how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第14章
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wickedness； but they left Gluck in the house to work。 And they lived on
the gold and silver they had saved in Treasure Valley； till at last it was all
gone。 The only precious thing left was Gluck's gold mug。 This the Black
Brothers decided to melt into spoons； to sell； and in spite of Gluck's tears；
they put it in the melting pot； and went out； leaving him to watch it。
Poor little Gluck sat at the window； trying not to cry for his dear
golden mug； and as the sun began to go down； he saw the beautiful
cataract of the Golden River turn red； and yellow； and then pure gold。
〃Oh； dear！〃 he said to himself； 〃how fine it would be if the river were
really golden！ I needn't be poor； then。〃
〃It wouldn't be fine at all！〃 said a thin； metallic little voice； in his ear。
〃Mercy； what's that！〃 said Gluck； looking all about。 But nobody was
there。
Suddenly the sharp little voice came again。
〃Pour me out；〃 it said； 〃I am too hot！〃
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
It seemed to come right from the oven； and as Gluck stood； staring in
fright； it came again； 〃Pour me out； I'm too hot！〃
Gluck was very much frightened； but he went and looked in the
melting pot。 When he touched it； the little voice said； 〃Pour me out； I say！〃
And Gluck took the handle and began to pour the gold out。
First came out a tiny pair of yellow legs； then a pair of yellow coat…
tails； then a strange little yellow body； and； last； a wee yellow face； with
long curls of gold hair。 And the whole put itself together as it fell； and
stood up on the floor；the strangest little yellow dwarf； about a foot high！
〃Dear； me！〃 said Gluck。
But the little yellow man said； 〃Gluck； do you know who I am？ I am
the King of the Golden River。〃
Gluck did not know what to say； so he said nothing； and； indeed； the
little man gave him no chance。 He said； 〃Gluck； I have been watching you；
and what I have seen of you； I like。 Listen； and I will tell you something
for your good。 Whoever shall climb to the top of the mountain from which
the Golden River falls； and shall cast into its waters three drops of holy
water； for him and him only shall its waters turn to gold。 But no one can
succeed except at the first trial； and anyone who casts unholy water in the
river will be turned into a black stone。〃
And then； before Gluck could draw his breath； the King walked
straight into the hottest flame of the fire； and vanished up the chimney！
When Gluck's brothers came home； they beat him black and blue；
because the mug was gone。 But when he told them about the King of the
Golden River they quarrelled all night； as to which should go to get the
gold。 At last； Hans； who was the stronger； got the better of Schwartz； and
started off。 The priest would not give such a bad man any holy water； so
he stole a bottleful。 Then he took a basket of bread and wine； and began to
climb the mountain。
He climbed fast； and soon came to the end of the first hill。 But there he
found a great glacier； a hill of ice； which he had never seen before。 It was
horrible to cross；the ice was slippery； great gulfs yawned before him； and
noises like groans and shrieks came from under his feet。 He lost his basket
of bread and wine； and was quite faint with fear and exhaustion when his
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
feet touched firm ground again。
Next he came to a hill of hot； red rock； without a bit of grass to ease
the feet； or a particle of shade。 After an hour's climb he was so thirsty that
he felt that he must drink。 He looked at the flask of water。 〃Three drops are
enough；〃 he thought； 〃I will just cool my lips。〃 He was lifting the flask to
his lips when he saw something beside him in the path。 It was a small dog；
and it seemed to be dying of thirst。 Its tongue was out； its legs were
lifeless； and a swarm of black ants were crawling about its lips。 It looked
piteously at the bottle which Hans held。 Hans raised the bottle； drank；
kicked at the animal； and passed on。
A strange black shadow came across the blue sky。
Another hour Hans climbed； the rocks grew hotter and the way steeper
every moment。 At last he could bear it no longer； he must drink。 The bottle
was half empty； but he decided to drink half of what was left。 As he lifted
it； something moved in the path beside him。 It was a child； lying nearly
dead of thirst on the rock； its eyes closed； its lips burning； its breath
coming in gasps。 Hans looked at it； drank； and passed on。
A dark cloud came over the sun； and long shadows crept up the
mountain…side。
It grew very steep now； and the air weighed like lead on Hans's
forehead； but the Golden River was very near。 Hans stopped a moment to
breathe； then started to climb the last height。
As he clambered on； he saw an old； old man lying in the path。 His eyes
were sunken； and his face deadly pale。
〃Water！〃 he said； 〃water！〃
〃I have none for you；〃 said Hans； 〃you have had your share of life。〃
He strode over the old man's body and climbed on。
A flash of blue lightning dazzled him for an instant； and then the
heavens were dark。
At last Hans stood on the brink of the cataract of the Golden River。
The sound of its roaring filled the air。 He drew the flask from his side and
hurled it into the torrent。 As he did so； an icy chill shot through him； he
shrieked and fell。 And the river rose and flowed over
The Black Stone
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
When Hans did not come back Gluck grieved； but Schwartz was glad。
He decided to go and get the gold for himself。 He thought it might not do
to steal the holy water； as Hans had done； so he took the money little
Gluck had earned； and bought holy water of a bad priest。 Then he took a
basket of bread and wine； and started off。
He came to the great hill of ice； and was as surprised as Hans had been；
and found it as hard to cross。 Many times he slipped； and he was much
frightened at the noises； and was very glad to get across； although he had
lost his basket of bread and wine。 Then he came to the same hill of sharp；
red stone； without grass or shade； that Hans had climbed。 And like Hans he
became very thirsty。 Like Hans； too； he decided to drink a little of the
water。 As he raised it to his lips； he suddenly saw the same fair child that
Hans had seen。
〃Water！〃 said the child。 〃Water！ I am dying。〃
〃I have not enough for myself；〃 said Schwartz； and passed on。 A low
bank of black cloud rose out of the west。
When he had climbed for another hour； the thirst overcame him again；
and again he lifted the flask to his lips。 As he did so； he saw an old man
who begged for water。
〃I have not enough for myself；〃 said Schwartz； and passed on。
A mist； of the colour of blood； came over the sun。
Then Schwartz climbed for another hour； and once more he had to
drink。 This time； as he lifted the flask； he thought he saw his brother Hans
before him。 The figure stretched its arms to him； and cried out for water。
〃Ha； ha；〃 laughed Schwartz； 〃do you suppose I brought the water up
here for you？〃 And he s
