英语睡前故事：39 - The Trees Everlasting

故事原文：

“The Trees Everlasting
A CHEROKEE MYTH


The Creator was pleased when he made all of the plants and trees, but before he finished he wanted to give them a test. The mountains and earth and sky were of an enduring nature, strong and vigilant, and he wanted to know to what degree the plants and trees might be so endowed.
The test was simple. Each plant and tree was asked to stay awake for seven days and nights.
The first night was no problem. Every plant and tree stayed awake, even the tiniest among them.
The second night was too much for the tiny plants and many of them fell asleep standing. On the third night a few more dropped off into slumber, along with some wispy trees and some who were just lazy. Night after night, a few more fell, until the only trees left on the seventh night were the firs, cedars, spruce, laurel, holly, pine, and some herbs.”


“The Creator was proud of those who endured, and declared that from that day forward the trees would be a glorious everlasting green, while all of the others would lose their leaves in the autumn of each year, and sleep, as was their will, through winter. In this way, strength and endurance were honored for all time.”


Excerpt From
365 Bedtime Stories
Christine Allison