LESSON 55 THE FIG-TREE'S STORY

THE FIG-TREE'S STORY

Ⅰ

count-less moist bab-bled

pos-sums ko-a-la steal-ing

poised glos-sy flapped

heav-i-ly pleas-ant flash-ing

1. Many years have gone by since my twin leaves peeped out of the ground in a thick scrub. All around grew countless plants and vines, tall pines, and great gums. The ground was warm and moist, and covered with ferns and mosses.

2. Soft warm rain fell from time to time, and I grew apace 〔1〕 . Soon I was able to peep above the ferns and small bushes. Far away I saw a noble river gliding by on its way to the sea, while close at my roots a stream of clear fresh water babbled 〔2〕 to join the river.

3. In the trees above me, merry 'possums played in the moonlight, while solemn koalas 〔3〕 gazed at them in wonder, as they swung from bough to bough.

4. At times, black men came stealing 〔4〕 through the bush in search of food, their spears poised 〔5〕 ready to cast at any animal that might wander near. One day, great numbers of them met, and danced in a glade 〔6〕 of the forest.

MY LEAVES THREW A DARK SHADE.

5. Still I grew, till I had pushed my way through the branches of the small trees around me, and could see the warm sun for myself. My thick glossy leaves now threw a deep shade upon the ground, and a dark round fruit grew on my branches. Many birds came to feed upon my figs, and at night, flying-foxes flapped 〔7〕 among the boughs.

6. Sometimes rain fell heavily for many days. Then the river grew angry and roared aloud. Its waters spread over the land till they washed the ground at my roots.

7. Years rolled on, and one day I saw a strange boat with a white sail, upon the broad bosom of the river. In this boat were men, but their skins were white, not black like the skins of the men whom I had seen in the days gone by.

8. I was soon to learn more about these white men, for by-and-by great numbers of them came, and spread through the scrub. Down fell giant 〔8〕 pines and great gums before their flashing axes.

9. The men sawed the trunks of the trees into planks, and with them built houses on the side of the stream. I, too, feared for my life, but I was spared, as my wood was too soft for their use, and I cast a pleasant shade.

注释

〔1〕 apace: quickly.

〔2〕 babbled: made a soft rippling noise.

〔3〕 koala: native bear.

〔4〕 stealing: Walking quietly; gliding.

〔5〕 poised: Balanced in their hands.

〔6〕 glade: An open space.

〔7〕 flapped: Flew noisily.

〔8〕 giant: Huge; very tall.