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English Reading # 1
The Blue Light

A long time ago, there was a soldier who served his king for many years.
One day, the soldier was wounded. The king said, “You can no longer fight for
me. I have to fire you.”

The soldier had no money, and he wandered for many days. Finally, he came
upon a witch’s home. “Work for me, and I will feed you, “said the witch. She
made the soldier work very hard.

One night, the witch said, “There is something at the bottom of my well. Go
down and get it for me.” The soldier agreed. After all, what choice did he have ?

Down in the well, the soldier found a strange blue light. He was very curious.
When the witch pulled him up, she said,” Hand over the light.” The soldier
refused, so the witch dropped him back into the well.

Inside the well, a dwarf suddenly appeared.” I serve the owner of the blue
light. What do you command ?” the soldier told the dwarf to bring the witch to
court.

LATER, THE DWARF RETURNED. “The witch has been punished,” he
said. He helped the soldier escape from the well and gave him many treasures.

The soldier bought new clothes and ate wonderful food. He said to the dwarf,
“Bring the king’s daughter to serve me.”

When the king learned of the soldier’s plan, he arrested the soldier. “You took
my daughter, “ said the king. “ Now you have to die.”

The soldier gestured and the dwarf appeared. “The king is evil, “ said the
soldier. “Kill him .” The king cried out and begged for mercy. “I’ll give you
everything, “he said. “just let me live.” And so the soldier became the new king
and married the princess.

(出自 ABC 英語故事袋 -格林童話篇)

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