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LESSON 15
1. “Fire! fire!” The cry crept out on the still night air, and the fire bellbegan to ring. Fred was wakened by the alarm and the red light streaming into his room. He dressed himself in a moment, almost, and tapped at the door of his mother’s bedroom.
2. “It is Mr. Barton’s house, mother. Do let me go,” he said in eager, excited tones. Mrs. Liscom thought a moment. He was young, but she could trust him, and she knew how much his heart was in the request.
3. “Yes, you may go,” she answered; “but be careful, my boy. If you can help, do so; but do nothing rashly.” Fred promised to follow her advice,and hurried to the fire.
4. Mr. and Mrs. Barton were not at home. The house had been left incharge of the servants. The fire spread with fearful speed, for there was ahigh wind, and it was found impossible to save the house. The servants ran about, screaming and lamenting, but doing nothing to any purpose.
5. Fred found Tom outside, in safety. “Where is Katy?” he asked. Tom, trembling with terror, seemed to have had no thought but of his own escape. He said, “Katy is in the house!” “In what room?” asked Fred. “In that one,” pointing to a window in the upper story.
6. It was no time for words, but for instant, vigorous action. The staircasewas already on fire; there was but one way to reach Katy, and that full of danger. The second floor might fall at any moment, and Fred knew it. Buthe trusted in an arm stronger than his own, and silently sought help and guidance.
7. A ladder was quickly brought, and placed against the house. Fred mounted it, followed by the hired man, dashed in the sash of the window, and pushed his way into the room where the poor child lay nearly suffocated with smoke.
8. He roused her with some difficulty, carried her to the window, and placed her upon the sill. She was instantly grasped by strong arms, and carried down the ladder, Fred following as fast as possible. They had scarcely reached the ground before a crash of falling timbers told them that they had barely escaped with their lives.
9. Tom Barton never forgot the lesson of that night; and he came to believe, and to act upon the belief, in after years, that true manliness is in harmony with gentleness, kindness, and self-denial.
EXERCISES.—Relate the story of the fire. What is meant b y“to any purpose,” in paragraph four? Did Fredshow any lack of manliness when tested? What does this lesson teach?
【中文阅读】
1. “着火啦！着火啦！”叫喊声划破了寂静的夜空，火灾报警铃声随之响起。报警声惊醒了弗雷德，红色的火光向着他的房间逼近。他立刻穿上衣服，几乎同时敲响了他母亲卧室的门。
2. “是巴顿家的房子着火了，妈妈。让我去帮忙吧。”他用急切而又激动的语气说道。利斯科姆夫人想了一下。虽然他年纪不大，但她相信他能行，而且她也知道他的请求是多么真心实意。
3 . “好吧，你可以去，”她回答，“但一定要小心，我的孩子。如果你能帮
上忙，那一定要帮；不过千万不要莽撞。”弗雷德保证会遵从母亲的建议，然后匆忙向火灾现场跑去。
4. 巴顿夫妇不在家。房子留给佣人们照看。火势以令人恐惧的速度蔓延着，由于风力太大，想保住房子是不可能的了。佣人们纷纷叫嚷着、抱怨着，四散逃窜，任何想办法的事都没做。
5. 弗雷德在外面找到了汤姆，他安然无恙。“凯蒂在哪儿？”弗雷德问。汤姆害怕得浑身发抖，看起来他只想着自己逃出来，其他的都顾不上了。汤姆说：“凯蒂在房子里！”“在哪间？”弗雷德问道。“就是那间。”汤姆指向了楼上的一扇窗户。
6. 没时间多说了，得马上采取有力的行动。楼梯已经着火了。现在只有一条路能到凯蒂房间，而这条路却又异常危险。弗雷德知道，房子的二楼随时都有可能坍塌。但是他信任那些比他有力气的大人，然后轻声地向他们寻求帮助和指导。
7. 人们很快拿来了一架梯子，把它搭在了房子外墙上。弗雷德爬上了梯子，雇来的人紧随其后，先后从窗框冲了进去。他立刻奔向凯蒂的房间，那个可怜的孩子在里面被浓烟呛得几乎要窒息了。
8. 他费力地叫醒凯蒂，将她抱到窗边，放在窗台上。她随即被一双强有力的胳膊紧紧抓住并抱下了梯子。弗雷德以最快的速度紧跟其后。他们刚一站到地面上就听到了木头掉落的撞击声，这说明刚才他们差点就没机会逃命了。
9. 汤姆· 巴顿永远也忘不了那天夜里的一课。在之后的岁月里，他开始相信并且用行动实践这一信念，即真正的男子汉是温柔、善良和自我牺牲的统一。