VOA慢速英语 2007 1014

VOICE ONE:

I’m Bob Doughty¹.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Phoebe Zimmermann with PEOPLE IN AMERICA from VOA Special English. Today, we tell the story of Davy Crockett.  He was a hunter, fighter, storyteller and elected official.  For many people, he represented the spirit of the American wilderness².

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VOICE ONE:

David Crockett was born in what is now Greene County, Tennessee in seventeen 
Davy Crockett
eighty-six. He was the fifth of nine children born to John and Rebecca Hawkins Crockett.

Davy’s grandparents were among the first white people to live in eastern Tennessee.  His grandfather had moved there in search of land to settle.  Before Davy was born, his grandparents and other settlers were killed by a group of Native American Indian warriors³. 

Life in the wilderness was difficult.  John Crockett repeatedly moved his family in an effort to find a good place to live.  In seventeen ninety-six, he opened a tavern⁴, or drinking place.  The tavern was a popular stop for travelers.  Davy probably heard many stories told by the people at his father’s tavern.

VOICE TWO:

Davy Crockett started attending a small school when he was about thirteen years old.  A few days later, he fought with another boy at the school.  After that, Davy decided⁵ to run away from home to escape his father’s punishment.  For more than two years, he worked a number of unskilled jobs to support himself.  When Davy returned home, he was so tall that his family did not recognize him.  When they finally did, they celebrated⁶ his return.

Two hundred years ago, a boy either worked for his father or surrendered his pay if he worked for someone else.  To gain his independence, Davy worked for about a year to help pay his father’s debts.  He borrowed a gun from one employer and became good at shooting.  Within a short time, Davy was a skilled hunter and trapper of wild animals.  He was able to provide food and clothing for himself and his family.

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VOICE ONE:

Davy Crockett married Polly Finley in eighteen-oh-six.  At first they lived in a small place near Davy’s parents.  Five years later, Davy, Polly and their two boys moved west into what is now Lincoln County, Tennessee.  Later, they settled in Franklin County, near what was then the territory of Alabama. 

About this time, Creek⁷ Indian warriors killed many settlers at Fort Mims, Alabama.  When news of the attack reached Crockett, he joined an army force under the command of Andrew Jackson.  Crockett served in the army during the Creek Indian War.  He also explored areas controlled by Indian warriors. 

Crockett returned home when his military service ended.  He decided to re-join the army in eighteen-fourteen, just before the Treaty of Ghent officially ended the fighting.  At the time, General Jackson’s force was attempting to stop British-trained Indian forces in Florida.

VOICE TWO:

Davy Crockett returned home after the war. His wife Polly died in eighteen fifteen.  Crockett needed a wife to raise his children.  A short time later, he met and married Elizabeth Patton, whose husband had died.

More and more settlers were moving to Tennessee.  Crockett seemed restless and traveled many times into the wilderness.  In Alabama, he became infected with malaria⁸ and almost died.  Later, he and his family moved again, this time to what would become Lawrence County, Tennessee. 

Crockett was elected to the position of colonel in the local military force.  He also was appointed a local court official.  He became popular with the people and developed an interest in politics. 

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VOICE ONE:

Davy Crockett loved the wilderness and became famous as a hunter.  He also was a good storyteller.  His stories were based partly on fact and partly on his imagination. For example, he told one story about an unusual experience when he was hunting.  Crockett said the animal he was hunting looked at him once and surrendered immediately, without a single shot being fired.  He also told stories about killing⁹ more than one hundred bears in six months.

Crockett was able to remember almost anything that he had heard. He found that his storytelling skills were helpful when he was campaigning for political office.   For example, he once memorized an opponent’s campaign speech word for word.  Crockett repeated the speech as his own during a debate. The opponent was so surprised to hear his own words that he was forced to make unprepared statements.

VOICE TWO:

Crockett won a seat in the Tennessee legislature in eighteen twenty-one.  As a lawmaker, he became an expert in land policy, especially in wilderness areas.  Crockett always did what he believed was right. He thought others should do the same.  He was known for these words: “Be always sure you are right, then go ahead.‿/P>

After his term in office, Crockett decided to move his family further into the wilderness.  They settled in what is now Gibson County, Tennessee.  Crockett was so popular there that he was re-elected to the state legislature.  Two years later, he was chosen as a candidate for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.  This time, however, he was defeated. 

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VOICE ONE:

Crockett won a seat in the House of Representatives the second time he was nominated in eighteen twenty-seven.  He was re-elected two years later.  During this period, another Tennessee native, General Andrew Jackson, was elected President.  Crockett generally claimed to support President Jackson’s programs. 

But he opposed the president and other members of Congress from Tennessee on several issues, including land reform.  He also opposed a measure that forced Indian tribes from their native lands.  However, even with Crockett’s opposition¹⁰, the Indian Resettlement Act passed. 

VOICE TWO:

President Jackson’s supporters prevented Crockett from winning a third term in 
A painting of Davy Crockett 
Congress.  However, he returned to the House of Representatives in eighteen thirty-three.  By this time, his fame as a hunter, Indian fighter and storyteller was spreading.  First, a book about Crockett was published.  Later, he wrote a book about his life.  Several artists made paintings of the famous Tennessee woodsman. Some pictures show him wearing clothing made of animal skins and a hat made of raccoon fur.

Crockett made several trips to speak in cities in the eastern United States.  The Whig political party provided support for the trips.  Some Whig leaders were considering Crockett as the party’s candidate for President in eighteen thirty-six.  However, his hopes for a political future ended when he lost his seat in the House of Representatives to a supporter of President Jackson. 

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VOICE ONE:

After his political defeat, Davy Crockett had a desire to see the wilderness again.  He set out with a number of other men to explore the western area of Texas.  Crockett believed that he could renew his political life there.  At the time, American settlers in Texas were fighting to gain independence from Mexico.

Crockett joined more than one hundred eighty men who had established a fort at the Alamo, an old Roman Catholic mission in San Antonio.  The commander of the Texas Army ordered the men to destroy the Alamo.  He did not believe it could be defended against a strong Mexican attack.  However, the men disobeyed the order. 

VOICE TWO:

 
A Painting of Davy Crockett fighting at the Alamo
When Mexican troops attacked the Alamo, the men battled against them for almost two weeks.  But on March sixth, eighteen thirty-six, Mexican forces captured the Alamo.  Some historians believe that all the defenders¹¹ died in battle.  Others believe that a few men survived the battle, but were executed.  Davy Crockett died with the other heroes at the Alamo.  He was forty-nine years old. 

After his death, Davy Crockett became even more famous and popular.  His life has been celebrated in books, plays, movies, television shows and songs, like this one. 

(MUSIC: “The Ballad¹² of Davy Crockett‿

VOICE ONE:

This program was written by George Grow. It was produced by Lawan Davis.  I’m Bob Doughty.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Phoebe Zimmermann.  Join us again next week for PEOPLE IN AMERICA from VOA Special English.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

4 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

7 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

8 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 ballad   

n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲

参考例句：

• This poem has the distinctive flavour of a ballad.这首诗有民歌风味。
• This is a romantic ballad that is pure corn.这是一首极为伤感的浪漫小曲。