THERE was a man who had written some new verses for the A．B．C．book；two lines for every letter，as in the old A．B．C．books；he thought that one ought to have something new，the old verses were so stale，and he always thought so well of his own．The new A．B．C．book was as yet only in manuscript，and it was placed be－side the old printed one in the big book－case，in which stood so many learned and interesting books；but the old A．B．C．book would not be a neighbour to the new one，and so it had sprung from the shelf，and at the same time had given the new one a push，so that it also lay upon the floor with all its loose leaves scattered¹ round about．The old A．B．C．book was open at the first page，and it is the most important：all the letters stand there，the big and the little．That pag contains everything that all the other books live upon，the alphabet，the letters，which really rule the world；they have a terrible power！It entirely² depends on how they are commanded to stand；they can give life，put to death，gladden，and affliet．Placed separately they signify nothing，but placed in ranks—ah！When our Lord caused them to be placed under His thoughts，we learned more than we had strength to bear，we bowed ourselves deeply，but the letters had the strength to bear it．

There the books lay now，facing upwards！And the cock in the capital A shone with red，blue，and green feathers；he thrust out his chest，for he knew what the letters meant，and knew that he was the only living thing amongst them．

When the old A．B．C．book fell on the floor，he flapped his wings，flew out，and set himself on the edge of the book-case，preened his feathers and crowed，so that echo rang with it．Every book in the book-case，which at other times stood day and night as in a doze³ when not in use，heard the trumpet－call—and then the cock talked clearly and distinctly about the injustice⁴ which had been done to the worthy⁵ old A．B．C．book．

“Everything must now be new，be different，”he said，“everything must be so advanced！Children are so clever，that they can now read before they know the letters．

“They shall have something new，”said he who wrote the new A．B．C．verses，which lie there scattered on the floor．I know them！More than ten times have I heard him read them aloud to himself！It was such a pleasure to him．No，may I beg to have my own verses，the good old ones with Xanthus，and the pictures which belong to them；these will I fight for，these will I crow for！Every book in the book－case knows them well．Now I shall read the new ones he has written，read them with all calmness，and then let us agree that they are no good！”

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1 scattered
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

2 entirely
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。 His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 doze
v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐
参考例句：
He likes to have a doze after lunch.他喜欢午饭后打个盹。 While the adults doze,the young play.大人们在打瞌睡，而孩子们在玩耍。

4 injustice
n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利
参考例句：
They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。 All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

5 worthy
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
参考例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。 There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

6 boor
n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬
参考例句：
I'm a bit of a boor,so I hope you won't mind if I speak bluntly.我是一个粗人，说话直来直去，你可别见怪。 If he fears the intellectual,he despises the boor.他对知识分子有戒心，但是更瞧不起乡下人。

7 hurrah
int.好哇，万岁，乌拉
参考例句：
We hurrah when we see the soldiers go by.我们看到士兵经过时向他们欢呼。 The assistants raised a formidable hurrah.助手们发出了一片震天的欢呼声。

8 trifling
adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的
参考例句：
They quarreled over a trifling matter.他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。 So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency,though surely a very trifling one.直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利，不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。

9 calves
n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解
参考例句：
a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛 The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 brass
n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器
参考例句：
Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。 Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

12 Uranus
n.天王星
参考例句：
Uranus is unusual because it is tilted.天王星非常特殊，因为它是倾斜的。 Uranus represents sudden change and rebellion.天王星代表突然性的改变和反叛。

13 zephyr
n.和风，微风
参考例句：
I feel very comfortable in the zephyr from the sea.从海上吹来的和风令我非常惬意。 Zephyr,the West Wind,blew away the clouds so that Apollo,the sun god,could shine and made this flower bloom.西风之神吹散了云朵，太阳神阿波罗得以照耀它并使它开花。