中级阅读_02 A Good Old Man

02 A Good Old Man

There once lived an old man in a snug, little cottage.It had two rooms and only two windows.A small garden lay just behind it.

Old as the poor man was, he used to work in the fields.Often he would come home very tired and weak, with his hoe or spade on his shoulder.

And who do you think met him at the door! Mary and Jane, his two little grandchildren.

They were too young to work, except to weed in the garden, or bring water from the spring.

In winter, as they were too poor to buy much wood or coal, they had little fire; so they used to sit close together to keep warm.Mary would sit on one of the old man's knees, and Jane on the other.

Sometimes their grandfather would tell them a droll story.Sometimes he would teach them a hymn.

He would often talk to them of their father, who had gone to sea, or of their good, kind mother, who was in her grave.Every night he prayed God to bless them, and to bring back their father in safety.

The old man grew weaker every year; but the little girls were glad to work for him, who had been so good to them.

One cold, windy night, they heard a knock at the door.The little girls ran and opened it.Oh, joy to them! There stood their father.

He had been at sea a long time.He had saved some money, and had now come home to stay.

After this the old man did not have to work.His son worked for him, and his grandchildren took care of him.Many happy days they spent together.