1、儿童英语小故事——驴子与蚱蜢
An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, “The dew.”
The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.
驴子听见蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙动听的歌声所打动，自己也想能发出同样悦耳动听的声音，便羡慕地问他们吃些什么，才能发出如此美妙的声音来。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”
驴子便也只吃露水，没多久就饿死了。
这个英语小故事告诉人们不要企望非份之物。
2、儿童英语小故事——The horse and groom
There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of his allowance of oats, and sold
it for his own profit. The Horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at last cried to the Groom, “If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must comb me less
and feed me more.”
从前，有一个马夫，常常花费几个钟头来为他负责照管的马修剪和梳理头发，可是他却每天都会偷一部分喂马的燕麦，拿了卖了以某私利。逐渐地，马的健康状况越来越糟糕，最后忍不住对马夫大叫：“你要是真想让我看上去光滑闪亮，就应该给我梳毛，多喂我燕麦。”
3、儿童英语小故事——The goose that lald the golden eggs
A Man and his Wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid a Golden Egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they
were not getting rich fast enough, and imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But
when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose. Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to theirwealth.
Much wants more and loses all.
有一对夫妇非常幸运，他们有一只每天下一枚金蛋的母鸡。尽管非常幸运，可他们很快就觉得财富增加得还不够快，不仅如此，他们还以为这只鹅的内脏肯定也是金的。于是，他们决定杀掉它，这样就能立刻得到全部珍宝了。然而，他们把鹅开膛破肚之后，却发现和其他鹅没有什么两样。如此，他们既没有像当初希望得那样一夜暴富，也不能再享有与日俱增的好运气了。
4、儿童英语小故事——the charcoal-burnet and the fuller
There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance
and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: “We shall get to know one another better that way,” he said, “and, beside, our household expenses will
be diminished.” The Fuller thanked him, but replied, “I couldn"t think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal.”
从前，有一个自力更生的烧炭工人独自在家做工作。碰巧，一个漂洗工搬至隔壁，与他成了邻居。结实漂洗工后，烧炭工人经过了解发现，这个邻居是个一很好的合作伙伴，就问漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的铺子里一起工作。“那样我们会更加亲密。”烧炭人说：“不仅如此，我们还可以节省生活开销呢?”漂洗工谢绝了他，回答说：“我可不这样看，先生，因为不管我的衣服漂洗的多么白，都会立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”
5、儿童英语小故事——狮子和老鼠
Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face.
Rising up in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: “If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed and let him go.
It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.
The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came up, and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: “You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion.”
Little friends may prove great friends.
一只老鼠从一只狮子面前跑过去，将它从梦中吵醒。
狮子生气地跳起来，捉住老鼠，要弄死它。老鼠哀求说：“只要你肯饶恕我这条小生命，我将来一定会报答你的大恩。”狮子便笑着放了它。
后来狮子被几个猎人捉住，用粗绳捆绑倒在地上。
老鼠听出是狮子的吼声，走来用牙齿咬断绳索，释放了牠，并大声说：“你当时嘲笑我想帮你的忙，而且也不指望我有什么机会报答。但是你现在知道了，就算是小老鼠，也能向狮子效劳的。”
强者不会永远是强者，强者也会有需要弱者帮助的时候。
