66篇英语小故事在线阅读

66篇英语小故事在线阅读

1.TheDogInTheManger（牛槽桂的狗）

Onceadogwastakinganapinthemangerofanox.Itwasfullof

hay.Butsoontheoxcamebackfromhisworktothemanger.Hewantedto

eathisownhay.Thenthedogawoke,stoodupandbarkedattheox.The

oxsaidtothedog,“Doyouwanttoeatthishay,too?”

“Ofcoursenot,"saidthedog.

“Then,goawayandletmeeatmyownhay.”

“Oh,no.Yougoawayandletmesleep.”

aWhataselfishdog!Hewillneithereatthehayhimself,norletmeeat

it!”saidtheoxtohimself.

2.TheLion,TheBearAndTheFox（御子、熊典狐狸）

Longagoalionandabearsawakid.Theyspranguponitatthesame

time.Thelionsaidtothebear,“Icaughtthiskidfirst,andsothis

•，，

ismine.

“No,no,“saidthebear."Ifounditearlierthanyou,sothisis

mine・"Andtheyfoughtlongandfiercely.Atlastbothofthemgotvery

tiredandcouldnolongerfight.

Afoxwhohidhimselfbehindatreenotfarawayandwaswatching

thefightbetweenthelionandthebear,cameoutandwalkedinbetween

them,andranoffwiththekid.

Thelionandthebearbothsawthefox,buttheycouldnoteven

catchthefox.

Thelionsaidtothebear,“Wehavefoughtfornothing.Thatsly

foxhasgotthekidaway.”

3.TheBoysAndTheFrogs（男孩典青蛙）

Onespringdaysomenaughtyboyswereplayingnearapond.Theybegan

tothrowstonesintothewater.Inthepondlivedmanyfrogsweremuch

afraidoftheboys,forthestoneshurtsomeofthefrogs.Atlastanold

frogliftedhisheadoutofthewaterandsaid,“Boys,pleasedon'tthrow

stonesatus.

Theboyssaid,“Weareonlyplaying.”“Iknowthat,butplease

stopthrowingstones,myboys.Whatisplaytoyouisdeathtous,“said

theoldfrog.

Sotheboysstoppedthrowingstonesandwentaway.

4.TheTwoTravelers（雨旅人）

ManyyearsagotwomenweretravelingtogetherTheywerewalking

alongaroadinthewood.

Thentheyfoundabeautifulaxontheground.Oneofthempicked

itupandsaid,“Lookherehavefoundanax.”

“Don'tsayI,butwehavefoundtheax,“saidtheother“We

arefriends.Weoughttoshareitbetweenus.”

“No,"saidthefirstone,“Ifoundtheax,soitismine.”

Soonaftertheyheardsomeonerunningafterthem.Theylooked

back.TheyfoundHecalledout,“Stop,thieves!Stop,thieves!”

Thefirsttravelersaid,uWhatshallwedo?Heisrunningafter

us.Weshallbecaughtbyhim.v"Don'tsaywe,butIshallbecaught.

Youfoundtheax,andyousayitisyours,“saidtheother,andlefthim

alone.

Thefirsttravelertriedtohidetheax,buthedidnotknowwhere

tohideit.Andatlasthewascaughtbytheowneroftheax.

5.TheAntAndTheDove（蝙蟒典编子）

Onedayalittleantwaswalkingalongthebankofastream.His

footslippedandhefellintothewater."Oh,help,help!”criedthe

ant.Adovewassittingonabranchofatreeoverthestreamandheard

hiscryofhelp."Oh,poorant!”saidthedove."Iwillhelptheant.”

Thedovepulledoffaleafanddroppeditneartheant."Here

isaleaf.Climbonit,“saidthedove.Theantclimbedonitatonce

andfloatedtothebank.

Afewdaysafterthisahunterfoundthedoveandwasgoingto

shoother.Justthentheantpassedbyandsaidtohimself,“Thistime

Imusthelpthedove."Theantrantothehunterandbithisfoothard.

Thehuntersprangupandmissedtoshootthedove.Thedovesaidtothe

ant,uThankyouverymuch,mylittlefriend.Youhavesavedmylife,“

andshecouldflyawayhappily.

6.TheCockAndTheJewel（公维舆^石）

Onefinemorning,acocksaidtothehensandchickens,“Come,let

usgoouttofindsomefood.Wehavenothadourbreakfastyet.”

Thenthecockbegantodigthesoftearth.Suddenlyhecried,“Look,

look!Ihavefoundsomethingstrange.Iwonderwhatitis.Itislikea

ball.Butitisnotastone.Itmaybeaneggofsomebird.”

Thehensheardhiscryandcamearoundhim.Oneofthemsaid,

uDearme!Thisisnotanegg,butajewel.Someonehaslostit.Achicken

asked,“Canweeatit?”“No,"saidthehen,“Itisverypreciousto

humanbeings,butitisofnousetous;wecannoteatit.Throwitaway

andtrytofindsomeworms.Iwanttohaveonewormthanallthejewels

intheworld.”

7.TheWolfandtheDove（狼典山羊）

Onedayawolfsawagoatonahighcliff.Hewasjumpingtoand

froandwasgrazing.

Thewolfwantedtoeathim,buthecouldnotclimbupthereto

catchhim.Sohesaidtothegoat,“Goodmorning,mygoodfriendGoat!

Comedownhere!

Ifyouslipdownthecliff,youwillbreakyourneck.Andthe

grassisshortanddryupthere.Comedown!Thegrassislongandtender

here.”

“Thankyou,Mr.Wolf,butnevermind.Iamusedtoplayinghere,

andIlikethegrassherebetter.Iwouldrathereatdaygrassthanbe

eatenbyawolf,“saidthegoat.

8.TheHareandtheTortoise（野兔典，舄H）

Onedayaharemetwithatortoiseatthefootofahill.

Hallo,littleTortoise!Whereareyougoing?Howshortyourlegs

are!”saidthehare.

“Iamgoingovertothehill.Iamaslowrunner,butIcanrun

aracewithyou,“saidthetortoise."Allright.Let'srunaracewith

youtothetopofthehill,“saidthehare.

Thehareandthetortoisestarted.Thehareranveryfast.The

haresaidtohimself,“Icanmuchfasterthanthetortoise,andImay

havealittlenaphere.”

Sotheharelaydownunderatreeandwasfastasleep.Butthe

tortoisedidnotstopforamoment.Hewalkedonandon.Atlasthegot

tothetopofthehill.

Theharewokeupandlookedaround,buthecouldnotseethe

tortoise.Hesprangupandranasfastashecould.Whentheharegotto

thetopofthehill,hefoundthetortoisewasrestingtherepeacefully.

Thetortoisesaidtothehare,“Now,Mr.Hare!Whichwasthe

fasterrunner,youorI?”

9.TheLionandtheMouse（狮子舆老鼠）

Onceagreatlionwassleepinginawood.Alittlemousehappenedto

comeandranoverhisface.Thelionawokeandcaughtthelittlemouse

inanger,andwasgoingtokillher."Oh,dearkindLion!”Saidthe

littlemouse.〃Pleaseforgiveme.Ididn，tmeantodoyouanyharm.Let

mego.Ishallreturnyourkindness.，z

〃Ha,ha,ha,〃laughedthelion.〃Howcanalittlethinglike

youhelpagreatlion?”〃Thankyouverymuch,kindLion!IhopeIshall

beabletodoyouagoodreturnsomeday,“saidthelittlemouse.

Sometimeafterthis,thelionwascaughtinatrap.Justthen

thelittlemousecamealong.Atoncesheranuptothelion,andsaid,

〃Youwereverykindtomeonce.NowV11saveyourlife,andrepayyou

thekindnesswhichyoushowedmetheotherday.〃Soonshegnawedtheropes

ofthetrapwithhersharpteeth,andthelionwashappytobefreeagain.

〃Thankyou,littleMouse!z，saidthelion,andhewalkedaway.

10.TheTreesandtheAx（棱f典斧

Onceuponatimeamancameintoaforest.Hesaidtothetrees,

“Willyougivemeapieceofhardwood?”

Thetreesaid,“Yes,we'11giveyouagoodpriceofhardwood.”

Hewasverygladtogetagoodpieceofwood.Hehurriedhomewith

it.Atoncehemadeanewhandleofhisax.

Thenhewenttotheforestagainandbegantocutdownallthe

besttreesintheforest.

Thetreeswereverysad.Theysaidtooneanother,“Wesuffer

forourownfoolishness.”

11.TheFoxandtheGrapes（狐狸舆葡萄）

Earlyinthefall,afoxsawripegrapesinagarden.Hewanted

toeatthem.

Hesaidtohimself,“HowluckyIam!I'vefoundsomenice

grapes."Hecreptintothegarden,andcametothegrapes.Hejumpedup

atthegrapes,buthecouldnotreachthem.Hejumpedagainandagain,

butinvain.

Atlasthegaveitup,andsaidtohimself,“Thegrapesaresour.

Idon，twantsourgrapes.”Andhewentaway.

12.TheDog,theCockandtheFox（狗、公8t和狐狸）

Adogandacockweregoodfriendsandtheyweretravelingtogether.

Whennightcameon,thecockflewuptoatreeandsleptthere,

andthegodfoundahollowinthesametreeandsleptinit.Whenthemorning

came,thecockwokeupandbegantocrow.

Ahungryfoxheardthiscrowandwantedtogetthecockforhis

dinner.Thenthefoxsaidtothecock,“Whatabeautifulmorningthis

is!Iwanttotalktoyou.Youhaveaverysweetvoice.Won'tyoucome

downandhaveachatwithme?”

“Thankyou,Mr.Fox.Buthowaboutyourcominguphere?Itis

veryniceandcoolhere,“repliedthecock."Allright,Iwill.Buthow

canIgetup?”askedthefox."Justgoroundthetrunkbelowme,and

wakemyservantinahollow.Hewillopenthedoorforyou,"saidthe

cock.Thefoxcamenearthehollow.Andthedogrushedout,sprangupon

thefoxandkilleditatonce.

13.TheWolfandtheCrane（狼典留号）

Onedayawolfwaseatinghisdinnerhastilyandswallowedabone.

Itstuckinhisthroat.Hetriedtogetitout,buthecouldnot.

Justthenacraneflewdowntohim."DearCrane!”saidthewolf

tothecrane."I'mintrouble.Abonehasstuckinmythroat.Willyou

putyourheadintomythroatandpullitout?Youhaveaverylongneck

andrmsureyoucanreachit.Iwillpayyouwellforit.”

“Allright,r11helpyou.Openyourmouthaswideasyoucan,“

saidthecrane,andputhisheadintothewolf'smouthandpulledout

thebone."Thankyouverymuch,myfriend,“saidthewolf."NowImust

bepaidforthework,“saidthecrane.

“Well,“saidthewolf."Youputyourheadintomythroat,but

Ididnotbiteoffyourhead.Isn，tthatenoughforyou?Goalonganddon，t

talkaboutrewards.”

14.Theman,hisSonandtheirDonkey（一值I人和他的兄子舆他相号的^子）

Amanandhissonweredrivingtheirdonkeyalongacountryroad.

Theysawsomegirlsdrawingwateratawell.

Oneofthegirlssaid,“oh,look!Howsillytheyare!Amanand

aboyarewalkingalongbesidetheirdonkey,andnobodyisridingit.”

Themanheardthisandsaidtohisson,“Youhadbetterrideour

donkey.Youarelight,soyouwillnottireourdonkey.”Inalittlewhile

theymetthreeoldmen.Oneofthemsaid,“seehere!Theboyisriding

adonkeyandhisoldfatheriswalkingbyhisside.Theyoungboydoes

oftakecareofhisoldfather.”

Andthemangotonthedonkeyandhissonwalkedalongbesideit.

Nowtheywereveryhappy.Butsoonafterwardtheymetthreewomen.Fastened

ittoapole.Theyliftedittotheirshouldersandcarrieditalongto

thetown.Whentheycametoabridge,everyonelaughedatthem.Andthe

donkeydidnotlikethenoiseandbegantokick.Itbroketherope,fell

intothewaterandwasdrowned.Sotheoldmanhadtotakehissonand

gohome.Themansaidtohisson,“Hewhotriestopleaseeverybodypleases

nobodyafterall.”

15.TheAntsandtheGrasshopper（蝙蟒典蚱蠕）

Onefinewinterdaysomeantswereworkinginthefield.Theywere

dryingtheirfoodinthesun,andwereverybusy.Justthenagrasshopper

passedby.Hewasveryhungry.

“Goodday,kindAnts,“saidthegrasshopper."Iamveryhungry.

Won，tyoulendmealittlefood?Ihavenothingtoeat.Iwillpayyou

beforethenextfall.”“Haveyounofoodofyourown?Whydidyounot

gatheranyfoodduringthesummer?Youknowtherewasmuchfoodinthe

fieldlastsummer.Whatwereyoudoingthen?”askedanoldant.

Thegrasshopperreplied;"Iwassingingalldayandnightduring

thesummer.AndsoIhadnotimetogatheranyfood.Pleaselendmesome

food"“Well,then,“saidtheant."Asyousangallthesummer,you

hadbetterdanceallthewinter.Youonlyplayedanddidnotworkduring

thesummer.We'11neverlendyouanyfood,“Andtheantswentonworking.

16.JackandtheRobber（彳桀克典弓金/）

Jackwasafarmer*sboy.Oncehedrovehiscarttomarket.Hehad

butterandeggstosell.

Hemetawomanontheway.Shegavehimapieceofsilverfora

littlebutter.Thenhemetaboy.Theboygavehimapieceofsilverfor

sixeggs.

SoonJackhadplentyofsilverinhispocket.AsJackwentalong,

amancameuptohim,andsaid,"Stop!”

SoJackstoppedonthewayagain.Themangavehimsomewine.

Jackdrankit,andfellasleepontheroadside.WhenJackwokeup,his

silverwasnotinhispocket.Itwasallgone.

Themanwasarobber,andpoorJackwenthomesadly.

17.AbrahamLincoln（K5伯拉罕•林肯）

ABRAHAMLINC0LN，Sfatherandmotherwereverypoorandthe

familylivedinalogcabininthewood.

Abrahamhadtowalkaboutfivemilestoschool,astherewasno

schoolnearhiselevenyearsold,hehadtoleaveschoolandworkHeloved

tostudyandafterworkinghardallday,heusertostudytostudybythe

firelight.Hegrewtobeawiseandgoodman.HewaselectedPresident

oftheUnitedStates.

AtthattimetherewasawarbetweentheNorthandtheSouth.The

peopleoftheSouthwantedtoownslaves,butthoseoftheNorththought

thatitwaswrongtoownslaves.

ThentheSouthandtheNorthfoughtforfouryearsandatlast

theNorthwonandtheslavesweresetfree.

18.ABadDream（一值I恙萝）

OneafternoonBenwasplayinginthebackyard,Abigblackcat

jumpedoverthefenceandlaydownamonghismother，splants.Bencrept

uptothecat.Hecaughtitbythetailanddroppeditintoatubofwater.

Hismotherlookedoutofthewindowandsawhim.Shecalledhim

intothehouseandscoldedhimforsuchacruelty.Thenshetoldhimthat

hemustgotobedandstaytheretillevening.

BeforelongBenfellasleep.Hedreamedthathegrewverysmall

AveryverybigcatseizedhiminitsmouthandranawaywithhimHekicked

andscreamed,buthecouldnotgetaway,Atlastthecatdroppedhimand

hefellintoabigpond.Hesanddown,downintothecoldwater.Thenhe

wokeup.

19.KingAlfredandtheCakes（阿佛列王典糕耕）

KingALFRED0fEnglandonceledhisarmytofightwith

anotherarmyandwasbeaten.Sohehadtorunawaythroughthewoodsand

swampstosavehislife.

Oneeveninghecametoawoodcutter?shut.Hewasverytiredand

hungry,sohebeggedthewoodcutter,swifetogivehimsomethingtoeat

andaplacetosleepin.Hewasraggedanddirtyandshedidnotknowthat

hewastheking.Shefeltsosorryforhimthatshetoldhimtocomein

andgavehemaseatnearthefire.

Shewasbakingsomecakes.ShesaidtoKingAlfred,“Imustgo

andmilkthecow.Watchthecakesanddonotletthemburn."Theking

waswillingtodothis,buthekeptthinkingabouthisarmyandsoonforgot

allaboutthecakes.Inafewminutesthewomancamebackandfoundthe

cakesburning.Shewassoangrythatshestruckthekingwithastickand

cried,“Youlazyfellow!Youwanttoeat,butyoudonotwanttowork.”

20.Tony'sLie（浸尼的^言）

OnedayTonywasaverybadboy.Hetoldalietohismother.That

nightfeltveryunhappy.Hedidnotwanttoplaywiththechildren.

Hesatonthedoorstepalone.Helookedupintheskyandsawthe

bigroundmoon.Hethoughtthatitwaslookingdownuponhim,becauseit

knewaboutthelie.Herandownthestreettogetawayfromit,butit

keptfollowinghim.Thenhecreptintothehouseandwenttobed,butthe

moonlookedathimthroughthewindow.Hepulledthesheetoverhishead,

buthecouldnotsleep.Thenhecrawledunderthebedandlaytherein

thedark.Hethoughtandthoughtaboutthelie.

Atlasthedecidedtotellhismotherallaboutit.Hetoldher

thetruthandsheforgavehim.Hepromisednevertotellalieagain.

Hewentbacktobedandwassoonfastasleep.Hedreamedthatthe

moonsmileddownuponhim.

21.JackandtheBeanstalk（彳桀克和豌豆）

（Part1）

OnceuponatimetherewasapoorwidowwhohadanonlysonnamedJack.

Allthattheyhadwasthehousetheylivedinandacow.Atlasttheybecame

toopoortokeepthecow.ThewidowsaidtoJackoneday,“Takethiscow

tothemarketandsellher.Thenwe'11beabletobuybread.Trytoget

asmuchmoneyasyoucan."Jack,whowasagood,butthoughtlessboy,

startedforthemarketwithhiscow.Onhismaytothemarkethemeta

manwhohadapigwithhim."Goodmorning,“saidtheman."Good

morning,“answeredJack."Won'tyougivemeyouroldcowforthisfat

youngpig?”saidtheman.Jackthoughtitagoodidea.Soheax-changed

hisoldcowfortheyoungpigHewalkedonhappilyuntilhemetanother

manwhohadsomefinebeans."Thesearemagicbeans,“saidtheman.

“I'11giveyouoneofthem,ifyougivemethatpig."Jackthoughtit

wonderfultohaveamagicbean.Soheconsentedtoitandcarriedthebean

proudlybackhome.Heshowedthebeantohismother."Isthisallthat

youhavegotforthatcow?”shesaid."Now,wehaveoncowtogiveus

milk.Allwehaveisthisbean."Shegotangry.Shethrewitoutofthe

window.Thebeanfallintheirgarden.Duringthatnightissproutedand

grewinawonderfulway.Whenjackandhismotherwokethenextmorning,

theysawthatthebeanstalkhadgrownsohighthattheycouldnotseethe

topJackmadeuphismindtoclimbtothetopofthebeanstalk.Higher

andhigherupheclimbeduntilhefoundhimselfnearawindowofanold

castle.Lookingin,Jacksawagianteatinghis,dinner.Thegiantfinished

hisdinnerandorderedhisservanttobringhischieftreasures,ahen

andaharp.Layeggs,“saidthegianttothehen.Thehenbegantolay

eggs.Theywereeggsofgold."Play,“saidthegianttotheharp.The

harpbegantoplaysweetmusic.Theharpplayedonandonuntilthegiant

grewtiredandfellasleep.

(Part2)

Jackhadcrawledintotheroombythistime.Whenthegiantwasasleep,

aservantbeckonedtoJack."Lookhere.Thesearethetreasureswhich

thegiantstolefromyourfatherbeforeyouwereborn,“saidhe."Take

thembacktoyourmother,ifyoulike.But,bequiet.Hemaywake."Jack

thankedhim,andpickedupthehenandtheharpverycarefully.Whenhe

wasclimbingdownthebeanstalk,theharphappenedtomakealoudnoise.

Thegiantwoke.Jackclimbeddownthebeanstalk,withthehenandtheharp

underhisarms.ThegiantrandownafterJack,butJackranfasterthan

thegiant.Whenhewasnearhishome,hecalledouttohismother,“Mother,

bringanax."Hismotherbroughtanax.Shesawhersonclimbingdown

thebeanstalk.Assoonashegotdowntotheground,hechoppeddownthe

beanstalk.Downfellthegiantwiththebeanstalk.Hebrokehisneck,and

wasdead.Jackandhismotherwererichalltherestoftheirlivesand

livedhappilyeverafter.

22.TheHappyShoemaker(快架的鞋匠)

(1)

Oncetherelivedarichmerchantandapoorshoemakerinthesamehouse.

Themerchantoccupiedinthesamehouse.Themerchantoccupiedthesecond

floor,buttheshoemakerlivedandworkedinasmallroomonthefirst

floor.Theshoemakerwasoneofthehappiestpersonsonearth.Heworked

frommorningtillnight,singingmerrily.Hisheartwasfilledwithjoy,

wheneverhelookedatthebootsandshoestoberepaired.Nowthemerchant

upstairswassorichthathehardlyknewhowmuchwealthhehad.Hewas

alwayscountingoverhisgoldandsilvercoinsfarintothenight.Even

inbedhisuneasinessabouthisricheskepthimawakewhenatlasthehad

beenasleepforanhourortwo,upcamethesongofthehappyshoemaker,

whowasanearlyriser.Itcontinuedalldayandwasatroubletothe

merchantdaybydaythemerchantgrewmoreandmoretiredthroughwant

ofsleepheaskedawisefriendofhishowhecouldputanendtothe

shoemaker'ssong."Well,ifIwereyou,Iwouldgivetheshoemakera

hundredpounds,“answeredhisfriend."Youarerichenoughtodothat,

Isuppose.Askfornothinginreturn.Simplygivethemoney.”Themerchant

readilyfollowedtheadvice.

(2)

Whentheshoemakeropenedthebagthathadbeensentbythemerchant,he

wasamazedtofindshiningcoins."Imusthidethisfromtheeyesofmy

neighbors.Iftheyseeit,theywillthinkthatIhavestolenit,“he

thought."Iwillkeepitawayevenfrommywife."Sohehidthebagof

moneyunderthefloor.Fromthenonheavoidedhisneighborsasmuchas

hecould.Hiswifewhohadbeenthebestcompaniontohim,became

troublesomenowhismindwastoomuchsetonthemoneybagtoattendto

hisworkwithdiligence.Hecouldnotsingmerrilynow.Wheneverhethought

ofthemoneybag,hebecameuneasyandunhappy.Atlengthonedayhiswife

saidtohimintears,---"dearhusband,whatmakesyousosadanduneasy?

Allourneighborssayyouhavechanged.Iwishyouwereasgoodandgentle

asbefore.Hewassosorryforherthathetoldhereverything.uWe

werehappybeforethemerchantgaveusthemoney,“saidhiswife,when

sheheardthestory."Wehavegoodhealth.Wehaveplentyofworktodo.

Whatmoredoweneed?Sendthemoneybacktothemerchant,andthehappy

lifethatwasonceourswillreturntous."Theshoemakeragreedandwent

tothemerchanttoreturnthebagofmoney.“Sir"hesaid,“letmereturn

thistoyou.Bygivingthistome,youhavespoiledmyhappyandeasylife.

SoIwanttohaveitbackbyreturningyourpresent.”Merrysongwasagain

heardalloverthehouse.Hewasashappyashehadeverbeen.

23.TheThreeWishes三他望

Amanandhiswifewerealwayswishingforluck.Onenightafairycame

tothemandsaid,“Youmayhavethreewishes.”Inthemorningthewoman

wenttoaneighbor'shousetogetsomebread.Shesawanicepuddingthere.

Whenshecameback,shesaid,“IwishIhadapuddinglikethat!Shedid

notthinkofthethreewishes,buttherewasapuddingbesideher.

“Silly!”criedtheman,youhavelostoneofyourwishes,andwehave

onlyapudding.Iwishitwereonyournose!”Atthat,thepuddingjumped

upandgrewfasttohernose."Silly,yourself!”criedthewoman,“you

havelostanotherwish.Wehaveonlyonewishmore.“Whatshallitbe?”

askedtheman."Wemustwishthispuddingoff,“saidthewoman."I

can'thaveitonmynose."Sotheywisheditwouldgoaway,andaway

itwent.Theyhadhadtheirthreewishes,buttheywereonbetteroffthan

whenthefairycametothem.

24.ChildeRowland恰德蕤赢

(l)LongagotherewasalittleprincessnamedEllen.Shelivedwithher

mother,thequeeninagreatcastleythesea.Shehadthreebrothers.

Oneday.Astheywereplayingball,oneofherbrothersthrewtheball

overthecastle.Ellenrantogetit,anddidnotcomeback.Thethree

brotherslookedforher.Theylookedandlooked,buttheycouldnotfind

her.Dayafterdaywentby.Atlasttheoldestbrotherwenttoawiseman

andaskedwhatman.Thewisemantoldhimashehadtoldtheoldestbrother.

Thenthenextbrothersetouttofindthedarktower.Theyoungestbrother

waited.Hewaitedlong,butnoonecameback.Nowtheyoungestbrother

wascalledchildeRowland.AtlastchildeRowlandwenttohismother,the

queen,andsaid,amother,letmegoandfindthedarktowerandbring

homeEllenandmybrothers."Icannotletyougo.YouareallthatIhave

now,“saidthequeen.ButchildeRowlandaskedagainandagain,until

atlastthequeensaid,“go,myboy.”thenshegavehimhisfather's

sword,andhesetout.Hewenttothewisemanandaskedtheway.Thewise

mantoldhimandsaid:"Iwilltellyoutwothings:onethingisforyou

todo,andonethingisforyounottodo."thethingtodoisthis:when

yougettothecountryoftheelves,holdyourfather'ssword,pullit

outquickly,andcutofftheheadofanyonewhospeakstoyou,untilyou

findtheprincessEllen,“thethingnottodoisthis:bitenobitand

drinknodropuntilyoucomeback.Gohungryandthirstywhileyouare

inthecountryoftheelves.”ChildeRowlandsaidthetwothingsover

andover,lestheshouldforget.Thenhewentonhisway.Hewent