Сборник лучших английских сказок. Уровень 1

The farmer decided to watch the third night; so he hid in a closet next to the kitchen, and he left the door slightly open, that he might see what happened.

Tick, tick, went the clock, and the farmer was nearly tired of waiting; he had to bite his little finger to keep himself awake, when suddenly the door of his house opened, and in rushed[73 - rush in – ворваться] maybe a thousand pixies, laughing and dancing and pulling Beauty’s rope till they had brought the cow into the middle of the kitchen.

Tick, tick, went the clock, but he did not hear it now. He was staring at the pixies and his last beautiful cow. He saw them throw her down, fall on her, and kill her; and then with their knives they ripped her open, and cut off all the meat. Then out ran some of the little people and brought in firewood and made a roaring fire on the hearth[74 - hearth – очаг], and there they cooked the flesh of the cow – they baked and they boiled, they stewed and they fried.

�Take care,’ cried one, who seemed to be the king, �let no bone be broken.

’

Well, when they had all eaten, they began playing games with the bones, tossing them one to another. One little leg-bone fell close to the closet door, and the farmer was so afraid that the pixies should come there and find him in their search for the bone, that he put out his hand and picked it up. Then he saw the king stand on the table and say, �Gather the bones!’

Round and round flew the imps, picking up the bones.

�Arrange them,’ said the king; and they placed them all in their proper positions in the hide[75 - hide – зд. шкура] of the cow. Then they folded the skin over them, and the king struck the pile of bone and skin with his rod. Whisht! Up sprang the cow and lowed dismally[76 - dismally – зловеще]. It was alive again; but alas! as the pixies dragged it back to the cowshed, it halted[77 - halt – зд. хромать], because a bone was missing. The cock crew[78 - crow – кукарекать], away they flew, and the farmer went trembling to bed.

EXERCISES

1)В True or false?

1.В The farmer had three cows.

2.В The first cow who became thin was Diamond.

3.В In the morning the fireplace was full of white wood ashes.

4.В The farmer decided to watch the third night.

5.В The farmer hid in a cowshed.

6.В When the door of his house opened, three witches rushed in.

7.В The last cow started to halt.