阿西叶的诗歌与教育博客

34 famous stories（名著英语故事34篇）21--34

关键词： 名著    英语    故事                                          

21.      William Tell

 The people of Switzerland were not always free and happy as they are today. Many years ago a proud tyrant, whose name was Gessler, ruled over them, and made their lot a bitter one indeed. One day this tyrant set up a tall pole in the public square, and put his own cap on the top of it ; and then he gave orders that every man who came into the town should bow down before it. But there was one man, named William tell, who would not do this. He stood up straight with folded arms, and laughed at the swinging cap. He would not bow down to Gessler himself. When Gessler heard of this, he was very angry. He was afraid that other men would disobey, and that soon the whole country would rebel against him. So he made up his mind to punish the bold man. William Tell’s home was among the mountains, and he was a famous hunter. No one in all the land could shoot with bow and arrow so well as he. Gessler knew this, and so he thought of a cruel plan to make the hunter’s own skill bring him to grief. He ordered that Tell’s little boy should be made to stand up in the public square with an apple on his head; and then he bade tell shoot the apple with one of his arrows. Tell begged the tyrant not to have him make this test of his skill. What if the boy should move? What if the bowman’s hand should tremble? What if the arrow should not carry true? “Will you make me kill my boy?” he said. “Say no more,” said Gessler. “You must hit the apple with your one arrow. If you fail, my soldiers shall kill the boy before your eyes.” Then, without another word, tell fitted the arrow to his bow. He took, aim, and let it fly. The boy stood firm and still. He was not afraid, for he had all faith in his father’s skill. The arrow whistled through the air, it struck the apple fairly in the center, and carried it away. The apple fairly in the center, and carried it away. The people who saw it shouted with joy. As tell was turning away from the place, an arrow which he had hidden under his coat dropped to the ground. “Fellow!” cried Geesler, “what mean you with this second arrow?” “Tyrant!” was Tell’s proud answer, “this arrow was for your heart it I had hurt my child.” And there is an old story, that, not long after this, tell did shoot the tyrant with one of his arrows; and thus he set his country free.

　

22.Galileo and the Lamps

In Italy about three hundred years ago there lived a young man whose name was Galileo. Like Archimedes, he was always thinking and always asking the reasons for things. He invented the thermometer and simple forms of the telescope and the microscope. He made many important discoveries in science. One evening when he was only eighteen years old he was in the cathedral at Pisa at about the time the lamps were lighted. The lamps---which burned only oil in those days—were hung by long rods from the ceiling. When the lamplighter knocked against them, or the wind blew through the cathedral, they would swing back and forth like pendulums. Galileo noticed this. Then be began to study them more closely. He saw that those which were hung on rods of the same length swung back and forth, or vibrated, in the same length of time. Those that were on the shorter rods vibrated much faster than those on the longer rods. As Galileo watched them swinging to and fro he became much interested. Millions of people had seen lamps moving in this same way, but not one had ever thought of discovering any useful fact connected with the phenomenon. When Galileo went to his room he began to experiment. He took a number of cords of different lengths and hung them from the ceiling. To the free end of each cord he fastened a weight. Then he set all to swinging back and forth, like the lamp in the cathedral. Each cord was a pendulum, just as each rod had been. He found after long study that when a cord was 39 1/10 inches long, it vibrated just sixty times in a minute. A cord one fourth as long vibrated just twice as fast, or once every half second. To vibrate three times as fast, or once in every third part of a second, the cord had to be only one ninth of 39 1/10 inches in length. By experimenting in various ways Galileo at last discovered how to attach pendulums to timepieces as we have them now. Thus, to the swinging lamps in the cathedral, and to Galileo’s habit of thinking and inquiring, the world owes one of the commonest and most useful of inventions, --the pendulum clock. You can make a pendulum for yourself with a cord and a weight of any kind. You can experiment with it if you wish; and perhaps you can find out how long a pendulum must be to vibrate once in two seconds.

　

23.Mignon

Here is the story of Mignon as I remember having read it in a famous old book.

A young man named Wilhelm was staying at an inn in the city. One day as he was going upstairs he met a little girl coming down. He would have taken her for a boy, if it had not been for the long curls of black fair wound about her head. As she ran by, he caught her in his arms and asked her to whom she belonged. He felt sure that she must be one of the ropedancers who had just come to the inn. She gave him a sharp, dark look, slipped out of his arms, and ran away without speaking.

The next tine he saw her, Wilhelm spoke to her again.

“ Do not be afraid of me, little one,” he said kindly. “ What is your name?”

“ They call me Mignon,” said the child.

“ How old are you?” he asked.

“No one has counted,” the child answered.

Wilhelm went on; but he could not help wondering about the child, and thinking of her dark eyes and strange ways.

One day not long after that, there was a great outcry among the crowd that was watching the ropedancers. Wilhelm went down to fund out what was the matter.

He saw that the master of the dancers was beating little Mignon with a stick. He ran and held the man by the collar. “ Let the child alone! ” he cried. “ If you touch her again, one of us shall never leave this spot.” The man tried to get loose; but Wilhelm held him fast. The child crept away, and hid herself in the crowd. “ Pay me what her clothes cost,” cried the rope-dancer at last, “ and you may take her.” As soon as all was quiet, Wilhelm went to look for Mignon; for she now belonged to him. But he could not find her, and it was not until the ropedancers had left the town that she came to him. “ Where have you been? ” asked Wilhelm in his kindest tones; but the child did not speak. “ You are to live with me now, and you must be a good child,” he said. “ I will try,” said Mignon gently. From that time she tried to do all that she could for Wilhelm and his friends. She would let no one wait on him but herself. She would let no one wait Anaheim but herself. She was often seen going to a basin of water to wash from her face going to a basin of water to wash from her face the paint with which the rope-dancers had reddened her cheeks: indeed, she nearly rubbed off the skin in trying to wash away its fine brown tint, which she thought was some beep dye. Mignon grew lovelier every day. She never walked up and down the stairs, but jumped. Showed spring by the railing, and before you knew it, would be sitting quietly above on the landing. To each one she would speak in a different way. To Wilhelm it was with her arms crossed upon her breast. Often for a whole day she would not say one word, and yet in waiting upon Wilhelm she never tired,. One night he came home very weary and sad. Mignon was waiting for him. She carried the light before him upstairs.  She carried the upon the table; and in a little while she asked him if she might dance. “It might ease your heart a little,” she said. Wilhelm, to please her, told her that she might. Then she brought a little carpet, and spread it upon the floor. At each cornet, she placed a candle, and on the carpet she put a number of eggs, she arranged the eggs in the form of certain figures. When this was done, she called to a man who was waiting with a violin, She tied a band about her eyes, and then the dancing began. How lightly, quickly, nimbly, wonderfully, she moved! She skipped so fast among the eggs, she trod so closely beside them, that you would have thought she must crush them all. But not one of them did she touch. With all kinds of steps she passed among them. Not one of them was moved from its place. Wilhelm forgot all his cares. He watched every motion of the child. He almost forgot who and where he was. When the dance was ended, Mignon rolled the eggs together with her foot into a little heap. Not one was left behind not one was harmed Then she took the band from her eyes, and made a little bow. Wilhelm thanked her for showing him a dance that was so wonderful and pretty He praised her, petted her, and hoped that she had not tired herself too much. W hen she had gone from the room, the had taken to teach him the music of the care she had taken to teach him the music of the dance. He told how she had sung it to him over and over again. He told how she had even wished to pay him with her own money for learning to play it for her There was yet another way in which Mignon tried to please Wilhelm, and make him forget his cares. She sang to him. The song which he liked best was one whose words he had never heard before. Its music, too, was strange to him, and yet it pleased him very much. He asked her to speak the words over and over again. He wrote them down; but the sweetness of the tune was more delightful than the words. The song began in this way:--"Do you know the land where citrons, lemons, glow, And oranges under the green leaves glow?" Once, when she had ended the song, she said again, "Do you know the land?" "It must be Italy," said Wilhelm. "Have you ever been there?" The child did not answer.

　

24.Robin Hood

In the rude days of King Richard and King John there were many great woods in England. The most famous of these was Sherwood forest, where the King often went to hunt deer. In this forest there lived a baring men called outlaws. They had done something that was against the laws of the land, and had been forced to hide themselves in the woods to save their lives. There they spent their time in roaming about among the trees, in hunting the king’s deer, and in robbing rich travelers that came that way. There were nearly a hundred of these outlaws, and their was a bold fellow called Robin Hood. They were dressed in suits of green, and armed with bows and arrows; and sometimes they carried long wooden lances broadswords, which they knew how to handle well. Whenever they had taken anything, it was brought and laid at the feet of Robin Hood, whom they called their king. He then divided it fairly among them, giving to each man his just share. Robin never allowed his men to harm anybody but the rich men who lived in great houses and did no work. He was always kind to the poor, and he often sent help to them; and for that reason the com-mon people looked upon him as their friend. Log after he was dead, men liked to talk about his deeds. Some praised him, and some blamed him. He was, indeed, a rude, lawless fellow; but at that time, people did not think of right and wrong as they do now. A great many songs were made songs were made up about Robin Hood, and these songs were sung in the cottages and huts all over the land for hundreds of years afterward. Here is a little story that is told in one of those songs; Robin Hood was standing one day under a green tree by the roadside. While he was listen ing to the birds among the leaves, he saw a young man passing by. This young man was dressed in a fine suit of bright red cloth; and, as he tripped gayly along the road, he seemed to be as happy as the day. “I will not trouble him,” said Robin Hood, “for I think he is on his way to his wedding.” The next day Robin stood in the same place. He had not been there long when he saw the same young man coming down the road. But he did not seem to be so happy this time. He had left his scarlet coat at home, and at every step he sighed and groaned. “Ah, the sad day! The sad day!” he kept saying to himself. Then robin hood stepped out from under the tree, and said,--- “I say, young man! Have you any money to spare for my merry men ad me?” “I have nothing at all,” said the young man, “but five shillings and a ring.” “A gold ring?” asked robin. “Yes,” said the young man, “it is a gold ring. Here it is.” “Ah, I see!” said robin: “it is a wedding-ring.” “I have kept it these seven years,” said the young man; “I have kept it to give to my bride on our wedding-day. We were going to be married yesterday. But her father has promised her to a rich old man whom she never saw. And now my heart is broken.” “What is broken.” “What is your name?” asked robin. “my name is Allin-a-Dale,” said the young man. “what will you give me, in gold or fee,” said robin, “if I will help you win your bride again in spite of the rich old man to whom she has been promised?” “I have no money,” said Allin, “but I will you give me, in gold or fee,” said robin, “if I will help you win your bride again in spite of the rich old man to whom she has been promised?” “I have no money,” said Allin, “but I will promise to be your servant.” “How many miles is it to the place where the maiden lives?” asked robin. “it is not far,” said Allin. “But she is to be married this very day, and the church is five miles away.” Then robin made haste to dress himself as a harper; and in the afternoon he stood in the door of the church. “who are you?” said the bishop, “and what are you doing here?” “I am a bold harper,” said robin, “the best in the north country.” “I am glad you have come,” said the bishop kindly. “There is no music that I like so well as that of the harp. Come in, and play for us.” “I will go in. said Robin hood; “but I will not give you any music until I see the bride and bridegroom.” Just then an old man came in. he was dressed in rich clothing. But was bent with age, and was feeble and gray. By his side walked a fair young girl. Her cheeks very pale, and her eyes were full of tears. “This is no match,” said robin. “Let the bride choose for herself>” then he put his horn to his lips, and blew three times. The very next minute, four and twenty men, all dressed in green, and carrying long bows in their hands, came running across the fields. And as they marched into the church, all in a row, the foremost among them was Allin-a-Dale. “Now whom do you choose?” said robin to the maiden. “I choose Allin-a-Dale,” she said, blushing. “And Allin-a-Dale you shall have,” said robin; “and he that takes you from Allin-a-Dale shall find that he has Robin hood to deal with. And so the fair maiden and Allin-a-Dale were married then and there, and the rich old went home in a great rage. “And thus having ended this merry wedding. The bride looked like a queen: And so they returned to the merry green wood. Amongst the leaves so green.”

　

25.The Sword of Damocles

There was once a king whose name was Dionysius. He was so unjust and cruel that he won for himself the name of tyrant He knew that almost everybody hated him and so he was

Always in dread lest some one should take his life

But he was very rich and he lived in a fine palace where there were many beautiful and costly things and he was waited upon by a host of servants who were always ready to do his bidding One day a friend of his whose name was Damocles said to him How happy you must be You have here  everything that any man could wish

Perhaps you would like to change places with me said the tyrant

No not that O king said Damocles but I think that if I could only have your riches and your pleasures for one day I should not want any greater happiness

Very well said the tyrant You shall have them

And so the next day Damocles was led into the palace and all the servants were bidden to treat him as their master He sat down at a table in the banquet hall and rich foods were placed before him Nothing was wanting that could

　

26.Regulus

On the other side of the sea from Rome there was once a great city named Carthage. The Roman people were never very friendly to the people of  Carthage and at  last a war began between them. For a long time it was hard to tell would gain a battle, and then the men of Carthage would gain a battle and so the war went on for many years. Among the Romans there was a brave general named Regulus,---a man of whom it was said that he never broke his word. It so happened after a while, that Regulus was taken prisoner and carried to Carthage. Ill and very lonely, he dreamed of his wife and little children so far away beyond the sea; and he had but little hope of ever seeing them again. He loved his home dearly, but he believed that his first duty was to his country; and so he had left all, to fight in this cruel war. He had lost a battle, it is true, and had been taken prisoner. Yet he knew that the Romans were gaining ground, and the people of Carthage were afraid of being beaten in the end. They had sent into other countries to hire soldiers to help them; but even with these they would not be able to fight much longer against Rome. One day some of the rulers of Carthage caome to the prison to talk with with Regulus. “We should like to make peace with the Roman people,” they said, “and we are sure, that, if your rulers at home knew how the war is going they would be glad to make peace with us. We shall set you free and let you go home, if you will agree to do as we say.” “What is that?” asked Regulus. “In the first place,” they said, “ you must tell the Romans about the battles which you have lost, and you must make it plain to them that they have not gained anything by the war. In the second place, you must promise us that, if they will not make peace, you will come back to your prison.” “Very well,” said Regulus, “I promise you that, if they will not make peace, I will come back to prison.” And so they let him go; for they that great Roman would keep his word. When he came to Rome, all the people greeted him gladly. His wife and children were very happy, for they thought that now they would not be parted again. The white-haired Fathers who made the laws for the city came to see him. They asked him about the war. “I was sent from Carthage to ask you to make peace,” he said. “But it will not be wise to make peace. True, we have been beaten in a few battles, but our army is gaining ground every day. The people of Carthage are afraid, and well may be. Keep on with the war a little while longer, and Carthage shall be yours. As for me, I have come to bid my wife and children and Rome farewell. Tomorrow I will start back to Carthage and to Prison; for I have promised.” Then the Fathers tried to persuade him to stay. “Let us send another man in your place,” they said. “Shall a Roman not keep his word?” answered Regulus. “I am ill, and at the best have not long to live. I will go back , as I promised.” His wife and little children wept, and his sons begged him not to have them again. “I have given my word,” said Regulus. “ The rest will be taken care of.” Then he bade them good-by, and went bravely back to the prison and the cruel which he expected. This was the kind of courage that made Rome the greatest city in the world.

　

27.The Barmecide Feast

There was once a rich old man who was called the Barmecide. He lived in a beautiful palace in the midst of flowery gardens. He had everything that heart could wish. In the same land there was a poor man whose name was Schacabac. His clothing was rags, and his food was the scraps which other people had thrown away. But he had a light heart, and was as happy as a king.

Once when Schacabac had not had anything to eat for a long time, he thought that he would go and ask the Barmecide to help him.

Schacabac want in, and passed through many beautiful rooms, looking for the floor, and fine pictures on the walls, and pleasant couches to lie down upon.

At the upper end of the room he saw a noble man with a long white beard. It was the

Barme cide and poor Schacabac bowed low before him as was the custom in that

Country The Barmecide spoke very kindly and asked what was wanted Said told him

About all his troubles and bread Is it possible? Saiud the Barmecide You must be almost dead with hunger ;and here with hunger ; and here I have plenty and to spare!”

Then he turned and called, “Ho, boy! Bring in the water to wash our hands, and then order the cook to hurry the supper.” Schacabac had not expected to be treated so kindly. He began to thank the rich man. “Say not a word,” said the Barmecide, “but let us get ready for feast.” Then the rich man began to rub his hands as though someone were pouring water on them. “Come and wash with me,” he said. Schacabac saw no boy, nor basin, nor water. But he thought that he ought to do as he was bidden; and so, like the Barmecide, he made a pretense of washing. “Come now,” said the Barmecide, “let us have supper.” He sat down, as if to a table, and pretended to be carving a roast. Then he said, “Help yourself, my good friend. You said you were hungry; so, now, don’t be afraid of the food.” Schacabac thought that he understood the

 

　

28.King John and the Abbot

(2) The Three Answers

As the abbot was riding up the lane which led to his grand house, he met his shepherd going to the fields. “Welcome home good master！” cried the shepherd. “What news do you bring us from great King John?” “Sad news, sad news,” said the abbot; and then he told him all that had happened. “Cheer up, cheer up, good master,” said the shepherd. “ Have you never yet heard that a fool may teach a wise man wit? I think I can help you out of your trouble.” “You help me！” cried the abbot. “How? How?” “Well,” answered the shepherd, “you know that everybody says that I look just like you, and that I have sometimes been mistaken for you. So , lend me you servants and your horse and you gown, and I will go up to London and see the king. If nothing else can be done, I at least die in you place.” “My good shepherd,” said the abbot, “you are very, very kind; and I have a mind to let you try your plan. But if the worst comes to the worst, you shall not die for me. I will die for myself.” So the shepherd got ready to go at once. He dressed himself with great care. Over his shepherd’s coat he threw the abbot’s long gown, and he borrowed the abbot’s cap and golden staff. When all was ready, no one in the world would have thought that he was not the great man himself. Then he mounted his horse, and with a great train of servants set out for London. Of course the king did not know him. "Welcome, Sir Abbot!" he said. "It is a good thing that you have come back. But, prompt as you are, if you fail to answer my three questions, you shall lose your head." "I am ready to answer them, O king!" said the shepherd. "Indeed, indeed!" said the king, and he laughed to himself. "Well, then, answer my first question: How long shall I live? Come, you must tell me to the very day." "You shall live," said the shepherd, "until the day that you die, and not one day longer. And you shall die when you take your last breath, and not one moment before." The king laughed. "You are witty, I see," he said. "But we will let that pass, and say that your answer is right. And now tell me how soon I may ride round the world." "You must rise with the sun," said the shepherd, "and you must ride with the sun until it rises again the next morning. As soon as you do that, you will find that you have ridden round the world in twenty-four hours." The king laughed again. "Indeed," he said, "I did not think that it could be done so soon. You are not only witty, but you are wise, and we will let this answer pass. And now comes my third and last question: What do I think?" "That is an easy question," said the shepherd. "You think that I am the Abbot of Canterbury. But, to tell you the truth, I am only his poor shepherd, and I have come to beg your pardon for him and for me." And with that, he threw off his long gown. The king laughed loud and long. "A merry fellow you are," said he, "and you shall be the Abbot of Canterbury in your master's place." "O king! That cannot be," said the shepherd; "for I can neither read nor write." "Very well, then," said the king, "I will give you something else to pay you for this merry joke. I will give you four pieces of silver every week as long as you live. And when you get home, you may tell the old abbot that you have brought him a free pardon from King John."

　

29.The Bell of Atri

Atri is the name of a little town in Italy. It is a very old town, and is built halfway up the side of a steep hill. A long time ago, the King of Atri bought a fine large bell, and had it hung up in a tower in the marketplace. A long rope that reached almost to the ground was fastened to the bell. The smallest child could ring the bell by pulling upon this rope. “It is the bell of justice,” said the king.

When at last everything was ready, the people of Atri had a great holiday. All the men and women and children came down to the marketplace to look at the bell of justice. It was a very pretty bell, and was polished until it looked almost as bright and yellow as the sun. “How we should like to hear it ring !” they said. Then the king came down the street. “Perhaps he will ring it,” said the people, and everybody stood very still, and waited to see what he would do. But he did not ring the bell. He did not even take the rope in his hands. When he came to the foot of the tower, he stopped, and raised his hand. “My people,” he said, “do you see this beautiful bell? It is your bell; but it must never be rung except in case of need. If any one of you is wronged at any time, he may come and ring the bell; and then the judges shall come together at once, and hear his case, and give him justice. Rich and poor, old and young, all alike may come; but no one must touch the rope unless he knows that he has been wronged.” Many years passed by after this. Many times did the bell in the market-place ring out to call the judges together. Many wrongs were righted, many ill-doers were punished. At last the hempen rope was almost worn out. The lower part of it was untwisted; some of the strands were broken, it became so short that only a tall man could reach it. “This will never do,” said the judges one day. “What if a child should be wronged? It could

not ring the bell to let us know it.’’ They gave orders that a new rope should be put upon the bell at once, a rope that should hang down to the ground, so that the smallest child could reach it. But there was not a rope to be found in all Atri. They would have to send across the mountains for one, and it would be many days before it could be brought. What if some great wrong should be done before it came? How could the judges know about it, if the injured one could not reach the old rope? “Let me fix it for you,” said a man who stood by. He ran into his garden, which was not far away, and soon came back with a long grapevine in his hands. Not ring the bell to let us know it.” They gave orders that a new rope should be hang. Down to the ground, so that the smallest child could reach it. But there was not a rope to be found in all Atri. They would have to send across the mountains for one,, and it would be many days before it could be brought. What if some great wrong should be done before it came? How could the judges know about it, if the injured one could not reach the old rope? “Let me fix it for you,” said a man who stood by. He ran into his garden, which was not far away, and soon came back with a long grapevine in his hands. “This will do for a rope,” he said; and he climbed up, and fastened it to the bell. The slender vine, with its leave and tendrils still upon it, trailed to the ground. “Yes,” said the judges, “it is a very good rope. Let it be as it is.”

*****************************************

Now, on the hillside above the village, there lived a man who had once been a brave knight. In his youth he had ridden through many lands, and he had fought in many a battle. His best friend through all that time had been his horse, --a strong. noble steed that had borne him safe through many a danger. But the knight, when he grew older, cared not more to ride into battle; he cared no more to do brave deeds; he thought of nothing but gold; he became a miser. At last sold all that he had, except his horse, and went to live in a little hut on the hillside. Day after day he sat among his money bags, and planned how he might get more gold; and day after day his horse stall in his bare stall. Half- starved, and shivering with cold. “ What is the use of keeping that lazy steed?” said the miser to himself one morning. “Every week it costs me more to keep him than he is worth. I might sell him; but there is not a man that wants him. I cannot even give him away. I will turn him out to shift for himself, and pick grass by the roadside. If he starves to death, so much the better.” So the brave old horse was turned out to find what he old among the rocks on the barren hillside. Lame and sick, he strolled along the dusty roads, glad to find a blade of grass of a thistle. The boys threw stones at him. The dogs one to pity him. One hot afternoon, when no one was upon the street, the horse chanced to wander into the market-place. Not a man nor child was there, for the heat of the sun had driven them all indoors. The gates were wide open; the poor beast could roam where he pleased. He saw the grapevine rope that hung from the bell of justice. The leaves and tendrils upon it were still fresh and green, for it had not been there long. What a fine dinner they would be for a starving horse! He stretched his thin neck and took one of the tempting morsels in his mouth. It was hard to break it from the vine. He pulled at it, and the great bell above him began to ring. All the people in Atri heard it. It seemed to say,--

“Some one has done me wrong! Some one has done me wrong! Oh! Come and judge my case! Oh! Come and judge my case! For I’ve been wronged!”

The judges heard it. They put on their robes, and went out through the hot streets to the marketplace. They wondered who it could be who would ring the bell at such a time. When they passed through the gate, they saw the old horse nibbling at the vine. “Ha!” cried one, “it is the miser’s steed. He has come to call for justice; for his master, as everybody knows, has treated him most shamefully.” “He pleads his cause as well as any dumb brute can,” said another. And he shall have justice!” said the third. Meanwhile a crowd of men and women and children had come into the market-place, eager to learn what cause the judges were about to try. When they saw the horse, all stood still in wonder. Then everyone was ready to tell how they had seen him wandering on the hills, unfed, uncared for, while his master sat at home counting his bags of gold. “Go bring the miser before us,” said the judges, and when he came, they bade him stand and hear their judgment. “This horse has served you well for many a year,” they said. “He has saved you from many a peril. He has helped you gain your wealth. Therefore we order that one half of all your gold shall be set aside to buy him shelter and food, a green pasture where he may graze, and a warm stall to comfort him in his old age.” The miser hung his head, and grieved to lose his gold; but the people shouted with joy, and the horse was led away to his new stall and a dinner such as he had not had in many a day.

30.A Laconic Answer

Many miles beyond Rome there was a famous country which we call Greece. The people of Greece were not united like the Romans; but instead there were several states, each of which had its own rulers. Some of the people in the southern part of the country were called Spartans, and they were noted for their simple habits and their bravery. The name of their land was Laconia, and so they were sometimes called Lacons. One of the strange rules which the Spartans had, was that they should speak briefly, and never use more words than were needed. And so a short answer is often spoken of as being laconic; that is, as being such an answer as a Lacon would be likely to give. There was in the northern part of Greece a land called Macedon; and this land was at one time ruled over by a warlike king named Philip. Philip of Macedon wanted to become the master of all Greece. So he raised a great army, and made war upon the other states, until nearly all of them were forced to call him their king. Then he sent a letter to the Spartans in Laconia, and said, “If I go down into your country, I will level your great city to the ground.” In a few days, an answer was brought back to him. When he opened the letter, he found only one word written there. That word was “IF.” It was as much as to say, “We are not afraid of you so long as the little word ‘if’ stands in your way.”

　

31.The Kingdoms

There was once a king of Prussia whose name was Frederick William. On a fine morning in June he went out alone to walk in the green woods. He was tied of the noise of the city and he was glad to get away from it. So, as he walked among the trees, he often stopped to listen to the singing birds, or, to look at the wild flowers that grew on every side. Now and then he stooped to pluck a violet, or a primrose, or a yellow buttercups. Soon his hands were full of pretty blossoms. After a while he came to a little meadow in the midst of the wood. Some children were playing there. They were running here and there, and gathering the cowslips that were blooming among the grass.

It made the king glad to see the happy children, and hear their merry voices. He stood still for some time, and watched them as they played. Then he called them around him, and all sat down together in the pleasant shade. The children did not know who the strange gentleman was; but they liked hiss kind face and gentle manners. “Now, my little folks,” said the king “I want to ask you some questions, and the child who gives the best answer shall have a prize.” Then he held up an orange so that all the children could see. “You know that we all live in the kingdom of Prussia,” he said; “but tell me, to what kingdom does this orange belong?” The children were puzzled. They looked at one another, and sat very still for a little while. Then a brace, bright boy spoke up and said, “It belongs to the vegetable kingdom, sir” “Why so, my lad?” asked the king. “It is the fruit of a plant, and all plants belong to that kingdom, ”said the boy. The king was pleased. “You are quite right,” he said; “and you shall have the orange for your prize.” He tossed it gaily to the boy. “Catch it if you can!” he said. Then he took a yellow gold piece from his pocket, and held it up so that it glittered in the sunlight, “Now to what kingdom does this belong?” he asked。

Another bright boy answered quickly, “To the mineral kingdom, sir! All metals belong to that kingdom,” “That is a good answer,” said the king. “The gold piece is your prize.” The children were delighted.  With eager faces they waited to hear what the stranger would say next. “I will ask you only one more question,” said the king, “and it is an easy one.” Then he stood up, and said, “Tell me, my little folks, to what kingdom do I belong?” The bright boys were puzzled now, some thought of saying, “To the kingdom of Prussia.” Some wanted to say, “To the animal kingdom.” But they were a little afraid, and all kept still. At last a tiny blue-eyed child looked up into the king’s smiling face, and said in her simple way,---“I think to the kingdom of heaven.” King Frederick William stooped down and lifted the maiden in his arms. Tears were in his eyes as he kissed her, and said, “So be it, my child! So be it.”

　

32.James Watt and the Tea Kettle

A little Scotch boy was sitting in his grandmother’s kitchen. He was watching the red flames in the wide-open fireplace and quietly wondering about the causes of things. Indeed, he was always wondering and always wanting to know. “Grandma,” he presently asked, “what makes the fire burn?” This was not the first time he had puzzled his grandmother with questions that she could not answer. So she went on with her preparations for supper and paid no heed to his query. Above the fire an old-fashioned teakettle was hanging. The water within it was beginning to bubble. A thin cloud of steam was rising from the spout. Soon the lid began to rattle and shake. The hot vapor puffed out at a furious rate. Yet when the lad peeped under the lid he could see nothing “Grandma, what is in the tea-kettle?” he asked. “Water, my child-nothing but water.” “But I know there is something else. There is something in there that lifts the lid and makes it rattle.” The grandmother laughed. “Oh, that is only team,” she said. “You can see it coming out of the spout and puffing up under the lid.” “But you said there was nothing but water in the kettle. How did the steam get under the lid?” “Why, my dear, it comes out of the hot water makes it.” The grandmother was beginning to feel puzzled. The lad lifted the lid and peeped inside again. He could see nothing but the bubbling water. The stream was not visible until after it was fairly out of the kettle. “How queer!” he said. “The stream must be very strong to lift the heavy iron lid. Grandma, how much water did you put into the kettle?” “About a quart, Jamie.” “Well, if the stream from so little water is so strong, why would not the steam from a great deal of water be a great deal stronger? Why couldn’t it be made to lift a much greater weight? Why couldn’t it be made to turn wheels?” The grandmother made no reply. These questions of Jamie’s were more puzzling than profitable, she thought. She went about her work silently, and Jamie sat still in his place and studied the teakettle. ********

How to understand the power that is in steam, and how to make it do other things than rattle the lids of teakettles--- that was the problem which James Watt, the inquisitive Scotch boy, set himself to solve. Day after day he thought about it, and evening after evening he sat by his grandmother’s fireside and watched the thin, white vapor come out of the teakettle and lose itself in the yawning black throat of the chimney. The idea grew with him as he grew into manhood, and by long study he began to reason upon it to some purpose. “There is a wonderful power in steam,” he said to himself. “ There was never a giant who had so much strength. If we only knew how to harness that power, there is no end to the things it might do for us. It would not only lift weights, but it would turn all kinds of machinery. It would draw our wagons, it would push our ships, it would plow and sow, it would spin and weave. For thousands of years men have been working alongside of this power, never dreaming that it might be made their servant. But how can this be done? This is the question.” He tried one experiment after another. He failed again and again, but from each failure he learned something new. Men laughed at him. “How ridiculous,” they said, “to think that steam can be made to run machinery!” But James Watt persevered, and in the end was able to give to the world the first successful form of the steam-engine. Thus, from the study of so simple a thing as a common teakettle, the most useful of all modern inventions was finally produced.

 

33.The Fountain of Youth

  Among the Spaniards who flocked to America in the hope of finding gold, there was a certain officer whose name was Juan Ponce de Leon. He had distinguished himself in the Spanish army and was very rich. He also had much influence with the king ---so much, in fact, that he was soon appointed governor of all the eastern part of Haiti. While attending to his duties in Haiti, he learned that at some distance farther eastward there was a rich island abounding in gold and other precious metals. The Indians called this island Borinquen; it was the same land which Columbus had discovered a few years before and called Porto Rico. Ponce de Leon was so much pleased by the reports which were brought to him of the great wealth of Porto Rico that he at once made up his mind to get that wealth for himself. The king of Spain was very willing to please him and to have a share of the profits, and therefore appointed him governor of Porto Rico. Ponce was not a man to waste time in any undertaking. With eight stanch ships and several hundred men, he at once set sail for his new province and in due time landed upon the island. The natives were kind and gentle. They welcomed the white men to their pleasant country and tried to help them in such ways as they could. Ponce de Leon repaid them as the Spaniards at that time usually repaid a kindness,----he robbed them of all they had and made slaves of as many as he could. Then at length the harassed savages turned against their oppressors and tried to drive them from the island; but hat could they do against enemies so cunning and strong? Ponce was as heartless and unfeeling as any wild beast. Soon the once happy island was filled with distress and terror. The Indians were hunted from their homes. Thousands of them were killed, and the rest became the slaves of their conquerors. Ponce began to form a settlement at a place now called Pueblo Viejo; but he soon changed his plans and removed to a fine harbor on the north shore of the island. There he laid out the city of san the island. There he laid out the city of San Juan. He built for himself, near the mouth of the harbor, a grand house which he called Casa Blanca, or the white castle; and there he made his home for some time. But, with all his wealth, Ponce was not happy. He had lived so carelessly6 and wildly that his youth went from him early. At fifty years of age he was a miserable old man. There was no more joy in the world for him. One day as he was sitting unhappy in the white castle, a thing occurred that kindled a spark of hope in his despairing mind. He overheard an Indian slave say, “In Bimini no one grows old.” “Bimini! What is Bimini?” he asked. “If is a beautiful island that lies far, far to the north of us,” was the answer. “Tell me about it.” “There is a fountain there, a spring of clear water, the most wonderful in the world. Everyone that bathes in it becomes as young and strong as he was in his best days. No one grows old in Bimini.” “Have you ever been there?” “Ah, no. It is too far away for any of our people to make the voyage. But we have heard talk of the fountain all our lives.” Ponce asked other Indians about Bimini and its magic fountain. All had heard of it. It was a land fragrant with flowers. It lay far to the northwest—too far for frail canoes to venture. But the great ships of the white men could easily make the voyage in a few days. Ponce made up his mind to discover the fountain. He first got the king’s permission to conquer Bimini, wherever it might be. Then with three ships and a number of followers he sailed toward the northwest. He passed through the great group of islands known as the Bahamas; and, wherever there were natives living, he stopped and made inquiries. “Where is Bimini? Where is the magic fountain of youth?” they pointed to the northwest. It was always a little farther and a little farther, no one had ever seen the fountain, but Ponce understood that everyone had heard of it. At length, after leaving the Bahamas far behind them, the Spaniards discovered a strange coast where the land seemed to be covered with flowers. Was this Bimini? Nobody could tell. The coast stretched so far northward and southward that Ponce felt sure it was no island but the mainland of a continent. The day was Easter Sunday, which in Spain is called Pascua de Flores, or the Feast of Flowers. For this reason, and also because of the abundance of flowers, the Spaniards named the land Florida. Ponce de Leon went on shore at many places and sought for the wonderful fountain. He drank from every clear spring. He bathed in many a limpid stream. But his lost youth did not come back to him. He sailed southward and around to the western coast of Florida, asking everywhere,-- “Is this Bimini? And where is the fountain of youth?” But the Indians who lived there had never heard of Bimini, and they knew of no fountain of youth. And so, at last, the search was given up, and Ponce returned disappointed to Porto Rico. Nine years passed, and then he sailed again for Florida. This time he took a number of men with him in order to conquer the country and seize upon whatever treasures he might find there. More than this, he expected to explore its woods and rivers and seek gain for the mysterious fountain of youth. The Florida Indians did not have any treasures; but they were brave and loved their homes. They would not be conquered and enslaved without a struggle. They therefore fell upon the Spaniards when they landed, and drove them back to their ships. Ponce de Leno was struck by an arrow. He was wounded in the thigh. “Take me back to Spain,” said he, “for I shall never find the fountain of youth.” His ship carried him to Cuba; but no skill could heal his wound. He lingered in pain for a long time, and then died, bewailing his lost youth.

34.Sir Isaac Newton and the Apple

Sir Isaac Newton was a great thinker. No other man of his time knew so much about the laws of nature; no other man understood the reasons of things so well as he. He learned by looking closely at things and by hard study. He was always thinking, thinking. Although he was one of the wisest men that ever lived, yet he felt that he knew but very little. The more he learned, the better he saw how much there was still to be learned. When he was a very old man he one day said. “I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore. I have amused myself by now and then finding a smooth pebble or a pretty shell, but the great ocean of truth still lies before me unknown and unexplored. It is only the ignorant who think themselves very wise. One day in autumn Sir Isaac was lying on the grass under an apple-tree and thinking, thinking, thinking. Suddenly an apple that had grown ripe on its branch fell to the ground by his side. “What made that apple fall?” he asked himself. “Is fell because its stem would no longer hold it to its branch,” was his first thought. But Sir Isaac was not satisfied with this answer. “Why did it fall toward the ground? Why should it not fall some other way just as well?” he asked. “All heavy things fall to the ground-but why do they? Because they are heavy. That is not a good reason. For then we may ask why is anything heavy? Why is one thing heavier than another?” When he had once begun to think about this he did not stop until he had reasoned it all out. Millions and millions of people had seen apples fall, but it was left for Sir Isaac Newton to ask why they fall. He explained it in this way;---- “Every object draws every other object toward it. “The more matter an object contains the harder it draws. “The nearer an object is to another the harder it draws. “The harder an object draws other objects, the heavier it is said to be. “The earth is many millions of times heavier than an apple; so it draws the apple toward it millions and millions of times harder than the apple can draw the other way. “The earth is millions of times heavier than any object near to or upon its surface; so it draws every such object toward it. “This is why things fall, as we say, toward the earth. “While we know that every object draws every other object, we cannot know why it does so. We can only give a name to the force that causes this. “We call that force gravitation. “It is gravitation that causes the apple to fall. “It is gravitation that makes things have weight. “It is gravitation that keeps all things in their proper places.” Suppose there was no such force as gravitation, would an apple fall to the ground? Suppose that gravitation did draw objects toward the earth, what would happen? To you who, like Sir Isaac Newton, are always asking “Why?” and “How?” these questions will give something to think about.

 

【作者: 阿西叶】【访问统计:】【2007年06月6日 星期三 14:22】【注册】【打印】