Lesson Two The Woods Were Tossing with Jewels第二课树林里到处都是珠宝

LessonTwoTheWoodsWereTossingwithJewelsMarieSt.JohnObjectivesStudentswillbeableto:1.understandthemultifoldimpactsofthewestwardmovementinexpandingtheterritory,shapingtheAmericannationalcharacterandtheAmericanlifestyle,aswellastheAmericanliterature；2.grasptheessenceofindividualismandtraditionalvaluesasembodiedinthedailylifeofthosefrontiersmen(suchasindependence/self-reliance,courage,freedom,hardwork,simplelife,loveofnatureandloveoffamily,etc.);3.appreciatetheeasystyle,simpleyetvividlanguage;4.compareindividualismandtraditionalAmericanvalueswithcollectivismandtraditionalChinesevalues;5.masterthekeylanguagepointsandtypicalwritingtechniquesemployedinanarrativesuchasbuildinguptension,creatingsuspense,smoothtransition,planningtheplots,etc.;6.conductaseriesofreading,listening,speakingandwritingactivitiesrelatedtothethemeoftheunit.Timeallotment:Theteachingplanistobecarriedoutwith6teachinghours.Introduction:Doyoulikegoingtothetheatre?OrdoyoulikewatchMovieChannelonTV?Thenwhatkindsofmoviesdoyoulikebest,romancelikeRomeoandJuliet,warliketheLastDropofBlood,orhorrorliketheSilentLamb?AreyoufamiliarwithmoviesonAmericanfrontierlifeoroncowboys?Moviesstarredsay,byClintEastwood.Iamsureyouhaveseenoneortwosuchmovies.Thencanyougivemeageneraldescriptionoftheheroinsuchmovies?Whatkindofclothestheytypicallywear?----dotheywearcleansuit?No.theywearjeansandworn-outjeans,dirtyandstained.Whatabouttheirshoes,dotheywearpolishedleathershoes?No.theywearleatherboots(forwhatpurpose,forridingahorse).Whatkindofhatdotheyhave?Tophat(大礼帽)orcasualwide-brimmedhat(toprotecttheireyesfromstrongsunlight).Dotheysmokecigar?No,theychewtobaccoandspittobaccojuiceanywheretheylike.Howdotheytravel,onfoot?Right,theyarealwaysfoundonhorseback.Dotheycarrycanewiththem?No,theycarryguninsteadtoprotectthemselvesandtopunishthosebadmen.Allright,whatabouttheirappearance,charactersorpersonality?Dotheylookgentle?No.theylookroughandmasculine,thoughinevitablyhandsome.Theycurseallthetime.Theyhavenomannerstoothers.Theyareexpertsatfightingandshooting.Theycomeandgolikeafreewind,neverstayforanyone,evenhisbelovedwoman.Theyarestrongminded,self-reliant,capableofsurvivalinharshenvironment.Theyarewarm-heartedtotheweakanddeterminedtoseekjusticewiththeirrifles.Inoneword,theyarejustlikewhatarealmanshouldbe.Ofcourse,theyareonlyfictionalfigures.Theirexciting,romanticandlegendarylifeiscreatedbywritersandmoviedirectors.However,theyaretruetosomeextent.TheysharesomethingincommonwiththosefrontierpeopleinAmericanhistory.Forinstance,theirself-reliance,theirstrongabilityofsurvivalunderhardconditions,theircourage,ambitionandstrongwill,theirskillsinridingandshootingarealsoessentialtofrontiermen.Tomostpeople,includingmanyAmericans,cowboysarethesymbolofAmericanfrontiermen.TheirliferepresentstheuniqueAmericanlifestyleinitsearlydays.However,itisnecessarytoknowthatcowboylifewasonlyasmallpartofAmericanfrontierlifeandthelifeinfrontierwasfarfromromantic,thoughfarimportantinAmericanhistory.Theword‘frontier’iscloselylinkedwiththeWestwardMovementofAmericansfrom1600sto1900s.Duringaperiodaslongas300years,immigrantscamecontinuouslyfromtheoldcontinenttotheunexplorednewlandandpusheditsfrontiersteadilyfromtheeasterncoastfurtherintothecontinenttillthePacificOceaninthewest,AlaskainthenorthandMexicangulfinthesouth.Theprocessofwestwardmovementistheprocessoftheformationofthenationandthecountry.Inotherwords,thewestwardmovementisimportantinthatitnotonlyhelpedtoexpandterritory,buttoshapethoseimmigrantsintoanintegratednationwithitsdistinctivenationalcharacter,knownastheAmericanspirit.Asahistoriansaid“ThefrontierdidmuchtoshapeAmericanlife”.Inthislesson,wearetohaveaglimpseofthefrontierlife,notfromadramatizedmovie,butfromarecollectedmemory.DetailedstudyofthetextPara.1inthefirstparagraph,theauthorprovidesuswithsomebackgroundinformation:thestorywassetattheendofthe19thcenturyinFlorid(atthattime,theU.S.wasstillapredominantlyagriculturalcountry;thewestwardmovementcametoendandthefrontierwasdisappearing,buttheoffshoreislandsinFloridawerelargelyunexplored);thenarratorwasafive-year-oldgirlthenandthestoryistoldfromachild’spointofview;Whatdidthefatherdecidetodo?---HedecidedtotakehisfamilythroughthewildsoftheEvergladesandstakedaclaimonanoffshoreislandWhatwashispurpose?---Hewantedtofarmtheislandbutmoreimportantly,togivethekidsatasteofthewayhegrewup.In1899whenIwasfiveyearsoldandlivinginPalmetto,Florida,myfatherdecidedtotakehisfamilythroughthewildsoftheEvergladesandstakeaclaimonanoffshoreisland.palmetto:atypeofplant,seenote1.Theplaceisperhapsnamedafterthepalmettos,whicharenativetotheareaandgrowabundantthere.Wild:(usu.pl)aninhabitedoruncultivatedregion.Everglades:seenote2,vastmarshcoveringmuchofsouthernFlorida.Anationalparkwasestablishedherein1947.Stakeaclaim:tosayorshowclearlythatyouconsidersomethingisorshouldbeyours.In1862,AmericangovernmentissuedHomesteadAct.Accordingtotheact,governmentlandcouldbeclaimedbymerelyoccupyingandimprovingit.Inotherwords,anybodycanclaimapieceofvirginlandashisaslongasheinhabitedonandcultivatedit.Whatdoweknowaboutthefatherformthefirstparagraph?hegrewupinaruralenvironment(hehadbeenacowboyintheMyakkaareawhenhewasfifteenyearsold)andhischildhoodexperiencehelpedformhissimpleandnaturallifestyle(aslongashelived,papalikedhiscornbreadmadecampfirestylewithboilingwaterandsaltonly,andflattenedoutintoabrittle,tastycracker.)Para.2Whatisthetopicsentenceofpara.2?Thetopicsentenceis“hislifewasaseriesofadventures.”Thentheauthorsupportsthisstatementwithasketchofwhathappenedtoherfather’sfamilyintheCivilWarandhowhisfathermanagedtofinishschoolandfindajob.Hisfather’scarriagehouseinCharleston,SouthCarolina,andhisnearbyplantationwereinthelineofSherman’smarchcarriagehouse:asmallbuilding,usuallypartofanestateoradjacenttothemainhousewhichhousescarriages,coachesorothervehicles,also“coachhouse”Charleston:animportantcityintheSouth.(SeeNote3.)ThefiringonFortSumterinCharlestonin1861touchedofftheAmericanCivilWar.WhenPapafinishedschoolattheacademythere,heworkedasacowboyonaranchinMyakkaforafriendofhisdeadfather’s.academy:inthiscaseaprivatesecondaryschool.Usuallyitreferstoaninstitutionforhigherlearningandscientificresearches,suchastheAcademyranch:alargefarm,especiallyinthewestU.S.,withitsbuilding,lands,etc,fortheraisingofcattle,horses,orsheepingreatnumbers.Notetodifferitfromplantation,whichisalargefarminthesouthU.S.forplantingcropssuchaswheat,cotton,cornetc.Byagethirty,hewasacountysheriff,nomeanjobinthosedays,andhisterritorywaswideranging.Thecountyheservedwaslatersplitintosixoreightcounties.Thisistoshowthatthefather’sdecisiontoleaveforthewildsofFloridawasoutofhisadventurouscharacterratherthanfinancialdifficulties.Thejobofacountysheriffwasimportantandtheareaundermyfather’sjurisdictionwasfarandwidePara.3SouthFloridawasuninvitingtomanybecauseofthemosquitoes,panthers,crocodiles,swamps,andwetlands.Butthesemarksofwildcountrycalledtomyfatherlikethelegendarysirensong.Tosomepeople,SouthFlorida,withitswildanimals,backwardnessandpoorlivingconditions,wasn’tapleasantplacetolivein,butmyfatherwasdeeplyattractedtoitpreciselybecauseitwasunexplored.Theuncultivatednaturalstateposesatemptingchallengetomyfather.Para.4Whatthemainideaofthisparagraph?TheauthordescribeswhattheirlifewaslikeinPalmetto.Itwasabeautifulplaceandtheirlifewassimplebutcomfortable,naturalandsafe;yetthefatherwasadventurousandenterprisingandinsistedonsettingoutfortheuntouchedlandoftheTenThousandIslands.Afterdetaileddescriptionsofthehouse,thesurroundingsandtheirrelatives,theauthorsumsupthispartwithasentence,“itwasanidylliclife,andwelivedclosetoourfamilyandtothecomfortsandsafeasmalltowncouldafford.”HestartedbuildingacoveredwagonaroundthefourthofJulyandwewentintothewildernesswithhiminthefall.Inthosedaysintheruralareaandtoalittlegirl,timemightnotbeasimportantaconceptasitistoday,besides,asalittlegirl,itisonlynaturalforhertoremembervaguelywhentheystartedtheirjourney.ThenwhydidsherememberthefourthofJuly?What’sspecialaboutthisdate?---itistheindependenceday,animportantnationalholidayoftheUnitedStates.Forkids,holidaysarealwayssomethingtoberemembered.WehadmadeourhomeinPalmettoforayearorsowheremymother’sgentlefolks,theHarrisons,hadsettledfollowingtheCivilWar.gentlefolks:(oldusage)peopleofhighsocialstanding;peoplewhocomefromfamiliesinahighsocialclass.(Whygentle?---perhapsbecauseoflackofworking,theyarephysicallyfragileandmentallysensitive.)Ourcomfortabletwo-storyframehouse….providearoostforthechicken.framehouse:ahousebuiltwithstonesorbricksasframe,setabout:(rare)surroundedbytreesthathavebeenset(planted)thereratherthangrowingnaturallythefootofthetree:thelowestpart,orthebottomofthetreetrunk.Similarexpressionsarethefootofamountain,thearmsofaclock,themouthofariveretc.Mygrandfatherwasthetowndoctor….Whentheywereinseason.Beingadoctorismuchmorerespectablethanbeingafarmerinthosedays.Thisisdetailtosupporttheauthor’sreferencetohermother’s“gentlefolks”earlier.Doctor:(v.)(Americaninformal)tocureortreatapersonoranillnessItwasanidylliclife,andwelivedclosetoourfamilyandtothecomfortsandsafetyasmalltowncouldafford.Notethecollocation“closetothecomfortsandsafety”,whenyouliveclosetocomfortsandsafety,youfeelcomfortableandsafeandyouenjoyyourlife.ButPapawasamanofenterprise…richinsoilforcropsandingameforfood.Thesecondhalfofthesentenceistoexplainwhythefatherwas“amanofenterprise”.“Ingameforfood”isinparallelwith“insoilforcrops”,sothesecond“rich”isomitted.Enterprise:willingnessandcouragetoundertakeneworriskyproject;energyandinitiative;ambitionWhat’sthemainideaofParas.5-9Inthispart,theauthordoesn’tfollowthechronologicalorderstrictly.Shefirstwritesaboutthedaytheystarted(para.5),thenwithaflashbackdescribeshowexcitedtheyhadbeenaboutthetrip(para.6)andwhatpreparationstheyhaddoneforthetrip(thewagoninpara.7andtheprovisionsinpara.8),andfinallyswitchesbacktothetripitselfbydescribingthelittlestoresalongtheirway(para.9).Atthebeginningofeachparagraphisatopicsentence,indicatingthemainidea.Para.5Itoldmydollsgood-byewithoutknowingthatIwouldneverseethemagain.Thepresenttextisabridgedfromtheoriginalpiece,inwhichtheauthorgottoknowlaterthattheirhomeinPalmettowasburnedtothegroundandshelostallherbeautifuldollsshehadleftthere.Mystomachturnedover;Iwasthatexcited.Whenchildrengettooexcited,theysometimesfeelsickinthestomach.Theauthorwasveryexcitedaboutthetrip,andthefeelingturnedintoasensationofnausea.Turnover:toreversethepositionof,toturnupsidedown;toinvert;whenyourstomachturnsover,youfeelsickandwanttovomit.Despitethefactthattherewassomuchtobehappyabout,Ibegantowhimper.whimper:tocrysoftly“I’mafraidday’sgoingtocatchus,”Iexplained,wonderingwhatgreatdisastermightbefallusifitdid.Asalittlegirl,shetookherfather’swordsliterallyandwasgenuinelyafraidofthepossibledisaster---ifwedidn’thurryup,thedaywouldcatchusandterriblethingsmighthappentous.Befall:(literary)(usuallysomethingunpleasant)happentoe.g.adisastroustsunamibefellonpeopleinSoutheastAsianCountries.Para.6Thisparagraphisabouttheexcitementofthefamilyaboutthetrip---thefather’sdescriptionsofwhattheyweregoingtoexperienceandthetalkdeepintothenight.Thelasttwosentences---hisdescriptionswerenotexaggerated.Thememoriesofthistriphavecoloredmylife.---arousethecuriosityandinterestofreaders.Wehadbeenkeyedupforthisadventurebyweeksofplanning.tokeyup:tomaketense,nervousorexcited,asinanticipationbeforeanimportantevent.E.g.longbeforetheworldcup,footballfanshavebeenkeyedupfortheeventbyallthereportsinmassmedia.Para.7Thecoveredwagonhadawidedrawerthatcouldslideunderthebodyofthewagon,handleandall,soitcouldbepulledoutfromtherear.andall:(infml)etcetera.Thedrawerhadahandleandotherthingssoitcouldbepulledoutfromthebackofthewagon.Inthisdeepandroomyboxwerepackedoutcampingequipmentandfoodsupplies.Notetheinvertedorderofthissentence.Itistoechotheprevioussentence.Besides,itisinkeepingwithachild’sflowofthinking.Roomy:spacious,havingalotofroom.Thecampingoutfitconsistedofahugetent,afoldingcotapiece,foldingchairs,andatable.outfit:thesetofequipmentusedinanyactivityOnebigkettlestooduponthreelegstositoverafire.Weshallberemindedthatthenarratorisalittlegirl,sosheusedexpressionslike“standup”and“sitover”.Yethersimplebutinterestingwayofdescribingthingsmakesthescenevividandalivetous.Para.8Welookedforwardtoplentifulgame….Andsacksofoatsforthehorse.Thefamilyhadmademanypreparationsforthetrip,asshowninthelistoffood,includingfoodforthehorsesincethehorsewasalsoconsideredafamilymember.Besides,theyneededthehorseforthetrip.Provisions:supplies,foodandothernecessitiesneeded,especialforatripPapa’sboxoftoolwasmostimpressivetolookat.Hehadeverykindofimplementforlandfarming,plusgunsandammunitionforhunting,andfishingtackleforeachmemberofthefamily.Wecaninferfromthissentencewhattheirlife,orratherthefrontierlife,waslikeinthosedays.Likethosefrontiermenwhomovedwestwardtothewilds,thefamilyreliedonfarming,huntingandfishingforfood.Para.9IwishedIcouldmakeyouseethelittlestores,allalone,wayoffinthebackwoodswherewewouldstoptoreplenishourfoodstockfromtimetotime.Theywerestockedwitheverythingfromplowsharestospoolsofcottonthread.backwoods:anareathatisfarawayfromanytown,usuallyaplacethathasnotyetbecomemodern;heavilywoodedareasfarfromcentersofpopulation.Replenish:(formal)tomakesomethingfullagainortobringitbacktoitspreviouslevelbyreplacingwhathasbeenusedOccasionallyablacksmith’sshedwouldadjointhestore,soDave,ourbigbayhorse,waskeptincomfortableshoes.shed:asmallbuilding,usuallymadeofwood,inwhichyoustorethingsadjoin:(fml)Para.10Thisthirddayout,anddaystocome,foundusintheunsettledwildsofFloridaNotethespecialsentencestructurehere.Thisspecialstructurefunctionstoavoidmonotonyandtogiveemphasistothetime.E.g.theOctober1st,1949witnessedthefoundingofnewChina.Unsettled:notinhabited.theword“unsettled”canhavedifferentmeaningsindifferentcontext,forinstance,unsettlebills(billsunpaidfor),unsettleweather(unsteadyweather,weatherthatispronetochanges),theunsettledtime(disturbedtime),unsettleissue(issuethathasnotbeendeterminedorresolved),anunsettledlifestyle(notfixedorestablishedlifestyle,asthatofyoungsters)Sometimeswewouldstrikecampearlyenoughforpapaandtheboystoshootfoxsquirrelsorquailforsupper.strike:tolowerandremoveastructuresuchasatentorsailstrikecamp:toremoveone’stentsandleavethecamp.Theoppositeistopitchcamp(toputupone’scamp)Itsunderwatergrasseslookedlikegreenribbonconstantlyunrolling,andthetreesheldthicksprayofwildorchids.theauthorusesasimilehereandcomparesunderwatergrassestogreenribbonshold…flower:tohangwithPapahadgiveneachofusapole,andwhatwithsixofusfishingandthefishsoplentiful,weusuallyhadacatchinamatterofminutes.whatwith:(spoken)becauseof,usedtolistanumberofreasonsforaparticularsituation,e.g.whatwiththecoldweatherandhisarthritis,hehadbeenconfinedtohouseforweeks.Asanaddedtreatpapasometimeswouldcuttheheartoutofacabbagepalmetto,andmamawouldcookit,slowly,intheblackkettle.asanaddedtreat:asanextratreatPara.11Whatisthemainideaofthisparagraph?theincidentoftheauthor’sgettingsickshowstheloveandcareamongthefamilymembersWewerenearArcadiabutstilltoofartodriveonArcadia:seeNote9.AccordingtoGreekmythology,Arcadiaisanimaginaryplacewherepeoplehaveasimplepleasantlifeinthecountryside.Toofartodriveon:can’tbereachedbeforedarkSopapapitchedcampandwentonintotownonhorsebackandbroughtadoctorbackwithhimpitchcamp:(orpitchatent)tomakecamporatentreadytouse,toputuptentsThenwedroveontoasmallcrossroadsandstoppedatahotel,atwo-storyframebuildingnolargerthanabighouse,untilIwasstrongenoughtoresumethejourney.crossroads:(oftenwithsingularverb)intersectionofroads,oftenthesiteofaruralsettlementParaAswedroveoff,Arcadiawithitsdirtstreetsandfree-roamingcattle,itsbarnsandouthouses,lookedlikeametropolis.Attheturnofthelastcentury,comparedwiththeunsettledareastheauthor’sfamilylaterlivedin,Arcadiaseemedalmostlikeamajorcity.Insteadofhighwaysandexpressways,Arcadiahaddirtstreets;insteadofflowingtraffic,Arcadiahadfree-roamingcattle;insteadofskyscrapers,Arcadiahadbarnsandouthouses.Theseallremindusoftheenormouschangesthathavetakenplacewithinahundredyears,andmayalsoleadustofeelnostalgicaboutthegoodolddays.Metropolis:(mainlyliterary)abigcity,especiallythechiefcityofacountryorregionandconsideredassomewherethatisverybusyandexciting,likeNewYorkcity,.Whatcitycanbecalledametropolis?---ShanghaiandShenzhenginourcountry.Soonenoughoureyeswerebuggingatthesizeoftheoaktreesthatgrewinclusterswherevertheearthroseupfromthefloodplainsofthecreeksandrivers.bugat:(slang)(ofeyes)tobulgeoropenwide,asinamazementfloodplain:aplainnearariverwhichisfloodedfrequentlyTheselushhammocksweregreenwithfernslush:havingorcharacterizedbyluxuriantvegetationhammock:afertileraisedareawithhardwoodtreesTheburlyarmsoftheoakswerehugewithfernsandbloomingbromeliads.Redbirds,tanagers,andpaintedbuntingsflewbackandforthacrossthetrail,leavingachildwiththeimpressionthatthewoodsweretossingwithjewels.Hereweneedsomebotanicknowledgetounderstandtherelationsamongoaks,fernsandbromeliads.Theoakorliveoakhereisawide-crownedevergreenspeciesofoaktreenativetothesoutheasternU.S.Thetreecangrowashighas15mwithwide-spreadingbranchesasmuchas21mlong.LiveoaksarewidelyplantedasshadetreesincoastalregionsofsouthernU.S.TheirbranchesareoftencoveredwithSpanishmoss(ferninthetext).Bromeliadsareakindofvinewithattractiveappearance(likeamorningglory牵牛花).Theyoftengrowuponotherplantsandcollectnutrientsandmoisturefromtheair.Burly:bigandstrongPara.13AtNapleswesoldthehorseandwagonandboughtaboat,asloopwithacabin“asloopwithacabin”isappositiontoa“aboat”,explainingwhatkindofboatitwas.Cabin:anenclosedcompartmentinaboatthatservesasashelteroraslivingquarters.Cabincanalsomeanasmallsimplewoodenhouseinthemountainsorinaforest,e.g.alogcabinWevisitedafewdaysatMarcoandthensailedsouthforEvergladeslandingpier:astructurebuiltoutfromthelandoverwaterwhereyoucanleaveaboatorgetonandoffboatsmud:verysoftwetearthusedasabuildingmaterialFinallywecametoEdgarWatson’splace,asugarplantationontheChathamon:atthesideofariverorareaofwater;e.g.atownontheMississippiplantation:alargeestateoffarmonwhichcropsareraised,oftenbyresidentworkers.Differitfromaranchwherecattle,horseorsheepareraisedWhat’sthemainideaofparagraphs14-19?ThispartisdevotedtothelegendaryfigureEdgarWatsontoshowthatlifeontheunsettledislandswasnotwithoutdanger.Apartfromhardshipandchallengesfromnature,therewasalsolawlessness,whichispersonifiedinWatson.(asisoftenthecaseinaCowboymovie)ThecharacterofWatsonandhiswayoftreatingtheworkersforeshadowwhatwouldhappentotheauthor’sfather.PleasenotethatWatsonwasnotdepictedasmerelyacold-bloodedkiller,hehadalsoasofterside:hisloveforhiswifeandfriendlinesstowardstheauthor.Para.14Watsonwasaninfamousoutlawinfamous:wellknownforsomethingbad,notoriousoutlaw:ahabitualornotoriouscriminalwhoisafugitivefromthelaw,thatis,whohasbrokenthelawandishidingtoavoidbeingcaught.“OutlawsintheMarsh”EverylawmaninsouthernFloridawasacquaintedwithhistreacheryandcunning.lawman:(Americaninfml)someonewhosejobistomakesurethatpeopleobeythelaw,suchasthepolice,thelawyer,thejudge,etc.acquainted:(fml)informedorfamiliar,referringtothestateofknowingsomeoneorknowingaboutsomethingtreachery:willfulbetrayaloffidelity,confidenceortrust;perfidycunning(n.)skillindeception;theuseofclevermethodstogetwhatyouwant,especiallymethodsthatinvolvedtrickingorcheatingpeopleHehadsecludedhimselfinthisremoteareaoftheEvergladesbecausehewasnotwelcomeelsewhere;fromtimetotimehewashalfheartedlysoughtfortrial,thoughfewcrimesseemedtoleaddirectlytohisdoor.occasionallythelawofficerswouldmakesomeeffortwithoutrealearnesttoinvestigateWatsonandtobringhimtocourt,butthereseemedtobelittleconcreteevidencetoprovethathewasresponsibleforcertainillegalactivities.Halfheartedly:withlittleenthusiasm,determination,interest,parewholeheartedly(earnestly,sincerely)Para.15Thelegendpersisted,however.Thisisatransitionalsentence,linkingupthetwoparagraphs.WearegoingtolearnmoreabouttheWatson’s“treacheryandcunning”.Persist:(fml)tocontinuetoexist,e.g.gotothehospitalimmediatelyifthefeverpersists.Thenativewhitesfearedhimasyouwouldarattlesnake,buttheIndiansandblackpeopleweresusceptibletohismanipulations.Thesecond“fear”isomittedtoavoidrepetition.Susceptible:easilyinfluencedoraffectedbysomething;e.g.theyoungandtheoldaremoresusceptibletofluz53.Frequentlyhungry,theywouldgotoworkforhim,cuttingcane.cane:sugarcanesinceWatsonownsasugarplantation.Herarelypaidthemoneyagreedupon,andifaworkerrebelled,Watsonwassaidtoexecutehimonthespot.Thissentenceforeshadowswhatwouldhappentothefatherlater.Execute:tokillsomeoneofficiallyasapunishmentforacrime.Infact,Watson“murdered”ratherthan“executed”therebellingworker.TheauthorusestheworddeliberatelytoimplythatWatsonwaslaw,hehadabsolutepoweroverothersandnoonedaredtochallengehim.Thebayouwasfilledthenextday,anditwasbusinessasusual.businessasusual:usedfordescribingasituationinwhicheverythinggoesonnormally,especiallyafteraperiodoftimewhenunexpectedthingshavehappened,i.e.everythingreturned/resumedtonormalPara.16Whatisthetopicsentenceofthisparagraph?Heseemedthekindestofmen.TwoinstancesmadeitpossibleforthelittlegirltoseetheothersideofWatson---hislovetowardhiswifeandhiskindnesstowardtheauthorherself.Thismercilessmanhadaninvalidwifewhomheadored.Hekeptfiftycatsforhertopet;ofcourse,Iwasintriguedwiththemthedaywedockedatthesugarplantation.invalid:(n.)(onlybeforenoun)someonewhoissickorinjured,especiallypermanently.“invalid”asanadjective,withthestressonthesecondsyllable,means“notlegallyeffective”intrigued:veryinterestedinsomethingandwantingtoknowmoreaboutitdock:eto/intoadock,herereferringtothefamily’sleavingtheboatandstayingovernightwithWatson’sPara.17Notwithouttrepidation,papamadearrangementswithWatsontobringlumber,roofing,andothermaterialsneededfromFortMyerstobuildourhouse,whichwewoulddewithourownhandsandhelpoffriends.Wecaninferfromthispartthatpeopleonthefrontieroftenbuilttheirownhouses,mostlymadeofcrudelogcabinsNotwithouttrepidation:thedoublenegative“notwithout”conveysaweakeraffirmationthanwouldbeconveyedbythepositivepreposition“with”byitself,thatis,withsomehesitation,papamadearrangementswithWatson.(Whywaspapahesitant?---Perhapspapawasthinkingofthepossibletroubleindealingwithsuchaoutlaw.)Likeotherpeopleinthislostplace,weweredependentonWatson’sbigboat,whichmaderegularrunstoandfro.lost:secluded,remoterun:n.aninstanceoraperiodoftravelingbycar,train,etc.makeregularrunstoandfro:(oftheboat)todothetransportationregularlybetweentheplantationandFortMyersWefeltthisdependencyevenmoreafterwesettledandcommencedtomence:(fml)tobegin,tostartortomakesthbegine.g.:thecontractcommencesuponsigningbytwoparties.(thecontractisvalidassoonasitissignedbythetwoparties)Therewasnootherwaytogetourproducetomarketonasteadyduce:farmproducts,especiallyfreshfruitsandvegetables;e.g.dairy/f