作者：（美）麦加菲
出版社：天津社会科学院出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
美国语文:美国小学课文经典读本(套装共2册)试读：
前言
Preface让美德在语文教育中根植于孩子心灵提到语文教育，我们会想起我国著名语文教育家陶行知先生，他一生大部分时间致力于平民教育，想以此实现他的教育理想。他亲手编辑了《平民千字课》和《老少通千字课》，为中国老百姓接受教育提供了一个宝贵的教育读本。无独有偶，美国也有一位如此受人尊敬的教育家———美国俄亥俄州大学校长威廉·H·麦加菲先生。他花费了20多年时间，为美国学生精心选编了一套语文读本。通过读者眼前的这套《美国语文》精选本，或许我们能更好地领悟出西方语文教育与孩子培养的真义。
这套英汉双语版的《美国语文》精选自著名《麦加菲读本》，主编者威廉·H·麦加菲终身从事教育工作，曾担任几所大学的校长和教授。他在弗吉尼亚大学任职达28年之久，深受学生们的尊敬和爱戴。在他的教育生涯中，一直焕发出一种对生活的热情，正是这一点，使他产生了为孩子们编写读物的念头，因为当时许多垦荒者和欧洲移民的孩子缺乏优良书籍可读。于是在他一生中最有创造性的人生阶段，麦加菲开始编写系列读物，这套读本共7 册，从学龄前到小学6年级。从第1级到第6级，他前后共用了20多年时间。这套读物面世时，立即覆盖了美国很多州和地区，被当时的37个州作为教材。在一个多世纪内，这套书影响了几代美国人的心灵，销量高达1.2亿册！ 美国《出版周刊》在评选“人类出版史上最畅销的10本书暠时，将其列为第三位。此后，这一系列读本不断更新改版，直到21世纪的今天，这套教材仍是西方家庭和儿童喜爱的优秀课外读物。
亚里士多德说：“幼年时形成的习惯可以改变人的一生。暠因此，对所有父母和教育者来讲，重视孩子的道德教育，为他们创造一种良好的道德环境，帮助孩子塑造做人的美德，这是我们的首要责任。没有道德的教育其效果只能是零或负面的。至于道德的标准，在不同文化与社会制度下会有不同选择，但很多准则应该是有共性的。如正直、诚实、善良、勇敢、助人、友爱、热爱自然等，这些都是一个德才兼备的人应具备的基本美德。如何将这些德行注入孩子的身心呢? 语文教育可以说很大程度上担当此任———将道德教育的目标倾注于儿童故事和文学作品中，让孩子在欣赏这些优美感人的作品的同时，从中感受到道德教育的力量。经验表明，这种潜移默化的作用影响孩子的一生。
与其他寓言、童话等道德读本不同的是，本书均选编自西方的名家名篇，如狄更斯、华盛顿·欧文、莎士比亚、爱默生、梭罗等，作品本身就具有很强的文学欣赏性。因此，本书融文学修养与道德教育于一体，让读者在欣赏这些文学名作的同时，感受美德的力量，形成自己的美德观念。这套《美国语文》采用英汉双语形式再现给国内读者，适合国内中小学生分级阅读。全书共分为10篇：亲近自然、动物亲情、正直诚实、勤奋友爱、坚毅勇敢、同情善良、自尊自律、交往处世、求知思考、快乐人生。通过书中的230多篇不同文体的名家之作，国内学生既可以练习英语阅读，更能感受西方所强调的美德教育的力量。
衷心期望本书能成为国内中小学生、父母和所有教育工作者的一大福音，并伴随他们度过美好的人生阶段！策划者：神鸟（holybird@gmail.com）第一篇 亲近自然Chapter 1 Love For Nature第1课 春天来了
河边的树摇动着它卷边的叶子，柳树也发芽了，小孩子们也都出来玩耍。
小鸟从天空飞过，听！它们叫得多么甜美呀，好像在告诉那些快乐的孩子们，春天来了，我们又回来了。
当你用脚踩上绿油油的草地时，会发现它又滑又软。青蛙也开始在水里跳来跳去，听起来像动人的音乐。
毛茛开着黄花，阳光照耀的草地上，蒲公英到处飞舞。
这里还有许多菊花，小孩子们用柔软的小手摘个不停。
一阵暖风吹过，这边有红色的小草，那边可以看到紫罗兰，哦，那边还有，几个快乐的小孩子在嬉戏！多么美妙的画卷，一定是上帝送给人们的。（西莉亚·撒克斯特）
经典原文SPRING
The alder by the river
Shakes out her powdery curls;
The willow buds in silver
For little boys and girls.
The little birds fly over,
And oh, how sweet they sing!
To tell the happy children
That once again't is Spring.
The gay green grass comes creeping
So soft beneath their feet;
The frogs begin to ripple
A music clear and sweet.
And buttercups are coming,
And scarlet columbine,
And in the sunny meadows
The dandelions shine.
And just as many daisies
As their soft hands can hold,
The little ones may gather,
All fair in white and gold.
Here blows the warm red clover,
There peeps the violet blue;
Oh, happy little children!
God made them all for you.（Celia Thaxter）第2课 夏日
天刚破晓，花儿和树都被染成了红色，风把小鸟和蜜蜂叫醒，田野和草地上到处是晶莹的露珠——这是刚刚破晓时的良辰美景。
太阳升起来了，在小溪和光滑的树叶上撒下一片金黄。一根根葡萄藤上，玫瑰花上，黄色的芜莨上，还笼罩着一层薄雾——太阳升起时的景色多么迷人。
河水在流动，像一个骑士，时而在这儿打一个回旋，时而在那儿停留一会儿，然后迅速奔向大海。
雨落下来了，越过屋顶，飘过烟囱，一串串，一滴滴。大树枝弯曲着身子，天空也皱着眉头。
鸟儿唱起了歌：我亲爱的孩子们，你们是我的至爱，我愿永远为你们挡风遮雨，多么美丽的鸟儿呀！
阳光消失了，奶牛低着头，慢慢地走在小路上，萤火虫在小山和田野中闪着亮光。天空慢慢由黄色变为红色，深红色，直至漆黑一片——就这样阳光消失了。（乔治·库帕）
经典原文A SUMMER DAY
This is the way the morning dawns:
Rosy tints on flowers and trees,
Winds that wake the birds and bees,
Dewdrops on the fields and lawns—
This is the way the morning dawns.
This is the way the sun comes up:
Gold on brook and glossy leaves,
Mist that melts above the sheaves,
Vine, and rose, and buttercup—
This is the way the sun comes up.
This is the way the river flows:
Here a whirl, and there a dance;
Slowly now, then, like a lance,
Swiftly to the sea it goes—
This is the way the river flows.
This is the way the rain comes down:
Tinkle, tinkle, drop by drop,
Over roof and chimney top;
Boughs that bend, and skies that frown—
This is the way the rain comes down.
This is the way the birdie sings:
“Baby birdies in the nest,
You I surely love the best;
Over you I fold my wings”—
This is the way the birdie sings.
This is the way the daylight dies:
Cows are lowing in the lane,
Fireflies wink on hill and plain;
Yellow, red, and purple skies—
This is the way the daylight dies.（George Cooper）第3课 云彩
云儿在天空中飘来飘去，时而高，时而低。它有时沉进黑沉沉的夜幕中，有时又融入温暖和煦的阳光下。啊！我非常想知道，你是否想做些有用的工作呢？
是的，我们日日夜夜都很忙碌。因为在地球之上，我们有自己的路要走。我们是雨的携带者，我们要为绿草、鲜花和庄稼带去及时雨。在赤日炎炎的夏季，我们保护你们不受强烈阳光的照射。
经典原文THE CLOUDS
“Clouds that wander through the sky,
Sometimes low and sometimes high;
In the darkness of the night,
In the sunshine warm and bright.
Ah! I wonder much if you
Have any useful work to do.”
“Yes, we're busy night and day,
As o'er the earth we take our way.
We are bearers of the rain
To the grasses, and flowers, and grain;
We guard you from the sun's bright rays,
In the sultry summer days.”第4课 风和树叶“过来吧，小树叶。”一天，风对树叶说，“到草地上来，和我一起玩吧。不过，要穿上你们那红色或金色的衣服，因为夏天已经过去，天气开始变凉了。”
一听到风的大声呼唤，树叶们便轻飘飘地飞了下来。一片，又一片，所有的叶子都飞下来了。在棕色的大地上，它们哼着温柔的曲子，轻舞飞扬。“再见了，小蟋蟀，我们已经做了这么久的朋友。再见了，小溪，请你唱支送别的歌儿吧，倾诉一下我们的离别之情。啊，我知道你们一定会想念我们的。”“亲爱的小羊羔，羊妈妈会保护你不受伤害和寒冷的侵袭的。我们也会在山谷和林中的空地上温情地注视着你。告诉我们，你会梦见我们充满爱的凉阴吗？”
树叶一边飞舞着，一边旋转着，就这样离开了。冬天在召唤它们，它们感到了一种满足，很快就在泥土的温床上睡熟了，白雪为它们盖上了一件厚厚的大衣。（乔治·库帕）
经典原文THE WIND AND THE LEAVES
“Come, little leaves,”said the wind one day.
“Come o'er the meadows with me, and play;
Put on your dress of red and gold
Summer is gone, and the days grow cold.”
Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the soft little songs they knew.
“Cricket, good by, we've been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song,—
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah! you will miss us, right well we know. ”
“Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?”
Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went;
Winter had called them, and they were content.
Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a coverlet over their heads.（George Cooper）第5课 树叶之语
有那么一次、两次，有人听到一片小树叶在尖叫、叹气，就像柔风吹过时树叶经常所说的那样。
细枝说：“小叶子，你怎么了？”
小叶子回答：“风儿刚才告诉我，有一天他会把我拽下来，扔到地上，让我等死。”
细枝把这些话儿告诉了树枝，树枝又将它们转告给了大树。大树听到这些话，吓得浑身沙沙作响，又把话儿传给了正在瑟瑟发抖的小叶子。“不要害怕。”它说，“紧紧地抓牢，直到你准备好了后再离开吧。”
于是，小叶子停止了叹息，又继续开心地唱起歌来。整个夏天它都在成长，一直到10月份。当秋天来临时，叶子看到周围所有的树叶都长得非常漂亮，一些呈黄色，还有一些呈绿色，还有许多带着不同颜色的条纹。于是，叶子便问大树这是怎么回事儿。
大树说：“所有这些树叶都已做好了要飞的准备。它们因为高兴而穿上了五颜六色的盛装。”
听了大树的话，小叶子也想要飞走了。当它这样想时，自己也开始变得漂亮起来。但当它为自己穿上彩衣而高兴时，发现树枝并没有穿上鲜艳的衣服。于是叶子问：“哦，树枝，为什么我们都呈漂亮的金黄色，而你还是铅色的呢？”“我们必须继续穿着自己的工作服。”大树说，“因为我们的工作还没有做完。你们之所以穿上了节日礼服，因为你们的任务现在已经完成了。”
就在这时，一阵微风吹来，还没等叶子想什么就离开了。风儿托着它，在空中飞舞起来。慢慢地，它又轻轻飘落下来，落在篱笆边的草地上，落在成百上千片的叶子当中。它再也没有醒过来，告诉我们它梦到了什么。
经典原文WHAT THE LEAF SAID
Once or twice a little leaf was heard to cry and sigh, as leaves often do, when a gentle wind is blowing. And the twig said,“What is the matter, little leaf?”
“The wind,”said the leaf,“just told me that one day it would pull me off, and throw me on the ground to die.”
The twig told it to the branch, and the branch told it to the tree. When the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent word back to the trembling leaf.
“Do not be afraid,”it said;“hold on tight, and you shall not go off till you are ready.”
So the leaf stopped sighing, and went on singing and rustling. It grew all the summer long till October. And when the bright days of autumn came, the leaf saw all the leaves around growing very beautiful.
Some were yellow, some were brown, and many were striped with different colors. Then the leaf asked the tree what this meant.
The tree said,“All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these colors because of their joy.”
Then the little leaf began to want to go, and grew very beautiful in thinking of it. When it was gay in colors, it saw that the branches of the tree had no bright colors on them.
So the leaf said,“O branch! why are you lead colored while we are all beautiful and golden?”
“We must keep on our working clothes,”said the tree,“for our work is not yet done; but your clothes are for holidays, because your task is now over.”
Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go without thinking, and the wind took it up and turned it over and over.
Then it fell gently down under the edge of the fence, among hundreds of leaves, and has never waked to tell us what it dreamed about.第6课 暴风雪
昨晚，寒冷的北风吹着，满天都是乌云。天上见不到一颗星星，也看不到一片白云。
不久，片片雪花轻轻地飘落下来，像成群的白色小鸟。雪越下越急，一会儿便弥漫了整个天空。雪下得悄无声息，整个晚上都下个不停。
大雪给大地铺上了一层柔软的白毯，给高的绿枞树挂上了美丽的白色羽毛，给矮小的丛林披上了洁白的睡衣。
大雪把路也给封住了，以便让小男孩们可以在发掘新路的过程中找到乐趣。大雪也把旧尖桩栅栏变成了一排士兵，那门柱就像是一名军官，不过他们都成了戴着白帽子的士兵。
一位旧玉米筐被丢弃在篱笆旁，底儿朝天，孩子们用封雪堆起了一座精巧的圆顶小屋。当他们忙碌地用小雪花堆完其杰作，太阳公公走了过来，想看看他们到底在干些什么。他一定对所见到的十分愉悦，露出了如此开心而甜美的微笑。整个白色世界金光闪闪，好象是用小星星组成。谁会想到那乌云又遮住了这些让世界变得如此美丽的小精灵！
经典原文A SNOWSTORM
Last night, the cold north wind blew great snow clouds over the sky. Not a star, not a bit of blue sky could be seen.
Soon the tiny flakes floated softly down, like flocks of little white birds. Faster and faster they came, till they filled the air. They made no noise, but they were busy all night long.
They covered all the ground with a soft, white carpet. They hung beautiful plumes on the tall, green firs. The little bushes, they put to sleep in warm nightgowns and caps.
They hid the paths so that the boys might have the fun of digging new ones. They turned the old picket fence into a row of soldiers, and the gate posts into captains, with tall white hats on.
The old corn basket that was left out by the barn, upside down, they made into a cunning little snow house with a round roof.
When the busy little flakes had done their work, the sun came up to see what they had been about.
He must have been pleased with what he saw, for he smiled such a bright, sweet smile, that the whole white world sparkled as if it were made of little stars.
Who would have thought that the black clouds could hide the little fairies that made the earth so beautiful!第7课 小溪流啊，流啊，小小的溪流流淌着的你转动了乡村里的磨流淌着的你注满了深而清澈的池塘在林地的树阴下你很凉爽每逢炎热的夏季绵羊最喜欢在小溪边走来走去野鸟爱在溪水中嬉戏野花盛开在小溪的岸边流啊，流啊，小小的溪流绕过岩石，流下山坡为每个像我一样的孩子歌唱小鸟也高兴地加入你的行列我们倾听你的歌唱你一边歌唱一边流向远方
经典原文THE LITTLE RILL
Run, run, thou tiny rill;
Run, and turn the village mill;
Run, and fill the deep, clear pool
In the woodland's shade so cool,
Where the sheep love best to stray
In the sultry summer day;
Where the wild birds bathe and drink,
And the wild flowers fringe the brink.
Run, run, thou tiny rill,
Round the rocks, and down the hill;
Sing to every child like me;
The birds will join you, full of glee:
And we will listen to the song
You sing, your rippling course along.第8课 小鸟的晨曲醒一醒，小宝贝，小鸟们都出来了，而你仍然在巢穴里，连最懒惰的小鸟也在四处蹦蹦跳跳，你该起来和它们一块儿玩呀。醒一醒，小宝贝，醒一醒！嗷，看看你睡了那么久都错过了什么。闪亮的露珠，美丽的天空！你失去的东西，我在歌中连一半也唱不完。醒一醒，小宝贝，醒一醒！我为你唱得已经没了耐性，当妈妈催你起来时，别的小鸟已做完它们要做的事，只有她的吻可以唤醒你，醒一醒，小宝贝，醒一醒!（乔治·库帕）
经典原文BIRDIE'S MORNING SONG
Wake up, little darling, the birdies are out,
And here you are still in your nest!
The laziest birdie is hopping about;
You ought to be up with the rest.
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
Oh, see what you miss when you
slumber so long—
The dewdrops, the beautiful sky!
I can not sing half what you lose in my song;
And yet, not a word in reply.
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
I've sung myself quite out of patience with you,
While mother bends o'er your dear head;
Now birdie has done all that birdie can do:
Her kisses will wake you instead!
Wake up, little darling, wake up!（George Cooper）第9课 阳春三月在大雪和寒风里，在严酷的雨丝里，在我们的脚下，小小的花儿开始成长。春天的脚步越来越近，她满怀喜悦地说：“亲爱的，你们在这儿吗？”他们回答：“我们就要做好准备了，亲爱的。”“飘雪的冬天又在哪儿呢？告诉我们，春天。”他们说。她回答说：“他要走了，他就要上路了。”“可怜的老冬天不爱你，但他横行的日子已成为过去；很快我的鸟会在你上面歌唱，让你最终获得自由。”（玛丽·M·道奇）
经典原文MARCH
In the snowing and the blowing,
In the cruel sleet,
Little flowers begin their growing
Far beneath our feet.
Softly taps the Spring, and cheerly,—
“Darlings, are you here?”
Till they answer,“We are nearly,
Nearly ready, dear.”
“Where is Winter, with his snowing?
Tell us, Spring,”they say.
Then she answers,“He is going,
Going on his way.”
经典原文
“Poor old Winter does not love you;
But his time is past;
Soon my birds shall sing above you;—
Set you free at last.”（Mary Mapes Dodge）第10课 约翰尼遇见的第一场暴风雪
约翰尼·里德在6岁时才看到第一场暴风雪。在这之前，他住在一个温暖的小村庄里，太阳照着桔林，田野里也一直散发着迷人的花香。
到他这个年龄时，他得去看望他的祖母了。祖母住在一个冬天会下雪的地方。每当下雪的时候，约翰尼就会站在窗前看雪。“噢！妈妈。”他高兴地喊着，“快来呀，快来看这些从天堂飞下来的小鸟。”“它们不是小鸟，约翰尼。”妈妈笑着说。“那么，是小天使们正在散落他们的羽毛吗！哦！快告诉我，它们是什么！那是糖吗？让我来尝尝吧。”约翰尼说。但是当他尝到那雪时，他不由得打了个寒栗，它实在是太凉了。“那就是雪，约翰尼。”妈妈告诉他。“约翰尼，这些雪花是从云彩上掉下来的小水滴。但是它们在经过非常寒冷的空气时，冷空气使它们凝结了，把它们变成雪花降落了下来。”
说着说着，妈妈从一个橱柜里取出了一顶黑帽子。“看，约翰尼！我已经捉到了一片雪花在这顶帽子上，快用放大镜看看它。你会发现它非常漂亮。”
约翰尼透过放大镜看着，发现那颗躺着的羽毛般洁白的雪花，就像一颗可爱的小星星。“闪闪发光的小星星！”他高兴地嚷道，“噢！我要更多的雪花，妈妈。”
于是，妈妈又接了几片雪花给他，它们都显得那样美丽。
第二天，约翰尼在雪地里尽情地玩耍着。当他回到屋中，他竟情不自禁地说：“我爱雪，我认为雪球比橘子可爱多了。”
经典原文JOHNNY'S FIRST SNOWSTORM
Johnny Reed was a little boy who never had seen a snowstorm till he was six years old.
Before this, he had lived in a warm country, where the sun shines down on beautiful orange groves, and fields always sweet with flowers.
But now he had come to visit his grandmother, who lived where the snow falls in winter. Johnny was standing at the window when the snow came down.
“O mamma!”he cried, joyfully,“do come quick, and see these little white birds flying down from heaven.”
“They are not birds, Johnny,”said mamma, smiling.
“Then maybe the little angels are losing their feathers! Oh! do tell me what it is; is it sugar? Let me taste it,”said
Johnny. But when he tasted it, he gave a little jump—it was so cold.
“That is only snow, Johnny,”said his mother.
“What is snow, mother?”
“The snowflakes, Johnny, are little drops of water that fall from the clouds. But the air through which they pass is so cold it freezes them, and they come down turned into snow.”
As she said this, she brought out an old black hat from the closet.“See, Johnny! I have caught a snowflake on this hat. Look quick through this glass, and you will see how beautiful it is.”
Johnny looked through the glass. There lay the pure, feathery snowflake like a lovely little star.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star!”he cried in delight.“Oh! please show me more snow flakes, mother.”
So his mother caught several more, and they were all beautiful.
The next day Johnny had a fine play in the snow, and when he carne in, he said,“I love snow; and I think snowballs are a great deal prettier than oranges.”第11课 蜂鸟
蜂鸟是世界上最美丽的鸟，它生活在西印度和南美大陆，细小玲珑的脑袋上长着闪闪发光的羽冠，就像戴着五颜六色的王冠。
彩色的羽毛装点着它的前胸，如此光彩夺目。它和其他鸟一样，从一个物体掠过另一个物体，那不像是有生命的东西，倒更像是阳光在闪烁。
也许你会问，为什么叫它蜂鸟呢？因为它在飞的时候，翅膀会迅速扇动，并发出柔和、嗡嗡的声音。它的翅膀扇动得非常快，以至于它在飞的时候你只能看到它们的翅膀。
一天，我在树林中散步时，发现了一个最小的蜂鸟所筑的巢。它大概有一只小鸡蛋的一半那么大，附着在一根比织针还细的嫩树枝上。
它看起来像是由棉絮组成的，上面覆盖着柔软的小树叶和树皮。巢里面有两只蜂鸟蛋，它们相当洁白，每只蛋大概只有小块方糖那么大。
当你接近蜂鸟巢的时候，千万得当心，蜂鸟妈妈可能向你猛冲过来，啄伤你的眼睛。
它那非常锋利的鸟喙可能会对你的眼睛造成严重伤害，甚至使你失明。
这可怜的小东西不知道用其他方法来保护自己的孩子，它的本能告诉自己，你们接近它的目的就是为了带走它的巢。
经典原文HUMMING BIRDS
The most beautiful humming birds are found in the West Indies and South America. The crest of the tiny head of one of these shines like a sparkling crown of colored light.
The shades of color that adorn its breast, are equally brilliant. As the bird flits from one object to another, it looks more like a bright flash of sunlight than it does like a living being.
But, you ask, why are they called humming birds? It is because they make a soft, humming noise by the rapid motion of their wings—a motion so rapid, that as they fly you can only see that they have wings.
One day when walking in the woods, I found the nest of one of the smallest humming birds. It was about half the size of a very small hen's egg, and was attached to a twig no thicker than a steel knitting needle.
It seemed to have been made of cotton fibers, and was covered with the softest bits of leaf and bark. It had two eggs in it, quite white, and each about as large as a small sugarplum.
When you approach the spot where one of these birds has built its nest, it is necessary to be careful. The mother bird will dart at you and try to peck your eyes. Its sharp beak may hurt your eyes most severely, and even destroy the sight.
The poor little thing knows no other way of defending its young, and instinct teaches it that you might carry off its nest if you could find it.第12课 浪花“我们要去哪里呀？”浪花问深沉的大海妈妈。“亲爱的孩子，我们要去金黄的沙滩，你要去那里做你的事儿。”“可我想去玩。”一朵小浪花说，“我想去比赛，看我们谁能跳得最高。”“不行，走吧，我们要出发了。”另一朵比较负责的浪花说，“妈妈说得对，我们还要工作呢。”“哦，我可不敢去。”还有一朵浪花说，“看看沙堆边那巨大的黑石吧，它一定会把我撕成碎片的，我可不去。”“拉着我的手吧，妹妹。”那朵比较负责的浪花说，“让我们一起出发吧，你要知道做这类工作有多么的光荣。”“我们还回到妈妈身边吗？”“当然了，只要我们把工作做完了就回来。”
于是大家匆忙地出发了。即使那朵最想玩的小浪花也觉得他们的工作才是最有趣的。那朵胆子比较小的浪花也不甘落后，奋勇地奔向沙滩。
第一次，他们是第一次来到这幢美丽的沙滩城堡。扑通！扑通！他们都冲了过来。“噢，太有趣了。”他们叫道。“妈妈让我带了一些海藻来，我要给它们找一个好的安家之所。”一朵浪花在岸边跑了好远，把海藻留在了浅水的鹅卵石上。鹅卵石嚷道：“欢迎你们的到来，我正想洗澡呢。”“妈妈让我带来一些海贝，我不知道该放在哪里？”一朵起着波纹的小浪花说。“把他们一个挨一个放到沙地上吧，不要摔坏了。”一朵年纪最大的浪花说。
小浪花做着自己的工作，把海贝轻轻地放到地上，小心极了，生怕摔坏一个。“我做什么呢？”一朵身材高大的浪花说，“这和玩差不多嘛，小个子都能轻松地做完这些工作。妈妈还说这是我的工作呢？！”它冲上了岸边那巨大的岩石。
穿过岩石，它来到一个小池子里，听到鱼儿说：“海水来了。真的，太感激你了，亲爱的大海，你总是在暴风雨来的时候给我们送来巨大的浪花。也感谢你，可爱的浪花，我们在这里挺好的。”
这时，浪花全都回到了岸边，它们累了，慢慢地退了回来。“我的贝壳全都完好无损。”一朵说。“我的海藻也留到了上面。”另一朵说。“我给所有的鹅卵石都洗了澡。”第三朵说。“我——冲过了岸边的岩石，来到一个小池里。”那个曾经想去做点大事的浪花说，“我没有做好，妈妈，那里没有什么事情可做。”“安静一下，孩子们。”大海说话了。这时他们听到一个在岸上走的小男孩说：“妈妈，海水都已经漫过来了！看，沙滩又干净又漂亮，连小池里的水也清澈无比。”
这时大海说：“听！”远远的，他们听见了风呜咽的声音，暴风雨要来了。“回来吧，我亲爱的孩子们。”大海妈妈说，“你们已经完成了你们的任务。现在让暴风雨去做他该做的事吧。”
经典原文THE WAVES
“Where are we to go?”said the little waves to the great, deep sea.
“Go, my darlings, to the yellow sands: you will find work to do there.”
“I want to play,”said one little wave;“I want to see who can jump the highest.”
“No; come on, come on,”said an earnest wave;“mother must be right. I want to work.”
“Oh, I dare not go,”said another;“look at those great, black rocks close to the sands; I dare not go there, for they will tear me to pieces.”
“Take my hand, sister,”said the earnest wave;“let us go on together. How glorious it is to do some work.”
“Shall we ever go back to mother?”“Yes, when our work is done.”
So one and all hurried on. Even the little wave that wanted to play, pressed on, and thought that work might be fun after all. The timid ones did not like to be left behind, and they became earnest as they got nearer the sands.
After all, it was fun, pressing on one after another—jumping, laughing, running on to the broad, shining sands.
First, they came in their course to a great sand castle. Splash, splash! they all went over it, and down it came.“Oh, what fun!”they cried.
“Mother told me to bring these seaweeds; I will find a pretty place for them,”said one—and she ran a long way over the sands, and left them among the pebbles. The pebbles cried,“We are glad you are come. We wanted washing.”
“Mother sent these shells; I don't know where to put them,”said a little fretful wave.“Lay them one by one on the sand, and do not break them,”said the eldest wave.
And the little one went about its work, and learned to be quiet and gentle, for fear of breaking the shells.
“Where is my work?”said a great, full grown wave.“this is mere play. The little ones can do this and laugh over it. Mother said there was work for me.”And he came down upon some large rocks.
Over the rocks and into a pool he went, and he heard the fishes say,“The sea is coming. Thank you, great sea; you always send a big wave when a storm is nigh. Thank you, kind wave; we are all ready for you now.”
Then the waves all went back over the wet sands, slowly and carelessly, for they were tired.
“All my shells are safe,”said one.
And,“My seaweeds are left behind,”said another.
“I washed all of the pebbles,”said a third.
“And I—I only broke on a rock, and splashed into a pool,”said the one that was so eager to work.“I have done no good, mother—no work at all”
“Hush!”said the sea. And they heard a child that was walking on the shore, say,“O mother, the sea has been here! Look, how nice and clean the sand is, and how clear the water is in that pool.”
Then the sea, said,“Hark!”and far away they heard the deep moaning of the coming storm.
“Come, my darlings,”said she;“you have done your work, now let the storm do its work.”第13课 暴风雨
旅程的第二天，他们来到海兰德。这是一个寂静、闷热的下午，他们随着海浪的起伏，在峻峭的群山间漂浮。在夏日的炙烤下，万物沉寂无声。木板的转动声，或是船桨偶尔碰在甲板上的声音，都在群山间引起回荡，回声沿着海岸一遍遍激荡着。而且每次船长喊出一道指令之后，好像无数无形的舌头就会从每处悬崖中伸出来，重复着他刚才的话。
道尔夫瞪大眼睛四处张望，默默地欣赏着大自然的奇观，品味其中的愉悦和奇妙。左边，顿德斯堡高耸着树木茂密的峭壁，一层高过一层，树林层层叠叠，直抵高远的夏日天际。右边，矗立着安东尼岬一只孤独的雄鹰正展翅飞过。远处，山峦叠嶂，绵延起伏。
这时，道尔夫注意到一堆明亮、雪白的云朵，在西山顶上向他窥望着。云朵一层压着一层，每一层都好像将前面的一层用力往前推着，最上面的一直垒进茫茫的蓝天里。隐约可以听到群山后面雷声滚滚。水面刚才还像镜子一样平静光滑，倒映着蓝天和高山，这时也被一阵风吹起暗色的波浪。鱼鹰盘旋鸣叫着，飞上干燥的树顶栖息。乌鸦乱作一团，飞向岩石的缝隙。自然界的万物都意识到，一场暴风雨就要来临了。
山顶的云朵这时聚做一团，虽然云尖还是明亮雪白的，但其余的地方已经是泼墨般乌黑。大颗雨点没头没脑地砸下来，风儿清新，卷起浪花。不久，厚厚的云朵好像被尖耸的山峰刺穿了一样，大雨倾泻而下。闪电在云层之间滚来滚去，岩石都跟着颤抖起来，林中的树木也东摇西摆。雷声接踵而至，在群山中回响着。它们先冲上了顿德堡，又沿着山间隘路上了海兰德，沿途在每个山头都留下了新的回声，老布尔山也向暴风雨吠叫着。
有一段时间，疾风、迷雾和倾盆大雨遮蔽了眼前的一切。四周是一片让人恐惧的昏暗，大雨中不时闪耀的闪电更让人心惊。道尔夫还从未见识过如此狂暴的自然界，就好像暴雨在山崖中撕开一道裂缝，并且汇集了所有天堂的武器开始作战。（华盛顿·欧文）
背景知识
华盛顿·欧文（1783～1859年），著名作家，其作品在美国文学中占有重要地位。他出生于纽约市，接受了普通学校教育，19岁时为他兄弟的报纸写文章，从此开始了文学生涯。他的第一本书《杂录》出版于1807年。两年后他出版了《纽约的早期历史》。1815年，他到了欧洲，并在那里度过了17年，其间完成了几部著作。1842年到1846年，他担任西班牙大臣。他生命的最后时光在纽约塔利顿附近的“萨尼塞德”（意为光明的地方）度过。他终生未婚，《华盛顿的生活》是他后期的作品，同年去世。欧文先生的作品幽默、朴素、优美，表达准确。本文选自《布雷斯布里奇大厅》。
经典原文THE THUNDERSTORM
In the second day of the voyage, they came to the Highlands. It was the latter part of a calm, sultry day, that they floated gently with the tide between these stern mountains. There was that perfect quiet which prevails over nature in the languor of summer heat. The turning of a plank, or the accidental falling of an oar, on deck, was echoed from the mountain side and reverberated along the shores; and, if by chance the captain gave a shout of command, there were airy tongues that mocked it from every cliff.
Dolph gazed about him, in mute delight and wonder, at these scenes of nature's magnificence. To the left, the Dunderberg reared its woody precipices, height over height, forest over forest, away into the deep summer sky. To the right, strutted forth the bold promontory of Antony's Nose, with a solitary eagle wheeling about it; while beyond, mountain succeeded to mountain, until they seemed to lock their arms together and confine this mighty rive in their embraces.
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