为了帮助大家学习英语，小编分享了一篇小学英语课外阅读材料，讲述的是一个父亲出远门时给小女儿带了一直云雀所引发的一系列故事，欢迎阅读!

　　The Singing Lark

　　A long time ago, there once lived a father who had three daughters. One day, before he left for a long journey, he said to his daughters, "When I come back what gifts should I bring back for you?" The eldest daughter wanted pearls and the second daughter wanted diamonds. However the youngest daughter wanted a singing lark. The Singing Lark

　　Father promised to bring back the gifts and left for his journey. Several months later, Father had finished his journey and returned. He brought back the eldest and the second daughter's presents, but he was not able to get his youngest daughter's gift. And because he loved his youngest daughter the most, he felt very sad.

　　One day as he was resting in the forest, there up on the big tree he saw a singing lark. He went up the tree to get the singing lark. All of a sudden, a lion came and said, "Who came to take away my singing lark?"

　　"If you wish to take this bird, when I go to your house, give me the first thing that comes running out. Can you promise me?" Father was worried that his youngest daughter would come out, but because he was afraid of the lion he gave his word to the lion.

　　When he arrived, as expected, the youngest daughter came running out without even putting on her shoes. Father told the youngest daughter the whole truth. The youngest daughter consoled her father and said, she would try to persuade the lion.

　　As soon as she arrived, the lion turned into a prince. The prince was cast upon a spell, during the day he was a lion and at night he lived as a prince.

　　She married the prince. They also had children. Soon afterward, a few days later, a message came that her second sister was getting married. The youngest wanted to go to the wedding with her prince. However, if the prince saw daylight he would be turned into a pigeon and fly around for seven years.

　　But, because his wife wanted to go together, he started for his journey. The wife was good at blocking away the sunlight. However, inside the church there was a hole in the window and one stream of sunlight came in.

　　So the prince turned into a pigeon and flew away. The wife for seven years searched for the pigeon.

　　She prayed to god to help her. "Dear god, please show me where he is." God replied that he was about to marry a princess from another country.

　　She then went into the castle secretly and whispered to the prince. "Prince, you are my husband. You must leave with me." All of a sudden the prince's spell was broken. The prince was under the terrible princess spell, and was just about to marry her.

　　The prince and his wife left for their own country. When they arrived home, their child had grown up quite a bit too. And they lived happily ever after for a long time.

　　参考翻译

　　很久以前，有一位父亲，他有三个女儿。有一天，在他远行之前，他对他的女儿们说：“等我回来了，我该给您带些什么礼物回来呢?”大女儿想要珍珠，第二个女儿想要钻石。然而小女儿想要一个唱歌的云雀。

　　父亲答应带礼物回去旅行。几个月后，父亲完成了旅程，回来了。他带回了大女儿和二女儿的礼物，但他没能得到他最小女儿的礼物。因为他最爱他的小女儿，他感到非常伤心。

　　有一天，他在森林里休息，在大树上，他看见一只云雀在唱歌。他爬上树去唱歌云雀。突然，一只狮子走过来说：“谁来带走我的云雀?”

　　“如果你想带走这只鸟，我去你家的时候，先给我一个跑出来的东西。你能答应我吗?”父亲担心他最小的女儿会出来，因为他害怕狮子，于是就对狮子说了话。

　　当他到达时，果然，最小的女儿跑了出来，连鞋都没穿。父亲把最小的真相告诉了小女儿。最小的女儿安慰她父亲说，她会努力说服狮子。

　　她一到，狮子就变成了王子。王子被施了魔法，白天他是狮子，晚上他当王子。

　　她嫁给了王子。他们也有孩子。几天后，有消息传来，她的第二个姐姐要结婚了。小姑娘想和王子去参加婚礼。然而，如果王子看到日光，他就会变成一只鸽子，飞了七年。

　　但是，因为他的妻子想一起去，他开始了他的旅程。妻子善于挡住阳光。然而，在教堂里面有一个洞在窗口和一股阳光进来。

　　于是王子变成了一只鸽子飞走了。七年来，妻子一直在找鸽子。

　　她祈求上帝帮助她。”“亲爱的上帝，请告诉我他在哪里，”上帝回答说，他要娶另一个国家的公主。

　　然后她偷偷走进城堡，对王子耳语。王子，你是我的丈夫。你必须跟我走。”突然，王子的咒语被打破了。原来，王子是可怕的公主迷住了，正要跟她结婚

　　王子和他的妻子去了自己的国家。当他们到家时，他们的孩子已经长大了一点。从此他们幸福地生活了很长时间。