《小学英语 英语故事（童话故事）A Story 一个故事》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《小学英语 英语故事（童话故事）A Story 一个故事（4页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、AStory一个故事All the apple trees in the garden were blooming. They had hastened to cover themselves with blossoms before their green leaves were fully unfolded. All the ducklings were in the farmyard, and so was the cat; it basked in the sun and tried to lick the sunshine from its own paws.And to look
2、across the fields was a pleasing sight; there stood the corn, so beautifully green, while all the small birds chirped and twittered as happily as if they were having a great holiday.And, indeed, people could rightly think of this as a holiday, for it was Sunday. The bells were chiming while people i
3、n their best clothes were walking to church and looking so cheerful. It was such a bright, warm day that one might well say: How good God is to grant us so many blessings!But inside the church the preacher in the pulpit spoke in a loud and angry tone; he said that all humans were wicked and that God
4、 would certainly punish them by sending them to the eternal torments of hell when they died. He said that they would never find peace or rest in hell, for their consciences would never die nor would the fires ever be extinguished.This was terrible to hear, but still he went on as if the subject he w
5、as explaining were really true. He described hell to them as a stagnant cave, where all the impure and sinful of the world would be; there would be no air, only the hot sulphur flames, and no bottom there, and the wicked would sink deeper and deeper into eternal silence forever!It was horrible to he
6、ar this, but the preacher spoke from his heart, and all the people in the church were terrified.But the birds outside the church sang joyously, and the sun was shining warmly; it was as if each little bird were saying, Nothing is so great as the loving-kindness of the Almighty!Yes, outside the churc
7、h, it was not at all like the preachers sermon.Before the preacher went to bed that evening he noticed that his wife sat silent and thoughtful. Whats the matter with you? he said to her.Why, she replied, the matter with me is that I cant quite bring myself to agree with what you said today in your s
8、ermon. It doesnt seem right to say that so many sinners will be condemned to everlasting fire forever. Forever! Ah, how long! Im only a poor sinful creature myself, but I cant believe in my heart that even the vilest sinner will be condemned to burn in torment forever! We know the mercy of the Almig
9、hty is as great as His power; He knows how people are tempted from without and within by their own evil natures. No, I do not believe it, even if you said so.It was autumn, the trees scattering their leaves on the ground, and the severe but earnest preacher sat beside the bed of a dying person. A fa
10、ithful soul closed her eyes forever; it was the preachers wife.If anyone can find peace and rest in the grave, through Gods mercy, it is you! sighed the preacher, as he folded her hands and read a psalm over the dead woman.She was laid in her grave. Two large tears rolled down the cheeks of the sinc
11、ere man, and in the parsonage everything seemed so empty and still. The sunshine of his home had vanished, for she had gone.It was night, and a cold wind blew over the head of the preacher. He opened his eyes and it seemed to him that the moon was shining into the room, but there was no moonlight. A
12、 figure stood beside his bed, and the spirit of his deceased wife shone upon him. Earnestly and sadly she looked at him, as if she had something on her mind that she wanted to say to him.He half raised himself in bed, stretched out his arms to her, and cried, Then even you arent permitted to rest in
13、 peace forever? Must you suffer, too? You, the best, the most pious!The dead bowed her head as if to say yes, and laid her hand on her heart.And can I give you peace in the grave? he asked.Yes, was the distinct reply.And how?Bring me a hair, just one single hair, from the head of just one sinner who
14、m God will condemn to eternal torture in hell.Yes, you should be freed that easily, you pure, you pious woman! he said.Then follow me, said the dead. It has been granted us that you can fly through the air by my side, wherever your thoughts are directed. To mortals we shall be invisible, and able to
15、 pass unseen through the closed and bolted doors of inner rooms. But you must be certain that the man you point out to me as eternally damned is really one whom God will condemn to the torments of hell-fire forever, and he must be found before the cock crows.And quickly, as if carried by the wings o
16、f thoughts, they arrived at the great city. On the walls of the houses letters of living flame gave the names of the deadly sins: Arrogance, Greed, Drunkenness, Wantonness-in fact, the whole seven-colored bow of sin.Yes, in these houses, as I thought, as I knew, said the preacher, live those who will be punished forever.And then they stood before a brilliantly lighted gate. The broad steps were covered
