THE WEEDS 1

 It was a fine and fruitful year.

 

Rain and sunshine came turn and turn about, in just the way that was best for the corn. As soon as the farmer thought that things were getting rather dry, he could be quite sure that it would rain next day. And, if he considered that he had had rain enough, then the clouds parted at once, just as though it were the farmer that was in command.

 

The farmer, therefore, was in a good humour and did not complain as he usually did. Cheerful and rejoicing¹ he walked over the land with his two boys:

 

"It will be a splendid harvest this year," he said. "I shall get my barns full and make lots of money. Then Jens and Ole shall have a new pair of trousers apiece and I will take them with me to market."

 

"If you don't cut me soon, farmer, I shall be lying down flat," said the rye and bowed her heavy ears right down to the ground.

 

Now the farmer could not hear this, but was quite able to see what the rye was thinking of; and so he went home to fetch his sickle².

 

"It's a good thing to be in the service of men," said the rye. "I can be sure now that all my grains will be well taken care of. Most of them will go to the mill and that, certainly, is not very pleasant. But afterwards they will turn into beautiful new bread; and one must suffer something for honour's sake. What remains³ the farmer will keep and sow next year on his land."

1 rejoicing   

n.欢乐，狂喜

参考例句：

• a time of great rejoicing 尽情欢庆的时光
• The bridge was completed in 1811 amidst much rejoicing. 大桥于1811 年竣工，当时大家欢欣鼓舞。

2 sickle   

n.镰刀

参考例句：

• The gardener was swishing off the tops of weeds with a sickle.园丁正在用镰刀嗖嗖地割掉杂草的顶端。
• There is a picture of the sickle on the flag. 旗帜上有镰刀的图案。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。