriendstohelphimis

nottobefeared;butwatchandlisten,ifhecomesagain."Andbyandbyhe

came.Seeingthewheatsoripethatitwassheddingitsgrain,hesaid,"tomorrowwe

willcomeourselvesandcutthewheat,"Andwhenthebirdstoldthistotheir

mother,shesaid,"itistimenowtobeoff,mychildren,forthemanisinearnestthis

time.Henolongertruststootherstodohiswork,butmeanstodoit

himself.,,***,,Self-helpisthebesthelp.”

56.TheWindandtheSun（閩典太隨）

TheNorthWindwasrushingalongandblowingthecloudsashepassed/'Whois

sostrongasI?”hecried.ramevenstrongerthanthesun.”"Canyoushowthatyou

arestronger?,,askedtheSun."Atraveleriscomingoverthehill,“saidtheWind."Letus

seewhichofuscanfirstmakehimtakeoffhislongcloak.Theonewhosucceedswill

provehimselfthestronger,"TheNorthbeganfirst.Heblewagale,toreuptrees,and

raisedcloudsofdust.Butthetraveleronlywrappedhisclockmorecloselyabout

him,andkeptonhisway.ThentheSunbegantoshine.Hedroveawaythecloudsand

warmedtheair.Higherandhigherheclimbedintheblueskyshininginallhis

glory."Whatafinedaywearehavingaftertheblowl^saidthetraveler,asthrewoffhis

cloak.***64Kindnessisagreatergovernorthananger.”

57.TheWoodmanandMercury（樵夫輿Mercury神）

Onceuponatime,aWoodmanwascuttingdownatreebythesideofalake.By

accidenthelethisaxfallintothewater.Ashelostthetoolwithwhichhehadgained

hislivelihood,hesatdownuponthebankandfeltverysadabouthishardfate.Tohis

surprise,Mercuryappeared,andaskedhimwhatwasthematter.Whenheheardthe

storyoftheman'smisfortune,hedivedtothebottomofthelake,and,bringingupa

goldenax,askedifthatweretheonehehadlost.Hearingthatitwasnothis,Mercury

divedasecondtime,and,returningwithasilveraxinhishand,againaskedthe

Woodmanifitwerehis.TheWoodmandeniedthistoo,sayingthatitwasnot

his.Mercurydivedathirdtime,andbroughtuptheveryaxthatthemanhadlost.This

thepoormantookwithjoyandthankfulness.SopleasedwasMercuryatthehonesty

oftheman,thathegavehimtheothertwoaxesbesideshisown.***Whenhereturned

home,theWoodmantoldhiscompanionsallthathadhappened.Oneofthemdecided

toseeifhecouldsecurethesamegoodfortuneforhimself.Herantothelake,and

threwhisaxinonpurpose,thensatdownuponthebankandlamentedhissad

fate.Mercuryappearedasbefore,andwantedtoknowthecauseofhisgrief.After

hearingtheman'sstory,hedived,andbroughtupagoldenax,andaskedhimifthat

werehis.Delightedatthesightofthegoldenax,thefellowansweredthatitwas,and

eagerlyattemptedtogetholdofit.TheGodsawthathewasdishonest,andrefusedto

handittohim.Themanwenthomedisappointed.***'6Honestyisthebestpolicy.^^

58.TheMilkmaidandHerPailofMilk（牛奶女工典她的牛奶桶）

DolledtheMilkmaidhavingbeenagoodgirl,andcarefulinherwork,her

mistressgaveherapailoffreshmilkforherself.Withthepailuponherhead,Dolly

trippedgailyalongonherwaytothetown,whereshewasgoingtosellhermilk/Tor

thismilk,“saidDolly,shallgetashilling,andwithitIwillbuytwentyoftheeggs

laidbyourneighbor'sfinefbwls/'Themistresswillsurelylendmea

hen,and,allowingfbrallmishaps,!shallraiseagooddozenofchicks."Theywillbe

wellgrownbeforethenextfair-timecomesround,anditisthenthatchickensbring

thehighestprice.Ishallbeabletosellthemfbraguinea."ThenIwillbuythatsweater

thatIsawinthevillagetheotherday,andahatandribbons,too;andwhenIgotothe

fair,howsmartIshallbe!"Robinwillbethereandwillcomeupandoffertobefriends

again.ButIwon'tcomeroundtooeasily;andwhenhewantsmefbrapartnerinthe

dance,!shalljusttossupmyheadand_"HereDollygaveherheadtheleastbitofa

toss,whendowncamethepail,andallthemilkwasspilledupontheground.Poor

Dolly!Itwashrgood-bytoeggs,chickens,sweater,hat,ribbons,andcount

yourchickenbeforetheyarehatched.^^

59.UlyssesandtheBagofWinds（Ulysses典袋）

Long,longago,thereliveduponalittleislandaGreekkingnamedUlysses.One

timeUlyssessailedfarawayacrosstheseatofightforhiscountry,andfortenlong

yearshewasawayfromhisbeautifulwifeandhislittleson.AtlasttheGreeks

capturedthecitytheywerefightingagainst,andthewarended/'NowIcangobackto

myislandhome,“saidUlysses,joyfully,asheandhismensetsailfbrhome."Once

moreIcanseemywifeandson!"ontheway,theystoppedtorestatthehomeofaking

namedEolus,wholivedonanislandinthesea.ltwasawonderfulisland;allaroundit

wasahighwallofbronze.Eoluswaskingofthewinds.Hecouldmakethewindssleep

sosoundlythattheseawouldbeassmoothasglass,orhecouldmakethemblowso

hardthatthewaveswouldbeashighasmountains.WhenUlysseswasreadytostart

onhiswayagain,Eolussaid,"Iwillhelpyoutoreachyourhome,Ulysses.Iwillputall

thestormywindsinthisgreatbagofox-hide.Thentheycannotharmyou/'Iwillthe

bagwiththisgoldenchain;butIwillleaveoutthegentlewestwind,dobearyousafely

home.Guardthebagofwindscarefully.Anddonotletanyoneuntiethechain/Then

thewestwindblewsoftlyandsenttheminsafetyontheirway.Forninedaysandnine

nightsUlyssesguardedthebagofwinds,untilatlasthebecameverytiredand

sleepy.NowthemenwithUlyssesdidnotknowwhatwasinthegreatbag."seehow

heguardsit!”theysaid."Surelyithasgoldandsilverinit,fbritistiedwithagolden

chain.WehelpedUlyssesinthewar;whyshouldhehaveallthegoldandthesilver?9,at

last,onthetenthday,theycameinsightoftheirdearisland.uLook,look!,9criedthe

men,joyfully."Thereareourgreenfields!Soonweshallseeourhomes."Thenthe

wearyUlysses,thinkingthatheneednotguardthebaganylonger,fellfastasleep/'now

wecanseewhatisinthebag!”sotheycreptuptothebaganduntiedthegolden

chain.Outflewallthestormywinds,roaringandhowling!Inamoment,greatwaves

aroseanddrovetheshipfarfromtheland.Thenoiseofthewindsandthewaves

awokeUlysses.Wherewashislittleislandhome?Wherewerethegreenfieldshe

lovedsowell?Theywerefar,faraway,fortheshipwasoutonthestormysea."Oh,what

shallIdo?,,criedUlysses/1fearthatIshallneverseemyhomeagain.ButImustnot

giveup;Iwilltryagainandagain.SomedayImayreachmyhome,andseemywife

andsononcemore.”"Afteralongtime,thestormywindsdrovetheshipbacktothe

islandwhereEoluslived.HowgladUlysseswaswhen'Toluscanhelpus,“hesaid/'He

willthewindsagain,9butEoluswasangrywithUlyssesandhismen/'Goawayi^Eolus

said"Iwillnothelpyouasecondtime,fbritisyourownfaultthathestormywinds

areoutofthebag."SooncemoreUlyssessetoutuponthesea,anditwasmanylong

yearsbeforehesawhisislandhomeagain.

60.Echo（林淌女神）

Thousandsofyearsagothepeopletoldstrangestoriestooneanother,and

believedmanystrangethings.Thebelievedthatinallthewoodsandstreamsandhills