美国小学英语教材6:第59课 从印第安足迹到航空邮政(4)

 As the years passed, the American people began to follow Daniel Boone and other brave pioneers westward¹ across the mountains. 随着时间的推移，美国人开始追寻丹尼尔·布恩等其它勇敢拓荒者的脚步，向西边的群山进发。

They did not stop until they came to the Pacific Ocean, and wherever they went, the United² States Mail went too. 他们勇往直前来到太平洋，他们到哪里，美国邮政就到哪里。

Roads were built across the mountains, and fine mail coaches carried letters and travelers as far as the roads went. 群山之间满是道路，道路有多远，携带着信件和旅行者的邮递马车就会走多远。

When the roads ended, the mail went on, sometimes by river boats and sometimes on horseback. 当走到道路尽头，邮递继续，有时通过舰船或马背继续前行。

Nothing was too difficult for Uncle Sam's mail, and many brave men gave their lives for it. 没有什么可以难倒山姆大叔的邮递，许多勇敢的人为此付出了生命。

They fought the Indians from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. 从大西洋到太平洋，他们一路都在对抗印第安人。

They were often hungry and cold and tired, but they carried Uncle Sam's mail. 他们常常遭受饥困和寒冷，但他们携带着山姆大叔的信件。

When the steam engine was invented and the first railroad³ trains began to run on the steel rails, 当蒸汽机到来，第一条铁路开始运行时，

one of the first things they carried was the United States Mail. 他们携带的其中一样东西就是美国邮政。

Finally, to save time, one of the coaches of the train was used for a post office on wheels, 最后为了节省时间，一节列车厢变成了移动中的邮政局，

and while the train rushed through the night, mail clerks were busy sorting the mail and locking it up in big bags 火车在夜间疾驰，邮递人员正在忙于将信件分类，并将其封锁在大袋中，

so that it would be all ready to throw off the train at the different towns along the railroad. 从而准备在铁路沿线的城镇处投递包裹。

In this way, the mail could go faster and more safely than ever before. 通过这种方法，邮递可以比以往任何时候都要快，都要安全。

Of course it took many years to build railroads⁴ everywhere, and where the railroads ended, 当然修建铁路需要许多年，当铁路修建完成，

mail had still to be taken by stage coach and horseback. Perhaps you have read about the Pony⁵ Express, 邮件还需要用邮递马车和马匹运输，你或许听说过“骑士快递”，

which took the mail at the end of the railroad in St. Joseph, Missouri, and carried it westward to Sacramento on the Pacific coast. 他们会在铁路终点密苏里州的圣约瑟夫接收邮件，并沿着太平洋海岸向西前往萨克拉门托。

By using the steam engine and the wonderful ponies⁶ and riders⁷ of the Pony Express, 通过蒸汽机，优秀的马匹和“骑士快递”工作人员，

Uncle Sam could get his mail clear across the continent in nine days. 山姆大叔可以在九天之内穿越大陆。

This was quite a change from the time when it took a lonely courier on snowshoes nine days to go forty miles. 这与当时孤独的邮递员穿着雪鞋九天走40英里大不一样了。

 

1 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 railroad   

n.铁路；vi.由铁路运输

参考例句：

• The railroad connects two cities,namely,New York and Chicago.这条铁路连接两个城市，即纽约与芝加哥。
• My brother is working on the railroad.我兄弟在铁路系统工作。

4 railroads   

n.铁路，铁道( railroad的名词复数 )；铁路系统v.铁路，铁道( railroad的第三人称单数 )；铁路系统

参考例句：

• Water transportation was outmoded by railroads and good pikes. 水上运输已因铁路和良好的税道而变得过时了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A severe snowstorm blocked up railroads. 一场暴风雪使铁路中断。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

6 ponies   

矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑

参考例句：

• They drove the ponies into a corral. 他们把矮种马赶进了畜栏。
• She has a mania for ponies. 她特别喜欢小马。

7 riders   

骑（马、自行车等）的人( rider的名词复数 )； 乘客； 附文； 附加条款

参考例句：

• a group of riders strung out along the beach 沿海滩散开的一队骑手
• The riders came trotting down the lane. 这骑手骑着马在小路上慢跑。