马克吐温最佳短篇小说 15 Extracts from Adams Diary

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　　TUESDAY.--Been examining the great waterfall. It is the finest thing on the estate, I think. The new creature calls it Niagara Falls-- why, I am sure I do not know. Says it LOOKS like Niagara Falls. That is not a reason, it is mere¹ waywardness and imbecility. I get no chance to name anything myself. The new creature names everything that comes along, before I can get in a protest. And always that same pretext² is offered--it LOOKS like the thing.

　　There is a dodo, for instance. Says the moment one looks at it one sees at a glance that it "looks like a dodo." It will have to keep that name, no doubt. It wearies me to fret³ about it, and it does no good, anyway. Dodo! It looks no more like a dodo than I do.

　　WEDNESDAY.--Built me a shelter against the rain, but could not have it to myself in peace. The new creature intruded⁴. When I tried to put it out it shed water out of the holes it looks with, and wiped it away with the back of its paws, and made a noise such as some of the other animals make when they are in distress⁵. I wish it would not talk; it is always talking. That sounds like a cheap fling at the poor creature, a slur⁶; but I do not mean it so. I have never heard the human voice before, and any new and strange sound intruding⁷ itself here upon the solemn hush⁸ of these dreaming solitudes⁹ offends my ear and seems a false note. And this new sound is so close to me; it is right at my shoulder, right at my ear, first on one side and then on the other, and I am used only to sounds that are more or less distant from me.

　　FRIDAY. The naming goes recklessly on, in spite of anything I can do. I had a very good name for the estate, and it was musical and pretty-- GARDEN OF EDEN. Privately¹⁰, I continue to call it that, but not any longer publicly. The new creature says it is all woods and rocks and scenery, and therefore has no resemblance to a garden. Says it LOOKS like a park, and does not look like anything BUT a park. Consequently, without consulting me, it has been new-named NIAGARA FALLS PARK. This is sufficiently¹¹ high-handed, it seems to me. And already there is a sign up:

　　KEEP OFFTHE GRASSMy life is not as happy as it was.

　　SATURDAY.--The new creature eats too much fruit. We are going to run short, most likely. "We" again--that is ITS word; mine, too, now, from hearing it so much. Good deal of fog this morning. I do not go out in the fog myself. This new creature does. It goes out in all weathers, and stumps¹² right in with its muddy feet. And talks. It used to be so pleasant and quiet here.

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