老鼠、小鸟和香肠
导读
《老鼠、小鸟和香肠》与其说是童话，不如说是一则古老的'动物寓言'（民俗学分类 ATU 85），气质更接近伊索寓言：篇幅短小，角色是拟人化的小生灵，结尾则毫不留情地把一个道理砸给你听。它收在格林兄弟 1812 年的初版里，讲三个原本配合默契的伙伴——小鸟砍柴、老鼠打水生火、香肠钻进锅里给饭菜添油加盐（这个又滑稽又有点古怪的画面，正是德国老式家庭故事的典型趣味）。日子本来过得富足安稳，坏就坏在小鸟听了外人一句挑拨，觉得自己吃了亏，非要三个人交换工作。结果每个角色一旦离开自己最擅长的位置，灾难就接踵而至。和大多数以'从此幸福生活'收尾的童话不同，这个故事三个主角最后全都丧了命——寓言常用这种极端的结局，把'各安其位、莫听闲话生嫉妒'的道理讲得格外醒目。读给孩子听时，可以先问问他：如果你是那只小鸟，听到别人说你干得最累，你会怎么想？
《老鼠、小鸟和香肠》词汇精讲
本故事精选 12 个重点词汇，附中英释义与原文例句，帮助孩子扩展英语词汇量。
An arrangement in which people work or live together and share things.
合伙关系；合作关系。
Once upon a time a mouse, a bird, and a sausage formed a partnership.
很久以前，一只老鼠、一只小鸟和一根香肠成了合伙人。
The state of being successful and having plenty of money or things.
繁荣；富足；兴旺。
For a long time they lived in peace and prosperity, acquiring many possessions.
在很长一段时间里，他们过着和平且富足的生活，积累了许多财产。
Talked with too much pride about oneself or what one has.
吹嘘；自夸；炫耀。
Thus one day the bird chanced to meet another bird, who boasted to him of his own situation.
有一天，小鸟偶然遇到另一只鸟，那只鸟向他吹嘘自己的处境。
Said what one thinks is wrong or bad about someone or something.
批评；指责；挑剔。
This bird criticized him for working so hard while the other two enjoyed themselves at home.
那只鸟批评他干活太辛苦，而另外两个伙伴却在家里享福。
An old-fashioned word for a sitting room where a family relaxes.
客厅；起居室（旧式说法）。
She could sit in the parlor and rest until it was time for her to set the table.
就可以坐在客厅休息，直到摆餐具的时间。
Said firmly that something must be done, refusing to change one's mind.
坚持；坚决要求。
But the bird was the master, and he insisted that they give it a try.
但小鸟是主事人，他坚持要他们试一试。
Walked slowly and with heavy steps, as if tired.
步履蹒跚地走；吃力地走。
The sausage trudged off toward the forest.
香肠步履蹒跚地走向森林。
Bold and without shame; not caring what others think.
厚颜无耻的；明目张胆的。
The bird complained bitterly to the dog about this brazen abduction.
小鸟向狗控诉这种厚颜无耻的绑架行为。
To lose something, or give it up, as a punishment.
（作为惩罚而）丧失；被没收；付出（代价）。
He claimed that he had discovered forged letters on the sausage, and that she would thus have to forfeit her life to him.
但狗声称他在香肠身上发现了伪造的信件，因此她必须付出生命的代价。
Burned with very hot liquid or steam.
（被沸水或蒸汽）烫伤。
Before she reached the middle, her hair and skin were scalded off, and she perished.
但还没到锅中间，她的毛发和皮肉就被烫掉了，命丧黄泉。
A feeling of deep sadness.
悲伤；忧伤；悲痛。
Filled with sorrow, the bird carried the wood home himself and told the mouse what he had seen and heard.
小鸟满心忧伤，自己扛着木头回家，把所见所闻告诉了老鼠。
The state of not giving enough attention or care to what you are doing.
粗心；疏忽；大意。
Because of his carelessness, the scattered wood caught fire, and the entire house was soon aflame.
由于他的疏忽，散乱的木头着了火，整个房子很快就陷入了火海。
延伸阅读与亲子共读
故事寓意
各人有各人擅长的位置，盲目攀比、听信挑拨而丢下自己的本分，往往会把好端端的局面弄糟。
教育价值
帮助孩子理解合作与分工的价值，看清'嫉妒'和'轻信流言'的危害；也是认识'寓言'这一体裁及其鲜明道德教训的好例子。
家长共读提示
借故事和孩子聊一聊：为什么每个人做自己擅长的事，整个团队反而更顺？当心里冒出'不公平'的念头时，可以怎样和伙伴好好沟通，而不是赌气。
和孩子聊一聊
- 三个伙伴原本分工很好，日子过得幸福。是什么让小鸟突然觉得自己吃亏了？
- 那只外来的鸟并没帮什么忙，只是说了几句话。你觉得'听别人几句话'为什么会闯出这么大的祸？
- 每个伙伴都有自己最擅长的事。为什么一交换工作，就全乱套了？
- 这个故事的结局三个主角都死了，和'从此幸福生活'很不一样。你觉得作者为什么要这样写？
- 如果你和朋友一起做事，觉得自己做得比别人多、有点不公平，你会怎么办？
