THE SQUIRREL, THE HARE AND THE LITTLE GREY RABBIT (1)

THE SQUIRREL, THE HARE AND THE LITTLE GREY RABBIT (1)


左：Squirrel リスl　中：Hare 野ウサギ　右：Little Grey Rabbit 灰色ウサギ

A long time ago, there lived in a little house on the ege of a wood, a  Hare, a Squirrel, and a little Grey Rabbit.

The Hare, who wore a blue coat on weekdays and a red coat on Sundays, was a conceiled fellow.

THe Squirrel, who wore a brown dress on weekdays, and a yellow dress on Sundays, was proud.
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conceiled fellow：自惚れ屋の男　　proud：高慢な人

But the Little Grey Rabbit, who always wore a grey dress with white collar and cuffs, was not proud at all.

Every morning when the birds began to twitter she sprang out of her bed in a attic and ran downstairs to the kitchen.

She went into the shed for firewood, and lighted the fire.
Then she filled her kettle with clear water from the brook which ran past the door, just beyond the garden.

While the water boiled she swept the floor and dusted the kitchen.
She put the three small chair round the table and spread a blue and white cloth.
She made the tea in a brown teapot from daisy-heads which she kept in a canister on the dresser, and then she called the Squirrel and the Hare.

" Squirrel, wake up ! Hare,Hare, Hare, breakfast is ready. "

Downstairs they strolled, rubbing their eyes, and wriggling their ears, but the their eyes, and wriggling their ears, but the Little Grey Rabbit was already in the garden, gathering lettuce.

" Good morning, Grey Rabbit, " yawn the Hare. " I declare you have given us lettuce again. Really,my dear, you must think of something new for breakfast. "

" Good morning, Grey Rabbit," said the squirrel. " Where's the milk ?"
" It hasn't come yet, " she said.

" Tut, " exclaimed the Squirrel. " Late again. We must get another milkman. "

Just then " Tap, Tap, Tap " sounded on the door.
Little Grey Rabbit ran to open it and there stood the Hedgehog with a pint of milk.

" I nearly didn't get here at all, " said he. " Such a dreadful thing has happened !  A Weasel has come to live in the wood.  They say it isn't safe to be out after dusk. "
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Hedgehog：ハリねずみ　 Weasel：いたち

(つづく　1/8)
 

Little Grey Rabbit is the lead character in an English classic series of children's books, written by Alison Uttley and illustrated by Margaret Tempest.

THE SQUIRREL, THE HARE AND THE LITTLE GREY RABBIT was the first book of 'Little Grey Rabbit series' published in 1929.
ほのぼのとした名作絵本ですね。
作者が子供の頃から創って息子さんに話していた物語を、寄宿舎に入った息子さんへの手紙の中に書いたのが、この物語が世に出るきっかけだったそうです。機関車トーマスの逸話と似てますね。