7．A Giraffe that Did Not Believe in Himself

In Africa I heard a story about a giraffe that did not believe in himself．

The giraffe's mother bad left him when he was a few days old because she couldn't feed him． For three years he lived in the warden's house and played with the children．Then he grew too large for the house．

The family decided that he should return to his fellows．They took him to join a herd of wild giraffes．

One look was enough for the giraffe's small brain．He could not believe that such extraordinary animals existed．Or that he was one of them！He turned and bolted．

The family took him back several times．In the end they gave up．Now their giraffe lives by himself near the warden's house．

7．一头不相信自己的长颈鹿

在非洲，我曾听到过关于一头不相信自己形体的长颈鹿的故事。

这头长颈鹿出生后没几天，母鹿因无法喂养它而离去。三年中，它一直住在管理人的家中并与管理人的孩子们一起玩耍。后来，它长得太大了，房子里再也容不下它了。

管理人一家决定让它回到它的伙伴中去。他们把它送到了一群野鹿之中。

这头长颈鹿只看了一眼，它那小小的头脑就受不了啦。它无法相信世上竟有这种异常动物，更难以相信自己还是其中的一员。于是它转身狂逃。

这家人把它送回去好几次，最后只好作罢。现在，他们饲养的这只长颈鹿独自生活在离他们家房子不远的地方。