His friendship was worth a great deal to Joe Maxwell, for there was not a bird in the woods nor a tree that he did not know the name of and something of its peculiarities4, and he was familiar with every road and bypath in all the country around. He knew where the wild strawberries grew, and the chincapins and chestnuts5, and where the muscadines, or, as he called them, the “bullaces,” were ripest. The birds could not hide their nests from him, nor the wild creatures escape him. He had a tame buzzard that sometimes followed him about in his rambles6. He set traps for flying squirrels, and tamed them as soon as his hands touched them. He handled snakes fearlessly, and his feats7 with them were astounding8 to the town lad until Joe discovered that the serpents were not of the poisonous species. In handling highland9 moccasins and spreading adders10, Jim-Polk confined his feats to seizing them by their tails as they ran and snapping their heads off. Whenever he killed one in this way he always hung it on a bush or tree in order, as he said, to bring rain. When it failed to rain, his explanation was that as a snake never dies until sundown, no matter how early in the morning it may be killed, it had twisted and writhed11 until it fell from the limb or bush on which it was hung.
Jim-Polk had many gifts and acquirements that interested Joe Maxwell. Once when the two lads were walking through the woods they saw a pair of hawks12 some distance away. Jim-Polk motioned to Joe to hide under a hawthorn14 bush. Then, doubling his handkerchief before his mouth, he began to make a curious noise—a series of smothered15 exclamations16 that sounded like hoo!—hoo!—hoo-hoo! He was imitating the cry of the swamp owl2, which Joe Maxwell had never heard. The imitation must have been perfect, for immediately there was a great commotion17 in the woods. The smaller birds fluttered away and disappeared; but the two hawks, re-enforced by a third, came flying toward the noise with their feathers ruffled18 and screaming with indignation. They meant war. Jim-Polk continued his muffled19 cries, until presently the boys heard a crow cawing in the distance.
“Now you’ll see fun,” said young Gaither. “Just keep right still.”
The crow was flying high in the air, and would have gone over but the muffled cry of the owl—hoo! hoo! hoo! hoo!—caught its ear and it paused in its flight, alighting in the top of a tall pine. Swinging in this airy outlook, it sent forth20 its hoarse21 signals, and in a few minutes the pine was black with its companions, all making a tremendous outcry. Some of them dropped down into the tops of the scrub-oaks. They could not find the owl, but they caught sight of the hawks, and sounded their war-cry. Such cawing, screaming, fluttering, and fighting Joe Maxwell had never seen before. The hawks escaped from the crows, but they left many of their feathers on the battle-field. One of the hawks did not wholly escape, for in his fright he flew out of the woods into the open, and there he was pounced22 on by a kingbird, which Jim-Polk called a bee martin. This little bird, not larger than his cousin, the catbird, lit on the hawk13’s back and stayed there as long as they remained in sight. The commotion set up by the crows had attracted the attention of all the birds, except the smallest, and they flew about in the trees, uttering notes of anger or alarm, all trying to find the owl.
The incident was very interesting to Joe Maxwell. He discovered that the owl is the winged Ishmael of the woods, the most hated and most feared of all the birds. A few days afterward24 he went with Harbert to see the hogs25 fed, and he told the negro how all the birds seemed to hate the owl.
“Lord! yes, sah!” said Harbert, who seemed to know all about the matter. “Ain’t you never is hear tell er de tale ’bout de owl an’ de yuther birds? Ole man Remus tole it ter me dis many a year ago, an’ sence den23 I bin26 hear talk about it mo’ times dan what I got fingers an’ toes.”
Of course, Joe wanted to hear—
THE STORY OF THE OWL.
“Well, suh,” said Harbert, “hit run sorter like dis: One time way back yander, fo’ ole man Remus wuz born’d, I speck27, all de birds wuz in cahoots; dem what fly in de air, an’ dem what walk on de groun’, an’ dem what swim on de water—all un um. Dey all live in one settlement, an’ whatsomever dey mought pick up endurin’ er de day, dey’d fetch it ter der place wharbouts dey live at, an’ put it wid de rest what de yuther ones bin a-ketchin’ an’ a-fetchin’.
“Dey kep’ on dis away, twel, twant long fo’ dey done save up a right smart pile er fust one thing an’ den anudder. De pile got so big dat dey ’gun ter git skeered dat some un ud come ’long whilst dey wus away an’ he’p derse’f. Bimeby some er de mo’ ’spicious ’mong um up an’ say dat somebody bin stealin’ fum de provision what dey savin’ up ginst hard times. Mr. Jaybird, he coyspon’ wid Mr. Crow, an’ Mr. Crow he coyspon’ wid Miss Chicken Hawk, and Miss Chicken Hawk she coyspon’ wid Mr. Eagle, which he was de big buckra er all de birds. An’ den dey all coyspon’ wid one anudder, an’ dey ’low dat dey bleeze ter lef’ somebody dar fer ter watch der winter wittles whiles dey er off a-huntin’ up mo’. Dey jowered an’ jowered a long time, twel, bimeby, Mr. Eagle, he up an’ say dat de bes’ dey kin3 do is to ’pint Mr. Owl fer ter keep watch. Mr. Owl he sorter hoot28 at dis, but ’tain’t do no good, kaze de yuthers, dey say dat all Mr. Owl got ter do is ter sleep mo’ endurin’ er de night an’ stay ’wake endurin’ er de day.
“So, den,” Harbert went on, pausing as if trying to remember the thread of the story, “dey ’pinted Mr. Owl fer ter keep watch, an’ dey all flewd off, some one way an’ some anudder. Mr. Owl, he tuck his seat, he did, whar he kin take in a right smart stretch er country wid his big eyeball, an’ he sot dar right peart. But bimeby he’gun ter git lonesome. Dey want nobody ter talk ter, an’ de sun shine so bright dat he bleeze ter shet his eye, an’ ’fo’ he know what he doin’ he wuz a settin’ dar noddin’ same ez a nigger by a hick’ry fire. Every once in a while he’d ketch hissef an’ try ter keep ’wake, but, do what he would, he can’t keep his eye open, an’ bimeby he snap his mouf like he mad an’ den he slapped his head under his wing an’ dropped off ter sleep good fashion. Kaze when a bird git his head under his wing hit’s des de same ez gwine ter bed an’ pullin’ de kiver ’roun’ yo’ years.
“Well, suh, dar he wuz, settin’ up fast asleep. ’Long in de co’se er de day, Mr. Crow an’ Mr. Jaybird, dey struck up wid one annuder out in de woods, an’ dey sot down in a popular-tree fer to carry on a confab. Dey done bin coy-spon’ wid one anudder an’ dey bofe bin pullin’ up corn. Mr. Crow’low ter Mr. Jaybird dat he ain’t so mighty29 certain an’ shore ’bout Mr. Owl, kaze he mighty sleepy-headed. Wid dat, Mr. Jaybird, he up an’ say dat he got dat ve’y idee in his min’. Dey sot dar an’ swop talk’bout Mr. Owl, twel, atter while, dey’gree ter go back fer de settlement an’ see what Mr. Owl doin’.
“Well, suh, dey went dar, an’ dar dey foun’ ’im. Yasser! Mr. Owl sholy wuz dar. He wuz settin’ up on a lim’ wid his head flung under his wing, an’ ’twuz all dey kin do fer ter wake ’im up. Dey hollered at ’im des loud ez dey kin, an’ bimeby he woke up an’ tuck his head out from under his wing an’ look at um des ez solium ez a camp-meetin’ preacher. Dey ’buze ’im—dey quoiled—dey call ’im out’n his name—dey jowered at ’im—but tain’t do no good. He des sot dar, he did, an’ look at um, an’ he ain’t say nuthin’ ’tall. Dis make Mr. Crow an’ Mr. Jaybird mighty mad, kaze when folks quoil an’ can’t git nobody for ter quoil back at um, it make um wusser mad dan what dey wuz at fust. Dat night when de yuther birds come home, Mr. Crow an’ Mr. Jaybird, dey had a mighty tale ter tell. Some b’lieved um an’ some didn’t b’lieve um. Miss Jenny Wren30, an’ Mr. Jack31 Sparrow, an’ Miss Cat Bird, dey b’lieved um, an’ dey went on so twel de yuther birds can’t hear der own years, skacely. But de big birds, dey sorter helt off, an’ say dey gwine ter give Mr. Owl anudder chance.
“Well, suh, dey give Mr. Owl two mo’ trials, let alone one, an’ eve’y time dey lef ’im dar fer ter watch an’ gyard, dey’d fin’ ’m fast asleep. An’ dat ain’t all; dey skivered dat somebody done bin slippin’ in an’ totin’ off der provisions.
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“Dat settle de hash fer Mr. Owl. De birds sot a day an’ fotch Mr. Owl up fer ter stan’ trial, an’ dey laid down de law dat fum dat time forrud dat Mr. Owl shan’t go wid de yuther birds, an’ dat de nex’ time dey kotch ’im out de word wuz ter be give, an’ dey wuz all ter fall foul32 un ’im an’ frail’m out. Den dey say dat when he sleep he got ter sleep wid bofe eyes wide open, a’n dey lay it down dat he got ter keep watch all night long, an’ dat whensomever he hear any fuss he got ter holler out:
“’Who—who—who pesterin’ we all?’
“Dat de way de law stan’s,” continued Har-bert, placing his basket of corn on the top rail of the fence, “an dat de way it gwine ter stan’. Down ter dis day, when Mr. Owl asleep, he sleep wid his eye wide open, an’ when de yuther birds ketch him out, dey light on to ’im like folks puttin’ out fire, an’ when he ups an’ hollers in de night-time, you kin hear ’im say:
“‘Who—who—who pesterin’ we all?’”
With a laugh, in which Joe Maxwell heartily33 joined, Harbert turned his attention to calling his hogs, and the way he did this was as interesting to Joe as the story had been. He had a voice of wonderful strength and power, as penetrating34 and as melodious35 as the notes of a cornet. On a still day, when there was a little moisture in the air, Harbert could make himself heard two miles. The range over which the hogs roamed was at least a mile and a half from the pen. In calling them the negro broke into a song. It was only the refrain that the distant hogs could hear, but as it went echoing over the hills and valleys it seemed to Joe to be the very essence of melody. The song was something like this:
HOG-FEEDER S SONG.
Oh, rise up, my ladies, lissen unter me,
Gwoop! Gwoop! Gee-woop! Goo-whee!
I’m a-gwine dis night fer ter knock along er you.
Gwoop! Gwoop! Gee-woop! Goo-whoo!
Pig-goo! Pig-gee! Gee-o-whee!
Oh, de stars look bright des like dey gwineter fall,
En’way todes sundown you hear de killdee call:
Stee-wee! Killdee! Pig-goo! Pig-gee!
Pig! Pig! Pig-goo! Pig! Pig! Pig-gee!
En he hump up he back, des like niggers do—
Oh, humpty-umpty blue! Pig-gee! Pig-goo!
Pig! Pig! Pig-gee! Pig! Pig! Pig-goo!
Oh, rise up, my ladies! Lissen unter me!
Gwoop! Gwoopee! Gee-woop! Goo-whee!
I’m a-gwine dis night a gallantin’ out wid you!
Gwoop! Gwoopee! Gee-woop! Goo-hoo!
Pig-goo! Pig-gee! Gee-o-whee!
Ole sow got sense des ez sho’s youer bo’n
Ma’am, you makes too free! Pig-goo! Pig-gee!
Pig! Pig! Pig-goo! Pig! Pig! Pig-gee!
W’en de pig git fat he better stay close,
‘Kaze fat pig nice fer ter hide out en’ roas’—
En he taste mighty good in de barbecue!
Oh, roas’ pig, shoo! ‘N-yum! dat barbecue!
Pig! Pig! Pig-gee! Pig! Pig! Pig-goo!
Oh, rise up, my ladies! Lissen unter me:
Gwoop! Gwoopee! Gee-woop! Goo-whee!
I’m a-gwine dis night fer ter knock aroun’ wid you!
Gwoop! Gwoopee! Gee-woop! Goo-whoo!
Pig-goo! Pig-gee! Gee-o-whee!
“Marse Joe,” said Harbert, after he had counted the hogs to see that none were missing, “I got sumpin’ at my house fer you. I’m layin’ off fer ter fetch it dis ve’y night.”
“What is it?” asked Joe.
“Tain’t much,” said Harbert. “Des some ’simmon beer an’ some ginger-cake.”
“I’m very much obliged to you,” said Joe.
“Oh, ’tain’t me,” said Harbert, quickly. “I was puttin’ up de carriage-horses las’ night when I hear somebody callin’ me, an’ I went ter de fence, an’ dar wuz a nigger’oman wid a jug38 in one han’ an’ a bundle in de udder, an’ she say dar wuz some ’simmon beer an’ some ginger-cakes, an’ she up an’ ax me would I be so compleasant fer to give um ter Marse Joe Maxwell, an’ I ’lowed dat I’d be so compleasant.”
“Who was the woman?” Joe asked.
“She some kin ter Mink,” answered Harbert, evasively.
“Well, what kin?” asked Joe.
“She ain’t so mighty much kin, needer,” said Harbert. “She des his wife. She ’low dat ef you got any washin’ er darnin’ dat you want done she be glad ter do it, an’ den I say, ‘Shoo nigger ’oman! G’way fum here! What you speck my wife here fer?’”
Here Harbert tried to look indignant, but failed. Presently he continued: “Dat are ’simmon beer got sign in it.”
“What sign is that?” asked Joe.
“Well, suh, when ’simmonses is ripe hit’s a shore sign dat ’possum ready ter eat, an’ tain’t gwine ter be long ’fo’ you hear me a-hollerin’ ’roun’ thoo de woods, mo’ speshually if I kin git holt er dem dogs what dat Gaither boy got. When it come ter ’possum an’ coon dey er de outdoin’est dogs you ever is lay yo’ eyes on.”
“I can get the dogs any time,” said Joe.
“Well, suh,” said Harbert with enthusiasm, “atter to-night you can’t git um too soon.”
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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2
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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3
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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4
peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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5
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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6
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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7
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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8
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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9
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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10
adders
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| n.加法器，（欧洲产）蝰蛇（小毒蛇），（北美产无毒的）猪鼻蛇( adder的名词复数 ) | |
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11
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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13
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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14
hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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15
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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16
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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17
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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18
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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19
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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20
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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21
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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22
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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23
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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24
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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25
hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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26
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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27
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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28
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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29
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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30
wren
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| n.鹪鹩；英国皇家海军女子服务队成员 | |
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31
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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32
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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33
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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34
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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35
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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36
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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37
hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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38
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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