小學(xué)英語英語故事（童話故事）Soup on a SausagePeg香腸栓熬的湯

SouponaSausage-Peg香腸栓熬的湯

I.SOUPFROMASAUSAGEPEG

“Thatwasaperfectlydelightfuldinneryesterday,oneoldfemalemousetoldanother,

whohadnotattendedthefeast.〃Isatnumbertwenty-onefromtheoldmouseking,

whichwasn*tatallbad.Wouldyouliketohearthemenu?Thecourseswereexceedingly

wellarranged-mou1dybread,baconrind,tallowcandle,andsausage,andthenthe

samedishesalloveragain,fromstarttofinish,soitwasasgoodastwobanquets.

Therewassuchapleasantatmosphere,andsuchgoodhumor,thatitwaslikeafamily

gathering.Notascrapwasleftexceptthepegsattheendsofthesausages.

“Theconversationturnedtothesewoodenpegs,andtheexpression'soupfroma

sausagepeg,'cameup.Everybodyhadheardit,butnobodyhadevertastedsucha

soup,muchlessknewhowtomakeit.Wedrankafinetoasttothehealthofwhoever

inventedthesoup,andwesaidhedeservedtobeappointedmanagerofthepoorhouse.

Wasn*tthatwitty?Andtheoldmousekingroseandpromisedthattheyoungmaiden

mousewhocouldmakethissoupshouldbehisqueen.Hegavethemayearandaday

tolearnhow.〃

“Thatwasn，tsobad,afterall,“saidtheothermouse."Buthowdoyoumakethis

soup?”

〃Yes,howdoyoumakeit?That'sexactlywhatallthefemalemiceareasking-the

youngonesandtheoldmaidstoo.Everylastoneofthemwantstobethequeen,but

theydon'twanttobestirthemselvesandgooutinthewideworldtolearnhowto

makesoup,astheycertainlywouldhavetodo.Noteveryonehasthecouragetoleave

herfamilyandherownsnugcorner.Outintheworldonedoesn，tcomeuponcheese

paringsorsmellbaconeveryday.Noindeed.Onemustendurehunger,yes,andperhaps

beeatenalivebythecat.”

Verylikelythiswaswhatfrightenedmostofthemfromventuringoutinthewide

worldtofindthesecretofthesoup.Onlyfourmicedeclaredthemselvesreadyto

go.Theywereyoungandwilling,butpoor.Eachwouldgotooneofthefourcorners

oftheworld,andthenletfortunedecideamongthem.Allfourtooksausagepegs

withthemasareminderoftheirpurpose.Theseweretobetheirpilgrimstaffs.

ItwasthebeginningofMaywhentheysetout,andtheydidnotreturnuntilMay

ofthefollowingyear.Butonlythreeofthemreturned.Thefourthdidnotreport,

andtherewasnonewsabouther,thoughthedayforthecontesthadcome.

〃Yes,somethingalwaysgoeswrongoneventhemostpleasantoccasions,themouse

kingobserved.Buthecommandedthatallthemiceformanymilesaroundshouldbe

invited.

Theygatheredinthekitchen,andthethreetravelerslinedupinarowbythemselves.

Forthefourth,whowasmissing,theyplacedasausagepeg-shroudedincrape.No

onedaredtoexpressanopinionuntilthethreetravelershadmadetheirreports,

andthemousekinghadrenderedhisdecision.Nowweshallhear.

ILWHATTHEFIRSTLITTLEMOUSEHADSEENANDHEARDONHERTRAVELS

“WhenIwentoutintothewideworld,〃thelittlemousesaid,〃Ithought,asmany

othersdowhentheyaremyage,thatIkneweverything.Butsuchwasnotthecase.

Ittakesdaysandyearstoknoweverything.Iimmediatelysetouttosea.Iwent

onanorth-boundship,forIhadheardthatships*cooksmustknowhowtomanage.

Butitisn，tsohardtomanageatseawhenyouhaveanabundanceofbacon,andwhole

barrelsofsaltmeatandmouldyflour.Youlivelikealord,butyoudon'tlearn

tomakesoupfromasausagepeg.Wesailedmanydaysandwesailedmanynights.The

boatrolleddreadfylly,andwegotmanyadrenching.Whenwereachedportatlast,

Ilefttheship.Thatwasfarupinthenorthcountry.

/，It，sastrangethingtoleaveone'schimneycorner,sailawayinashipwhichis

asortofcornertoo,andthensuddenlyfindoneselfinaforeignland,hundreds

ofmilesaway.Therewerevastandtracklessforestsofbirchandpine.Theysmelled

sostrongthatIdidn'tlikeit!Thefragranceofthewildherbswassospicedit

mademesneezeandthinkofsausages.

“There,too,werebroadlakesofwaterwhichwasperfectlyclearwhenyoucameclose

toit,thoughfromadistanceitlookedasblackasink.Whiteswansrestedonthe

lakes,andtheyweresostillthatatfirstIthoughttheywereflecksoffoam.But

whenIsawthemfly,andIsawthemwalk,Iknewatoncethattheyweremembersof

theduckfamily-Icouldtellbythewaytheywaddled.Onecan'tdisownhisrelatives!

Ikepttomyownkind.Iwentwiththefieldandforestmice,althoughtheyknew

littleenoughofanything,andnothingatallofcookery,whichwastheverything,

Ihadtraveledsofartofindoutabout.Thatitwaspossibletothinksoupcould

bemadefromasausagepegstartledthemsothattheinformationwasimmediately

bandiedthroughoutthevastforest.Butthattherecouldbeanysolutiontosuch

aproblemtheythoughtwasutterlyimpossible,andlittledidIexpectthatthere,

beforethenightwasover,Ishouldbeinitiatedintothemakingofit.

〃Itwasmidsummer.Themicesaidthatthiswaswhythewoodsandtheherbswere

redolent,andthewaterssoclearandyetsodarkblueincontrastwiththewhiteness

oftheswans.Attheedgeoftheforest,betweenthreeorfourhousestheyhadraised

apoleashighasaship'smainmast.Garlandsandribbonsflutteredfromthepeak

ofit.ItwasaMaypole.Youngmenandmaidensdancedarounditandsangatthetop

oftheirvoices,whilethefiddlerplayedthematune.Theyweremerryinthesunset

andmerryinthemoonlight,butIhadnopartinit,forwhatwouldalittlemouse

bedoingataforestdance?SoIsatinthesoftmoss,andheldtighttomysausage

peg.Themoonlightfellparticularlybrightononespot,wheretherewasatree.

ThisspotwascarpetedwithmosssosoftthatIdaresayitwasasfineasthemouse

king*sfur,butitscolorwasgreenanditwasablessingtotheeyes.

“Allofasuddenthereappearedafewofthemostenchantinglittlefolk,notaller

thanmyknee.Theyresembledhumanbeings,exceptthattheywerebetterproportioned.

Elveswaswhattheycalledthemselves.Theywentdressedveryfine,inclothesmade

offlowerpetalstrimmedwiththewingsoffliesandgnats.Itwasn'tatall

bad-looking.Theyseemedinsearchofsomething,butIdidn，tknowwhatitcould

beuntilacoupleofthemcameuptome.Thentheirleaderpointedtomysausage

pegandsaid:

〃'That'sjustwhatweneed.It'spointed.It'sperfectThemorehelookedatmy

sausagepeg,thehappieritmadehim.

〃'Youcanborrowit,'Itoldhim,'butnotkeepit.’

〃'Notkeepit,'allofthempromised,astheytookthesausagepegthatIgavethem

anddancedawaywithittotheplacewherethesoftmossgrew.Theywantedtohave

aMaypoleoftheirown,andmineseemedmadetoorderforthem.Thentheydecorated

it.Yes,whatasightitwas!

“Smallspidersspungoldthreadaroundit.Theydrapeditwithstreamersandbanners

sofineandbleachedsosnowywhiteinthemoonlightthattheydazzledmyeyes.They

tookthecolorfromabutterfly'swingandsplasheditaboutonmysausagepeguntil

itseemedbloomingwithflowersandsparklingwithdiamonds.Iscarcelyknewit,

forinalltheworldthereisnomatchtotheMaypoletheyhadmadeofit.

“Nowtherealpartyofelvesappeared,ingreatnumbers.Notastitchdidtheywear,

yetitcouldn，thavebeenmorerefined.Iwasinvitedtolookon,butfromadistance,

becauseIwastoobigforthem.

“Thenthemusicstruckup,andsuchmusic!Itseemedasifathousandbellsofglass

wereringing.ItwassorichandfullthatIthoughtitwastheswanswhoweresinging.

Yes,IeventhoughtIheardthecuckoos,andblackbirds,untilitwasasifthewhole

foresthadjoinedinthechorus.Children，svoices,belltones,andbirds，songs,

allseemedtokeeptuneintheloveliestmelody,yetitallcamefromtheelves'

Maypole.Itwasawholechimeofbells-yetitwasmysausagepeg.Iwouldneverhave

imaginedsomuchcouldhavebeendonewithit,butthatdependsaltogetheruponwho

getsholdofit.Iwasdeeplytouched.Fromsheerpleasure,Iweptasmuchasalittle

mousecanweep.

“Thenightwasalltooshort,butthenightsinthefarnortharenotanylonger

atthattimeoftheyear.Asdawnbroke,andthemorningbreezerippledthemirrored

surfaceofthelake,thefine-spunstreamersandbannerswereblownaway.The

billowinggarlandsofspiderweb,thesuspensionbridgesfromleaftoleaf,the

balustradesandwhateverelsetheyarecalled,blewawaylikenothingatall.Six

elvesbroughtbackmysausagepeg,andaskedifIwishedforanythingtheycould

giveme.SoIbeggedthemtotellmehowtomakesoupfromasausagepeg.

“Thechiefelfsmiled,andsaid,'Howdowedoit?Whyyouhavejustseenit.I'm

sureyouscarcelyknewyoursausagepeg.’

〃'Toyou,it'sonlyatrickofspeech,'Isaid.ItoldhimhonestlywhatItraveled

insearchof,andwhatimportancewasattachedtoithereathome.'Whatgood,'said

I,'doesitdoourmousekingorourgreatkingdomformetowitnessallthis

merrymaking?Ican，tjustwavemysausagepegandsay,“Seethepeg.Herecomesthe

soup."Thissortofdishisgoodonlyafteralltheguestsatthetablehavehad

theirfill/

“Thenthechiefelfdippedhislittlefingerinthebluecupofaviolet,andtold

me:

〃jWatchthis.Ishallanointyourpilgrim'sstaff.Whenyoucomehomeagaintothe

mouseking*spalace,youneedonlytouchhiswarmheartwithit,andthestaffwill

immediatelybecoveredwithviolets,eveninthecoldestwintertime.SoIshould

sayIhavegivenyousomethingtotakehomewithyou,andalittlemoreforgood

measure.

Beforethelittlemousesaidwhatthis〃littlemore"was,sheheldoutherstick

totheking，sheart.Reallyandtruly,itbecamecoveredwiththemostbeautiful

bouquetofflowers,andtheirfragrancewassostrongthatthemousekingordered

themicewhostoodnearestthefiretosingetheirtails.Hewantedasmellof

somethingburningtoovercomethescentofviolets,whichwasnotthekindofperfume

thatheliked.

“WhatwasthatJlittlemoreforgoodmeasure'?"heasked.

〃0hyes,〃saidthelittlemouse.〃Ithinkitiswhattheycallaneffect.，zSheturned

thestickaroundand,behold!therewasnotaflowertobeseenonthebaresausage

peginherhand.Sheflourisheditlikeamusicbaton.〃*Violetsaretosee,and

smell,andtouch.’theelftoldme.Sosomethingmustbedoneforustohearand

taste.z/

Thelittlemousebegantobeattime,andmusicwasheard.Itwasnottheelfinmusic

oftheforest.No,itwassuchascanbeheardinthekitchen.Therewasthebubbling

soundofboilingandstewing.Itcameallatonce,asthoughthewindrushedthrough

everychimneyfunnel,andeverypotandkettleboiledover.Thefireshovelclanged

uponthecopperkettle,andthenallatoncethesounddieddown.Oneheardthewhisper

oftheteakettle*ssong,sosweettohearandsolowtheycouldscarcelytellwhen

itbeganorleftoff.Thelittlepotsimmeredandthebigpotboiled,andneither

kepttimewiththeother.Itwasasiftherewerenoreasonleftinthepots.And

thelittlemouseflourishedherbatonevenmorefiercely.Thepotsseethed,bubbled,

andboiledover.Thewindwhistledandroareddownthechimney.Puff!itroseso

tremendouslythatthelittlemouseatlengthlostholdofherstick.

“Thatwasthicksoup,“saidthemouseking.〃Isitreadytobeserved?”

"That'sallthereistoit."Thelittlemousecurtsied.

〃A11?〃saidthemouseking."Thenwehadbetterhearwhatthenexthastotel1us.〃

III.WHATTHESECONDLITTLEMOUSEHADTOTELL

〃Iwasborninthepalacelibrary,，zsaidthesecondmouse.〃Iandothermembersof

myfamilyhaveneverknowntheluxuryofvisitingadiningroom,muchlessapantry.

OnlyonmyjourneyandheretodayhaveIseenakitchen.Inthelibraryweoften

wenthungryindeed,butwegotagreatdealofknowledge.Thenewsoftheroyalreward

offeredformakingsoupfromasausagepegfinallyreachedus.Itwasmygrandmother

whopromptlyferretedoutamanuscript,whichofcourseshecouldnotread,butfrom

whichshehasheardthefollowingpassageread:'Ifoneisapoet,onecanmakesoup

outofasausagepeg.’

“SheaskedmeifIwereapoet.ItoldherIwasentirelyinnocentinsuchmatters,

butsheinsistedthatImustgoforthandmanagetobeone.Iaskedhowtodoit,

forthatwasashardformetolearnasitwastofindouthowtomakethesoup.

Butmygrandmotherhadheardagoodmanybooksread,andshetoldmethatthreethings

wereessential:JUnderstanding,imagination,andfeeling-ifyoucanmanagetoget

theseintoyou,you'11beapoet,andthisbusinessofthesausagepegwillcome

toyoubynature.,

“SooffIwent,marchingwestward,outintothewideworldtobecomeapoet.

〃Iknewthatunderstandingcomesfirstineverything,becausetheothertwovirtues

aren'thalfaswel1thoughtof,soIsetoffinsearchofunderstandingatonce.

Yes,butwheredoesitlive?’Gototheantandbewise,'saidthegreatKingof

theJews.Ilearnedthatinthelibrary.SoIdidnotrestuntilIcametoabig

anthill.ThereIpostedmyselfonwatch,tolearnwisdom.

“Theantsareaveryrespectablerace.Theyunderstandthingsthoroughly.Withthem

everythingislikeawellworkedprobleminarithmeticthatcomesoutright.Work

andlayeggs,theysay,foryoumustbothliveyourlifeandprovideforthefuture.

Sothatisjustwhattheydo.Theyaredividedintocleanantsandthosewhodothe

dirtywork.Eachoneisnumberedaccordingtohisrank,andtheantqueenisnumber

one.Whatshethinksistheonlyrightwaytothink,forshecontainsallwisdom,

anditwasmostimportantformetolearnthisfromher.Butshetalkedsocleverly

thatitseemedlikenonsensetome.

“Sheassertedthatheranthillwasthehighestthinginalltheworld,thoughquite

closetoitgrewatreewhichwasobviouslyhigher.Itwassoverymuchhigherthat

therewasnodenyingit,andconsequentlyitwasnevermentioned.Oneeveningan

antgotlostinthetree.Sheclimbedupthetrunk,nottotheverytopbuthigher

thananyanthadclimbedbefore.Whenshecamehomeandtoldoffindingsomething

evenmoreloftythantheanthill,theotherantsconsideredthatshehadinsulted

thewholecommunity.Shewasmuzzled,andcomdemnedtosolitaryconfinementforlife.

Shortlyafterwardanotherantclimbedthetree,makingthesamejourneyandthesame

discovery.Butthisantreporteditwithsuitablecautionanddiffidenceasthey

say.Besides,shewasoneoftheupper-classants-oneofthecleanones.Sothey

believedher,andwhenshediedthaygaveheraneggshellmomument,toshowtheir

loveofscience.

Thelittlemousewentontosay,〃Isawtheantscontinuallyrunningtoandfrowith

eggsontheirbacks.Oneofthemdroppedhers,andtriedtopickitupagain,but

shecouldn，tmanageit.Twootherscametohelpherwithal1theirpower.Butwhen

theycameneardroppingtheirowneggsintheattempttheyatoncestoppedhelping,

foreachmustfirstthinkofhimself.Thequeenantsaidthattheyhaddisplayed

bothheartandunderstanding.

〃'Thesetwovirtues,Jshesaid,*raiseantsaboveallothercreaturesofreason.

Understandingmustandshallalwayscomefirst,andIhavemoreofitthananyone

else.'Withthis,shereareduponherhindlegssothatallcouldbesurewhoshe

was.Iwassurewhoshewas,andIateher.'Gototheantandbewise'-andIhad

swallowedthequeen.

〃InowwentovertothetreeImentioned.Itwasanoak,withamightytrunkand

far-flungbranches,foritwasveryold.Iknewthatalivingspiritmustlivein

it,adryadassheiscalled,whoisbornwhenthetreeisborn,anddieswhenit

dies.Ihadheardofthisinthelibrary,andnowIsawsuchatreewithsuchan

oakmaiden.Sheshriekedfrightfullywhenshesawmesonearher,forlikeother

womensheisterriblyafraidofmice.Butshehadmorereasontofearmethanthe

othershave,becauseImighthavegnawedthroughthebarkofthetreeonwhichher

lifedepended.Ispoketoherinacordial,friendlyfashion,andtoldhershehad

nothingtofear.

“Shetookmeupinherslenderhand,andwhenItoldherwhyIhadcomeoutinto

thewideworldshepromisedthatperhapsthatveryeveningIshouldfindoneofthe

twovirtuesforwhichIstillsearched.ShetoldmethatFantasywasherverygood

friend,thathewasasbeautifulasthegodoflove,andthatheoftenrestedunder

theleafyboughsofthetree,whichwouldthenrustleevenmoresoftlyoverthese

two.Hecalledherhisdryad,shesaid,andthetreehistree,forthemagnificent

gnarledoakjustsuitedhim.lielikeditsrootswhichwentdownsodeepandsteadfast

intheearth,andthetrunkwhichrosesohighintheclearairthatitfeltthe

peltingsnow,thedrivingwind,andthewarmsunastheyoughttobefelt.

〃'Yes.'thedryadtalkedon,'thebirdsupalofttheresingandtellofdistant

lands.Onthesingledeadbranchthestorkhasbuiltanestwhichisverypicturesque,

andhetellsmeaboutthelandwherethepyramidsare.Fantasylovestohearall

this,butitisnotenoughforhim.Itoomusttellhimofmylifeintheforest,

fromthetimewhenIwassmal1andthetreesotinythatanettlecouldshadeit,

untilnowwhenthetreeissotallandstrong.Sitdownunderthesweetthyme,and

watchclosely.WhenFantasycomesIshallmanagetopinchhiswingsandpullout

alittlefeather.Takeit.Apoetcangetnobettergift-anditwillbeallyouneed.’

“WhenFantasycame,thefeatherwaspluckedandItookit,〃saidthelittlemouse.

〃Isoakeditinwateruntilitwassoft.Stillitwashardtoswallow,butInibbled

itdownatlast.It'snoeasymattertobecomeapoet,withallthethingsonemust

craminsideoneself.

“NowIhadbothunderstandingandimagination,andtheytaughtmethatthethird

virtuewastobefoundinthelibrary.Foragreatmanoncesaidandwrotethatthere

areromanceswhoseonlypurposeistorelievepeopleoftheirsuperfluoustears,

andthattheseromancesarelikesponges,soppinguptheemotions.Irememberedthat

afewoftheseoldbookshadalwayslookedespeciallytasty.Theyhadbeenthumbed

quitegreasy.Theymusthaveabsorbedanenormouslotoftears.

〃Ireturnedtothelibraryanddevouredawholenovel-thatistosay,thesoftand

theessentialpart;butthecrust-thatis,thebinding,Ileft.WhenIhaddigested

this,andanotheronetoo,Ifeltflutteryinside.Iatestillathirdandthere

Iwas,apoet.ThatiswhatItoldmyself,andthatiswhatItoldeveryoneelse.

Ihadheadache,stomachaches-Ican，trememberallthedifferentaches.

“NowIbegantorecallallthestoriesthatcouldbemadetoapplytoasausagepeg.

Manypegscametomind-theantqueenmusthavehadmagnificentunderstanding.I

rememberedthestoryaboutamanwhowouldtakeawhitepegoutofhismouthtomake

bothhimselfandthepeginvisible.Ithoughtofoldbeerwithapegstuckinit,

ofpeglegs,and'roundpegsinsquareholes,'and'thepegtoone'scoffin.’All

mythoughtsranonpegs.Whenoneisapoet-asIam,forIhaveworkedlikemadto

becomeone-onecanturnallofthesesubjectsintopoems.SoeverydayIshallbe

abletoentertainyourmajestywithanotherpeg,anotherstory-yesthat*smysoup.〃

〃Let'shearwhatthethirdonehastosay,“thekingcommanded.

“Squeak,squeak!，ztheyheardatthekitchendoor,andthefourthlittlemouse-the

onetheyhadgivenupfordead-whizzedinlikeanarrowandupsetthecrape-covered

sausagepeg.Shehadbeenrunningnightandday,andwhenshesawherchanceshe

hadtraveledbyrailonthefreighttrain.Evensoshewasalmosttoolate.Shepushed

forward,lookingtheworseforwear.Shehadlosthersausagepegbutnothertongue,

forsheimmediatelytookovertheconservationasifeverybodyhadbeenwaitingto

hearher,andheralone,andasifnothingelsematteredintheworld.Shespoke

atonce,andshespokeinfull.Sheappearedsosuddenlythatnoonehadtimeto

checkherorherspeechuntilshewasthrough.Solet'shearher.

IV.WHATTHEFOURTHMOUSE,WHOSPOKEBEFORETHETHIRD,HADTOSAY

〃Iwentatoncetothelargesttown,“shesaid.〃Idon'trecallthenameofit.I

havesuchabadmemoryfornames.FromtherailwaystationIwascarriedwithsome

confiscatedgoodstothecourthouse,andfromthereIrantoseethejailor.Hewas

talkingabouthisprisoners,andespeciallyaboutonewhohadspokenrashly.One

wordledtoanother.Aboutthesewordsotherwordshadbeenspoken,readandrecorded.

〃'Thewholebusinessissoupfromasausagepeg,*saidthejailor,'butitisa

soupthatmaycosthimhishead.’

“Thisgavemesuchaninterestintheprisoner,/zthelittlemousewentontosay,

“thatIwatchedmychance,anddartedintohiscell.Forthereisalwayssomemouse

holebehindeverylockeddoor.Theprisonerlookedpale.Hehadabigbeardandbig,

brillianteyes.Hislampsmokedupthecell,butthewallsweresoblackthatthey

couldn，tgetanyblacker,andtheprisonerwhiledawaythetimebyscratching

drawingsandversesinwhiteonthisblackbackground.Ididn，treadthem,butI

believehefounditdullthere,forIwasawelcomeguest.Hetemptedmeoutwith

crumbs,andwhistling,andpetwords.Hewasgladtoseeme,wonmyconfidence,and

webecamefastfriends.Wesharedhisbreadandwater,andhetreatedmetocheese

andsausage,soIlivedwell.However,Iwouldsaythatitwaschieflyforhisgood

companythatIstayedwithhim.Heletmerunuphishandandarmintohissleeve,

andclimbinhisbeard.Hecalledmehislittlefriend,andIreallylikedhim,for

friendshipisatwo-sidedthing.IforgotmymissioninthewideworldandIforgot

mysausagepeg.Itislyingtherestillinacrackinthefloor.Iwantedtostay

withhim,forifIhadgoneawaythepoorprisonerwouldn'thavehadafriendin

theworld.Thatwouldnotberight,soIstayed.Buthedidnotstay.Hespoketo

mesadlyforthelasttime,gavemeadoublerationofbreadandcheese,andblew

meapartingkiss.Thenhewentawayandhenevercameback.Idon，tknowwhatbecame

ofhim.

〃'Soupfromasausagepeg,'thejailorhadsaid,soIwenttoseehim.Buthewas

nottobetrusted.Hetookmeupinhishand,rightenough,buthepoppedmeinto

acage,atreadmill,aterriblemachineinwhichyourunaroundandaroundwithout

goinganywhere.And,besides,peoplelaughatyou.

〃Thejailor，sgrandchildwasacharminglittlegirl,withcurlsthatshonelike

gold,suchsparklingeyes,andsuchmerrylips.

〃'Why,youpoorlittlemouse,?shesaid,asshepeepedintomyuglyoldcage.She

drewbacktheironbolt,andoutIjumpedtothewindowsill,andfromtheretothe

rainspout.Iwasfree,free!ThatwasallIthoughtof,andnotofthepurposeof

myjourney.

〃Itwasalmostdark.NightwascomingonwhenIestablishedmyselfinanoldtower

alreadyinhabitedbyawatchmanandanowl.Ididn，ttrusteitherofthem,andthe

owlleastofall.Itislikethecat,andhastheunforgivableviceofeatingmice.

Butonecanbemistaken,asIwas,forthisoldowlwasmostworthyandknowing.

Sheknewmorethanthewatchman,andasmuchasIdid.Theyoungowlswerealways

makingafussabouteverything.'Don，ttrytomakesoupoutofasausagepeg,'she

toldthem,andshehadsuchtenderaffectionforherownfamilythatthosewerethe

hardestwordshewouldsay.

〃Herbehaviorgavemesuchconfidenceinher,thatfromthecrevicewhereIhidI

calledout,'Squeak!'Mytrustinherpleasedhersothatshepromisedtotakeme

underherprotection.Noanimalwouldbeallowedtomolestme,andshewouldsave

meforthewintertimewhenfoodranshort.

“Shewaswiseineveryway.Thewatchman,shetoldme,canonlyhootwiththehorn

thathangsbyhisside.'Heisvastlypuffedupaboutit,'shedeclared,'andthinks

hesanowlinatower.Itsoundssobig,butitisverylittle-allsoupfromasausage

peg.'

〃Ibeggedhertogivemetherecipeforthissoup,butsheexplainedtomethat,

'Soupfromasausagepegisonlyahumanexpression.Itmeansdifferentthings,and

everybodythinkshismeaningistherightone,buttherealmeaning