It hadn't been a happy day, and Fanny felt a little sad, though she wouldn't own that the reason was because she had been idle, disobedient, and wilful2.
"Nobody cares for me or takes any pains to make me happy," grumbled3 Fanny. "Since mamma died, and papa went to England, I've been just as miserable4 as I could be. Cousin Mary is so sober and strict and fussy5, I don't have a bit of fun, but study, sew, walk, go to bed and get up, like the hateful little story-book girls, who never do wrong or get tired of going on as regularly as a clock. Oh, dear! if I had some friends and playmates, this big, quiet house wouldn't seem so dismal6."
Fanny laid her face on her arm and tried to cry but not having any thing to cry for, she couldn't squeeze out a single tear. Suddenly she heard a chime of delicate bells ringing sweetly in the room, and filling the air with perfume.
"Bless me, what's that?" and Fanny popped up her head to see. But every thing was still and in its place, and when she spoke7 the bells ceased.
So she lay down again, and presently heard a sweet little voice say sorrowfully,—
"What an ungrateful child Fanny is to say she has no friends, when the house is full of them, if she would only learn to see them! Her good cousin took her home, and tries to be a mother to her, though she is feeble and fond of quiet. It was very kind of her to have a noisy, spoilt child always about; for, though it worries her, she never complains, but tries to make Fanny a gentle, helpful, happy child."
The blue hyacinth standing8 in the window said this, and the lovely pink one answered warmly,—
"Yes, indeed! and I often wonder that Fanny doesn't see this, and try to return some of the patient care by affectionate little acts, and grateful words, and cheerful looks. Why, she might make this house perfectly9 charming, if she chose: it was too lonely and still before, but now a bright-faced, gentle little girl, with her merry ways, would delight us all.
"I bloom my best to please her, and send out my perfume to attract her, for I love her much, and want her to feel that I am her friend. But she takes no notice of me, she doesn't care for my love, she is blind to my beauty, and gives no answer to my sweet invitation, though she longs for playmates all the time."
With a soft sigh the flowers shook their delicate heads, and said no more. But before Fanny could speak, Goldy, the canary, gave a little skip on his perch10, and cried out, in a shrill11 chirp,—
"I quite agree with you, ladies: that child doesn't know how to enjoy her blessings12, or recognize her friends when she sees them. Here I sit day after day, telling her in all sorts of ways how glad I am she is come; how fond I am of her, and how much I want to talk with her. I get quite excited sometimes, and sing till my throat aches, trying to make her understand all this; but she won't, and all I get for my pains is a pettish13, 'Do stop screaming, you noisy bird,' and a cloth over the cage to keep me quiet. It's very hard;" and Goldy shook a little tear out of his round black eye. "I love the sun, and air, and blithe14 company so dearly, and she won't let me have any of them.
"She promised to take care of me, but she doesn't, and I go hungry, thirsty, and untidy, while she mopes and wishes she had something pleasant to do.
"To-day, now, I've had neither seed nor water; no sniff15 of fresh air, no fly about the room, not a bit of apple, not a kind word or look, but have sat in the dark, with the cover over my cage, because I tried to tell how glad I was to see the sun, in spite of my hunger and thirst, loneliness and homesickness. Ah, well! some day she may be kinder to me, and then I'll show her what a loving friend I can be."
And with a last peck at the husks that lay in the cage, a last sad look about his gloomy house, Goldy put his head under his wing and tried to forget his troubles in sleep.
Fanny was going to start up and feed and pet him, with remorseful16 tenderness, when a new voice sounded behind her, and she waited to listen.
It was the piano, and every thing it said went to a sort of tune17, because it couldn't help being musical at all times.
"When first she came to stay, little Fanny used to play and sing like any lark18, between the daylight and the dark, and our mistress loved it well. But now, I grieve to tell, she scarcely sings a note; no more the sweet songs float like spirits through the gloom, making gay the quiet room.
"I cannot tell how much her little fingers' touch ever thrills me with delight; how my keys, black and white, love to dance as she plays; how my pedal quick obeys, and bass19 and treble blend, to please our little friend.
"But now she sits apart, with discord20 in her heart, forgetting I am here with power to soothe21 and cheer; that she'd better sing than sigh, better laugh than cry, for hearts get out of tune, and should be mended soon.
"Little Fanny, sing again, like a bird in spite of rain. Fill the house with music gay, make a concert of each day; and when others play on you, answer sweetly, as I do."
"Why, it's talking poetry, I do believe!" cried Fanny, as the last words went echoing through the room and died away.
"How any one can be lonely with us for friends is hard to understand," said another voice from the bookcase. "Here we are, lots of us, rows of us, regiments22 of us; every sort of story book; here's fairy tales new and old; here's Robinson Crusoe and dear old Mother Goose, Mrs. Barbauld and Miss Edgeworth; here's German picture books and French fables23, English games and American notions, of every kind. Come and read us, come and read us, and never say again you have no friends, and nothing to do."
There was such a noise that no one heard Fanny laugh out, for each book was shouting its own title and making such a stir it sounded like a wind blowing dry leaves about.
"I don't wish to intrude24 myself, for I'm not literary, nor musical, nor botanical; but I am domestic, and have an eye for all useful things," said a needle, in a sharp tone, as it sat bolt upright in Fanny's topsy-turvy basket, on the table.
"I am woman's friend, and with my help she does a deal of good, whiles away many long hours, and finds a good deal of quiet happiness in my society. Little girls don't care much for me until they have doll children to sew for; even then some of them neglect and abuse me, and don't learn to use me nicely. I know a young lady who hasn't a rag to her back; and yet her mamma takes no pains to clothe her, though a charming blue dress, and white apron25, and nice little underclothes lie all ready cut out and basted26.
"I pity that poor doll so much that I'd gladly sew for her alone, if I could. I'm afraid I should be thought rude, if I suggested to the mamma to sew instead of fretting27, so I wouldn't say a word on any account; but I see more than people would believe, and judge accordingly."
After which pointed28 remarks, the needle actually winked29 at the thimble, and then sat stiffer than ever in the unfinished blue gown.
Fanny was so ashamed that she turned her face toward the fire, just in time to see a brilliant spark-spirit standing in a cave of glowing coals. Waving its tiny hand, the spirit said,—
"Years ago a little girl lived here, who made this the happiest home ever seen, by her gentle ways, her loving heart, her cheerful voice, and willing hands.
"Every one loved her, and she was always happy, for duty was pleasant. The world was bright, and she was never out of tune.
"She tended flowers in the window yonder, and grew as beautiful as they; she touched the old piano, and filled the house with music; she fed her little bird, and was as cheerful as he; she read and studied those books, growing wise and good and gay on the food they gave her; she sewed busily, clothing naked children as well as dolls, and many blessed her. She often lay where you lie now, not discontented and sad, but with a happy heart, a busy fancy, and the love of many friends to keep her always blithe.
"We loved her well, and we love you for her dear sake. If you would see her image, look up and try to imitate her."
Rather startled at the serious manner of the sprite, Fanny lifted her eyes, and there hung the picture of her mother, when a little girl. She had often seen it before, but it never had seemed so beautiful and dear as now, when, looking at it with full eyes, little Fanny said softly to herself,—
"O dear mamma, I will be like you, if I can: I'll find friends where you found them; I'll make home happy as you did. I'll try to be loved for your sake, and grow a useful, cheerful, good woman, like you."
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收听单词发音
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1
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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4
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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6
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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7
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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8
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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9
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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11
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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12
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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13
pettish
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| adj.易怒的，使性子的 | |
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14
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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15
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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16
remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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17
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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18
lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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19
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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20
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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21
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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22
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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23
fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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24
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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25
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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26
basted
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| v.打( baste的过去式和过去分词 )；粗缝；痛斥；（烤肉等时）往上抹[浇]油 | |
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27
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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28
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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29
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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