安徒生童话：沙冈那边的一段故事_少儿英语故事

安徒生童话：沙冈那边的一段故事

　　Childhood has bright days for every one， and the memory of them shines through the whole after-life. The boy had many sources of pleasure and enjoyment； the coast for miles and miles was full of playthings， for it was a mosaic of pebbles， some red as coral or yellow as amber， and others again white and rounded like birds eggs and smoothed and prepared by the sea. Even the bleached fishes skeletons， the water plants dried by the wind， and seaweed， white and shining long linen-like bands waving between the stonesall these seemed made to give pleasure and occupation for the boys thoughts， and he had an intelligent mind； many great talents lay dormant in him. How readily he remembered stories and songs that he heard， and how dexterous he was with his fingers！ With stones and mussel-shells he could put together pictures and ships with which one could decorate the room； and he could make wonderful things from a stick， his foster-mother said， although he was still so young and little. He had a sweet voice， and every melody seemed to flow naturally from his lips. And in his heart were hidden chords， which might have sounded far out into the world if he had been placed anywhere else than in the fishermans hut by the North Sea.

　　One day another ship was wrecked on the coast， and among other things a chest filled with valuable flower bulbs was washed ashore. Some were put into saucepans and cooked， for they were thought to be fit to eat， and others lay and shrivelled in the sandthey did not accomplish their purpose， or unfold their magnificent colours. Would Jorgen fare better？ The flower bulbs had soon played their part， but he had years of apprenticeship before him. Neither he nor his friends noticed in what a monotonous， uniform way one day followed another， for there was always plenty to do and see. The ocean itself was a great lesson-book， and it unfolded a new leaf each day of calm or stormthe crested wave or the smooth surface.