HAVE you ever seen a maiden¹？I mean what our paviours call a maiden，a thing with which they ram² down paving-stones in the roads．A maiden of this kind is made altogether of wood，broad below，and girt round with iron rings；at the top she is narrow，and has a stick passed across through her waist；and this stick forms the arms of the maiden．

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In the shed stood two Maidens³ of this kind．They had their place among shovels，hand-carts，wheelbarrows，and measuring tapes；and to all this company the news had come that the Maidens were no longer to be called “maidens”，but“handrammers”；which word was the newest and the only correct designation among the paviours for the thing we all know from the old times by the name of “the maiden”．

Now， there are among us human creatures certain individuals who are known as“emancipated⁵ women”；as，for instance，principals of institutions，dancers who stand professionally on one leg，milliners，and sick nurses；and with this class of emancipated women the two maidens in the shed associated themselves．They were maidens among the paviour folk，and determined⁶ not to give up this honourable⁷ appellation，and let themselves be miscalled rammers．

“Maiden is a human name，but rammer⁴ is a thing，and we won't be called things-that is insulting us．”

“My lover would be ready to give up his engagement，”said the youngest，who was betrothed⁸ to a pile-driver：and that is a large machine which drives great piles into the earth and therefore does on a large scale what the maiden does on a small one．“He wants to marry me as a Maiden，but whether he would have me，were I a rammer，is a question：so I won't have my name changed．”

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1 maiden
n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的
参考例句：
The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。 The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

2 ram
(random access memory)随机存取存储器
参考例句：
512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。

3 maidens
处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球
参考例句：
stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事 Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens. 花儿移栽往往并不成功，少女们换了环境也是如此。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 rammer
n.撞锤；夯土机；拨弹机；夯
参考例句：
Because of rammer one time machine, has not wanted again. 因为硪错过了一次机会了，不想再错过。 来自互联网 This paper presents the construction method of pneumatic rammer piling. 文章介绍了气动夯锤打桩的施工方法。 来自互联网

5 emancipated
adj.被解放的，不受约束的v.解放某人（尤指摆脱政治、法律或社会的束缚）( emancipate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Slaves were not emancipated until 1863 in the United States. 美国奴隶直到1863年才获得自由。 Women are still struggling to be fully emancipated. 妇女仍在为彻底解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 honourable
adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的
参考例句：
I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。 I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。

8 betrothed
n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
She is betrothed to John. 她同约翰订了婚。 His daughter was betrothed to a teacher. 他的女儿同一个教师订了婚。