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美国故事 SENEWS-2006-1209-Feature

时间:2007-05-14 01:43:42

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(单词翻译)

“Father, what are the men digging1 over in the field for?”
The old man shut his mouth and continued getting his horse ready to ride. They were in the barn2, standing3 before the wide open doors. The spring air was full of the smell of growing grass. Adoniram Penn looked at his wife Sarah, she looked as unmovable as one of the rocks in his fields.

“Father!” she said, “I want to know what the men are digging over there in that field for?”
“They're digging a foundation4 if you've got to know.”
“For what?”
“For a barn.”
“Ah, A barn? You’re going to build a barn over there, where we was going to have a house? ”
The old man hurried away. The woman went to the house. It looked extremely5 small next to the great barn, another farm buildings. A pretty girl’s face looked out one of the windows. She turned quickly when the woman entered.

“What are they digging for, mother? Did he tell you?”
“They are digging for a new barn.”
“Oh mother, he ain't going to build another barn?”
“That's what he says.”
A boy stood by smoothing his hair.
“Sammy, did you know father was going to build a new barn?” the girl asked.
“Yes, I suppose I did,” he said.
His mother looked at him hard. “Is he going to buy more cows?”
“Hey, I suppose he is.” Sammy answered.
The mother said nothing more. The boy got his cap and book and started for school.

“Mother,” the girl said, “don't you think it's too bad that father is going to build a new barn when we need a better house to live in?”
“You should not judge father, Nanny. He does not look at things just where we do. I do not think you should complain. You have a good father and a good home.”
Nanny began to sob6. She was to be married in the autumn.
Her mother got out of the things she needed to bake pies for her husband. Whenever she looked up she could see the sight that pained her soul. A new barn would stand in the place where 40 years ago Adoniram had promised their new house would stand.

The family gathered for the new meal, they ate quickly, quietly. Then Sammy went back school and Nanny went to the store. Sarah followed Adoniram,
“Father, I want to say you, just a minute.”
“I have work to do, mother.”
“Father, you come here.” Sarah Penn stood in the door like a queen.
She held her head as if it wore a crown7. Adoniram went.
“Sit down, father,” Sarah said, “I have something I want to say to you.”
He sat down heavily.” Well, what is it, mother?”
“I want to know what you're building that new barn for? It cannot be that you think you need another barn?”
“I… I got noting to say about it.”
Sarah stood before her husband. “Now father, look here, I wanna talk real plain to you. You see this room here. You look at it well. You see there is no carpet on the floor; and the paper is dropping off the walls. It is all I have had to work in, and eat in, and sit in since we were married. It is all the room Nanny will have to be married in.”

She moved across the room as if it were a tragic8 stage. She threw open the door to their tiny bedroom; she threw open the door to their tiny storage9 room; she threw open the door to the unfinished room above where the children slept.

“Now, father, I want to know if you think you're doing right? Forty years ago, you promised we would have a new house before the year was over. You said you would not ask me to live in a place such as this. It is forty years now. You've been making more money, and you won’t build no house yet. You'll build new barns10, and now you're going to build another. You're keeping your farm animals better than your own flesh11 and blood. I wanna know if you think it's right.”
“I got nothing to say.”
“You can't say nothing without admitting it is right, father. There's another thing. I've got along for forty year, and I suppose I can get along for forty more. But if we do not have another house, Nanny will not be able to live with us after she marries. I can not have it so.”

Sarah Penn's face was burning. She had defended her little cause like a great speaker. But her opponent12 remained stubbornly13 silent14.
“Father, ain't you got nothing to say?”
“I've got to go often, get a load of crushed15 stone. I can't stand talking all day.”
“Father, won't you think it over, and build a house there instead of a barn?”
“I got nothing to say.”

Adoniram left. Sarah went into their bedroom. When she came out, her eyes were red. She spread some cotton cloth on the kitchen table. She began to make new shirts for her husband. Nanny came back from the store and sat down with her needlework.
“Mother,” she said after a while, “we might have a wedding in the new barn.” Sarah jumped a little, her face wore a strange expression.

All through the spring months it seemed as if Sarah heard nothing but the sounds of building. The new barn grew fast. It was ready by summer. Adoniram planned to move in the cows, then he received a letter from Sarah’s brother who had found him a good horse.

“I…I hate to go off just now,” Adoniram said, “but I think the workers can get along without me for three or four days. I guess I’d better go. If the cows come today, Sammy can drive them into the new barn.”
“Well,” said Sarah Penn. She went about her work thinking, talking a little to herself, then her voice ran out loudly. “It looks like a gift from God.”
“What are you talking about, mother?” Nanny asked.
“Nothing.”

Later that morning, the man loaded the hay16 wagon17 and took it to the new barn. Sarah ran out to them. “Stop!” she screamed. “Don’t put the hay in the new barn, put it in the old one!”
She went back into the house. She began moving dishes out of the tiny storage room. She began putting them into a cloth basket.
“What are you going to do, mother?” Nanny asked in a small voice.
“You'll see what I'm going to do,” her mother answered. “Nanny, I want you to go upstairs and gather your things; and I want you, Sammy, to help me take down the bed.”

During the next few hours, this simple woman performed and acted bravery equal to that of any brave military18 leader. Sarah Penn, at the head of her little army, moved all their possessions19 into the new barn while her husband was away.

The building was designed for the comfort of four-footed animals, yet right away Sarah saw its possibilities for humans. With addition of a few walls and windows, she would have a bigger more comfortable house than she had occupied for 40 years.

By the next morning, the news had spread all over the village. There was a difference of opinions about what it happened. Some thought it was the act of an insane20 woman; some thought it was the act of lawless and rebel21 spirit.

On the night Adoniram was expected home. Sarah cooked the foods he liked best. She put on a clean dress. Her children kept close to her.
“There he is,” Sammy said.
Adoniram led his new horse to the new barn. He rolled back to the gray doors, there stood his wife and children.
“What on earth are you all doing down here?”
Sammy’s voice was high and thin: “We, we are from here to live, father.”
The old man’s face was pale and frightened. Sarah led the way into the barn.
“Now father, there is nothing to be upset over, are we crazy? But we have come here to live. We got just as a good right to be here as horses and cows.”

Adoniram ate, then went outside and sat down. He put his head in his hands. Sarah went to him and touched his shoulder. He was crying.
“I…I'll put up the walls, and everything you want.”
Sarah put her hands to her face, overcome by her own victory22. Adoniram was like a great fortress23 that falls the moment the right weapons are used.
“Why, mother,” he said, “I have no idea you wanted this so much to have done all this.”

You have been listening to the American Story “The Revolt24 of Mother”. It was written by Mary Wilkins Freeman and adapted by D. Your storyteller was Kay Glant. The producer was L Davis. The story is copyrighted25, all rights reserved26. The Voice of America invites you to listen again next week at the same time to another American story told in Special English. This is Shep O’Neal.

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 digging digging     
n.挖掘v.挖,掘( dig的现在分词 );(如用铲、锨或推土机等)挖掘;挖得;寻找
参考例句:
  • They were digging up worms to use for bait. 他们正在挖蚯蚓作鱼饵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The best implement for digging a garden is a spade. 在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 barn 6dayp     
n.谷仓,饲料仓,牲口棚
参考例句:
  • That big building is a barn for keeping the grain.那幢大房子是存放粮食的谷仓。
  • The cows were driven into the barn.牛被赶进了牲口棚。
3 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
4 foundation UijxD     
n.[pl.]地基;基础;基金会;建立,创办
参考例句:
  • The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
  • The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。
5 extremely 2tJzAz     
adv.极其,非常,极度
参考例句:
  • The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了,我非看不可。
  • The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。
6 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣
参考例句:
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答,也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
7 crown JoazY     
n.王冠,王权,顶点;v.使...成王,加冕,居...之顶
参考例句:
  • He won the crown in 1973.他荣获1973年冠军称号。
  • They wanted to crown Caesar king.他们想立凯撒为王。
8 tragic inaw2     
adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的
参考例句:
  • The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
  • Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。
9 storage xudwZ     
n.存储器,储藏,保管,库存,仓库
参考例句:
  • How much will you have to pay the warehouse for storage?你得付多少仓库保管费?
  • He is charging a storage battery.他在为蓄电池充电。
10 barns 23ac1f757dbe868b09b43c57b2e9e701     
n.牲口棚( barn的名词复数 );(公共汽车、卡车等的)车库;仓房;简陋的大建筑物
参考例句:
  • Hurstwood breathed freely when he saw the barns. 当赫斯渥看见车场时,轻松地出了一口气。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Groups of ham actors took the barns by storm like soldiers. 一伙伙的蹩脚演员就象士兵攻占堡垒一样大闹各仓。 来自辞典例句
11 flesh 6lzyb     
n.肉;(供食用的)肉;果肉
参考例句:
  • A fat man has much more flesh than a thin man.胖人较瘦人肉多。
  • The flesh of the peach was sweet and juicy.桃子的果肉甜而多汁。
12 opponent HIoxQ     
n.对手,敌手,反对者;adj.敌对的,反对的
参考例句:
  • The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
  • After a fierce struggle,he got a beat on his opponent.经过殊死的较量,他占了对手的上风。
13 stubbornly rh4zDh     
adv.倔强地,顽强地,顽固地
参考例句:
  • His jaw jutted stubbornly forward; he would not be denied. 他固执地扬起下巴,一副不肯罢休的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 silent eEVz8     
adj.安静的,不吵闹的,沉默的,无言的;n.(复数)默剧
参考例句:
  • Immediately on his beginning to speak,everyone was silent.他一讲话,大家顿时安静下来。
  • The boys looked at the conjuror in silent wonder. 孩子们目瞪口呆地看着那魔术师。
15 crushed 8v6zDH     
a.压碎的,倒碎的
参考例句:
  • The car was completely crushed under the truck. 小轿车被卡车压得完全变形了。
  • The box was crushed when the car ran over it. 汽车辗过箱子时把它给压碎了。
16 hay WeVxZ     
n.(用作饲料或覆盖的)干草
参考例句:
  • Cows feed on hay.奶牛以干草为生。
  • They usually keep the hay in the barn.他们通常将干草存放在谷仓中。
17 wagon XhUwP     
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
参考例句:
  • We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
  • The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
18 military RDbxh     
n.军队;adj.军事的,军人的,好战的
参考例句:
  • The area has been declared a closed military zone.这个地区已宣布为军事禁区。
  • The king was just the tool of the military government.国王只是军政府的一个傀儡。
19 possessions ylozMR     
n.[法]财产;占有( possession的名词复数 );领地;个人财产;持有违禁物
参考例句:
  • The group forswears all worldly possessions. 这个团体放弃一切尘世财物。
  • I lost some of my most prized possessions in the fire. 大火吞噬了我的一些最珍贵的物品。
20 insane nbVzG     
adj.蠢极的,荒唐的,精神错乱的,疯狂的
参考例句:
  • Insane people are sometimes dangerous.精神病人有时非常危险。
  • The letter made her insane with jealousy.那封信使她妒忌得发疯。
21 rebel VANz2     
n.叛徒,起义者;vi.造反,反抗,反感;adj.造反的,反抗的,反叛者的
参考例句:
  • The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government.反叛军队企图颠覆政府统治。
  • The rebel army has readjusted its strategy.叛军已经重新调整了策略。
22 victory Th6wv     
n.胜利,成功
参考例句:
  • Victory will never come if we only wait for it.如果我们光是等待,胜利永远不会到来。
  • It can't be questioned that we will win the final victory.我们将最终取得胜利,这是确定无疑的。
23 fortress Mf2zz     
n.堡垒,防御工事
参考例句:
  • They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。
  • The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。
24 revolt PWcxX     
n.叛乱,反抗,反感;v.叛乱,起反感,使...恶心
参考例句:
  • The revolt was suppressed in a matter of hours.叛乱在几小时之内就平息下去了。
  • Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。
25 copyrighted 32701401a789dc816ef17a1195e74c82     
获得…的版权( copyright的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • That magazine usurped copyrighted material. 那杂志盗用了版权为他人所有的素材。
  • Why is it common for students to download copyrighted music? 为什麽学生下载有版权的音乐如同家常便饭?
26 reserved NSczV     
adj.预订的;矜持的;储藏着的v.保留[储备]某物( reserve的过去式)
参考例句:
  • The star has a ski slope reserved exclusively for her. 这位明星有一个专门留给她的滑雪场地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He is very reserved. He does not say much. 他是个拘谨的人,不爱多说话。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

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