INDIAN HUGHIE

 Hughie had always wanted to be an Indian. One day he told his mamma about it.

 

"Well," she said, "why not be an Indian?"

 

Hughie looked down at his little blue suit and his low shoes. "I can't be an Indian," he said. "I haven't any bow and arrow 'r—'r anything Indians have. And anyway, little boys can't be Indians."

 

"Oh, yes, they can," said his mamma. "Indians are strong and brave. Any little boy can be that. How do you do, Chief Hughie?" she added, with a low bow.

 

Hughie drew himself up until he was at least an inch taller. "Heap—heap strong and brave, thank you," he said gravely¹.

 

That very day Hughie's mamma bought him a bow and arrow. Then Hughie felt himself a real Indian indeed.

 

But Chief Hughie grew tired of shooting at a mark with his new bow and arrow.

 

It would be much more fun, he thought, to shoot at something that moved.

 

Just as he thought that, a bird flew up from the snowball bush. Chief Hughie hastily² slipped an arrow into his bow. Bing! it went, toward³ the bird.

 

"Hughie!"

 

Hughie turned around. "Chief Hughie," he corrected, politely.

 

"No," said his mamma, "not Chief Hughie. Squaw Hughie! Chiefs are strong and brave. Chief Hughie would never shoot at a dear little bird. Only a cowardly Indian, a squaw Indian, would do that."

 

She came down the path and took away Hughie's bow and arrow.

 

"Squaws don't carry weapons," she said.

 

Hughie threw himself down on his stomach and screamed with anger.

 

"Squaws cry," said his mamma.

 

She walked back to the house, leaving Hughie sitting on the grass. He was wondering how long it would take for a squaw to become a chief once more.

 

1 gravely   

adv. 严肃地，庄重地

参考例句：

• Her mother was gravely ill. 她母亲病得很重。
• He spoke gravely of the situation. 他心情沉重地谈论着局势。

2 hastily   

ad.过于匆忙地，急急忙忙地

参考例句：

• I query very much whether it is wise to act so hastily. 我真怀疑如此操之过急地行动是否明智。
• Nothing must be done hastily but killing of fleas. 除非要捉跳蚤，做事不可匆忙。

3 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。