Chapter11 The Story of My Life-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《假如给我三天光明Three Days to See》

The Story of My Life CHAPTER 11 IN THE AUTUMN I returned to my southern home with a heart full of joyous Lmemories.As I recall that visit North I am fitted with wonder at the richness and variety of the experiences that cluster about it.It seems to have been the beginning of everything.The treasures of a new,beautiful world were laid at my feet,and I took in pleasure and information at every turn.I lived myself into all things.I was never still a moment;my life was as full of motion as those little insects that crowd a whole existence into one brief day.I met many people who talked with me by spelling into my hand,and thought in joyous sympathy leaped up to meet thought,and behold,a miracle had been wrought!The barren places between my mind and the minds of others blossomed like the rose. I spent the autumn months with my family at our summer cottage,on a mountain about fourteen miles from Tuscumbia.It was called Fern Quarry, because near it was a limestone quarry,long since abandoned.Three frolicsome little streams ran through it from springs in the rocks above,leaping here and tumbling there in laughing cascades wherever the rocks tried to bar their way.The opening was filled with ferns which completely covered the beds of limestone and in places hid the streams.The rest of the mountain was thickly wooded.Here were great oaks and splendid ever-greens with trunks like mossy ·108· 我的生活 第十一章 在秋天，承载着美好的北方记忆，我满心欢喜地 回到了南方的家。每当我回忆起那次北方之旅，我都会 为它给我带来的丰富多彩的经历而惊喜不已。一切似乎 都刚刚开始，一个充满宝藏的美好新世界在我的脚下展 开，我不停地汲取快乐和知识，我把自己融人进了万物 之中。我从未有过一刻消停，我活力十足的生命就像那 些成群结队的小昆虫一样，在忙碌充实中度过短暂的一 天。我遇到的很多人都会用在我手掌上拼写单词的方式 ①barren[bern]a.贫瘠 与我交谈。于是，在充满快乐的同情中一个思想与另一 的 个思想碰撞了。看，这是多么神奇的一个过程！就这样， 我思想上的空白地带与别人思想上的贫瘠地带在不断地 ②quarry[kwari]n.采石场 碰撞中逐渐繁荣，绽放出玫瑰股的美丽。 3 limestone ['laimstaun]n. 我与家人在我们山上的避暑小屋里度过了整个秋 石灰石 天，那里距离塔斯坎比亚约四十英里。人们一直把那里 称作弗恩采石场，因为在那附近有一个石灰石采矿场， ④cascade [kaes'keid]m.小 瀑布 不过，很久以前就废弃了。三条快活的小溪从上面的 山涧飞流而下穿过此地；每当碰到岩石阻拦，它们就会 带着笑声左蹦右跳地喷流直下。石灰石采矿场的开放地 ⑤mossy[msia.长满苔 藓的 已经长满了蕨类植物，石灰石床也被那些植物完全覆盖 了，这刚好为溪流提供了藏身之地。这座山林木繁盛茂 ·109· The Story of My Life pillars,from the branches of which hung garlands of ivy and mistletoe, and persimmon trees,the odor of which pervaded every nook and corner of the wood-an illusive,fragrant something that made the heart glad.In places the wild muscadine and scuppernong vines stretched from tree to tree,making arbors which were always full of butterflies and buzzing insects.It was delightful to lose ourselves in the green hollows of that tangled wood in the late afternoon,and to smell the cool,delicious odors that came up from the earth at the close of the day. Our cottage was a sort of rough camp,beautifully situated on the top of the mountain among oaks and pines.The small rooms were arranged on each side of a long open hall.Round the house was a wide piazza,where the mountain winds blew,sweet with all wood-scents.We lived on the piazza most of the time-there we worked,ate and played.At the back door there was a great butternut tree,round which the steps had been built,and in front the trees stood so close that I could touch them and feel the wind shake their branches,or the leaves twirl downward in the autumn blast. Many visitors came to Fern Quarry.In the evening,by the campfire,the men played cards and whiled away the hours in talk and sport.They told stories of their wonderful feats with fowl,fish and quadruped how many wild ducks and turkeys they had shot,what"savage trout"they had caught,and how they had bagged the craftiest foxes,outwitted the most clever possums and overtaken the fleetest deer,until I thought that surely the lion,the tiger,the bear and the rest of the wild tribe would not be able to stand be fore these wily hunters."To-morrow to the chase!"was their good-night shout as the circle of merry friends broke up for the night.The men slept in the hall outside our door, and I could feel the deep breathing of the dogs and the hunters as they lay on their improvised beds. At dawn I was awakened by the smell of coffee,the rattling of guns,and ·110· 我的生活 ①pillar[pil]n.柱子 密，其间有巨大的橡树，也有壮丽的四季常青树。常青 ②garland[ga:land]n.花 环 树的枝干就像长满青苔的圆柱，树枝到处被常春藤和槲 3 mistletoe ['misaltau]n. 寄生的花环所缠绕。此外，这座山上还长有柿子树，其 榭寄生 1 persimmon [pa:'siman]n. 果实的甜美充溢着密林里的每一个角落—这种隐约出 柿子 现的芳香让人闻了心情愉悦。野生的麝香葡萄和斯卡巴 ⑤pervade[pz'veid]v.遍及 ⑥nook[nuk灯]i角落 农葡萄竞相生长、连成一片，它们的藤蔓上总是落满各 7 muscadine ['mAskadain] 样的蝴蝶和嗡嗡的昆虫。傍晚时分，沉浸在缠蔓交织的 .圆叶葡萄 8 scuppernong ['skApano:n] 绿色林木间，呼吸着大地散发的清爽宜人的气息，真让 .野葡萄 人怡然自得。 我们的小屋其实是一个粗糙的野营地，它优雅地坐 落在橡树和松树环绕的山顶之上。小屋里设有长廊，连 ⑨piazza[pi'etsa]n.露天 市场 接着四面的小房间。长廊的外围是一个游廊，山风从这 里吹过，带来一股股树木的幽香。大多数时候，我们都 在游廊里一工作、吃饭、玩耍。小屋的后门还有一棵 巨大的灰胡桃树，其周围建有台阶。在小屋的前门，那 些树木离房子特别近，我可以轻而易举地抚摸到它们， 感受到被风吹拂的树枝，还有在阵阵秋风中旋转飘落的 树叶。 @while away消磨时间 来弗恩采石场旅行的人还真不少。夜晚，男人们围 1quadruped ['kwodruped] 坐在篝火旁玩扑克牌，在谈笑聊天中打发时间。他们讲 几四足动物 述自己捉鸟、钓鱼和捕猎的惊人本领—他们射杀过多 ②possum[posam]n.负鼠 少只野鸭和火鸡、他们如何打捞野蛮的鳟鱼、如何把狡 猾的狐狸骗入袋中、如何在智慧上战胜聪明的负鼠、如 何追赶上动作敏捷的驯鹿…直到我突然意识到在这些 狡诈的猎人面前，像狮子、老虎、熊和其他野生动物也 将难以逃脱他们的掌心了；当这群快乐的朋友们挥别散 去的时候，他们会互道“明天去捕猎”以示晚安。男人 们就睡在我们门外的走廊一他们临时的床铺上，我在 房间里甚至可以感受到猎人和他们的猎狗们熟睡后沉重 的鼻息声。 黎明时分，在一阵嘈杂中我醒来了：咖啡的味道、 ·111· The Story of My Life the heavy footsteps of the men as they strode about,promising themselves the greatest luck of the season.I could also feel the stamping of the horses,which they had ridden out from town and hitched under the trees,where they stood all night,neighing loudly,impatient to be off.At last the men mounted,and,as they say in the old songs,away went the steeds with bridles ringing and whips cracking and hounds racing ahead,and away went the champion hunters "with hark and whoop and wild halloo!" Later in the morning we made preparations for a barbecue.A fire was kindled at the bottom of a deep hole in the ground,big sticks were laid crosswise at the top,and meat was hung from them and turned on spits.Around the fire squatted negros,driving away the flies with long branches.The savory odor of the meat made me hungry long before the tables were set. When the bustle and excitement of preparation was at its height,the hunting party made its appearance,struggling in by twos and threes,the men hot and weary,the horses covered with foam,and the jaded hounds panting and dejected,and not a single kill!Every man declared that he had seen at least one deer,and that the animal had come very close;but however hotly the dogs might pursue the game,however well the guns might be aimed,at the snap of the trigger there was not a deer in sight.They had been as fortunate as the little boy who said he came very near seeing a rabbit-he saw his tracks.The party soon forgot its disappointment,however,and we sat down,not to venison but to a tamer feast of veal and roast pig. One summer I had my pony at Fern Quarry.I called him Black Beauty,as I had just read the book,and he resembled his namesake in every way;from his glossy black coat to the white star on his forehead.I spent many of my happiest hours on his back.Occasionally,when it was quite safe,my teacher would let ·112· 我的生活 ①stride[straid]v.大步走 猎枪的撞击声、男人们沉重的脚步声。我知道，他们 正大跨步走出屋子，在狩猎的季节寻找好运气。我也 能感受到马蹄踏地的震动，那是猎人们骑马外出回来 后把马儿拴在了树下，它们在树下站了一夜后，迫不 ②steed[sti:d]n.骏马 及待地想挣脱束缚，于是发出了刺耳的嘶鸣声。最后， ③whip [hwip]n.鞭子 男人们终于又爬上马背，正如他们在古老歌曲中唱的 那样：他们勒紧缰绳、策马扬鞭，在猎犬的簇拥下奔向 战场。就这样，狩猎冠军们在“眼观八方、大声高呼” 中出发了。 ④kindle[kindl),点燃 天亮后我们就开始为野外烧烤做准备了。我们在深 深的土坑底部燃起篝火，把大枝的柴火搭在最上面，再 ⑤squat[skwt]v蹲坐 把肉放在上面烤。不一会儿，肉就开始发出咝咝的声响。 ⑥savory[seivori]a.令人 篝火的周围蹲坐着一群黑人，他们不停地用长树枝把苍 愉快的 蝇赶走。其实，在餐桌摆好前，我闻到香喷喷的烤肉就 ⑦jaded[d3 eidid]a.疲倦的 开始饥肠辘辘了。 正在我们熙来壤往、兴奋不已的准备工作达到高 潮时，狩猎晚会也开始了。猎手们疲惫不堪但依旧热 情，三五成群地登场；马儿们气喘吁吁，口吐白沫；猎 狗们筋疲力尽，垂头丧气一因为一只猎物也没有打 到！每个人都说自己至少见到了一头鹿，而且当时距 离特别近：但是，不管猎犬多么尽忠职守，猎人的枪口 图venison[venizan]n.鹿 瞄得多么准确无误，在他们扣动扳机的那一刻，鹿儿 ⑧ ⑨tamer[tema)n.驯服手 竟然不见了。他们就好像幸运的小男孩一样，常说自 ⑩veal[viln.小牛肉 己曾经近距离地看到过一只兔子一只是兔子留下的 足迹罢了。不过，大家很快就忘掉了狩猎带给他们的 失落感。我们围坐在一起，根本不提鹿肉，而是不断 地讨论小牛和烤乳猪带给我们的无穷美味。 在弗恩采石场的那年夏天，我拥有了自己的小马 驹，我管它叫“黑骏马”，那是我刚刚读过的一本书里 的名字。我的小马驹与它的名字十分相配，从它光滑闪 亮的黑色“外套”，到额头上的白色星星，无不体现出 ·113· The Story of My Life go of the leading-rein,and the pony sauntered on or stopped at his sweet will to eat grass or nibble the leaves of the trees that grew beside the narrow trail. On mornings when I did not care for the ride,my teacher and I would start after breakfast for a ramble in the woods,and allow ourselves to get lost amid the trees and vines,with no road to follow except the paths made by cows and horses.Frequently we came upon impassable thickets which forced us to take a roundabout way.We always returned to the cottage with armfuls of laurel, goldenrod,ferns and gorgeous swamp-flowers such as grow only in the South. Sometimes I would go with Mildred and my little cousins to gather persimmons.I did not eat them;but I loved their fragrance and enjoyed hunting for them in the leaves and grass.We also went nutting,and I helped them open the chestnut burrs and break the shells of hickory nuts and walnuts-the big, sweet walnuts！ At the foot of the mountain there was a railroad,and the children watched the trains whiz by.Sometimes a terrific whistle brought us to the steps,and Mildred told me in great excitement that a cow or a horse had strayed on the track.About a mile distant there was a trestle spanning a deep gorge.It was very difficult to walk over,the ties were wide apart and so narrow that one felt as if one were walk ing on knives.I had never crossed it until one day Mildred,Miss Sullivan and I were lost in the woods,and wandered for hours without finding a path. Suddenly Mildred pointed with her little hand and exclaimed,"There's the trestle!"We would have taken any way rather than this;but it was late and growing dark,and the trestle was a short cut home.I had to feel for the rails with my toe;but I was not afraid,and got on very well,until all at once there ·114· 我的生活 ①saunter「sxnta]v.散步： 它的帅气与非凡。在它的背上，我度过了很多最快乐的 闲荡 ②nibble[nibl,啃 时光。有时候，在比较安全的情况下，沙利文小姐会松 开手中的缰绳，让小马驹自由自在地在林中漫步。小马 驹有时则会随心所欲地停下来吃草，或者啃食狭窄小路 边的落叶。 ③thicket[eikit)n灌木丛 每天早上，如果我不想骑马，我的老师和我便会在 ④laurel[loral]n.月桂 早餐后到森林里散步。我们让自己迷失在树木与葡萄藤 5 goldenrod ['gouldonrod] 之间，那里无路可走，只有被牛儿马儿踩出的小径。那 秋麒麟草 些茂盛的灌木丛常常拦住我们的去路，迫使我们绕很多 弯路。而等回到小屋的时候，我们总会满载而归：我们 怀里抱满月桂枝丫、秋麒麟草、蕨类植物以及只生长在 ⑥hickory[hikari]n.山核 南方的绚丽的沼泽花卉等。 桃木 有时候，我会和米尔德里德、我的小表妹们一起去 摘柿子。我不吃柿子，但是我喜欢闻它们的香味，更喜 ⑦whiz by一掠而过 欢在树叶间草地上寻找果实的感觉。我们有时还去采坚 果，我会帮她们剥掉栗子的刺皮，敲开核桃和山胡桃的 硬壳等。那些核桃真是又大又香！ 山脚下有一条铁路，孩子们会站在那里看着火车呼 啸而过。有时，吓人的口哨声会将我们引到站台上，米 尔德里德告诉我那是因为有头牛或者有匹马迷路了，正 在铁轨上游荡呢。离那里大约一英里之外，一座高架桥 横跨在深谷间。走过那座桥非常困难，因为蛱谷很宽、 桥梁极窄，走在上面就像是在刀刃上一样。我从来都没 有走过那座桥，直到有一天，我、米尔德里德和沙利文 小姐在森林里迷路后，转了好几个小时也没找到一条回 家的路。 突然，米尔德里德用小手指着前方惊叫起来：“那 儿有一座高架桥！”如果可以选择，我们绝不会走这条 路的，可是，当时天色渐黑，高架桥是一条尽快赶回家 的捷径。于是，我不得不用脚趾摸索着桥栏往前走。我 那时一点也不害怕，而且感觉那座桥对自己来说并不难 ·115· The Story of My Life came a faint "puff,puff"from the distance. "I see the train?"cried Mildred,and in another minute it would have been upon us had we not climbed down on the crossbraces while it rushed over our heads.I felt the hot breath from the engine on my face,and the smoke and ashes almost choked us.As the train rumbled by,the trestle shook and swayed until I thought we should be dashed to the chasm below.With the utmost difficulty we regained the track.Long after dark we reached home and found the cottage empty;the family were all out hunting for us. ·116· 我的生活 走。走着走着，突然从远方隐隐约约传来一阵“噗噗” 的喷气声。 “我看见火车了！”米尔德里德喊道。如果我们没 有及时爬到下面的桥桁上，那么一分钟后火车就会从我 们身上呼啸而过。当时，我感觉到火车头灼热的蒸汽喷 到了我的脸上，烟雾和灰尘也几乎令我们窒息。当火车 ①chasm[kazom]n.峡谷 从我们身边隆隆驶过时，高架桥也被震得晃动起来，我 想我们那时很可能会掉入下面的深谷中。费了九牛二虎 之力我们才又回到铁轨上。天黑很久后我们才走到家， 可是小屋里却空无一人，后来才知道全家人都出去找我 们了。 ·117·