sign marks parcels venture inquire
chalk ruling drawing pictures confused
1. Charles Rose lived in the country with his father, who taught him to read and to write.
2. Mr. Rose told his son that, when his morning lessons were over, he might amuse himself for one hour as he pleased.
3. There was a river near by. On its bank stood the hut of a poor fisherman, who lived by selling fish
4. His careful wife kept her wheel going early and late. They both
worked very hard to keep themselves above want.
5. But they were greatly troubled lest their only son should never learn to read and to write. They could not teach him themselves, and they were too poor to send him to school.
6. Charles called at the hut of this fisherman one day, to inquire about hisdog, which was missing.
7. He found the little boy, whose name was Joe, sitting by the table, on which he was making marks with a piece of chalk. Charles asked him whether he was drawing pictures.
8. “No, I am trying to write,” said little Joe, “but I know only two words. Those I saw upon a sign, and I am trying to write them.”
9. “If I could only learn to read and write,” said he, “I should be the happiest boy in the world.”
10. “Then I will make you happy,” said Charles. “I am only a little boy, but I can teach you that.
11. “My father gives me an hour every day for myself. Now, if you will try to learn, you shall soon know how to read and to write.”
12. Both Joe and his mother were ready to fall on their knees to thank Charles. They told him it was what they wished above all things.
13. So, on the next day when the hour came, Charles put his book in his pocket, and went to teach Joe. Joe learned very fast, and Charles soon began to teach him how to write.
14. Some time after, a gentleman called on Mr. Rose, and asked him if he knew where Charles was. Mr. Rose said that he was taking a walk, he supposed.
15. “I am afraid,” said the gentleman, “that he does not always amuse himself thus. I often see him go to the house of the fisherman. I fear he goes out in their boat.”
16. Mr. Rose was much troubled. He had told Charles that he must never venture on the river, and he thought he could trust him.
17. The moment the gentleman left, Mr. Rose went in search of his son. He went to the river, and walked up and down, in hope of seeing the boat.
18. Not seeing it, he grew uneasy. He thought Charles must have gone a long way off. Unwilling to leave without learning something of him, he went to the hut.
19. He put his head in at the window, which was open. There a pleasant sight met his eyes.
20. Charles was at the table, ruling a copybook Joe was reading to him, while his mother was spinning in the corner.
21. Charles was a little confused. He feared his father might not be pleased; but he had no need to be uneasy, for his father was delighted.
22. The next day, his father took him to town, and gave him books for himself and Joe, with writing paper, pens, and ink.
23. Charles was the happiest boy in the world when he came home. He ran to Joe, his hands filled with parcels, and his heart beating with jo.
【中文阅读】
1. 查尔斯· 罗斯和父亲住在乡下。在那里,父亲教他读书和写字。
2. 罗斯先生告诉儿子,每天上午的课程结束后,他可以随意玩耍一个小时。
3. 他们的住处附近有一条河,河岸上有一个小屋,住着一个可怜的穷渔夫,靠打鱼为生。
4. 渔夫那勤劳的妻子总是从早忙到晚,一刻也不闲着。他们都很努力地想让自己的生活更好些。
5. 但是,他们又在为自己唯一的儿子无法学习而犯愁。他们既无法自己教孩子学习,又因为贫穷而没有能力送孩子去学校里学习。
6. 有一天,查尔斯来到这个渔夫家中,问他有没有看到一条走失的狗。
7. 他看到渔夫的儿子——一个名叫乔的小男孩正坐在桌子上,用一支粉笔在上面做记号。查尔斯问他是否在画画。
8. “没有,我在试着写字呢,”乔说,“但是,我只认识两个字,是从一个标牌上看到的,我正要试着写下来呢。”
9. “要是我能学习阅读和写字就好了,”他继续说,“那我就成了世界上最幸福的人。”
10. 查尔斯说:“那么,我来让你幸福吧,我虽然只是一个小孩子,但是我能教你阅读和写字。”
11. “父亲每天都会给我一个小时的时间。如果你想学习,很快就能学会如何阅读、如何写字了。”
12. 乔和他的妈妈都快要跪下来感谢查尔斯了。他们告诉他,这正是自己最大的心愿。
13. 于是,在第二天可以自由活动的时候,查尔斯将书本放到口袋里,准备去给乔上课。乔非常聪明,学得很快,查尔斯已经开始教他如何写字了。
14. 过了一段时间,有一位绅士前来拜访罗斯先生,问他是否知道查尔斯在哪里。罗斯先生说,他以为查尔斯出去散步了。
15. 这位先生说:“我很担心,他不会一直自己玩的。我经常看到他去渔夫住的小屋。我担心他会坐船出去。”
16. 罗斯先生有点慌乱了。他曾经嘱咐过查尔斯不要到河里去玩,那样很危险,而且他还以为应该相信孩子。
17. 就在那位先生离开后,罗斯也出去寻找儿子。他走到河边,来来回回地找,希望能看到小船。
18. 什么也没有看到,这让他更加心神不安了。他以为查尔斯已经离岸边很远了。他并不想如此一无所获地回家,于是便走向渔夫住的小屋。
19. 小屋有一扇打开的窗户,他探头进去观望,一幅令人愉快的画面映入他的眼帘。
20. 查尔斯正用笔在桌上的一本字帖上划着,乔在跟着他一起读,而乔的妈妈正在角落里纺纱。
21. 查尔斯有点困惑了。他害怕父亲不高兴,但他也不必为此感到不安,因为父亲看上去很快乐。
22. 第二天,父亲带他去城里,为他和乔分别买了课本,还有写字用的纸、笔和墨水。
23. 在回家的路上,查尔斯感到自己是最幸福的孩子。他两手拿着包裹,快速跑到乔的家中,高兴得心都快跳出来了。