小学英语阅读：拇指姑娘（选段）

拇指姑娘（选段）

She had a little house of her own， a little garden too， this woman of whom I am going to tell you， but for all that she was not quite happy.

If only I had a little child of my own，she said， Then， indeed， I should be quite happy.

And an old witch heard what the woman had wished， and said， Oh， but that is easily managed. Here is a barley-corn. Plant it in a flower-pot and tend it carefully， and then you will see what will happen.

The woman was in a great hurry to go home and plant the barley-corn， but she did not forget to say ；thank you； to the old witch. She not only thanked her， she even stayed to give her six silver pennies.

And what do you think happened？ Almost before the corn was planted， up shot a large and beautiful flower. It was still unopened. The petals were folded closely together， but it looked like a tulip. It really was a tulip， a red and yellow one， too.

The woman loved flowers. She stooped and kissed the beautiful bud. As her lips touched the petals， they burst open， and oh！ wonder of wonders！ there in the very middle of the flower， there sat a little child. Such a tiny， pretty little maiden she was.

They called her Thumbelina. That was because she was no bigger than the womans thumb.

And where do you think she slept？

When she slept little Thumbelina lay in her cradle on a tiny heap of violets， with the petal of a pale pink rose to cover her.

And where do you think she played？ A table was her playground. On the table the woman placed a plate of water. Little Thumbelina called that her lake.

Round the plate were scented flowers， the blossoms laying on the edge， while the pale green stalks reached thirstily down to the water.

She peeped at her， this ugly toad.

How beautiful the little maiden is， she croaked. She will make a lovely bride for my handsome son. And she lifted the little cradle， with Thumbelina in it， and hopped out through the broken window-pane， down into the garden.

At the foot of the garden was a broad stream. Here， under the muddy banks lived the old toad with her son.

今天我要讲给大家听的是一个妇女的故事，她有自己的一间小屋和一个小花园，但她还是开心不起来。

她说，我要是有个一丁点小的孩子该多好啊，这样我会多么开心啊。

消息传到了一个女巫的耳朵里，她说，哦，这好办的很！这是一颗大麦粒，把它种到花盆里，然后你就等着看会发生什么吧。

女人赶紧跑回家种下麦粒，她没忘对巫婆说声谢谢，不仅如此，她还给了巫婆6个银币。

你猜发生了什么？麦粒刚种下去，一朵美丽的大花就破土而出。这是一朵没开放的花，它的叶子紧紧的包在一起，看起来像是一朵郁金香。它真的是一朵郁金香，而且是红中带黄的。

女人非常喜欢花。她弯腰在美丽的花蕾上亲了一下。她的嘴唇一碰到花瓣，花儿立刻绽放了！噢，太美妙了！就在花的中央，坐着一个小小孩儿！多么小，多么可爱的一个少女啊！

大家叫她拇指姑娘。因为她只有一个人的拇指那么点大。

你们知道她睡在哪里吗？

小小拇指姑娘睡觉时躺在用紫罗兰花瓣垫着的胡桃壳里，盖的是粉色玫瑰花瓣。

你知道她又是在怎么玩耍吗？一张桌子就是她玩耍的天地，女人在桌上放了一盘子水，拇指姑娘把它叫做她的湖

盘子上摆了一圈芳香的花儿，花朵沿着边儿排开，而嫩绿的枝干贪婪地伸向水中。