小学英语 安徒生童话系列（一）What the Old Man Does Is Always Right老爹阅读素材

WhattheOldManDoesIsAlwaysRightbyHansChristianAndersen（1861）IWILLtellyouastorythatwastoldmewhenIwasalittleboy.EverytimeIthoughtofthisstory，itseemedtomemoreandmorecharming；foritiswithstoriesasitiswithmanypeopletheybecomebetterastheygrowolder.Ihavenodoubtthatyouhavebeeninthecountry，andseenaveryoldfarmhouse，withathatchedroof，andmossesandsmallplantsgrowingwilduponit.Thereisastorksnestontheridgeofthegable，forwecannotdowithoutthestork.Thewallsofthehousearesloping，andthewindowsarelow，andonlyoneofthelatterismadetoopen.Thebaking-ovensticksoutofthewalllikeaGREatknob.Anelder-treehangsoverthepalings；andbeneathitsbranches，atthefootofthepaling，isapoolofwater，inwhichafewducksaredisportingthemselves.Thereisayard-dogtoo，whobarksatallcorners.Justsuchafarmhouseasthisstoodinacountrylane；andinitdweltanoldcouple，apeasantandhiswife.Smallastheirpossessionswere，theyhadonearticletheycouldnotdowithout，andthatwasahorse，whichcontrivedtoliveuponthegrasswhichitfoundbythesideofthehighroad.Theoldpeasantrodeintothetownuponthishorse，andhisneighborsoftenborroweditofhim，andpaidfortheloanofitbyrenderingsomeservicetotheoldcouple.Afteratimetheythoughtitwouldbeaswelltosellthehorse，orexchangeitforsomethingwhichmightbemoreusefultothem.Butwhatmightthissomethingbe？“Youllknowbest，oldman，”saidthewife. “Itisfair-dayto-day；sorideintotown，andgetridofthehorseformoney，ormakeagoodexchange；whicheveryoudowillberighttome，soridetothefair.”Andshefastenedhisneckerchiefforhim；forshecoulddothatbetterthanhecould，andshecouldalsotieitveryprettilyinadoublebow.Shealsosmoothedhishatroundandroundwiththepalmofherhand，andgavehimakiss.Thenherodeawayuponthehorsethatwastobesoldorbarteredforsomethingelse.Yes，theoldmanknewwhathewasabout.ThesunshonewithGREatheat，andnotacloudwastobeseeninthesky.Theroadwasverydusty；foranumberofpeople，allgoingtothefair，weredriving，riding，orwalkinguponit.Therewasnoshelteranywherefromthehotsunshine.Amongtherestamancametrudgingalong，anddrivingacowtothefair.Thecowwasasbeautifulacreatureasanycowcouldbe.“Shegivesgoodmilk，Iamcertain，”saidthepeasanttohimself. “Thatwouldbeaverygoodexchange：thecowforthehorse.Hallothere！youwiththecow，”hesaid. “Itellyouwhat；Idaresayahorseisofmorevaluethanacow；butIdontcareforthat，acowwillbemoreusefultome；so，ifyoulike，wellexchange.”“TobesureIwill，”saidtheman.Accordinglytheexchangewasmade；andasthematterwassettled，thepeasantmighthaveturnedback；forhehaddonethebusinesshecametodo.But，havingmadeuphismindtogotothefair，hedeterminedtodoso，ifonlytohavealookatit；soonhewenttothetownwithhiscow.Leadingtheanimal，hestrodeonsturdily，and，afterashorttime，overtookamanwhowasdrivingasheep.Itwasagoodfatsheep，withafinefleeceonitsback.“Ishouldliketohavethatfellow，”saidthepeasanttohimself. “Thereisplentyofgrassforhimbyourpalings，andinthewinterwecouldkeephimintheroomwithus.Perhapsitwouldbemoreprofitabletohaveasheepthanacow.ShallIexchange？”themanwiththesheepwasquiteready，andthebargainwasquicklymade.Andthenourpeasantcontinuedhiswayonthehigh-roadwithhissheep.Soonafterthis，heovertookanotherman，whohadcomeintotheroadfromafield，andwascarryingalargegooseunderhisarm.“Whataheavycreatureyouhavethere！”saidthepeasant； “ithasplentyoffeathersandplentyoffat，andwouldlookwelltiedtoastring，orpaddlinginthewateratourplace.Thatwouldbeveryusefultomyoldwoman；shecouldmakeallsortsofprofitsoutofit.Howoftenshehassaid，Ifnowweonlyhadagoose！Nowhereisanopportunity，and，ifpossible，Iwillgetitforher.Shallweexchange？Iwillgiveyoumysheepforyourgoose，andthanksintothebargain.”theotherhadnottheleastobjection，andaccordinglytheexchangewasmade，andourpeasantbecamepossessorofthegoose.Bythistimehehadarrivedverynearthetown.Thecrowdonthehighroadhadbeengraduallyincreasing，andtherewasquitearushofmenandcattle.Thecattlewalkedonthepathandbythepalings，andattheturnpike-gatetheyevenwalkedintothetoll-keeperspotato-field，whereonefowlwasstruttingaboutwithastringtiedtoitsleg，forfearitshouldtakefrightatthecrowd，andrunawayandgetlost.Thetail-feathersofthefowlwereveryshort，anditwinkedwithbothitseyes，andlookedverycunning，asitsaid“Cluck，cluck.”WhatwerethethoughtsofthefowlasitsaidthisIcannottellyou；butdirectlyourgoodmansawit，hethought， “WhythatsthefinestfowlIeversawinmylife；itsfinerthanourparsonsbroodhen，uponmyword.Ishouldliketohavethatfowl.Fowlscanalwayspickupafewgrainsthatlieabout，andalmostkeepthemselves.IthinkitwouldbeagoodexchangeifIcouldgetitformygoose.Shallweexchange？”heaskedthetoll-keeper.“Exchange，”repeatedtheman； “well，itwouldnotbeabadthing.”Andsotheymadeanexchange，thetoll-keeperattheturnpike-gatekeptthegoose，andthepeasantcarriedoffthefowl.NowhehadreallydoneaGREatdealofbusinessonhiswaytothefair，andhewashotandtired.Hewantedsomethingtoeat，andaglassofaletorefreshhimself；soheturnedhisstepstoaninn.Hewasjustabouttoenterwhentheostlercameout，andtheymetatthedoor.Theostlerwascarryingasack. “Whathaveyouinthatsack？”askedthepeasant.“Rottenapples，”answeredtheostler； “awholesackfulofthem.Theywilldotofeedthepigswith.”“Whythatwillbeterriblewaste，”hereplied； “Ishouldliketotakethemhometomyoldwoman.Lastyeartheoldapple-treebythegrass-plotonlyboreoneapple，andwekeptitinthecupboardtillitwasquitewitheredandrotten.Itwasalwaysproperty，myoldwomansaid；andhereshewouldseeaGREatdealofpropertyawholesackful；Ishouldliketoshowthemtoher.”“Whatwillyougivemeforthesackful？”askedtheostler.“WhatwillIgive？Well，Iwillgiveyoumyfowlinexchange.”Sohegaveupthefowl，andreceivedtheapples，whichhecarriedintotheinnparlor.Heleanedthesackcarefullyagainstthestove，andthenwenttothetable.Butthestovewashot，andhehadnotthoughtofthat.Manyguestswerepresenthorsedealers，cattledrovers，andtwoEnglishmen.TheEnglishmenweresorichthattheirpocketsquitebulgedoutandseemedreadytoburst；andtheycouldbettoo，asyoushallhear. “Hiss-s-s，hiss-s-s.”Whatcouldthatbebythestove？Theappleswerebeginningtoroast. “Whatisthat？”askedone.“Why，doyouknow”saidourpeasant.Andthenhetoldthemthewholestoryofthehorse，whichhehadexchangedforacow，andalltherestofit，downtotheapples.“Well，youroldwomanwillgiveityouwellwhenyougethome，”saidoneoftheEnglishmen. “Wonttherebeanoise？”“What！Givemewhat？”saidthepeasant. “Why，shewillkissme，andsay，whattheoldmandoesisalwaysright.”“Letuslayawageronit，”saidtheEnglishmen. “Wellwageryouatonofcoinedgold，ahundredpoundstothehundred-weight.”“No；abushelwillbeenough，”repliedthepeasant. “Icanonlysetabushelofapplesagainstit，andIllthrowmyselfandmyoldwomanintothebargain；thatwillpileupthemeasure，Ifancy.”“Done！taken！”andsothebetwasmade.thenthelandlordscoachcametothedoor，andthetwoEnglishmenandthepeasantgotin，andawaytheydrove，andsoonarrivedandstoppedatthepeasantshut. “Goodevening，oldwoman.” “Goodevening，oldman.” “Ivemadetheexchange.”“Ah，well，youunderstandwhatyoureabout，”saidthewoman.Thensheembracedhim，andpaidnoattentiontothestrangers，nordidshenoticethesack.“Igotacowinexchangeforthehorse.”“ThankHeaven，”saidshe. “Nowweshallhaveplentyofmilk，andbutter，andcheeseonthetable.Thatwasacapitalexchange.”“Yes，butIchangedthecowforasheep.”“Ah，betterstill！”criedthewife. “Youalwaysthinkofeverything；wehavejustenoughpastureforasheep.Ewesmilkandcheese，woollenjacketsandstockings！Thecowcouldnotgiveallthese，andherhaironlyfallsoff.Howyouthinkofeverything！”“ButIchangedawaythesheepforagoose.”“thenweshallhaveroastgoosetoeatthisyear.Youdearoldman，youarealwaysthinkingofsomethingtopleaseme.Thisisdelightful.Wecanletthegoosewalkaboutwithastringtiedtoherleg，soshewillbefatterstillbeforeweroasther.”“ButIgaveawaythegooseforafowl.”“Afowl！Well，thatwasagoodexchange，”repliedthewoman. “Thefowlwilllayeggsandhatchthem，andweshallhavechickens；weshallsoonhaveapoultry-yard.Oh，thisisjustwhatIwaswishingfor.”“Yes，butIexchangedthefowlforasackofshrivelledapples.”“What！Ireallymustgiveyouakissforthat！”exclaimedthewife. “Mydear，goodhusband，nowIlltellyousomething.Doyouknow，almostassoonasyouleftmethismorning，IbegantothinkofwhatIcouldgiveyouniceforsupperthisevening，andthenIthoughtoffriedeggsandbacon，withsweetherbs；Ihadeggsandbacon，butIwantedtheherbs；soIwentovertotheschoolmasters：Iknewtheyhadplentyofherbs，buttheschoolmistressisverymean，althoughshecansmilesosweetly.Ibeggedhertolendmeahandfulofherbs.Lend！sheexclaimed，Ihavenothingtolend；nothingatallgrowsinourgarden，notevenashrivelledapple；Icouldnotevenlendyouashrivelledapple，mydearwoman.ButnowIcanlendherten，orawholesackful，whichImverygladof；itmakesmelaughtothinkaboutit；”andthenshegavehimaheartykiss.“Well，Ilikeallthis，”saidboththeEnglishmen； “alwaysgoingdownthehill，andyetalwaysmerry；itsworththemoneytoseeit.”Sotheypaidahundred-weightofgoldtothepeasant，who，whateverhedid，wasnotscoldedbutkissed.Yes，italwayspaysbestwhenthewifeseesandmaintainsthatherhusbandknowsbest，andwhateverhedoesisright.ThatisastorywhichIheardwhenIwasachild；andnowyouhaveheardittoo，andknowthat“Whattheoldmandoesisalwaysright.”现在我要给你们讲一个我小时候听过的故事。从那以后，每次想到这个故事，我都觉得它比以前更加美丽了。因为故事和许多人一个样，随着年龄增长，会变得越来越美丽动人，这真是很好的事情！你一定到过乡下的！你见过顶子用谷草铺成的真正的农舍：藓苔和杂草自然而然地生长着。屋脊上有一个鹳巢，鹳，人是离不开的。墙有些斜，窗子开得很低，是啊，而且只有一扇窗子打得开。烤麵包的灶突出来像个大肚子。接骨木丛斜在篱笆上，篱前一颗长着节疤的柳树下有一个小小的水潭，有一只鸭子或者几只鸭子在里面游着。哦，还有一只看家狗，它不管见了谁或者甚么东西，都要叫一阵。我要讲的正是乡下的这样一所房子，里面住着两个人，农夫和农妇。他们家中的东西少得可怜，可是，他们依旧可以再少一点的。我要说的是一匹马，这匹马在大道旁的沟里找草吃。老头子骑着它进城，邻家来借它去使唤，他靠它给别人干活挣得点钱。然而卖掉它或者把它换成甚么对他们更有用的东西，挣的钱定然会更多一些。但是换甚么呢。“老爹，这种事你最在行了！”妻子说道，“现在城里正在赶集，骑上马去吧，把马卖掉得点钱回来，或是换点甚么东西回来！你做的事情总是对的。骑上马赶集去吧！”於是她替他系好围裙，因为这类事她毕竟比他在行些；她给他打的是双结，看上去很帅。於是他用手板擦了擦帽子，她在他的温暖的嘴唇上亲了亲，他便骑着要卖掉或是要换掉的马上路了。可不是，老爹清楚。太阳很辣，天上一点儿云也没有！路上尘土飞扬。赶集的人多极了，有乘车的，有骑马的，有步行的。太阳火辣辣的，路上连个遮荫的地方都没有。有一个人赶着一头母牛，那头母牛非常好，就像一头母牛能够做到的一样好。“这牛一定能下很好的奶！”农夫想道，“把它换过来一定不会吃亏。”“听着，牵牛的！”他说道，“咱们两人谈谈怎么样！你瞧见没有，一匹马，我想肯定比一头牛值钱，不过那没有甚么！我更用得着一头母牛。我们换换好不好？”“好吧，当然！”牵牛的人说道，於是他们就交换了。换完以后，农夫本可以转身回去了，他不是把要办的事办完了吗。可是他既然想起要去赶集，那么便要去集上走走，光是看看。於是他牵着他的母牛，朝集市走去。他走得很快，母牛也走得很快，他赶过了一个牵着一只羊的人，那只羊很不错，毛色很好。“我要是有这么一只羊就好了！”农民想道。“我们大路沟边不缺它吃的草，到冬天可以把它牵进屋里和我们在一起。从根本上说，我们保留只羊比保留只牛还更正确一些。我们换换好吗？”好啊，那个有羊的人当然愿意啦。於是他们作了交换，农夫牵着他的羊顺着大道走。在一道篱边的踏阶那里，他看见一个人用胳臂夹着一只鹅。“你这只鹅倒是很壮实的！”农夫说道，“毛很丰满，又很肥！拿根绳子拴着它，把它养在我们的水塘里会很不错的。让老婆子弄些果皮及菜叶子给它吃多好！她常说，”我们要有只鹅多好！“这一回她可有只鹅了该让她得到这只鹅！你愿换吗？我拿羊换你的鹅，多谢你！”当然，那人当然愿意。於是他们作了交换，农夫得到了鹅。他很快便要进城了。这时路上往来的人越来越多，人畜都挤在一起。大家在大道上走，挤在沟里，一直挤到路旁收税人堆土豆的地方。那里收税人用绳子系着他的母鸡，不让它吓得跑丢了。那是只秃尾巴鸡，一只眼睛眨着，很好看。母鸡在“咯、咯”叫着；母鸡这么叫在想甚么，谁也不知道。不过农夫看见它的时候，心中想道：这只母鸡可是我这一辈子见过的最漂亮的母鸡，它比牧师的那只抱窝鸡还要好看，我真想要它！母鸡找点谷子吃总是不成问题的，它自己就能照料自己！要是我得到这只鸡，这种交换是合算的。“我们交换好吗？”他问道。“交换！”另外那个人说道，“这个主意倒不太离谱！”於是他们作了交换。收税人得了鹅，农夫得了母鸡。这趟进城，一路上他干成的事真不少。天气很热，他也累了。他很需要喝杯酒和吃点麵包。这时他走到了小酒店，想进去。可是酒店小伙子正想走出来，他在店门口遇到了他。他背着一个口袋，里面装些甚么。“袋里装的是甚么？”农夫问道。“烂苹果！”小伙子回答道，“满满一袋给猪吃。”“这可真够多的！真该让老妈妈看看。我们去年炭棚子旁的那棵老苹果树，只结了一个苹果，把它搁到柜子上放着一直到它开裂。怎么说也是一笔财产！我们老婆子这么说。这下子她可以看到一大笔财产了！是的，我要让她看看。”“好吧！你拿甚么换？”小伙子问道。“拿甚么？我拿我的母鸡换！”於是他拿他的母鸡作了交换，得了苹果，走进了屋子，一直走到卖酒的台子前。他把他的一口袋苹果放了靠在火炉上，火炉里有火，他可是一点儿没有想到。屋子里有许多外来人。有贩马的，有买卖牛的，还有两个英国人，他们非常有钱，兜里的金币满满的。他们打起赌来。事情是这样的，听着！“滋！滋！”火炉那里是甚么声音？苹果烤熟了。“里面是甚么？”是啊，老爹把甚么都说了。於是他们很快便知道了一切！关於那匹