小学英语 英语故事（童话故事）The Old Church Bell 古教堂的钟.doc

3TheOldChurchBell古教堂的钟IntheGermancountryofWürttemberg,wherethebeautifulacaciatreesbloombesidethehighways,andtheappleandpeartreesbenddowninautumnundertheweightoftheirripeblessings,thereliesthelittletownofMarbach.Itbelongstotheclassofquiteunimportanttowns,butitislocatedinabeautifulspotneartheNeckar,theriverthatflowsswiftlypasttownsandgreenvineyardsandoldknights'castles,tojoinitswaterswiththoseoftheproudRhine.Itwaslateoneyear;thevineshadredleaves;showersfell,andthecoldwindsincreased.Thiswasnotahappytimeforthepoorpeople.Thedaysweredark,butitwasdarkerstillwithinthecrampedoldhouses.Oneofthesestoodwithitsgabledendtowardthestreet,withlowwindows,poorandhumbleinappearance;andpoorindeedwasthefamilythatlivedthere,yetcourageousanddiligent,withtheloveandfearofGodwithintheirhearts.Godwassoontogivethemonemorechild.Thehourofitsbirthhadcome;themotherlayinpainandneed.Fromthechurchtowercamethesoundofchimingbells,sodeep,sofestive.Itwasaholiday,andthesolemnringingofthebellsfilledtheheartoftheprayingwomanwithfaithanddevotion;sheliftedhersoultoGodinferventprayer,andatthatmomentherlittlesonwasborn;andshewashappybeyondwords.Thebellfromthechurchtowerseemedtosendforthherjoyovertownandcountry.Twobrightbabyeyesgazedupather,andthelittleone'shairshoneasifitweregilded.OnthatgloomyNovemberdaythechildhadbeenwelcomedintotheworldbythechimingbells;themotherandfatherkisseditandwroteintheirBible,"ThetenthofNovember,1759,Godgaveusason,"addinglaterthathehadreceivedathisbaptismthenames,"JohannChristophFriedrich."Whatbecameofthelittlefellow,thepoorboyfromthehumbletownofMarbach?Atthattimenobodyknew,noteventheoldchurchbellhighinitsbelfry,thoughithadfirstrungandsungforhim,thatheshouldonedaysingthatmostbeautifulsongabout"TheBell."Andthelittleboygrew,andtheworldgrewlargerabouthim;theparentsmovedtoanothertown,butsomedearfriendsoftheirsstillremainedinMarbach;andthusithappenedthatmotherandsonreturnedthereonedayforavisit.Theboywasstillonlysixyearsold,butalreadyheknewpartsoftheBibleandthepiousoldhymns;manyaneveningwhil