Traditional Stories – AB51 English School

The Lion and The Mouse狮子和老鼠

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:28:31 +0000

One day a little mouse was running along when he happened to run across the paws of a big sleeping lion. This woke the lion – and the lion did not like to be woken up before he was ready! The lion was very angry at being disturbed, and he grabbed the mouse in his big paw. He was just about to swallow him when the mouse cried out,
“Please, kind sir, I didn’t mean to disturb you. If you will let me go, I will be grateful to you forever. And if I can, I will help you some day.”
The lion laughed a big laugh. How, he thought, could such a little creature as a mouse ever help so great a creature as a lion? All the same, the lion decided to let the mouse go.
Not long after, the mouse was running along when he heard a great roaring nearby. He went closer to see what the trouble was, and there he saw the lion, caught in a hunter’s net. The mouse remembered his promise to the lion, and he began gnawing the ropes of the net, and kept gnawing until he had made a hole big enough so the lion could get free.

Moral: Little friends may be great friendsOne day a little mouse was running along when he happened to run across the paws of a big sleeping lion. This woke the lion – and the lion did not like to be woken up before he was ready! The lion was very angry at being disturbed, and he grabbed the mouse in his big paw. He was just about to swallow him when the mouse cried out,
一天，一只小老鼠正急着赶路，却撞上了一只巨大的手掌。这吵醒了狮子—你知道，狮子并不喜欢在没有睡醒时被人吵醒，狮子被打扰了睡觉，有很重的起床气。于是，他把老鼠紧紧捏在手里。当他准备把老鼠吞下去的时候，老鼠哭叫起来，

“Please, kind sir, I didn’t mean to disturb you. If you will let me go, I will be grateful to you forever. And if I can, I will help you some day.”
“拜托了，先生！我不是故意要打扰您睡觉的。如果您能饶我一命，我必当感激您一辈子。如果有机会，也一定会报答您。”

The lion laughed a big laugh. How, he thought, could such a little creature as a mouse ever help so great a creature as a lion? All the same, the lion decided to let the mouse go.
狮子嘲讽得大笑。“怎么帮？”他心想“渺小如老鼠，怎么能帮助到我这么庞大的狮子？”也就是这一瞬间，狮子决定放了老鼠。

Not long after, the mouse was running along when he heard a great roaring nearby. He went closer to see what the trouble was, and there he saw the lion, caught in a hunter’s net. The mouse remembered his promise to the lion, and he began gnawing the ropes of the net, and kept gnawing until he had made a hole big enough so the lion could get free.
过了不久，老鼠正走在路上却突然听到了一声咆哮。老鼠走近想看看发生了什么，然后他看到了狮子被囚于猎人布下的网之中。老鼠记得自己对狮子许下的承诺，然后他开始用牙齿咬网的绳子，直到网上有一个足够狮子脱身的大洞。

Moral: Little friends may be great friends
寓意：看似弱小的人往往会拥有强大的力量。

The Tortoise and The Hare龟兔赛跑

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:27:42 +0000

There once was a hare who was always boasting about how fast he could run. One day he said to the other animals, “I’m so fast that no one can beat me. I dare anyone here to a race.”
The tortoise said quietly, “I will race you.”
“You!” laughed the hare. “That’s a joke! Why, I could run circles around you all the way.”
“Save your boasting until you’ve won,” said the tortoise. “Shall we race?”
So the race began. The hare darted almost out of sight at once, and very soon he was far ahead of the tortoise, who moved along at a steady, even pace.
The hare knew he was far ahead, so he stopped and said, “I think I’ll take a little nap. When I wake up, I can zip ahead of the tortoise without even trying.”
So the hare settled into a nice sleep. And he was still asleep when the tortoise passed by. And when the hare finally woke up, he looked ahead, and what did he see? The tortoise was just crossing the finish line to win the race!

Moral: Slow and steady wins the raceThere once was a hare who was always boasting about how fast he could run. One day he said to the other animals, “I’m so fast that no one can beat me. I dare anyone here to a race.”
从前有一只兔子，他总是和别人吹嘘他跑步跑得有多快。有一天他对其他动物说“我是这里跑得最快的，没有人能够打败我。在座的各位可以随意挑战，我来者不拒，乐意奉陪。

The tortoise said quietly, “I will race you.”
乌龟慢悠悠地说：“让我来和你比一场吧。”

“You!” laughed the hare. “That’s a joke! Why, I could run circles around you all the way.”
“就你？”兔子大笑起来“别开玩笑了，我随便比比都可以套你好几个圈。”

“Save your boasting until you’ve won,” said the tortoise. “Shall we race?”
“这些吹嘘自己的话等到你赢了再说也不迟”，乌龟说“我们开始吧。”

So the race began. The hare darted almost out of sight at once, and very soon he was far ahead of the tortoise, who moved along at a steady, even pace.
比赛开始了，只见兔子就想一支离弦的箭很快就消失在视野里，并且很快远远甩开了乌龟。而乌龟则是慢慢的迈着平均担
但稳健的步伐。

The hare knew he was far ahead, so he stopped and said, “I think I’ll take a little nap. When I wake up, I can zip ahead of the tortoise without even trying.”
兔子知道乌龟远远落后于自己，于是他停下来想“我觉得可以休息片刻，睡个午觉。当我醒来，我可以轻轻松松超过乌龟。”

So the hare settled into a nice sleep. And he was still asleep when the tortoise passed by.
于是兔子打起了盹。当乌龟超过他的时候，兔子还沉浸在甜美的梦乡之中。

And when the hare finally woke up, he looked ahead, and what did he see? The tortoise was just crossing the finish line to win the race!
而当兔子最终醒来的时候，他向远处眺望，他看到了什么？乌龟已经离终点线近在咫尺了。

Moral: Slow and steady wins the race
寓意：慢中求稳才能胜。

The Dog and The Shadow狗和他的影子

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:26:28 +0000

One day a dog was carrying home a piece of juicy meat in its mouth.
“Hmm, delicious” it thought as it walked.
On its way it came across a bridge, and looking in the water it saw its shadow reflecting in the water.
‘That dog has a bigger piece of meat than I do!’ it thought. ‘Maybe I can scare him into giving it to me.’
So the dog opened its mouth to bark at the other dog, but as it did the meat fell out of its mouth, into the water, and was lost.

Moral: If you are greedy, you may lose everythingOne day a dog was carrying home a piece of juicy meat in its mouth.
有一天，一只狗正在叼着一块多汁的肉走在回家的路上。

“Hmm, delicious” it thought as it walked.
“嗯，真好吃！”他边走边想。

On its way it came across a bridge, and looking in the water it saw its shadow reflecting in the water.
忽然，他停在了一座桥面前。他看向水面，见到了他自己的倒影反射在水面上。

‘That dog has a bigger piece of meat than I do!’ it thought. ‘Maybe I can scare him into giving it to me.’
“那只狗有一块比我更大的肉！”他想“也许我吓唬吓唬他，他就会给我拿一块肉了！”

So the dog opened its mouth to bark at the other dog, but as it did the meat fell out of its mouth, into the water, and was lost.
所以狗张开了他的嘴吼向另外一只狗，但是当他这么做的时候，肉也同时掉出了他的嘴，滑进了水里，这下连他自己的肉都掉了。

Moral: If you are greedy, you may lose everything
寓意：如果你很贪婪，你可能会一无所有。

The Ant and The Grasshopper蚂蚁和蚱蜢

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:25:22 +0000

It was a warm summers day in the field and the grasshopper was enjoying itself, hopping about, singing and dancing.
Nearby an ant was hard at work building its house and filling it with food for the winter.
‘Silly ant’ the grasshopper thought. ‘There is food everywhere. Why is it wasting a beautiful day?’
Every day that summer was the same: the ant worked hard, and the grasshopper played and sang a happy song:

Summertime, however, did not last forever, and soon the weather began to change. The air got colder, and each day the sun came up for less time. The leaves changed colour, and the flowers, butterflies and bees all began to disappear. Then, after autumn, winter arrived, and it began to snow.
The grasshopper was cold and hungry. He remembered the ant and its food, so knocked on its door.
“May I come in and have some of your food? It’s so cold outside, and I’m so hungry.”
The ant looked at him.
“Did you not save any food from the summer?”
“No” said the grasshopper. “I was busy singing and dancing.”
“Well” said the ant, “you sang and danced while I worked, so you can sing and dance while I eat.”
And it closed the door, with the grasshopper still outside. The grasshopper walked away, now singing a sad song:

Moral: Prepare for times of needIt was a warm summers day in the field and the grasshopper was enjoying itself, hopping about, singing and dancing.
那是一个风和日丽的夏日，一只蚱蜢正在欢快地到处蹦跳，歌唱，舞蹈，尽情享受着它的惬意时光。

Nearby an ant was hard at work building its house and filling it with food for the winter.
然而在不远处，一只蚂蚁正在筑巢，屯食物，积极地为过冬做准备。

‘Silly ant’ the grasshopper thought. ‘There is food everywhere. Why is it wasting a beautiful day?’
“真是一只愚蠢的蚂蚁。”蚱蜢心想“食物到处都有，何苦为了它而生生错过这大好的景致？”

Every day that summer was the same: the ant worked hard, and the grasshopper played and sang a happy song:
之后日复一日皆如此。蚂蚁辛勤劳作，而蚱蜢一边游乐右边哼着快乐的小曲：

“The summertime’s the time for me,
For then I am happy as can be,
I watch the butterflies and the bees,
I do whatever I may please.
I do not work the livelong day,
I pass the time in fun and play.
Oh, the summertime’s the time for me,
For I’m as happy as can be!”
“夏日时光为我用，极尽所能享其乐。观蝶嬉戏花丛中，肆意任我来逍遥。
工作劳动绝不干，玩乐之中享人生。噢！夏日时光为我用，极尽所能享其乐！”

Summertime, however, did not last forever, and soon the weather began to change. The air got colder, and each day the sun came up for less time. The leaves changed colour, and the flowers, butterflies and bees all began to disappear. Then, after autumn, winter arrived, and it began to snow.
当然，这美好的夏天并没有持续多久，很快天气渐渐冷了起来。空气中弥漫着凛冽的味道，每天能见到太阳的时间也越来越少。绿叶失去了新色，而那些美丽的花朵，蜜蜂和蝴蝶也慢慢消失不见了。紧接着，秋意渐去，冬天接踵而至，雪也随之而来。

The grasshopper was cold and hungry. He remembered the ant and its food, so knocked on its door.
蚱蜢又冷又饿。他想起了蚂蚁和蚂蚁的食物，于是，他敲开了蚂蚁家的门。

“May I come in and have some of your food? It’s so cold outside, and I’m so hungry.”
“我能进来吃点儿你的东西么？外面好冷，而且我又好饿。”

The ant looked at him.
“Did you not save any food from the summer?”
蚂蚁看了他半晌，说“你没有在夏天时为你的冬天储存任何事物么？”

“No” said the grasshopper. “I was busy singing and dancing.”
“没有…”蚱蜢说“我忙着唱歌跳舞。”

“Well” said the ant, “you sang and danced while I worked, so you can sing and dance while I eat.”
“那么”蚂蚁说，“你在我辛勤劳作的时候唱歌跳舞，那你当然也可以在我吃东西的时候载歌载舞。”说完，

And it closed the door, with the grasshopper still outside. The grasshopper walked away, now singing a sad song:
蚂蚁关上了门。蚱蜢默默地走开了，边走边唱了一首悲伤的歌

“I did no work all summer long
And now I know that I was wrong.
It isn’t fair for me to play
While others work the livelong day.
Next time I’ll work as well as dance,
Then I’ll be ready, like the ant.”
“浑浑噩噩度夏天，如今悔意才渐现。别人劳作我在玩，结果注定很伤感。下次玩耍也劳作，要为冬天留晚餐！”

Moral: Prepare for times of need
寓意：凡事皆要为将来做打算，以备不时之需。

The Three Little Pigs

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:22:06 +0000

Once upon a time there was an old mother pig and three baby pigs. They all lived happily, but when the mother pig stopped working the three baby pigs had to go into the world.
The first pig met a man with some straw and asked if it could have some to build a house.
The second pig met a man with some sticks, and borrowed some to make its house.
The third pig met a man with some bricks and asked to borrow some to build its house.
One day a big, bad wolf arrived. It went to the first pig’s straw house and knocked on the door.
“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”
“Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!” the pig answered.
“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”
So the wolf huffed, and he puffed, and he blew the straw house down. The pig ran to the second stick house.
The wolf then went to the second pig’s stick house.
“Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in.”
“Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins!”
“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”
And so the wolf huffed, and he puffed, and he blew the house down. The two pigs ran to the third pig’s brick house.
So the wolf went to the third house.
“Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in.”
“Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins!”
“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”
So the wolf huffed, and he puffed, but this time the wolf could not blow the house down. The wolf looked at the house and thought for a minute. Then he had an idea: he would climb down the chimney.
The wolf climbed on to the roof of the house, and began to climb down the chimney. Unfortunately for him the pigs saw what he was doing and lit a fire. They put a big pot of hot water on the fire and waited for the wolf.
‘Splash!’ The wolf fell into the water, and the pigs put the lid on the pot. Then they cooked the wolf.

The Story of the Three Bears (a.k.a. ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’)

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:21:16 +0000

Once upon a time there was a family of three bears that lived in the woods: Papa Bear, who was a great big bear; Mama Bear, who was a middle-sized bear; and Baby Bear, who was a little bear.
Each morning Mama Bear made porridge for breakfast, and went for a walk while it cooled. Papa Bear had a big bowl; Mama Bear had a middle-sized bowl; and Baby Bear had a small bowl.
Every afternoon the bears would sit in the house. Papa Bear had a big chair; Mama Bear had a middle-sized chair; and Baby Bear had a small chair.
Every night the bears would go to sleep. Papa Bear had a big bed; Mama Bear had a middle-sized bed; and Baby Bear had a small bed.
One morning a little girl with blonde hair called Goldilocks arrived at the house. She looked through the window, but didn’t see anyone. She looked through the keyhole, but didn’t see anyone. And then she knocked on the door, but nobody answered. The bears had gone out for their walk, waiting for the porridge to cool.
Goldilocks went inside the house.
“Mmm, porridge…”
First she tasted the porridge in the big bowl, but it was too hot.
Then she tasted the porridge in the middle-sized bowl, but it was too cold.
Finally she tasted the porridge in the small bowl, and it was just right.
“Delicious!” And Goldilocks ate the whole bowl.
She looked and saw the chairs.
“Those look comfortable.”
First she sat on the big chair, but it was too hard.
Then she sat on the middle-sized chair, but it was too soft.
Finally she sat on the small chair, and it was just right. However, Goldilocks was too heavy, and the chair broke.
Goldilocks looked for a new place. She was feeling tired. She went upstairs and looked at the three beds.
First she lay on the big bed, but it was too high.
Then she lay on the middle-sized bed, but it was too low.
Finally she lay on the small bed, and it was just right. Goldilocks quickly fell asleep.
While Goldilocks was sleeping the bears came home. Papa Bear looked at his bowl.
“Someone has been eating my porridge!”
Mama Bear looked at her bowl.
“Someone has been eating my porridge!”
Baby Bear looked at his bowl.
“Someone has been eating my porridge, and has eaten it all up!”
They went to the chairs. Papa Bear looked at his chair.
“Someone has been sitting in my chair!”
Mama Bear looked at her chair.
“Someone has been sitting in my chair!”
Baby Bear looked at his chair.
“Someone has been sitting in my chair, and has broken it!”
Now the bears went upstairs. Papa Bear looked at his bed.
“Someone has been sleeping in my bed!”
Mama Bear looked at her bed.
“Someone has been sleeping in my bed!”
Baby Bear looked at his bed.
“Someone has been sleeping in my bed – and she’s still here!”
Papa Bear and Mama Bear went to look at Baby Bear’s bed. The three bears standing over her made Goldilocks wake up.
“Aaaaaaa!” she screamed, and quickly got up and ran away, back into the woods.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:19:41 +0000

Once upon a time there were three billy goats who were all called ‘Gruff’. One day the goats saw a hillside covered in beautiful, tasty grass. However, to get to the hill they had to cross a bridge, under which a mean, ugly troll lived.
The first goat to cross was Little Billy Goat Gruff.
‘Trip-trap, trip-trap’ went his feet on the bridge.
‘Who is that trip-trapping over my bridge?’ shouted the troll.
The goat answered in a small voice,
‘It is only I, Little Billy Goat Gruff. I’m going to the hillside to eat and get fat.’
‘Ah!’ said the troll. ‘I’m going to eat you!’
‘Don’t eat me,’ the goat said, ‘I am so little. Wait until my brother comes. He is much bigger.’
The troll agreed.
Soon Middle Billy Goat Gruff arrived.
‘Trip-trap, trip-trap’ went his feet on the bridge.
‘Who is trip-trapping on my bridge?’ shouted the troll.
‘It is I, Middle Billy Goat Gruff, and I am going to the hill to eat and get fat.’
‘Ah’ said the troll. ‘I’m going to eat you!’
‘Oh no’ said the goat. ‘Don’t eat me. Wait until my brother comes. He is much bigger than I am.’
The troll agreed.
Finally Big Billy Goat Gruff arrived.
‘Trip-trap, trip-trap’ its feet went on the bridge.
“Who is trip-trapping on my bridge?” shouted the troll.
“It is I, Big Billy Goat Gruff. I am going to the hill to eat the grass and get fat.”
“Ah” said the troll. “I’m going to eat you!”
“Just you try!” answered the goat.
So the troll climbed out from under the bridge. However, when he came to get the goat, Big Billy Goat Gruff rammed the troll with its head. The troll fell into the water and was washed away, never to be seen again.
After that Big Billy Goat Gruff went to the hill and met the other two goats; and they ate and ate until they were very fat indeed.

The Little Red Hen

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:18:34 +0000

Once upon a time, on a farm, a hard-working little red hen lived with a dog, a cat and a pig. One day the little red hen decided to make some bread.
“Who will help me make the bread?” asked the hen.
“Not I” said the dog.
“Not I” yawned the cat.
“Not I” grunted the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself” said the hen.
The hen had to cut the wheat. When she had finished that she asked “Who will help me take the wheat to the mill?”
“Not I” growled the dog.
“Not I” hissed the cat.
“Not I” snorted the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself.” So the hen took the wheat to the mill, and the miller made the wheat into flour.
Next the hen had to make the flour into dough. It asked “Who will help me make the flour into dough?”
“Not I” sighed the dog.
“Not I” whined the cat.
“Not I” sniffed the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself.” So the hen made the dough.
Now the dough needed to be baked. “Who will help me bake the bread?” asked the hen.
“Not I” muttered the dog.
“Not I” murmured the cat.
“Not I” grumbled the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself.” So the hen baked the bread. When it was finished it looked and smelled delicious.
“Who will help me eat the bread?” the hen asked.
“I will” barked the dog.
“I will purred the cat.
“I will grunted the pig.
But the little red hen shook its head.
“No you won’t. I cut the wheat all by myself. I took it to the mill all by myself. I mixed the dough all by myself. I baked it all by myself. And now I shall eat the bread…all by myself.”

Henny Penny (a.k.a. ‘Chicken Little’ or ‘Chicken Licken’)

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:00:59 +0000

One morning Henny Penny went to the woods and an acorn fell from a tree and hit her on the head.
“Oh my goodness” she cried. “The sky is falling. I must go tell the king!”
On the way to the palace Henny Penny met Cocky Locky.
“Cocky Locky, the sky is falling” said Henny Penny.
“How do you know?” asked Cocky Locky.
“A piece of it fell on my head” said Henny Penny.
“Then let us go tell the king!” said Cocky Locky.
They walked towards the palace until they met Goosey Loosey.
“Goosey Loosey, the sky is falling” said Cocky Locky.
“How do you know?” asked Goosey Loosey.
“A piece of it fell on my head!” said Henny Penny.
“Then let us go tell the king!” said Goosey Loosey.
The three walked towards the palace until they met Ducky Lucky.
“Ducky Lucky, the sky is falling” said Goosey Loosey.
“How do you know?” asked Ducky Lucky.
“A piece of it fell on my head” said Henny Penny.
“Then let us go tell the king!” said Ducky Lucky.
The four walked towards the palace until they met Turkey Lurkey.
“Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling” said Ducky Lucky.
“How do you know?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“A piece of it fell on my head” said Henny Penny.
“Then let us go tell the king!” said Turkey Lurkey.
The five walked towards the palace until they met Foxy Loxy.
“Foxy Loxy, the sky is falling” said Turkey Lurkey.
“Really? Is that so?” said clever Foxy Loxy. “If the sky is falling you should hide in my den, and I will go tell the king.”
So Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky, and Turkey Lurkey follwed Foxy Loxy down into the den. None of them came back out again.

Little Red Riding Hood

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:59:46 +0000

Once upon a time there was a little girl who was liked by everyone she knew, and loved by her mother and grandmother. The child liked to wear a red, velvet hood, and so people called her Little Red Riding Hood.
One day Little Red Riding Hood’s mother spoke to her girl.
“Your grandmother is sick today. I want you to go and see her, and take these cakes to her.”
“Of course” the girl answered.
“And remember, stay on the path.”
So Little Red Riding Hood left her mother’s house and went towards her grandmother’s. It was a long walk, and after half an hour she met a wolf.
“Good morning Little Red Riding Hood” said the wolf.
“Good morning Mr. Wolf” she replied.
“Where are you going this morning?” asked the wolf.
“I’m going to my grandmother’s house to give her these cakes.”
“Interesting” said the wolf. “And where does your grandmother live?”
“In a cottage in the woods, along this path, under three big oak trees” Little Red Riding Hood told him.
The wolf nodded.
‘Somehow’, he thought, ‘I can eat the grandmother and the girl.’
The two walked on a while. finally the wolf said,
“Look at those beautiful flowers! Why don’t you pick some? I’m sure your grandmother would like them.”
Little Red Riding Hood agreed this was a very good idea, and she stepped off the path and went to pick some flowers. While she was picking the flowers the wolf ran away, heading to the grandmother’s house.
When the wolf got to the grandmother’s house, he knocked on the door.
“Who is there?” asked the grandmother.
“It’s Little Red Riding Hood” the wolf lied.
“Come in, come in” called the grandmother. So the wolf entered the house and ate the grandmother. Then, laughing, he put on some of the grandmother’s clothes and lay in the bed.
A while later Little Red Riding Hood arrived at the house. She knocked on the door.
“Who is there?” asked the wolf.
“It is Little Red Riding Hood.”
“Come in, come in.”
Little Red Riding Hood entered the house. She looked at her grandmother, who looked very strange indeed!
“Oh Grandmother” she said, “what big ears you have!”
“All the better to hear you with, my dear” answered the wolf.
“And Grandmother, what big eyes you have!”
“All the better to see you with, my dear” answered the wolf.
“And Grandmother, what big teeth you have!”
“All the better to eat you with!” cried the wolf, and in one gulp it swallowed the girl.
Having eaten the grandmother and the girl, the wolf felt quite tired, and went to sleep. He snored very very loudly, so loudly that a hunter nearby came to the house. He saw the wolf and knew what it was.
“Ah, you wicked wolf.” The hunter was just about to shoot the wolf, but saw its fat stomach so instead took some scissors and cut the wolf open. Out jumped Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother, both alive.
The hunter now filled the wolf’s stomach with heavy stones. When the wolf woke up it tried to jump on the three, but the stones were so heavy it could not move and fell, dead.
Little Red Riding Hood, her grandmother and the hunter then sat down and enjoyed the cakes. And Little Red Riding Hood told herself that she would listen to her mother and never leave the path again.