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儿童英语读物 The Mystery Horse CHAPTER 6 The Barn Raising

时间:2017-07-27 02:47来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

A few days later, Benny was working with Sarah in the vegetable patch when he had a great idea. Why couldn’t he try for a prize at the Cooperstown Fair? Jessie and Violet had already decided1 to make a blueberry pie for the baking division, and Henry had offered to help Danny with his apple cider project. Unless Benny thought of something fast, he’d be left out!

“Sarah,” he said, looking up from his weeding, “what do you have to do to win a prize at the fair?”

Sarah picked a ripe green pepper and tossed it into her basket before answering. “Well, you have to make something or grow something. But whatever you do has to be the biggest or the best.” She peered at him from under her straw hat. “Why?”

“I wanted to enter something,” he said firmly. “But I haven’t figured out what.”

“Well, just look around you,” she told him. “You could make a sweet potato pie . . . ” She laughed when she saw his expression. “It’s good. It tastes just like pumpkin2 pie.”

Benny shook his head.

“Hmmm, let me see. You could make a batch3 of pickled watermelon rind,” Sarah suggested. “Mom would help you.”

“Ugh. That sounds even worse!” Benny said.

“It’s delicious,” Sarah told him. “You cut up the rind in little pieces and cook it. When you’re finished, it tastes so sweet, you’ll think it’s candy. We make it every year.”

Benny sighed. This was going to be much harder than he had thought. “Maybe I could grow something,” he suggested.

“You don’t have much time. The fair is only three days away,” Sarah reminded him. “Well, maybe you could find something that’s ready to harvest. If it looks really big and healthy, you could pick it and give it a try.”

“I could? Are you sure nobody would mind?” Benny was beaming. He had spotted4 a giant cantaloupe the day before that would be perfect.

“I’m sure,” Sarah said. “If you can find it, you can enter it.”

Later that afternoon, Benny was weeding chives in the herb garden with Daisy. She didn’t seem to know anything about herbs, and he had to point out the chive plants from the rows of basil and parsley.

“I’m entering corn dolls in the fair,” Daisy said proudly. “I’m using a clothespin for their body and corn leaves for their skirts. They look just like hula dancers. What are you going to enter?”

“I’ve got a big cantaloupe,” he said. “I bet it will win a blue ribbon for me.”

“Really? How big is it?” Daisy asked.

“Big,” Benny said. “And it’s growing bigger by the second.” He squinted5 at the sky like a real farmer. “All I need is a couple of more sunny days.”

Daisy shook her head. “You don’t need the sun. Someone told me cantaloupes grow twice as fast in the moonlight.”

“They do?” Benny asked

“I think that’s what they said,” Daisy replied.

“Wow. I hope there’s a full moon tonight,” Benny said. He went back to the chive plants but he couldn’t stop thinking about that cantaloupe. Would it grow twice as big on a moonlit night? There was only one way to find out.

Benny waited until everyone was asleep in the bunkhouse that night before tiptoeing to the window. A big silver moon hung in the sky, spilling beams of light across the yard.

“Bingo,” he said softly. Still in his pajamas7, he quietly pulled on his boots and went out onto the porch. He was heading toward the cantaloupe patch when he saw someone crossing the yard toward the stable. Who would be out at this time of night? he wondered.

He crept past the main house and crouched8 down behind a wheelbarrow as the figure came into view. It was Ms. Jefferies, the snooty woman who didn’t like being on a farm! What was she up to?

Benny waited until she had passed him, and then he followed her, being careful to stay out of sight. He barely had time to duck behind a maple9 tree when she stopped suddenly in front of the stable. To his amazement10, she pulled out a camera and began taking pictures! After a few minutes she looked over her shoulder nervously11, and then darted12 around the side of the barn.

Benny was stumped13. What should he do next? If he followed her, she might spot him, but he had to find out what she was up to! Maybe she was heading to the back stall to steal Wind Dancer!

As Benny rounded the barn, Ms. Jefferies turned around, but he quickly scrunched14 down behind a bale of hay so she didn’t see him. He heard the camera clicking again and again, and he couldn’t resist taking a quick peek15. Now she was taking pictures of the padlocked stall door! She must be after Wind Dancer, he thought in alarm. He was so shocked, he lost his balance. When he grabbed the bale of hay to steady himself, a bundle of fur flew through the air and landed on his shoulder. Patches, the barn cat, had been sleeping in the hay!

There was a loud meow, and Benny heard Ms. Jefferies gasp16 in surprise. Holding his breath, he took a chance and peered around the corner of the hay bale. It was too late. Ms. Jefferies was already running through the yard, back to the bunkhouse.

Benny got up and dusted himself off as Patches wound around his legs. He reached down and patted her on the head as she purred. “You’ll never make a detective, Patches,” he told her.

A few minutes later, Benny was tiptoeing across the bunkhouse porch, when Jessie opened the door. She was clutching her robe around her, and looked worried.

“Where were you?” she asked. She pulled him inside where Henry and Violet were waiting.

“You’re not going to believe this,” he began, and told them about Ms. Jefferies. When he finished, everyone was quiet for a minute.

“Maybe it’s not what we think,” Jessie said.

“But she was up to something!” Benny scooted up the ladder to his bunk6 and sat down on it. “I know it!”

“We’re not sure of that,” Henry said slowly. “All she did was take a few pictures. She might be an amateur photographer.”

“So what are we going to do?” Violet shivered a little and pulled her comforter around her.

“Nothing,” Henry said. “At least not yet. Until we have something definite to go on, let’s not say a word to the Morgans.”

“We wouldn’t want to worry them for nothing,” Jessie said.

The next morning at breakfast, Mr. Morgan surprised everyone by making an announcement. “We’ve been invited to a barn raising at the Tyndall farm. Anyone who wants to help, is welcome to come along. We can use the extra hands.”

The Aldens immediately raised their hands. “Count us in!” Jessie said. She had never heard of a barn raising, but she knew it would be an adventure.

An hour later, after the cows were milked and the chickens fed, the Alden children piled into the back of a pickup17 truck for the short drive to the Tyndall farm. There was a steady stream of cars rolling along the country road.

“Looks like everyone in Cooperstown is here,” Mr. Morgan said to Henry when he got out of the truck. Dozens of men and women were already hard at work sawing lumber18 and nailing together sturdy wooden beams.

“What’s going on?” Henry asked. The Aldens followed Mr. Morgan past a man using a radial saw to trim a plank19 of knotty20 pine.

“Whenever anyone needs a new barn, everyone pitches in to help,” Mr. Morgan explained. “That’s the way it is in the country. We all depend on each other.”

“Can we build a whole barn in one day?” Benny asked.

“We’ll just get the frame done today,” Mr. Morgan told him. “All the boards will be nailed together, and by sundown, we’ll raise all four sides.”

“So that’s why you call it a barn raising,” Violet said.

Mr. Morgan nodded. “Exactly. Bob and his sons can put on the roof later.” He pointed21 to a man in jeans and a tattered22 cowboy hat. “That’s Bob. If you kids head over that way, he’ll give you each a job to do.”

“Wow,” Benny said softly. “He’s wearing a holster, like a real cowboy.”

Mr. Morgan laughed. “That’s not a holster, it’s a pouch23 to hold roofing nails.”

They split up as soon as Bob gave them their assignments. Benny and Jessie found themselves working side by side. Bob had given them a tape measure and they were marking lumber and sorting it into neat piles to be sawed. It was hot, dusty work, and Jessie was glad she had worn shorts and a T-shirt.

Henry and Violet were assigned to the “kitchen brigade” along with six other Sunny Oaks guests. “We need a lot of help because Mom serves sandwiches at lunch and a big dinner at six,” Joe explained. Within minutes Henry found himself peeling a mountain of potatoes and carrots while Violet rolled out pastry24 dough25 for apple pies.

The morning passed quickly, and the Aldens were happy to take a break for lunch with Mr. Morgan. They were eating ham-and-cheese sandwiches at a picnic table when they were joined by a friendly man in his late twenties.

“Are you Mr. Morgan?” he asked. “I’ve been hoping to catch up with you all morning. I’m Jed Owens.” He sat down next to Violet.

“Ed’s the name,” Mr. Morgan said, extending his hand. “Are you from Cooperstown?”

“No, I’m just visiting from up north. I’m Bob’s cousin.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“I’m sure I will. Cooperstown is a nice place.” He hesitated. “You know, I’m hoping to get a few days’ work before heading back home. Could you use an extra hand at Sunny Oaks?”

Mr. Morgan looked him over carefully. “I can always use help around the place. What kind of farming do you do?”

“Well, a little of everything. Dairy, poultry26, vegetable . . . and I’m good with horses.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mr. Morgan said, getting up. “You can start tomorrow morning. Check in with me around five-thirty.”

“I’ll be there,” Jed said. “And thanks.”

It was barely sunset when Mr. Morgan nudged Benny on the shoulder.

“It’s time to raise the sides, so you’d best stand clear.”

“Raise the sides?” Benny looked up, puzzled. He had been squatting27 in the dust, pulling bent28 nails out of a pine board.

Mr. Morgan laughed. “This is the moment we’ve all been working for. Look around you, boy. You’re standing29 right smack30 in the middle of where the new barn will be!”

“I am?” Benny gulped31. He took a slow look around, and realized that the four walls had been assembled on the grass, and men were attaching guide ropes. In just a few minutes the barn would be standing by itself!

“Wait on the sidelines,” Mr. Morgan cautioned as he went to lend a hand. “We don’t want any accidents to happen.”

“No sir!” Benny agreed, and he scampered32 over to join Jessie and Violet. They watched in amazement as Mr. Tyndall shouted to the workers, and right on cue, all four sides suddenly started to rise from the ground.

“Steady now!” Mr. Tyndall yelled. Everyone started clapping and laughing as the sides stood straight up, pointing skyward.

“Look at that!” Benny said. “It’s a real barn, now, except for the roof.”

Jessie and Violet hugged each other. It felt like a real celebration!

At the end of the day, all four Aldens, tired but happy, piled into the back of the Morgans’ pickup truck. Violet craned her neck for a last look at the barn frame, which stood out against the darkening sky.

“Just think,” she said, “we helped build a real barn today.”

“We sure did,” Benny said sleepily. He nestled his head against her shoulder and was about to drift off when Bob Tyndall hurried over to the truck.

“Hey, little guy,” he said, nudging Benny’s shoulder. “I’ve got something for you. A little souvenir to remember us by.”

Benny sat up straight and watched in amazement as Bob took off the tan leather pouch that looked like a holster and handed it to him.

“You’re giving it to me to keep?” Benny said, thrilled.

“It’s all yours. It’s even got some roofing nails inside.”

“Wow!” Benny immediately fastened the pouch to his belt. “I’m going to wear it every day,” he said. As the truck rolled down the road to Sunny Oaks, Benny ran his hand over the smooth leather pouch. This was a day he would never forget!


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 pumpkin NtKy8     
n.南瓜
参考例句:
  • They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
  • It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你!
3 batch HQgyz     
n.一批(组,群);一批生产量
参考例句:
  • The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
  • I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。
4 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
5 squinted aaf7c56a51bf19a5f429b7a9ddca2e9b     
斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看
参考例句:
  • Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩,眯起眼睛瞄准。
  • I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。
6 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话
参考例句:
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
7 pajamas XmvzDN     
n.睡衣裤
参考例句:
  • At bedtime,I take off my clothes and put on my pajamas.睡觉时,我脱去衣服,换上睡衣。
  • He was wearing striped pajamas.他穿着带条纹的睡衣裤。
8 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
9 maple BBpxj     
n.槭树,枫树,槭木
参考例句:
  • Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
10 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
11 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
12 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 stumped bf2a34ab92a06b6878a74288580b8031     
僵直地行走,跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 ); 把(某人)难住; 使为难; (选举前)在某一地区作政治性巡回演说
参考例句:
  • Jack huffed himself up and stumped out of the room. 杰克气喘吁吁地干完活,然后很艰难地走出房间。
  • He was stumped by the questions and remained tongue-tied for a good while. 他被问得张口结舌,半天说不出话来。
14 scrunched c0664d844856bef433bce5850de659f2     
v.发出喀嚓声( scrunch的过去式和过去分词 );蜷缩;压;挤压
参考例句:
  • The snow scrunched underfoot. 雪在脚下发出嘎吱嘎吱的声音。
  • He scrunched up the piece of paper and threw it at me. 他把那张纸揉成一个小团,朝我扔过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 peek ULZxW     
vi.偷看,窥视;n.偷偷的一看,一瞥
参考例句:
  • Larry takes a peek out of the window.赖瑞往窗外偷看了一下。
  • Cover your eyes and don't peek.捂上眼睛,别偷看。
16 gasp UfxzL     
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说
参考例句:
  • She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
  • The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。
17 pickup ANkxA     
n.拾起,获得
参考例句:
  • I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。
18 lumber a8Jz6     
n.木材,木料;v.以破旧东西堆满;伐木;笨重移动
参考例句:
  • The truck was sent to carry lumber.卡车被派出去运木材。
  • They slapped together a cabin out of old lumber.他们利用旧木料草草地盖起了一间小屋。
19 plank p2CzA     
n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目
参考例句:
  • The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
  • They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。
20 knotty u2Sxi     
adj.有结的,多节的,多瘤的,棘手的
参考例句:
  • Under his leadership,many knotty problems were smoothly solved.在他的领导下,许多伤脑筋的问题都迎刃而解。
  • She met with a lot of knotty problems.她碰上了许多棘手的问题。
21 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
22 tattered bgSzkG     
adj.破旧的,衣衫破的
参考例句:
  • Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
  • Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。
23 pouch Oi1y1     
n.小袋,小包,囊状袋;vt.装...入袋中,用袋运输;vi.用袋送信件
参考例句:
  • He was going to make a tobacco pouch out of them. 他要用它们缝制一个烟草袋。
  • The old man is always carrying a tobacco pouch with him.这老汉总是随身带着烟袋。
24 pastry Q3ozx     
n.油酥面团,酥皮糕点
参考例句:
  • The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry.厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
  • The pastry crust was always underdone.馅饼的壳皮常常烤得不透。
25 dough hkbzg     
n.生面团;钱,现款
参考例句:
  • She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
  • The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。
26 poultry GPQxh     
n.家禽,禽肉
参考例句:
  • There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
  • What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?
27 squatting 3b8211561352d6f8fafb6c7eeabd0288     
v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 );非法擅自占用(土地或房屋);为获得其所有权;而占用某片公共用地。
参考例句:
  • They ended up squatting in the empty houses on Oxford Road. 他们落得在牛津路偷住空房的境地。
  • They've been squatting in an apartment for the past two years. 他们过去两年来一直擅自占用一套公寓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
29 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
30 smack XEqzV     
vt.拍,打,掴;咂嘴;vi.含有…意味;n.拍
参考例句:
  • She gave him a smack on the face.她打了他一个嘴巴。
  • I gave the fly a smack with the magazine.我用杂志拍了一下苍蝇。
31 gulped 4873fe497201edc23bc8dcb50aa6eb2c     
v.狼吞虎咽地吃,吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 );大口地吸(气);哽住
参考例句:
  • He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. 他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。
  • She gulped nervously, as if the question bothered her. 她紧张地咽了一下,似乎那问题把她难住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 scampered fe23b65cda78638ec721dec982b982df     
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑,惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The cat scampered away. 猫刺棱一下跑了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The rabbIt'scampered off. 兔子迅速跑掉了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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