章节正文
文章总共2页
"I knew her son. His name is Paolo. He asked me to go home with
him. Then he gave me a good supper."
"How long were you there? You might have been playing and
brought me some more money," said the padrone, who, with
characteristic meanness, grudged the young fiddler time to eat
the meal that cost him nothing.
"It was not long, signore."
"You can eat what is given you, but you must not waste too much
time."
A boy entered next, who showed by his hesitating manner that he
did not anticipate a good reception. The padrone, accustomed to
judge by appearances, instantly divined this.
"Well, Ludovico," he said, sharply, "what do you bring me?"
"Pardon, padrone," said Ludovico, producing a small sum of money.
"I could not help it."
"Seventy-five cents," repeated the padrone, indignantly. "You
have been idle, you little wretch!"
"No, padrone. Indeed, I did my best. The people would not give
me money."
"Where did you go?"
"I was in Brooklyn."
"You have spent some of the money."
"No, padrone."
"You have been idle, then. No supper to-night. Pietro, my
stick!"
Pietro was one of the older boys. He was ugly physically, and
his disposition corresponded with his appearance. He could have
few good traits, or he would not have possessed the confidence of
the padrone. He was an efficientassistant of the latter, and
co-operated with him in oppressing the other boys. Indeed, he
was a nephew of the padrone's, and for this reason, as well as
his similarity of disposition, he was treated with unusual
indulgence. Whenever the padrone felt suspicious of any of the
boys, he usually sent them out in company with Pietro, who acted
as a spy, faithfully reporting all that happened to his
principal.
Pietro responded with alacrity to the command of the padrone, and
produced a stout stick, which he handed to his uncle.
"Now strip off your jacket," said the padrone, harshly.
"Spare me, padrone! Do not beat me! It was not my fault," said
the unhappy Ludovico, imploringly.
"Take off your jacket!" repeated the padrone, pitilessly.
One look of that hard face might have taught Ludovico, even if he
had not witnessed the punishment so often inflicted on other
boys, that there was no hope for him.
"Help him, Pietro," said the padrone.
Pietro seized Ludovico's jacket, and pulled it off roughly. Then
he drew off the ragged shirt which the boy wore underneath, and
his bare back was exposed to view.
"Hold him, Pietro!"
In Pietro's firm grasp, the boy was unable to stir. The padrone
whirled the stick aloft, and brought it down upon the naked
flesh, leaving behind a fearful wheal.
Ludovico shrieked aloud, and again implored mercy, but in vain,
for the stick descended again and again.
Meanwhile the other boys looked on, helpless to interfere. The
more selfish were glad that they had escaped, though not at all
sure but it would be their turn next evening. There were others
who felt a passivesympathy for their unlucky comrade. Others
were filled with indignation at the padrone, knowing how cruel
and unjust were his exactions. Among these was Phil. Possessed
of a warm and sympathetic heart, he never witnessed these cruel
punishments without feeling that he would like to see the padrone
suffering such pain as he inflicted upon others.
"If I were only a man," he often thought, "I would wrench the
stick from his hand, and give him a chance to feel it."
But he knew too well the danger of permitting his real sentiments
to be reflected in his face. It would only bring upon him a
share of the same punishment, without benefiting those who were
unfortunate enough to receive it.
When Ludovico's punishment was ended, he was permitted to go to
bed, but without his supper. Nor was his the only case. Five
other boys were subjected to the same punishment. The stick had
no want of exercise on that evening. Here were nearly forty
boys, subjected to excessivefatigue, privation, and brutal
treatment daily, on account of the greed of one man. The hours
him. Then he gave me a good supper."
"How long were you there? You might have been playing and
brought me some more money," said the padrone, who, with
characteristic meanness, grudged the young fiddler time to eat
the meal that cost him nothing.
"It was not long, signore."
"You can eat what is given you, but you must not waste too much
time."
A boy entered next, who showed by his hesitating manner that he
did not anticipate a good reception. The padrone, accustomed to
judge by appearances, instantly divined this.
"Well, Ludovico," he said, sharply, "what do you bring me?"
"Pardon, padrone," said Ludovico, producing a small sum of money.
"I could not help it."
"Seventy-five cents," repeated the padrone, indignantly. "You
have been idle, you little wretch!"
"No, padrone. Indeed, I did my best. The people would not give
me money."
"Where did you go?"
"I was in Brooklyn."
"You have spent some of the money."
"No, padrone."
"You have been idle, then. No supper to-night. Pietro, my
stick!"
Pietro was one of the older boys. He was ugly physically, and
his disposition corresponded with his appearance. He could have
few good traits, or he would not have possessed the confidence of
the padrone. He was an efficientassistant of the latter, and
co-operated with him in oppressing the other boys. Indeed, he
was a nephew of the padrone's, and for this reason, as well as
his similarity of disposition, he was treated with unusual
indulgence. Whenever the padrone felt suspicious of any of the
boys, he usually sent them out in company with Pietro, who acted
as a spy, faithfully reporting all that happened to his
principal.
Pietro responded with alacrity to the command of the padrone, and
produced a stout stick, which he handed to his uncle.
"Now strip off your jacket," said the padrone, harshly.
"Spare me, padrone! Do not beat me! It was not my fault," said
the unhappy Ludovico, imploringly.
"Take off your jacket!" repeated the padrone, pitilessly.
One look of that hard face might have taught Ludovico, even if he
had not witnessed the punishment so often inflicted on other
boys, that there was no hope for him.
"Help him, Pietro," said the padrone.
Pietro seized Ludovico's jacket, and pulled it off roughly. Then
he drew off the ragged shirt which the boy wore underneath, and
his bare back was exposed to view.
"Hold him, Pietro!"
In Pietro's firm grasp, the boy was unable to stir. The padrone
whirled the stick aloft, and brought it down upon the naked
flesh, leaving behind a fearful wheal.
Ludovico shrieked aloud, and again implored mercy, but in vain,
for the stick descended again and again.
Meanwhile the other boys looked on, helpless to interfere. The
more selfish were glad that they had escaped, though not at all
sure but it would be their turn next evening. There were others
who felt a passivesympathy for their unlucky comrade. Others
were filled with indignation at the padrone, knowing how cruel
and unjust were his exactions. Among these was Phil. Possessed
of a warm and sympathetic heart, he never witnessed these cruel
punishments without feeling that he would like to see the padrone
suffering such pain as he inflicted upon others.
"If I were only a man," he often thought, "I would wrench the
stick from his hand, and give him a chance to feel it."
But he knew too well the danger of permitting his real sentiments
to be reflected in his face. It would only bring upon him a
share of the same punishment, without benefiting those who were
unfortunate enough to receive it.
When Ludovico's punishment was ended, he was permitted to go to
bed, but without his supper. Nor was his the only case. Five
other boys were subjected to the same punishment. The stick had
no want of exercise on that evening. Here were nearly forty
boys, subjected to excessivefatigue, privation, and brutal
treatment daily, on account of the greed of one man. The hours
- instantly [´instəntli]
ad.立即，立刻 (初中英语单词) - considerable [kən´sidərəbəl] a.重要的；值得重视 (初中英语单词)
- drunken [´drʌŋkən] a.喝醉的；常醉的 (初中英语单词)
- glimpse [glimps] n.&v.瞥见 (初中英语单词)
- favorable [´feivərəbəl] a.赞成的；顺利的 (初中英语单词)
- fortunate [´fɔ:tʃənət] a.幸运的，侥幸的 (初中英语单词)
- companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
- contents [´kɔ:ntents] n.容纳物；要旨 (初中英语单词)
- transfer [træns´fə:] v.&n.迁移；调动；转让 (初中英语单词)
- miserable [´mizərəbəl] a.悲惨的；可怜的 (初中英语单词)
- apartment [ə´pɑ:tmənt] n.一套房间 (初中英语单词)
- principal [´prinsəpəl] a.主要的 n.负责人 (初中英语单词)
- satisfaction [,sætis´fækʃən] n.满意；满足 (初中英语单词)
- disappointment [,disə´pɔintmənt] n.失望；挫折 (初中英语单词)
- satisfactory [,sætis´fæktəri] a.令人满意的 (初中英语单词)
- otherwise [´ʌðəwaiz] ad.另外 conj.否则 (初中英语单词)
- secrete [si´kri:t] vt.分泌 (初中英语单词)
- portion [´pɔ:ʃən] n.嫁妆；命运 vt.分配 (初中英语单词)
- whenever [wen´evə] conj.&ad.无论何时 (初中英语单词)
- knowing [´nəuiŋ] a.会意的，心照不宣的 (初中英语单词)
- cheese [tʃi:z] n.干酪，乳酪 (初中英语单词)
- appetite [´æpitait] n.欲望；食欲 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- despite [di´spait] prep.尽管 (初中英语单词)
- occupation [,ɔkju´peiʃən] a.职业的；军事占领的 (初中英语单词)
- sharply [´ʃɑ:pli] ad.锋利地；剧烈地 (初中英语单词)
- disposition [,dispə´ziʃən] n.安排；性情；倾向 (初中英语单词)
- assistant [ə´sistənt] n.助手；助理；助教 (初中英语单词)
- nephew [´nevju:, ´nɛfju] n.侄子；外甥 (初中英语单词)
- unhappy [ʌn´hæpi] a.不幸的；不快乐的 (初中英语单词)
- punishment [´pʌniʃmənt] n.罚，刑罚 (初中英语单词)
- jacket [´dʒækit] n.茄克衫；外套 (初中英语单词)
- underneath [,ʌndə´ni:θ] ad.&prep.在底下 (初中英语单词)
- unable [ʌn´eibəl] a.不能的；无能为力的 (初中英语单词)
- fearful [´fiəfəl] a.可怕的；担心的 (初中英语单词)
- helpless [´helpləs] a.无助的，无依靠的 (初中英语单词)
- interfere [,intə´fiə] vi.干涉；妨碍；打扰 (初中英语单词)
- selfish [´selfiʃ] a.自私的，利己的 (初中英语单词)
- passive [´pæsiv] a.被动的 n.被动性 (初中英语单词)
- sympathy [´simpəθi] n.同情，怜悯 (初中英语单词)
- sympathetic [,simpə´θetik] a.同情的，有同情心的 (初中英语单词)
- considerably [kən´sidərəbli] ad.显著地；十分 (高中英语单词)
- lodging [´lɔdʒiŋ] n.寄宿，住宿 (高中英语单词)
- suspicious [sə´spiʃəs] a.可疑的，多疑的 (高中英语单词)
- temptation [temp´teiʃən] n.引诱，诱惑(物) (高中英语单词)
- anguish [´æŋgwiʃ] n.(极度的)痛苦；苦恼 (高中英语单词)
- anticipate [æn´tisipeit] vt.预期；指望；期待 (高中英语单词)
- reception [ri´sepʃən] n.接待；欢迎；招待会 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- efficient [i´fiʃənt] a.有效的，有能力的 (高中英语单词)
- faithfully [´feiθfəli] ad.忠实地；诚恳地 (高中英语单词)
- roughly [´rʌfli] ad.粗糙地；毛糙地 (高中英语单词)
- ragged [´rægid] a.衣服破烂的 (高中英语单词)
- indignation [,indig´neiʃən] n.愤慨；气愤 (高中英语单词)
- excessive [ik´sesiv] a.过分的；极端的 (高中英语单词)
- fatigue [fə´ti:g] n.&vt.(使)疲劳(劳累) (高中英语单词)
- vicious [´viʃəs] a.不道德的；刻毒的 (英语四级单词)
- tedious [´ti:diəs] a.冗长的；乏味的 (英语四级单词)
- occupant [´ɔkjupənt] n.居住者；占有人 (英语四级单词)
- violin [,vaiə´lin] n.(小)提琴 (英语四级单词)
- physically [´fizikəli] ad.按照自然规律 (英语四级单词)
- unlucky [ʌn´lʌki] a.倒霉的，不幸的 (英语四级单词)
- unjust [ʌn´dʒʌst] a.不公平(正)的 (英语四级单词)
- wrench [rentʃ] n.&vt.拧；急拉；猛推 (英语四级单词)
- harshly [´hɑ:ʃli] ad.粗糙地，冷酷地 (英语六级单词)
- earnings [´ə:niŋz] n.收益；报酬；获得 (英语六级单词)
- beating [´bi:tiŋ] n.敲；搅打；失败 (英语六级单词)
- indignantly [in´dignəntli] ad.愤慨地，义愤地 (英语六级单词)
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文章标签:名著
章节正文
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