1919年两本奇书之《中国奇观》

可以称之为1919年版的《功夫熊猫》，美国人对中国文化的神韵把握和天才表现，真是引人入胜。优美的文字，动人的故事，是了解中国文化的最好读物。本书的作者诺曼·欣斯代尔·皮特曼（Norman Hinsdale Pitman，1876-1925年）是一位教育家和作家。他出生于密歇根州拉蒙特市。他的作品包括：《当选夫人：中国浪漫史》（The Lady Elect: A Chinese Romance  1913年），《中国奇观》（A Chinese Wonder Book 1919年），《中国童话》（Chinese Fairy Tales 1924年）和《龙诱：北京浪漫史》（ Dragon Lure: A Romance of Peking  1925年）。他收集了中国神话和童话，并为英语听众撰写。《中国奇观》（The Chinese Wonder Book 亚马逊网站可以免费购买此书 ）是他最著名的作品。读者年龄7-12岁（这是指英文为母语，对非母语者属于很高级的英语 ) 。 40几岁就在天津去世，并葬在当地公墓。

[i]

A CHINESE WONDER BOOKBY
NORMAN HINSDALE PITMANILLUSTRATED BY
LI CHU-T'ANG

NEW YORK
E. P. DUTTON & CO.
681 FIFTH AVENUE

[ii]

Copyright, 1919
By
E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

[iii]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat	1
The Great Bell	21
The Strange Tale of Doctor Dog	39
How Footbinding Started	52
The Talking Fish	68
Bamboo and the Turtle	88
The Mad Goose and the Tiger Forest	104
The Nodding Tiger	120
The Princess Kwan-Yin	134
The Two Jugglers	147
The Phantom Vessel	160
The Wooden Tablet	172
The Golden Nugget	187
The Man Who Would Not Scold	193
Lu-San, Daughter of Heaven	206

[iv] 

[v]

THE GOLDEN BEETLE
OR
WHY THE DOG HATES THE CAT

hat we shall eat to-morrow, I haven't the slightest idea!" said Widow Wang to her eldest son, as he started out one morning in search of work.

"Oh, the gods will provide. I'll find a few coppers somewhere," replied the boy, trying to speak cheerfully, although in his heart he also had not the slightest idea in which direction to turn.

The winter had been a hard one: extreme cold, deep snow, and violent winds. The Wang house had suffered greatly. The roof had fallen in, weighed down by heavy snow. Then a hurricane had blown a wall over, and Ming-li, the son, up all night and exposed to a [2]bitter cold wind, had caught pneumonia. Long days of illness followed, with the spending of extra money for medicine. All their scant savings had soon melted away, and at the shop where Ming-li had been employed his place was filled by another. When at last he arose from his sick-bed he was too weak for hard labour and there seemed to be no work in the neighbouring villages for him to do. Night after night he came home, trying not to be discouraged, but in his heart feeling the deep pangs of sorrow that come to the good son who sees his mother suffering for want of food and clothing.

"Bless his good heart!" said the poor widow after he had gone. "No mother ever had a better boy. I hope he is right in saying the gods will provide. It has been getting so much worse these past few weeks that it seems now as if my stomach were as empty as a rich man's brain. Why, even the rats have deserted our cottage, and there's nothing left for poor Tabby, while old Blackfoot is nearly dead from starvation."

When the old woman referred to the sorrows of her pets, her remarks were answered by a pitiful mewing and woebegone barking from the corner where the two unfed creatures were curled up together trying to keep warm.

Just then there was a loud knocking at the gate. When the [3]widow Wang called out, "Come in!" she was surprised to see an old bald-headed priest standing in the doorway. "Sorry, but we have nothing," she went on, feeling sure the visitor had come in search of food. "We have fed on scraps these two weeks—on scraps and scrapings—and now we are living on the memories of what we used to have when my son's father was living. Our cat was so fat she couldn't climb to the roof. Now look at her. You can hardly see her, she's so thin. No, I'm sorry we can't help you, friend priest, but you see how it is."

"I didn't come for alms," cried the clean-shaven one, looking at her kindly, "but only to see what I could do to help you. The gods have listened long to the prayers of your devoted son. They honour him because he has not waited till you die to do sacrifice for you. They have seen how faithfully he has served you ever since his illness, and now, when he is worn out and unable to work, they are resolved to reward him for his virtue. You likewise have been a good mother and shall receive the gift I am now bringing."

"What do you mean?" faltered Mrs. Wang, hardly believing her ears at hearing a priest speak of bestowing mercies. "Have you come here to laugh at our misfortunes?"

[4]"By no means. Here in my hand I hold a tiny golden beetle which you will find has a magic power greater than any you ever dreamed of. I will leave this precious thing with you, a present from the god of filial conduct."

"Yes, it will sell for a good sum," murmured the other, looking closely at the trinket, "and will give us millet for several days. Thanks, good priest, for your kindness."

"But you must by no means sell this golden beetle, for it has the power to fill your stomachs as long as you live."

The widow stared in open-mouthed wonder at the priest's surprising words.

"Yes, you must not doubt me, but listen carefully to what I tell you. Whenever you wish food, you have only to place this ornament in a kettle of boiling water, saying over and over again the names of what you want to eat. In three minutes take off the lid, and there will be your dinner, smoking hot, and cooked more perfectly than any food you have ever eaten."

"May I try it now?" she asked eagerly.

"As soon as I am gone."

When the door was shut, the old woman hurriedly kindled a fire, [5]boiled some water, and then dropped in the golden beetle, repeating these words again and again:

Would those three minutes never pass? Could the priest have told the truth? Her old head was nearly wild with excitement as clouds of steam rose from the kettle. Off came the lid! She could wait no longer. Wonder of wonders! There before her unbelieving eyes was a pot, full to the brim of pork dumplings, dancing up and down in the bubbling water, the best, the most delicious dumplings she had ever tasted. She ate and ate till there was no room left in her greedy stomach, and then she feasted the cat and the dog until they were ready to burst.

"Good fortune has come at last," whispered Blackfoot, the dog, to Whitehead, the cat, as they lay down to sun themselves outside. "I fear I couldn't have held out another week without running away to look for food. I don't know just what's happened, but there's no use questioning the gods."

[6]Mrs. Wang fairly danced for joy at the thought of her son's return and of how she would feast him.

"Poor boy, how surprised he will be at our fortune—and it's all on account of his goodness to his old mother."

When Ming-li came, with a dark cloud overhanging his brow, the widow saw plainly that disappointment was written there.

"Come, come, lad!" she cried cheerily, "clear up your face and smile, for the gods have been good to us and I shall soon show you how richly your devotion has been rewarded." So saying, she dropped the golden beetle into the boiling water and stirred up the fire.

Thinking his mother had gone stark mad for want of food, Ming-li stared solemnly at her. Anything was preferable to this misery. Should he sell his last outer garment for a few pennies and buy millet for her? Blackfoot licked his hand comfortingly, as if to say, "Cheer up, master, fortune has turned in our favour." Whitehead leaped upon a bench, purring like a sawmill.

Ming-li did not have long to wait. Almost in the twinkling of an eye he heard his mother crying out,

"Sit down at the table, son, and eat these dumplings while they are smoking hot."

[7]Could he have heard correctly? Did his ears deceive him? No, there on the table was a huge platter full of the delicious pork dumplings he liked better than anything else in all the world, except, of course, his mother.

"Eat and ask no questions," counselled the Widow Wang. "When you are satisfied I will tell you everything."

Wise advice! Very soon the young man's chopsticks were twinkling like a little star in the verses. He ate long and happily, while his good mother watched him, her heart overflowing with joy at seeing him at last able to satisfy his hunger. But still the old woman could hardly wait for him to finish, she was so anxious to tell him her wonderful secret.

"Here, son!" she cried at last, as he began to pause between mouthfuls, "look at my treasure!" And she held out to him the golden beetle.

"First tell me what good fairy of a rich man has been filling our hands with silver?"

"That's just what I am trying to tell you," she laughed, "for there was a fairy here this afternoon sure enough, only he was dressed like a bald priest. That golden beetle is all he gave me, but with it comes a secret worth thousands of cash to us."

[8]The youth fingered the trinket idly, still doubting his senses, and waiting impatiently for the secret of his delicious dinner. "But, mother, what has this brass bauble to do with the dumplings, these wonderful pork dumplings, the finest I ever ate?"

"Baubles indeed! Brass! Fie, fie, my boy! You little know what you are saying. Only listen and you shall hear a tale that will open your eyes."

She then told him what had happened, and ended by setting all of the left-over dumplings upon the floor for Blackfoot and Whitehead, a thing her son had never seen her do before, for they had been miserably poor and had had to save every scrap for the next meal.

Now began a long period of perfect happiness. Mother, son, dog and cat—all enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content. All manner of new foods such as they had never tasted were called forth from the pot by the wonderful little beetle. Bird-nest soup, shark's fins, and a hundred other delicacies were theirs for the asking, and soon Ming-li regained all his strength, but, I fear, at the same time grew somewhat lazy, for it was no longer necessary for him to work. As for the two animals, they became fat and sleek and their hair grew long and glossy.

But alas! according to a Chinese proverb, pride invites sorrow. [9]The little family became so proud of their good fortune that they began to ask friends and relatives to dinner that they might show off their good meals. One day a Mr. and Mrs. Chu came from a distant village. They were much astonished at seeing the high style in which the Wangs lived. They had expected a beggar's meal, but went away with full stomachs.

"It's the best stuff I ever ate," said Mr. Chu, as they entered their own tumble-down house.

"Yes, and I know where it came from," exclaimed his wife. "I saw Widow Wang take a little gold ornament out of the pot and hide it in a cupboard. It must be some sort of charm, for I heard her mumbling to herself about pork and dumplings just as she was stirring up the fire."

"A charm, eh? Why is it that other people have all the luck? It looks as if we were doomed forever to be poor."

"Why not borrow Mrs. Wang's charm for a few days until we can pick up a little flesh to keep our bones from clattering? Turn about's fair play. Of course, we'll return it sooner or later."

"Doubtless they keep very close watch over it. When would you find them away from home, now that they don't have to work any more? As their house only contains one room, and that no bigger [10]than ours, it would be difficult to borrow this golden trinket. It is harder, for more reasons than one, to steal from a beggar than from a king."

"Luck is surely with us," cried Mrs. Chu, clapping her hands. "They are going this very day to the Temple fair. I overheard Mrs. Wang tell her son that he must not forget he was to take her about the middle of the afternoon. I will slip back then and borrow the little charm from the box in which she hid it."

"Aren't you afraid of Blackfoot?"

"Pooh! he's so fat he can do nothing but roll. If the widow comes back suddenly, I'll tell her I came to look for my big hair-pin, that I lost it while I was at dinner."

"All right, go ahead, only of course we must remember we're borrowing the thing, not stealing it, for the Wangs have always been good friends to us, and then, too, we have just dined with them."

So skilfully did this crafty woman carry out her plans that within an hour she was back in her own house, gleefully showing the priest's charm to her husband. Not a soul had seen her enter the Wang house. The dog had made no noise, and the cat had only blinked her surprise at seeing a stranger and had gone to sleep again on the floor.

Great was the clamour and weeping when, on returning from the [11]fair in expectation of a hot supper, the widow found her treasure missing. It was long before she could grasp the truth. She went back to the little box in the cupboard ten times before she could believe it was empty, and the room looked as if a cyclone had struck it, so long and carefully did the two unfortunates hunt for the lost beetle.

Then came days of hunger which were all the harder to bear since the recent period of good food and plenty. Oh, if they had only not got used to such dainties! How hard it was to go back to scraps and scrapings!

But if the widow and her son were sad over the loss of the good meals, the two pets were even more so. They were reduced to beggary and had to go forth daily upon the streets in search of stray bones and refuse that decent dogs and cats turned up their noses at.

One day, after this period of starvation had been going on for some time, Whitehead began suddenly to frisk about in great excitement.

"Whatever is the matter with you?" growled Blackfoot. "Are you mad from hunger, or have you caught another flea?"

"I was just thinking over our affairs, and now I know the cause of all our trouble."

"Do you indeed?" sneered Blackfoot.

[12]"Yes, I do indeed, and you'd better think twice before you mock me, for I hold your future in my paw, as you will very soon see."

"Well, you needn't get angry about nothing. What wonderful discovery have you made—that every rat has one tail?"

"First of all, are you willing to help me bring good fortune back to our family?"

"Of course I am. Don't be silly," barked the dog, wagging his tail joyfully at the thought of another good dinner. "Surely! surely! I will do anything you like if it will bring Dame Fortune back again."

"All right. Here is the plan. There has been a thief in the house who has stolen our mistress's golden beetle. You remember all our big dinners that came from the pot? Well, every day I saw our mistress take a little golden beetle out of the black box and put it into the pot. One day she held it up before me, saying, 'Look, puss, there is the cause of all our happiness. Don't you wish it was yours?' Then she laughed and put it back into the box that stays in the cupboard."

"Is that true?" questioned Blackfoot. "Why didn't you say something about it before?"

"You remember the day Mr. and Mrs. Chu were here, and how [13]Mrs. Chu returned in the afternoon after master and mistress had gone to the fair? I saw her, out of the tail of my eye, go to that very black box and take out the golden beetle. I thought it curious, but never dreamed she was a thief. Alas! I was wrong! She took the beetle, and if I am not mistaken, she and her husband are now enjoying the feasts that belong to us."

"Let's claw them," growled Blackfoot, gnashing his teeth.

"That would do no good," counselled the other, "for they would be sure to come out best in the end. We want the beetle back—that's the main thing. We'll leave revenge to human beings; it is none of our business."

"What do you suggest?" said Blackfoot. "I am with you through thick and thin."

"Let's go to the Chu house and make off with the beetle."

"Alas, that I am not a cat!" moaned Blackfoot. "If we go there I couldn't get inside, for robbers always keep their gates well locked. If I were like you I could scale the wall. It is the first time in all my life I ever envied a cat."

"We will go together," continued Whitehead. "I will ride on your back when we are fording the river, and you can protect me from strange animals. When we get to the Chu house, I will climb over [14]the wall and manage the rest of the business myself. Only you must wait outside to help me to get home with the prize."

No sooner arranged than done. The companions set out that very night on their adventure. They crossed the river as the cat had suggested, and Blackfoot really enjoyed the swim, for, as he said, it took him back to his puppyhood, while the cat did not get a single drop of water on her face. It was midnight when they reached the Chu house.

"Just wait till I return," purred Whitehead in Blackfoot's ear.

With a mighty spring she reached the top of the mud wall, and then jumped down to the inside court. While she was resting in the shadow, trying to decide just how to go about her work, a slight rustling attracted her attention, and pop! one giant spring, one stretch-out of the claws, and she had caught a rat that had just come out of his hole for a drink and a midnight walk.

Now, Whitehead was so hungry that she would have made short work of this tempting prey if the rat had not opened its mouth and, to her amazement, begun to talk in good cat dialect.

"Pray, good puss, not so fast with your sharp teeth! Kindly be careful with your claws! Don't you know it is the custom [15]now to put prisoners on their honour? I will promise not to run away."

"Pooh! what honour has a rat?"

"Most of us haven't much, I grant you, but my family was brought up under the roof of Confucius, and there we picked up so many crumbs of wisdom that we are exceptions to the rule. If you will spare me, I will obey you for life, in fact, will be your humble slave." Then, with a quick jerk, freeing itself, "See, I am loose now, but honour holds me as if I were tied, and so I make no further attempt to get away."

"Much good it would do you," purred Whitehead, her fur crackling noisily, and her mouth watering for a taste of rat steak. "However, I am quite willing to put you to the test. First, answer a few polite questions and I will see if you're a truthful fellow. What kind of food is your master eating now, that you should be so round and plump when I am thin and scrawny?"

"Oh, we have been in luck lately, I can tell you. Master and mistress feed on the fat of the land, and of course we hangers-on get the crumbs."

"But this is a poor tumble-down house. How can they afford such eating?"

[16]"That is a great secret, but as I am in honour bound to tell you, here goes. My mistress has just obtained in some manner or other, a fairy's charm——"

"She stole it from our place," hissed the cat, "I will claw her eyes out if I get the chance. Why, we've been fairly starving for want of that beetle. She stole it from us just after she had been an invited guest! What do you think of that for honour, Sir Rat? Were your mistress's ancestors followers of the sage?"

"Oh, oh, oh! Why, that explains everything!" wailed the rat. "I have often wondered how they got the golden beetle, and yet of course I dared not ask any questions."

"No, certainly not! But hark you, friend rat—you get that golden trinket back for me, and I will set you free at once of all obligations. Do you know where she hides it?"

"Yes, in a crevice where the wall is broken. I will bring it to you in a jiffy, but how shall we exist when our charm is gone? There will be a season of scanty food, I fear; beggars' fare for all of us."

"Live on the memory of your good deed," purred the cat. "It is splendid, you know, to be an honest beggar. Now scoot! I trust you completely, since your people lived in the home of Confucius. [17]I will wait here for your return. Ah!" laughed Whitehead to herself, "luck seems to be coming our way again!"

Five minutes later the rat appeared, bearing the trinket in its mouth. It passed the beetle over to the cat, and then with a whisk was off for ever. Its honour was safe, but it was afraid of Whitehead. It had seen the gleam of desire in her green eyes, and the cat might have broken her word if she had not been so anxious to get back home where her mistress could command the wonderful kettle once more to bring forth food.

The two adventurers reached the river just as the sun was rising above the eastern hills.

"Be careful," cautioned Blackfoot, as the cat leaped upon his back for her ride across the stream, "be careful not to forget the treasure. In short, remember that even though you are a female, it is necessary to keep your mouth closed till we reach the other side."

"Thanks, but I don't think I need your advice," replied Whitehead, picking up the beetle and leaping on to the dog's back.

But alas! just as they were nearing the farther shore, the excited cat forgot her wisdom for a moment. A fish suddenly leaped out of the water directly under her nose. It was too great a temptation. [18]Snap! went her jaws in a vain effort to land the scaly treasure, and the golden beetle sank to the bottom of the river.

"There!" said the dog angrily, "what did I tell you? Now all our trouble has been in vain—all on account of your stupidity."

For a time there was a bitter dispute, and the companions called each other some very bad names—such as turtle and rabbit. Just as they were starting away from the river, disappointed and discouraged, a friendly frog who had by chance heard their conversation offered to fetch the treasure from the bottom of the stream. No sooner said than done, and after thanking this accommodating animal profusely, they turned homeward once more.

When they reached the cottage the door was shut, and, bark as he would, Blackfoot could not persuade his master to open it. There was the sound of loud wailing inside.

"Mistress is broken-hearted," whispered the cat, "I will go to her and make her happy."

So saying, she sprang lightly through a hole in the paper window, which, alas! was too small and too far from the ground for the faithful dog to enter.

A sad sight greeted the gaze of Whitehead. The son was lying on the bed unconscious, almost dead for want of food, while his [19]mother, in despair, was rocking backwards and forwards wringing her wrinkled hands and crying at the top of her voice for some one to come and save them.

"Here I am, mistress," cried Whitehead, "and here is the treasure you are weeping for. I have rescued it and brought it back to you."

The widow, wild with joy at sight of the beetle, seized the cat in her scrawny arms and hugged the pet tightly to her bosom.

"Breakfast, son, breakfast! Wake up from your swoon! Fortune has come again. We are saved from starvation!"

Soon a steaming hot meal was ready, and you may well imagine how the old woman and her son, heaping praises upon Whitehead, filled the beast's platter with good things, but never a word did they say of the faithful dog, who remained outside sniffing the fragrant odours and waiting in sad wonder, for all this time the artful cat had said nothing of Blackfoot's part in the rescue of the golden beetle.

At last, when breakfast was over, slipping away from the others, Whitehead jumped out through the hole in the window.

"Oh, my dear Blackfoot," she began laughingly, "you should have been inside to see what a feast they gave me! Mistress was so delighted at my bringing back her treasure that she could not give me [20]enough to eat, nor say enough kind things about me. Too bad, old fellow, that you are hungry. You'd better run out into the street and hunt up a bone."

Maddened by the shameful treachery of his companion, the enraged dog sprang upon the cat and in a few seconds had shaken her to death.

"So dies the one who forgets a friend and who loses honour," he cried sadly, as he stood over the body of his companion.

Rushing out into the street, he proclaimed the treachery of Whitehead to the members of his tribe, at the same time advising that all self-respecting dogs should from that time onwards make war upon the feline race.

And that is why the descendants of old Blackfoot, whether in China or in the great countries of the West, have waged continual war upon the children and grandchildren of Whitehead, for a thousand generations of dogs have fought them and hated them with a great and lasting hatred.

股沟翻译：金甲虫或为什么狗讨厌猫/The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat

 作者： 诺曼·辛德戴尔·皮特曼 绘图：李楚棠

明天我们要吃什么，我没有丝毫念头！

“哦，上帝会提供的。我会在附近找到一些铜线。”男孩回答，试图高兴地说话，尽管他内心深处也不知道该朝哪个方向走。

冬天是一个艰难的冬天：极度寒冷，深雪和狂风。王家遭受了很大的痛苦。屋顶掉了下来，被大雪压倒了。然后，飓风把墙炸了，儿子明丽整夜通宵暴露在[2]苦冷的风中，得了肺炎。疾病漫长的日子随之而来，并花费了额外的医药费用。他们所有的少量积蓄很快就消失了，在明丽受雇的那家商店里，他的住处被另一个人填补。终于他从病床上复活了，他太虚弱了，无法劳累，在附近的村庄里似乎没有工作可做。一夜又一夜，他回到家中，试图不灰心，但他的内心深感悲伤的痛苦降临在好儿子身上，他看到母亲因缺乏食物和衣服而受苦。

“祝福他的好心！”可怜的寡妇离开后说。 “没有一个母亲有一个更好的男孩。我希望他说上帝会提供的是对的。过去几周情况变得越来越糟，现在看来我的肚子就像有钱人的大脑一样空虚。为什么，甚至老鼠都把我们的小屋都抛弃了，可怜的虎斑猫也一无所有，而老布莱克富特却几乎饿死了。”

当老妇人提到宠物的悲伤时，她的话被可怜的割草声和呜呜呜呜呜叫着，这两个未喂食的动物were缩在一起试图保暖。

就在这时，大门口传来一声巨响。 [3]寡妇王大喊：“进来！”她惊讶地看到一位老秃头的牧师站在门口。 “对不起，但是我们什么都没有。”她继续说，确定来访者是来找食物的。 “这两个星期，我们已经吃完了残渣（包括残渣和碎屑），现在我们正在回忆起我儿子父亲生活时的往事。我们的猫太胖了，她无法爬上屋顶。现在看她。你几乎看不到她，她是如此瘦弱。不，对不起，我们不能帮助你，朋友牧师，但你知道如何。”

“我不是来施舍的，”那位刚刮过胡子的人亲切地看着她，说道，“但是只是看我能为您做些什么。众神早已听了您虔诚儿子的祈祷。他们很荣幸他是因为他没有等到你死为你做牺牲时，他们才知道他自从他生病以来对你的忠实服务，现在，当他疲惫不堪，无法工作时，他们下定决心要为他奖励你同样是一个好母亲，将得到我现在带来的礼物。”

“你什么意思？”王太太摇摇欲坠，几乎不相信她的耳朵在听牧师讲授慈悲的话。 “你来这里是为了嘲笑我们的不幸吗？”

“绝对不行。我手里拿着一只小金甲虫，您会发现它具有比您梦dream以求的强大的魔力。我会把这个珍贵的东西留给您，这是孝顺之神的礼物。”

“是的，它将卖出高价，”另一个人低声看着小饰品，“将给我们小米几天。谢谢你，好牧师。”

“但是你绝不能卖掉这只金甲虫，因为只要你活着，它就有能力填饱肚子。”

寡妇瞪大了眼睛，惊讶于神父的令人惊讶的话。

“是的，您一定不要怀疑我，但是请认真听我说的话。每当您想要食物时，您只需将这种装饰品放在沸水壶中，一遍又一遍地说出您想吃的东西的名字。只需三分钟即可取下锅盖，晚餐便会热腾腾，煮得比您以前吃过的任何食物都要完美。”

“我现在可以尝试吗？”她热切地问。

“我走了。”

关门时，老妇人急忙生火，[5]烧开水，然后掉入金甲虫，一次又一次地重复这些话：

“饺子，饺子，来找我，

我很瘦。

饺子，饺子，热烟熏，

饺子，饺子填满锅。”

那三分钟永远不会过去吗？牧师能说出真相吗？当水壶里冒出一团团蒸汽时，她的老头几乎激动得发狂。盖子掉了！她不能再等了。奇迹的奇迹！在她那难以置信的目光之前，那是一个装满猪肉饺子的锅，在冒泡的水中上下跳动，这是她品尝过的最好，最美味的饺子。她吃了又吃，直到贪婪的肚子里没有空了，然后她宴请了猫和狗，直到它们准备爆发。

当他们躺下来在外面晒日光浴时，“好运终于来了。”狗Blackfoot向猫Whitehead轻声说。 “我担心如果不能逃跑去找食物，我不可能再坚持一个星期。我不知道发生了什么，但是对众神提出质疑是没有用的。”

王太太想到儿子的归来以及如何宴请他，为她欢欣鼓舞。

“可怜的男孩，他对我们的命运会感到多么惊讶-这全都归功于他对老母亲的善良。”

明礼来时，乌云悬在额头上，寡妇清楚地看到那里写满了失望。

“来吧，伙计！”她兴高采烈地哭着说：“清理你的脸和微笑，因为神对我们有益，我将很快向你展示你的奉献有多么丰富。”如此说来，她把金甲虫掉进了沸水中，激起了大火。

明丽以为他的母亲因缺少食物而疯了，于是郑重地凝视着她。没有什么比这痛苦更可取了。他是否应该以几美分的价格卖掉他的最后一件外衣并为她买小米？布莱克富特安抚地舔了舔他的手，好像在说：“振作起来，主人，财富对我们有利。”怀特海跳上了长凳，像锯木厂一样发出嘶哑的声音。

铭莉没有多久等待。几乎转瞬之间，他听到母亲在哭泣，

“儿子，坐在桌子旁，一边吃这些饺子，一边趁着他们抽烟。”

[7]他能正确听到吗？他的耳朵欺骗了他吗？不，桌子上放着一大盘，里面盛满了他美味的猪肉饺子，他当然比世界上其他任何人都喜欢，除了他的母亲。

“吃饭，不问任何问题，”王寡妇建议。 “当您满意时，我会告诉您一切。”

明智的建议！很快，年轻人的筷子像经文中的小星星一样闪烁。当他的好妈妈看着他时，他吃得很饱很开心，她的心因看到他终于能够满足他的饥饿而欣喜若狂。但是，这位老妇人仍然迫不及待地想要完成他的工作，她非常渴望告诉他她的绝妙秘密。

“这里，儿子！”当他开始在两口之间停顿时，她终于哭了起来，“看看我的宝贝！”她向他伸出金甲虫。

“首先告诉我，一个有钱人的好仙子一直在给我们注满银？

“这就是我想告诉你的，”她笑着说，“因为今天下午这里肯定有一位仙子，只有他像秃头的牧师一样打扮。他给我的那只金甲虫，但随之而来的是对我们来说价值数千现金的秘密。”

青年人懒散地指着小饰品，仍然怀疑他的感官，不耐烦地等待着他美味的晚餐的秘密。 “但是，妈妈，这个黄铜摆设与饺子，这些美味的猪肉饺子有什么关系，是我吃过的最好的？”

“确实是小玩意！黄铜！兄弟，兄弟，我的男孩！你几乎不知道你在说什么。只听，你会听到一个会睁大你的眼睛的故事。”

然后她告诉他发生了什么事，最后将所有剩下的饺子放在地板上给布莱克富特和怀特黑德，这是她儿子以前从未见过的事情，因为他们很穷，不得不救下每一个下一顿饭吃掉。

现在开始了一段长久的完美幸福。母亲，儿子，狗和猫-都尽其所能。美妙的小甲虫从锅中召唤出了从未尝过的各种新食物，例如它们从未尝过的食物。鸟巢汤，鱼翅和其他一百种美味佳肴都是他们要的，而明礼很快就恢复了他的全部力量，但是，我担心，与此同时，他变得有些懒惰，因为不再需要他了去工作。至于两只动物，它们变得肥胖而光滑，头发长而有光泽。

可惜！根据中国的谚语，骄傲引来悲伤。 [9]这个小家庭为自己的好运感到​​骄傲，以至于他们开始请亲朋好友共进晚餐，以致他们可以炫耀自己的美餐。一天，朱先生和太太来自一个遥远的村庄。看到王氏一家人的高尚风范，他们大为惊讶。他们原本以乞g的饭为食，但饱肚子就走了。

当他们走进自己的房子时，朱先生说：“这是我吃过的最好的东西。”

“是的，我知道它从哪里来。”他的妻子喊道。 “我看到王寡妇从锅里拿出一点金饰，把它藏在柜子里。这一定是一种魅力，因为我听到她在煽动大火时对猪肉和饺子的喃喃自语。”

“一种魅力，是吗？为什么别人的运气这么好？看来我们永远注定要贫穷。”

“为什么不借用王太太的魅力几天，直到我们能捡起一点肉来防止骨头碎裂？转身是公平的。当然，我们迟早会归还它。”

“毫无疑问，他们会密切注视着它。既然他们不必再工作了，您什么时候会发现他们离开家了？因为他们的房子只有一个房间，而且没有比我们大的房间[10]，借用这个金色的小装饰品将很困难。出于一个多方面的原因，从乞g那里窃取而不是从国王那里窃取是更难的。”

“太幸运了。”朱太太拍了拍手。 “他们今天正去参加庙会。我听见王太太告诉儿子，他一定不要忘记他要在下午中旬带她去。我会溜回去，从盒子里借一点魅力。她藏在那里。”

“你不怕黑脚怪吗？”

“ Po！他太胖了，他只能滚来滚去。如果那个寡妇突然回来，我会告诉她我来找我的大发夹，因为我在晚餐时丢了它。”

“好吧，继续吧，当然，我们当然必须记住，我们是在借东西，而不是偷东西，因为王氏一直是我们的好朋友，然后我们也和他们一起吃饭了。”

这位狡猾的女人巧妙地执行了自己的计划，以至于一个小时后，她回到了自己的房子里，向丈夫展示了牧师的魅力。没有一个灵魂看见她进入王家。狗没有发出声音，猫只看见一个陌生人时眨了眨眼，然后又在地板上睡觉。

当从[11]集市回来后，一个寡妇期待着一个炎热的晚餐时，叫嚣和哭泣真是太好了，寡妇发现她的宝贝不见了。她了解真相很久了。她十次回到柜子里的小盒子，以至于她无法相信它是空的，房间看起来好像是旋风袭击了它，所以两个不幸的人经过了这么长时间仔细地寻找着丢失的甲虫。

然后是饥饿的日子，这是自最近一段时间的好食物和丰收以来更加难以承受的。哦，如果他们只是不习惯这样的精致！回到报废和报废工作有多困难！

但是，如果寡妇和她的儿子为失去好饭而感到难过，那么这两只宠物就更是如此。他们沦为乞gg，不得不每天走上街头寻找流浪的骨头，并拒绝体面的猫狗抬起鼻子。

一天，在这段饥饿状态持续了一段时间之后，怀特海开始突然兴奋起来。

“你怎么了？”黑脚咆哮。 “你是因为饥饿而生气，还是抓住了另一跳蚤？”

“我只是在考虑我们的事务，现在我知道了我们所有麻烦的原因。”

“你确实吗？”黑脚冷笑。

[12]“是的，的确如此，在嘲笑我之前，您最好三思，因为我将您的未来牢牢抓住，很快您就会看到。”

“好吧，您不必为一无所获而生气。您做了什么奇妙的发现-每只老鼠都有一条尾巴？”

“首先，您愿意帮助我把好运带回我们的家人吗？”

“我当然是。别傻了。”那只狗叫着，高兴地摇着尾巴，想着再吃一顿美味的晚餐。 “当然！肯定！如果它再次带回Dame Fortune，我会做任何您喜欢的事情。”

“好的。这是计划。房子里有一个小偷，偷了我们情妇的金甲虫。你还记得我们从锅里拿来的所有大晚餐吗？好吧，每天我看到我们的情妇带着一只小金甲虫从黑匣子中取出并放入锅中。有一天，她在我面前举起它，说：“看，对，这是我们幸福的原因。你不希望那是你的吗？”然后她笑了起来，放回柜子里的盒子里。”

“真的吗？”质疑黑脚。 “你为什么以前不说什么？”

“您还记得朱先生和夫人在这里的那天，以及[13]朱先生是如何在主人和情妇参加博览会后下午回来的？我看见了她，从我的尾巴中走了出去那个非常黑的盒子，取出金色的甲虫，我以为很好奇，但从未梦想过她是个小偷。.！我错了！她拿了甲虫，如果我没记错的话，她和丈夫现在正在享受属于我们的盛宴。”

“让他们抓他们。”黑脚咆哮着咬了咬牙。

另一人建议说：“那样做是没有用的，因为他们肯定会最终表现最好。我们想要甲虫回来-那是主要的事情。我们会向人类报仇；这与人类无关”我们的业务。”

“你有什么建议？”黑脚说。 “我与你同甘共苦。”

“让我们去朱家，并把甲虫赶走。”

“ A，我不是猫！”黑脚an吟。 “如果我们去那里，我就无法进入屋子，因为强盗总是要把他们的门锁好。如果我像你一样，我可以把墙夷为平地。这是我一生中第一次羡慕猫。”

怀特海继续说：“我们将一起努力。” “当我们在河上穿行时，我会骑在你的背上，你可以保护我免受奇怪的动物的侵扰。当我们到达楚家时，我将越过[14]墙，自己负责其余的事务。您必须在外面等我，以帮助我获得奖金。”

安排不早于完成。当天晚上，同伴们开始了他们的冒险之旅。他们按照猫的建议过了河，布莱克富特（Blackfoot）真的很喜欢游泳，因为正如他所说，它把他带回了小狗时代，而猫的脸上没有滴一滴水。他们到达楚家时已是午夜。

“只要等我回来，”怀特黑德在黑脚的耳朵里怒气冲冲。

春暖花开的时候，她到达了泥墙的顶部，然后跳到了内部球场。当她在阴影下休息时，试图决定如何进行她的工作时，轻微的沙沙声吸引了她的注意，并流行起来！一个巨大的春天，伸出一只爪子，她抓到一只刚从他洞里出来的老鼠去喝酒和午夜散步。

现在，怀特海非常饿，如果老鼠没有张开嘴，并且令她惊讶的是，她开始用好猫方言说话，她会把这个诱人的猎物做得很短。

“求你了，好大惊小怪，不要那么快地用尖锐的牙齿！请小心用你的爪子！你不知道现在把囚犯尊敬的风俗是[15]吗？我保证不会逃跑。”

“ Po！老鼠有什么荣誉？”

“我们大多数人还没有，我答应了你，但是我的家人是在孔子的屋顶下长大的，在那里我们拾起了很多碎屑，这是我们的例外。如果你能饶恕我，我永远服从你，事实上，它将成为你谦卑的奴隶。”然后，他急忙地松开了自己，“看，我现在很放松，但是荣誉使我像被绑住了一样，所以我没有再尝试逃脱。”

“这对你有好处。”怀特黑德放声大叫，她的皮毛fur啪作响，令人垂涎欲滴，尝尝老鼠牛排。 “但是，我很愿意接受考验。首先，回答几个礼貌的问题，我会看看你是否是一个诚实的家伙。你的主人现在正在吃哪种食物，所以你应该如此全面，当我瘦而骨瘦如柴的时候会丰满吗？”

“哦，我最近能走运，我可以告诉你。主人和情妇以土地的肥肉为食，当然，我们把面包屑挂了起来。”

“但是这是一栋破败不堪的房子。他们怎么负担得起这样的食物？”

[16]“这是一个很大的秘密，但正如我荣幸地告诉你的那样，我的情妇刚刚以某种方式获得了仙子的魅力-”

“她从我们家偷走了，”猫嘶嘶地说，“如果有机会，我会把她的眼睛睁开。为什么，我们一直都在饿死那只甲虫。她刚从我们那里偷了它。拉特爵士，您如何看待这一荣誉？您的情妇的祖先是圣贤的追随者吗？”

“Zhè duì nǐ yǒu hǎochù.”

“哦，哦，哦！为什么，这说明了一切！”哭了。 “我经常想知道它们是怎么得到金甲虫的，但是我当然不敢问任何问题。”

“不，当然不是！但是，请打扰你，朋友鼠-你会把金色的小饰品还给我，我会立刻让你摆脱所有义务。你知道她把它藏在哪里吗？”

“是的，在墙被打碎的缝隙中。我会轻率地把它拿给你，但是当我们的魅力消失时，我们将如何生存呢？我恐怕会有一个食物匮乏的季节；乞g们的票价我们。”

“活在你的美好记忆中，”猫叫道。 “成为一个诚实的乞g真是太好了。现在，小队！我完全信任你，因为你们的人民住在孔子的家中。[17]我将在这里等你回来。啊！”怀特海对自己笑道，“好运似乎又来了！”

五分钟后，老鼠出现，嘴里挂着小饰品。它把甲虫传给了猫，然后用拂尘永远消失了。它的荣誉是安全的，但它却害怕怀特海。它已经看到了她绿色的眼睛中闪烁着欲望的光芒，如果猫不那么急于回家，她的情妇可以再次指挥美妙的水壶来带来食物，那只猫可能会毁了她的话。

就像太阳升起在东部山丘上一样，两位冒险家到达了河。

“当心，”黑脚警告说，当猫在他的背上跃过溪流时，“要注意不要忘记宝藏。总之，请记住，即使你是雌性，也必须保持嘴巴直到我们到达另一边为止。”

怀特海德说：“谢谢，但我认为我不需要你的建议。”捡起甲虫，跳到狗的背上。

可惜！就在他们靠近更远的海岸时，这只兴奋的猫暂时忘记了她的智慧。一条鱼突然从她的鼻子正下方跳出水面。太过诱惑了。 [18]快点！徒劳地努力去掉鳞状的宝藏，金甲虫沉入河底。

“那里！”那只狗生气地说道：“我告诉你了什么？现在我们所有的麻烦都白费了-全都是因为你的愚蠢。”

一时间有一场激烈的争执，同伴们互相取了很不好的名字，例如乌龟和兔子。正当他们从河里出发时，他们感到失望和沮丧，他们是一只友善的青蛙，偶然地听到了他们的谈话愿意从溪流底部取走宝藏。随即说了做，在对这只可容纳的动物大加感谢之后，他们又回到了家。

当他们到达小屋时，门被关闭了，而布莱克富特却像他一样吠叫着，无法说服主人打开门。里面传来大声的哀号声。

猫说：“情妇很伤心。我会去找她，让她开心。”

可以这么说，她从纸窗上的一个洞里轻轻地弹了一下，a！太小了，离地面太远，无法让忠实的狗进入。

悲惨的景象迎接了怀特海的目光。儿子躺在床上昏迷不醒，几乎快要饿死了，而他[19]的母亲在绝望中摇来晃去，向前弯曲着皱着的手，在嗓音的顶部哭了起来，一个人来救了。他们。

怀特海德喊道：“情妇，我在这里，这是你在哭泣的宝藏。我已将它救出来并将其带回给你。”

寡妇看到甲虫时高兴极了，把猫抓在她瘦弱的手臂上，紧紧地把宠物抱在怀里。

“早餐，儿子，早餐！从你的愚蠢中醒来！财富又来了。我们从饥饿中得救了！”

很快就准备好了一顿热气腾腾的热饭，您可以想像这老太太和儿子如何赞美怀特海，如何用好东西填满了这只野兽的盘子，但他们却丝毫没有说出忠实的狗，那条狗一直在外面嗅芬芳的气味和令人难过的奇怪等待，在这整个过程中，这只狡猾的猫一直没有说过黑脚怪在拯救金甲虫中的角色。

很快就准备好了一顿热气腾腾的热饭，您可以想像这老太太和儿子如何赞美怀特海，如何用好东西填满了这只野兽的盘子，但他们却丝毫没有说出忠实的狗，那条狗一直在外面嗅芬芳的气味和令人难过的奇怪等待，在这整个过程中，这只狡猾的猫一直没有说过黑脚怪在拯救金甲虫中的角色。

最后，当早餐结束时，怀特海从其他地方溜走了，从窗户上的洞里跳了出来。

“哦，亲爱的布莱克富特，”她笑着说，“你应该去里面看看他们给我带来的盛宴！情妇对我带回她的宝贝感到非常高兴，以至于她无法给我[20]足够的食物，也不要对我说足够多的好话。太可惜了，老家伙，你饿了。你最好跑到街上捡骨头。”

愤怒的狗被他的同伴的可耻的背叛所震撼，在那只猫身上飞来飞去，在短短几秒钟之内就把她摇了摇致死。

“这样一个忘记了朋友却失去荣誉的人死了。”当他站在同伴的身体上时，他悲伤地哭了。

他冲到大街上，向他的部落成员宣告怀特黑德的背叛，同时建议从那时起，所有自重的狗都应该对猫科动物发动战争。

这就是为什么古老的黑脚怪的后代，无论是在中国还是在西方的大国，都对怀特海的子孙不断发动战争，因为有一千代的狗与他们战斗并恨死了他们。持久的仇恨。