"What can't be cured must be endured."
Old Proverb.
It was the wish to see Little Miss once more that led my wings past her nursery window; besides, I had a curiosity to look at the clock.
It is an eight-day clock, in a handsome case, and would, undoubtedly1, have been a becoming perch2 for a bird of my dignified3 appearance, but I will not describe it to-day. Nor will I speak of my meditations4 as I sit in my Ivy5 Bush like any other common owl6, and reflect that if I had not had my own way, but had listened to Little Miss, I might have sat on an Eight-day Clock, and been godfather to the children. It is not seemly for an owl to doubt his own wisdom, but as I have taken upon me, for the sake of Little Miss, to be a child's counsellor, I will just observe, in passing, that though it is very satisfactory at the time to get your own way, you may live to wish that you had taken other folk's advice instead.
The eight-day clock
From that nursery I have taken flight to others. I sail by the windows, and throw a searching eye through these bars which are, I believe, placed there to keep top-heavy babies from tumbling out. Sometimes I peer down the chimney. From the nook of a wall or the hollow of a tree, I overlook the children's gardens and playgrounds. I have an eye to several schools, and I fancy (though I may be wrong) that I should look well seated on the top of an easel—just above the black-board, with a piece of chalk in my feathery foot.
Not that I have any notion of playing school-master, or even of advising school-masters and parents how to make their children good and wise. I am the Children's Owl—their very own—and all my good advice is intended to help them to improve themselves.
It is wonderful how children do sometimes improve! I knew a fine little fellow, much made of by his family and friends, who used to be so peevish8 about all the little ups and downs of life, and had such a lamentable9 whine10 in his voice when he was thwarted11 in any trifle, that if you had heard without seeing him, you'd have sworn that the most miserable12 wretch13 in the world was bewailing the worst of catastrophes14 with failing breath. And all the while there was not a handsomer, healthier, better fed, better bred, better dressed, and more dearly loved little boy in all the parish. When you might have thought, by the sound of it, that some starving skeleton of a creature was moaning for a bit of bread, the young gentleman was only sobbing15 through the soap and lifting his voice above the towels, because Nurse would wash his fair rosy16 cheeks. And when cries like those of one vanquished17 in battle and begging and praying for his life, rang through the hall and up the front stairs, it proved to be nothing worse than Master Jack imploring18 his friends to "please, please" and "do, do," let him stay out to run in a final "go as you please" race with the young Browns (who dine a quarter of an hour later), instead of going in promptly19 when the gong sounded for luncheon20.
Aunt in bed
Now the other day I peeped into a bedroom of that little boy's home. The sun was up, and so was Jack, but one of his numerous Aunts was not. She was in bed with a headache, and to this her pale face, her eyes shunning21 the light like my own, and her hair restlessly tossed over the pillow bore witness. When a knock came on the bedroom door, she started with pain, but lay down again and cried—"Come in!"
The door opened, but no one came in; and outside the voices of the little boy and his nurse were audible.
"I want to show her my new coat."
"You can't, Master Jack. Your Aunt's got a dreadful headache, and can't be disturbed."
No peevish complaints from Jack: only a deep sigh.
"I'm very sorry about her headache; and I'm very very sorry about my coat. For I am going out, and it will never be so new again."
"Nurse, I must see his coat. Let him come in."
Enter Jack.
It was his first manly23 suit, and he was trying hard for a manly soul beneath it, as a brave boy should. He came in very gently, but with conscious pride glowing in his rosy cheeks and out of his shining eyes. His cheeks were very red, for a step in life is a warming thing, and so is a cloth suit when you've been used to frocks.
It was a bottle-green coat, with large mother-o'-pearl buttons and three coachman's capes24; and there were leggings to match. The beaver25 hat, too, was new, and becomingly cocked, as he stood by his Aunt's bedside and smiled.
"What a fine coat, Jack!"
"Made by a tailor, Auntie Julie. Real pockets!"
"You don't say so!"
He nodded.
"Leggings too!" and he stuck up one leg at a sudden right angle on to the bed; a rash proceeding26, but the boy has a straight little figure, and with a hop27 or two he kept his balance.
"My dear Jack, they are grand. How warm they must keep your legs!"
He shook his beaver hat.
There was a pause. His Aunt remembered the old peevish ways. She did not want to encourage him to discard his winter leggings, and was doubtful what to say. But in a moment more his eyes shone, and his face took that effulgent30 expression which some children have when they are resolved upon being good.
I call him the little gentleman advisedly. There is no stronger sign of high breeding in young people, than a cheerful endurance of the rubs of life. A temper that fits one's fate, a spirit that rises with the occasion. It is this kind of courage which the Gentlemen of England have shown from time immemorial, through peace and war, by land and sea, in every country and climate of the habitable globe. Jack is a child of that Empire on which the sun never sets, and if he live he is like to have larger opportunities of bearing discomfort31 than was afforded by the woolly worry of his bottle-green leggings. I am in good hopes that he will not be found wanting.
Some such thoughts, I believe, occurred to his Aunt.
"That's right, Jack. What a man you are!"
Jack is a gentleman
The rosy cheeks became carmine32, and Jack flung himself upon his Aunt, and kissed her with resounding33 smacks34.
A somewhat wrecked35 appearance which she presented after this boisterous36 hug, recalled the headache to his mind, and as he settled the beaver hat, which had gone astray, he said ruefully,
"Is your headache very bad, Auntie Julie?"
"Rather bad, Jack. And as I can't shake if off, I have to bear it."
He went away on tiptoe, and it was only after he had carefully and gently closed the bedroom doorbehind him, that he departed by leaps and bounds to show himself in his bottle-green coat and capes, and white buttons and leggings to match, and beaver hat to boot, first to the young Browns, and after that to the General Public.
The children
As an Observer, I may say that it was a sight worth seeing; and as a Bird of some wisdom, I prophesy37 well of that boy.
PROVERBS.
Fine feathers make fine birds.
Manners make the man.
Clowns are best in their own company; gentlemen are best everywhere.
Where there's a will there's a way.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
What can't be cured must be endured.
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收听单词发音
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1
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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2
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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4
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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6
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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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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8
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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9
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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10
whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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11
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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12
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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13
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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14
catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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17
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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18
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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19
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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20
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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21
shunning
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的现在分词 ) | |
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22
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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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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capes
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| 碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬 | |
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beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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27
hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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28
tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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tickles
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| （使）发痒( tickle的第三人称单数 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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effulgent
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| adj.光辉的；灿烂的 | |
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31
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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carmine
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| n.深红色，洋红色 | |
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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smacks
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| 掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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