A Little Princess 原典英语

A Little Princess
by Kay Sam Shephard
Contents
Chapter One: Sara, the Little Princess (3)
Chapter Two: The Fallen Princess (6)
Chapter Three: The New Neighbor (8)
Chapter Four: Princess Again (10)
SING SING ALONG: A LITTLE PRINCESS (13)
ROLE PLAY: A LITTLE PRINCESS (14)
ACT ONE: SARA THE LITTLE PRINCESS (14)
ACT TWO: THE FALLEN PRINCESS (16)
ACT THREE: THE NEW NEIGHBOR (18)
ACT FOUR: PRINCESS AGAIN (20)
Chapter One: Sara, the Little Princess
It was a dark winter day in London.
A cab was going through the thick fog.
There was a seven-year-old girl in the cab with her father.
Sara and Captain Crewe had just finished their long trip from India. "Here we are. Let's get out of the cab, Sara,' said Captain Crewe. They went up the stairs and rang the bell.
Sara and Captain Crewe went into the drawing room.
When they took a seat, a tall lady came in.
"I'm Miss Minchin. You're Captain Crewe and this is Sara?" she said. "Yes. I have heard a lot about your school," said Captain Crewe. Miss Minchin knew that he was very rich.
"It will be a great honor to teach such a beautiful child," she said. "Please take good care of her," said Captain Crewe.
Captain Crewe held Sara in his arms and kissed her. "Goodbye, my princess," said Captain Crewe.
"Goodbye, Papa," said Sara.
"Young ladies," Miss Minchin said.
"I will introduce a new pupil to you."
All the girls in the classroom looked at Sara.
Miss Minchin said, "This is Miss Crewe.
She has just come from faraway India."
The girls and Sara bowed to each other and sat down.
Sara noticed somebody looking at her.
It was a short fat girl about her age.
After class Sara came to her.
"What is your name?" Sara asked.
"Oh, my name is Ermengarde St. John," she answered.
She was happy because Sara talked to her first.
After that, Sara and Ermengarde became good friends.
One morning Sara heard an angry cry of a little girl "Oh, Lottie, stop, please!"
Miss Amelia, Miss Minchin's sister, was trying to stop her crying. But Lottie cried even more loudly. Sara came near them and said quietly, "Miss Amelia, may I try to make her stop crying?" "Oh, Sara, can you?"
Miss Amelia said and went out of the room. Sara and Lottie looked at each other without a word.
"I don't have any ma-ma-a! the child cried out first. "Neither do I," said Sara. Lottie, a four-year-old child, stopped crying and asked, "Where is she?"
"She went to heaven. That -is where your mama is, too," Sara answered. From that time Sara was like a mother to Lottie.
On that afternoon, when Sara went into her room, she saw a girl asleep near the fire.
She was Becky, a kitchen maid at the school.
She was always hungry and dirty.
But Sara liked Becky and they became good friends.
Sara got a letter from her father. He was going to make diamond mines with his friend.
Everyone at the school talked about the news. "I don't believe in her father's diamond mines," said Lavinia.
"You hate her," Lavinia s friend, Jessie, giggled.
"She thinks she is a princess. Let's call her 'Princess Sara'," Lavinia said.
The two girls began to call Sara "Princess Sara". However, Sara's friends were very pleased with the title.
Chapter Two: The Fallen Princess
It was Sara's eleventh birthday.
The school room was decorated for her birthday party.
There were a lot of gift boxes. Miss Minchin said,
"Young ladies, Sara is eleven years old today. Her birthday party will be different from the other girls' birthdays. When she is older, she will have a large fortune."
"The diamond mines," giggled Lavinia and Jessie.
In the drawing room a gentleman was waiting for Miss Minchin.
"I am Captain Crewe's lawyer. You have spent too much money on the little girl's birthday," he said.
"I beg your pardon?" Miss Minchin said.
"Captain Crewe is dead. There are no diamond mines. And his friend ran away with his money. The little girl is a beggar now," he said.
Her face turned pale. "Bring Sara to me, right now!"
Sara came into Miss Minchin's room.
"Everything will be very different now. You are a beggar.
You must work in the kitchen and sleep in the attic next to Becky," Miss Minchin said coldly.
Sara was very surprised, but she said nothing.
The room in the attic was cold and dirty- Sara sat in the darkness alone. "I don't have a papa. He is dead," she cried quietly.
Then somebody knocked on the door.
"Oh, Miss! May I come in?" Becky said.
"Sure, Becky. We are the same. Look at me. I'm not a princess anymore," said Sara.
Becky sat beside Sara crying.
"Yes, Miss, you are. Whatever happens to you, you are a princess all the same," Becky said.
A few days later, Lottie came into Sara's room in the attic.
"Mama Sara."
She looked around the room and started to cry.
Sara ran to the child and said,
"Don't cry. It's not such a bad room, Lottie. You can see interesting things here."
She lifted up Lottie and they stood on an old table.
"Look at the chimneys, roofs, and the other attic windows. Oh, look at that cloud," said Sara. "Mama Sara! I want to live here!" said Lottie.
"No, you must go back to your room," said Sara.
The room looked lonelier after the visitor left.
One night Ermengarde came up to the attic. She heard a little low laugh from inside. "There! Take it and go home," she heard Sara's whisper. "Who, who are you talking to, Sara?" said Ermengarde.
"Shh! Speak quietly," whispered Sara.
Sara stared at a hole, and said softly, "Don't be afraid."
At last a gray rat came out of the hole.
"There! He is my friend!" said Sara.
She dropped some crumbs.
The rat came quietly and ate them.
Ermengarde began to laugh,
"Oh, Sara, you are queer, but nice."
Chapter Three: The New Neighbor
The house next to the school had been empty. One morning Sara saw a van before the house.
"Oh, somebody is moving in," Sara said to herself.
On that evening, Sara was looking out at the sunset from the window. She saw a dark face in the window of the next house's attic. He was holding a monkey.
The monkey suddenly jumped into Sara's attic. "Oh, you naughty boy! Come here," he shouted.
"It's OK. He's so cute. Hello, I am Sara," said Sara Hello," he said. His name was Ram Dass.
He was the new neighbor's servant.
The new neighbor, Mr. Carrisford, had lived in India.
Mr. Carrisford was rich. He had diamond mines.
"I caught brain fever when the diamond mines seemed to go wrong. Before long I recovered.
But my best friend was already dead. I must find my friend's daughter. She must be alive somewhere.
She may be penniless now. Oh, it is through my fault," Mr. Carrisford said to Ram Dass.
"How about helping the little girl in the attic, Sir?
"That will make you feel better," said Ram Dass.
"That's a good idea. It will make her happy, too," said Mr. Carrisford with a smile.
Sara was crossing the muddy street.
Just then she found something shining in the mud.
It was a four-penny piece!
Then she saw a little girl with a dirty face and big, hungry eyes.
"Are you hungry?" asked Sara.
"I ate nothing today," the girl said.
Sara went into a bakery and said, "Four buns, please."
The baker woman looked at Sara and put six buns in a bag.
"This is nice and hot. Eat it," Sara said to the girl. "Oh, my! Oh, my!" the girl said in surprise. "She is hungrier than I am," Sara said to herself. She gave the little girl five of her buns.
It was another hard day for Sara and Becky. They had to go to bed without having supper. Then Ermengarde brought a box full of good food. "Ermengarde, let's have a party!" said Sara. When they were about to eat a piece of cake, suddenly, Miss Minchin opened the door.
"Lavinia was telling me the truth," she shouted. "You are bad! Tomorrow you shall have no breakfast, lunch, nor supper!"
She shut the door behind herself. At that moment, a dark face was watching all this* through the window.
Chapter Four: Princess Again
When Sara woke up, she felt warm and cozy. She looked around her room and couldn't believe her eyes.
On the table there were small dishes, a cup and a teapot.
New warm blankets were on the bed. "Oh, it can't be true! It's magic!" Sara cried. She touched the table, the dishes, and the blankets. "It's real. I'm not dreaming!" Sara said.
And she found this note: To the little girl in the attic. From a friend. "Somebody cares for me. I have a friend!" she cried.
The day was muddier and colder.
Sara went up the stairs and stood before the attic door.
"The magic might have gone away. It was just for one night," she said to herself.
She pushed the door open and went in. The magic was there again!
There were more blankets and more food to share with Becky. She knocked on the wall for Becky.
"Oh, my!" Becky cried. "Where does it come from?" "Don't even ask," said Sara,
"I'd rather not know. It makes it more beautiful.
It snowed all day. Sara and Becky heard a little sound outside the window. Sara climbed on the table and opened the window.
"It is the monkey!" she cried out.
"He has come from the next house... Oh, he is shivering."
Becky ran to her side.
"Are you going to let him in, Miss?" Becky asked.
"Yes, it's too cold for monkeys. Come on, monkey. I won't hurt you," Sara
said. She held the monkey in her arms, kissing his funny head.
"Oh, I am sorry, my friend, Crewe. I tried to find your daughter, but I couldn't. Where is she?"
Mr. Carrisford said to himself sadly.
Then Ram Dass came in and said,
"Sir, the girl from next door has come."
Sara came in and said,
"Your monkey came into my room again. I like monkeys because I was born in India."
"India? And you live in the school?" Mr. Carrisford cried.
"Yes. When my papa first took me there, I was a pupil. But after he died..." Sara said. "What was your father's name?" Mr. Carrisford asked.
"His name was Ralph Crewe," Sara answered. "Oh! It's you! I am your father's friend," Mr. Carrisford cried.
At that moment Miss Minchin entered the room. "I came here to find my pupil," she said. "Miss Crewe is not going back to your school," Mr. Carrisford said.
"Mr. Carrisford was the friend of Captain Crewe. His fortune, including the diamond mines, has been recovered. Miss Crewe will be richer than any other princess in the world," Ram Dass said. "Mr. Carrisford, I have done everything I could for her. Sara, I have loved you," Miss Minchin said. Sara looked into Miss Minchin's eyes and said, "You know better. I will not go with you, Miss Minchin."
Miss Minchin looked at her angrily and turned.
It was a foggy day like Sara's first day in London.
A cab stopped before the bakery.
Sara, in warm and rich furs, came out of it.
Becky followed her.
When Sara entered the bakery, the baker woman said, "Oh! I remember you, Miss." "Yes, once you gave me six buns for fourpence, and..." Sara said.
"And you gave five of them to a beggar child," the woman said.
Sara smiled and said, "Please give hot buns to the hungry children in the streets. I will pay for them."
Mr. Carrisford smiled beside Sara.
SING SING ALONG: A LITTLE PRINCESS
Sara, a little princess with a warm heart.
We love you so much because you're kind.
Alas!
There's bad news about your papa.
He died in India, leaving you penniless.
Sara, don't cry. A true princess never cries.
Sara, a kitchen maid, cold and hungry.
You never lose your heart whatever happens.
And finally your papa's friend has found you.
You'll have a great fortune and the diamond mines. Sara, wipe you tears. You are a princess forever.
ROLE PLAY: A LITTLE PRINCESS
ACT ONE: SARA THE LITTLE PRINCESS
(in the Minchin s School's drawing room)
Minchin:Welcome to London. Im Miss Minchin.
It will be a great honor to teach such a beautiful child. Crewe:Please take good care of her.
(turning to Sara and kissing her) Goodbye, my princess.
Sara:(sadly) Goodbye, Papa.
(in the classroom)
Minchin:A-hem, young ladies. This is Miss Sara Crewe. She has just come from faraway India. (Sara and the girls bow to each other and sit down.)
Sara:(saying to herself) Who is that girl? She is looking at me. (After class, Sara goes to the girl.)
Sara:Hello, I am Sara. What is your name? Ermengarde:Me? Oh, my name is Ermengarde St. John. Sara:Nice to meet you, Ermengarde. I want to be your friend. Lottie:(crying loudly) I don't have any ma-ma-a!
Sara:(calmly) Neither do I.
Lottie:(looking up at Sara) Where is your mama? Sara:She went to heaven. That is where your mama is, too. Lottie:(stopping crying) Really? Will you be my mama, Sara. (Sara goes into her room, and sees a girl asleep near the fire.) Becky:(opening her eyes) Oh, Miss... Please forgive me. Sara:That's OK. You look so tired. Stay here until you feel better. Becky:(sobbing) Thank you, Miss. You are very kind. (Lavinia and Jessie are pointing at Sara.)
Jessie:Her father is very rich. They say he has diamond mines in India.
Lavinia: I don't believe in her father's diamond mines. She thinks she is a princess. Let's call her "Princess Sara".
ACT TWO: THE FALLEN PRINCESS
(The room is decorated for Sara's birthday party.)
Minchin:Young ladies, Sara is eleven years old today. Her birthday party will be different from the other girls' birthdays. When she is older, she will have a large fortune.
Lavinia, Jessie: (giggling) Oh, the diamond mines! Oh, the little princess!
(in the drawing room)
Lawyer:Miss Minchin, Captain Crewe is dead.
There are no diamond mines. His friend ran away with his money.
Sara is a beggar now.
Minchin:What? (in anger) Bring Sara to me, right now!
(Sara comes into the room.)
Minchin:(coldly) Everything will be different now. You must work in the kitchen and sleep in the attic next to Becky.
(in the attic)
Sara:(saying to herself) I don't have a papa. My papa is dead... Becky:(knocking on the door) Oh, Miss. May I come in? Sara:Becky, we are the same. Look at me. I'm not a princess anymore.
Becky:(bursting into tears) Yes, Miss, you are. Whatever happens to you, you are a princess all the same.
Sara:Thank you, Becky.
(Becky goes out, then Lottie comes in.)
Lottie:Mama Sara! (Looking around the room, she starts to cry.) Sara: Don't cry. It's not such a bad room, Lottie. You can see interesting things here. Look at the chimneys, roofs, and the other attic windows.
(pointing at a cloud) Oh, look at that cloud.
Lottie:(excitedly) Mama Sara! I want to live here! Sara:No, you must go back to your room.
ACT THREE: THE NEW NEIGHBOR
(When Sara looks out of the window, she sees a dark-faced man holding a monkey. Suddenly, the monkey jumps into Sara's attic.)
Ram Dass:Oh, you naughty boy! Come here!
Sara:It's OK. He's so cute, (turning to the man)
Hello, I am Sara.
Ram Dass:Oh, hi! My name is Ram Dass.
(Ram Dass takes the monkey back from Sara's attic.)
Thank you for the monkey.
(in Mr. Carrisford's living room)
Carrisford:I am rich. I have diamond mines. But most of them are not mine.
Ram Dass:You had brain fever at that time.
When you recovered, Captain Crewe was already dead. Carrisford:(sadly) I must find his daughter. She must be alive somewhere.
She may be penniless now. Oh, it is through my fault.
Ram Dass: How about helping the little girl in the attic, Sir? That will make you feel better.
Carrisford: That's a good idea. It will make her happy, too.
(One night, Ermengarde visits Sara with a big box.) Ermengarde: Sara, I've brought this food. It's from my aunt. Sara:Oh, great! Becky and I are so hungry now.
(She knocks on the wall and Becky appears.)
Sara:Hey, let's have a party!
Becky: How nice!
(When they are about to eat the cake, Miss Minchin opens the door.) Minchin: I knew it. Lavinia was telling me the truth.
(pointing at Becky and Sara) You are bad! Tomorrow you shall have no breakfast, lunch, nor supper!
(Ram Dass watches this from outside.)
ACT FOUR: PRINCESS AGAIN
(Sara is looking around the room and is surprised.)
Sara:Oh, it's magic! How nice the table, the dishes and the blankets are!
(Sara knocks on the wall and Becky enters.)
Becky:Oh, my! Where did it come from?
Sara:Don't even ask. I'd rather not know. (There's a little sound outside the window. Sara opens the window.) Oh, it's the monkey!
(in Mr. Carrisford's house)
Carrisford:(saying to himself) Oh, where is Crewe's daughter?
(Ram Dass enters.)
Ram Dass:Sir, the girl next door has come.
(Sara enters with the monkey in her arms.)
Sara:Your monkey came into my room again.
I like monkeys because I was born in India. Carrisford:India? And you live in the school? Sara:Yes, at first I was happy there, but after my papa died... Carrisford:What was your father's name?
Sara:His name was Ralph Crewe.
Carrisford:Oh, it's you! Ram Dass, this is the child! Ram Dass:Mr. Carrisford is your father's friend. He was looking for you.
(Miss Minchin enters the room.)
Minchin:I came here to find my pupil.
(to Sara) Go home!
Carrisford:Miss Minchin, Miss Crewe is not going back to your school.
Ram Dass:Mr. Carrisford was the friend of Captain Crewe. His fortune, including the diamond mines, has been recovered. Minchin:Mr. Carrisford, I have done everything I could for her. Carriford:Miss Minchin, I'm sorry. It's too late for you. (Miss Minchin looks at Sara angrily and goes out.)
Sara:Mr. Carrisford, can I help the poor children in the street? Carriford:Yes! You can do whatever you want, little princess.
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