100个儿童英语小故事: The Silent Book 寂静的书

 

065 The Silent¹ Book

A long time ago, there was a farmhouse². A casket was under the tree in the garden. Since no one lived in the house, nobody felt sad.

There was a thick book as well as a dead body inside of the casket. Many kinds of flowers and plants were put in the book. One day, a young traveler heard about the dead man's story from an old farmer. "He was a student from Sweden."

"He could speak foreign languages and write poems. He was smart, but suddenly, he lost his talent. That's why he came to this ranch³. He sat down and thought about something everyday. Sometimes he read, and cried. Before he died, he asked me a favor⁴."

"What did he ask you?" "To put a book in his casket. That poor boy has a sweet sleep forever in the casket now."

The young traveler saw the dead student's face. "He looks so peaceful. Maybe he is happy now." "I don't know why his old pen pals⁵ don't come over here to see him." "Maybe they are all just busy."

"He used to think for a long time reading the old letters. His friends are all gone, and he is alone now. What a pity!"

"Anyway, what are those leaves in the book?" "I have no idea." The leaves were still in the book, but the friendship was gone.

"There are white flowers." "The dead student pulled the flowers up for himself. His tears are still in the flower." "There are nettles⁶, trumpet⁷ honeysuckle and even lilies! Wow, those are a lot of flowers!"

"Every single flower has the student's memory. But now, it is just a memory of the past." Soon, a woodworker came to cover the casket. Dead men always keep silent leaving their secrets behind them.

1 silent   

adj.安静的，不吵闹的，沉默的，无言的；n.(复数)默剧

参考例句：

• Immediately on his beginning to speak,everyone was silent.他一讲话，大家顿时安静下来。
• The boys looked at the conjuror in silent wonder. 孩子们目瞪口呆地看着那魔术师。

2 farmhouse   

n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房）

参考例句：

• We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
• We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。

3 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

4 favor   

n.好感；赞同；好事；vt.赞同，喜爱；有利于

参考例句：

• She is out of favor with her employer.她失去了雇主的欢心。
• The new teacher finds favor in the eyes of the parents.那位新老师很受家长的欢迎。

5 pals   

n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙

参考例句：

• We've been pals for years. 我们是多年的哥们儿了。
• CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+细胞在再生脾PALS和RP内均明显增加(P 来自互联网

6 nettles   

n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I tingle where I sat in the nettles. 我坐过在荨麻上的那个部位觉得刺痛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard. 那蔓草丛生的凄凉地方是教堂公墓。 来自辞典例句

7 trumpet   

n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘

参考例句：

• He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
• The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。