LITTLE SIR CAT

 Little Sir Cat Sees Cinderella

One evening Little Sir Cat came to a small cottage, through the window of which he saw sitting by the fireside, a ragged¹ girl and a queer little old woman dressed in a green gown and a high-peaked hat.

 

"I do believe that's her Fairy Godmother," he whispered, when, all of a sudden, the old woman waved her wand, and the next moment the ragged girl was clothed in a beautiful ball dress, and two cunning little glass slippers², just like those in the fairy story book, appeared on the hearth³.

 

Then a big pumpkin⁴ rolled out through the door and turned into a splendid coach, followed by six little mice, who at once changed into six beautiful white horses.

 

"I'd like to have eaten one of those mice," thought Little Sir Cat, "but it's too late now."

 

Pretty soon the girl walked out in her little glass slippers and stepped into the coach, the powdered footman jumping up behind as it rattled⁵ down the street and away into the darkness.

 

Little Sir Cat was about to turn away disappointed and hungry, when the Fairy Godmother opened the window and looked out: "Why, kitten, what are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

 

"Looking for a place to sleep."

 

"Come right in," she answered, in a kind voice, and, leaning out, helped tired little Puss over the windowsill.

 

"Take off your boots and make yourself comfortable, while I get you a nice supper of cake and cream."

 

Standing⁶ his boots up in a corner of the room, he warmed his tired toes by the open fire. After he had eaten his supper the Fairy Godmother said, "You can stay here all night if you wish," and he was so tired and sleepy that he didn't hear her add, "but you'd better get away early before Cinderella's two big cross sisters come down for breakfast," for when he woke up it was morning and somebody was coming downstairs.

 

But, oh, dear me! He had hardly pulled on his boots when the door opened, and in came Cinderella's two cross and very ugly sisters.

 

"Good morning!" said Little Sir Cat.

 

"Mercy! What's that?" they both screamed, while one of them seized a long-handled broom, pushed him down the dark cellar steps and bolted the door. It was very damp and dark, just like a dungeon⁷, and he was just about to give up all hope when the door at the head of the stairs opened, and there stood Cinderella.

 

"How you startled me!" she exclaimed, with a laugh, looking at his pretty red top boots. "But after what happened last night I ought not to be surprised at anything."

 

"Of course you shouldn't," he answered.

 

"Why, what do you know?" asked Cinderella.

 

"I saw you, but I won't tell," he added, as a frightened look came over her pretty face. "Please give me some breakfast."

 

And when he had finished he said good-by, but Cinderella hardly heard him, for she was still dreaming of the handsome prince whom she had met the night before.

 

And pretty soon—I'll tell you another story—unless—

 

Tomorrow it rains dogs and cats

And ruins all the children's hats.

1 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

2 slippers   

n. 拖鞋

参考例句：

• a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
• He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋，倒在床上。

3 hearth   

n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面

参考例句：

• She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来，在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
• She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里，打开电灯。

4 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

5 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 dungeon   

n.地牢，土牢

参考例句：

• They were driven into a dark dungeon.他们被人驱赶进入一个黑暗的地牢。
• He was just set free from a dungeon a few days ago.几天前，他刚从土牢里被放出来。