19-10-14【英语美文】荷兰小英雄《堵水坝的男孩》The Little Hero of Holland

The little hero of Holland

Adapted from Etta Austin Blaisdell and Mary FrancesBlaisdell

1.      Many years ago, therelived in Holland a boy named Peter. Peter's father was one of the men whowatched the gates in the dikes,called sluices. He opened and closedthe sluices so that ships could pass out of Holland's canals into the great sea.

2.      One afternoon in the earlyfall, when Peter was eight years old, his mother called him. "Come,Peter," she said. "I want you to go across the dike and take thesecakes to your friend, the blind man. If you go quickly, and do not stop toplay, you will be home again before dark."

3.      The little boy was glad togo and off he went with a light heart.He stayed with the poor blind man a little while, to tell him about his walkalong the dike; about the sun and the flowers and the ships far out at sea.Then he remembered his mother's wish that he should return before dark and, bidding his friend goodbye, he set out for home.

4.      As he walked beside the canal,he noticed how the rains had heightened the waters, and how they beat againstthe side of the dike, and he thought of his father's gates. "I am gladthey are so strong," he said to himself. "If they gave way what would happen? These prettyfields would be covered with water. Father always calls them the `angrywaters.´ I suppose he thinks they are angry at him for keeping them out solong."

5.      As he walked along, hesometimes stopped to pick the pretty blue flowers that grew beside the road, orto listen to the rabbits´ soft tread as they rustled through the grass. Suddenly he noticed that the sun wassetting, and that it was growing dark. "Mother will be watching forme," he thought, and he began to run toward home. Just then he heard a noise.It was the sound of trickling water!  He stopped and looked down. Therewas a small hole in the dike, through which a tiny stream was flowing. Anychild in Holland is frightened at the thought of a leak in the dike.

6.      Peter understood thedanger at once. If the water ranthrough a little hole it would soon make a larger one, and the whole countrywould be flooded. In a moment he sawwhat he must do. Throwing away his flowers, he climbed down the side of thedike and thrust his finger into thetiny hole. The flowing of the water was stopped!

7.      "Oho!" he saidto himself. "The angry waters must stay back now. I can keep them backwith my finger. Holland shall not be drowned while I am here." This wasall very well at first, but soon it grewdark and cold. The little fellowshouted and screamed. "Come here; come here," he called. But no oneheard him; no one came to help him. It grew still colder, and his arm ached, and began to grow stiff and numb. He shouted again. "Will noone come? Mother! Mother!"

8.      But his mother had lookedanxiously along the dike road many times since sunset for her little boy, andnow she had closed and locked the cottage door, thinking that Peter was spending the night with his blind friend, andthat she would scold him in themorning for staying away from home without permission.

9.      Peter tried to whistle,but his teeth chattered with thecold. He thought of his brother and sister in their warm beds, and of his dearfather and mother. "I must not let them be drowned," he thought."I must stay here until someone comes, if I have to stay all night."

10.  The moon and stars lookeddown on the child crouching on astone on the side of the dike. His head was bent, and his eyes were closed, buthe was not asleep, for every now and then he rubbed the hand that was holdingback the angry sea. "I'll stand it somehow," he thought. So he stayedthere all night keeping the sea out. Early the next morning a man going to workthought he heard a groan as hewalked along the top of the dike. Looking over the edge, he saw a child clinging to the side of the great wall.

11.  “What's the matter?"he called. "Are you hurt?" "I'm keeping the water back!"Peter yelled. "Tell them to come quickly!" The alarm was spread.People came running with shovels andthe hole was soon mended. They carried Peter home to his parents, and not longafter the whole town knew that he had saved their lives that night. To thisday, they have never forgotten the brave little hero of Holland.