《神奇树屋》 第二十一册 Civil War on Sunday 09 Don't Give Up

　　"Annie?" said Jack¹.

"Over here!" she called.

Jack saw two figures standing² in the twilight³.

He walked over to Annie and Clara. They all stared in thedirection of the distant battlefield.

Bright lights flashed against the dark blue horizon--cannonshells exploding.

"Every time you see a flash, you know a shell may have takena life or many lives," said Clara.

"That's awful," said Annie.

"Yes, it is," said Clara. "A whole world can vanish in thatflash--all a young man's joys and sorrows, all his memories.""This is a cruel war!" said Annie.

"All wars are cruel," said Clara Barton. "People feel they mustfight for causes they believe in. But they soon discover that waris not about glory and fame. It's about misery⁶ and terrible painand sadness.""It makes me miss my mom and dad," said Annie. "It makesme really miss them." Annie sounded tired and homesick. Finally, she had lost hercheerfulness.

"I think it's time for you two to go home," said Clara.

Jack thought of all the wounded men who needed food andwater and kindness and comfort.

"No!" Jack said. "We have to stay. We can't give up. That's onthe list--Don't give up.

Jack pulled out their list to show Clara Barton.

"Oh, yes," she said, nodding. "I see one of my nurses haswritten down the things I often say. Let me add one thing more-Do not forget the ones who love you."Jack heaved a big sigh. He was homesick, too.

"Can we keep the list?" he asked.

"Of course," said Clara. "You don't have to work in a hospitalto follow my words. They work in all of life no matter whereyou go.""Thanks," said Jack.

"My thanks to both of you," said Clara Barton. "You weregreat helpers." "You were a great teacher," said Annie.

"Good-bye," said Clara Barton. "Be very careful going home.""We will," said Jack and Annie. "Bye."The sun was setting as they walked out of the camp. Theboom of cannons⁵ sounded in the distance.

Soldiers sang a song around a campfire.

We're tenting tonight on the old camp ground;Give us a song to cheerOur weary hearts, a song of home,And friends we love so dear.

Jack and Annie walked through the darkening field. By thetime they reached the woods, the stars were out.

They climbed up the rope ladder to the tree house. Anniegrabbed the Pennsylvania book.

"Wait," said Jack.

He looked out the window. He couldn't see anything below.

But the soldiers' song still carried through the warm, starrynight.

Many are the heartsthat are weary tonight,Wishing for the 'war to cease...

As Jack listened, he thought of Clara Barton, the elderly slave,the young Confederate soldier, and John, the drummer boy...

"War is not a game," Jack said softly. "It is definitely not agame."Many are the hearts looking for the rightTo see the dawn of peace.

The song ended. The cannon⁴ fire stopped. The night wasquiet, except for the croaking⁷ of frogs.

"Ready?" Annie whispered. "Ready," said Jack. "I really wishwe could go home," Annie said, pointing to the picture of theFrog Creek⁸ woods.

The wind started to blow.

The tree house started to spin.

It spun⁹ faster and faster.

Then everything was still.

Absolutely still.

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 standing   

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。

3 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

4 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

5 cannons   

n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

7 croaking   

v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说

参考例句：

• the croaking of frogs 蛙鸣
• I could hear croaking of the frogs. 我能听到青蛙呱呱的叫声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

9 spun   

v.纺，杜撰，急转身

参考例句：

• His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
• Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。