这套《美国语文》读本,精选于美国**套语文读本,由美国**教育家、俄亥俄大学校长威廉·H·麦加菲花费20多年时间倾心主编,至l920年累计销*便高达l.22亿册,是美国*畅销的语文课本,被《时代周刊》评为“人类出版史上第三大畅销书”。
这是一套通过道德文字向孩子传授知识、进行美德教育的**读本。汇集了狄更斯、华盛顿·欧文、莎士比亚、爱默生、梭罗等名家名篇,通过一篇篇短小精悍的故事,将道德教育的内容倾注于作品之中,让孩子在欣赏这些优美文字的同时,从中感受到道德教育的力量,潜移默化地形成影响他们一生的美德观念。本中英文版’精选的235篇课文主要源于2~6年级课文,同时配上英语原文,对国内中小学牛学习英语一定大有帮助。
全书根据全文,按主题进行分类,共分为l0篇,亲近自然、动物亲情、正直诚实、勤奋友爱、坚毅勇敢、同情善良、自尊自律、人际沟通、求知思考、快乐人生。

[中文篇章节选]

春天来了

河边的树摇动着它卷边的叶子,柳树也发芽了,小孩子们也都出来玩耍。?
小鸟从天空飞过,听!它们叫得多么甜美呀,好像在告诉那些快乐的孩子们,春天来了,我们又回来了。?
当你用脚踩上绿油油的草地时,会发现它又滑又软。青蛙也开始在水里跳来跳去,听起来像动人的音乐。?
毛茛开着黄花,阳光照耀的草地上,蒲公英到处飞舞。?
这里还有许多���花,小孩子们用柔软的小手摘个不停。?
一阵暖风吹过,这边有红色的小草,那边可以看到紫罗兰,哦,那边还有,几个快乐的小孩子在嬉戏!多么美妙的画卷,一定是上帝送给人们的。?


夏 日

天刚破晓,花和树都被染成了红色,风儿把小鸟和蜜蜂叫醒,田野和草地上到处是晶莹的露珠——这是刚刚破晓时的良辰美景。?
太阳升起来了,在小溪和光滑的树叶上撒下一片金黄。一根根葡萄藤上,玫瑰花上,黄色的芜莨上,还笼罩着一层薄雾——太阳升起时的景色多么迷人。?
河水在流动,像一个骑士,时而在这儿打一个回旋,时而在那儿停留一会儿,然后迅速奔向大海。?
雨落下来了,越过屋顶,飘过烟囱,一串串,一滴滴。大树枝弯曲着身子,天空也皱着眉头。?
鸟儿唱起了歌:我亲爱的孩子们,你们是我的至爱,我愿永远为你们挡风遮雨,多么美丽的鸟儿呀!?
阳光消失了,奶牛低着头,慢慢地走在小路上,萤火虫在小山和田野中闪着亮光。天空慢慢由黄色变为红色,深红色,直至漆黑一片——就这样阳光消失了。





伦 敦 之 行

(查尔斯•狄更斯)


当行李箱上刻有“伦敦”这两个烫金大字的驿车到站时,汤姆猛吃了一惊,几乎要转身
离开,但他还是没有这样做。他坐到了车厢上,低头看了一眼那四个灰色动物,心里觉得自
己
也成了一个灰色动物,或至少是全套车马的一部分,而且他被这新奇壮观的景象搅乱了心思
。?
的确,即便是不如汤姆老实安分的人,坐在那位马车夫旁边,也会茫然无措。因为在所
有以挥鞭为业的头面人物中,他本应该当选为皇帝。他处理手套的方式与众不同,老是把手
套戴在手上——甚至连站在路面上远离驿车时也是如此——仿佛这四个灰色动物无论如
何都像绕在他的指尖上,任凭他摆布似的。他的帽子也是一样。他用帽子所做的事情,非得
是对马有无穷的知识和享受着在路上*不受拘束的自由的人才能做得如此**无缺。别人特
意叮嘱送来的贵重的小包裹,他却往帽子里一扔,又把帽子扣到了头上,仿佛引力定律不会
容许它发生被人撞掉或被风刮跑的事情,而且任何不测都不会降临似的。?
那个管车人也是!每天轻轻松松70英里就写在他的胡子上。他的举止是中速跑;他的
谈话是轻快的小步跑;他是下山走收税路时的快马车;他就是全速前进的象征。上面有了那
个管车人和他的号角,连运货的马车也慢不下来。?
这些全是伦敦的预兆,汤姆一边坐在管车人的箱子上东张西望,一边想着。这样的马车夫
,这样的管车人,在索尔兹伯里和其他任何地方都**不存在。马车也不是那种步态稳稳
的乡
巴佬似的马车,而是大摇大摆、不落俗套的伦敦马车。它整夜前行,白天又全躺着,过的
是浪荡不羁的生活。它把索尔兹伯里当作小村庄对待,根本不放在眼里。?
它嘎吱嘎吱地穿过了*好的街道,打教堂门前傲然地经过,越是难拐的弯越是拐得急,
什么地方都冲进去,什么东西都得闪开。一边从号角里吹出轻快的挑战之音,作为它告别时
欣然相赠的礼物,一边顺着平坦的乡间大道疾弛而去。?

那天晚上,天气晴和,夜色撩人。虽然伦敦的巨大和无常压在了汤姆的心头,但他还是
抵挡不了在那惬意的空气中快速前进的心醉。?
四匹灰马掠地而跑,像是和汤姆一样欢喜的感觉,号角也和马儿们一样兴高采烈,马车夫
间或也唱上几句,车轮也高兴地齐声相和,马具上的铜物是小铃铛组成的乐队,一路丁丁当
当,铿铿锵锵,和谐地碰撞着。这一切,从领头马的缰绳的扣环到车尾行李箱的把手,组合
成了一个巨大的乐器。?
哟嗬,经过了许多树篱、栅栏门和树木,经过了许多村舍、小溪和干完活回家的人。哟嗬,
经过了给拽到沟里的驴车,还有空空的二轮马车,鞭子一抽,狂暴的马就跃过了小小的水道
,但还是被车夫挣扎着拉到了那由5根横木构成的栅栏门,直到驿车拐过了那个狭窄的转弯
处。哟嗬,经过了一座座躺在偏僻的角落的教堂,周围是乡村风味的墓地,坟头绿草萋萋,
雏菊正在——因为是晚上——死者的胸怀上安睡。?
哟嗬,经过了一条条长满芦苇的小溪,有牛群把脚伸进了水中为图个凉快。经过了那些小
牧场的篱笆,那些农场,那些堆着草垛的院落。经过了那些已经一片一片切下来的去年的草
垛,在渐暗的天光里,如同倾颓的棕色山型墙般奇形怪状。哟嗬,走下满是砾石的斜坡,穿
过水花欢溅的地方,然后轻轻松松地又重新上了那平坦大道。哟嗬!哟嗬!?
哟嗬,行使在越来越浓密的树阴里,毫不在意树木深深的影子,不管明暗都往前冲,似乎50
里开外的伦敦城的灯火不仅足以照明,而且还绰绰有余。哟嗬,旁边是村里的绿地,打板
球的人还流连忘返,青草地上被球、球棒、三柱门或打球的人弄的每一个小缺口都向黑夜
散发出清香。然后突然在一家名为“秃面鹿”的奇怪的小酒店做了短暂的停留——又是相互
致意,又是新上了一位乘客,又是换了新的马队。?

从“秃面鹿”那儿换了四匹马后,驿车又踏上了旅途。村里的那些无聊的人们聚在酒店门口
赞
叹不已。刚换下的马,身上还垂着松开的缰绳,就向池塘那边奔去。亏得有人注意,十几号
嗓子在后面喊,男孩们都自告奋勇地上前追赶。马蹄得得,火星乱迸,如今就过了旧石桥,
又下到那条幽暗的大马路上,穿过敞开的栅栏门,远远地、远远地走进了林子的深处。哟嗬
!?
看那一轮明月!不知不觉中就已升得老高。大地像水一样映衬着其胸怀上的种种物体。
树篱、树木、低矮的村舍、教堂的尖顶、杂乱的树桩以及茂密的嫩枝条,全都突然一下子变
得爱慕虚荣,打算对着自己婀娜的身影沉思到天明。?
那边的杨树飒飒做响,好让它们颤抖的叶子看清自己在地面上的形象。橡树则并非如此
,颤抖不合他的身份,他目不转睛地凝视着自己那饱经风霜却依然挺拔的身材,连一根小树
枝都纹丝不动。让那些橡树和杨树们自我陶醉去吧,驿车仍在飞快地奔跑,月亮也在紧跟着
滑过水沟和丛林,掠过平整的土地和犁过的耕地,沿着陡峭的山坡和更陡峭的石壁往前跑,
仿佛是在追逐幽灵似的。?
还有那些云朵,和那凹地上空的雾。那雾不是闷闷的一大片遮住了凹地,而是象轻纱似
的,在我们那不太懂欣赏的眼中看来也给前面展开的一切平添了许多妩媚。哟嗬,这样的
赶路,简直和月亮自己一样。这一分钟躲在小树林里,下一分钟藏在一团弥漫的水汽之中。
忽而现身在我们走的平坦大道上,忽而退隐在云朵背后,但却无时无刻不在飞奔向前,
我们的旅程和月亮是不相上下了。哟嗬!这简直是在与月亮比赛!?
美丽的夜色尚未领略,白昼就跃了上来。哟嗬!走了两站,乡间的条条马路几乎变成了一
条没有尽头的街道。哟嗬,经过了供应市场的菜园,一排排的房屋,别墅,月牙形的建筑,
斜坡上的住宅,还有广场。经过了四轮货车、驿车、二轮马车,经过了许多赶早的工人,晚
起的掉队者,以及清醒的搬运工;经过了用砖头与灰浆制成的形状各异的东西;在这磕磕绊
绊的石子道上,要在车夫旁边保留一个无忧无虑的座位也绝非易事!哟嗬,拐过无数的弯儿
,穿过无数曲折复杂的道儿,直到进了一家旧旅店的院子,惊异的汤姆头昏目眩地下了车,
这才总算到了伦敦!?



暴 风 雨


华盛顿•欧文(1783~1859年),**作家,其作品在美国文学中占有重要地位。他出生于纽约市,接受了普通学校教育,19岁时为他兄弟的报纸写文章,从此开始了文学生涯。他的**本书《杂录》出版于1807年。两年后他出版了《纽约的早期历史》。1815年,他到了欧洲,并在那里度过了17年,其间完成了几部著作。1842年到1846年,他担任西班牙大臣。他生命的*后时光在纽约塔利顿附近的“萨尼塞德”(意为光明的地方)度过。他终生未婚,《华盛顿的生活》是他后期的作品,同年去世。欧文先生的作品幽默、朴素、优美,表达准确。本文选自《布雷斯布里奇大厅》。

旅程的第二天,他们来到海兰德(海兰德是纽约一个多山区域,与皮克斯基尔的哈德
逊河相接)。这是一个寂静、闷热的下午,他们随着海浪的起伏,在
峻峭的群山间漂浮。在夏日的炙烤下,万物沉寂无声。木板的转动声,或是船桨偶尔碰在甲
板上的声音,都在群山间引起回荡,回声沿着海岸一遍遍激荡着。而且每次船长喊出一道
指令之后,好像无数无形的舌头就会从每处悬崖中伸出来,重复着他刚才的话。?
道尔夫瞪大眼睛四处张望,默默地欣赏着大自然的奇观,品味其中的愉悦和奇妙。左边,
顿德斯堡高耸着树木茂密的峭壁,一层高过一层,树林层层叠叠,直抵高远的夏日天际。右
边,矗立着安东尼岬(顿德堡和安东尼岬是海兰德两个山峰的名字),一只孤独的雄鹰正展翅飞过。远处,山峦叠嶂,绵延起伏。?
这时,道尔夫注意到一堆明亮、雪白的云朵,在西山顶上向他窥望着。云朵一层压着一层
,每一层都好像将前面的一层用力往前推着,*上面的一直垒进茫茫的蓝天里。隐约可以听
到群山后面雷声滚滚。水面刚才还像镜子一样平静光滑,倒映着蓝天和高山,这时也被一
阵风吹起暗色的波浪。鱼鹰盘旋鸣叫着,飞上干燥的树顶栖息。乌鸦乱作一团,飞向岩石的
缝隙。自然界的万物都意识到,一场暴风雨就要来临了。?
山顶的云朵这时聚做一团,虽然云尖还是明亮雪白的,但其余的地方已经是泼墨般乌黑。大
颗雨点没头没脑地砸下来,风儿清新,卷起浪花。不久,厚厚的云朵好像被尖耸的山峰刺
穿了一样,大雨倾泻而下。闪电在云层之间滚来滚去,岩石都跟着颤抖起来,林中的树木也
东摇西摆。雷声接踵而至,在群山中回响着。它们先冲上了顿德堡,又沿着山间隘路上了海
兰德,沿途在每个山头都留下了新的回声,老布尔山〖ZW(〗布尔山,也称作多拉斯山,在
北方15英里。〖ZW)〗也向暴风雨吠叫着。?
有一段时间,疾风、迷雾和倾盆大雨遮蔽了眼前的一切。四周是一片让人恐惧的昏暗,大雨
中不时闪耀的闪电更让人心惊。道尔夫还从未见识过如此狂暴的自然界,就好像暴雨在山崖
中撕开一道裂缝,并且汇集了所有天堂的武器开始作战。?

冰山
(一般冰山的1/8浮在水面上。因为不对称的融化和海浪的作用,它的一面增长
得比另一面沉重时,冰山就会在水中翻滚,正如这篇文章描述的一样。)

鲁伊斯•雷戈兰•诺波(1813~1882年),出生于纽约奥瑟戈乡村。他12岁时
,全家迁到密歇根的山林里。在他父亲去世后,他又回到纽约学习神学,1840年他担任神职
。大约在这时,他发表了**部作品——两首诗,描写了两个印度人之间的罗曼史。诺波先
生在北加利福尼亚州生活过一段时间,后又在哈德逊河的加斯基尔度过了一段时光,他在
这时与艺术家科尔成了好朋友。科尔去世时,他为他写作回忆录。他的其他作品还包括《时
光与其他诗歌》、《与画家一起看冰山》。 ?

我们刚刚路过一群冰山中的一个,觉得非常有趣。它像一只巨大的北极熊,静卧于
一个倒立的锥形上,这个倒立的锥形像一只扭曲的贝壳,随着海水慢慢转动。透过满溢的、
像空气一样澄净的绿色海水,我们看到它层叠、嶙峋的底部。?
这只北极熊足有10英尺高,不停地被湍急的小浪头拍打着。首先,一个浪头打在它的屁股上
,扫过他的尾巴和双腿,退回海里。马上,一个更大的浪头又起来了,猛击它的后背,似乎
一下就能将他击倒。但是,北极熊还是矗立着,只是缎子似的皮毛更光滑洁白了。?
布鲁因掉过头,想从正面看看这个大胆的攻击者。这时这个无赖又形成了一个巨大的浪窝
,准备再发出一击。一个巨大的浪头马上就要击中他了。浪头的威力巨大,形成了一团银
色的水雾,洒在北极熊的鬃毛上,使它更明亮了。浪头过后,白色的泡沫喷涌而起,海浪掉
转头,也急忙跑回自己的栖息之所。?
小浪一点也不停歇。它们一起从四面八方冲过来,朝着共同的敌人,好像它们在水下已经
商量
好了似的,一起冲上前去,怒吼震天,泡沫飞溅,猛烈地振颤着北极熊,好像要让他四分五
裂,变成碎片。但是我们错了!虽然浪儿在刹那间剧烈地奔涌,但是并没有伤害到布鲁因。
随着银绿色的海浪退回海中,刚才的低鸣、浪尖和浪窝也都渐渐消失,这景象可以与*精美
的雕塑媲美。大自然不仅向我们展示她那线条细腻、光影协调的石雕作品,还为它们涂上颜
色
。她可不是素描画家,她的画笔五颜六色。在描绘她的珍宝和天空时,毫不犹豫地用了鸽灰
、祖母绿和天蓝色。?
我们尽量向巨大的冰山靠拢。让我们非常高兴的是,我们本来希望发生的、刚刚看到的景象
,在这里也发生着:猛烈的爆炸声,伴随着冰屑的溅落,然后是瀑布似的轰鸣和被高高掀
起的海水,优美地滚动着,浪尖上覆盖着银光闪闪的泡沫。如果可能的话,请想象一下观者
的感受:高耸的冰崖,吱吱爆裂,以可怕的气势向我们砸来。?
长长的水线沉到深色的海里,白瓷一样的峭壁和玻璃般光滑的雕塑也沉了下去。另一些雕塑
和峭壁浮了上来,盐水形成的一圈圈印记也浮上了水面,陌生的东西也浮了上来——峭壁、
凹壁、凸块。它们浮得越来越高,沟壑处淌着泡沫组成的细流。冰峰、冰脊、冰尖什么的,
隐约对望着。现在它停止翻滚,又开始吱吱作响了。冰山开始翻滚时,发出霹雷一样的怒吼
,像炸药爆炸一样,飞溅出无数碎片。这个场面真是壮观极了。人们无法表达他们的感情,
只是疯狂地大声欢呼着。?




种子的运输与种植

亨利•大卫•梭罗(1817~1862年),这位古怪的美国作家和自然学家生于马萨诸塞州的康珂,1837年毕业于哈佛大学。他对英语和古典文学艺术研究颇深,对东方文学也十分熟悉。他的父亲是位铅笔制造商,梭罗也一度从事此行业,但后来主要以教课、作讲座、土地测量和木工活为生。1845年,他在康珂附近的瓦尔登湖畔自己搭了座小木屋,并在那里住了两年。梭罗与霍桑、爱默生及其他一些文坛名人交往密切。其主要代表作有《瓦尔登》、《康珂和梅里马克河上的一周》、《短途旅行》、《缅因森林》、《科德角》、《美国人在加拿大》、《给不同人的信》。


每棵松树上,一层类似昆虫翅翼的薄膜在种子���表面生长,渐渐把种子包裹起来,但又不相连,种子就在这层包裹下生长发育。换句话说,一个漂亮薄薄的小袋子在种子的表面编
织而成,上面还有把手以便风能把它抓住,接下来的任务就交到了风的身上。明显风会把种
子带到四方,松树的生长范围也就随之扩大。这和种子在另一种口袋里由专利局寄往各地实际上的效果是一样的。?
这样,认为松林是凭空而来的推测就没什么必要了。虽然人们很少注意它们这种依靠自然的传播途径,但我也明白,自己决不是惟一认为松树是由种子而来的人。在欧洲,由种子长成的松树分布十分广泛,现在也开始在这里大量繁殖。?
当你砍掉一片橡树林,并不意味着一片松林就会立即平地而起,旁边需要有或近期刚刚有处于结果实期的松树,这些松树还必须在风力所及的范围内。但是临近松林的地方,如果你不让别的作物在那里生长,只要土壤合适,那么你的松林就一定会扩展开去。?
我在山胡桃林里漫步的时候,就算在8月,也能不时听见青山的山核桃落地的声音,都是被头顶上的红松鼠咬下来的。秋天,在城市各面的橡树林中或靠近橡树林的地上,都有三四英寸长的结实树枝,上面连着六七个空橡碗。果实两边的树枝已被松鼠咬掉了,这样就减轻了重量便于转移。当你敲打摇晃栗子树时,鸟儿在尖叫,红松鼠在咒骂,因为它们此时在同一战线上,但也是永远达不成协议的两方。?
走过树林的时候,我经常看见一只红色或灰色的松鼠扔下一个青色栗子。有时我甚至想,
这些栗子是向我扔来的。实际上,在栗子收获的季节里,这些松鼠忙碌得不可开交,你在树
枝里稍呆一会儿就一定能听见这样的声音。?
10月中旬,一个锻炼者告诉我,**前他曾看见一只青色的栗子掉在河边的大草坪上,那片草坪*近的树林至少有50标尺,离*近的栗树林就更远了,他不知道栗子怎么会在那里。很偶然的一次机会,仲冬时候我在栗树林中漫步,发现就在叶子底下放一堆栗子,足有三四十个,原来是树林中老鼠干的。?
尤其在冬季下完雪后,我们可以更清楚地看到这种坚果的转运和移植是多么普遍。在每个
树林几乎都能看见红松鼠或灰松鼠在雪上刨出的点点痕迹,有的甚至深达两英尺。它们总是能直接找到一个栗子或松果,准确得就像从底下开始向上挖一样,这一点你我都做不到。就是在下雪以前,让我们在地上找个松果也不是件易事。毫无疑问,这些果实通常都是松鼠们在秋季储存在那儿的。但它们是记住了地点,还是通过灵敏的嗅觉找到了那里,这就不得而知了。?
红松鼠在冬季一般把家安在常绿灌木丛的泥土中,常常是在一片落叶林中的一小簇常绿丛下
。如果在树林处很远处仍存有果实的坚果树,你就会看见松鼠们来来回回踩出的足迹。我们
完全不必担心橡木在树林中的位置会影响到其种子的传播,只要它距树林20~30标尺以
内就足够了。?
我斗胆断言,每个还未成熟就自然掉落的白色松果都是松塔的杰作,它们都还没有长开,松
子都在里面。甚至可以说几乎每个掉落的油松果都是松鼠啃落的。早在松果成熟之前,松鼠
就开始动手了。所以每当松果收成不好,而且也多是如此,几乎每个松果在充分成熟之前都
会被松鼠咬落。?
我想松鼠之所以在松果成熟之前就把它们啃下来,部分原因可能是为了不让松果裂开掉出松
子。这可是它们刨开雪层辛辛苦苦寻找的东西。在那个季节里,也只有埋在雪底下的松果里
还有些松子了。我曾细细数过一堆红松鼠咬下来并剥掉外壳的松果,足有239个,这
是它们前一年冬天准备下的。?
这样的条件对于表层及浅表的果仁生根发芽来说十分有利。我有时还疑惑那些仅仅落在泥土
表面的果实怎么如此容易就在那里安家落户,然而12月底我在地上看见了半埋在土中同年
生的栗子,上面覆盖着腐烂霉变的树叶,它们具备了迅速生根发芽所需的全部湿度和营养条
件。这样在丰收的年份里,很大一部分坚果都松松地埋在地下一英寸的地方,当然也就可
以躲过松鼠的袭击了。?
在一个收获颇丰的冬季,我用耙子在地上找到了许多松子,那时已是1月10日了。
虽然当日在市场上出售的松子多半已经霉变,但我从发霉的湿叶子下捡来的松子却没有坏的。它们已经被雪覆盖了一两次。大自然知道如何让它们保持得*好。这些松子个个粒大饱满,水分充足。很明显,它们虽然被湿叶子所覆盖,但并未受热,春天到来的时候,都破土而出了。?
秋季穿过树林的时候,你偶尔可以听见像是有人折断树枝的声音,抬头一看,原来是一只鸟在啄橡木果实,或者你会看见一群槛鸟在橡树的树冠里齐心协力地对付一个果实,然后就能听见啄落橡果的声音。然后它们就飞到一个合适的树枝上,用一只爪子踩住橡果使劲碾着,发出的声音就像啄木鸟在轻叩树干。同时它们还四处观望,以防有任何敌人靠近。很快它们就可以啄开果壳,开始小口地啄食果肉,并不时仰起脖子以便把食物吞下去。虽然果实在槛鸟爪子的牢牢控制下,但是通常在它们吃完以前就会掉落到地上。?
威廉•巴顿在给鸟类学家威尔森的信中说道:“在传播树种及其他同样是其食物的硬壳蔬
菜种子方面,槛鸟是自然经济里*好的代理商。它们飞越田野、禽笆,飞临棚栏,落到自己
的窝中把果实储藏起来,在此过程中,大量的种子遗落到地上,这样槛鸟也就完成了它们的
必要职责。一个潮湿的冬季和春季之后,无数的小树从田野草地里破土而出,这真是惊人。
单是这些鸟儿们,几年之间就可以使一片荒芜的土地绿树成阴。”对此,我十分赞同。?
我注意到松鼠还常常在旷地上留下果实种子,这也进一步解释了为何橡树和胡桃木会在草地
里大量出现。正因为如此,每一棵破土而出的新树都是由一粒种子发育而来。当我仔细察看
生长在这种地方一两岁的小树苗时,总是能发现它们种子来源的空果壳。?


纽约酷热的**
?
威廉•迪安•豪威尔斯(1837~1920年),出生于美国俄亥俄州贝尔蒙县。童年时代他曾经学习过出版业务,并在出版业从事多年的工作。1860年,他同约翰•皮也特一同出版了一部诗歌集。从1861年到1865年,他被任命为美国驻意大利领事。1865年,返回美国之后,他定居在纽约市,并成为美国《民族》杂志编辑。1871年,成为《大西洋月刊》杂志主编,一直到1881年。他退休后开始从事自己的创作活动。自此以后,还与其他自由期刊杂志有许多联系。他曾给予许多作家,包括马克•吐温和亨利•詹姆斯以鼓励。?
豪威尔斯曾经写过许多小说,如《西拉斯•拉帕姆的崛起》和文学批评集。本文摘自他的小
说《蜜月》。

他们沿着纽约市*大的批发市场的一条大街向百老汇走去。在这条大街上,到处都是卡车和四轮货车,人们正忙着装车、卸车。油桶和箱子一会儿被从车上拿下,一会儿又被装上车。人行道上到处都堆放着各种各样、大小不一的包裹。人们一个个无精打采地搬运着、忙碌着。
现在是下午4时,这个时候也正是*酷热的夏天当中*热的时候。空气当中一丝凉意也没有,夹杂着一种死亡的气息。树的两旁是高大的树木,它们一动也不动。整个大街的一半笼罩在树阴下,而另外一半却在太阳的照耀下散发出一种死亡的酷热。偶尔刮来一阵风,吹得人们脸上火辣辣的疼痛,一点也感觉不到风的凉爽。?
街道到处都是车辆,在这些车辆中间,夹杂着各种各样的瓶瓶罐罐,也有那些打颤的、喷着响鼻的马。在马车上,车夫坐在树阴下,打着遮阳伞,心情烦躁、不怀好意地望着周围的行人,好像正当他在为这些行人没命地劳作的时候,这些人突然喝住,让他停下来似的。大多数行人都一直在树阴下走。尽管天是那么酷热,他们大多都快速地向前走着,似乎想要尽快达到目的地似的。不过,偶尔也能够见到他们因为天气炎热而不住地喘着气。
在众多的行人当中,有一个成年男人,身穿无领马夹,马夹的扣子全部都没有扣,敞着怀。再看看他的那顶帽子,他一定是一个淘气的家伙,要不然,他的帽子怎么会戴在后半个脑袋上呢?只见他手里拿着一把扇子,在他那张煞白的脸前一个劲儿地晃动着,再看看他走路的样子吧!他走起路来,一脚轻一脚重的,就好像梦游一样似的。从他身边走过来另外一个行人,对他的同伴说:“我再也忍受不了这样的天气了!我的手都麻木了,哎呀,我这心儿啊……”尽管如此,各种各样的人还是从他们身旁走过,行人还是那么的多!人们不断地进入到商店里面去,又不断地从里面出来,走进灿烂的阳光里。
阳光更厉害了,没有敢抬起头来仰视太阳,人们只感觉到到处都闪着刺眼的光。天空中、房屋顶上、墙壁上,炙热的地面,都是白亮亮的,白色当中又透着点红。由上到下整个像一面极大的火镜,每一束光都像火镜的焦点一样,晒得东西像要着火一样。在这白光里,每一种颜色都显得那么刺眼,每一种声音听起来都那么难听。
他们继续向前走,越走越热。太阳一步一步地像火一样悬挂在天空,熊熊地烧着大街。汗从他们身**了下来,豆大的一颗掉在地上,摔成四瓣,然后就再也不见了。地面也热的发烫,脚心踏在上面要不赶快提起来,就有些火辣辣的疼痛。




[英文篇章节选]


SPRING.

The alder by the river
Shakes out her powdery curls;
The willow buds in silver
For little boys and girls.

2. The little birds fly over,
And oh, how sweet they sing!
To tell the happy children
That once again 't is Spring.

3. The gay green grass comes creeping
So soft beneath their feet;
The frogs begin to ripple
A music clear and sweet.

4. And buttercups are coming,
And scarlet columbine,
And in the sunny meadows
The dandelions shine.

5. And just as many daisies
As their soft hands can hold,
The little ones may gather,
All fair in white and gold.

6. Here blows the warm red clover,
There peeps the violet blue;
Oh, happy little children!
God made them all for you.

--Celia Thaxter.




A SUMMER DAY

1. This is the way the morning dawns:
Rosy tints on flowers and trees,
Winds that wake the birds and bees,
Dewdrops on the fields and lawns--
This is the way the morning dawns.

2. This is the way the sun comes up:
Gold on brook and glossy leaves,

Mist that melts above the sheaves,
Vine, and rose, and buttercup--
This is the way the sun comes up.

3. This is the way the river flows:
Here a whirl, and there a dance;
Slowly now, then, like a lance,
Swiftly to the sea it goes--
This is the way the river flows.

4. This is the way the rain comes down:
Tinkle, tinkle, drop by drop,
Over roof and chimney top;
Boughs that bend, and skies that frown--
This is the way the rain comes down.

5. This is the way the birdie sings:
"Baby birdies in the nest,
You I surely love the best;
Over you I fold my wings"--
This is the way the birdie sings.

6. This is the way the daylight dies:
Cows are lowing in the lane,
Fireflies wink on hill and plain;
Yellow, red, and purple skies--
This is the way the daylight dies.
George Cooper.




WHAT THE LEAF SAID.

1. Once or twice a little leaf was heard to cry and sigh, as leaves often do, when a gentle wind is blowing. And the twig said, "What is the matter, little leaf?"
2. "The wind," said the leaf, "just told me that one day it would pull me off, and throw me on the ground to die."
3. The twig told it to the branch, and the branch told it to the tree. When the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent word back to the trembling leaf.
4. "Do not be afraid," it said; "hold on tight, and you shall not go off till you are ready."
5. So the leaf stopped sighing, and went on singing and rustling. It grew all the summer long till October. And when the bright days of autumn came, the leaf saw all the leaves around growing very beautiful.
6. Some were yellow, some were brown, and many were striped with different colors. Then the leaf asked the tree what this meant.
7. The tree said, "All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these colors because of their joy."
8. Then the little leaf began to want to go, and grew very beautiful in thinking of it. When it was gay in colors, it saw that the branches of the tree had no bright colors on them.
9. So the leaf said, "O branch! why are you lead-colored while we are all beautiful and golden?"
10. "We must keep on our working clothes," said the tree, "for our work is not yet done; but your clothes are for holidays, because your task is now over."
11. Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go without thinking, and the wind took it up and turned it over and over.
12. Then it fell gently down under the edge of the fence, among hundreds of leaves, and has never waked to tell us what it dreamed about.






THE THUNDERSTORM


Washington Irving (b. 1783, d. 1859). This distinguished author, whose works have enriched American literature, was born in the city of New York. He had an ordinary school education, and began his literary career at the age of nineteen, by writing for a paper published by his brother. His first book, "Salmagundi," was published in 1807. Two years later he published "Knickerbocker's History of New York." In 1815 he sailed for Europe, and remained abroad seventeen years, during which time he wrote several of his works. From 1842 to 1846 he was minister to Spain. The last years of his life were passed at "Sunnyside," near Tarrytown, N.Y. He was never married. "The Life of Washington," his last work, was completed in the same year in which he died. Mr. Irving's works are characterized by humor, chaste sentiment, and elegance and correctness of expression. The following selection is from "Dolph" in "Bracehridge Hall."

1. In the second day of the voyage, they came to the Highlands. It was the latter part of a calm, sultry day, that they floated gently with the tide between these stern mountains. There was that perfect quiet which prevails over nature in the languor of summer heat. The turning of a plank, or the accidental falling of an oar, on deck, was echoed from the mountain side and reverberated along the shores; and, if by chance the captain gave a shout of command, there were airy tongues that mocked it from every cliff.
2. Dolph gazed about him, in mute delight and wonder, at these scenes of nature's magnificence. To the left, the Dunderberg reared its woody precipices, height over height, forest over forest, away into the deep summer sky. To the right, strutted forth the bold promontory of Antony's Nose, with a solitary eagle wheeling about it; while beyond, mountain succeeded to mountain, until they seemed to lock their arms together and confine this mighty rive in their embraces.
3. In the midst of this admiration, Dolph remarked a pile of bright, snowy clouds peering above the western heights. It was succeeded by another, and another, each seemingly pushing onward its predecessor, and towering, with dazzling brilliancy, in the deep blue atmosphere; and now muttering peals of thunder were faintly heard rolling behind the mountains. The river, hitherto still and glassy, reflecting pictures of the sky and land, now showed a dark ripple at a distance, as the wind came creeping up it. The fishhawks wheeled and screamed, and sought their nests on the high, dry trees; the crows flew clamorously to the crevices of the rocks; and all nature seemed conscious of the approaching thunder gust.
4. The clouds now rolled in volumes over the mountain tops; their summits still bright and snowy, but the lower parts of an inky blackness. The rain began to patter down in broad and scattered drops; the wind freshened, and curled up the waves; at length, it seemed as if the bellying clouds were torn open by the mountain tops, and complete torrents of rain came rattling down. The lightning leaped from cloud to cloud, and streamed quivering against the rocks, splitting and rending the stoutest forest trees. The thunder burst in tremendous explosions; the peals were echoed from mountain to mountain; they crashed upon Dunderberg, and then rolled up the long defile of the Highlands, each headland making a new echo, until old Bull Hill seemed to bellow back the storm.
5. For a time the scudding rack and mist and the sheeted rain almost hid the landscape from the sight. There was a fearful gloom, illumined still more fearfully by the streams of lightning which glittered among the raindrops. Never had Dolph beheld such an absolute warring of the elements; it seemed as if the storm was tearing and rending its way through the mountain defile, and had brought all the artillery of heaven into action.



TAKING COMFORT


1. For the last few days, the fine weather has led me away from books and papers, and the close air of dwellings, into the open fields, and under the soft, warm sunshine, and the softer light of a full moon. The loveliest season of the whole year--that transient but delightful interval between the storms of the "wild equinox, with all their wet," and the dark, short, dismal days which precede the rigor of winter--is now with us. The sun rises through a soft and hazy atmosphere; the light mist clouds melt gradually before him; and his noontide light rests warm and clear on still woods, tranquil waters, and grasses green with the late autumnal rains.

2. One fine morning, not long ago, I strolled down the Merrimac, on the Tewksbury shore. I know of no walk in the vicinity of Lowell so inviting as that along the margin of the river, for nearly a mile from the village of Belvidere. The path winds, green and flower-skirted, among beeches and oaks, through whose boughs you catch glimpses of waters sparkling and dashing below. Rocks, huge and picturesque, jut out into the stream, affording beautiful views of the river and the distant city.
3. Half fatigued with my walk, I threw myself down upon a rocky slope of the bank, where the panorama of earth, sky, and water lay clear and distinct about me. Far above, silent and dim as a picture, was the city, with its huge mill masonry, confused chimney tops, and church spires; near it rose the height of Belvidere, with its deserted burial place and neglected gravestones sharply defined on its bleak, bare summit against the sky; before me the river went dashing down its rugged channel, sending up its everlasting murmur; above me the birch tree hung its tassels; and the last wild flowers of autumn profusely fringed the rocky rim of the water.
4. Right opposite, the Dracut woods stretched upwards from the shore, beautiful with the hues of frost, glowing with tints richer and deeper than those which Claude or Poussin mingled, as if the rainbows of a summer shower had fallen among them. At a little distance to the right, a group of cattle stood mid-leg deep in the river; and a troop of children, bright-eyed and mirthful, were casting pebbles at them from a projecting shelf of rock. Over all a warm but softened sunshine melted down from a slumberous autumnal sky.
5. My reverie was disagreeably broken. A low, grunting sound, half bestial, half human, attracted my attention. I was not alone. Close beside me, half hidden by a tuft of bushes, lay a human being, stretched out at full length, with his face literally rooted into the gravel. A little boy, five or six years of age, clean and healthful, with his fair brown locks and blue eyes, stood on the bank above, gazing down upon him with an expression of childhood's simple and unaffected pity.
6. "What ails you?" asked the boy at length. "What makes you lie there?"
The prostrate groveler struggled halfway up, exhibiting the bloated and filthy countenance of a drunkard. He made two or three efforts to get upon his feet, lost his balance, and tumbled forward upon his face.
"What are you doing there?" inquired the boy.
"I'm taking comfort," he muttered, with his mouth in the dirt.
7. Taking his comfort! There he lay,--squalid and loathsome under the bright heaven,--an imbruted man. The holy harmonies of Nature, the sounds of gushing waters, the rustle of the leaves above him, the wild flowers, the frost bloom of the woods,--what were they to him? Insensible, deaf, and blind, in the stupor of a living death, he lay there, literally realizing that most bitterly significant eastern malediction, "May you eat dirt."

(by Whittier)




TRANSPORTATION AND PLANTING OF SEEDS

Henry David Thoreau (b. 1817, d. 1862). This eccentric American author and naturalist was born at Concord, Mass. He graduated at Harvard University in 1837. He was a good English and classical scholar, and was well acquainted with the literature of the East. His father was a maker of lead pencils, and he followed the business for a time, but afterwards supported himself mainly by teaching, lecturing, land surveying, and carpentering. In 1845 he built himself a small wooden house near Concord, on the shore of Walden Pond, where he lived about two years. He was intimate with Hawthorne, Emerson, and other literary celebrities. His principal works are "Walden, or Life in the Woods," "A Week on Concord and Merrimac Rivers," "Excursions," "Maine Woods," "Cape Cod," "A Yankee in Canada," and "Letters to Various Persons." In descriptive power Mr. Thoreau has few, if any, superiors.

1. In all the pines a very thin membrane, in appearance much like an insect's wing, grows over and around the seed, and independent of it, while the latter is being developed within its base. In other words, a beautiful thin sack is woven around the seed, with a handle to it such as the wind can take hold of, and it is then committed to the wind, expressly that it may transport the seed and extend the range of the species; and this it does as effectually as when seeds are sent by mail, in a different kind of sack, from the patent office.
2. There is, then, no necessity for supposing that the pines have sprung up from nothing, and I am aware that I am not at all peculiar in asserting that they come from seeds, though the mode of their propagation by Nature has been but little attended to. They are very extensively raised from the seed in Europe, and are beginning to be here.
3. When you cut down an oak wood, a pine wood will not at once spring up there unless there are, or have been quite recently, seed-bearing pines near enough for the seeds to be blown from them. But, adjacent to a forest of pines, if you prevent other crops from growing there, you will surely have an extension of your pine forest, provided the soil is suitable.
4. As I walk amid hickories, even in August, I hear the sound of green pignuts falling from time to time, cut off by the chickaree over my head. In the fall I notice on the ground, either within or in the neighborhood of oak woods, on all sides of the town, stout oak twigs three or four inches long, bearing half a dozen empty acorn cups, which twigs have been gnawed off by squirrels, on both sides of the nuts, in order to make them more portable. The jays scream and the red squirrels scold while you are clubbing and shaking the chestnut trees, for they are there on the same errand, and two of a trade never agree.
5. I frequently see a red or a gray squirrel cast down a green chestnut burr, as I am going through the woods, and I used to think, sometimes, that they were cast at me. In fact, they are so busy about it, in the midst of the chestnut season, that you can not stand long in the woods without hearing one fall.
6. A sportsman told me that he had, the day before--that was in the middle of October--seen a green chestnut burr dropped on our great river meadow, fifty rods from the nearest wood, and much farther from the nearest chestnut tree, and he could not tell how it came there. Occasionally, when chestnutting in midwinter, I find thirty or forty nuts in a pile, left in its gallery just under the leaves, by the common wood mouse.
7. But especially, in the winter, the extent to which this transportation and planting of nuts is carried on, is made apparent by the snow. In almost every wood you will see where the red or gray squirrels have pawed down through the snow in a hundred places, sometimes two feet deep, and almost always directly to a nut or a pine cone, as directly as if they had started from it and bored upward,--which you and I could not have done. It would be difficult for us to find one before the snow falls. Commonly, no doubt, they had deposited them there in the fall. You wonder if they remember the localities or discover them by the scent.
8. The red squirrel commonly has its winter abode in the earth under a thicket of evergreens, frequently under a small clump of evergreens in the midst of a deciduous wood. If there are any nut trees, which still retain their nuts, standing at a distance without the wood, their paths often lead directly to and from them. We, therefore, need not suppose an oak standing here and there in the wood in order to seed it, but if a few stand within twenty or thirty rods of it, it is sufficient.
9. I think that I may venture to say that every white-pine cone that falls to the earth naturally in this town, before opening and losing its seeds, and almost every pitch-pine one that falls at all, is cut off by a squirrel; and they begin to pluck them long before they are ripe, so that when the crop of white-pine cones is a small one, as it commonly is, they cut off thus almost everyone of these before it fairly ripens.
10. I think, moreover, that their design, if I may so speak, in cutting them off green, is partly to prevent their opening and losing their seeds, for these are the ones for which they dig through the snow, and the only white-pine cones which contain anything then. I have counted in one heap the cores of two hundred and thirty-nine pitch-pine cones which had been cut off and stripped by the red squirrel the previous winter.
11. The nuts thus left on the surface, or buried just beneath it, are placed in the most favorable circumstances for germinating. I have sometimes wondered how those which merely fell on the surface of the earth got planted; but, by the end of December, I find the chestnut of the same year partially mixed with the mold, as it were, under the decaying and moldy leaves, where there is all the moisture and manure they want, for the nuts fall fast. In a plentiful year a large proportion of the nuts are thus covered loosely an inch deep, and are, of course, somewhat concealed from squirrels.
12. One winter, when the crop had been abundant, I got, with the aid of a rake, many quarts of these nuts as late as the tenth of January; and though some bought at the store the same day were more than half of them moldy, I did not find a single moldy one among those which I picked from under the wet and moldy leaves, where they had been snowed on once or twice. Nature knew how to pack them best. They were still plump and tender. Apparently they do not heat there, though wet. In the spring they are all sprouting.
13. Occasionally, when threading the woods in the fall, you will hear a sound as if some one had broken a twig, and, looking up, see a jay pecking at an acorn, or you will see a flock of them at once about it, in the top of an oak, and hear them break it off. They then fly to a suitable limb, and placing the acorn under one foot, hammer away at it busily, making a sound like a woodpecker's tapping, looking round from time to time to see if any foe is approaching, and soon reach the meat, and nibble at it, holding up their heads to swallow while they hold the remainder very firmly with their claws. Nevertheless, it often drops to the ground before the bird has done with it.
14. I can confirm what William Barton wrote to Wilson, the ornithologist, that "The jay is one of the most useful agents in the economy of nature for disseminating forest trees and other nuciferous and hard-seeded vegetables on which they feed. In performing this necessary duty they drop abundance of seed in their flight over fields, hedges, and by fences, where they alight to deposit them in the post holes, etc. It is remarkable what numbers of young trees rise up in fields and pastures after a wet winter and spring. These birds alone are capable in a few years' time to replant all the cleared lands."
15. I have noticed that squirrels also frequently drop nuts in open land, which will still further account for the oaks and walnuts which spring up in pastures; for, depend on it, every new tree comes from a seed. When I examine the little oaks, one or two years old, in such places, I invariably find the empty acorn from which they sprung.

**篇亲近自然
1.春天宋了
2.夏日
3.云彩
4.风和树叶
5.树叶之语
6.暴风雪
7.小溪
8.小鸟的晨曲
9.阳春三月
10.约翰尼遇见的鲻一场暴风雪
11.蜂鸟
12.浪花
13.暴风雨
14.冰山
15.英格兰云雀
16.围捕野马
17.享受快乐
18.种子的运输与种植
19.一幅钢笔画
.20.黎明
21.一场风暴
22.纽约酷热的**
23.约塞米特瀑布
24.一次乘坐雪犁
25.家乡旅行小汜
26.返航


第二篇动物亲情
1.两只狗
2.王霸鸫
3.剪羊毛
4.帕蒂和松鼠
5.老虎
6.威利与邦斯
7.熊和孩子们
8.鱼鹰
9.讲故事的人
10.猫头鹰
11.詹妮的呼唤
12.小白猫
13.水獭
14.鸟类的朋友
15.给鸟儿自由
16.猴子
17.狮子
18.老鹰
19.马的故事
20.长颈鹿
21.布兰地浅滩
22.宠物小鹿
23.大象
24.鸟儿趣闻
25.鹌鹑
26。人与动物
2了.旅鸽
28.雪鸟之歌
29.喜马拉雅山


第三篇正直诚实
1.好兄弟
2.破碎的窗户
3.狼来了
4.哈里和安妮
5.寡妇与商人
6.寻找失主
7.知足的男孩
8.见风使舵
9.*绅士的报复
10.善意
11.小证人
12.河口剧院
13.阿尔弗雷德大帝
14.偷袭纳梅亨
15.敢于伸张正义
16.农场里的男孩
17.别管闲事
18.一位传统的姑娘
19.狱中叛乱
20.勒克瑙的解放
21.约翰•亚当斯的演讲
22.纽卡斯尔公爵的故事
23.阿布萨洛姆之死
24.本杰明•富兰克林初到费城
25.不要给��王冠


第四篇勤奋友爱
1.擦鞋童亨利
2.蜜蜂
3.妈妈的礼物
4.弗兰克和沙漏
5.可怜的戴维
6.建筑城堡
7.年轻的教师
8.铁匠
9.一分钟的白白
10.三只小老鼠
11.回声
12.和蔼地说话
13.七根木棍
14.善良的行为
15.妈妈*喜欢谁
16.约翰•卡朋特
17.玛丽的硬币
18.哈瑞和他的狗
19.勤奋的益处
20.鲁滨逊•克鲁索的房子
21.休•爱德尔和托利先生
22,*好的资产
23.母亲的墓地
24.安妮的梦
25.**的朗诵者
26.不满的钟摆
27.遗嘱
28.机械师的归来
29.**源于勤奋
30.孪生兄弟
31.手套与狮子
32.老师和患病学生
33.瑞普•凡•温克尔
34.劳动
35.一块小面包
36.苏萨和罗弗
37.印第安玉米
38.要替别人着想


第五篇坚毅勇敢
1.黑暗并不可怕
2.勇敢和怯懦
3.勇敢
4.坚持
5.有志者事竟成
6.真正的男子汉
7.风暴中的轮船
8.老鹰树
9.鲁滨逊•克鲁索的穿着
10.有毒的虫子
11.食米鸟
12.疯狂的火车司机
13.微小的胜利
14.华盛顿的性格
?5.威尔是如何逃出矿井的


第六篇同情善良
1.阳光苏茜
2.争吵
3.山姆和哈里
4.听爷爷讲故事
5.贝茜
6.花园漫步
7.美丽的手
8.微笑
9.孝顺之子
10.好奇的玛格莉
11.温柔之手
12.我同情他们
13.国王查尔斯二世和威廉•佩恩
14.正直的人永远不会被抛弃
15.露西•弗洛斯特
16.镇上的水泵
17.香水月季
18.慷慨的俄罗斯农民
19.考多夫人的演讲
20.甲鱼汤
21.*好的报复
22.一鸣惊人的艺术家
23.算命先生
24.对逝者的哀思
25.北美印第安人


第七篇自尊自律
1.扯破的洋娃娃
2,翻船事件
3.拉尔夫•维克
4.善良的老人
5.贪吃的女孩
6.逃学的小男孩
7.闹钟
8.竞争
9.一切晚矣
10.控制你的脾气
11.大扫除
12.先辈的记忆


第八篇人际沟通
1.壁炉旁
2.狐狸和鸭子
3.物归原处
4.风和太阳
5.蝙蝠
6.查理和罗布
7.时钟和日晷仪
8.警惕**次饮酒
9.埃米没有赚到的钱
10.学会说“不”
11.粗鲁的男孩
12.海水为什么是咸的
13.一个故事,两种说法
14.不浪费,就不会缺乏
15.通往快乐的道路
16.我没有捕到的鱼
17.泼冷水的艺术
18.富兰克林的谈吐魅力


第九篇求知思考
1.黄金准则
2.称象
3.学会思考
4.雷和他的风筝
5.苏西的作文
6.虚度光阴的后果
7.咖啡
8.荨麻
9.正确的办法
10.知识就是力量
11.燃烧的地面
12.疯子
?3.考试
14.斯奎尔斯的方法
15.哈姆雷特
16.机智与才干
17.论读书
18.读书的目标
19.教育的必要
20.洗礼
21.哥伦布的性格
22.用自己的脑子配色
23.罗马圆形大剧场
24.科学的目标和局限性
25.人是如何推理的
26.太阳的影响
27.财产的起源
第十篇快乐人生


1.一个温馨祥和的家
2.玛丽的故事
3.新天平
4.乔治的晚餐
5.山村妹妹
6.哈瑞的财富
7.一幕家庭场面
8.一幅人类生活的风景画
9.生活的计划
10.哲学家
11.保持心情愉快
12.新年

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