书城英文图书英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)
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第9章 OUT OF HARM’S WAY GIRL

1.Dicky bird,Dicky bird,whither away?

Why do you fly when I wish you to stay?

I never would harm you,if you would come,And sing me a song while you perch on my thumb.

2.Dear girl,I will sing to you here in the tree,But pray do not come any nearer to me;Your wide-open hand and your eyes big and brightFill poor little Dicky with terror and fright.

3.I love you,dear Dicky;so why should you fear?

If you will come with me,my sweet,pretty dear,You shall live in a house of silver so gay,And feed on a lump of white sugar each day.

4.Oh,but,little girl,I‘ve a nest in this tree,And three little baby birds waiting for me.I should pine in a house of silver so gay,And starve on a lump of white sugar each day.

5.I love the fresh air,the sunshine so free;My swing in the rose-bush,my home in the tree.

My birdies are calling me,so I must fly,And sing as I leave you,“Good-bye,good-bye.”

1.Spring was gone,and summer,with its warm days,had come.

2.At an old farm-house there were a great many martins to be seen.They had come over the seas to spend the summer there.

3.They were very busy.Some were mending old nests;others were building new ones.

4.A pair of young birds had chosen a cosy place.They were building a nest in the corner of an old window.

5.All day long they kept flying to and fro,to get mud for the walls of their little house.They never seemed to tire.

6.At last their work was done.The walls were dry and firm.There were only a few soft feathers wanted inside,to make a warm bed for the baby birds.

7.Mr.and Mrs.Martin were so pleased with their work,that they thought they would havea little treat.Off they flew to get a nice supper of flies.

8.When they got back to their new home,they saw a big fat bird peeping out at the door.

9.“I beg your pardon,sir,”said Mrs.Martin,“but you ha ve made a mistake.This is my house.”

10.“Your house!I don’t know about that,”said the big fat sparrow.“I found the house empty,and it suits me very well;so I mean to stay here.”

Yes,and he had brought his wife with him,too!

11.Then up hopped Mr.Martin.But in spite of all he could say,the sparrows would not move.So rather than fight about it,he and Mrs.Martin very sadly gave up their neat little nest.

Mr.fe.trea.to be see.brought Mrs.?e.grea.they sa.thoughtIIl.Next day Mr.and Mrs.Martin began to build a new nest,with such a small door that no rude sparrow could get in.

2.The walls were built,and the inside was lined with feathers.Then came five lovely eggs,and then five little birds.

3.But,alas!one stormy night the rain wet the sides of the nest,and down it fell.In the morning,five dead baby birds lay on the ground.

4.How sad the father and mother were!They flew round and round the broken nest,and twittered to their dead babies.But it was of no use.

5.They had lost all-their home and their little ones.Did they give up now?Did they fly away to a brighter land?No;a third time they began a new house.

6.The other martins had already pretty families around them.Even the rude sparrow had a large family of little sparrows as rude as himself.

7.It was rather dull work sometimes.But when the sun shone out,Mr.and Mrs.Martin worked away merrily.

8.At last the house was finished,and a beautiful little house it was.Before long the nest was filled with another family of martins.All the little birds grew up,and a nicer family was not to be seen anywhere.

9.Now,children,when everything goes the wrong way,and trying seems of no use,will you remember the story of these brave little martins,and“TRY,TRY,TRY AGAIN”

Two robin redbreasts built their nest;Within a hollow tree.

The wife sat quietly at home,Her mate sang merrily,And all the little young ones said,“Wee,wee-wee,wee-wee,wee.”

One day the sun was warm and bright,And cloudless was the sky;Cock-robin said,“My little dears,’Tis time you learned to fly.”

And all the little young ones said,“I‘ll try,I’ll try,I‘ll try.”

I know a child,and who she is I’ll tell you by-and-by,When mother says,“Do this,do that,”

She says,“What for?and why?”She‘d be a better child by farIf she would say,“I’ll try.”