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中最卑微的。只要我们一出场，随时都会引起广泛的关注。其实还没轮到我出场呢，不过只
要我一出现，准会是壮观的场面。说到家务事，它会使人早早地衰老，并无心追求更高的目
标。”
“啊！更高的生活目标，它们该有多好呀！”鸭子说，“可它倒使我觉得好饥饿。”说
完她就朝下游泅水而去，同时还“嘎，嘎，嘎”地叫着。
“回来，快回来！”火箭尖声明着，“我有好多话要对你说。”但是鸭子没理会他。
“我很高兴她离去了，”他对自己说，“她的思想的确只算得上一般。”他往稀泥中陷得更
深了，这时才开始想起天才的寂寞来。忽然有两个小男孩身穿白色的粗布衫，手拿一只水
壶，怀里抱着好些柴火，朝岸边跑了过来。
“这一定是那个代表团了，”火箭说着，又努力表现出非常庄重的样子。
“嘿！”其中的一个孩子叫道，“快看这根旧木棍！我不知道它怎么会在这儿。”他把
火箭从阴沟里拾起。
“旧木棍！”火箭说，“不可能！金木棍，这才是他说的。金木棍才是很中听的话。实
际上，他把我错当成宫中的某位显贵了。”
“我们把它放到火里去吧！”另一个孩子说，“它会帮着把水烧开。”
于是他俩把柴火堆在一起，把火箭放在最上面，并点燃了火。
“这下可太棒了，”火箭大声叫道，“他们要在大白天里把我给燃放了，这样人人都会
看见我了。”
“我们现在去睡觉吧，”他俩说，“睡醒时水壶的水就会烧开了。”说完他们便在草地
上躺下身，闭上了眼睛。
火箭浑身都湿透了，所以花了好长时间才把他烤干。不过，到最后火苗还是把他点燃了。
“现在我就要升空了！”他大叫起来，同时把身体挺得笔直笔直的。“我知道我要飞得
比星星更高，比月亮更高，比太阳更高。其实，我会飞得高到——”
嘶嘶！嘶嘶！嘶嘶！他垂直朝天空中飞去。
“太棒了！”他叫了起来，“我要这样一直飞下去，我是多么的成功啊！”
不过，没有人看见他。
这时他开始感到有一股奇怪的刺痛袭遍全身。
“现在我就要爆炸了，”他大声喊道，“我要点燃整个世界，我要声威大震，让所有的
人在这一年里都不再谈论别的事情。”的确他真的爆炸了。呼！呼：呼！火药爆炸了。这是
千真万确的。
可是没有人听见他，就连那两个小孩也没有听见，因为他俩睡得可熟了。
接着他所剩下的只有木棍了，木棍掉下去，正好落在一只在阴沟边散步的鹅的背上。
“天呀！”鹅叫了起来，“怎么下起棍子来了。”说完就跳进河里去了。
“我知道我会创造奇迹的，”火箭喘息着说，然后他就熄灭了。
the remarkable rocket
the kings son was going to be married； so there were general
rejoicings。 he had waited a whole year for his bride； and at last
she had arrived。 she was a russian princess； and had driven all
the way from finland in a sledge drawn by six reindeer。 the sledge
was shaped like a great golden swan； and between the swans wings
lay the little princess herself。 her long ermine…cloak reached
right down to her feet； on her head was a tiny cap of silver
tissue； and she was as pale as the snow palace in which she had
always lived。 so pale was she that as she drove through the
streets all the people wondered。 〃she is like a white rose！〃 they
cried； and they threw down flowers on her from the balconies。
at the gate of the castle the prince was waiting to receive her。
he had dreamy violet eyes； and his hair was like fine gold。 when
he saw her he sank upon one knee； and kissed her hand。
〃your picture was beautiful；〃 he murmured； 〃but you are more
beautiful than your picture〃； and the little princess blushed。
〃she was like a white rose before；〃 said a young page to his
neighbour； 〃but she is like a red rose now〃； and the whole court
was delighted。
for the next three days everybody went about saying； 〃white rose；
red rose； red rose； white rose〃； and the king gave orders that the
pages salary was to be doubled。 as he received no salary at all
this was not of much use to him； but it was considered a great
honour； and was duly published in the court gazette。
when the three days were over the marriage was celebrated。 it was
a magnificent ceremony； and the bride and bridegroom walked hand in
hand under a canopy of purple velvet embroidered with little
pearls。 then there was a state banquet； which lasted for five
hours。 the prince and princess sat at the top of the great hall
and drank out of a cup of clear crystal。 only true lovers could
drink out of this cup； for if false lips touched it； it grew grey
and dull and cloudy。
〃its quite clear that they love each other；〃 said the little page；
〃as clear as crystal！〃 and the king doubled his salary a second
time。 〃what an honour！〃 cried all the courtiers。
after the banquet there was to be a ball。 the bride and bridegroom
were to dance the rose…dance together； and the king had promised to
play the flute。 he played very badly； but no one had ever dared to
tell him so； because he was the king。 indeed； he knew only two
airs； and was never quite certain which one he was playing； but it
made no matter； for； whatever he did； everybody cried out；
〃charming！ charming！〃
the last item on the programme was a grand display of fireworks； to
be let off exactly at midnight。 the little princess had never seen
a firework in her life； so the king had given orders that the royal
pyrotechnist should be in attendance on the day of her marriage。
〃what are fireworks like？〃 she had asked the prince； one morning；
as she was walking on the terrace。
〃they are like the aurora borealis；〃 said the king； who always
answered questions that were addressed to other people； 〃only much
more natural。 i prefer them to stars myself； as you always know
when they are going to appear； and they are as delightful as my own
flute…playing。 you must certainly see them。〃
so at the end of the kings garden a great stand had been set up；
and as soon as the royal pyrotechnist had put everything in its
proper place； the fireworks began to talk to each other。
〃the world is certainly very beautiful；〃 cried a little squib。
〃just look at those yellow tulips。 why！ if they were real crackers
they could not be lovelier。 i am very glad i have travelled。
travel improves the mind wonderfully； and does away with all ones
prejudices。〃
〃the kings garden is not the world； you foolish squib；〃 said a big
roman candle； 〃the world is an enormous place； and it would take
you three days to see it thoroughly。〃
〃any place you love is the world to you；〃 exclaimed a pensive
catherine wheel； who had been attached to an old deal box in early
life； and prided herself on her broken heart； 〃but love is not
fashionable any more； the poets have killed it。 they wrote so much
about it that nobody believed them； and i am not surprised。 true
love suffers； and is silent。 i remember myself once … but it is
no matter now。 romance is a thing of the past。〃
〃nonsense！〃 said the roman candle； 〃romance never dies。 it is like
the moon； and lives for ever。 the bride and bridegroom； for
instance； love each other very dearly。 i heard all about them this
morning from a brown…paper cartridge； who happened to be staying in
the same drawer as myself； and knew the latest court news。〃
but the catherine wheel shook her head。 〃romance is dead； romance
is dead； romance is dead；〃 she murmured。 she was one of those
people who think that； if you say the same thing over and over a
great many times； it bees true in the end。
suddenly； a sharp； dry cough was heard； and they all looked round。
i