All summer they had been drinking the dew1 and sunshine, and had been very happy.
But now autumn had come, with gray skies and winds that nipped and pinched2 them.
girl looking at weed
“We shall die soon,” said one little weed.
“I should like to do something pleasant before I die, just to show what a happy time I have had. I think I will turn red, and then people will see how I feel.”
“You will be very foolish to waste your strength in any such nonsense3!” said the other little weed.decoration45decoration “I shall live as long as I can, and hug the brown bank here.”
So the first little weed turned bright scarlet4, and was so pretty that every one looked at it.
By and by there came down the road a most beautiful maiden5.
When she saw the scarlet leaves she picked them and put them in her hair.
This made the little weed so happy that he died for pure joy.
The second little weed lived on, and turned slowly brown, like the bank.
“He was so foolish!” he said, speaking of the weed that turned scarlet. “He put all his strength into turning red, and so he died.”
“I was proud of him,” said the brown bank. “He did what he could, and people loved him.”
“Yes, but I am alive, and stay with you!” said the weed.
“Much I care!” said the bank.
—Laura E. Richards.
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1
dew
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n.露,露水 | |
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2
pinched
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adj.短缺的,匮乏的v.夹痛( pinch的过去式和过去分词 );逮捕;盗窃;使入不敷出 | |
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3
nonsense
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n.胡说,废话 | |
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4
scarlet
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n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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5
maiden
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n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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