10-the child from egg-第1部分

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！






THE　CHILD　WHO　CAME　FROM　AN　EGG

Once　upon　a　time　there　lived　a　queen　whose　heart　was　sore　because
she　had　no　children。　　She　was　sad　enough　when　her　husband　was　at
home　with　her；　but　when　he　was　away　she　would　see　nobody；　but　sat
and　wept　all　day　long。

Now　it　happened　that　a　war　broke　out　with　the　king　of　a
neighbouring　country；　and　the　queen　was　left　in　the　palace　alone。

She　was　so　unhappy　that　she　felt　as　if　the　walls　would　stifle
her；　so　she　wandered　out　into　the　garden；　and　threw　herself　down
on　a　grassy　bank；　under　the　shade　of　a　lime　tree。　　She　had　been
there　for　some　time；　when　a　rustle　among　the　leaves　caused　her　to
look　up；　and　she　saw　an　old　woman　limping　on　her　crutches　towards
the　stream　that　flowed　through　the　grounds。

When　she　had　quenched　her　thirst；　she　came　straight　up　to　the
queen；　and　said　to　her：　　'Do　not　take　it　evil；　noble　lady；　that　I
dare　to　speak　to　you；　and　do　not　be　afraid　of　me；　for　it　may　be
that　I　shall　bring　you　good　luck。'

The　queen　looked　at　her　doubtfully；　and　answered：　　'You　do　not
seem　as　if　you　had　been　very　lucky　yourself；　or　to　have　much　good
fortune　to　spare　for　anyone　else。'

'Under　rough　bark　lies　smooth　wood　and　sweet　kernel；'　replied　the
old　woman。　　'Let　me　see　your　hand；　that　I　may　read　the　future。'

The　queen　held　out　her　hand；　and　the　old　woman　examined　its　lines
closely。　　Then　she　said；　'Your　heart　is　heavy　with　two　sorrows；
one　old　and　one　new。　　The　new　sorrow　is　for　your　husband；　who　is
fighting　far　away　from　you；　but；　believe　me；　he　is　well；　and　will
soon　bring　　you　joyful　news。　　But　your　other　sorrow　is　much　older
than　this。　　Your　happiness　is　spoilt　because　you　have　no
children。'　　At　these　words　the　queen　became　scarlet；　and　tried　to
draw　away　her　hand；　but　the　old　woman　said：

'Have　a　little　patience；　for　there　are　some　things　I　want　to　see
more　clearly。'

'But　who　are　you？'　asked　the　queen；　'for　you　seem　to　be　able　to
read　my　heart。'

'Never　mind　my　name；'　answered　she；　'but　rejoice　that　it　is
permitted　to　me　to　show　you　a　way　to　lessen　your　grief。　　You
must；　however；　promise　to　do　exactly　what　I　tell　you；　if　any　good
is　to　come　of　it。'

'Oh；　I　will　obey　you　exactly；'　cried　the　queen；　'and　if　you　can
help　me　you　shall　have　in　return　anything　you　ask　for。'

The　old　woman　stood　thinking　for　a　little：　　then　she　drew
something　from　the　folds　of　her　dress；　and；　undoing　a　number　of
wrappings；　brought　out　a　tiny　basket　made　of　birch…bark。　　She
held　it　out　to　the　queen；　saying；　'In　the　basket　you　will　find　a
bird's　egg。　　This　you　must　be　careful　to　keep　in　a　warm　place　for
three　months；　when　it　will　turn　into　a　doll。　　Lay　the　doll　in　a
basket　lined　with　soft　wool；　and　leave　it　alone；　for　it　will　not
need　any　food；　and　by…and…by　you　will　find　it　has　grown　to　be　the
size　of　a　baby。　　Then　you　will　have　a　baby　of　your　own；　and　you
must　put　it　by　the　side　of　the　other　child；　and　bring　your
husband　to　see　his　son　and　daughter。　　The　boy　you　will　bring　up
yourself；　but　you　must　entrust　the　little　girl　to　a　nurse。　　When
the　time　comes　to　have　them　christened　you　will　invite　me　to　be
godmother　to　the　princess；　and　this　is　how　you　must　send　the
invitation。　　Hidden　in　the　cradle；　you　will　find　a　goose's　wing：　
throw　this　out　of　the　window；　and　I　will　be　with　you　directly；
but　be　sure　you　tell　no　one　of　all　the　things　that　have　befallen
you。'

The　queen　was　about　to　reply；　but　the　old　woman　was　already
limping　away；　and　before　she　had　gone　two　steps　she　had　turned
into　a　young　girl；　who　moved　so　quickly　that　she　seemed　rather　to
fly　than　to　walk。　　The　queen；　watching　this　transformation；　could
hardly　believe　her　eyes；　and　would　have　taken　it　all　for　a　dream；
had　it　not　been　for　the　basket　which　she　held　in　her　hand。　
Feeling　a　different　being　from　the　poor　sad　woman　who　had
wandered　into　the　garden　so　short　a　time　before；　she　hastened　to
her　room；　and　felt　carefully　in　the　basket　for　the　egg。　　There　it
was；　a　tiny　thing　of　soft　blue　with　little　green　spots；　and　she
took　it　out　and　kept　it　in　her　bosom；　which　was　the　warmest　place
she　could　think　of。

A　fortnight　after　the　old　woman　had　paid　her　visit；　the　king　came
home；　having　conquered　his　enemies。　　At　this　proof　that　the　old
woman　had　spoken　truth；　the　queen's　heart　bounded；　for　she　now
had　fresh　hopes　that　the　rest　of　the　prophecy　might　be　fulfilled。

She　cherished　the　basket　and　the　egg　as　her　chiefest　treasures；
and　had　a　golden　case　made　for　the　basket；　so　that　when　the　time
came　to　lay　the　egg　in　it；　it　might　not　risk　any　harm。

Three　months　passed；　and；　as　the　old　woman　had　bidden　her；　the
queen　took　the　egg　from　her　bosom；　and　laid　it　snugly　amidst　the
warm　woollen　folds。　　The　next　morning　she　went　to　look　at　it；　and
the　first　thing　she　saw　was　the　broken　eggshell；　and　a　little
doll　lying　among　the　pieces。　　Then　she　felt　happy　at　last；　and
leaving　the　doll　in　peace　to　grow；　waited；　as　she　had　been　told；
for　a　baby　of　her　own　to　lay　beside　it。

In　course　of　time；　this　came　also；　and　the　queen　took　the　little
girl　out　of　the　basket；　and　placed　it　with　her　son　in　a　golden
cradle　which　glittered　with　precious　stones。　　Next　she　sent　for
the　king；　who　nearly　went　mad　with　joy　at　the　sight　of　the
children。

Soon　there　came　a　day　when　the　whole　court　was　ordered　to　be
present　at　the　christening　of　the　royal　babies；　and　when　all　was
ready　the　queen　softly　opened　the　window　a　little；　and　let　the
goose　wing　fly　out。　　The　guests　were　coming　thick　and　fast；　when
suddenly　there　drove　up　a　splendid　coach　drawn　by　six
cream…coloured　horses；　and　out　of　it　stepped　a　young　lady　dressed
in　garments　that　shone　like　the　sun。　　Her　face　could　not　be　seen；
for　a　veil　covered　her　head；　but　as　she　came　up　to　the　place
where　the　queen　was　standing　with　the　babies　she　drew　the　veil
aside；　and　everyone　was　dazzled　with　her　beauty。　　She　took　the
little　girl　in　her　arms；　and　holding　it　up　before　the　assembled
company　announced　that　henceforward　it　would　be　known　by　the　name
of　Dotterinea　name　which　no　one　understood　but　the　queen；　who
knew　that　the　baby　had　come　from　the　yolk　of　an　egg。　　The　boy　was
called　Willem。

After　the　feast　was　over　and　the　guests　were　going　away；　the
godmother　laid　the　baby　in　the　cradle；　and　said　to　the　queen；
'Whenever　the　baby　goes　to　sleep；　be　sure　you　lay　the　basket
beside　her；　and　leave　the　eggshells　in　it。　　As　long　as　you　do
that；　no　evil　can　come　to　her；　so　guard　this　treasure　as　the
apple　of　your　eye；　and　teach　your　daughter　to　do　so　likewise。'　
Then；　kissing　the　baby　three　times；　she　mounted　her　coach　and
drove　away。

The　children　throve　well；　and　Dotterine's　nurse　loved　her　as　if
she　were　the　baby's　real　mother。　　Every　day　the　little　girl
seemed　to　grow　prettier；　and　people　used　to　say　she　would　soon　be
as　beautiful　as　her　godmother；　but　no　one　knew；　except　the　nurse；
that　at　night；　when　the　child　slept；　a　strange　and　lovely　lady
bent　over　her。　　At　length　she　told　the　queen　what　she　had　seen；
but　they　determined　to　keep　it　as　a　secret　between　themselves。

The　twins　were　by　this　time　nearly　two　years　old；　when　the　queen
was　taken　suddenly　ill。　　All　the　best　doctors　in　the　country　were
sent　for；　but　it　was　no　use；　for　there　is　no　cure　for　death。　　The
queen　knew　she　was　dying；　and　sent　for　Dotterine　and　her　nurse；
who　had　now　become　her　lady…in…waiting。　　To　her；　as　her　most
faithful　servant；　she　gave　the　lucky　basket　in　charge；　and
besought　her　to　treasure　it　carefully。　　'When　my　daughter；'　said
the　queen；　'is　ten　years　old；　you　are　to　hand　it　over　to　her；　but
warn　her　solemnly　that　her　whole　future　happiness　depends　on　the
way　she　guards　it。　　About　my　son；　I　have　no　fears。　　He　is　the
heir　of　the　kingdom；　and　his　father　will　look　after　him。'　　The
lady…in…waiting　promised　to　carry　out　the　queen's　directions；　and
above　all　to　keep　the　affair　a　secret。　　And　that　same　morning　the
queen　died。

After　some　years　the　king　married　again；　but　he　did　not　love　his
second　wife　as　he　had　done　his　first；　and　had　only　married　her
for　reasons　of　ambition。　　She　hated　her　step…children；　and　the
king；　seeing　this；　kept　them　out　of　the　way；　under　the　care　of
Dotterine's　old　nurse。　　But　if　they　ever　strayed　across　the　path
of　the　queen；　she　would　kick　them　out　of　her　sight　like　dogs。

On　Dotterine's　tenth　birthday　her　nurse　handed　her　over　the
cradle；　and　repeated　to　her　her　mother's　dying　words；　but　the
child　was　too　young　to　understand　the　value　of　such　a　gift；　and
at　first　thought　little　about　it。

Two　more　years　slipped　by；　when　one　day　during　the　king's　absence
the　stepmother　found　Dotterine　sitting　under　a　lime　tree。　　She
fell　as　usual　into　a　passion；　and　beat　the　child　so　badly　that
Dotterine　went　staggering　to　her　own　room。　　Her　nurse　was　not
there；　but　suddenly；　as　she　stood　weeping；　her　eyes　fell　upon　the
golden　case　in　which　lay　the　precious　basket。　　She　thought　it
might　contain　something　to　amuse　her；　and　looked　eagerly　inside；
but　nothing　was　there　save　a　handful　of　wool　and　two　empty
eggshells。　　Very　much　disappointed；　she　lifted　the　wool；　and
there　lay　the　goose's　wing。　　'What　old　rubbish；'　said　the　child
to　herself；　and；　turning；　threw　the　wing　out　of　the　open　window。

In　a　moment　a　beautiful　lady　stood　beside　her。　　'Do　not　be
afraid；'　said　the　lady；　stroking　Dotterine's　head。　　'I　am　your
godmother；　and　have　come　to　pay　you　a　visit。　　Your　red　eyes　tell
me　that　you　are　unhappy。　　I　know　that　your　stepmother　is　very
unkind　to　you；　but　be　brave　and　patient；　and　better　days　will
come。　　She　will　have　no　power　over　you　when　you　are　grown　up；　and
no　one　else　can　hurt　you　either；　if　only　you　are　careful　never　to
part　from　your　basket；　or　to　lose　the　eggshells　that　are　in　it。　
Make　a　silken　case　for　the　little　basket；　and　hide　it　away　in
your　dress　night　and　day　and　you　will　be　safe　from　your
stepmother　and　anyone　that　tries　to　harm　you。　　But　if　you　should
happen　to　find　yourself　in　any　difficulty；　and　cannot　tell　what
to　do；　take　the　goose's　wing　from　the　basket；　and　throw　it　out　of
the　window；　and　in　a　moment　I　will　come　to　help　you。　　Now　come
into　the　garden；　that　I　may　talk　to　you　under　the　lime　trees；
where　no　one　can　hear　us。'

They　had　so　much　to　say　to