Russian · Intermediate
Adapted from The Steadfast Tin Soldier
A one-legged tin soldier faces a series of dangers after falling in love with a paper dancer.
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Scene 1 · Intermediate
Жили-были двадцать пять оловянных солдатиков. Их отлили из одной старой оловянной ложки, поэтому все они были братьями. В красивых красно-синих мундирах, с ружьями на плече, они смотрели прямо перед собой.
Once upon a time there were twenty-five tin soldiers. They had been cast from a single old tin spoon, so they were all brothers. In their handsome red and blue uniforms, with guns on their shoulders, they looked straight ahead.
Когда с их коробки сняли крышку, маленький мальчик захлопал в ладоши от восторга.
When the lid was taken off their box, a little boy clapped his hands with delight.
— Оловянные солдатики! — воскликнул он.
“Tin soldiers!” he exclaimed.
Это были первые слова, которые солдатики услышали в своей жизни. Мальчик получил их в подарок на день рождения и теперь стоял у стола, расставляя их перед собой.
Those were the first words the soldiers had ever heard. The boy had received them as a birthday present, and now he stood at the table, arranging them in front of him.
Все солдатики были совершенно одинаковыми, кроме одного: у него была только одна нога. Его отливали последним, и на вторую ногу уже не хватило расплавленного олова. Но его сделали так, что он уверенно стоял и на одной ноге. Этим он сразу выделялся среди братьев.
All the soldiers were exactly alike except for one: he had only one leg. He had been cast last, and there had not been enough melted tin left for a second leg. But he had been made so that he stood steadily even on one leg. This made him stand out at once among his brothers.
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