THE WICKED POSTMAN

 WHY do you sit there on the floor so quiet and silent, tell me, mother dear?

 

The rain is coming in through the open window, making you all wet, and you don't mind it.

 

Do you hear the gong striking¹ four? It is time for my brother to come home from school.

 

What has happened to you that you look so strange?

 

Haven't you got a letter from father to-day?

 

I saw the postman bringing letters in his bag for almost everybody in the town.

 

Only, father's letters he keeps to read himself. I am sure the postman is a wicked² man.

 

But don't be unhappy about that, mother dear.

 

To-morrow is market day in the next village. You ask your maid to buy some pens and papers.

 

I myself will write all father's letters; you will not find a single mistake.

 

I shall write from A right up to K.

 

But, mother, why do you smile?

 

You don't believe that I can write as nicely as father does!

 

But I shall rule my paper carefully, and write all the letters beautifully big.

 

When I finish my writing, do you think I shall be so foolish as father and drop it into the horrid³ postman's bag?

 

I shall bring it to you myself without waiting, and letter by letter help you to read my writing.

 

I know the postman does not like to give you the really nice letters.

1 striking   

adj.显著的，惹人注目的，容貌出众的

参考例句：

• There is a striking difference between Jane and Mary.简和玛丽之间有显著的差异。
• What is immediately striking is how resourceful the children are.最令人注目的是孩子们的机智聪明。

2 wicked   

adj.邪恶的，恶劣的，缺德的；淘气的

参考例句：

• Let everyone know all the wicked things she has done.把她干的坏事给大家抖搂抖搂。
• The wicked must be wiped out.恶人必须除掉。

3 horrid   

adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的

参考例句：

• I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
• The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。