100个儿童英语小故事: The Beauty of a Shabby Little Dandelion 破旧的小蒲公英的美丽

 

030 The Beauty of a Shabby Little Dandelion

Spring has come for the flowers and trees, in the forest and fields. Spring has also come on the wild flowers under the fence and on a small apple tree. There were red bursting flower buds hanging on the fresh apple tree branches.

The apple Tree Branches were proud of themselves knowing that they were very beautiful. A Countess admired the branches, so she broke one of them off, held it in her hand, and she went back to her splendid castle in her wonderful carriage. The Countess put the branch among the fresh and green beech¹ trees, and she smiled with satisfaction.

The apple Tree Branch held up his head and looked at many kinds of people who came in and out. They all showed different reactions to the Apple Tree Branch. All the people reacted differently when they saw the Apple Tree branch. Some were expressionless without a word, some overpraised the beauty of the Apple Tree Branch, and others gazed at him with a satisfied look.

Seeing these various reactions from people, the Apple Tree Branch realized that people have as diverse personalities² as plants and flowers do and that they are all different. The Apple Tree branch looked at the fields and a garden through the open window. There were shabby flowers and plants as well as beautiful ones in the garden.

'Those grasses are so pathetic. It's not their fault they have such ugly and squalid names. However, everything is different in this world.' The apple Tree Branch sympathized and looked at the little flowers blooming next to the fields and streams.

At that time, the Sun kissed the Apple Tree Branch, a dandelion in the field, the abundant beautiful flowers, and the shabby flowers and said, "Yes, there is difference among everything, but throw away your prejudice and look ahead with a broad point of view. What do you think the poorest plant is?" "A Dandelion. People do not use it even for a bouquet³, and it is so common that people trample⁴ it down carelessly. It is not different from a weed at all."

At that time, children ran across the field, rolled about on the lawn, and picked and kissed the dandelions. They made necklaces and garlands of them. They looked wonderful with the golden flowers and green stems.

The seeds stuck to the stalks of the dandelions, and they were as beautiful as white feathers. When the children blew out with a puff⁵, the seeds of the dandelions fluttered away as if they had wings.

"Look at that! Now, do you understand how beautiful those flowers are, and how much pleasure they can give us?" The Sun said to the Apple Tree Branch. "They are only for children." The Apple Tree Branch answered.

At that time, an old lady dug in the ground of the field and picked the roots of the dandelions. She will make tea, take it to the doctor who makes medicine, and earn money with the roots of the dandelions.

"But, beauty is more valuable than those things. Only elected ones can join the Kingdom of Beauty. Not every plant can be the same, just as people can't be the same." The Apple Tree Branch said.

Later some people came into the room. The Countess who brought the Apple Tree Branch to the castle was one of them. She brought a stalk of dandelion seeds much more carefully than when she brought the Apple Tree Branch.

"Look at this. Isn't this beautiful? I will draw a picture of this dandelion with the apple tree branch. Everyone says that the apple tree branch is more beautiful, but this humble⁶ dandelion has a different kind of beauty. Even though the apple tree branch and the dandelion look different from each other, they are all beautiful." The Countess said filled with admiration⁷.

The Sun smiled and kissed the shabby dandelion and the Apple Tree Branch. The Apple Tree Branch blushed his own petals⁸ with shame.

1 beech   

n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的

参考例句：

• Autumn is the time to see the beech woods in all their glory.秋天是观赏山毛榉林的最佳时期。
• Exasperated,he leaped the stream,and strode towards beech clump.他满腔恼怒，跳过小河，大踏步向毛榉林子走去。

2 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

3 bouquet   

n.花束，酒香

参考例句：

• This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。

4 trample   

vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯

参考例句：

• Don't trample on the grass. 勿踏草地。
• Don't trample on the flowers when you play in the garden. 在花园里玩耍时,不要踩坏花。

5 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

6 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

7 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

8 petals   

n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣
• The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》