(原版)澳大利亞語文第三冊 LESSON 60
LESSON 60 UNCLE JIM'S STORY
UNCLE JIM'S STORY
1. Uncle Jim had just come down from the bush, and nothing pleased his nephews and nieces more than the stories he told them about the strange things he had seen there.
2. "Now, uncle, a story, please!" was the cry one afternoon.
True or fairy, fact or fiction [1] ? he asked.
A 'once upon a time story,' please, said Jennie.
Yes, yes. Once upon a time, uncle, shouted the chorus [2] .
3. Then Uncle Jim told this story—
Once upon a time, years, and years, and years ago, when Australia was just made, and the birds and other animals were being fitted on—
What did you say, Jack? Yes, fitted on, of course. When a new land is made its animals must be fitted on to it, or else they cannot live there.
4. Well, while this was being done, one little animal was very much troubled. He could not make up his mind what he would be. At last the good fairy, who was fitting the animals, said, "Now, tell me quickly what it is you want —legs, fins, wings, fur, or wool?"
5. "Well, really," said the little animal, "I hardly know. You could not give me some things on trial, could you, and let me change them if they did not suit?"
No, said the fairy, "what you choose you must keep for life."
6. "You see, my trouble is this," was the reply, "I don't want to be a fish, because I would have to be always in the water; and I should feel nervous [3] if I were a bird, flying about in the air with nothing to hold on to—"
7. "Perhaps you would like to go and look around for a little while at the other animals," said the fairy. "At present I cannot waste any more time on you."
8. Then the little animal strolled out, and the first creature he met was a duck, waddling proudly along in its new dress.
9. "What a queer beak, madam," he remarked, "quite a new pattern [4] , isn't it ? I have seen no other bird with one like it."
10. "I should think not," said the duck. "Besides, it is not a beak, it's a bill, and of the latest fashion [5] , too."
11. "It looks very well on you," said the little animal, gazing at it, with his head on one side; "but if you wanted to peck now, wouldn't a pointed one—?"
12. "Oh, those pointed ones are so common —every bird had one until I started this fashion. Now they all want one like mine. Some big black birds—swans, I think they are called—insisted on having red ones, instead of this beautiful yellow kind. Very bad taste, I call it. These are not for pecking at all. They are spoon-shaped, you see, for scooping up the soft mud that has worms and grubs in it."
13. The very thought of fat grubs and worms made the little animal's mouth water, and he hurried back to the fairy.
A b-b-bill, please, I want a b-b-bill, he stuttered, speaking very fast.
14. "Nonsense! you have bought nothing yet."
I mean a bill like the duck's, for scooping up the mud.
Very well, said the fairy, "here it is. Now you will want feet to match, webbed feet, for paddling and swimming in the water."
15. "I'm not sure about those," said the animal, looking at them, as they were fastened on; but it was too late to alter them.
Now feathers, went on the fairy, "red, green, white, or grey?"
16. "Oh, no, no! not feathers. I told you I did not want to be a bird. Besides you have given me four webbed feet."
17. "Dear me! So I have. Well, just make up your mind about the coat, while I attend to these emus."
18. So the little one went out and looked at the coats of the other animals. Feathers were too hot; the bear's fur would not do for the water; and the dog's hair was too coarse. At last he saw the very thing—short, soft, and thick—suited to water or land.
19. "Seal skin, please. A coat of seal skin is what I should like; and a flat tail, that would help me to swim well; and please teach me to make a nest."
20. "Nest!" gasped the fairy, "what on earth do you want to make a nest for?"
Why, to lay eggs in, snapped the little animal. "What else do you suppose it would be for?"
21. "Um—! Well, then I will; but I must say you look a funny mixture, now you are finished."
22. "Not at all!" replied the little animal, in an offended [6] tone. "I can swim, and lay eggs like a duck. I can walk on land. I can live in the water like a frog. I can—"
23. "There, there! Never mind what else you can do. I am trying to think of a name that will fit you."
ORNITHORHYNCHUS OR PLATYPUS
24. "Well, please don't let it be any short, silly little name, like emu, or dingo [7] —let it be something long and fine."
The very thing, cried the fairy, "of course you are an ornithorhynchus."
25. So the little animal became of some use after all; for when people want to find out if little boys and girls can spell, they just ask them to spell
ORNITHORHYNCHUS .
* * *
[1] fiction: Something that is not really true.
[2] chorus: Voices joining in with each other.
[3] nervous: Timid, afraid, uneasy.
[4] pattern: Shape, plan, design.
[5] fashion: The style used by most people; in clothes, for example.
[6] offended: Hurt, annoyed, displeased.
[7] dingo: An Australian animal like a dog.
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