Just before Thanksgiving the affairs of theSimpsons reached what might have been calleda crisis, even in their family, which had beenborn and reared in a state of adventurous1 poverty andperilous uncertainty2.
Riverboro was doing its best to return the entiretribe of Simpsons to the land of its fathers, so tospeak, thinking rightly that the town which hadgiven them birth, rather than the town of theiradoption, should feed them and keep a roof over theirheads until the children were of an age for self-support. There was little to eat in the household andless to wear, though Mrs. Simpson did, as always,her poor best. The children managed to satisfy theirappetites by sitting modestly outside their neighbors'
kitchen doors when meals were about to beserved. They were not exactly popular favorites, butthey did receive certain undesirable3 morsels4 from themore charitable housewives.
Life was rather dull and dreary5, however, and inthe chill and gloom of November weather, with thevision of other people's turkeys bursting with fat,and other people's golden pumpkins6 and squashesand corn being garnered7 into barns, the youngSimpsons groped about for some inexpensive formof excitement, and settled upon the selling of soapfor a premium8. They had sold enough to theirimmediate neighbors during the earlier autumn tosecure a child's handcart, which, though very weakon its pins, could be trundled over the country roads.
With large business sagacity and an executive capacitywhich must have been inherited from their father,they now proposed to extend their operationsto a larger area and distribute soap to contiguousvillages, if these villages could be induced to buy. TheExcelsior Soap Company paid a very small return ofany kind to its infantile agents, who were scatteredthrough the state, but it inflamed9 their imaginationsby the issue of circulars with highly colored picturesof the premiums10 to be awarded for the sale of a certainnumber of cakes. It was at this juncture11 thatClara Belle12 and Susan Simpson consulted Rebecca,who threw herself solidly and wholeheartedly into theenterprise, promising13 her help and that of EmmaJane Perkins. The premiums within their possiblegrasp were three: a bookcase, a plush reclining chair,and a banquet lamp. Of course the Simpsons hadno books, and casting aside, without thought or pang,the plush chair, which might have been of someuse in a family of seven persons (not counting Mr.
Simpson, who ordinarily sat elsewhere at the town'sexpense), they warmed themselves rapturously inthe vision of the banquet lamp, which speedily be-came to them more desirable than food, drink, orclothing. Neither Emma Jane nor Rebecca perceivedanything incongruous in the idea of theSimpsons striving for a banquet lamp. They lookedat the picture daily and knew that if they themselveswere free agents they would toil14, suffer, ay sweat,for the happy privilege of occupying the same roomwith that lamp through the coming winter evenings.
It looked to be about eight feet tall in the catalogue,and Emma Jane advised Clara Belle to measure theheight of the Simpson ceilings; but a note in themargin of the circular informed them that it stoodtwo and a half feet high when set up in all its dignityand splendor15 on a proper table, three dollars extra.
It was only of polished brass16, continued the circular,though it was invariably mistaken for solid gold, andthe shade that accompanied it (at least it accompaniedit if the agent sold a hundred extra cakes)was of crinkled crepe paper printed in a dozendelicious hues17, from which the joy-dazzled agent mighttake his choice.
Seesaw Simpson was not in the syndicate. ClaraBelle was rather a successful agent, but Susan, whocould only say "thoap," never made large returns,and the twins, who were somewhat young to be thoroughlytrustworthy, could be given only a half dozencakes at a time, and were obliged to carry with themon their business trips a brief document stating theprice per cake, dozen, and box. Rebecca and EmmaJane offered to go two or three miles in some onedirection and see what they could do in the way ofstirring up a popular demand for the Snow-White andRose-Red brands, the former being devoted18 to laundrypurposes and the latter being intended for the toilet.
There was a great amount of hilarity19 in thepreparation for this event, and a long council in EmmaJane's attic20. They had the soap company's circularfrom which to arrange a proper speech, and theyhad, what was still better, the remembrance of acertain patent-medicine vender's discourse21 at theMilltown Fair. His method, when once observed,could never be forgotten; nor his manner, nor hisvocabulary. Emma Jane practiced it on Rebecca,and Rebecca on Emma Jane.
"Can I sell you a little soap this afternoon? Itis called the Snow-White and Rose-Red Soap, sixcakes in an ornamental22 box, only twenty cents forthe white, twenty-five cents for the red. It is madefrom the purest ingredients, and if desired could beeaten by an invalid23 with relish24 and profit.""Oh, Rebecca, don't let's say that!" interposedEmma Jane hysterically25. "It makes me feel like afool.""It takes so little to make you feel like a fool,Emma Jane," rebuked26 Rebecca, "that sometimes Ithink that you must BE one I don't get to feelinglike a fool so awfully27 easy; now leave out that eatingpart if you don't like it, and go on.""The Snow-White is probably the most remarkablelaundry soap ever manufactured. Immerse thegarments in a tub, lightly rubbing the more soiledportions with the soap; leave them submerged inwater from sunset to sunrise, and then the youngestbaby can wash them without the slightest effort.""BABE, not baby," corrected Rebecca from the circular.
"It's just the same thing," argued Emma Jane.
"Of course it's just the same THING; but a babyhas got to be called babe or infant in a circular,the same as it is in poetry! Would you rather say infant?""No," grumbled29 Emma Jane; "infant is worseeven than babe. Rebecca, do you think we'd betterdo as the circular says, and let Elijah or Elisha trythe soap before we begin selling?""I can't imagine a babe doing a family wash withANY soap," answered Rebecca; "but it must be trueor they would never dare to print it, so don't let'sbother. Oh! won't it be the greatest fun, EmmaJane? At some of the houses--where they can'tpossibly know me--I shan't be frightened, and Ishall reel off the whole rigmarole, invalid, babe, andall. Perhaps I shall say even the last sentence, if Ican remember it: `We sound every chord in thegreat mac-ro-cosm of satisfaction."This conversation took place on a Friday afternoonat Emma Jane's house, where Rebecca, to herunbounded joy, was to stay over Sunday, her auntshaving gone to Portland to the funeral of an oldfriend. Saturday being a holiday, they were goingto have the old white horse, drive to North Riverborothree miles away, eat a twelve o'clock dinnerwith Emma Jane's cousins, and be back at fouro'clock punctually.
When the children asked Mrs. Perkins if theycould call at just a few houses coming and going,and sell a little soap for the Simpsons, she at firstreplied decidedly in the negative. She was anindulgent parent, however, and really had littleobjection to Emma Jane amusing herself in this unusualway; it was only for Rebecca, as the niece of thedifficult Miranda Sawyer, that she raised scruples;but when fully28 persuaded that the enterprise was acharitable one, she acquiesced30.
The girls called at Mr. Watson's store, andarranged for several large boxes of soap to be chargedto Clara Belle Simpson's account. These werelifted into the back of the wagon31, and a happiercouple never drove along the country road thanRebecca and her companion. It was a gloriousIndian summer day, which suggested nothing ofThanksgiving, near at hand as it was. It was arustly day, a scarlet32 and buff, yellow and carmine,bronze and crimson33 day. There were still manyleaves on the oaks and maples35, making a goodlyshow of red and brown and gold. The air was likesparkling cider, and every field had its heaps ofyellow and russet good things to eat, all ready for thebarns, the mills, and the markets. The horse forgothis twenty years, sniffed36 the sweet bright air, andtrotted like a colt; Nokomis Mountain looked blueand clear in the distance; Rebecca stood in thewagon, and apostrophized the landscape with suddenjoy of living:--"Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World,With the wonderful water round you curled,And the wonderful grass upon your breast,World, you are beautifully drest!"Dull Emma Jane had never seemed to Rebeccaso near, so dear, so tried and true; and Rebecca,to Emma Jane's faithful heart, had never been sobrilliant, so bewildering, so fascinating, as in thisvisit together, with its intimacy37, its freedom, andthe added delights of an exciting business enterprise.
A gorgeous leaf blew into the wagon.
"Does color make you sort of dizzy?" asked Rebecca.
"No," answered Emma Jane after a long pause;"no, it don't; not a mite38.""Perhaps dizzy isn't just the right word, but it'snearest. I'd like to eat color, and drink it, andsleep in it. If you could be a tree, which onewould you choose?"Emma Jane had enjoyed considerable experienceof this kind, and Rebecca had succeeded in unstoppingher ears, ungluing her eyes, and loosening hertongue, so that she could "play the game" aftera fashion.
"I'd rather be an apple-tree in blossom,--thatone that blooms pink, by our pig-pen."Rebecca laughed. There was always somethingunexpected in Emma Jane's replies. "I'd chooseto be that scarlet maple34 just on the edge of thepond there,"--and she pointed39 with the whip.
"Then I could see so much more than your pinkapple-tree by the pig-pen. I could look at all therest of the woods, see my scarlet dress in my beautifullooking-glass, and watch all the yellow and browntrees growing upside down in the water. WhenI'm old enough to earn money, I'm going to havea dress like this leaf, all ruby40 color--thin, youknow, with a sweeping41 train and ruffly, curly edges;then I think I'll have a brown sash like the trunkof the tree, and where could I be green? Do theyhave green petticoats, I wonder? I'd like a greenpetticoat coming out now and then underneath42 toshow what my leaves were like before I was a scarlet maple.""I think it would be awful homely," said EmmaJane. "I'm going to have a white satin with a pinksash, pink stockings, bronze slippers43, and a spangledfan."
收听单词发音 |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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garnered
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| v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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inflamed
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| 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 ) | |
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premiums
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| n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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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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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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42
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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43
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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