THERE was once a regular student：he lived in a garret，and nothing at all belonged to him；but there was also once a regular huckster：he lived on the ground floor，and the whole house was his；and the Goblin lodged¹ with him，for here，every Christmas－eve，there was a dish of porridge，with a great piece of butter float-in in the middle．The huckster could give that，and consequently the Goblin stuck to the huckster's shop，and that was very interesting．

One evening the student came through the back door to buy candles and cheese for himself．He had no one to send，and that's why he came himself．He procured² what he wanted and paid for it，and the huckster and his wife both nodded a“good evening”to him；and the woman was one who could do more than merely nod——she had an immense power of tongue！And the student nodded too，and then suddenly stood still，reading the sheet of paper in which the cheese had been wrapped．It was a leaf torn out of an old book，a book that ought not to have been torn up，a book that was full of poetry．

“There lies more of it，”said the huckster：“I gave an old woman a few coffee beans for it；give me three pence and you shall have the remainder．”

“Thanks，” said the student，“give me the book in－stead of the cheese：I can eat my bread and butter without cheese．It would be a sin to tear the book up entirely．You are a capital man，a practical man，but you under－stand no more about poetry than does that cask yonder．”

Now，that was an impolite speech，especially to－wards the cask；but the huckster laughed and the student laughed，for it was only said in fun．But the Goblin was angry that any one should dare to say such things to a huckster who lived in his own house and sold the best butter．

When it was night，and the shop was closed and all were in bed except the student，the Goblin came forth³，went into the bedroom，and took away the good lady's tongue；for she did not want that while she was asleep；and whenever he put this tongue upon any object in the room，the said object acquired speech and language，and could express its thoughts and feelings as well as the lady herself could have done；but only one object could use it at a time，and that was a good thing，otherwise they would have interrupted each other．

And the Goblin laid the tongue upon the Cask in which the old newspapers were lying．

“Is it true，”he asked，“that you don't know what poetry means？”

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1 lodged
v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属
参考例句：
The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 procured
v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条
参考例句：
These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

3 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

4 mighty
adj.强有力的；巨大的
参考例句：
A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。 The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

5 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。

6 theatricals
n.（业余性的）戏剧演出，舞台表演艺术；职业演员；戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 )；剧场的；炫耀的；戏剧性的
参考例句：
His success in amateur theatricals led him on to think he could tread the boards for a living. 他业余演戏很成功，他因此觉得自己可以以演戏为生。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I'm to be in the Thanksgiving theatricals. 我要参加感恩节的演出。 来自辞典例句

7 contentedly
adv.心满意足地
参考例句：
My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.

8 glimmered
v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
"There glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly ray." 她胸前绣着的字母闪着的非凡的光辉，将温暖舒适带给他人。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学 The moon glimmered faintly through the mists. 月亮透过薄雾洒下微光。 来自辞典例句

9 peculiar
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

10 mingled
混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]
参考例句：
The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。 The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

11 homely
adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的
参考例句：
We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。 Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭，好吗？

12 awakened
v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到
参考例句：
She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。 The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 tumult
n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹
参考例句：
The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。 His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

14 earrings
n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子
参考例句：
a pair of earrings 一对耳环 These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 conflagration
n.建筑物或森林大火
参考例句：
A conflagration in 1947 reduced 90 percent of the houses to ashes.1947年的一场大火，使90%的房屋化为灰烬。 The light of that conflagration will fade away.这熊熊烈火会渐渐熄灭。