初级 美国传奇

Part 2: Johnny becomes a Legend

For many years Johnny walked thousands of miles across the frontier. He planted apple seeds, lent books, protected animals and made friends with settlers and Indians.

The Indians liked Johnny because he had no weapons and respected nature. Johnny learned to speak the languages of many tribes.

One summer morning many Indians arrived at a frontier village. The Indians wanted to destroy the village and kill the settlers .The settlers wanted to send a messenger to a military fort to ask for help. The fort was 30 miles away. It was very dangerous. There were enemy Indians everywhere.

Johnny wanted to save the lives of the settlers. He knew all the secret paths in the forest and in the mountains. He was not afraid.

He took the message to the fort. The soldiers at the fort got on their horses and went to defend the settlers.

A few years later, Johnny visited an Indian village. He heard the Indian chief say, "Many settlers live near the river. Tonight we will kill all of them."

That evening Johnny ran to the home of every settler and said, "The Indians will attack you tonight. Run away! Go and hide in the forest!" The settlers escaped to the forest and no one was killed.

Johnny loved all forms of human and animal life. He didn't eat meat because he didn't want to kill animals. He loved insects, too. He loved and respected every living thing. He was a very special person.

One autumn day, Johnny was near an apple orchard. He heard the cry of an animal. Behind a tree he found a deer.

"My poor friend!" said Johnny. "Don't be afraid!"

He examined the deer and said, "Your leg is injured. I can help you." The deer wasn't afraid.

Johnny stayed with the deer for many days and helped it.

"I'm happy you can walk again. Go and run in the forest, my little friend!"

During a snow storm, Johnny wanted to sleep inside a small cave. He saw a big family of racoons( 浣熊) sleeping inside the cave. He did not want the raccoons to go outside into the snow. So Johnny slept outside in the cold!

For almost 50 years, Johnny Apple seed helped the American frontier to grow. His apple trees, his books, his generosity and his kindness made the frontier a happy place.

Johnny became a legend during his life. Everyone loved him. He was a true friend of the settlers, the Indians and the animals.

In America today, people remember him with admiration. When Americans eat an apple, they often think of Johnny Appleseed who made apple trees grow all over America.

中级 哈姆雷特
Part Two: Hamlet and Ophelia

Ophelia lives at the castle. She has a brother, Laertes, who is studying in Paris. Ophelia is in love with Hamlet. One day, while she is sewing, Hamlet comes to her room. Later she tells her father Polonius, a foolish old lord,about Hamlet's visit.

'He looked so sad. He was only half dressed. He stared at me and then he left without saying a word.'

'Is he mad for your love?'

'I don't know, but I think so.'

'I must tell the King and Queen.'

Polonius trusts Claudius and Gertrude. He has no idea that Claudius is a murderer or that Gertrude has been unfaithful to King Hamlet.

'Hamlet's love for my daughter has made him mad.'

'That is possible… but how can we know for certain?'

'We shall hide while Hamlet and Ophelia are talking. We shall listen to their conversation and discover the truth. You will see that I am right.'

Polonius gives instructions to Ophelia. He wants her to walk up and down the castle hall, reading her prayer book.

'Ophelia, you must help us find out the truth about Prince Hamlet's madness.'

'I shall obey you, Father.'

'Quickly, here he comes. Pretend that you are reading.'

Hamlet is thinking deeply. He wants to escape from his problem by committing suicide. His mind is full of questions.

'To be, or not to be? That is the question. Is it better to live or die? But what happens after we die? Nobody knows.'

'I am stupid! I must stop thinking and do something. I must discover the truth.'

'But look, here comes Ophelia. Why is she standing there? Is it a trap?'

The Prince is angry with Ophelia because he realise that she is a spy for her father Plolonius and king Claudius.

'I loved you once.'

'I believed so.'

'No, I never loved you! All women are stupid. They paint their faces and talk foolishly. Nobody should get married. Go away to a nunnery.'

The King does not believe that love is the reason for Hamlet's madness.

He is very suspicious.

'Perhaps Hamlet knows my secret.'

'We must watch him carefully. It is dangerous When a Prince is mad.'

'Poor Hamlet. Everybody admired him before. He was the perfect prince.

Now his mind is ruined. Help him, sweet heavens.'

Narrator: Hamlet enjoyed making fun of Polonius. One day, the Prince was reading a book when he mat the foolish old lord.

Polonius: What are you reading?

Hamlet: Words, words words.

Polonius: But what is the book about?

Hamlet: It's full of lies. The writer says that old men are foolish, weak and have grey hair.

Polonius: Hmmph.

Hamlet: Can you see that cloud, Polonius?

Polonius: Yes, my lord.

Hamlet: It looks like a camel, doesn't it?

Polonius: Yes, my lord.

Hamlet: No, I think it looks like a weasel.

Polonius: Yes, my lord.

Hamlet: Or perhaps it looks like a whale.

Polonius: Yes, my lord.

Hamlet: Goodbye, you foolish old man.