Pioneer Days

Damon followed Ivan and Kelsey off the school bus and looked around nervously. The field was crowded with people in historical costumes. There were women in long dresses and bonnets, and men in straw hats and leather boots. “ Welcome to Pioneer Days! ” Mrs. Manning, the teacher, said.

达蒙跟着伊凡和凯尔西下了校车，紧张地四处张望。 现场挤满了身着历史服装的人。 有穿着长裙和帽子的女人，还有戴草帽和皮靴的男人。 ”欢迎来到先锋日！”老师曼宁太太说。

“ In the 1800s around 400, 000 people left their homes in the East. They wanted to settle on open land and find new opportunities. So these pioneers traveled across America in covered wagons to settle in the West. ” “ What kind of person wants to dress up like a pioneer?” Kelsey said.

”在19世纪，大约有40万人离开了东部的家园。 他们想在开阔的土地上定居，寻找新的机会。 因此，这些拓荒者乘坐有篷货车穿越美国，前往西部定居。” ”什么样的人想打扮成一个先锋？”凯尔西说。

“ Yeah, ” Damon mumbled. He spotted his mother standing by an open fire, wearing her homemade outfit. Before his friends could notice her, Damon pointed wildly across the field. “ Look at the oxen! ” “ Wow! ” Ivan stared at the huge animals. “ Why are cows pulling a wagon? Why not just use horses?” They’re oxen, not cows, Ivan! ” Mrs. Manning said.

”是的，”达蒙喃喃地说。他看到母亲穿着自制的衣服站在明火旁。 朋友们还没注意到她，达蒙就疯狂地指着球场对面。“看看牛！” ”哇！”伊凡凝视着这些巨大的动物。 ”为什么奶牛拉着马车？为什么不只用马呢？” 他们是牛，不是牛，伊凡！”曼宁夫人说。

“ Pioneers used oxen instead of horses to pull wagons because they’re strong, tough—” “ And slow! ” Kelsey giggled as the oxen trudged past. “ See the cream pail on the side of the wagon?” Mrs. Manning said. “ The wagon’s motion churns the cream into butter. ”

”拓荒者用牛代替马来拉马车，因为它们强壮、坚韧——” ”慢一点！”当牛艰难地走过时，凯尔西咯咯地笑了起来。 ”看到马车边上的奶油桶了吗？”曼宁夫人说。 ”马车的运动把奶油搅拌成黄油。”

Damon noticed Mom waving at him, but he pretended not to see. “ Let’s go learn about the Native Americans! ” he said hurriedly. Mrs. Manning checked the time. “ It’s lunchtime now. We’re having an authentic pioneer lunch! ” “ Shouldn’t we see the cow-milking station first?” Damon asked hopefully.

达蒙注意到妈妈在向他挥手，但他假装没看见。 ”让我们去了解美洲原住民吧！”他急忙说。 曼宁太太查了一下时间。“现在是午餐时间。 我们正在吃一顿正宗的先锋午餐！” ”我们不应该去奶牛挤奶站吗首先？”达蒙满怀希望地问。

“ After lunch, ” Mrs. Manning said firmly. “ Damon! ” Kelsey said suddenly. “ Isn’t that your mom?” Damon wished he could disappear. “ Hello, everyone! ” Mom smiled cheerfully as she handed out plates of food. “ Everything you’re eating here was cooked over an open fire. Most pioneers didn’t pack their heavy stoves in the wagons.

”午饭后，”曼宁夫人坚定地说。“达蒙！”凯尔西突然说道。“那不是你妈妈吗？” 达蒙希望他能消失。“大家好！”妈妈在分发食物时高兴地笑了。 ”你在这里吃的东西都是在明火上煮的。 大多数拓荒者都没有把沉重的火炉装在马车里。