Дюймовочка

           Thumbelinasailedpastmanyaplace,andwhenthelittlebirdsinthebushessawhertheysang, "Whatadarlinglittlegirl." Theleafdriftedfurtherandfurtherawaywithher,andsoitwasthatThumbelinabecameatraveler. 

           Alovelywhitebutterflykeptflutteringaroundher,andatlastalightedontheleaf,becauseheadmiredThumbelina. Shewasahappylittlegirlagain,nowthatthetoadcouldnotcatchher. Itwasallverylovelyasshefloatedalong,andwherethesunstruckthewateritlookedlikeshininggold. Thumbelinaundidhersash,tiedoneendofittothebutterfly, andmadetheotherendfasttotheleaf.Itwentmuchfasternow,andThumbelinawentmuchfastertoo,forofcourseshewasstandingonit. 

           Justthen,abigMay-bugflewbyandcaughtsightofher.Immediatelyhefastenedhisclawsaroundherslenderwaistandflewwithherupintoatree. Awaywentthegreenleafdownthestream,andawaywentthebutterflywithit,forhewastiedtotheleafandcouldnotgetloose. 

           Mygoodness!HowfrightenedlittleThumbelinawaswhentheMay-bugcarriedherupinthetree. Butshewasevenmoresorryforthenicewhitebutterflyshehadfastenedtotheleaf, becauseifhecouldn’tfreehimselfhewouldhavetostarvetodeath. ButtheMay-bugwasn’tonetocareaboutthat. Hesatherdownonthelargestgreenleafofthetree, fedherhoneyfromtheflowers,andtoldherhowprettyshewas,consideringthatshedidn’tlooktheleastlikeaMay-bug. Afterawhile,alltheotherMay-bugswholivedinthetreecametopaythemacall.