The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (1)

The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (1)

Have you ever seen an old wooden cupboard quite black with age, and ornamented with carved foliage and curious figures?

Well, once upon a time in a great big house, there just such a cupboard stood in a parlor, and had been left to the family as a legacy by the great-grandmother.



It was covered from top to bottom with carved roses and tulips. The most curious scrolls were drawn upon it, and in the middle of them, little stags’ heads with antlers peered out.

In the center of the cupboard door was the carved figure of a man most ridiculous to look at.
He grinned at you, for no one could call it laughing. He had goat’s legs, little horns on his head, and a long beard.

The children in the room always called him, “Major      General-Field-Sergeant-Commander Billy-Goat’s-Legs.”

It was certainly a very difficult name to pronounce, and there are very few who have ever receive such a title, but then it seemed wonderful how he ever came to be carved at all.
Yet there he was.

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あまり馴染みがないと思いますが、アンデルセン童話のひとつです。何箇所か、（読みやすいように）、ほんの少し手を加えています。

タグ：やさしい洋書 やさしい英語