A-white-heron.doc

A white heronSarah Orne JewettIntroductionHere the story of a girl whose name means creature of the woods reminds all of us that we must be willing to stand alone, to make efforts requiring personal sacrifice, if we are to protest natures vulnerable treasures. The woods were already filled with shadows one June evening just before eight oclock. Sylvia was driving her cow home. They turned deep into the dark woods. Their feet knew the way. The birds in the trees above her head seemed to sing “good night” to each other quietly. The air was soft and sweet. Sylvia felt a part of the gray shadows and the moving leaves. To Sylvia, it seemed as if she hadnt really been alive before she came to live with her grandmother in this beautiful place.Suddenly she heard a call. Not a birds call, which would have had a friendly sound. It was a young mans call, sudden and loud. Sylvia left the cow alone and hid behind some leaves. But the young man saw her.“hallo, little girl. How far is it to the road?”Sylvia was afraid. She answered in a soft voice, “A good ways”“Im hunting for some birds.” The young man said kindly. He carried a gun over his shoulder. “Im lost and need a friend very much. Dont be afraid. Speak up, and tell me what your name is. Do you think I can spend the night in your house and go out hunting in the morning?”Sylvia was more afraid than ever. But she said her name, and dropped her head like a broken flower.Her grandmother was waiting at the door. The cow gave a “moo” at the three arrived.“Yes, you should speak for yourself, you old cow,” said her grandmother, “where was she hiding so long, Sylvy (Sylvia的昵称) ?” Sylvia didnt speak. She thought her grandmother should be afraid of the stranger.But the young man stood his gun beside the door. He dropped a heavy gun-bag beside it. He said good evening and told the old woman hid story.“Dear me, yes,” she answered. “You might do better if you went out to the road a mile away. But youre welcome to what weve got. Ill milk the cow right away. Now, you make yourself at home. Sylvy, step round, and set a place for the gentleman!”Sylvia stepped. She was glad to have something to do, and she was hungry.The young man was surprised to find such a comfortable, clean house in the deep woods of Maine. He thought this was the best supper he had eaten in a month. After supper the new-made friends sat in the shadowed doorway to watch the moon come up. The young man listened happily to the grandmothers stories. The old woman talked most about her children. About her daughter, Sylvias mother, who had a hard life with so many children. About her son, Dan, who left home for Califoria many years ago.“Sylvy is like Dan,” she said happily. “She knows every foot of the woods. She plays with the woods animals and feeds the birds. Yes, shed give her own meals to them, if I didnt watch her!”“So, Sylvy knows all about birds, does she?” asked the young man. “Im trying to catch one of each kind.”“Do you keep them alive?” asked the old woman.“No. I stuff them in order to save them,” he answered. “Have almost a hundred of them. And I caught every one myself.”Sylvia was watching a toad jump in the moonlight.“I followed a bird here that I want to catch. A white heron. You would know a heron if you saw it, sylvy,” he said, hopefully. “a strange, tall white birds with long, this legs.”Sylvias heart stopped. She knew that strange white bird. “I want that bird more than anything,” the young man went on. “I would give ten dollars to know where its nest is.”Sylvia couldnt believe there was so much money in the world. But she watched the toad and nothing.The next day Sylvia went with the young man into the woods. He was kind and friendly, and told her many things about the birds. She wasnt afraid of him anymore. Perhaps in her heart a dream of love was born. But she couldnt understand why he killed and stuffed the birds he liked so much.At the edge of the woods a great pine tree stood. Sylvia knew it well. That night she thought of the tree. If she climbed it early in the morning, she could see the whole world. Couldnt she watch the heron fly, and find its hidden nest? What an adventure it would be! And how happy her friend would be! The young man and the old woman slept well that night, but Sylvia thought of her adventure. She forgot to think of sleep. At last, when the night birds stopped singing, she quietly left the house.There was the tall pine tree, still asleep in the moonlight. First she climbed a smaller tree next to it. Then she made the dangerous step across to the old pine. The birds in the woods below her were waking up. She must climb faster if she wanted to see the heron as it left its nest. The tree seemed to grow taller as she went up. The pine tree must have been surprised t feel this small person climbing up. It must have loved this new animal in its arms. Perhaps it moved its branches a little, to help her climb. Sylvias face shone like a star when she reached the top. She was tired, but very happy. She could see ships out to sea. Woods and farms lay for miles around her. The birds sang louder and louder. At last the sun came up. Where was the herons nest? Look, look, Sylvia! A white spot rises up from the green trees below. The spot grows larger. The heron flies close. A wild, light bird, wide wings, and a long thin neck. He stops in the tree beyond Sylvia. Wait, wait, Sylvia! Do not move a foot or finger, to frighten it away!A moment later, Sylvia sighs. A large company of noisy birds comes to tree, and the heron goes away. It flies down to its home in the green would below. Sylvia knows its secret now. she climbs back down. Now she is almost crying. Her fingers hurt, and her feet slip. She wonders what the young man will say to her. What will he think when she tells him how to find the herons nest?“Sylvy, sylvy,” her grandmother called, but nobody answered.The young man woke up and dressed. He wanted to begin hunting again. He was sure Sylvia knew something the white heron. Here she comes now. Her small face is white, her old dress is torn and dirty. The grandmother and the young man wait at the door to question her. The time has come to tell about the heron nest.But Sylvia does not speak. The young man looks into her eyes. He will make them rich. She wants to make him happy. He waits to her to hear the story she can tell.No, she must keep silent! What is it that keeps her quiet? This is the first time the world has put out a hand to her. Does she have to push it away because of a bird? She heard again the wind blowing in the pine tree. She remembers how the white heron flew through the golden air. She remembers how they watched the sea and the morning together. Sylvia cannot speak. She cannot tell the herons secret and give its life away.Poor Sylvia! She was sad when the young man went away. She could have helped him. She would have followed him like a dog. She would have loved him as a dog loves! Many nights afterwards Sylvia remembered his “halloa” as she came home with the cow. She forgot the sharp sound of his gun. He forgot the birds, wet with blood. Were the birds better friends than the hunter? Who can tell?Oh, woods! Oh, summertime! Remember what riches were lost to her. Bring her your riches instead, your beauties and your gifts. Tell all your secrets to this lonely country child!From Great American Stories白苍鹭莎拉 朱厄特介绍在这里其名字的意思是生物的树林里一个女孩的故事提醒我们所有人我们必须愿意单独存在，努力要求的个人牺牲，如果我们要抗议性质的易受伤害的宝藏。树林里已经充满了阴影一六月傍晚前 8 上午。西尔维娅驾驶她的奶牛送回家。他们深变成黑暗的树林里。他们的脚知道的路。她头顶树上的鸟儿似乎晚上好彼此轻声吟唱。空气又软又甜。西尔维亚觉得灰色阴影和动叶的一部分。西尔维娅，好像好像她没有去过等待活着她来与她的祖母在这个美丽的地方同住。突然，她听到一个电话。没有一只鸟呼叫，产生了一个友好的声音。这是一个年轻人的电话，突然又响亮。西尔维娅独自离开牛，躲在一些树叶后面。但年轻男子见到她。你好，小女孩。如何到远的路?西尔维娅害怕。她回答柔和的声音，好方法.我正在寻找一些鸟。那个年轻人温和地说。他带来一把枪在他肩上。我失败了并且非常需要一位朋友。不要害怕。说出来，并告诉我你的名字是什么。你认为我可以在你家过夜，外出打猎早上?西尔维娅是比以往任何时候更害怕。但她说她的名字，和掉她的头，像一件碎花。她的祖母在门口等。母牛给了哞哞在三个到达。说是的你应该为自己说话，你的老牛，她的祖母，她躲藏的地方这么长的时间，Sylvy (西尔维娅的昵称)?西尔维娅没有说话。她认为她的奶奶应该害怕陌生人。但这位年轻人站在他的枪在门的旁边。他掉了一重的枪袋，在它旁边。他说: 晚上好，告诉老女人藏故事。亲爱我，是的她回答。你可能会做得更好如果你去走了一英里路。但是，欢迎你到我们拥有什么。我会马上奶牛。现在，你让你自己在家里。Sylvy，一趟，和为绅士设置一个地方!西尔维娅跨步。她很高兴有事要做，而且她饿了。那个年轻人惊讶地在缅因州的树林深处找到这样一个舒适、 干净的房子。他认为这是最好的晚餐他吃了一个月。晚饭后认识新的朋友坐在阴影的门口，看着月亮上来。那个年轻人愉快地听奶奶讲故事。老女人谈到大多数关于她的孩子。她的女儿，西尔维娅的母亲，有这么多孩子过着艰苦的生活。关于她的儿子，丹尼许多年前离家的覆灭。Sylvy 就像丹，她高兴地说。她知道每个脚的树林里。她玩弄森林中的动物和鸟类为食。是的她会给她自己的膳食对他们来说，不看她!所以，Sylvy 知道所有关于鸟类，她呢?问这位年轻人。我试图捕捉每一种之一。你是保持他们还活着?问这位老太太。号我东西他们为了拯救他们，他回答。有近百人。而且我发现每一个自己。西尔维娅在看一只蟾蜍，在月光下跳。我跟着一只鸟在这里希望赶上。白苍鹭。你想知道一只苍鹭如果你看见它，sylvy，他满怀希望地说。奇怪，高大的白鸟长，这条腿。西尔维娅的心脏停止跳动。她知道那只奇怪的白鸟。胜过一切，我想那只鸟，这位年轻人说下去。我会给十块钱，要知道它的巢在哪里。西尔维娅简直不敢相信世界上还有这么多的钱。但她看着蟾蜍什么。第二天西尔维亚与那个年轻人进了树林。他是善良和友好，和鸟儿告诉她很多的东西。她不再怕他了。也许在她的心和爱得梦想出生。但她不明白为什么他杀，他很喜欢小鸟填充玩具。在森林的边缘站在一棵大松树。西尔维娅知道得清楚。那天晚上她想到那棵树。如果她一大早爬了上去，她可以看到整个世界。她不想看到鹭飞，并找到其隐藏的窝?它会是一个冒险!和她的朋友将会多么幸福!年轻的男人和老女人睡的很好那天晚上，但西尔维亚以为她的冒险经历。她忘了想睡。最后，当夜鸟停止了歌唱，她悄悄地离开了房子。有了高大的松树，在月光下仍睡着了。第一次她爬上一小棵树在它旁边。然后，她向老松跨危险的一步。在她的下面树林里的小鸟醒了。如果她想要看到苍鹭作为它离巢，她必须爬更快。这棵树似乎长得更高，她走进。松树是必须惊讶 t 感觉这个小的人往上爬。它必须被爱这个新的动物在它的怀抱。也许它轻轻地移动其分支机构