It would be foolish, however, to detail all the minor5 adventures through which he passed—foolish and tiresome6 to the reader. Still, it must not be taken for[34] granted that all Will’s troubles rose from blunders, as many of them rose from such mishaps7 as might happen to any boy.
In order to make the incidents related in this story perfectly8 intelligible9, it will be necessary to give a rambling10 description of the neighborhood in which they took place.
Mr. Lawrence’s farm was a short distance out of a busy and flourishing village, built on one of the great lakes of America. His home, as well as a few cottages belonging to him, was within the limits of this village. His farm was highly cultivated and full stocked, and a railway ran through it and then on through the village. To these natural advantages add that Mr. Lawrence was an intelligent man and practical farmer, knowing how to improve his opportunities, and it will be seen that he was well situated11.
As for the village itself, it contained the ordinary number of inhabitants and hotels. Here lived “the most skilful12 dentist in the state;” but so modest was he that what was formerly13 a barrister’s office (this will define the size of the apartment) served him admirably for a “dentistry;” while an upper room in the same building, “artistically fitted up,” served him for a “photographic gallery.” Here lived “the most expert ball-player out of New York.” But his business was not to play ball;—rather, he did not follow it as a profession;—he kept a “Yankee notions store,” with a hanging aquarium14 in the window, and brewed15 soda-water and ice-cream. In this gentleman’s “salon” many a rustic16 indulged with his first dish of ice cream, eating it at the rate of two exceedingly small spoonfuls a minute. His actions and the expression of his countenance17 declared that it was monotonous18, cold, and doubtful enjoyment19; but the village papers, the expert ball-player, and public opinion, told him that it is an extraordinary delicacy20, and he tried hard to believe so. The rustic would sometimes bring along his sweetheart. Then he ate his ice cream still more slowly; but probably it tasted better. Two newspapers (so-called) were printed here, and the villagers could tell you that[35] each one had been the pecuniary21 ruin of six or seven editors. These ex-editors still lived in the neighborhood,—some as bookkeepers, others as insurance agents,—a warning to all right-minded men to soar higher (or lower) than the editorship of a village newspaper. But no one heeded22 the warning, and no sooner did an editor become insolvent23 or entangled24 in a libel suit than somebody else was ready to “assume the arduous25 duty of conducting the publication.” So long as the new editor had means, excelled in bombast26 and calumny27, was sound in his political creed28 and could make vigorous attacks on his “contemporary,” who supported the doctrines30 of the other party, all went well for a time; but sooner or later the end came and then one more ex-editor was thrown upon the people of the village.
The principal buildings were the bank, the churches, the town-hall, the livery stable, the fulling-mill, the chair-factory, the fork-factory, the Columbia foundry, the hotels, and several private residences. The village had also its harbor, where vessels31 plying32 their trade on the lakes might worry through the roughest gale33 that the most talented writer of nautical34 romances ever conjured35 up.
But there was nothing remarkable36 respecting either its site, its size, the regularity37 or magnificence of its buildings, its commercial importance, or its antiquity38. Further, it was not known to history.
A very large stream, or small river, flowed through the village, emptying into the lake. (To be still more accurate: the people of this particular village customarily called it “the river;” while the base and envious39 inhabitants of the neighboring villages—through which flowed no such stream—took special pains to call it “a creek40.”) Several mills of different kinds bordered this river, adding to the credit and vigor29 of the place. About three miles up from its mouth there was a large and natural waterfall, a favorite resort of the villagers and country people. The current above these falls was not very swift, but it would be perilous41 indeed to be swept over them. Shrubs42, and at intervals43, trees; gay little boat-houses,[36] where the ground sloped gradually to the water’s edge; in the background commodious44, ornamental45, and pretentious46 dwelling47 houses, habitations, or villas;—such dotted the right bank of the river above the falls, presenting a fine appearance from the left bank.
This stream affording good fishing, sportsmen often came to it from a distance. But they generally lost more in cuticle48, clothing, and valuables, than they gained in fish, sport, or glory; and it was remarked that they never returned after the third time.
There were many considerations why the water below the falls was not the principal play-ground of the juveniles49. Being within the village, swimming was out of the question; on account of sundry50 sunken logs and other obstructions51, they could not paddle about secure and tranquil52 on the crazy old rafts and scows; and lastly, almost the whole stretch of water below the falls lay open to the mothers’ watchful53 eyes, and the boys did not feel inclined to jeopard their lives within sight of those mothers. To some fastidious youths the water, perhaps, was too dirty, or “roily.”
Above the falls, however, all was different. On the upper part of the river no one ever molested54 the youngsters, unless they did something atrocious; here they might swim and paddle up and down the river as much as they pleased; for, in general, the banks were high, and bushes, rank grass and reeds and other screens intervened, shutting them off from outsiders.
The river was wide and deep at the falls, but above them it grew narrow and shallow little by little. Five miles up it was a mere4 brook55. Throughout this long stretch the water was so clear that the most fastidious did not hesitate even to drink it; and there were secluded56 places that as swimming-places could not be equalled. At the falls the water was so deep as easily to float over any log or brush-wood that might come into the river from its banks, its source, or other streams.
One particular spot—a clump57 of evergreens58, where forget-me-nots sprang up in all their beauty, and where Nature was seen at her best—was held sacred to lovers.[37] But there were many parts of the river to which the boys stoutly59 maintained their claim and of which no one was so hard-hearted as to dispossess them. And oh! crowning joy! there was an island in the river!
At this the reader may think that we are trifling60 with his feelings; imposing61 on his credulity;—he may even refuse to believe in the existence of so extraordinary a river. Never mind. But if the reader wishes to enjoy these pages he will refuse to listen to the dictates62 of reason, and look on this story as an orthodox romance.
In winter there was another attraction, that of skating, the danger of which was a continual source of uneasiness to parents whose youth, agility63, and frolicsomeness64 had long before given place to gray hairs, clumsiness, and sober-mindedness.
As the proprietors65 of the land along the river were generous-hearted men, the river was free to all people, and was an actual paradise for boys and picnickers.
Although further remarks might be made about this river, it is not necessary to make them here. It is sufficient to add that as the reader proceeds, he will observe how admirably this river is adapted to the exigencies66 of the story.
This was the state of affairs in Will’s boyhood. But, alas67! all has changed since that time. A foreign aristocrat68 has bought up all the land along the river, which he has fenced in, stocked with fish and beautified—perhaps, disfigured—with sundry little wharfs70, capes71, bays, stretches of “pebbly beach,” and floating islands. In conspicuous72 places notices may be seen, beginning with “No Trespassing” and winding73 up with the amount of the fine imposed on all persons “caught lurking74 within the limits.” Consequently, the urchins75 of to-day, despoiled76 of this haunt, have to content themselves with damaging the notices and slinging77 stones at the swans that sail gracefully78 up and down the river.
There were also smaller streams in the neighborhood, one being in Mr. Lawrence’s farm.
To the left of the village stood an extensive grove79, swarming80 with squirrels, birds, insects, and, of course,[38] mosquitoes. In this grove the heroes of this story whiled away many a happy hour; and when not on the river they might generally be found here.
The lake also was a favorite resort, and on its broad surface they sailed or rowed hither and thither81; always getting wet, often narrowly escaping death. Sometimes their joyous82 hearts were elated with a ride on a tug83; but when hard pressed they made almost anything serve them for a boat. As naturally as a duck takes to water, Will and his associates took to making little ships, which excited the admiration84 of all beholders—sometimes on account of their beauty, but generally on account of their liability to float stern foremost, with the masts at an angle of twenty degrees.
Then there was the school-house,—a fanciful, yet imposing edifice85, the grained and polished jambs of whose mullioned windows had suffered from the ravages86 rather of jack-knives than of time,—built in a retired87 quarter of the village, and to the boys’ entire satisfaction, quite close to the river.
If Will wished to go to the wharf69 he could walk thither in less than half-an-hour; to the depot88 in ten minutes; to the school,—well, in from twenty to forty minutes. To Mrs. Lawrence’s delight, it was nearly two miles from their house to the falls. She had not the heart to forbid Will’s going thither, but she fondly hoped that the distance would not permit him to go very often; for, according to her view of the matter, water and danger are synonymous.
But what are two miles to a boy, when a waterfall, a limpid89 and gleaming river, boats, crazy rafts, plenty of fish, and other boys, are the attractions? In fact, the time was never known, not even to that venerable personage, “the oldest inhabitant,” in which a boy might not be seen about those falls.
It is not strange that the youth of this village were happy, when Nature had done so much for them.
点击收听单词发音
1 agile | |
adj.敏捷的,灵活的 | |
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2 robust | |
adj.强壮的,强健的,粗野的,需要体力的,浓的 | |
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3 outgrown | |
长[发展] 得超过(某物)的范围( outgrow的过去分词 ); 长[发展]得不能再要(某物); 长得比…快; 生长速度超过 | |
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4 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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5 minor | |
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 | |
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6 tiresome | |
adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的 | |
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7 mishaps | |
n.轻微的事故,小的意外( mishap的名词复数 ) | |
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8 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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9 intelligible | |
adj.可理解的,明白易懂的,清楚的 | |
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10 rambling | |
adj.[建]凌乱的,杂乱的 | |
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11 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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12 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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13 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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14 aquarium | |
n.水族馆,养鱼池,玻璃缸 | |
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15 brewed | |
调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 ); 酝酿; 沏(茶); 煮(咖啡) | |
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16 rustic | |
adj.乡村的,有乡村特色的;n.乡下人,乡巴佬 | |
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17 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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18 monotonous | |
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的 | |
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19 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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20 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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21 pecuniary | |
adj.金钱的;金钱上的 | |
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22 heeded | |
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 );变平,使(某物)变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23 insolvent | |
adj.破产的,无偿还能力的 | |
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24 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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26 bombast | |
n.高调,夸大之辞 | |
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27 calumny | |
n.诽谤,污蔑,中伤 | |
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28 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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29 vigor | |
n.活力,精力,元气 | |
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30 doctrines | |
n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明 | |
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31 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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32 plying | |
v.使用(工具)( ply的现在分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意 | |
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33 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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34 nautical | |
adj.海上的,航海的,船员的 | |
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35 conjured | |
用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 ); 祈求,恳求; 变戏法; (变魔术般地) 使…出现 | |
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36 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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37 regularity | |
n.规律性,规则性;匀称,整齐 | |
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38 antiquity | |
n.古老;高龄;古物,古迹 | |
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39 envious | |
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的 | |
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40 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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41 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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42 shrubs | |
灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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43 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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44 commodious | |
adj.宽敞的;使用方便的 | |
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45 ornamental | |
adj.装饰的;作装饰用的;n.装饰品;观赏植物 | |
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46 pretentious | |
adj.自命不凡的,自负的,炫耀的 | |
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47 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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48 cuticle | |
n.表皮 | |
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49 juveniles | |
n.青少年( juvenile的名词复数 );扮演少年角色的演员;未成年人 | |
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50 sundry | |
adj.各式各样的,种种的 | |
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51 obstructions | |
n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 );阻碍物;阻碍;阻挠 | |
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52 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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53 watchful | |
adj.注意的,警惕的 | |
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54 molested | |
v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 );干扰;调戏;猥亵 | |
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55 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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56 secluded | |
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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57 clump | |
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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58 evergreens | |
n.常青树,常绿植物,万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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59 stoutly | |
adv.牢固地,粗壮的 | |
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60 trifling | |
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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61 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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62 dictates | |
n.命令,规定,要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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63 agility | |
n.敏捷,活泼 | |
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64 frolicsomeness | |
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65 proprietors | |
n.所有人,业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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66 exigencies | |
n.急切需要 | |
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67 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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68 aristocrat | |
n.贵族,有贵族气派的人,上层人物 | |
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69 wharf | |
n.码头,停泊处 | |
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70 wharfs | |
码头,停泊处 | |
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71 capes | |
碎谷; 斗篷( cape的名词复数 ); 披肩; 海角; 岬 | |
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72 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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73 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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74 lurking | |
潜在 | |
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75 urchins | |
n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 );淘气鬼;猬;海胆 | |
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76 despoiled | |
v.掠夺,抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77 slinging | |
抛( sling的现在分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 | |
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78 gracefully | |
ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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79 grove | |
n.林子,小树林,园林 | |
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80 swarming | |
密集( swarm的现在分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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81 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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82 joyous | |
adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的 | |
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83 tug | |
v.用力拖(或拉);苦干;n.拖;苦干;拖船 | |
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84 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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85 edifice | |
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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86 ravages | |
劫掠后的残迹,破坏的结果,毁坏后的残迹 | |
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87 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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88 depot | |
n.仓库,储藏处;公共汽车站;火车站 | |
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89 limpid | |
adj.清澈的,透明的 | |
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