介绍:
狼婆婆
Once, long ago, there was a woman who lived alone in the country with her three children, Shang, Tao, and Paotze.
On the day of their grandmother’s birthday, the good mother set off to see her, leaving the three children home alone.
Be good while I’m away my heart-loving children; I will not return tonight. Remember to close the door tight at sunset and latch it well.
But an old wolf lived nearby and saw the good mother leave.
At dusk, disguised as an old woman, he came up to the house of the children and knocked on the door twice.
Knock! Knock!
Who is it?
My little jewels, this is your grandmother, your Po Po.
Po Po! Our mother has gone to visit you!
To visit me? I have not met her along the way. She must have taken a different route.
Po Po! How is it that you come so late?
The journey is long, my children, and the day is short.
Po Po, why is your voice so low?
Your grandmother has caught a cold, good children, it is dark and windy out here. Quickly open up, and let your Po Po come in.
Tao and Paotze could not wait.
One unlatched the door and the other opened it.
Po Po, Po Po, come in!
The moment the wolf entered, he blew out the candle.
Po Po, why did you blow out the candle? The room is now dark.
The wolf didn’t answer.
Tao and Paotze rushed to their Po Po and wished to be hugged.
Old wolf held Tao.
Good child you are so plump. You’ve grown to be so sweet.
Soon the old wolf pretended to be sleepy.
All the chicks are in the coop.
He climbed into the bed, Paotze climbed in at one end with the wolf, and Shang and Tao climbed in at the other.
Po Po, Po Po, your foot has a bush on it.
Po Po has bought hemp strings to weave you a basket.
Shang touched grandmother’s sharp claws.
Po Po, Po Po your hand has thorns on it.
Po Po has brought an awl to make shoes for you.
Shang lit the light and the wolf blew it out again, Shang saw the wolf’s hairy face.
Po Po, Po Po you must be hungry. Have you eaten gingko nuts?
What is gingko?
Gingko is soft and tender like the skin of a baby. One taste and you will live forever. The nuts grow on the tree just outside the door.
Oh, dear. Po Po is old, her bones have become brittle. No longer can she climb trees.
Good Po Po, we can pick some for you.
The wolf was delighted.
Shang jumped out of the bed and Tao and Paotze went with her to the gingko tree.
There, Shang told her sisters about the wolf and all three climbed the tree.
The wolf waited.
And waited.
Plump Tao, sweet Paotze, and Shang did not come back, and no one brought back any nuts.
Where are you, children?
Po Po, we are on the top of the tree eating gingko nuts.
Good children, pluck some for me.
But Po Po, gingko is magic only when it is plucked directly from the tree. You must come and pluck it from the tree yourself.
The wolf came outside and paced back and forth under the tree where he heard the three children eating gingko nuts at the top.
Oh these are so tasty! The skin so tender.
The wolf’s mouth began to water for a taste.
Po Po, Po Po, I have a plan. At the door there is a big basket. Behind it is a rope. Tie the rope to the basket, sit in the basket and throw the other end to me. I can pull you up.
The wolf was overjoyed and fetched the basket and the rope, then threw one end of the rope to the top of the tree.
Shang caught the rope and began to pull the basket up and up.
Halfway she let go of the rope, and the basket and the wolf feel to the ground.
I am so small and weak, Po Po. I could not hold the rope alone.
This time I will help. Let us do it again.
The wolf had only one thought in his mind: to taste a gingko nut.
He climbed into the basket again. Shang and Tao pulled the rope together, higher and higher.
Again, they let go, and again the wolf tumbled down, down, and bumped his head.
The wolf was furious. He growled and cursed.
We could not hold the rope, Po Po, but only one gingko nut and you will be well again.
I shall give a hand to my sisters this time. This time we shall not fail.
Now the children pulled with all of their strength.
As they pulled they sang.
Hei yo, hei yo.
The basket rose straight up, higher than the first time, higher than the second time, higher and higher and higher until it nearly reached the top of the tree.
When the wolf reached out, he could almost touch the highest branch.
But at that moment, Shang coughed and they all let go of the rope, and the basket fell down and down and down.
Not only did the wolf bump his head, but he broke his heart to pieces.
Po Po!
No answer.
Po Po!
Still no answer.
Po Po!
Still no answer.
The children climbed to the branches just above the wolf and saw that he was truly dead.
Then they climbed down, went into the house, closed the door, locked the door with the latch and fell peacefully asleep.
On the next day, their mother returned with baskets of food from their real Po Po, and told her the story of the Po Po who had come.
3
