In one of the most populous cities of New England, a few years ago, a party of lads, all members of the same school, got up a grand sleigh ride.
幾年前,在新英格蘭一個(gè)人口稠密的城市里,一群小伙子坐上了一輛大雪橇,他們都是來(lái)自同一個(gè)學(xué)校的學(xué)生。
The sleigh was a very large one, drawn by six gray horses.
雪橇體積非常龐大,由六匹灰色的駿馬拉著。
On the following day, as the teacher entered the schoolroom,
第二天,老師走進(jìn)教室,
he found his pupils in high glee, as they chattered about the fun and frolic of their excursion.
發(fā)現(xiàn)他的學(xué)生們都異常興奮,還在談?wù)撝耙惶斐鲂械囊萋勅な隆?/p>
In answer to some inquiries, one of the lads gave him an account of their trip and its various incidents.
為回答老師的詢問(wèn),其中一個(gè)小伙子給他描述了他們的行程和一些小插曲。
As he drew near the end of his story, he exclaimed,Oh, sir! there was one thing I had almost forgotten.
當(dāng)他快講完時(shí),忽然大聲說(shuō)道:“對(duì)了,先生!我差點(diǎn)忘了一件事。
As we were coming home, we saw ahead of us a queer looking affair in the road.
我們快到家時(shí),看見(jiàn)前面路上有個(gè)非常奇怪的東西。
It proved to be a rusty old sleigh, fastened behind a covered wagon, proceeding at a very slow rate, and taking up the whole road.
后來(lái)證實(shí)那是一個(gè)銹跡斑斑的舊雪橇,被綁在了一輛有篷馬車后面,行進(jìn)速度特別慢,把整條路都擋住了。
Finding that the owner was not disposed to turn out, we determined upon a volley of snowballs and a good hurrah.
發(fā)現(xiàn)馬車的主人并沒(méi)有讓路的打算,我們決定一起朝他扔雪球,一起大叫起哄。
They produced the right effect, for the crazy machine turned out into the deep snow, and the skinny old pony started on a full trot.
這些確實(shí)起了作用,那輛不正常的馬車陷在了厚厚的積雪里,那匹干瘦的老馬開(kāi)始小跑起來(lái)。
As we passed, some one gave the horse a good crack, which made him run faster than he ever did before, I'll warrant.
當(dāng)我們趕超前面馬車時(shí),有人朝那匹馬打了個(gè)響指,使得它比之前任何時(shí)候跑得都快,我敢保證。
With that, an old fellow in the wagon, who was buried up under an old hat, bawled out, Why do you frighten my horse?
馬車?yán)镒幻险?,整個(gè)臉幾乎都掩藏在一頂舊禮帽下。這樣一來(lái),他高聲斥責(zé)道,你們?yōu)槭裁磭樆N业鸟R?
Why don't you turn out, then? says the driver.
那你為什么不讓開(kāi)路?后面的駕駛員說(shuō)道。
So we gave him three rousing cheers more.
所以我們又給他起了三次哄。
His horse was frightened again, and ran up against a loaded wagon, and, I believe, almost capsized the old creature—and so we left him.
他的馬又受到了驚嚇,朝著一輛滿載貨物的馬車沖了過(guò)去。我想肯定把那個(gè)老頭弄翻了——然后我們就駕車走遠(yuǎn)了。
"Well, boys," replied the teacher, take your seats, and I will tell you a story, and all about a sleigh ride, too.
“好了,孩子們,”老師回答道,“你們都坐下吧”,我來(lái)給你們講個(gè)故事,也是關(guān)于一次雪橇出行的。