The flag at Fort Enterprise, which had not flaunted2 its red field from the flagstaff since the sad day—that day twelve months exactly—when the children were lost, once more waved gaily3 in the frosty air, and glowed in the beams of the wintry sun. The sound of joyful4 revelry, which had not been heard within the walls of the Fort for a long, long year, once again burst forth5 with such energy that one might have been led to suppose its being pent up so long had intensified6 its power.
The huge fireplace roared, and blazed, and crackled, with a log so massive that no other Yule log in the known world could have held a candle to it; and in, on, and around that fire were pots, pans, and goblets7 innumerable, all of which hissed8, and spluttered, and steamed at Larry O’Dowd, as if with glee at the sight of his honest face once again presiding over his own peculiar9 domain10. And the parlour of Fort Enterprise—that parlour which we have mentioned as being Robin11’s dining-room and drawing-room, besides being his bedroom and his kitchen—was converted into a leafy bower12 by means of pine branches and festooned evergreens13, and laid out for a feast the like of which had not been seen there for many a day, and which was transcendently more magnificent than that memorable14 New Year’s day dinner which had been cooked, but not eaten, just three hundred and sixty-five days before.
In short, everything in and about Fort Enterprise bore evidence that its inmates15 meant to rejoice and make merry on that first day of a new year, as it was meet they should do under such favourable16 circumstances.
Jeff Gore17 had shot a deer not many days before, and one of its fat haunches was to be the great dish of the feast; but Robin said that it was not enough: so, after the first congratulations were over, he and Walter, and Slugs, and Black Swan, set off into the forest, and ere long returned with several brace18 of grouse19, and a few rabbits. Roy, with a very sly look, had asked leave to go and have a walk on snow-shoes in the woods with Nelly before dinner, but his father threatened to lock him up in the cellar, so he consented to remain at home for that day and assist his mother.
“Now, Nelly, you and Roy will come help me to prepare the feast,” said Mrs Gore, whose eyes were swollen20 with joyful weeping till they looked like a couple of inflamed21 oysters22; “not that there’s much to do, for, now that Larry is come back, we’ll leave everything to him except the pl–plum—poo—poo—ding—oh! my darling!”
Here Mrs Gore broke down for the fifteenth time, and, catching23 Nelly to her bosom24, hugged her.
“Darling mother!” sighed Nelly.
“Och! but it’s a sight good for sore eyes, anyhow,” exclaimed Larry, looking up from his occupation among the steaming pots and pans.
Wapaw, who was the only other member of the party who chose to remain in the house during the forenoon of that day, sat smoking his pipe in the chimney corner, and regarded the whole scene with that look of stoical solemnity which is peculiar to North American Indians.
“Come, I say, this’ll never do, mother,” cried Roy, going to the flour-barrel which stood in a corner. “If we’re to help you wi’ that ’ere poodin’, let’s have at it at once.”
Thus admonished25, Mrs Gore and her recovered progeny26 set to work and fabricated a plum-pudding, which was nearly as hard, almost as heavy as, and much larger than a sixty-four pound cannon27 ball. It would have killed with indigestion half a regiment28 of artillery29, but it could not affect the hardened frames of these men of the backwoods!
In course of time the board was spread, the viands30 smoked upon it, and the united party set to work. Mrs Gore sat at the head of the table, with Nelly on one side and Roy on the other. Robin sat at the foot, supported by the White Swan on his right, and Wapaw on his left. Ranged between these were Walter, Slugs, the Black Swan, Jeff Gore, Obadiah Stiff, the two other strangers who came with Jeff, and Larry O’Dowd—for Larry acted the part of cook only, and did not pretend to “wait.” After he had placed the viands on the table, he sat down with the rest. These backwoodsmen ignored waiters. They passed their plates from hand to hand, and when anything was wanted by any one he rose to fetch it himself.
After the plates were cleared away, the tea-kettle was put on the table. In some parts of the backwoods spirits are (fortunately) so difficult to procure31, that hunters and trappers live for many months without tasting a drop, and get into the habit of doing entirely32 without intoxicating33 drink of any kind. Robin had no spirits except animal spirits, but he had plenty of tea. When it was poured out into huge cups, which might have been styled small slop-basins, and sweetened and passed round, Robin applied34 his knuckles35 to the table to command silence.
“Friends,” said he, “I niver wos much o’ a speechifier, but I could always manage to blurt36 out my meanin’ somehow. Wot I’ve got to say to you this day is, I’m thankful to the Almighty37 for givin’ me back my childer, an’ I’m right glad to see ye all under my roof this Noo Year’s day, and so’s the wife, I know—ain’t ye, Molly, my dear?”
To this appeal Mrs G replied with a hysterical38 ye-es, and an application of her apron39 to the inflamed oysters. Robin continued—
“Well, I’m sorry there ain’t nothin’ stronger in the fort to give ’ee than tea, but for my part I find it strong enough to keep up my spirits, an’ yer all heartily40 welcome to swig buckets-full o’ that. There is an old fiddle41 in the store. If any o’ ye can scrape a tune42, we’ll have a dance. If not, why we’ll sing and be jolly.”
This speech was followed up by another from Obadiah Stiff, who, with a countenance43 of the deepest solemnity, requested permission to make a few brief observations.
“Friends,” said he, turning the quid of tobacco which usually graced his right cheek into his left, “it’s not every day a man’s got a chance o’—o’ wot I was a-goin’ to obsarve is, that men who are so much indebted to their much-respected host as—as (Nelly happened to sneeze at this point, and distracted Stiff’s attention) as—yes, I guess we ha’nt often got the chance to chase the redskins, and—and—. In short, without makin’ an onnecessairy phrase about it—I’m happy to say that I can play the fiddle, so here’s luck.”
Mr Stiff sat down abruptly44 and drained his cup at a draught45.
“Pr’aps,” said Larry, with a twinkle in his eye, “Mister Stiff would favour the company wi’ a song before we commence to cut capers46.”
“Hear, hear!” from Walter.
“Hurrah!” from Roy.
Mr Stiff cleared his throat and began at once. The tune was so dolorous47, and the voice so unmusical, that in any other circumstances it would have been intolerable, but there were lines in it touching48 upon “good fellowship,” which partially49 redeemed50 it, and in the last verse there was reference made to “home,” and “absent friends,” which rendered it a complete success, insomuch that it was concluded amid rapturous cheering, so true is it, as Walter observed, that, “one touch of nature covers a multitude of sins!”
“Let’s drink to absent friends an’ owld Ireland,” cried Larry, filling his cup and pushing the kettle round.
This was drunk with enthusiasm and was followed by a succession of toasts and songs, which were drunk and sung not at the table, but round the fire, to which the party withdrew in order to enjoy their pipes more thoroughly51. Then followed a number of anecdotes52 of stories—some true, some doubtful, and some fabricated—which were listened to with deep interest, not only by Roy and Nelly, but by the whole party, including the Indians, who listened intently, with faces like owls53, although they did not understand a word that was said.
Many of these stories were so touching that poor Mrs Gore’s eyes became more inflamed and more oyster-like than ever. Nelly, too, became sympathetic, and her eyes were similarly affected54.
When the evening was pretty well advanced, the violin was sent for and tuned55, and Stiff turned out to be a very fair player of Scotch56 reels; so the party laid aside their pipes, cleared the floor, and began to dance.
It was rough but hearty57 dancing. Each dancer composed his own steps on the spur of the moment, but executed them with a degree of precision and violence that would have caused civilised dancing masters to blush with shame and envy. Mrs Gore and Nelly danced too, weeping the while with joy, and so did the White Swan, but her performances were peculiar. She danced with a slowness of manner and a rigidity58 of person that are utterly59 indescribable. She looked as if all her joints60 had become inflexible61, except those of her knees, and her arms hung straight down at her sides, while she pendulated about the floor and gazed at the rafters in deep solemnity.
How they did keep it up, to be sure! Men of the backwoods find it no easy matter to fatigue62 their muscles or exhaust their spirits, so they danced all night, and a considerable portion of next morning too. Long before they gave in, however, the females were obliged to retire. They lay down on their rude couches without taking the trouble to undress, and in a few moments after were sound asleep—Nelly locked in her mother’s arms, with their two cheeks touching, their dishevelled hair mingling63, and a few tears welling from their inflamed eyes, and mixing as they flowed slowly down their united noses. Sleeping thus, the mother dreamed of home, and Nelly dreamed of Silver Lake.
Reader, our tale is told. We have not space to tell of what befell Robin Gore and his family in after life, but we may remark, in conclusion, that although Robin stoutly64 refused to go back to civilisation65, in the course of a few years civilisation considerately advanced to him, and the wild region, which was once a dense66 forest around Fort Enterprise, finally became (to Mrs Gore’s inexpressible joy) a flourishing settlement, in which were heard the sounds of human industry, and the tinkle67 of the Sabbath bell.
The End
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
hymn
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
flaunted
|
|
| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
intensified
|
|
| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
goblets
|
|
| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
domain
|
|
| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
robin
|
|
| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
bower
|
|
| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
evergreens
|
|
| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
memorable
|
|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
inmates
|
|
| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
favourable
|
|
| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
gore
|
|
| n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
brace
|
|
| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
grouse
|
|
| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
inflamed
|
|
| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
oysters
|
|
| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
admonished
|
|
| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
progeny
|
|
| n.后代，子孙；结果 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
artillery
|
|
| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
viands
|
|
| n.食品，食物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
intoxicating
|
|
| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
knuckles
|
|
| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
blurt
|
|
| vt.突然说出，脱口说出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
hysterical
|
|
| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
fiddle
|
|
| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
capers
|
|
| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dolorous
|
|
| adj.悲伤的；忧愁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
redeemed
|
|
| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
anecdotes
|
|
| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
owls
|
|
| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
tuned
|
|
| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
scotch
|
|
| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
rigidity
|
|
| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
joints
|
|
| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
inflexible
|
|
| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
mingling
|
|
| adj.混合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
stoutly
|
|
| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
civilisation
|
|
| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
tinkle
|
|
| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |