按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was so far awayif they ran for help it would be too late； what should he
do？ Once more he looked； the hole was larger； now； and the water was
trickling。
Suddenly a thought came to Hans。 He stuck his little forefinger right
into the hole； where it fitted tight； and he said to his little brother； 〃Run；
136
… Page 137…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
Dieting！ Go to the town and tell the men there's a hole in the dike。 Tell
them I will keep it stopped till they get here。〃
The little brother knew by Hans' face that something very serious was
the matter； and he started for the town； as fast as his legs could run。 Hans；
kneeling with his finger in the hole； watched him grow smaller and
smaller as he got farther away。
Soon he was as small as a chicken； then he was only a speck； then he
was out of sight。 Hans was alone； his finger tight in the bank。
He could hear the water； slap； slap； slap； on the stones； and deep down
under the slapping was a gurgling； rumbling sound。 It seemed very near。
By…and…by； his hand began to feel numb。 He rubbed it with the other
hand； but it got colder and more numb； colder and more numb； every
minute。 He looked to see if the men were coming； the road was bare as far
as he could see。 Then the cold began creeping； creeping； up his arm； first
his wrist； then his arm to the elbow； then his arm to the shoulder； how cold
it was！ And soon it began to ache。 Ugly little cramp…pains streamed up his
finger； up his palm； up his arm； till they reached into his shoulder； and
down the back of his neck。 It seemed hours since the little brother went
away。 He felt very lonely； and the hurt in his arm grew and grew。 He
watched the road with all his eyes； but no one came in sight。 Then he
leaned his head against the dike； to rest his shoulder。
As his ear touched the dike； he heard the voice of the great sea；
murmuring。 The sound seemed to say；
〃I am the great sea。 No one can stand against me。 What are you； a little
child； that you try to keep me out？ Beware！ Beware！〃
Hans' heart beat in heavy knocks。 Would they never come？ He was
frightened。
And the water went on beating at the wall； and murmuring； 〃I will
come through； I will come through； I will get you； I will get you； runrun…
…before I come through！〃
Hans started to pull out his finger； he was so frightened that he felt as
if he must run for ever。 But that minute he remembered how much
depended on him； if he pulled out his finger； the water would surely make
the hole bigger； and at last break down the dike； and the sea would come
137
… Page 138…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
in on all the land and houses。 He set his teeth； and stuck his finger tighter
than ever。
〃You shall NOT come through！〃 he whispered； 〃I will NOT run！〃
At that moment； he heard a far…off shout。 Far in the distance he saw a
black something on the road； and dust。 The men were coming！ At last；
they were coming。 They came nearer； fast； and he could make out his own
father； and the neighbours。 They had pickaxes and shovels； and they were
running。 And as they ran they shouted； 〃We're coming； take heart； we're
coming！〃
The next minute； it seemed； they were there。 And when they saw Hans；
with his pale face； and his hand tight in the dike； they gave a great cheer；
just as people do for soldiers back from war； and they lifted him up and
rubbed his aching arm with tender hands； and they told him that he was a
real hero and that he had saved the town。
When the men had mended the dike； they marched home like an army；
and Hans was carried high on their shoulders； because he was a hero。 And
to this day the people of Haarlem tell the story of how a little boy saved
the dike。
THE LAST LESSON＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from the French of Alphonse Daudet。
Little Franz didn't want to go to school； that morning。 He would
much rather have played truant。 The air was so warm and still；you could
hear the blackbird singing at the edge of the wood； and the sound of the
Prussians drilling； down in the meadow behind the old sawmill。 He would
SO much rather have played truant！ Besides； this was the day for the
lesson in the rule of participles； and the rule of participles in French is
very； very long； and very hard； and it has more exceptions than rule。 Little
Franz did not know it at all。 He did not want to go to school。
But； somehow； he went。 His legs carried him reluctantly into the
village and along the street。 As he passed the official bulletin…board before
the town hall； he noticed a little crowd round it； looking at it。 That was the
138
… Page 139…
HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
place where the news of lost battles； the requisition for more troops； the
demands for new taxes were posted。 Small as he was； little Franz had seen
enough to make him think； 〃What NOW； I wonder？〃 But he could not stop
to see； he was afraid of being late。
When he came to the school…yard his heart beat very fast； he was
afraid he WAS late； after all； for the windows were all open； and yet he
heard no noise；the schoolroom was perfectly quiet。 He had been
counting on the noise and confusion before school；the slamming of desk
covers； the banging of books； the tapping of the master's cane and his 〃A
little less noise； please；〃 to let him slip quietly into his seat unnoticed。
But no； he had to open the door and walk up the long aisle； in the midst of
a silent room； with the master looking straight at him。 Oh； how hot his
cheeks felt； and how hard his heart beat！ But to his great surprise the
master didn't scold at all。 All he said was； 〃Come quickly to your place；
my little Franz； we were just going to begin without you！〃
Little Franz could hardly believe his ears； that wasn't at all the way the
master was accustomed to speak。 It was very strange！ Somehow
everything was very strange。 The room looked queer。 Everybody was
sitting so still； so straightas if it were an exhibition day； or something
very particular。 And the master he looked strange； to