English Traditional Fairy Tales and Songs.
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Thom Wittington and His Cat.
Thom Wittington and his cat.
Том Уиттингтон и его кошка
English fairy tale
английская сказка
Прочесть с ребенком.
Слушай, Даша, английскую народную сказку…
Очень давно, с тех пор прошло уже лет пятьсот, а то и больше, жил в Англии мальчик по имени Том Уиттингтон. Отец и мать его умерли, когда он был совсем маленьким.
Том был так мал, что еще не мог работать. Туго приходилось бедняжке. Обедал он скудно, а завтракать часто и вовсе не завтракал. Люди в его деревне были бедные и не могли ему дать ничего, кроме картофельных очисток да изредка черствой корки хлеба.
Но Том не унывал и чувствовал себя совсем неплохо. Особенно любил он послушать, что говорят фермеры или какие-нибудь заезжие торговцы. Каждое воскресенье Том приходил к деревенскому трактиру и, примостившись у придорожного столба, стоял и слушал. День бывал базарный, и все заходили в трактир выпить кружку-другую эля, а заодно и обсудить сделку или рассказать новости.
На деревенском базаре Том и наслушался всяких небылиц про большой город Лондон.
А в те времена, надо вам сказать, деревенские жители полагали, что в Лондоне живут одни знатные господа, которые целыми днями только и делают, что поют да танцуют, и что все улицы в Лондоне вымощены чистым золотом.
И вот раз, когда Том, как обычно, стоял у придорожного столба, через деревню проезжала большая повозка, запряженная восьмеркой лошадей с бубенчиками. У трактира возчик соскочил с козел, чтобы выпить кружку эля, и Том, набравшись храбрости, спросил его:
— Куда вы едете?
— В Лондон, куда же еще! — ответил возчик.
— Эх, вот бы мне туда попасть! — вздохнул Том.
И он рассказал возчику, что у него нет ни отца, ни матери и что ему давно хочется поехать в Лондон, посмотреть на чудеса, про которые он слышал. Ну, возчик был малый добрый и велел ему садиться рядом на козлы.
— А когда в другой раз поеду через вашу деревню, отвезу тебя назад, — сказал он, и они тронулись в путь.
Добрались благополучно до Лондона и покатили по лондонским улицам. Дик не уставал дивиться высоким башням, богатым соборам да церквам. Но ему не терпелось увидеть скорее золотую мостовую. И когда возчик остановился у какой-то гостиницы, Дик соскочил на землю и стал оглядываться по сторонам. Ему казалось: стоит только завернуть за угол, и он сразу увидит мостовую, мощенную золотом.
Но он обегал все улицы, а золота не нашел. Том устал, и есть захотелось. И вот, измученный, полумертвый от голода, он свалился у дверей мистера Фитцуоррена, богатого купца. Там его приметила кухарка — презлая женщина.
— Что тебе здесь надо, ленивый бродяга? — закричала она на бедного Тома. — Отбою нет от этих нищих! Если ты не уберешься отсюда, я тебя помоями окачу!
Но тут как раз вернулся домой к обеду сам мистер Фитцуоррен. Он увидел у своих дверей грязного и оборванного мальчика и спросил его:
— Почему ты здесь лежишь? Ты ведь большой, мог бы работать. Лентяй, верно?
— Что вы, сэр! — ответил Том. — Вовсе я не лентяй. Я всей душой рад бы работать, да никого здесь не знаю. Я хороший, добрый мальчик: умненький, воспитанный, вежливый и пригожий мальчик, сэр! Моя мама научила меня читать наизусть стихи и молитву перед сном, а папа снимать шляпу перед старшими и кланяться! Но у нас в деревне был мор, и он унес папу и братьев на небо! И мама болеет, и не может прокормить меня, и я не ел уже очень давно досыта. Я меня даже голова кружится.
— Бедняга. Ну, вставай! Пойдем со мной.
И он отвел его в свой дом, велел накормить хорошенько и дать ему посильную работу.
Том совсем счастливо зажил бы в доме этого доброго купца, если бы не злобная кухарка. Она то и дело говорила ему:
— Помни, ты подчиняешься только мне. А ну-ка, живей поворачивайся! Вычисти вертел, отмой противень, разведи огонь, открой трубу, перемой всю посуду, да попроворней, а не то!.. — И она замахивалась на Тома громадным черпаком.
Кроме того, она так привыкла одно сбивать, другое отбивать, что, когда не было мяса для отбивных, она била бедного Тома — по голове и плечам — половой щеткой и всем, что попадалось ей под руку. Она была злая женщина и совсем не жалела сирот, она думала, что все бедно одетые мальчишки – просто назойливые попрошайки, воры и мошенники!
В конце концов про дурное ее обращение с Томом узнала мисс Алиса, дочь мистера Фитцуоррена. И Алиса пригрозила кухарке, что прогонит ее, если она не станет к Тому добрее.
Кухарка стала чуть потише, зато на Тома свалилась новая беда. Кровать Тома стояла на чердаке, а там и в полу и в стенах было столько дыр, что мыши и крысы просто изводили его по ночам.
Hellp, Dasha!
How do you do?
Pleasure!
Now, Dasha, please, try to read the tale in English with your father Yurij.
Thomas Whittington and his Cat
In the reign of the famous King Edward III there was a little boy called Thom Whittington whose father and mother died when he was very young. As poor Thom was not old enough to work, he was very badly off; he got but little for his dinner, and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast; for the people who lived in the village were very poor indeed, and could not spare him much more than the parings of potatoes, and now and then a hard crust of bread.
Now Thom had heard many, many very strange things about the great city called London; for the country people at that time thought that folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies; and that there was singing and music there all day long; and that the streets were all paved with gold.
One day a large waggon and eight horses, all with bells at their heads, drove through the village while Thom was standing by the signpost. He thought that this waggon must be going to the fine town of London; so he took courage, and asked the waggoner to let him walk with him by the side of the waggon. As soon as the waggoner heard that poor Thom had no father or mother, and saw by his ragged clothes that he could not be worse off than he was, he told him he might go if he would, so off they set together.
So Thom got safe to London, and was in such a hurry to see the fine street paved all over with gold that he did not even stay to thank the kind waggoner; but ran off as fast as his legs would carry him, through many of the streets, thinking every moment to come to those that were paved with gold; for Dick had seen a guinea three times in his own little village, and remembered what a deal of money it brought in change; so he thought he had nothing to do but to take up some little bits of the pavement, and should then have as much money as he could wish for.
Poor Thom ran till he was tired, and had quite forgot his friend the waggoner; but at last, finding it grow dark, and that every way he turned he saw nothing but dirt instead of gold, he sat down in a dark corner and cried himself to sleep.
Little Thom was all night in the streets; and next morning, being very hungry, he got up and walked about, and asked everybody he met to give him a halfpenny to keep him from starving; but nobody stayed to answer him, and only two or three gave him a halfpenny; so that the poor boy was soon quite weak and faint for the want of victuals. In this distress he asked charity of several people and one of them said crossly: 'Go to work for an idle rogue.' 'That I will,' said Thom , 'I will go to work for you, if you will let me.' But the man only cursed at him and went on.
Thom Whittington and his Cat
Whittington and his Cat
Thomas Whittington and his Cat
In the reign of the famous King Edward III there was a little boy called Thom Whittington whose father and mother died when he was very young. As poor Thom was not old enough to work, he was very badly off; he got but little for his dinner, and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast; for the people who lived in the village were very poor indeed, and could not spare him much more than the parings of potatoes, and now and then a hard crust of bread.
Now Thom had heard many, many very strange things about the great city called London; for the country people at that time thought that folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies; and that there was singing and music there all day long; and that the streets were all paved with gold.
One day a large waggon and eight horses, all with bells at their heads, drove through the village while Thom was standing by the signpost. He thought that this waggon must be going to the fine town of London; so he took courage, and asked the waggoner to let him walk with him by the side of the waggon. As soon as the waggoner heard that poor Thom had no father or mother, and saw by his ragged clothes that he could not be worse off than he was, he told him he might go if he would, so off they set together.
So Thom got safe to London, and was in such a hurry to see the fine street paved all over with gold that he did not even stay to thank the kind waggoner; but ran off as fast as his legs would carry him, through many of the streets, thinking every moment to come to those that were paved with gold; for Dick had seen a guinea three times in his own little village, and remembered what a deal of money it brought in change; so he thought he had nothing to do but to take up some little bits of the pavement, and should then have as much money as he could wish for.
Poor Thom ran till he was tired, and had quite forgot his friend the waggoner; but at last, finding it grow dark, and that every way he turned he saw nothing but dirt instead of gold, he sat down in a dark corner and cried himself to sleep.
Little Thom was all night in the streets; and next morning, being very hungry, he got up and walked about, and asked everybody he met to give him a halfpenny to keep him from starving; but nobody stayed to answer him, and only two or three gave him a halfpenny; so that the poor boy was soon quite weak and faint for the want of victuals. In this distress he asked charity of several people and one of them said crossly: 'Go to work for an idle rogue.' 'That I will,' said Thom , 'I will go to work for you, if you will let me.' But the man only cursed at him and went on.
IN the reign of the famous King Edward III there was a little boy called Dick Whittington whose father and mother died when he was very young. As poor Dick was not old enough to work, he was very badly off; he got but little for his dinner, and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast; for the people who lived in the village were very poor indeed, and could not spare him much more than the parings of potatoes, and now and then a hard crust of bread.
Now Dick had heard many, many very strange things about the great city called London; for the country people at that time thought that folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies; and that there was singing and music there all day long; and that the streets were all paved with gold.
One day a large waggon and eight horses, all with bells at their heads, drove through the village while Dick was standing by the signpost. He thought that this waggon must be going to the fine town of London; so he took courage, and asked the waggoner to let him walk with him by the side of the waggon. As soon as the waggoner heard that poor Dick had no father or mother, and saw by his ragged clothes that he could not be worse off than he was, he told him he might go if he would, so off they set together.
So Dick got safe to London, and was in such a hurry to see the fine street paved all over with gold that he did not even stay to thank the kind waggoner; but ran off as fast as his legs would carry him, through many of the streets, thinking every moment to come to those that were paved with gold; for Dick had seen a guinea three times in his own little village, and remembered what a deal of money it brought in change; so he thought he had nothing to do but to take up some little bits of the pavement, and should then have as much money as he could wish for.
Poor Dick ran till he was tired, and had quite forgot his friend the waggoner; but at last, finding it grow dark, and that every way he turned he saw nothing but dirt instead of gold, he sat down in a dark corner and cried himself to sleep.
Little Dick was all night in the streets; and next morning, being very hungry, he got up and walked about, and asked everybody he met to give him a halfpenny to keep him from starving; but nobody stayed to answer him, and only two or three gave him a halfpenny; so that the poor boy was soon quite weak and faint for the want of victuals. In this distress he asked charity of several people and one of them said crossly: 'Go to work for an idle rogue.' 'That I will,' said Dick, 'I will go to work for you, if you will let me.' But the man only cursed at him and went on.
At last a good-natured-looking gentleman saw how hungry he looked. 'Why don't you go to work, my lad?' said he to Dick. 'That I would, but I do not know how to get any,' answered Dick. 'If you are willing, come along with me,' said the gentleman, and took him to a hay-field, where Dick worked briskly, and lived merrily till the hay was made.
After this he found himself as badly off as before; and being almost starved again, he laid himself down at the door of Mr Fitzwarren, a rich merchant. Here he was soon seen by the cook-maid, who was an ill-tempered creature, and happened just then to be very busy dressing dinner for her master and mistress; so she called out to poor Dick: 'What business have you there, you lazy rogue? There is nothing else but beggars. If you do not take yourself away, we will see how you will like a sousing of some dish-water; I have some here hot enough to make you jump.'
Just at that time Mr Fitzwarren himself came home to dinner; and when he saw a dirty ragged boy lying at the door, he said to him: 'Why do you lie there, my boy? You seem old enough to work; I am afraid you are inclined to be lazy.'
'No, indeed, sir,' said Dick to him, 'that is not the case, for I would work with all my heart, but I do not know anybody, and I believe I am very sick for the want of food.'
'Poor fellow, get up; let me see what ails you.'
An English story retold by Niz Smith and Avril Lethbridge
A long time ago there was once a poor boy called Dick Whittington who had no Mummy and Daddy to look after him so he was often very hungry. He lived in a little village in the country. He’d often heard stories about a far away place called London where everybody was rich and the streets were paved with gold.
Dick Whittington was determined that he would go there and dig up enough gold from the streets to make his fortune. One day he met a friendly waggoner who was going to London who said he would give him a lift there, so off they went. When they reached the big city Dick couldn’t believe his eyes, he could see horses, carriages, hundreds of people, great tall buildings, lots of mud, but nowhere could he see any gold. What a disappointment, how was he going to make his fortune? How was he even going to buy food?
After a few days he was so hungry that he collapsed in a ragged heap on the doorstep of a rich merchant’s house. Out of the house came a cook:
“Be off with you” she shouted “you dirty ragamuffin” and she tried to sweep him off the step with a broom.
At that moment the merchant arrived back at his house and, being a kindly man, took pity on poor Dick.
“Carry him into the house” he ordered his groom.
When he was fed and rested, Dick was given a job working in the kitchen. He was very grateful to the Merchant but, alas, the cook was always very bad tempered and, when no one was looking, used to beat and pinch him. The other thing that made Dick sad was that he had to sleep in a tiny room at the very top of the house and it was full of rats and mice that crawled all over his face and tried to bite his nose.
He was so desperate that he saved up all his pennies and bought a cat. The cat was a very special cat, she was the best cat in all of London at catching mice and rats. After a few weeks Dick’s life was much easier because of his clever cat who had eaten all the rats and mice and he was able to sleep in peace.
Not long after, Dick heard the merchant asking everyone in the house if they wanted to send anything on board his ship they thought they could sell. The ship was going on a long voyage to the other side of the world and the captain would sell everything on the ship so they could all make some money. Poor Dick, what could he sell?
Suddenly, a thought came to him
“Please sir, will you take my cat?”
Everyone burst out laughing, but the merchant smiled and said:
“Yes Dick, I will, and all the money from her sale will go to you”.