一一中文网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

和梨子一起卖掉的小女孩（第3页）

Whatareyoudoingupthere，mydaughter?"

askedtheoldwoman.Perinatoldheraboutthedifficultyshewasin.Theoldwomansaid，"

Takethesethreepoundsofgrease，threepoundsofbread，andthreepoundsofmilletandbeonyourway."

Perinathankedherverymuchandmovedon.Shecametoabakerywherethreewomenwerepullingouttheirhairtosweepouttheovenwith.Perinagavethemthethreepoundsofmillet，whichtheythenusedtosweepouttheovenandallowedthelittlegirltocontinueonherway.Onandonshewalkedandmetthreemastiffsthatbarkedandrushedatanyonecomingtheirway.Perinathrewthemthethreepoundsofbread，andtheyletherpass.Afterwalkingformilesandmilesshecametoablood-redriver，whichshehadnoideahowtocross.Buttheoldwomanhadtoldhertosay:"

Finewatersored，Imustmakehaste;Else，ofyouwouldItaste."

Atthosewords，thewaterspartedandletherthrough.Ontheothersideoftheriver，Perinabeheldoneofthefinestandlargestpalacesintheworld.Butthedoorwasopeningandslammingsorapidlythatnoonecouldpossiblygoin.Perinathereforeappliedthethreepoundsofgreasetoitshinges，andfromthenonitopenedandclosedquitegently.Inside，Perinaspiedthetreasurechestsittingonasmalltable.Shepickeditupandwasabouttogooffwithit，whenthechestspoke:"

Door，killher，killher!"

"

Iwont，either，sinceshegreasedmyhingesthathadntbeenlookedaftersincegoodnessknowswhen."

Perinareachedtheriver，andthechestsaid，"

River，drownher，drownher!"

"

Iwont，either，"

repliedtheriver，"

sinceshecalledmeFinewatersored."

Shecametothedogs，andthechestsaid，"

Dogs，devourher，devourher!"

"

Wewont，either，"

repliedthedogs，"

sinceshegaveusthreepoundsofbread."

Shecametothebakeryoven."

Oven，burnher，burnher!"

Butthethreewomenreplied，"

Wewont，either，sinceshegaveusthreepoundsofmillet，sothatnowwecanspareourhair."

Whenshewasalmosthome，Perina，whohadasmuchcuriosityasthenextlittlegirl，decidedtopeepintothetreasurechest.Sheopenedit，andoutcameahenandherbroodofgoldchicks.Theyscuttledawaytoofastforasoultocatchthem.Perinastruckoutafterthem.Shepassedtheappletree，buttheywerenowhereinsight.Shepassedthepeachtree，wheretherewasstillnosignofthem.Shecametothepeartree，andtherestoodthelittleoldwomanwithawandinherhandandhenandchicksfeedingaroundher."

Shoo，shoo!"

wenttheoldwoman，andthehenandchicksreenteredthetreasurechest.Uponherarrival，thekingssoncameouttomeether."

Whenmyfatheraskedwhatyouwantasareward，tellhimthatboxfilledwithcoalinthecellar."

Onthedoorstepoftheroyalpalacestoodthemaidservants，theking，andtheentirecourt.Perinahandedthekingthehenwiththebroodofgoldchicks."

Askforwhateveryouwant，"

saidtheking，"

andIwillgiveittoyou."

"

Iwouldliketheboxofcoalinthecellar，"

repliedPerina.Theybroughthertheboxofcoal，whichsheopened，andoutjumpedthekingsson，whowashidinginside.ThekingwasthenhappyforPerinatomarryhisson.（Monferrato）NOTES:"

TheLittleGirlSoldwiththePears"

（Labambinavendutaconlepere）fromComparetti，10，Monferrato，Piedmont.IchangedthenameMargheritinatoPerina（Pearlet），andIinventedthemotifofthepeartreeandthelittleoldwoman（intheoriginal，themagicpropscomefromthekingsson，whoisunderaspell），toreinforcethepeargirllink.Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino，translatedbyGeorgeMartin，PantheonBooks，NewYork1980