书城外语澳大利亚学生文学读本(第2册)
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第39章 lITTlE BOy BluE

The little toy dog is covered with dust, But sturdy and stanch he stands;And the little toy soldier is red with rust, And his musket moulds in his hands.

Time was when the little toy dog was new, And the soldier was passing fair,And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue Kissed them and put them there.

"Now, don"t you go till I come, " he said, And don"t you make any noise!

So, toddling off to his trundle bed, He dreamed of the pretty toys.

And, as he was dreaming, an angel song Awakened our Little Boy Blue;Oh, the years are many, the years are long, But the little toy friends are true!

Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand, Each in the same old place,Awaiting the touch of a little hand, The smile of a little face;And they wonder, as waiting these long years through, In the dust of that little chair,What has become of our Little Boy Blue Since he kissed them and put them there.

- Eugene Field

Author.-Eugene Field (1850-1895) was born in the United States of America. He became a writer for the newspapers and a writer of books. His best work was found in his poems for children. Some of them are very sad; some of them are very funny. He was a tender-hearted, lovable man.

General Notes.-Tell any story of what you have seen that makes youthink that children believe their toys to be alive. What happened to Little Boy Blue? Who kept them and thought sadly that they were waiting for their little master?