On such visits Mrs. Wopp enjoyed herself hugely. Her volubility was overpowering; as Mrs. Mifsud had been known to remark, “Not even a comma was there to clutch at to make good ones escape.” The faster her needle flew the faster raced her tongue. In view of the impending4 visit Mrs. Mifsud had surreptitiously stuffed one ear with cotton batting so that in the event of an extremely sanguinary onslaught, so to speak, at least one rampart of defence could be instantaneously thrown up. Ebenezer Wopp unlike his wife was expecting nothing but an afternoon of self-effacement though prepared to secretly admire to the full Mrs. Wopp’s sprightly6 conversation.
Moses and Betty were left to mind house, the admonishings of Mrs. Wopp being seasoned with picturesque7 if carelessly applied8 texts. The envious9 might hurl10 hisses11, but Moses and Betty were invulnerable to all such assaults upon their anticipations12 of the day’s freedom with its already planned joys.
“Now Mosey, you be ticket man at the gate an’ I’ll hev the circus all ready,” cried Betty bounding into the house in the shortest possible time after the departure of the elderly merrymakers.
She emerged from the house her hair coiled on the top of her head and decorated with a strip of shining silver from an empty biscuit tin. Thus had she seen a circus lady dressed on one never-to-be-forgotten day. Around her small body was draped a yellow silk shawl of Mrs. Wopps. Her feet were encased in a pair of Ebenezer Wopp’s reddest socks, bound on by bright green ribbon ripped from her winter hat. From her fair hair floated a white aigret made of chicken feathers hastily wired together. Moses needed no aigret as a strand14 of red hair stood upright from the crown of his head.
“Here Mosey,” said Betty, “is a tin crown. You can fasten it on with this wire. See?”
In a moment the obliging boy’s head was surmounted15 by an empty tomato can, and under the aegis16 of “Whacker Brand” he became attendant to the circus manageress. Thus helmeted he stood and gazed at Betty as though the hinges of his jaw17 were loosening.
Moses began cutting make-believe tickets using the paper and scissors thrust into his hand by the capable manageress of the show.
Presently he raised his head and was confronted by Job the turkey wearing a tiny bright pink hat and a green ribbon round his neck. An antimacassar bearing wide magenta19 and red crocheted20 stripes covered his back causing him to strut21 with peacock pride.
“Don’t Job look jist like Mariar Mifsud goin’ to meetin’,” gurgled Betty.
Next appeared Jethro in a high state of hilarity22 with a harness made of Moses’ skate-straps and with a tiny doll dressed to represent a monkey bound to his back.
“Jethro barks with his mouth an’ smiles with his tail,” said Betty.
“His tail’s druv in too far fer to waggle much though,” returned Moses eyeing the diminutive23 stump24.
As many of the hens and chickens as could be persuaded were ushered25 into the yard to add to the numerical strength of the menagerie.
Betty kept her tour de force till the last and astounded26 Moses by riding into the yard on the back of a large cow. Molly had been padded to represent a camel and Betty rode perched insecurely on the hump of the lordly creature, holding Mrs. Wopp’s treasured red parasol to give the effect of a canopy27.
Molly enjoyed the attentions of Betty and contentedly28 chewed her cud. Whenever Betty leaned forward to caress29 the camel, Molly rolled out some square inches of tongue and licked the glowing cheek of her little mistress. An altogether adorable if somewhat familiar camel was the old black cow.
“Oh, Betty, you got ole man Noer stuck in the shade. His ark never turned out sich a fine camel as yourn, I bet,” cried Moses gleefully as he proceeded to sell tickets and to admit an astonishingly large number of imaginary people into the circus grounds.
“Now who wants to ride the camel? Who wants to ride the swayin’ tossin’ ship of the desert?” Betty turned to her swarming30 audience; then to Moses she whispered as though she might be overheard, “You step forward an’ pay me two bits fer a ride.” Moses put a ticket into Betty’s hand and, not to be outdone in bravery, mounted the single-humped camel. Molly forgot her training in the sandy desert and lurched sadly.
“My feet’s purty well jolted31 up inter13 my head,” cried the uncomfortable rider. But Betty insisted on his getting full value for his money, and dared him to descend33 until the round of the arena34 had been completed.
Moses, hot-headed youth, squandered36 another coin for the thrilling experience of tearing over the bare earth holding in Jethro by the reins37, and using words of sinister38 meaning to the unwieldy monster. The monkey swayed painfully from the back of the excited Jethro.
By this time Betty was getting hoarse39 and instructed her perspiring40 assistant what next to shout and the most fetching modulations of voice to use. The change in program was bellowed41 in Moses’ raucous42 voice, “An orstrich here, only fifty cents to see a live trained orstrich!” A huge swallow and he continued, “Brought from Carliforny and trained by the famousest lady Betty Wopp.” After further instructions he went on, “This orstrich is named Job Wopp. He kin1 lay the largest aig in the world, kin run faster than any horse, could strike you dead with the hoof43 of his clawr.” Further whispering on the part of Betty and the address concluded, “Yet, ladies and gents, he is as gentle as a spring chicking.”
Everything was going smoothly44 when suddenly a catastrophe45 stopped short the circus, and left Moses greatly distressed46. He inwardly complained that never yet was he “havin’ a good time but some orful thing happened to put a cloud over the sun.” The hens and chickens that had been pressed into the ranks of the circus performers were crowding round a swill-bucket which Moses had left tilted47 at a precarious48 angle on an upturned soap-box. In its zig-zag gyrations round the yard, the ostrich49, to avoid the ubiquitous fowl50, ran against the bucket and the odoriferous contents were splashed over the yellow-draped circus lady. The contents of the swill-pail trickled51 down Betty’s finery and dropped sadly from the pink headgear of the ostrich.
The audience made an impetuous dash to the scene of the fatality52 and as he stooped over the dripping yellow-frocked figure a jolt32 of even greater proportions upset the bucket entirely53; a deluge54 of the unsavory mixture almost knocked off his knightly55 helmet and trickled from its rusty56 edges till he looked like a very rotund and rakish Don Quixote.
Job’s feathers that to Betty’s eyes had taken on the glory of ostrich plumes57, drooped58 disconsolately59, while Moses denounced in fluent language the stupidity of the fowl that had caused the unfortunate episode. He declared loudly that he would like to wring60 the aggressive portions of those feathered culprits. The group stood for a moment, a miniature Vesuvius erupting lava61 and ashes, while Moses wrung62 the offending liquid from Betty’s yellow drape and the magenta antimacassar. His sense of the ludicrous however overcame his wrath63, “My Eye Betty!” he cried, “I near kerlapse every time I draw up my curtings on Job.”
Enjoying the spectacle, Henry the pet rooster stood on the rail-fence crowing lustily in chanticleer derision.
The resourceful Betty was not to be undone64 by this embarrassing accident. She used the silk shawl to groom65 the ostrich and to mop the disfiguring stains from Moses’ face. The helmet was discarded and the aigret of red hair rose instantly undaunted, waving a lively accompaniment to the boy’s continued exertions66 to follow the pace set by Betty’s imagination.
“Yer a reglar Mis’ Barnum,” he praised. Whereupon the enterprising program-maker began to devise new and more wonderful side-shows for her admirer.
In the matter of the next adventure, Moses’ feet were fast approaching that degree known as freezing point. But spurred on by the resolute67 will of his sister he rose to the occasion of a chariot race, adapted from “Ben Hur.” They had never forgotten the thrill they had experienced when one day at Mrs. Mifsud’s house the nephew of that good lady, with city-bred art, had recited in melodramatic fashion “Ben Hur’s Chariot Race.”
“You hitch68 Jethro to yer ole ’xpress waggon69, ’n I’ll hitch Job to a prune-box with spool-wheels,” suggested Betty.
Discarded shoe-laces, rope and trunk-straps came hastily into requisition. The vociferations of Moses were so severe on his vocal70 chords that he found it necessary to visit the pump.
“Gosh! My throat feels like I’d been garglin’ with a bumble bee,” he exclaimed. Greatly refreshed, he did full justice to the difficult roles of combined driver and audience. Jethro, delighted with the new game, tore madly round the yard, barking shrilly71 and demanding more speed. But Job, running sadly corner-wise, was destined72 from the start for a losing race.
“Never mind Jobie, we want Jethro to win anyway, don’t we?” said Betty, presenting to the turkey her pocket filled with grain.
“Put a crown of pickled olerves on me,” demanded Moses, “me ’n Jethro beat.” He stood before his sister mopping his face. The express waggon with a wheel off was overturned and a frightened. “Cheep, cheep, cheep” came from beneath it.
“My racer has only one eye anyways,” said Betty defiantly73 as she twined a piece of nasturtium vine round the noble brow of the victor.
“What’s next?”
Moses was not easily satisfied. His attitude was always that of one who has dined on an undersized shrimp74 while expecting a ten-course banquet.
“Cleanin’ up’s next, Mose. Take my device an’ shoo away them hens an’ chickings. Mar’ll be home soon.”
“Singe my hair ef I do, let’s hev some more doin’s,” rebelled Moses.
The words were hardly out of his mouth when the sound of an approaching team was heard. Betty eyed ruefully the silk shawl she had flung on the ground.
“She’ll be orful mad,” prophecied Moses.
“You young Hottentots, wot youse been up to?” All too soon Moses’ prophecy proved true.
Mrs. Wopp’s eyes fell on the stained shawl.
“Nothin’.”
“Jevver see sich a useless boy? Been learnin’ spellin’s orl day, I ’xpect.”
“It’s my doin’s, Mar,” said Betty, “I made it orl up outer my head.”
“She’s a reglar show-lady,” defended Moses. This was hardly a strategic move from Moses, as he had just asserted they had been doing nothing.
Mrs. Wopp was an incurable78 optimist79, although the citadel80 of her optimism was being assailed81. Turning her wrathful gaze from Moses, her eye lighted on the soiled pink hat and antimacassar still worn by Job. She burst into a hearty82 laugh and turned to Betty.
“Yer a limb o’ Satan orl right. The shawl was needin’ dyein’ anyway. I’ll jist make it green. Yer Par5 used to say I looked right harnsome in green, so I’ll s’prise him with a new shawl over my shoulders.” She turned to the dog. The strenuous83 exertions of the afternoon had noticeably reduced his girth.
“This here dorg is clean tuckered out,” she declared, “ef he swallered a green pea, you’d see it goin’ down orl the way.”
In a few days the sight of his wife wrapped in a shawl the color of an unripe84 cucumber had a rejuvenating85 influence upon Ebenezer Wopp. He did not say much, being a man of few words, but his sentiments were inscribed86 in cramped87 illegible88 writing on a slip of paper to be handed down to posterity89.
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收听单词发音
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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7
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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hisses
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| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
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anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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15
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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16
aegis
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| n.盾；保护，庇护 | |
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17
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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18
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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19
magenta
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| n..紫红色（的染料）；adj.紫红色的 | |
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20
crocheted
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| v.用钩针编织( crochet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
strut
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| v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆 | |
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22
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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23
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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24
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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25
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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27
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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29
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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30
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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31
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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33
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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34
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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35
dime
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| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
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36
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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38
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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39
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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40
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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41
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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42
raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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43
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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44
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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45
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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46
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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47
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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48
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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49
ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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50
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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51
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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52
fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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53
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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54
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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55
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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56
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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57
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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58
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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60
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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61
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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62
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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63
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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64
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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65
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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66
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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67
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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68
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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69
waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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70
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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71
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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72
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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73
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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74
shrimp
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| n.虾，小虾；矮小的人 | |
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75
mendacious
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| adj.不真的，撒谎的 | |
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76
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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77
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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78
incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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79
optimist
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| n.乐观的人，乐观主义者 | |
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80
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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81
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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82
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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83
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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84
unripe
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| adj.未成熟的；n.未成熟 | |
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85
rejuvenating
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| 使变得年轻，使恢复活力( rejuvenate的现在分词 ) | |
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86
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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87
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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88
illegible
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| adj.难以辨认的，字迹模糊的 | |
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89
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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