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1、国外英文文学系列 Caryls Plumby Margaret SidneyMargaret Sidney was the pseudonym of American author Harriett Mulford Stone Lothrop (June 22, 1844August 2, 1924). In addition to writing popular childrens stories, she ran her husband Daniel Lothrops publishing company after his death. After they bought The Way
2、side country house together, they worked hard to make it a center of literary life. He put in his thumb And pulled out a plum.So sang Caryl over the stairs.Now if HE pulled out a plum, why shouldnt SHE? she said to herself, halting a bit by the landing window. And a good big plum too-nice and juicy.
3、 O Aunt Sylvia, Aunt Sylvia!She fairly hugged herself in glee, then drew one long breath and dashed on to her own poor little room.Oh, you here, Viny? she exclaimed in surprise as she flung open the door.A small figure rose to a perpendicular position in front of the old bureau, while a shoving-to o
4、f the under drawer proclaimed some attention having been paid to the pretty laces, ribbons, and various other adornments packed away for safe keeping.Caryl remembered leaving the key in the drawer after taking out a bit of lavender ribbon the night before for Aunt Sylvias cap.What have you been doin
5、g? she asked sharply; and taking hold of the small wiry shoulder, she looked down into a little black face whose eyes were staring solemnly into the farthest corner of the room.Ben doin? repeated Viny, scared almost to death inwardly, but preserving a cool exterior. Nothin, only shettin the draw; pl
6、aguey thing wouldnt stay put. Tore my dress, she added mumblingly to fill out the pause.Where? said Caryl, looking sharply at her.Dar, said Viny, with a violent twist, so that she could compass the back breadths of her blue gingham frock, and she pointed abruptly to a cat-a-cornered rent.Oh, no, you
7、 didnt, contradicted Caryl, looking her through and through, and giving her a small shake, tear that either; I heard Maum Patty scold you yesterday for letting Jip bite it and snip out a piece.Well, somefin tore, said Viny. I donno whar tis, but its somewhars. A mighty smart tare, too, Miss Ca.Ill l
8、ock, and lock, and lock, declared the young girl, now down on her knees before her precious drawer, before I run the chance of your rummaging fingers getting here again. Now then, Viny!Yesm, said the little black girl obsequiously, and rolling her eyes to all quarters; Oh, yesm!We are going to move,
9、 Viny, said her young mistress, taking the key out of its lock, and turning her back on drawers and contents, to sit on the floor with hands folded in her lap while she watched the effect of her words.MOVE? echoed Viny with a start; Oh, lawks! whatevers dat, Miss?Why, go to a new place, said Caryl,
10、laughing in spite of herself. For mercys sake, child, do take your eyes in! Itll be very fine, Viny, oh, so fine! she cried enthusiastically.An lib here nebber no mo? cried the little black figure in a shrill scream; wot, an hev no leaky sink dat keps me a-swashin and a-swashin, an no old ruf dat le
11、ts in hull buckets full o water onter de bed, an-No, said Caryl, interrupting the steady stream of invective against the old heuse, everythings to be as new and nice and neat as a pin, Viny-sinks and everything else; you cant begin to think how splendid its to be!Im goin to tell gramma, cried Viny,
12、wholly off her balance, dis berry same minnit. Lawks! but wont she be tickled to leave the ole shell! Den Ill git my bunnet an go wid yer, Miss Ca, in tree shakes of a lobsters whisker!She scampered in the greatest excitement to the door, when a detaining pull on the end of her long apron, brought h
13、er to a full stop.You are crazy, child! exclaimed Caryl, bursting into a laugh and holding her fast. We cant go this moment, no matter how bad the old house is. Listen, Viny!But the small figure flung itself into a heap on the floor so suddenly that she nearly pulled her young mistress with her, whi
14、le the little black hands clapped themselves over the bead like eyes, wail after wail of disappointment making the room to ring.Will you STOP! cried Caryl in perfect despair. Aunt Sylvias head will snap with your noise! If you dont stop crying, Viny, you shant go when the rest of us are ready to mov
15、e, so there, now.Threats had the power to do what nothing else could. Viny wiped off all the tears with the backs of her grimy little paws, gave two or three concluding sniffs, sat up straight, and was immediately all right for further developments.Now then-Caryl pointed off her sentences briskly on
16、 the tips of her rosy fingers-you must try to help-well, an awful great deal, Viny, yourself, or else it cant be a moving for any single one of us.Vinys eyes widened fearfully, but she didnt stir.If you will take care-mind! SPLENDID care of Aunt Sylvia every morning, said Caryl slowly and with extre
17、me empressment- watch and get her everything she wants, not wait for her to ask for anything, then I can go off down street and make lots and lots of money, Viny. Think of that, lots and lots! Then we can move, and Aunt Sylvia will maybe get well.Caryls gray eyes were only a thought less big than th
18、ose of her small black audience, who presently caught the infectious enthusiasm and emitted several lusty crows.Jiminy-oh, I DIDNT say it-I didnt-I didnt! O Jiminy, I didnt-I didnt-O Jimmy, I-Stop saying it, then, exclaimed her young mistress decidedly, and enforcing her words by a vigorous shake.Oh
19、, I didnt-I will-O Jiminy! yes, I will! cried the little black delinquent, the full tide of original sin taking an unfair advantage of her excitement to engulf her. Oh-er- oh-er-r-Caryl came to her rescue by giving her a new idea.See how splendid you can be, Viny dear, she said kindly. You can be su
20、ch a good little helper, so that part of the new home will be of your getting; for I never could have the chance to earn anything if you didnt take my place and be Aunt Sylvias nurse.I know how, said Viny, perfectly overcome with the greatness thrust upon her; its to slip crickets under her feet to
21、put her toes onter. Ill slip em all day. An its to wipe her specs, an to say yes, no, an to-To be good, finished Caryl solemnly; that comprehends the whole business.To be good, repeated the small nurse yet more solemnly, an to compren the whole busness; I will.You are a ridiculous child, cried Caryl
22、 impatiently; I dont really suppose you are fit to be trusted, but then, its the only thing to try.Viny, having been duly elected to office, considered her honors settled, so she was little disturbed by any opinions that might be held concerning her. Therefore she squatted and wriggled in great deli
23、ght, grinning at every word that fell from her young mistress lips.You see, Viny, Caryl was saying, beginning on her confidence, Ive got an order to teach the little Grant girls how to paint, and if I can run down there two hours every morning, Im to have twenty-five dollars, and Madam Grant is goin
24、g to give it to me in advance; that is, after the first quarter. Think, Viny, TWENTY-FIVE dollars! Thats what we want to move with into Hearts Delight!This was the upstairs southwest corner of a little cottage that for a year or more had been the desideratum of the young girls highest hopes that had
25、 to wear themselves out in empty longings, the invalids scanty exchequer only sufficing for doctors bills and similar twelvemonth, along with several other broken-down lodgers whose slender means compelled them to call this place home-this place where never a bit of sunshine seemed to come; where ev
26、en the birds hated to stop for a song as they flew merrily over the tree-tops. And no wonder. The trees were scraggy, loppy old things hanging down in dismal sweep over the leaky roof and damp walls. They had to stay-the lodgers, but the birds and the sunshine tossed off the whole responsibility of
27、life in such a gloomy old home, and flitted to gayer quarters. But now, what if Hearts Delight could really be theirs!Yer goin ter tell em how to paint dem tings yer daub? broke in Viny, and snapping off this delightful thought.You shouldnt speak so, child, said Caryl with the greatest dignity; its
28、very fine work, and you couldnt possibly understand it. Its art, Viny.Ho, ho! laughed the small black figure, nowise impressed and cramming her stumpy fingers up to her mouth to keep the laugh in as she saw her young mistress displeasure. Its an awful old dirty muss, an I wish I could do it, she add
29、ed under her breath.And I shall begin tomorrow, declared Caryl with still greater dignity, and drawing herself to her full height. Aunt Sylvia says shell try you. Now youll be good, wont you? she added anxiously. Its only for two hours a day, Viny.Ill be good, declared Viny, strues I live an breeve.
30、 Meanwhile the darkest of plans ran riot in her little black head.Hearts Delight-Hearts Delight! sang Caryls happy voice all that day; and like St. Patricks poor imprisoned snake, she began to feel that to-morrow would never come.But hours come and go, and Caryl awoke the next morning, the brightest
31、, cheeriest morning that ever called a happy girl out of bed.Aunt Sylvia wont have many more days in that dark little room of hers, she cried to herself, throwing on her clothes rapidly. Oh, dear, where ARE the pins? I cant bear to wait a minute any more than Viny, when I think of that dear lovely n
32、est, and the bay-window, and all that sunshine. Ill always have it full of flowers, and the bird shall sing all the time, and-and- and-The rest was lost in a dash of cold water over the rosy face, and Caryl soon presented herself at her aunts bedside.Ill do well enough while you are gone, said her a
33、unt, smiling up from the pillows into the bright face above hers. Now youre not to worry about me in the least, for you cannot do justice to yourself if your mind is troubled. Remember, Caryl, and be thorough in your efforts to teach your little pupils.And Madam Grant is going to buy some of my pane
34、ls and little plaques, I almost know, cried Caryl, bustling around for her aunts long woolen wrapper and her day slippers, for she told me she should want to see them some time. Then, Auntie- oh, then!The young girl in her eagerness climbed upon the old bed to lay her fresh young cheek against the p
35、ale thin one. How she longed to put brightness into the poor invalids life!Remember, said Aunt Sylvia lightly, to hide the tears in her voice, your fortunes to be made. Only be prompt and thorough, and put your whole mind to your work. That is the secret of success.I will, Auntie, oh, I WILL! cried
36、Caryl happily, and Viny will do well, I guess, she added, the gleeful tones dropping down with an anxious note.Viny will prove a capital little nurse, I expect, said Miss Sylvia cheerfully; now the day wont wait, Caryl, so get your old auntie up.My old auntie is just LOVELY, cried the girl, hopping
37、off from the bed, and flying around merrily, well pleased at last when the invalid was in her chair, to see a little faint, pink color stealing up the wan cheek.The best cap, Aunt Sylvia-the best cap! she cried, running for the one with the fresh lavender ribbons.What an extravagant puss! exclaimed
38、Aunt Sylvia, willing to humor the gay little heart, and tapping her cheek as the young girl settled the cap on the lovely gray hair.Everything must be best to-day, cried Caryl recklessly. Its all fresh and new and fine! All the world is made just for us.Maum Patty saw Caryl run down the dirty little
39、 brick path that served for all the lodgers in the old house as a walk to the broken-down gate, with her color-box under her arm, and her little roll of pictures in her hand, and heaved a sigh from her ample bosom.Dat chile cant make no fortin like shes a-tinkin of, but laws! let her try. Here, yer
40、Viny, yer, be off up to de Missis room. Scat now! De pore lettle lamb, she mourned, as her hopeful grandchild unwillingly dragged her recreant feet off to her duties, leaving her grandmother to pursue her reflections in peace, it mos busts my heart to see her a-workin an de Missis keepin up an prete
41、ndin shes as fine as a queen. Twarnt so in ole Pattys day. Den dar wos plenty-pies and turkeys. Lors, what stumpers! An hull barls o flour, an sugar, an a creation sight of eberyting in de beyeutiful house, an now look at dis ole shell!Maum Patty tossed her turban in intense scorn at each of the dar
42、k soot-begrimed walls of the place called kitchen.Missis ud feel more like folks, she said at each disdainful scrutiny, an like as not git well, ef we cud cut sticks inter anudder home. Ef de chile only CUD do it!She peered anxiously down the dirty little brick walk again, then fetched a still longe
43、r sigh.I dont darst to! she declared in a mighty burst at last. I dont, cos wot ud keep us all from the pore-us den. Its every speck I kin do ter keep along of de Miss an Carl an take keer of em widout a cent o pay; I dont darst tech my stockin bag in de bank.Maum Patty always spoke of her scanty sa
44、vings deposited in the neighboring bank, in this way, fondly supposing them in the original condition in which ten years ago, she had taken them there for future shield against sickness and old age.Meantime the little black nurse had begun her work.Peering around Miss Sylvias half-closed door, Viny
45、exclaimed to herself, Umph! she dont want me; guess shes areadin now. Ill git into Miss Cas room an try on all her cloes an pertend Im makin calls, an peek inter ebery single place whar I kin, an Ill be a lady, an dar shant no one scold Viny.Viny, called Miss Sylvias soft voice, hearing a rustle at
46、the door. Dats Jip shes a-talkin ter, I reckon, said Viny, stealing off on her tiptoes down the hall, and sticking her fingers in her ears that she might hear no more troublesome conscience calls; I seen him on de rug when I peeked in de crack. Now den- Whoop, says I, WHOOP!She was safe now in Caryl
47、s room, where the first thing she did was to indulge in a series of somersaults over the floor, and also, for variety, over the neat little white bed. These afforded her intense comfort. When she came up bright and shining after this celebration of her independence, she drew herself up with a serious face and proceeded at once to stern business.Two hours aint long, she observed wisely, an I mus be back some of de time. Jiminy! shes forgot de key again! In truth, Caryl in her great excitement of