小学英语 安徒生童话系列（四）The Old Church Bell教堂古钟阅读素材.docx

theOldChurchBell（WrittenfortheSchillerAlbum）byHansChristianAndersen（1861）INthecountryofWurtemburg，inGermany，wheretheacaciasgrowbythepublicroad，wheretheapple-treesandthepear-treesinautumnbendtotheearthwiththeweightofthepreciousfruit，liesthelittletownofMarbach.Asisoftenthecasewithmanyofthesetowns，itischarminglysituatedonthebanksoftheriverNeckar，whichrushesrapidlyby，passingvillages，oldknights'castles，andGREenvineyards，tillitswatersminglewiththoseofthestatelyRhine.Itwaslateintheautumn；thevine-leavesstillhunguponthebranchesofthevines，buttheywerealreadytintedwithredandgold；heavyshowersfellonthesurroundingcountry，andthecoldautumnwindblewsharpandstrong.Itwasnotatallpleasantweatherforthepoor.Thedaysgrewshorterandmoregloomy，and，darkasitwasoutofdoorsintheopenair，itwasstilldarkerwithinthesmall，old-fashionedhousesofthevillage.Thegableendofoneofthesehousesfacedthestreet，andwithitssmall，narrowwindows，presentedaverymeanappearance.Thefamilywhodweltinitwerealsoverypoorandhumble，buttheytreasuredthefearofGodintheirinnermosthearts.AndnowHewasabouttosendthemachild.Itwasthehourofthemother'ssorrow，whentherepealedforthfromthechurchtowerthesoundoffestivebells.Inthatsolemnhourthesweetandjoyouschimingfilledtheheartsofthoseinthehumbledwellingwiththankfulnessandtrust；andwhen，amidstthesejoyoussounds，alittlesonwasborntothem，thewordsofprayerandpraisearosefromtheiroverflowinghearts，andtheirhappinessseemedtoringoutovertownandcountryintheliquidtonesofthechurchbells'chime.Thelittleone，withitsbrighteyesandgoldenhair，hadbeenwelcomedjoyouslyonthatdarkNovemberday.Itsparentskisseditlovingly，andthefatherwrotethesewordsintheBible，“OnthetenthofNovember，1759，Godsentusason.”Andashorttimeafter，whenthechildhadbeenbaptized，thenameshehadreceivedwereadded，“JohnChristopherFrederick.”Andwhatbecameofthelittlelad？—thepoorboyofthehumbletownofMarbach？Ah，indeed，therewasnoonewhothoughtorsupposed，noteventheoldchurchbellwhichhadbeenthefirsttosoundandchimeforhim，thathewouldbethefirsttosingthebeautifulsongof“TheBell.”TheboyGREwa