THE ELEPHANTS CHILD

  INtheHighandFar-OffTimestheElephant,OBestBeloved,hadnotrunk.Hehadonlyablackish,bulgynose,asbigasaboot,thathecouldwriggleaboutfromsidetoside;buthecouldntpickupthingswithit.ButtherewasoneElephant--anewElephant--anElephantsChild--whowasfullofsatiablecurtiosity,andthatmeansheaskedeversomaions.AndhelivedinAfridhefilledallAfricawithhissatiablecurtiosities.Heaskedhistallaunt,theOstrich,whyhertail-feathersgrewjustso,andhistallaurichspankedhimwithherhard,hardclaw.HeaskedhistalluheGiraffe,whatmadehisskinspotty,andhistalluheGiraffe,spankedhimwithhishard,hardhoof.Andstillhewasfullofsatiablecurtiosity!Heaskedhisbroadaunt,theHippopotamus,whyhereyeswerered,andhisbroadaunt,theHippopotamus,spankedhimwithherbroad,broadhoof;andheaskedhishairyuheBaboon,whymelonstastedjustso,andhishairyuheBaboon,spankedhimwithhishairy,hairypaw.Andstillhewasfullofsatiablecurtiosity!Heaskedquestionsabouteverythingthathesaw,orheard,orfelt,orsmelt,ortouched,andallhisunclesandhisauntsspankedhim.Andstillhewasfullofsatiablecurtiosity!

  OnefineminthemiddleofthePrecessionoftheEquihissatiableElephantsChildaskedanewfiionthathehadneveraskedbefore.Heasked,WhatdoestheCrocodilehavefordiheneverybodysaid,Hush!inaloudafultone,andtheyspankedhimimmediatelyanddirectly,withoutstopping,foralongtime.

  Byandby,whenthatwasfinished,hecameuponKolokoloBirdsittinginthemiddleofawait-a-bitthorn-bush,andhesaid,Myfatherhasspankedme,andmymotherhasspankedme;allmyauntsanduncleshavespankedmeformysatiablecurtiosity;andstillIwanttoknowwhattheCrocodilehasfordinner!

  ThenKolokoloBirdsaid,withamournfulcry,Gotothebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,andfindout.

  Thatverym,whentherewasnothioftheEquinoxes,becausethePrecessionhadprecededacctopret,thissatiableElephantsChildtookahundredpoundsofbananas(thelittleshortredkind),andahundredpoundsofsugar-e(thelongpurplekind),aeenmelons(thegreeny-cracklykind),andsaidtoallhisdearfamilies,Goodbye.Iamgoingtothegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,tofindoutwhattheCrocodilehasfordinner.Andtheyallspankedhimoncemoreforluck,thoughheaskedthemmostpolitelytostop.

  Theaway,alittlewarm,butnotatallastonished,eatingmelons,andthrowingtherindabout,becausehecouldnotpickitup.

  HewentfromGrahamsTowntoKimberley,andfromKimberleytoKhamastry,andfromKhamastryhewebynorth,eatingmelonsallthetime,tillatlasthecametothebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,preciselyasKolokoloBirdhadsaid.

  Nowyoumustknowanduand,OBestBeloved,thattillthatveryweek,andday,andhour,andmihissatiableElephantsChildhadneverseenaCrocodile,anddidnotknowwhatonewaslike.Itwasallhissatiablecurtiosity.

  ThefirstthingthathefoundwasaBi-Coloured-Python-Roakecurledroundarock.

  Scuseme,saidtheElephantsChildmostpolitely,buthaveyouseensuchathingasaCrocodileinthesepromiscuousparts?

  HaveIseenaCrocodile?saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake,inavoiceofdretfuls.Whatwillyouaskme?

  Scuseme,saidtheElephantsChild,butcouldyoukindlytellmewhathehasfordinner?

  ThentheBi-Coloured-Python-RoakeuncoiledhimselfveryquicklyfromtherodspaheElephantsChildwithhisscalesome,flailsometail.

  Thatisodd,saidtheElephantsChild,becausemyfatherandmymother,andmyundmyaunt,nottomentionmyotheraunt,theHippopotamus,andmyotheruheBaboon,haveallspankedmeformysatiablecurtiosity--andIsupposethisisthesamething.

  Sohesaidgood-byeverypolitelytothe

  Bi-Coloured-Python-Roake,andhelpedtocoilhimupontherockagain,aon,alittlewarm,butnotatallastonished,eatingmelons,andthrowingtherindabout,becausehecouldnotpickitup,tillhetrodonwhathethoughtwasalogofwoodattheveryedgeofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees.

  ButitwasreallytheCrocodile,OBestBeloved,andtheCrocodilewinkedoneeye--likethis!

  Scuseme,saidtheElephantsChildmostpolitely,butdoyouhappentohaveseenaCrocodileinthesepromiscuousparts?

  ThentheCrocodilewiheothereye,andliftedhalfhistailoutofthemud;andtheElephantsChildsteppedbackmostpolitely,becausehedidnotwishtobespankedagain.

  ehither,LittleOne,saidtheCrocodile.Whydoyouasksuchthings?

  Scuseme,saidtheElephantsChildmostpolitely,butmyfatherhasspankedme,mymotherhasspankedme,nottomentionmytallaunt,theOstridmytalluheGiraffe,whokickeversohard,aswellasmybroadaunt,theHippopotamus,andmyhairyuheBaboon,andincludingtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake,withthescalesome,flailsometail,justupthebank,whospanksharderthananyofthem;andso,ifitsquiteallthesametoyou,Idontwanttobespankedanymore.

  ehither,LittleOne,saidtheCrocodile,forIamtheCrocodile,acrocodile-tearstoshowitwasquitetrue.

  ThentheElephantsChildgrewallbreathless,andpanted,andkneeleddownonthebankandsaid,YouaretheverypersonIhavebeenlookingforalltheselongdays.Willyoupleasetellmewhatyouhavefordinner?

  ehither,LittleOne,saidtheCrocodile,andIllwhisper.

  ThentheElephantsChildputhisheaddownclosetotheCrocodilesmusky,tuskymouth,andtheCrocodilecaughthimbyhislittlenose,whichuptothatveryweek,day,hour,andminute,hadbeennobiggerthanaboot,thoughmuchmoreuseful.

  Ithink,saidtheCrocodile--andhesaiditbetweenhisteeth,likethis--Ithinkto-dayIwillbeginwithElephantsChild!

  Atthis,OBestBeloved,theElephantsChildwasmuoyed,andhesaid,speakingthroughhisnose,likethis,Ledgo!Youarehurtigbe!

  ThentheBi-Coloured-Python-Roakescuffleddownfromthebankandsaid,Myyoungfriend,ifyoudonotnow,immediatelyandinstantly,pullashardaseveryou,itismyopinionthatyouracquaintahelarge-patterherulster(andbythishemeanttheCrocodile)willjerkyouintoyonderlimpidstreambeforeyousayJackRobinson.

  ThisisthewayBi-Coloured-Python-Roakesalwaystalk.

  ThentheElephantsChildsatbahislittlehaunches,andpulled,andpulled,andpulled,andhisnosebegantostretch.

  AndtheCrocodileflouothewater,makingitallcreamywithgreatsweepsofhistail,andhepulled,andpulled,andpulled.

  AndtheElephantsChildsog;andtheElephantsChildspreadallhislittlefsandpulled,andpulled,andpulled,andhisog;andtheCrocodilethreshedhistaillikeanoar,andhepulled,andpulled,andpulled,andateachpulltheElephantsChildsnosegrewlongerandlonger--andithurthimhijjus!

  ThentheElephantsChildfelthislegsslipping,andhesaidthroughhisnose,whichwasnownearlyfivefeetlong,Thisistoobutchforbe!

  ThentheBi-Coloured-Python-Roakecamedownfromthebank,andknottedhimselfinadouble-clove-hitchroundtheElephantsChildshindlegs,andsaid,Rashandinexperieraveller,wewillnowseriouslydevoteourselvestoalittlehightension,becauseifwedonot,itismyimpressionthatyonderself-propellingman-of-warwiththearmour-platedupperdeck

  (andbythis,OBestBeloved,hemeanttheCrocodile),willpermalyvitiateyourfuturecareer.

  ThatisthewayallBi-Coloured-Python-Roakesalwaystalk.

  Sohepulled,andtheElephantsChildpulled,andtheCrocodilepulled;buttheElephantsChildandtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roakepulledhardest;andatlasttheCrocodileletgooftheElephantsChildshaplopthatyoucouldhearallupanddowntheLimpopo.

  ThentheElephantsChildsatdownmosthardandsudden;butfirsthewascarefultosayThankyoutotheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake;ahewaskindtohispoorpullednose,andeditallupincoolbananaleaves,andhungitinthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopotocool.

  Whatareyoudoingthatfor?saidthe

  Bi-Coloured-Python-Roake.

  Scuseme,saidtheElephantsChild,butmynoseisbadlyout

  ofshape,andIamwaitingforittoshrink.

  Thenyouwillhavetowaitalongtime,saidthe

  Bi-Coloured-Python-Roake.Somepeopledonotknowwhatis

  goodforthem.

  TheElephantsChildsatthereforthreedayswaitingforhisoshrink.Butitnevergrewanyshorter,and,besides,itmadehimsquint.For,OBestBeloved,youwillseeanduandthattheCrocodilehadpulleditoutintoareallytrulytrunksameasallElephantshaveto-day.

  Attheendofthethirddayaflycameandstunghimontheshoulder,andbeforeheknewwhathewasdoieduphistrunkandhitthatflydeadwiththeendofit.

  Vantagenumberone!saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake.Youcouldnthavedowithamere-smearryaalittlenow.

  BeforehethoughtwhathewasdoingtheElephantsChildputouthistrunkandpluckedalargebundleofgrass,dusteditagainsthisfore-legs,andstuffeditintohisownmouth.

  Vantagewo!saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake.Youcouldnthavedowithamear-smearnose.Dontyouthinkthesunisveryhothere?

  Itis,saidtheElephantsChild,andbeforehethoughtwhathewasdoingheschloopedupasudfromthebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopo,andslappeditonhishead,whereitmadeacoolschloopy-sloshymud-capalltricklybehindhisears.

  Vantagehree!saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake.Youcouldnthavedowithamere-smearnose.Nowhowdoyoufeelaboutbeingspankedagain?

  Scuseme,saidtheElephantsChild,butIshouldnotlikeitatall.

  Howwouldyouliketospanksomebody?saidtheBi-

  Coloured-Python-Roake.

  Ishouldlikeitverymudeed,saidtheElephantsChild.

  Well,saidtheBi-Coloured-Python-Roake,youwillfindthatnewnoseofyoursveryusefultospankpeoplewith.

  Thankyou,saidtheElephantsChild,Illrememberthat;andnowIthinkIllgohometoallmydearfamiliesandtry.

  SotheElephantsChildwenthomeacrossAfricafriskingandwhiskinghistrunk.Wheedfruittoeathepulledfruitdownfromatree,insteadofwaitingforittofallasheusedtodo.Wheedgrasshepluckedgrassupfromtheground,insteadofgoingonhiskneesasheusedtodo.Whenthefliesbithimhebrokeoffthebranchofatreeaasfly-whisk;andhemadehimselfanew,cool,slushy-squshymud-capwhehesunwashot.WhelonelywalkingthroughAfricahesangtohimselfdownhistrunk,andthenoisewaslouderthanseveralbrassbands.

  HewentespeciallyoutofhiswaytofindabroadHippopotamus(shewasionofhis),andhespankedherveryhard,tomakesurethattheBi-Coloured-Python-Roakehadspokehabouthisrunk.TherestofthetimehepickedupthemelonrindsthathehaddroppedonhiswaytotheLimpopo--forhewasaTidyPachyderm.

  Onedarkeveninghecamebacktoallhisdearfamilies,andhecoileduphistrunkandsaid,Howdoyoudo?Theywereverygladtoseehim,andimmediatelysaid,ehereandbespankedforyoursatiablecurtiosity.

  Pooh,saidtheElephantsChild.Idontthinkyoupeoplesknowanythingaboutspanking;butIdo,andIllshowyou.Thenheuncurledhistrunkandkwoofhisdearbrothersheadoverheels.

  OBananas!saidthey,wheredidyoulearnthattridwhathaveyoudooyournose?

  IgotanewonefromtheCrocodileonthebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,saidtheElephantsChild.Iaskedhimwhathehadfordinner,andhegavemethistokeep.

  Itlooksveryugly,saidhishairyuheBaboon.

  Itdoes,saidtheElephantsChild.Butitsveryuseful,andhepickeduphishairyuheBaboon,byonehairyleg,andhovehimintoahors.

  ThenthatbadElephantsChildspankedallhisdearfamiliesforalongtime,tilltheywereverywarmalyastonished.HepulledouthistallOstritstail-feathers;andhecaughthistalluheGiraffe,bythehind-leg,anddraggedhimthroughathorn-bush;andheshoutedathisbroadaunt,theHippopotamus,andblewbubblesintoherearwhenshewassleepingieraftermeals;butheaouchKolokoloBird.

  Atlastthingsgrewsoexgthathisdearfamilieswentoffonebyoneinahurrytothebanksofthegreatgrey-green,greasyLimpopoRiver,allsetaboutwithfever-trees,toborrownewnosesfromtheCrocodile.Whentheycamebaobodyspankedanybodyanymore;andeversiday,OBestBeloved,alltheElephantsyouwilleversee,besidesallthosethatyouwont,havetrunkspreciselylikethetrunkofthesatiableElephantsChild.

  IKeepsixhoserving-men:

  (TheytaughtmeallIkheirnamesareWhatandWhereandWhen

  AndHowandWhyandWho.

  Isendthemoverlandandsea,

  Isendthemeasta;

  Butaftertheyhaveworkedforme,

  Igivethemallarest.

  Iletthemrestfromillfive.

  ForIambusythen,

  Aswellasbreakfast,lundtea,

  Fortheyarehungrymen:

  Butdifferentfolkhavedifferentviews:

  Iknoersonsmall--

  Shekeepstenmilli-men,

  Whogetall!

  Shesendsemabroadonherownaffairs,

  Fromthesedsheopenshereyes--

  OnemillionHows,twomillionWheres,

  AndsevenmillionWhys!松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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