The traveler of to-day who is whirled across the continent in six days and a half has little[210] conception of what the overland journey was in the year 1850. Week after week and month after month slipped away between the start and the arrival on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas. Delicate women and children of tender years developed extraordinary endurance, and showed
remarkable1 fortitude2 on the wearisome trip. But the hope of bettering their fortunes was the magnet that drew them
steadily3 on, day after day, in their march across the plains.
Tom was at an age when adventure has a charm. His feet were often weary; but he never tired of the journey. Every morning found him active, alert, and ready for the toilsome walk. He was, indeed, impatient for the time to come when he could be earning something to pay up his debt to
Squire5 Hudson, and so relieve his father from the additional burden assumed for his sake. Otherwise he was quite content to
plod6 on, seeing something new every day.
"You're always cheerful, Tom, my lad," said Ferguson, one day.
"Yes," said Tom. "I am having a good time."[211]
"Youth is aye the time for
enjoyment7. When I was a lad like you I might have been the same."
"Don't you enjoy the journey, Mr. Ferguson?" asked Tom.
"I'm getting tired of it, Tom. I look upon it as a means to an end. I'm in a hurry to reach the mines."
"So am I, Mr. Ferguson, for that matter."
"And I can't help thinking, what if they don't turn out as well as we expect? Then there'll be months lost, besides a good bit of money," replied Ferguson.
"Oh, I'm sure there is plenty of gold, and we shall get our share," said Tom confidently; "that is, if we have our health."
"I hope it'll be as you say, my lad. Indeed, I think you are right. You have taught me a lesson."
点击
收听单词发音
|
1
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 |
参考例句： |
- She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
- These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
|
|
2
fortitude
|
|
| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 |
参考例句： |
- His dauntless fortitude makes him absolutely fearless.他不屈不挠的坚韧让他绝无恐惧。
- He bore the pain with great fortitude.他以极大的毅力忍受了痛苦。
|
|
3
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 |
参考例句： |
- The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
- Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
|
|
4
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 |
参考例句： |
- The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
- Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。
|
|
5
squire
|
|
| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 |
参考例句： |
- I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
- The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
|
|
6
plod
|
|
| v.沉重缓慢地走，孜孜地工作 |
参考例句： |
- He was destined to plod the path of toil.他注定要在艰辛的道路上跋涉。
- I could recognize his plod anywhere.我能在任何地方辨认出他的沉重脚步声。
|
|
7
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 |
参考例句： |
- Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
- After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
|
|
8
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 |
参考例句： |
- The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
- Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。
|
|
9
allusion
|
|
| n.暗示，间接提示 |
参考例句： |
- He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
- She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。
|
|
10
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 |
参考例句： |
- He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
- The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
|
11
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 |
参考例句： |
- It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
- Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
|
|
12
obstinacy
|
|
| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 |
参考例句： |
- It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
- Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒，常常使他坚持自见，并达到执拗的地步。
|
|
13
expressive
|
|
| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 |
参考例句： |
- Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
- He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。
|
|
14
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 |
参考例句： |
- The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
- The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
|
|
15
budge
|
|
| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 |
参考例句： |
- We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
- She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。
|
|
16
equanimity
|
|
| n.沉着，镇定 |
参考例句： |
- She went again,and in so doing temporarily recovered her equanimity.她又去看了戏，而且这样一来又暂时恢复了她的平静。
- The defeat was taken with equanimity by the leadership.领导层坦然地接受了失败。
|
|
17
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 |
参考例句： |
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
|
|
18
complacently
|
|
| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 |
参考例句： |
- He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
- "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
|
|
19
groaning
|
|
| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的
动词groan的现在分词形式 |
参考例句： |
- She's always groaning on about how much she has to do. 她总抱怨自己干很多活儿。
- The wounded man lay there groaning, with no one to help him. 受伤者躺在那里呻吟着，无人救助。
|
|
20
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 |
参考例句： |
- The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
- I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。
|
|
21
vaulted
|
|
| adj.拱状的 |
参考例句： |
- She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
- The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。
|
|
22
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 |
参考例句： |
- The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
- She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。
|
|
23
manlier
|
|
| manly（有男子气概的）的比较级形式 |
参考例句： |
- The man did work that was thought to be manlier. He was a logger. 老先生做的是一般认为较适合男性的工作-当一名樵夫。
|
|
24
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 |
参考例句： |
- The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
- He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。
|
