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Children of wax
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Darshan Soni
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
