小学英语安徒生童话系列三TheSilverShilling银毫子阅读素材

The

Silver

Shillingby

Hans

Christian

Andersen（1862）theRE

was

once

a

shilling，

which

came

forthfrom

the

mint

springing

and

shouting，

Hurrah！now

I

am

going

out

into

the

wide

world.

And

truly

itdid

go

out

into

the

wide

world.

The

children

held

itwith

warm

hands，

the

miser

with

a

cold

andconvulsive

grasp，

and

the

old

people

turned

itabout，

goodness

knows

how

many

times，

whilethe

young

people

soon

allowed

it

to

roll

away

fromthem.

The

shilling

was

made

of

silver，

it

contained

very

little

copper，

and

considered

itselfquite

out

in

the

world

when

it

had

been

circulated

for

a

year

in

the

country

in

which

it

had

beencoined.

One

day，

it

really

did

go

out

into

the

world，

for

it

belonged

to

a

gentleman

who

wasabout

to

travel

in

foreign

lands.

This

gentleman

was

not

aware

that

the

shilling

lay

at

thebottom

of

his

purse

when

he

started，

till

he

one

day

found

it

between

his

fingers.

Why，

criedhe，

here

is

a

shilling

from

home；

well，

it

must

go

on

its

travels

with

me

now！

and

theshilling

jumped

and

rattled

for

joy，

when

it

was

put

back

again

into

the

purse.Here

it

lay

among

a

number

of

foreign

companions，

who

were

always

coming

and

going，one

taking

the

place

of

another，

but

the

shilling

from

home

was

always

put

back，

and

had

toremain

in

the

purse，

which

was

certainly

a

mark

of

distinction.

Many

weeks

passed，

duringwhich

the

shilling

had

travelled

a

long

distance

in

the

purse，

without

in

the

least

knowing

wherehe

was.

He

had

found

out

that

the

other

coins

were

French

and

Italian；

and

one

coin

said

theywere

in

this

town，

and

another

said

they

were

in

that，

but

the

shilling

was

unable

to

make

outor

imagine

what

they

meant.

A

man

certainly

cannot

see

much

of

the

world

if

he

is

tied

up

in

abag，

and

this

was

really

the

shilling's

fate.

But

one

day，

as

he

was

lying

in

the

purse，

henoticed

that

it

was

not

quite

closed，

and

so

he

slipped

near

to

the

opening

to

have

a

little

peepinto

society.

He

certainly

had

not

the

least

idea

of

what

would

follow，

but

he

was

curious，and

curiosity

often

brings

its

own

punishment.

In

his

eagerness，

he

came

so

near

the

edge

ofthe

purse

that

he

slipped

out

into

the

pocket

of

the

trousers；

and

when，

in

the

evening，the

purse

was

taken

out，

the

shilling

was

left

behind

in

the

corner

to

which

it

had

fallen.

As

theclothes

were

being

carried

into

the

hall，

the

shilling

fell

out

on

the

floor，

unheard

andunnoticed

by

any

one.

The

next

morning

the

clothes

were

taken

back

to

the

room，

thegentleman

put

them

on，

and

started

on

his

journey

again；

but

the

shilling

remained

behindon

the

floor.

After

a

time

it

was

found，

and

being

considered

a

good

coin，

was

placed

withthree

other

coins.

Ah，

thought

the

shilling，

this

is

pleasant；

I

shall

now

see

the

world，become

acquainted

with

other

people，

and

learn

other

customs.Do

you

call

that

a

shilling？

said

some

one

the

next

moment.

That

is

not

a

genuine

coin

ofthe

country，—it

is

false；

it

is

good

for

nothing.Now

begins

the

story

as

it

was

afterwards

related

by

the

shilling

himself.‘False！

good

for

nothing！'

said

he.

That

remark

went

through

and

through

me

like

adagger.

I

knew

that

I

had

a

true

ring，

and

that

mine

was

a

genuine

stamp.

these

peoplemust

at

all

events

be

wrong，

or

they

could

not

mean

me.

But

yes，

I

was

the

one

they

called'false，

and

good

for

nothing.'‘then

I

must

pay

it

away

in

the

dark，'

said

the

man

who

had

received

me.

So

I

was

to

begot

rid

of

in

the

darkness，

and

be

again

insulted

in

broad

daylight.‘False！

good

for

nothing！'

Oh，

I

must

contrive

to

get

lost，

thought

I.

And

I

trembledbetween

the

fingers

of

the

people

every

time

they

tried

to

pass

me

off

slyly

as

a

coin

of

thecountry.

Ah！

unhappy

shilling

that

I

was！

Of

what

use

were

my

silver，

my

stamp，

and

myreal

value

here，

where

all

these

qualities

were

worthless.

In

the

eyes

of

the

world，

a

man

isvalued

just

according

to

the

opinion

formed

of

him.

It

must

be

a

shocking

thing

to

have

aguilty

conscience，

and

to

be

sneaking

about

on

account

of

wicked

deeds.

As

for

me，innocent

as

I

was，

I

could

not

help

shuddering

before

their

eyes

whenever

they

brought

meout，

for

I

knew

I

should

be

thrown

back

again

up

the

table

as

a

false

pretender.

At

length

Iwas

paid

away

to

a

poor

old

woman，

who

received

me

as

wages

for

a

hard

day's

work.

But

shecould

not

again

get

rid

of

me；

no

one

would

take

me.

I

was

to

the

woman

a

most

unluckyshilling.

'I

am

positively

obliged

to

pass

this

shilling

to

somebody，'

said

she；

'I

cannot，

withthe

best

intentions，

lay

by

a

bad

shilling.

The

rich

baker

shall

have

it，—he

can

bear

the

lossbetter

than

I

can.

But，

after

all，

it

is

not

a

right

thing

to

do.'‘Ah！'

sighed

I

to

myself，

'am

I

also

to

be

a

burden

on

the

conscience

of

this

poorwoman？

Am

I

then

in

my

old

days

so

completely

changed？'

The

woman

offered

me

to

the

richbaker，

but

he

knew

the

current

money

too

well，

and

as

soon

as

he

received

me

he

threw

mealmost

in

the

woman's

face.

She

could

get

no

bread

for

me，

and

I

felt

quite

grieved

to

theheart

that

I

should

be

cause

of

so

much

trouble

to

another，

and

be

treated

as

a

cast-off

coin.I

who，

in

my

young

days，

felt

so

joyful

in

the

certainty

of

my

own

value，

and

knew

so

wellthat

I

bore

a

genuine

stamp.

I

was

as

sorrowful

now

as

a

poor

shilling

can

be

when

nobodywill

have

him.

The

woman

took

me

home

again

with

her，

and

looking

at

me

very

earnestly，she

said，

'No，

I

will

not

try

to

deceive

any

one

with

thee

again.

I

will

bore

a

hole

throughthee，

that

everyone

may

know

that

thou

art

a

false

and

worthless

thing；

and

yet，

whyshould

I

do

that？

Very

likely

thou

art

a

lucky

shilling.

A

thought

has

just

struck

me

that

it

isso，

and

I

believe

it.

Yes，

I

will

make

a

hole

in

the

shilling，'

said

she，

'and

run

a

stringthrough

it，

and

then

give

it

to

my

neighbor's

little

one

to

hang

round

her

neck，

as

a

luckyshilling.'

So

she

drilled

a

hole

through

me.‘It

is

really

not

at

all

pleasant

to

have

a

hole

bored

through

one，

but

we

can

submit

to

aGREat

deal

when

it

is

done

with

a

good

intention.

A

string

was

drawn

through

the

hole，

and

Ibecame

a

kind

of

medal.

They

hung

me

round

the

neck

of

a

little

child，

and

the

child

laughedat

me

and

kissed

me，

and

I

rested

for

one

whole

night

on

the

warm，

innocent

breast

of

achild.‘In

the

morning

the

child's

mother

took

me

between

her

fingers，

and

had

certain

thoughtsabout

me，

which

I

very

soon

found

out.

First，

she

looked

for

a

pair

of

scissors，

and

cut

thestring.‘Lucky

shilling！'

said

she，

'certainly

this

is

what

I

mean

to

try.'

then

she

laid

me

in

vinegartill

I

became

quite

GREen，

and

after

that

she

filled

up

the

hole

with

cement，

rubbed

me

a

littleto

brighten

me

up，

and

went

out

in

the

twilight

hour

to

the

lottery

collector，

to

buy

herselfa

ticket，

with

a

shilling

that

should

bring

luck.

How

everything

seemed

to

cause

me

trouble.The

lottery

collector

pressed

me

so

hard

that

I

thought

I

should

crack.

I

had

been

calledfalse，

I

had

been

thrown

away，—that

I

knew；

and

there

were

many

shillings

and

coins

withinscriptions

and

stamps

of

all

kinds

lying

about.

I

well

knew

how

proud

they

were，

so

I

avoidedthem

from

very

shame.

With

the

collector

were

several

men

who

seemed

to

have

a

great

dealto

do，

so

I

fell

unnoticed

into

a

chest，

among

several

other

coins.Whether

the

lottery

ticket

gained

a

prize，

I

know

not；

but

this

I

know，

that

in

a

veryfew

days

after，

I

was

recognized

as

a

bad

shilling，

and

laid

aside.

Everything

that

happenedseemed

always

to

add

to

my

sorrow.

Even

if

a

man

has

a

good

character，

it

is

of

no

use

forhim

to

deny

what

is

said

of

him，

for

he

is

not

considered

an

impartial

judge

of

himself.A

year

passed，

and

in

this

way

I

had

been

changed

from

hand

to

hand；

always

abused，always

looked

at

with

displeasure，

and

trusted

by

no

one；

but

I

trusted

in

myself，

and

hadno

confidence

in

the

world.

Yes，

that

was

a

very

dark

time.At

length

one

day

I

was

passed

to

a

traveller，

a

foreigner，

the

very

same

who

hadbrought

me

away

from

home；

and

he

was

simple

and

true-hearted

enough

to

take

me

forcurrent

coin.

But

would

he

also

attempt

to

pass

me？

and

should

I

again

hear

the

outcry，'False！

good-for-nothing！'

The

traveller

examined

me

attentively，

'I

took

thee

for

goodcoin，'

said

he；

then

suddenly

a

smile

spread

all

over

his

face.

I

have

never

seen

such

a

smileon

any

other

face

as

on

his.

'Now

this

is

singular，'

said

he，

'it

is

a

coin

from

my

owncountry；

a

good，

true，

shilling

from

home.

Some

one

has

bored

a

hole

through

it，

andpeople

have

no

doubt

called

it

false.

How

curious

that

it

should

come

into

my

hands.

I

will

takeit

home

with

me

to

my

own

house.'Joy

thrilled

through

me

when

I

heard

this.

I

had

been

once

more

called

a

good，

honestshilling，

and

I

was

to

go

back

to

my

own

home，

where

each

and

all

would

recognize

me，and

know

that

I

was

made

of

good

silver，

and

bore

a

true，

genuine

stamp.

I

should

havebeen

glad

in

my

joy

to

throw

out

sparks

of

fire，

but

it

has

never

at

any

time

been

my

natureto

sparkle.

Steel

can

do

so，

but

not

silver.

I

was

wrapped

up

in

fine，

white

paper，

that

Imight

not

mix

with

the

other

coins

and

be

lost；

and

on

special

occasions，

when

people

frommy

own

country

happened

to

be

present，

I

was

brought

forward

and

spoken

of

very

kindly.They

said

I

was

very

interesting，

and

it

was

really

quite

worth

while

to

notice

that

those

whoare

interesting

have

often

not

a

single

word

to

say

for

themselves.At

length

I

reached

home.

All

my

cares

were

at

an

end.

Joy

again

overwhelmed

me；

for

wasI

not

good

silver，

and

had

I

not

a

genuine

stamp？

I

had

no

more

insults

or

disappointmentsto

endure；

although，

indeed，

there

was

a

hole

through

me，

as

if

I

were

false；

butsuspicions

are

nothing

when

a

man

is

really

true，

and

every

one

should

persevere

in

actinghonestly，

for

an

will

be

made

right

in

time.

That

is

my

firm

belief，

said

the

shilling.有一个银毫子，他亮珵珵地从造币厂里走出来，蹦蹦跳跳、丁丁当当，好哇，我要到大世界去了！这样他走进了大世界。孩子用暖和的手紧紧握着他，贪欲的人用冰冷粘湿的手抓着他；老年人把他翻来覆去地看，年轻人则一下子就把他花掉。这个毫子是银做的，掺的铜很少，来到世界上现在已经一整年了，也就是在铸造他的那个国家里转来转去一年了。后来他到外国旅行去了，他是那位要到外国旅行的主子钱袋里最终一枚本国钱。在他拿到他之前，并不知道自己还有这枚钱。我竟然还剩下一枚家乡的钱！他说道，可以带上他一起去旅行！当他把银币放回钱袋里去的时候，银毫子兴奋得蹦蹦跳跳、丁当乱响。在袋里他和外国夥伴呆在一起，那些外国夥伴来来去去，一个让位给另一位，可是家乡带来的这枚银毫子总是呆在里面，这是一种荣誉。好几个星期过去了，银毫子到了世界很远的地方，自己却一点儿不知道到了哪里。他听别的钱说，他们是法国的，是意大利的；一个说他们现在在这个城市，另外一个说，他们在那个城市；可是这枚银毫子却想像不出都是些甚么地方。当你总是呆在袋子里的时候，你是看不见世界的，他的情形就如此。不过有一天，当他呆在那里的时候，发觉钱袋没有捆紧。於是他静静爬到钱袋口上，想往外看看。他很不该这么干，可是他很新奇，他遭罚了——他滑出钱袋掉进裤兜里。当晚上钱袋被取出放在一旁的时候，银毫子留在裤兜里了。他在裤兜里躺着，和衣服一起被送到了走廊里；他一下子掉到了地上；没有人听到，也没有人看到。早晨衣服被送进来。先生穿上衣服，走了。银毫子却没有跟着走，他被人发觉了，又该为他人服务了，他和另外三枚钱一起被用了出去。在世界上到处瞧瞧倒是真不错！银毫子想道，瞭解到一些别人、别的风俗习惯！这是一枚甚么钱，立刻就有人这么说道。这钱不是这个国家的！是假的！不好使！是啊，这就起先了银毫子后来自己讲的故事。假的，不好使！这念头闪过了我的脑际，银毫子说道。我知道我是上等银子铸的，声音也很正，铸上的印记也是真的。他们肯定是弄错了，他们说的不行能是我，可是他们说的正是我！就是我，他们说是假的，不好使！我得趁黑把它使掉！拿到这文钱的那个人说道。於是我便被人趁黑使掉，白天又被人骂了一通，——假的，不好使！我们得设法用掉它。银毫子每次在人的手指中要被当本国钱转手用掉的时候，他总是浑身颤抖。我是多么可怜的银毫子啊！我的银子，我的价值，我的铸印，在它们都没有意义的时候，对我有甚么用呢！世界信任你，你对世界才有意义。我原来是完全无辜的，只是因为我的长相别出心裁便这么背时，让我心不得安静，偷偷摸摸走罪恶的道路，真是可怕极了！——每次人家把我拿出来，我总要在那些凝视着我的眼睛面前揣揣担心。我知道，我会被人甩了回来，被扔到桌子上，就似乎我在撒谎在欺诈一样。有一回，我落到了一个可怜的穷苦妇人的手上。她是靠每天辛勤操劳，作为一日的工资挣到我的。可是现在她根本无法把我使掉，因为没有人要我，我真为她感到不幸。这下子我得拿它去骗人去了，她说道。留一枚假钱，我可受用不起。可以给那个有钱的麵包房老闆，他能受用。可是不管怎么说，我的做法都是不对的。得，这下子是我污染了这个妇人的良心！银毫子歎息道。上了年纪，我的改变当真就这么大吗？妇人去了有钱的麵包房老闆那里，但是他太会分辨市上流通的钱币了。他没有让我呆在我应当呆的地方，而是一下子把我扔到了妇人的脸上。她因此没能用我买到麵包，我为我成为一枚引起别人苦痛的钱币而感到由衷的内疚。我，在年轻的时候那么快乐，那么自信，