我的书签
添加书签
移除书签LESSON 1
THE GOOD READER
朗读者
It is told of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, that, as he was seated one day in his private room, a written petition[1] was brought to him with the request that it should be immediately read. The King had just returned from hunting, and the glare of the sun, or some other cause, had so dazzled his eyes that he found it difficult to make out a single word of the writing.
His private secretary happened to be absent; and the soldier who brought the petition could not read. There was a page, or favorite boy servant, waiting in the hall, and upon him the King called. The page was a son of one of the noblemen of the court, but proved to be a very poor reader.
In the first place, he did not articulate[2] distinctly. He huddled his words together in the utterance, as if they were syllables of one long word, which he must get through with as speedily as possible. His pronunciation was bad, and he did not modulate[3] his voice so as to bring out the meaning of what he read. Every sentence was uttered with a dismal monotony[4] of voice, as if it did not differ in any respect from that which preceded it.
“Stop!” said the King, impatiently. “Is it an auctioneer’s list of goods to be sold that you are hurrying over? Send your companion to me.” Another page who stood at the door now entered, and to him the King gave the petition. The second page began by hemming and clearing his throat in such an affected[5] manner that the King jokingly asked him whether he had not slept in the public garden, with the gate open, the night before.
The second page had a good share of self-conceit, however, and so was not greatly confused by the King’s jest. He determined that he would avoid the mistake which his comrade had made. So he commenced reading the petition slowly and with great formality, emphasizing every word, and prolonging the articulation of every syllable. But his manner was so tedious that the King cried out, “Stop! are you reciting a lesson in the elementary sounds? Out of the room! But no: stay! Send me that little girl who is sitting there by the fountain.”
The girl thus pointed out by the King was a daughter of one of the laborers employed by the royal gardener; and she had come to help her father weed the flower beds. It chanced that, like many of the poor people in Prussia, she had received a good education. She was somewhat alarmed when she found herself in the King’s presence, but took courage when the King told her that he only wanted her to read for him, as his eyes were weak.
Now, Ernestine (for this was the name of the little girl) was fond of reading aloud, and often many of the neighbors would assemble at her father’s house to hear her; those who could not read themselves would come to her, also, with their letters from distant friends or children, and she thus formed the habit of reading various sorts of handwriting promptly and well.
The King gave her the petition, and she rapidly glanced through the opening lines to get some idea of what it was about. As she read, her eyes began to glisten, and her breast to heave. “What is the matter?” asked the King; “don’t you know how to read?” “Oh, yes! sire,” she replied, addressing him with the title usually applied to him: “I will now read it, if you please.”
The two pages wore about to leave the room. “Remain,” said the King. The little girl began to read the petition. It was from a poor widow, whose only son had been drafted[6] to serve in the army, although his health was delicate and his pursuits had been such as to unfit him for military life. His father had been killed in battle, and the son had a strong desire to become a portrait painter.
The writer told her story in a simple, concise[7] manner, that carried to the heart a belief of its truth; and Ernestine read it with so much feeling, and with an articulation so just, in tones so pure and distinct, that when she had finished, the King, into whose eyes the tears had started, exclaimed, “Oh! now I understand what it is all about; but I might never have known, certainly I never should have felt, its meaning had I trusted to these young gentlemen, whom I now dismiss from my service for one year, advising them to occupy their time in learning to read.”
“As for you, my young lady,” continued the King, “I know you will ask no better reward for your trouble than the pleasure of carrying to this poor widow my order for her son’s immediate discharge[8]. Let me see whether you can write as well as you can read. Take this pen, and write as I dictate[9].” He then dictated an order, which Ernestine wrote, and he signed. Calling one of his guards, he bade him go with the girl and see that the order was obeyed.
How much happiness was Ernestine the means of bestowing through her good elocution, united to the happy circumstance that brought it to the knowledge of the King! First, there were her poor neighbors, to whom she could give instruction and entertainment. Then, there was the poor widow who sent the petition, and who not only regained her son, but received through Ernestine an order for him to paint the King’s likeness; so that the poor boy soon rose to great distinction[10], and had more orders than he could attend to. Words could not express[11] his gratitude, and that of his mother, to the little girl.
And Ernestine had, moreover, the satisfaction of aiding her father to rise in the world, so that he became the King’s chief gardener. The King did not forget her, but had her well educated at his own expense. As for the two pages, she was indirectly the means of doing them good, also; for, ashamed of their bad reading, they commenced studying in earnest, till they overcame the faults that had offended the King. Both finally rose to distinction, one as a lawyer, and the other as a statesman; and they owed their advancement in life chiefly to their good elocution.
NOTES.—Frederick II. of Prussia (b. 1712, d. 1788), or Frederick the Great, as he was called, was one of the greatest of German rulers. He was distinguished for his military exploits, for his wise and just government, and for his literary attainments. He wrote many able works in the French language. Many pleasant anecdotes are told of this king, of which the one given in the lesson is a fair sample.
【中文阅读】
1．传说，一天，普鲁士国王弗里德里希大帝坐在屋里，他的卫兵给他送来一份书面请愿书。书中注明，请求国王即刻阅读。当时，国王刚刚结束打猎回宫，因为阳光刺眼，或某些其他原因，他头昏眼花，一个字也很难看清。
2．国王的私人秘书碰巧不在宫内，送来请愿书的卫兵也不识字。当时有位男侍，或者不如说一位乖巧侍童正在大厅当班伺候，国王吩咐他过来。那位侍童是宫廷某位贵族的儿子，可随后证实，他的阅读能力相当糟糕。
3．一上来，那位侍童发音就不够清晰，那些词语在他嘴里居然咕囔成串，杂乱无章地快速蹦出。听起来，有的词语音节应该很长，可他似乎总是急不可耐地含糊读完。他的发音很糟，无法表现文字的准确含义。与此同时，他所表述的所有话语无不沉闷呆板，毫无抑扬顿挫之感或音调变化，似乎词语间不存在任何差异。
4．“停下！”国王不耐心地说，“莫非你是公开清单、急于拍卖物品的拍卖师，那么草草念完？把你的同伴叫来！”很快，大厅门口守候的另一位侍童来到国王身边，国王将请愿书交给了他。那侍童装模作样地清了清嗓子，国王诙谐地问他，是不是他昨晚没在公园里过夜，但睡觉时门却整晚没关。
5．第二位侍童颇为自负，对国王的俏皮话，似乎不太在意。他有心避免前面那位同伴的类似失误，开始朗读起来。他的语速迟缓，太过一本正经，所有词语无不辅以重音，逐个音节拉长拼读，他的朗读那么乏味造作，国王不禁大声呵斥，“停下！你难道是小学生背诵课文？滚出去！不，站好！先把坐在喷泉那边的小姑娘给我叫过来！”
6．国王点名的那位姑娘是宫廷花师所雇佣人的女儿，那天，她过来帮着父亲给宫廷花圃除草。像普鲁士不少穷人那样，她碰巧接受过良好的教育。听到国王召见自己，她多少有点心存警觉。国王告诉她，由于他眼睛无法阅读，只是让她代劳，她才稍稍鼓起了勇气。
7．欧内斯廷（小姑娘名字）喜欢高声朗读，不少邻居经常聚集在她家门口听她读书。那些不识字的人亦总乐意找她，他们带来远方朋友或孩子的来信。因此，她便具有阅读不同手写文体、并能迅速准确朗读的能力。
8．国王将请愿书递给她，她快速地浏览了开篇数行，从而获悉文章的大体印象。她读了不一会儿，眼神炯炯有光，呼吸急速。“怎么回事？”国王问道，“难道你不会读？”“不！陛下，”她以国王的尊称回答，“如果你乐意的话，我会继续。”
9．两位侍童正准备离开，“站着，别动！”国王下令，姑娘又接着往下读。这份请愿书说的是一位贫苦寡妇的遭遇，她唯一的儿子被抓到军队服兵役，虽然他身虚体弱，志向亦不在行伍。男孩父亲已在一次战役中身亡，那少年还有个梦寐以求的愿望，想成为一名肖像画家。
10．请愿书作者以质朴简洁的语言，叙述那位寡妇的悲惨遭遇，文章的真情实感让人动容。欧内斯廷满怀深情地读着，她的语言清晰，音调纯正，抑扬顿挫。读完后，国王眼里充满了泪水，他高声叫道：“天呀！我现在才知道怎么回事，假如听信那些年轻贵族的话，我将压根无从了解，准确地说，从来不会感受到这种请愿书的深刻涵义。现在，我要将那些家伙解职一年，让他们好好学习一下如何阅读。”
11．“至于你，我的孩子，”国王接着说，“相信你会高兴地带上我的手令，立刻解除那可怜寡妇孩子的兵役，我想，假若给你其他任何报酬，亦不会比这更开心吧。我要看看，你是否也能准确书写，像你的阅读那样棒。拿这支笔，写下我口授的话。”他接着口授了一份命令，欧内斯廷记录完毕，国王随后签上自己名字。然后他又吩咐一个卫兵过来，安排他与姑娘一同前去执行他的命令。
12．通过感情真挚的阅读，获取这种特殊赠与，欧内斯廷简直快乐极了！国王获悉了民情，内心产生共鸣，并最终授于树内。起初，那些贫困邻居们从姑娘那里找到安慰，随后，送出请愿书的那位寡妇不仅能与儿子重新一起生活，还接受了欧内斯廷带来的国王旨意，安排她的儿子前去宫廷为国王画像。不久，那位贫苦人家孩子便迅速得以擢升，并获得更多的发展机会。千言万语无法表达那位少年还有他的寡母对小姑娘欧内斯廷的深深感激之情。
13．不仅如此，欧内斯廷的父亲后来成为国王的首席园艺师，在世界园林界赢得了声誉，这一点，让欧内斯廷非常自豪。国王并没有忘记这个小姑娘，花钱让她受到最好的教育。至于那两位侍童，她亦间接帮助了他们。由于对自己阅读能力深感羞愧，他们急切想重新获得学习机会。两人通过读书最终弥补了阅读能力的不足，随后皆获取了提升机会，一位做了律师，还有一位成了政治家，他们把生命升华归功于极有裨益的开卷阅读。
LESSON 2
THE BLUEBELL
风铃草
1. There is a story I have heard—
A poet learned it of a bird,
And kept its music every word—
2. A story of a dim ravine,
O’er which the towering tree tops lean,
With one blue rift[12] of sky between;
3. And there, two thousand years ago,
A little flower as white as snow
Swayed[13] in the silence to and fro.
4. Day after day, with longing eye,
The floweret watched the narrow sky,
And fleecy clouds that floated by.
5. And through the darkness, night by night,
One gleaming star would climb the height[14],
And cheer the lonely floweret’s sight.
6. Thus, watching the blue heavens afar,
And the rising of its favorite star,
A slow change came—but not to mar;
7. For softly o’er its petals[15] white
There crept a blueness, like the light
Of skies upon a summer night;
8. And in its chalice[16], I am told,
The bonny[17] bell was formed to hold
A tiny star that gleamed like gold.
9. Now, little people, sweet and true,
I find a lesson here for you
Writ in the floweret’s hell of blue:
10.The patient child whose watchful eye
Strives after all things pure and high,
Shall take their image by and by.
【中文阅读】
1．我听说，一只鸟的故事，
传说久远，诗人辗转获悉，
他记下，鸟儿啁啾的过去；
2．有座峡谷，幽深阴暗，
一株树，高高的树梢弯曲，
天空，挤出一丝蓝色缝隙；
3．两千多年前，那处峡谷，
开着朵小花，洁白妩媚，
踏着内心脚步，曼妙起舞；
4．年复一年， 摇曳着企盼，
晶亮眼瞳，凝视狭仄天空，
轻柔的云，悠然飘过头顶；
5．流水的日子，黑暗无边，
有颗星星，从蓝色缝隙闪入，
鼓掌欢呼，遗世独立的坚守；
6．于是，遥远天穹，
升起一颗，笑脸星辰，
哪怕改变微小，不会太糟；
7．花瓣上方，悄然升起
一抹亮丽，幽蓝夜空里，
尽情伸展，夏季的深邃致意；
8．小花，那捧白色圣杯，
一柄漂亮的花蕊，从容举起，
金色铃铛，星光四溢的魅力；
9．可爱的孩子，关于真诚课程，
一场动容相逢，竟是风铃草
地狱里，写下的秘密；
10．学会坚忍，学会敏锐观察，
仰望那些，纯洁高贵的魂灵，
耳濡目染，获取精神动力。
LESSON 3
THE GENTLE HAND
温柔的手
Timothy S. Arthur (b. 1809, d. 1885) was born near Newburgh, N.Y., but passed most of his life at Baltimore and Philadelphia. His opportunities for good schooling were quite limited, and he may be considered a self-educated man. He was the author of more than a hundred volumes, principally novels of a domestic and moral tone, and of many shorter tales—magazine articles, etc. “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” and “Three Years in a Mantrap,” are among his best known works.
When and where it matters not now to relate—but once upon a time, as I was passing through a thinly peopled district of country, night came down upon me almost unawares. Being on foot, I could not hope to gain the village toward which my steps were directed, until a late hour; and I therefore preferred seeking shelter and a night’s lodging at the first humble dwelling that presented itself.
Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows, when I found myself in the vicinity[18] of a dwelling, from the small uncurtained windows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of good cheer and comfort. The house stood within an inclosure, and a short distance from the road along which I was moving with wearied feet.
Turning aside, and passing through the ill-hung gate, I approached the dwelling. Slowly the gate swung on its wooden hinges, and the rattle of its latch, in closing, did not disturb the air until I had nearly reached the porch in front of the house, in which a slender girl, who had noticed my entrance, stood awaiting my arrival.
A deep, quick bark answered, almost like an echo, the sound of the shutting gate, and, sudden as an apparition, the form of an immense dog loomed in the doorway. At the instant when he was about to spring, a light hand was laid upon his shaggy neck, and a low word spoken.
“Go in, Tiger,” said the girl, not in a voice of authority, yet in her gentle tones was the consciousness that she would be obeyed; and, as she spoke, she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand, and he turned away and disappeared within the dwelling.
“Who’s that?” A rough voice asked the question; and now a heavy-looking man took the dog’s place in the door.
“How far is it to G—?” I asked, not deeming it best to say, in the beginning, that I sought a resting place for the night.
“To G—!” growled the man, but not so harshly as at first. “It’s good six miles from here.”
“A long distance; and I’m a stranger and on foot,” said I. “If you can make room for me until morning, I will be very thankful.”
I saw the girl’s hand move quickly up his arm, until it rested on his shoulder, and now she leaned to him still closer.
“Come in. We’ll try what can be done for you.” There was a change in the man’s voice that made me wonder. I entered a large room, in which blazed a brisk fire. Before the fire sat two stout lads, who turned upon me their heavy eyes, with no very welcome greeting. A middle-aged woman was standing at a table, and two children were amusing themselves with a kitten on the floor.
“A stranger, mother,” said the man who had given me so rude a greeting at the door; “and he wants us to let him stay all night.”
The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments, and then replied coldly, “We don’t keep a public house.”
“I’m aware of that, ma’am,” said I; “but night has overtaken me, and it’s a long way yet to G—.”
“Too far for a tired man to go on foot,” said the master of the house, kindly, “so it’s no use talking about it, mother; we must give him a bed.”
So unobtrusively[19] that I scarce noticed the movement, the girl had drawn to her mother’s side. What she said to her I did not hear, for the brief words were uttered in a low voice; but I noticed, as she spoke, one small, fair hand rested on the woman’s hand.
Was there magic in that touch? The woman’s repulsive[20] aspect changed into one of kindly welcome, and she said, “Yes, it’s a long way to G—. I guess we can find a place for him.”
Many times more during that evening, did I observe the magic power of that hand and voice—the one gentle yet potent[21] as the other. On the next morning, breakfast being over, I was preparing to take my departure when my host[22] informed me that if I would wait for half an hour he would give me a ride in his wagon to G—, as business required him to go there. I was very well pleased to accept of the invitation.
In due time, the farmer’s wagon was driven into the road before the house, and I was invited to get in. I noticed the horse as a rough-looking Canadian pony, with a certain air of stubborn endurance. As the farmer took his seat by my side, the family came to the door to see us off.
“Dick!” said the farmer in a peremptory[23] voice, giving the rein a quick jerk as he spoke. But Dick moved not a step. “Dick! you vagabond! get up.” And the farmer’s whip cracked sharply by the pony’s ear.
It availed[24] not, however, this second appeal. Dick stood firmly disobedient. Next the whip was brought down upon him with an impatient hand; but the pony only reared up a little. Fast and sharp the strokes were next dealt to the number of half a dozen. The man might as well have beaten the wagon, for all his end was gained.
A stout lad now came out into the road, and, catching Dick by the bridle, jerked him forward, using, at the same time, the customary language on such occasions, but Dick met this new ally[25] with increased stubbornness, planting his fore feet more firmly and at a sharper angle with the ground.
The impatient boy now struck the pony on the side of the head with his clinched hand, and jerked cruelly at his bridle. It availed nothing, however; Dick was not to be wrought upon by any such arguments.
“Don’t do so, John!” I turned my head as the maiden’s sweet voice reached my ear. She was passing through the gate into the road, and in the next moment had taken hold of the lad and drawn him away from the animal. No strength was exerted in this; she took hold of his arm, and he obeyed her wish as readily as if he had no thought beyond her gratification.
And now that soft hand was laid gently on the pony’s neck, and a single low word spoken. How instantly were the tense[26] muscles relaxed[27]—how quickly the stubborn air vanished!
“Poor Dick!” said the maiden, as she stroked his neck lightly, or softly patted it with a childlike hand. “Now, go along, you provoking fellow!” she added, in a half-chiding[28], yet affectionate voice, as she drew up the bridle.
The pony turned toward her, and rubbed his head against her arm for an instant or two; then, pricking up his ears, he started off at a light, cheerful trot, and went on his way as freely as if no silly crotchet[29] had ever entered his stubborn brain.
“What a wonderful power that hand possesses!” said I, speaking to my companion, as we rode away.
He looked at me for a moment, as if my remark had occasioned surprise. Then a light came into his countenance, and he said briefly, “She’s good! Everybody and everything loves her.”
Was that, indeed, the secret of her power? Was the quality of her soul perceived in the impression of her hand, even by brute beasts! The father’s explanation was doubtless the true one. Yet have I ever since wondered, and still do wonder, at the potency which lay in that maiden’s magic touch. I have seen something of the same power, showing itself in the loving and the good, but never to the extent as instanced[30] in her, whom, for want of a better name, I must still call “Gentle Hand.”
【中文阅读】
提摩太 · 斯 · 亚瑟(1809～1885)出生于纽约州纽博市附近，他在巴尔的摩和费城度过生命中的大量时光。他接受正规教育机会相当有限，属于自学成才的类型。他的著述多达一百多部，主要有涉及家庭伦理方面的小说，以及为杂志撰写的大量篇幅更短的文章等。《酒吧间的十个夜晚》和《捕人陷阱中的三年》皆为他的名篇。
1．究竟什么时间、地点，现在看来似乎无关紧要——姑且算是从前吧，当我走过一处人烟稀少的地区，不知不觉间，夜幕降临了。由于步行，我不可能指望找到一处乡镇或村庄。又过了一个时辰，我急切地想找处地方过夜，没别的，最先撞见的地方，无论怎样粗鄙简陋，对付一晚足矣。
2．昏暗灯火来自深不可测的黑暗，我突然发现附近有户人家，从那扇光秃秃的窗口里，似乎感觉到灯火里透出喜悦的安详。屋子四周有栅栏，离我走的路很近，那时，我可真是走得太累了。
3．走下路，跨过那扇歪扭的大门，我走向那处屋子。大门在木质铰链上慢慢晃动，门闩的吱呀声悄无声息，直到最后关门才发出轻微声响。待我走到房前走廊时，才看到一位身材修长的姑娘站在那里，显然，刚才她听到了我的脚步。
4．门甫关上，旋即响起一声低沉的狗吠，一条体型硕大的狗幽灵般出现在我的身边。就在它立马扑过来的刹那，一只手轻轻搭在那只狗毛发蓬松的脖颈。
5．“虎子，进去，”姑娘低声说道，声音并不威严，但温柔中含有不得不服从的暗示，与此同时，她轻轻地拍打那狗几下，于是那狗转身闪进屋内。
6．“你是谁？”一个粗厉声音响起，一位脸色阴沉的男人在狗的身后闪出。
7．“请问，这里离G地还有多远？”我问道，乍开口，才觉得并不合适，那时的我不过想找个过夜的地方。
8．“到G地去，”那男人大声地说，言语间却少了最初的苛厉，“从这到那还有不近的六英里路呢。”
9．“路真够远的，我是步行来的，一个过路客，”我说，“如果你们让我在这歇上一晚，我真是感激不尽。”
10．我看见那姑娘的手迅速上移，最后搭在那男人肩膀上，现在她贴那男人更近了点。
11．“进来吧，看看我们能给你帮上什么忙。”那男人语气的变化让我有点喜出望外。我走进房间，房间很宽敞，火苗轻快地跳跃着。火堆边坐着两位粗硕身材的人，满脸阴沉地打量着我，明显带着不快的神情。一位中年妇女站在桌子旁边，两个孩子在地上逗着小猫玩。
12．“妈妈，这位过路客，”刚才在门口粗鲁地与我打招呼的那位男人说道，“他想在这里过上一夜。”
13．那妇人狐疑地打量我片刻，冷淡地说，“我们这没有客房。”
14．“我，我知道，夫人，”我说，“不过，天太晚了，去G地路实在太远了。”
15．“他走得太累了，前面的路那么远，”那好心的姑娘接着说，“别说了，妈妈，我们得给他准备个睡觉的地方。”
16．起初，我还真没注意到，悄无声息地，那姑娘仄到她妈妈身边，那些话语很轻，我听不见她对母亲说了什么，不过，我留意到，那姑娘说话的当口，她那小巧美丽的手已搭在那妇人的手上。
17．这就是触摸的神奇？那妇人反感冷淡的口吻转瞬变得柔和亲近，“是的，去G地的路还远着呢，我想，我们是得给他安排住下。”
18．就在那个晚上，我确实留心到那双手、那个声音的神奇——温柔中透出强势力量。次日清早，早饭后，我打算告辞，男主人突然告诉我，如果我可以等半个时辰的话，他可以捎带我去G地，他要赶着马车去G地办事。我自然非常高兴地接受了他的好意。
19．约定的时间到了，那农夫的马车来到屋前路上，我受邀上车后，这才看见那匹驾辕的马驹，那马驹面部粗糙，属于加拿大品种，具有顽强忍耐的优良品性。农夫上了车，坐在我身边，全家人走出门来给我们送行。
20、“狄克！”那农夫严厉地呵斥，一边猛地拉动缰绳，狄克竟然没有挪步，“狄克！你这个懒鬼！快走呀。”农夫鞭子在小马耳边尖锐地乍响。
21．依然毫不奏效。接下来，农夫语气变得委婉甚至恳求，小马驹还是无动于衷。然后，主人急躁的鞭子甩在了狄克身上，那马驹只是稍稍后退，接着又来了六七下快速猛烈的鞭笞，那农夫如果早知道他最终束手无策，还不如起先就鞭打那马车罢。
22．一位身材粗硕的妇人走过来，她抓住马笼头猛地往前拉，嘴里不停叨唠类似场合那些粗鄙的话，但狄克愈发倔犟，死活不走，甚至还将它的前蹄翘起，死死地抵住地面。
23．这会儿，那位不耐烦的男孩用钳子般手掌猛力撞击狄克头部，然后死命猛拽马的笼头，毫不奏效，狄克不会在这样暴力下尥开蹄子。
24．“约翰，别这样！”我一转头，那位姑娘的温柔声音传了过来。
她正迈过大门，来到路上。姑娘一把抓住那莽撞的家伙，将他从狄克身边甩开。她毫不费力地抓住了他的一只胳膊，他好像也相当乐意地与其配合，好像压根没有忤逆她的意思。
25．眼前，那只温柔的手轻轻放在小马驹的脖颈上，姑娘轻声慢语地对它说话。不过转眼间，狄克紧张的肌肉已经松弛，僵持的坚冰终于打破。
26．“可怜的狄克，”那姑娘一边说，一边轻轻拍着小马驹的脖颈，或者不如说，用那满怀柔情的孩子般手拍打狄克，“该走了，你这让人生气的孩子！”她的话语中夹杂责备，亦不乏温情脉脉，说话间，她还提了提笼头。
27．狄克朝她转过身来，用头朝她胳膊蹭动片刻，然后竖立耳朵，轻快地跑起碎步，接着，尥开蹄子跑开了，好像刚才不曾有任何怪异的念头盘踞在它那固执的小脑瓜里。
28．马车跑起来了，“手，该有多么神奇！”我对身边的人说道。
29．农夫注视了我片刻，好像我的话使他偶发惊奇，他的脸上闪过一丝喜悦，却只说了句，“她心地仁慈，这里的人和那些牲口都喜欢她。”
30．的确，难道她有神奇力量的秘密？抑或她的灵魂高贵？这位父亲的话无疑道出了真相，从那以后，我确实想知道，甚至今天，似乎更想弄明白，那姑娘轻抚的手里究竟存在什么样的神奇魔力。我见过同样的力量诉求，从容地表达爱恋与善行，但从未见过类似这位姑娘手里升起的奇迹，她给我内心带来了惊悚震撼。如果让我用贴切的词语形容，我宁愿称呼她为“温柔的手”。
LESSON 4
THE GRANDFATHER
爷 爷
Charles G. Eastman (b. 1816, d.1861) was born in Maine, but removed at an early age to Vermont, where he was connected with the press at Burlington, Woodstock, and Montpelier. He published a volume of poems in 1848, written in a happy lyric and ballad style, and faithfully portraying rural life in New England.
1. The farmer sat in his easy-chair
Smoking his pipe of clay,
While his hale[31] old wife with busy care,
Was clearing the dinner away;
A sweet little girl with fine blue eyes,
On her grandfather’s knee, was catching flies.
2. The old man laid his hand on her head,
With a tear on his wrinkled face,
He thought how often her mother, dead,
Had sat in the selfsame place;
As the tear stole down from his half-shut eye,
“Don’t smoke!” said the child, “how it makes you cry!”
3. The house dog lay stretched out on the floor,
Where the shade, afternoons, used to steal;
The busy old wife by the open door
Was turning the spinning wheel,
And the old brass clock on the manteltree[32]
Had plodded[33] along to almost three.
4. Still the farmer sat in his easy-chair,
While close to his heaving[34] breast
The moistened brow and the cheek so fair
Of his sweet grandchild were pressed;
His head bent down, all her soft hair lay;
Fast asleep were they both on that summer day.
【中文阅读】
查尔斯 · 基 · 伊士曼(1816～1861)出生于美国缅因，但早年就已迁往佛蒙特州，在那里，他与伯灵顿、伍兹托克以及蒙彼利埃数处媒体联系密切。1848年，他出版了以抒情和民谣风格表现的诗歌集，真实地描绘了新英格兰的乡村生活。
1.躺在休闲椅上的老农，
悠闲地抽着陶制烟斗，
他硬朗的年迈妻子，
忙碌收拾着杯盘狼藉。
蓝眼睛可爱的小姑娘，
趴在爷爷膝上捉蜻蜓。
2.老人摩挲孙女的头，
满脸皱纹，泪水扑簌在流。
孩子的妈妈去世不久，
好像还坐在从前地方。
“不要抽烟！”孩子开口说话，
“你怎么哭了，爷爷？”
3.趴在午后荫凉地上，
惬意打盹的老狗；
片刻不得空闲的老妇人，
门前，吱呀呀纺着棉花。
壁炉楣顶上古老铜钟，
快到三点的时针在爬。
4.老人还躺在休闲椅上，
他呼吸急促，神色安详，
饱经沧桑的脸颊沾满泪渍，
怀里抱着他可爱的孙女，
头发蓬松，脑袋耷拉，
夏日午后，祖孙俩都睡着啦。
LESSON 5
A BOY ON A FARM
农场少年
Charles Dudley Warner (b. 1829,—d.1900) was born at Plainfield, Mass. In 1851 he graduated at Hamilton College, and in 1856 was admitted to the bar at Philadelphia, but moved to Chicago to practice his profession. There he remained until 1860, when he became connected with the press at Hartford, Conn., and has ever since devoted himself to literature. “My Summer in a Garden,” “Saunterings,” and “Backlog Studies” are his best known works. The following extract is from “Being a Boy.”
Say what you will about the general usefulness of boys, it is my impression that a farm without a boy would very soon come to grief. What the boy does is the life of the farm. He is the factotum[35], always in demand, always expected to do the thousand indispensable[36] things that nobody else will do. Upon him fall all the odds and ends, the most difficult things.
After everybody else is through, he has to finish up. His work is like a woman’s,—perpetually[37] waiting on others. Everybody knows how much easier it is to eat a good dinner than it is to wash the dishes afterwards. Consider what a boy on a farm is required to do,—things that must be done, or life would actually stop.
It is understood, in the first place, that he is to do all the errands, to go to the store, to the post office, and to carry all sorts of messages. If he had as many legs as a centiped[38], they would tire before night. His two short limbs seem to him entirely inadequate to the task. He would like to have as many legs as a wheel has spokes, and rotate about in the same way.
This he sometimes tries to do; and the people who have seen him “turning cart wheels” along the side of the road, have supposed that he was amusing himself and idling his time; he was only trying to invent a new mode of locomotion, so that he could economize[39] his legs, and do his errands with greater dispatch[40].
He practices standing on his head, in order to accustom himself to any position. Leapfrog is one of his methods of getting over the ground quickly. He would willingly go an errand any distance if he could leapfrog it with a few other boys.
He has a natural genius for combining pleasure with business. This is the reason why, when he is sent to the spring for a pitcher of water, he is absent so long; for he stops to poke the frog that sits on the stone, or, if there is a penstock[41], to put his hand over the spout, and squirt the water a little while.
He is the one who spreads the grass when the men have cut it; he mows it away in the barn; he rides the horse, to cultivate the corn, up and down the hot, weary rows; he picks up the potatoes when they are dug; he drives the cows night and morning; he brings wood and water, and splits kindling; he gets up the horse, and puts out the horse; whether he is in the house or out of it, there is always something for him to do.
Just before the school in winter he shovels paths; in summer he turns the grindstone. He knows where there are lots of wintergreens and sweet flags, but instead of going for them, he is to stay indoors and pare apples, and stone raisins, and pound something in a mortar. And yet, with his mind full of schemes of what he would like to do, and his hands full of occupations, he is an idle boy, who has nothing to busy himself with but school and chores[42]!
He would gladly do all the work if somebody else would do the chores, he thinks; and yet I doubt if any boy ever amounted to anything in the world, or was of much use as a man, who did not enjoy the advantages of a liberal education in the way of chores.
【中文阅读】
查尔斯 · 达德利 · 沃纳（1829～1900）出生于美国马萨诸塞州麦斯 · 普兰菲尔德。1851年，他从汉密尔顿学院毕业。1856年获取资格进入费城律师界，然后搬迁到芝加哥从事律师见习。1860年，他离开芝加哥，与康涅狄格州首府哈特福德出版界联系密切，随后致力投身文学事业。沃纳闻名于世的作品包括《花园的夏天》、《悠闲漫步》和《滞压工作研究》。下列节选自他的《少年有担当》。
你认为农场少年能做什么？依我看，没有少年的农场真的会非常糟糕。他们在农场生活里须臾不可少，他们是农场的闲杂总管，男女老少大呼小叫的左膀右臂。在农场里，千头万绪的事零星琐碎，最为困难的事棘手庞杂，无一例外都落到他们肩上，其他人委实无法帮忙。
别人忙完了活儿，农场少年得去扫尾，有点像一直忙着为别人做嫁衣的嫁娘，总得听从他人使唤。毋庸置疑，外出赴宴享受美味大餐永远比餐后洗碗刷碟轻松太多太多。只要想象一下农场少年的活儿，那些需要做的，可又不得不做的，否则，生活将无法继续下去。
首先，众所周知，农场少年得去做完所有跑腿的活计，他要跑商店、上邮局、送消息、传信件，即使他拥有蜈蚣一样的几十条腿，晚上上床躺倒前亦会累个半死。每天指望两条细腿跑路干活，看来远远不够，他们恨不得长有自行车轮毂上众多辐条般的腿，恐怕还要连轴转个不停。
有时，农场少年兴冲冲地到处奔跑，旁人看来，他们骑车忙着到处乱窜，或许还有人认为，他们纯粹是玩酷一族或借此消磨时光。其实，他们不过想创造某种新型的运动方式，以便节省腿力，完成更多支派或差遣。
农场少年还得练习倒立，以使自己习惯任何不拘一格的运动姿势。蛙跳行进堪称快捷走完路程的美妙方法之一。当然，能与其他几个狐朋狗友互动互乐更好，这样的话，他挺乐意四下跑腿，路再远似乎也毫不在乎。
忙中作乐，对农场少年来说，似乎是与生俱来的。如果让他去泉边汲水，很长时间他都不会回来。他总会时而停留片刻，或者戳捣一番趴在青石上的青蛙。碰到木槽水管之类，他非得将手伸到木槽下，乐不可支地玩会水后才心满意足地回家。
大人们割下田里的草，农场少年需要将青草摊开曝晒，还要将谷仓里干草堆成跺。他还要骑马、种玉米，上上下下，整天屁颠颠地左右逢源。马铃薯该收了，他跟着收庄稼；清晨，他赶着牛群外出放牧；黄昏，他牵着牛群打道回府；他还要拣柴、提水、劈柴、生火、喂马、洗马、拴马、遛马……家里家外，每天的事情总也做不完。
冬天开学前，农场少年先要铲除路上的坚冰积雪，夏天该找出磨石磨刀霍霍。他知道哪里的鹿蹄草最多，哪里的白菖蒲最甜，不过，他可不能急着出门摘采；他还得待在家里削苹果，将葡萄干晾晒在石片上，把食材放进研钵臼烂。他满脑子装满大大小小需要做的事，手上更是根本闲不住，难道他还能游手好闲？除去学业和家里家外的繁琐杂活，他哪有心思想到自己。
农场少年觉得，如果有人愿意揽下这些庞杂琐碎，他宁愿去做那些正儿八经的活儿。不过，我怀疑，如果一个少年不喜欢受益于这种干杂活的自由式教育，他将来是否能在世上找到自己可干点什么，能否做一个尽量有用之人。
LESSON 6
THE SINGING LESSON
唱歌课
Jean Ingelow (b. 1830, d.1897) was born at Boston, Lincolnshire, England. Her fame as a poetess was at once established upon the publication of her “Poems” in 1863; since which time several other volumes have appeared. The most generally admired of her poems are “Songs of Seven” and “The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire,” She has also written several successful novels, of which, “Off the Skelligs” is the most popular. “Stories Told to a Child,” “The Cumberers,” “Poor Mat,” “Studies for Stories,” and “Mopsa, the Fairy” are also well known. Miss Ingelow resided in London, England, and spent much of her time in deeds of charity.
1. A nightingale made a mistake;
She sang a few notes out of tune:
Her heart was ready to break,
And she hid away from the moon.
She wrung her claws, poor thing,
But was far too proud to weep;
She tucked her head under her wing,
And pretended to be asleep.
2. A lark, arm in arm with a thrush,
Came sauntering[43] up to the place;
The nightingale felt herself blush,
Though feathers hid her face;
She knew they had heard her song,
She felt them snicker[44] and sneer;
She thought that life was too long,
And wished she could skip a year.
3. “O nightingale!” cooed a dove;
“O nightingale! what’s the use?
You bird of beauty and love,
Why behave like a goose?
Don’t sulk away from our sight,
Like a common, contemptible fowl;
You bird of joy and delight,
Why behave like an owl?
4. “Only think of all you have done;
Only think of all you can do;
A false note is really fun
From such a bird as you!
Lift up your proud little crest[45],
Open your musical beak;
Other birds have to do their best,
You need only to speak!”
5. The nightingale shyly took
Her head from under her wing,
And, giving the dove a look,
Straightway began to sing.
There was never a bird could pass;
The night was divinely[46] calm;
And the people stood on the grass
To hear that wonderful psalm.
6. The nightingale did not care,
She only sang to the skies;
Her song ascended there,
And there she fixed her eyes.
The people that stood below
She knew but little about;
And this tale has a moral[47], I know,
If you’ll try and find it out.
NOTE.—The nightingale is a small bird, about six inches in length, with a coat of dark-brown feathers above and of grayish, white beneath. Its voice is astonishingly strong and sweet, and, when wild, it usually sings throughout the evening and night from April to the middle of summer. The bird is common in Europe, but is not found in America.
【中文阅读】
吉恩 · 英吉箩（1830～1897）生于英格兰林肯郡波士顿。1863年，她的《诗集》甫经推出，随即奠定了她的诗人声望。此后，她陆续出版了其他选集。最为世人推崇当为她的《七曲颂歌》以及《林肯郡海边的浪涛》。她也发表过数篇小说，获得声誉。其中《告别斯凯林斯》最为著名，《对一个孩子讲述的故事》、《累赘的人》、《可怜的垫子》、《故事剖析》以及《玛泊桑仙女》亦皆为世人熟知。吉恩·英吉箩居住在英国伦敦，一生大多时间致力慈善事业。
1．一只夜莺，露了丑，
刚开口唱歌，就跑了调，
它的心儿，就要碎了，
连忙赶紧，躲开月亮。
不小心还扭了脚，这可怜家伙，
是否太过骄傲，大哭一场，
反正，它将头蜷缩翼翅下，
装模作样地睡着了。
2．云雀和画眉，肩并肩，
蹒跚走过来，查看究竟，
夜莺捂住，羞红的脸，
虽然羽毛遮住，心中胆怯，
它知道，鸟儿听见自己歌唱，
叽喳嘲笑，犹如芒刺，
它讨厌憎恨，时光漫长，
一年眨眼过去，该有多棒！
3．“哦，夜莺”，一只鸽子咕咕叫，
“有什么大事不得了？
你那么漂亮，又可爱，
何必，像那些粗鄙家鹅？
别躲在旮旯里，生闷气，
也不要小鸡肚肠，没度量，
你应该，开心更快乐，
为什么，不学学猫头鹰？
4．“只要想一想，你所做的，
再思忖看看，你能做的，
唱错了调，无关紧要，
权当有趣，一笑别过。
耸起你，那骄傲鸟冠，
打开你，美丽的喙角，
鸟儿们，竭力帮助你，
不妨，亮开歌喉再唱歌。”
5． 夜莺，羞愧地，
从翼翅里，抬起头，
感激中，看了鸽子一眼，
蓦然间，亮开嗓门，
鸟儿，纷纷飞来驻足，
夜晚，霎时庄严静穆，
草地上，人群安静伫立，
聆听那，质朴无华的圣歌。
6．夜莺，不再害怕，
它的歌声，渐次上扬回旋，
它的目光，悠然攀升，
伴随着，响彻入云骄傲，
歌声拂过，娴静无边夜色。
夜莺，或许茫然不知，
这篇故事，包含人生箴言，
只要尝试，奇迹不难发现。
LESSON 7
DO NOT MEDDLE
请别多管闲事
About twenty years ago there lived a singular gentleman in the Old Hall among the elm trees. He was about three-score years of age, very rich, and somewhat odd in many of his habits, but for generosity and benevolence he had no equal.
No poor cottager stood in need of comforts, which he was not ready to supply; no sick man or woman languished[48] for want of his assistance; and not even a beggar, unless a known impostor[49], went empty-handed from the Hall. Like the village pastor described in Goldsmith’s poem of “The Deserted Village,”
“His house was known to all the vagrant train;
He chid their wand’rings, but relieved their pain;
The long-remembered beggar was his guest,
Whose beard descending swept his aged breast.”
Now it happened that the old gentleman wanted a boy to wait upon him at table, and to attend him in different ways, for he was very fond of young people. But much as he liked the society of the young, he had a great aversion[50] to that curiosity in which many young people are apt to indulge[51]. He used to say, “The boy who will peep into a drawer will be tempted to take something out of it; and he who will steal a penny in his youth will steal a pound[52] in his manhood.”
No sooner was it known that the old gentleman was in want of a boy than twenty applications[53] were made for the situation; but he determined not to engage anyone until he had in some way ascertained that he did not possess a curious, prying disposition.
On Monday morning seven lads, dressed in their Sunday clothes, with bright and happy faces, made their appearance at the Hall, each of them desiring to obtain the situation. Now the old gentleman, being of a singular disposition,had prepared a room in such a way that he might easily know if any of the young people who applied were given to meddle unnecessarily with things around them, or to peep into cupboards and drawers. He took care that the lads who were then at Elm Tree Hall should be shown into this room one after another.
And first, Charles Brown was sent into the room, and told that he would have to wait a little. So Charles sat down on a chair near the door. For some time he was very quiet, and looked about him; but there seemed to be so many curious things in the room that at last he got up to peep at them.
On the table was placed a dish cover, and Charles wanted sadly to know what was under it, but he felt afraid of lifting it up. Bad habits are strong things; and, as Charles was of a curious disposition, he could not withstand the temptation of taking one peep. So he lifted up the cover.
This turned out to be a sad affair; for under the dish cover was a heap of very light feathers; part of the feathers, drawn up by a current of air, flew about the room, and Charles, in his fright, putting the cover down hastily, puffed the rest of them off the table.
What was to be done? Charles began to pick up the feathers one by one; but the old gentleman, who was in an adjoining room, hearing a scuffle, and guessing the cause of it, entered the room, to the consternation[54] of Charles Brown, who was very soon dismissed as a boy who had not principle[55] enough to resist even a slight temptation.
When the room was once more arranged, Henry Wilkins was placed there until such time as he should be sent for. No sooner was he left to himself than his attention was attracted by a plate of fine, ripe cherries. Now Henry was uncommonly fond of cherries, and he thought it would be impossible to miss one cherry among so many. He looked and longed, and longed and looked, for some time, and just as he had got off his seat to take one, he heard, as he thought, a foot coming to the door; but no, it was a false alarm.
Taking fresh courage, he went cautiously and took a very fine cherry, for he was determined to take but one, and put it into his mouth. It was excellent; and then he persuaded himself that he ran no risk in taking another; this he did, and hastily popped it into his mouth.
Now, the old gentleman had placed a few artificial[56] cherries at the top of the others, filled with Cayenne pepper; one of these Henry had unfortunately taken, and it made his month smart and burn most intolerably[57]. The old gentleman heard him coughing, and knew very well what was the matter. The boy that would take what did not belong to him, if no more than a cherry, was not the boy for him. Henry Wilkins was sent about his business without delay, with his mouth almost as hot as if he had put a burning coal in to it.
Rufus Wilson was next introduced into the room and left to himself; but he had not been there ten minutes before he began to move from one place to another. He was of a bold, resolute temper, but not overburdened with principle; for if he could have opened every cupboard, closet, and drawer in the house, without being found out, he would have done it directly.
Having looked around the room, he noticed a drawer to the table, and made up his mind to peep therein. But no sooner did he lay hold of the drawer knob than he set a large bell ringing, which was concealed under the table. The old gentleman immediately answered the summons[58], and entered the room.
Rufus was so startled by the sudden ringing of the bell, that all his impudence could not support him. He looked as though anyone might knock him down with a feather. The old gentleman asked him if he had rung the bell because he wanted anything. Rufus was much confused,and stammered, and tried to excuse himself, but all to no purpose, for it did not prevent him from being ordered off the premises.
George Jones was then shown into the room by an old steward; and being of a cautious disposition, he touched nothing, but only looked at the things about him. At last he saw that a closet door was a little open, and, thinking it would be impossible for anyone to know that he had opened it a little more, he very cautiously opened it an inch farther, looking down at the bottom of the door, that it might not catch against anything and make a noise.
Now had he looked at the top, instead of the bottom, it might have been better for him; for to the top of the door was fastened a plug, which filled up the hole of a small barrel of shot. He ventured to open the door another inch, and then another, till, the plug being pulled out of the barrel, the leaden shot began to pour out at a strange rate. At the bottom of the closet was placed a tin pan, and the shot falling upon this pan made such a clatter that George was frightened half out of his senses.
The old gentleman soon came into the room to inquire what was the matter, and there he found George nearly as pale as a sheet. George was soon dismissed.
It now came the turn of Albert Jenkins to be put into the room. The other boys had been sent to their homes by different ways, and no one knew what the experience[59] of the other had been in the room of trial.
On the table stood a small round box, with a screw top to it, and Albert, thinking it contained something curious, could not be easy without unscrewing the top; but no sooner did he do this than out bounced an artificial snake, full a yard long, and fell upon his arm. He started back, and uttered a scream which brought the old gentleman to his elbow. There stood Albert, with the bottom of the box in one hand, the top in the other, and the snake on the floor.
“Come, come,” said the old gentleman, “one snake is quite enough to have in the house at a time; therefore, the sooner you are gone the better.” With that he dismissed him, without waiting a moment for his reply.
William Smith next entered the room, and being left alone soon began to amuse himself in looking at the curiosities around him. William was not only curious and prying, but dishonest, too, and observing that the key was left in the drawer of a bookcase, he stepped on tiptoe in that direction. The key had a wire fastened to it, which communicated with an electrical machine, and William received such a shock as he was not likely to forget. No sooner did he sufficiently recover himself to walk, than he was told to leave the house, and let other people lock and unlock their own drawers.
The other boy was Harry Gordon, and though he was left in the room full twenty minutes, he never during that time stirred from his chair. Harry had eyes in his head as well as the others, but he had more integrity[60] in his heart; neither the dish cover, the cherries, the drawer knob, the closet door, the round box, nor the key tempted him to rise from his feet; and the consequence was that, in half an hour after, he was engaged in the service of the old gentleman at Elm Tree Hall. He followed his good old master to his grave, and received a large legacy[61] for his upright conduct in his service.
【中文阅读】
1．大约20年前，一处榆树簇拥的古老庄园里，住着一位超凡脱俗的乡间绅士。他约莫60来岁，非常富有，行为举止有点乖张，但他为人慷慨，处事宽宏大方，而且宅心仁厚，无人堪比。
2．无论遇见贫苦潦倒的佃农雇工，或者憔悴羸弱的乡邻妇孺，甚至衣衫褴褛的乞丐，他总是不吝钱财，鼎力相助。只有那些恶名昭彰的诈骗之徒，才会两手空空地离开。正如戈德史密斯诗歌《被抛弃的村庄》中曾经描述的那样，“他的门口，流浪汉排成了长队，他呵斥那些人的原罪，却倾心减除他们痛苦，甚至有位记忆苍老的乞丐，简直成为他的座上客，那老人髯须灰白，垂到皱纹如縠的胸间。”
3．当时，那位年迈绅士正需要一名伺童照料他的生活起居，他很喜爱年轻人。然而，他愈喜欢年轻人的社会，就愈憎恶不少年轻人深陷五花八门的走火入魔。他总是说，“喜欢窥探他人抽屉的孩子，不由自主总想拿走点东西。俗语说得好：‘少时偷针，大时偷金’。”
4．那位乡绅要找伺童的消息一经传开，二十来位想要为自己孩子谋就职位的乡邻纷纷挤上门来。老人执意不愿雇用，他心里明白，唯有通过某种程序以验证雇佣孩子是否具有良好的品格，那些孩子应该既不好奇心太盛，亦不爱多管闲事，他才能彻底放心。
5．一个周一的早晨，七名少年穿上礼拜的衣服，脸上洋溢着开心幸福的笑容，聚集到那座庄园门口。人人都急切获得那个职位。那性格怪异的老人早已备好一处房间，以待更好察看应聘少年的品行，检测他们是否安分守己，是否不窥探自己不该知道的东西。他下令将那些站在榆树庄园里的少年逐一领进那处房间。
6．查尔斯·布朗第一个被带进房间，有人告诉他，让他在房间里稍等片刻。于是查尔斯在门边椅子上坐下，刚开始，他一声不吭，环顾四周，房间里好玩东西实在诱惑太多，最后，他忍不住站起来到处查看。
7．一个盘子倒扣桌上，查尔斯急切想弄清盘子下究竟藏有什么东西，可又害怕将盘子掀开。查尔斯的坏习惯看来根深蒂固，与好奇心不相上下，他实在抵挡不住窥探一眼的诱惑，于是将盘子倒翻过来，这下够糟了，原来盘子下堆着一簇细小羽毛。在气流的裹挟下，有的羽毛被吹开，忽悠悠到处乱飘。恐惧中的查尔斯匆忙将盘子盖上，还没忘记顺嘴吹走桌上剩下的细绒。
下步该做什么？查尔斯迅速逐一拣拾羽绒。此刻，那位老人走进房间，原来他就在隔壁，听到了这边的手忙脚乱，猜到了事情的原委经过。没有足够定力的少年，竟然无法抵制如此微小的诱惑。使查尔斯·布朗大为惊愕的是，他很快就被打发回家。
