04 Reading Lesson

Chapter 4 Reading Lesson. It was warm and dry inside the schoolhouse. Several oil lamps lit the darkness. Class, meet Annie and Jack, the young teacher said. What class, thought Jack. There were only three kids. On one bench sat a small boy and a girl. The boy looked about Annie's age. The girl looked a little younger. On another bench sat a tall boy. He was tough looking.

第四章 阅读课。校舍里又暖和又干燥。几盏煤油 灯照亮了黑暗。“同学们，来认识一下安妮和杰克。”年轻的老师说道。什么 班呀，杰克心里嘀咕。总共才三个孩子。一张长凳上坐着一个小男孩和一个 小女孩。男孩看起来和安妮差不多大，女孩看起来更小一点。另一张 长凳上坐着个高个子男孩，他看起来很难打交道。

Welcome to our first day of school said the young teacher. Today's your very first day said Annie. Yes and our first day in this dugout. The family who lived here left for California a week ago said Miss Neely. Jack and Annie peered around the room.

“欢迎来参加我们开学第一天的课。”年轻的老师说道。 “今天是你们第一次在这儿上课呀？”安妮问道。 对呀，也是我们第一次在这个地下校舍上课。 “之前住在这里的一家人一周前去加利福尼亚了。”尼利小姐说道。 杰克和安妮打量着房间的四周。

The walls were made of dirt. The floor was made of wood. It was covered by a worn rug. Miss Neely's desk was made from a barrel. A small coal stove was near her desk. A crate held a water jug, chalk, and two small blackboards. It's a nice school, Annie said politely.

墙壁是泥土砌的，地板是木头铺的，上面盖着一块磨旧的地毯。 尼利小姐的书桌是用木桶改的，书桌旁边放着一个小小的煤炉。 一个板条箱里装着水壶、粉笔，还有两块小黑板。 “这所学校很棒呀。”安妮礼貌地说道。

Thank you. We're very grateful for it," said Miss Neely. And where do you live? Well, we actually... Jack started, then he stopped. He wasn't sure what to say. Actually, we don't live around here, Annie said. We're passing through. You must be from the wagon train I saw this morning, Miss Neely said. Annie nodded. Jack smiled. Good work, Annie, he thought. We can only stay a little while, he said. How exciting for you, said Miss Neely. Heading west on a wagon train, where are you going? California, Annie said. California, that's wonderful, isn't it, class? Miss Neely said to the others.

“谢谢，我们都很珍惜这处校舍。”尼利小姐说道。 “那你们住在哪里呀？” “呃，我们其实……” 杰克刚开口就停住了，他不知道该怎么说才好。 “其实我们不住在这附近，我们是路过的。”安妮说道。 “你们肯定是我今早看到的马车队里的人吧。”尼利小姐说道。 安妮点了点头，杰克笑了笑。 干得好啊安妮，他心里想。 “我们只能待一小会儿。”他说道。 “这对你们来说可太有意思啦。”尼利小姐说道。 “坐马车队往西走，你们要去哪里呀？” “加利福尼亚。”安妮说道。 “加利福尼亚，那可太棒了，对不对呀同学们？”尼利小姐对其他孩子说道。

Yes, ma 'am said the two younger children the older boy barely nodded Have you ever been to school before? Miss Neely asked Annie Yes, ma 'am. Annie said we both know how to read and write jacks one of the best readers you'll ever meet My isn't that wonderful class said miss Neely Yes, ma 'am said the younger children the older boy gave Jack a scowl Not exactly the best Jack said modestly. I Love to read said miss Neely. I'll read any book I can get my hands on Me too said Jack Then perhaps you'd like to start off our first reading lesson of the school year said miss Neely

“是的，老师。”两个小一点的孩子说道，那个大男孩只是微微点了点头。 “你们之前上过学吗？” 尼利小姐问安妮。 “是的，老师。”安妮说道，“我们俩都会读写，杰克可是你见过的最会读书的人之一哦。” “天呀，那可太厉害了，同学们说是不是？”尼利小姐说道。 “是的，老师。”小孩子们说道，那个大男孩狠狠瞪了杰克一眼。 “也没有那么厉害啦。”杰克谦虚地说，“我 可喜欢读书了。”尼利小姐说道，“只要能拿到手的书我都读。” “我也是。”杰克说道。 “那或许你可以给我们这学年的第一节阅读课开个头哦。”尼利小姐说道。

Sure," said Jack. Sit with Jeb, then, said Miss Neely. And Annie, you sit with Kate and her brother, Will. Will and Kate quickly made room for Annie on their bench. But Jeb didn't move over for Jack, not even an inch. Jack barely had room to sit. He took a deep breath and sat on the end of the bench. Miss Neely handed Jack a book. This is our only reader, she said. It's called the McGuffey Reader. Please read the first two lines of the poem on page 50. Oh, um, sure, ma 'am, said Jack. He turned to page 50. He pushed his glasses into place. Then he read aloud. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.

“好呀。”杰克说道。 “那你和杰布坐一起吧。”尼利小姐说道。 “安妮，你和凯特还有她弟弟威尔坐一起。” 威尔和凯特赶紧在长凳上给安妮腾出了位置。 可杰布一点都没给杰克挪位置，半寸都没有。 杰克几乎没地方坐。 他深吸了一口气，坐在了长凳的最边上。 尼利小姐递给杰克一本书。 “这是我们唯一的读本。”她说道。 “叫《麦加菲读本》。” “请你读一下第50页那首诗的前两行。” “哦，嗯，好的，老师。”杰克说道。 他翻到了第50页。 他推了推眼镜戴好。 然后他大声读了出来。 一闪一闪小星星，我多想知道你是什么。