(原版)澳大利亞語文第三冊 LESSON 35

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LESSON 35 THE RED GARTER

THE RED GARTER

One fine day Tom was walking along beside a hedge. All at once he heard a tapping kind of noise. He stole along on tip-toes to see what it was. It stopped; but as Tom looked sharply among the bushes what should he see but a teeny, tiny bit of an old man! He had a little scrap of a pointed hat stuck on the top of his head, and a smart leather apron hanging in front of him. He pulled out a stool, and began to mend the heel of a shoe just large enough for himself.

THE LITTLE MAN.

Well. I never! said Tom to himself. "I have often heard of the little people, but I did not really think there were any. Here is one of them for certain. Now, if I go to work the right way, my fortune is made. They say you must never take your eyes off them, or they will get away."

Tom stole a little nearer, with his eyes fixed on the little man, just like a cat watching a mouse. When he was close to him he said, "I hope you are well, my friend."

The little man raised his head. "Thank you kindly," said he.

I wonder at your working on a holiday, said Tom.

That's nothing to do with you, was the reply. "It would be better if you were looking after your father's farm, instead of wasting your time here. There now! Your cows have broken into the oats, and are knocking them all down."

Tom was so much taken by surprise at this that he forgot, and was just going to look round. He was afraid that he might forget again, and take his eyes off the little man. He therefore made a grab, and caught him up in his hand. Tom then said that if he did not show him where his money was, he would kill him.

So fierce and wicked did Tom look that the little man shook with fear. "Come along with me," said he, "and I will show you a crock [1] of gold."

Off they went, Tom holding the little man fast in his hand. He did not once take his eyes off him although they had to cross hedges, ditches, and bogs. At last they came to a large field of flax [2] . The little man pointed to a large flax-bush in the middle of the field. "Dig under that," said he, "and you will find a great crock full of gold."

As Tom did not have his spade with him, he made up his mind to run home and fetch one. So that he would know the place again, he took off one of his red garters, and tied it round the flax-bush. Then he said to the little man, "Promise me that you will not take the garter away from that flax." The little man at once gave his word that he would not touch the garter.

I suppose, said he to Tom, "that you don't need me any more now."

No, said Tom. "You may go now; and may you have good luck."

Well, good-bye, said the little man, "and I hope the gold will do you much good when you get it."

Tom ran for dear life, till he reached home and got a spade. Then back he ran as fast as he could to the flax-field. When he came to it, lo! every flax-bush in the field had a red garter, the very same as Tom's own, tied round it. He could not dig up the whole field, for there were more than forty good Irish acres in it.

Poor Tom went sadly home again, with his spade on his shoulder. Ever after that, he used to clench his fist, when he thought of the smart trick that the little man had played on him.

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[1] crock: Pot, earthen vessel.

[2] flax: A plant from which linen is made.