In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark， and the sky spread over it like a black cloth， for there the moon never rose， and no star shone in the obscurity（朦胧，阴暗）。 At the creation of the world， the light at night had been sufficient。 Three young fellows once went out of this country on a travelling expedition， and arrived in another kingdom， where， in the evening when the sun had disappeared behind the mountains， a shining globe was placed on an oak-tree， which shed a soft light far and wide。 By means of this， everything could very well be seen and distinguished， even though it was not so brilliant as the sun。 The travellers stopped and asked a countryman who was driving past with his cart， what kind of a light that was。 "That is the moon，" answered he； our mayor bought it for three thalers， and fastened it to the oak-tree。 He has to pour oil into it daily， and to keep it clean， so that it may always burn clearly。 He receives a thaler a week from us for doing it。"
