THERE was an old country－house which belonged toyoung,wealthy people.They had riches and blessings,they liked to enjoy themselves,but they did good as well, they wished to make everybody as happy as they werethemselves.

On Christmas Eve a beautifully decorated Christmas－tree stood in the old hall,where the fire burned in thechimney,and fir branches were hung round the old pic－tures.Here were assembled the family and their guests,and there was dancing and singing.

Earlier in the evening there had been Christmas gaietyin the servants'hall.Here also was a great fir－tree withred and white candles,small Danish flags,swans and fish－ing－nets,cut out of coloured paper,and fined with"good-ies".The poor children from the neighbourhood were invit- ed,every one had his mother with him.The mothers didnot look much at the Christmas－tree,but at the Christmastable,where there lay linen² and woollen cloth－stuff forgowns and stuff for trousers.They and the bigger childrenlooked there,only the very little ones stretched out theirhands to the candles,and the tinsel and flags.

The whole party came early in the afternoon and gotChristmas porridge and roast goose with red cabbage.Thenwhen the Christmas－tree was seen and the gifts distributed, each got a little glass of punch with apple fritters.Thenthey went back to their own poor homes and talked of thegood living,that is to say good things to eat;and the giftswere once more inspected.There were now Garden Kirstenand Garden Ole.They were married,and had their houseand daily bread for weeding and digging in the garden ofthe big house.Every Christmas festival they got a goodshare of the gifts;they had five children,and all of themwere clothed by the family.

"They are generous people,our master and mistress!" said they,"but they have the means to be so,and theyhave pleasure in doing it."

"Here are good clothes for the four children towear,"said Ole;"but why is there nothing for the'crip－ple'?They used to think about him too,although he wasnot at the festival."

It was the eldest³ of the children they called"TheCripple",he was called Hans otherwise.

As a little boy,he was the smartest and liveliestchild,but he became all at once"loose in the legs",asthey call it,he could neither walk nor stand,and now hehad been lying in bed for five years.

"Yes,I got something for him too,"said the moth－er,"but it is nothing much,it is only a book to read."

"He won't get fat on that,"said the father.

But Hans was glad of it.He was a very clever boywho liked to read,but used his time also for working,sofar as one who must always lie in bed could be useful.Hewas very handy,and knitted woollen stockings,and evenbedcovers.The lady at the big house had praised andbought them.It was a story－book Hans had got;in itthere was much to read and much to think about.

点击收听单词发音  

1 blessing
n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿
参考例句：
The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。 A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

2 linen
n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的
参考例句：
The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。 Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

3 eldest
adj.最年长的，最年老的
参考例句：
The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。 The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

4 nettle
n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼
参考例句：
We need a government that will grasp the nettle.我们需要一个敢于大刀阔斧地处理问题的政府。 She mightn't be inhaled as a rose,but she might be grasped as a nettle.她不是一朵香气扑鼻的玫瑰花，但至少是可以握在手里的荨麻。

5 psalm
n.赞美诗，圣诗
参考例句：
The clergyman began droning the psalm.牧师开始以单调而低沈的语调吟诵赞美诗。 The minister droned out the psalm.牧师喃喃地念赞美诗。

6 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。

7 grandeur
n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华
参考例句：
The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。 These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

8 inquisitive
adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的
参考例句：
Children are usually inquisitive.小孩通常很好问。 A pat answer is not going to satisfy an inquisitive audience.陈腔烂调的答案不能满足好奇的听众。

9 ruminated
v.沉思( ruminate的过去式和过去分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼
参考例句：
In the article she ruminated about what recreations she would have. 她在文章里认真考虑了她应做些什么消遣活动。 来自辞典例句 He ruminated on his defenses before he should accost her father. 他在与她父亲搭话前，仔细地考虑着他的防范措施。 来自辞典例句

10 industrious
adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的
参考例句：
If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。 She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

11 awakening
n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的
参考例句：
the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣 People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。

12 delightful
adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的
参考例句：
We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。 Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

13 gilt
adj.镀金的；n.金边证券
参考例句：
The plates have a gilt edge.这些盘子的边是镀金的。 The rest of the money is invested in gilt.其余的钱投资于金边证券。

14 foresight
n.先见之明，深谋远虑
参考例句：
The failure is the result of our lack of foresight.这次失败是由于我们缺乏远虑而造成的。 It required a statesman's foresight and sagacity to make the decision.作出这个决定需要政治家的远见卓识。

15 binding
有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的
参考例句：
The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。 Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

16 tug
v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船
参考例句：
We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。 The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。

17 joyful
adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的
参考例句：
She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。 They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

18 joyfully
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地
参考例句：
She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。 During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。