09斯普林代尔女巫

相关视频及字幕文件获取方式：微信搜索并关注：“床单英语”公众号，回复：“故事英语09”即可获取。视频学习也很有意思哦，加油！

once upon a time
there was a countryside called
springdale
which was known for its picturesque
beauty with its creeks and lofty
mountains
in springdale there lived an old and
wise woman
compared to her the other dwellers were
backward
and ignorant who also happened to be
superstitious by nature
the old woman's ability to predict
weather forecast
by simply gazing at the sky and noting
the speed of the wind
to predict a rainfall or sleet or simply
a plain warm day itself apart from many
other things
was overwhelming and beyond the
comprehension
of the ignorant folks hence they decided
that she had to be
a witch but the fact remained that she
possessed
no magical powers so the residents
started behaving oddly towards her
perturbed by their behavior the old
woman decided to leave the countryside
and reside in the forest nearby
in this village were many shepherds who
took their sheep to graze on the
surrounding mountains
one of them was a boy named victor
victor lived with his widowed mother and
did his best in augmenting his mother's
income
by collecting rare flowers and fruits
from the mountains
and selling them in the local market
one morning victor said to his mother
mother i am taking the sheep to the
mountains for grazing
do take care you take care victor
don't forget to return before dusk
victor nodded and left for the mountains
hurting the sheep
[Music]
in the evening when it was time to head
home to his utter shock and dismay
he found a lamb missing what do i do now
where did the little lamb go i have to
find her before the sun sets
so he ran in all directions scouring the
area
hoping to hear it bleat somewhere but in
vain disheartened
he returned back to the village with his
herd of sheep
at home he thought aloud i can't give up
i have to find that lamb somehow i think
i will seek help from my friends so he
hurried to the nearby creek
where he usually met his five friends
[Music]
there he found them happily sharing a
joke
victor called out breathlessly as he
reached them
hey his friends all turned to look at
him with a grin
one of his friends caught the look on
victor's face he inquired
what's wrong you look distressed
one of my lambs is missing it is
somewhere in the mountains
and i can't seem to find it i have to
find it before nightfall
will you all please help me to find it
instantly the boys agreed
and they all hurried towards the
mountains when they reached the spot
they spread out in different directions
and scoured the area thoroughly
as luck would have it one of the boys
spotted the lamb
happily and unmindfully chewing some
wild flowers
high up on a rocky slope hey i have
found it
it's here come quickly delighted victor
along with the other boys
came running towards him to get the
attention of the lamb
the boys shouted and clapped their hands
but the lamb paid no heed to them
a while later they gave up now what
if we don't rescue the lamb before
nightfall it may become prey to some
wild animal
or die of cold please think of some way
to rescue it
for i feel completely anal now
the boys looked at him sadly
sorry victor we have given it our best
shot
we now have to leave the lamb to its
destiny
you do one thing victor go to the old
woman who is a witch
and seek her help she might be able to
help you
victor brightened up what are you all
waiting for then
let us go oh no
they all chorused and shook their heads
fearfully
why what's wrong i thought you said that
it was a good idea to seek her help
since it is your lamb you go i am not
coming
i think i hear my dear mother calling me
what if she turns me into a stone wild
horses can't drag me there
what if she makes a meal for us i
still haven't enjoyed my life completely
yet
i am too young to die and too old to lie
no way am i accompanying you there
so they all slinked away leaving poor
victor to his plight
victor looked up at the lamb all alone
there bleating helplessly
now that it had finished its meal i will
save you somehow little one
hold on till i come then victor ran away
from there to the forest nearby
he ran as fast as he could to the
witch's hut in the forest and knocked on
her door
receiving no answer he boldly pushed
open the door and went in
as he stepped inside he found the old
woman lying
fast asleep on a torn mat
mother witch mother witch
please get up the old woman
opened her eyes with a start she looked
angry at being called a witch
but when she saw how sad and frightened
he looked she composed herself
what's the matter my son i
need your help in rescuing my lamb which
is right now
stuck on a rocky slope i tried my best
to rescue it but
failed the lamb needs to be saved before
nightfall
for it is not safe for it to be left
alone amongst the wild animals that roam
the area
please you have got to help me
hearing this the old woman laughed in a
jovial manner
does that mean you would help me with
your magic
of course but i don't possess any
magical powers
nor does anyone else for that matter
one has to solve a problem with pure
common sense one has to put these little
brain
cells to work know what i mean let's go
but i we thought you were a witch
she then picked up a torn woolen shawl
from a chair
and wrapped it over her shoulders
then she took along with her a rope and
three pieces of cloth from the cupboard
and left for the mountains with victor
when they reached the place
the old woman looked around for a path
which the lamb could have taken
to reach the place where it was now
stranded
finally she found one i want you to take
this path
and find out where it leads
victor nodded and took the path he soon
reached a spot from where he could see
the lamb
in clear view i can see the lamb
what to do now come down now
i will explain as to what to do
further when victor came back
the old woman handed him the rope and
three pieces of cloth
when you are on the way to the top pluck
some of those
wild flowers which the lamb loves entice
it with these flowers when she comes
near
use the two pieces of cloth to bind her
legs together
and use the third to blindfold her
with this rope you can fasten her to
your back
and then you can return safely go
i have complete faith in you i know what
to do now
i will soon be back with the lamb so
victor went up the path plucking some
wild flowers on the way when he reached
the top
he did as he was told
and everything went as smoothly as the
old woman had predicted
when a triumphant victor came down the
path with the lamb tied to his back
[Music]
the old woman's face broke into a grin
marvelous victor i knew you could do it
you are a hero now
let me see you home safely before
returning to my hut
victor thanked her profusely and then
set the lamb down
he removed her blindfold and untied her
then the happy duo set off towards the
village with the lamb
safely tucked into victor's arms
it was night time and the entire village
was asleep
except victor's mother who lay weeping
for her son
who she felt had come to some harm
through the old witch
when victor entered their house with the
lamb in his arms his
mother's joy knew no bounds
meanwhile the old woman had slipped away
quietly
knowing the boy was now safe
victor narrated the day's events to his
mother
mother the old woman is truly a very
nice
helpful and wise person she is not a
witch at all
she helped me by using her wisdom and
presence of mind
and not by any magic which she doesn't
possess
it is not right of the people to treat
her in this manner
i have to do my bit in clearing up her
reputation
the next day when news reached everyone
about how the old woman had helped
victor in rescuing his lost lamb
they were filled with remorse about the
shabby treatment
that admitted out to her so when victor
along with his mother
went to the forest to return her
articles
the villagers too accompanied them
when they reached her hut they found the
old woman standing outside
when she saw them she was greatly
surprised
victor stepped forward and introduced
his mother to her
victor's mother reached towards the old
woman and held her hands
thank you very much for being this kind
and helpful
if it had not been for you i doubt
whether my son would have returned
safely with the missing lamb
and please do forgive us all for having
been unkind to you all this time
i request you to please come and live
with me and victor in our
humble house the villagers too crowded
around the old woman
and asked for her forgiveness then they
too
implored her to come and live with them
and to be their guide and mother
the old woman happily agreed and spent
the rest of her life
enlightening the people by sharing her
wisdom and knowledge
of the herbs found in the mountain
region
she tried to inculcate the importance of
learning
and removing the superstitions from
their society
years later victor ii followed her
footsteps and became
capable of boldly facing any hardship
of his and others through his acquired
wisdom and knowledge
from the old woman the moral of this
story
is that the highest wisdom is not magic
but knowledge and its practical use by
using one's presence of mind
to solve a problem