The Selkie Child
The Selkie Child The Selkie Child The legend There is a story that is told by the people who live on the rocky shores of the Northern islands. Some believe it is true; some say that it is just a legend. It tells of the seal people, called Selkies. The Selkies leave the sea to become human for one night and one day. They hide their seal skins among the rocks, for they must find them again in order to return to the waves. Some say it happens every nine tides, and some that it occurs on Midsumme
登录后可以听外教原声朗读。
The Selkie Child
The Selkie Child
The legend
There is a story that is told by the people who live on the rocky shores of the Northern islands.Some believe it is true; some say that it is just a legend. It tells of the seal people, called Selkies.The Selkies leave the sea to become human for one night and one day.They hide their seal skins among the rocks, for they must find them again in order to return to the waves.
Some say it happens every nine tides, and some that it occurs on Midsummer's Eve.Some say that a Selkie can be called onto the shore if you weep seven tears into the sea.All agree that Selkies have a haunting beauty.
John Wilson, and his wife Kate, lived a contented life in their low house facing the sea.The house crouched against the cliffs, lashed by winter storms and baked by summer suns.John loved the sea, and went each day to chase the shoals of fish off the shore in his fishing boat.
Kate cleaned the little house, and filled the days in mending John's nets or walking among the pebbles and driftwood.She often stood and gazed over the waves, watching the seals and waiting for John's return at the end of the day.Their life passed quietly, for they had no children.But Kate longed to fill the house with the laughter of sons and daughters, and slowly her heart grew heavy.
John felt his wife's sadness; he too wished for a daughter to greet him when he came home and to bounce upon his knee.He imagined how, when the storms brought wild, cold weather, they would all sit closely by the fire.He would tell her stories of the sea to make her eyes wide with joy and wonder.He would tell her of mermaids, sea monsters and the beautiful blue-eyed seal people.
When the sun shone and warm winds came, he would take his daughter along the shore.They would find driftwood, pebbles, and treasure from the sea.He would teach her to swim like a seal, and take her out fishing in his boat.
But as time passed, their home stayed childless.
One winter night a great storm blew up. The sea swirled in a fury.Strong winds lashed the water. The waves crashed upon the shore.Kate feared they would wash up to the very walls of the low house.
When morning came and the wind had died away, John went out to see what the storm had brought.The cries of grey and white gulls filled the air above the cliffs, blown inland by the gale.
Now the sea was calm again, and John gazed along the rocky beach over the glistening grey rocks and pebbles that lined the shore.
Driftwood, bleached by the salt, was turned to silver in the watery sunlight.
But there, where the pebbles met the waves, John saw something moving.As he drew closer, he found a small child, lying on a bed of seaweed.
"Here is a strange gift from the sea!" cried John.As he stared in wonder, he saw a glossy brown skin nearby in a crack in the rocks.Quickly he bent, snatched it up and hid it in his pocket.
John went to pick up the child and he wrapped her inside his warm coat.As the child looked up at John, she seemed to hold all the mysteries of the sea in her clear, crystal-blue eyes.
"Kate! Kate!" called John as he made his way back to the low house."See what the storm has left us - a deserted child alone among the rocks!"
