枯燥的差事

字幕原文

Saturday morning arrived, and the summer world was bright and fresh. 星期六的早晨来临了，夏日的世界明媚清新。

There was a song in every heart and cheer on every face. 人人心中有歌，脸上带笑。

The fragrance of blossoms filled the air. 花香弥漫在空气中。

However, 然而，

when Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash 当汤姆提着一桶石灰浆出现在人行道上时，

and a long-handled brush, 和一把长柄刷子，

all gladness left him. 他所有的快乐都消失了。

He surveyed the fence, 30 yards of board fence, nine feet high. 他打量着那道围墙，一道30码长、九英尺高的木板围墙。

To him, life seemed hollow and existence a heavy burden. 对他来说，生活显得空虚，生存是一种沉重的负担。

He dipped his brush and passed it along the top plank. 他蘸了蘸刷子，沿着顶部的木板刷了一遍。

He repeated the operation, 他重复了这一操作，

then compared the tiny white stripe with the vast continent of unpainted wood. 接着比较了那道细小的白条和那一大片未刷的木头。

Discouraged, he sat down on a tree 沮丧地，他坐到一棵树上

box. 箱子。

Just then, 就在那时，

Jim, the young helper, 小帮手吉姆，

came skipping out of the gate with a tin pail, 提着一个锡桶，蹦蹦跳跳地从大门里出来，

singing a happy tune. 哼着欢快的调子。

Bringing water from the town pump had always been hateful work to Tom 对汤姆来说，从镇上的水泵打水一直都是件苦差事。

before, 以前，

but now it seemed attractive. 但现在却显得很有吸引力。

He remembered the crowd of boys 他想起了那群男孩。

and girls always waiting at the pump, 和女孩们总是在水泵旁等着，

trading playthings, fighting, and resting. 交换玩物，打架，休息。

Say, Jim, Tom said, I'll fetch the water if you'll whitewash some. 汤姆说：“嘿，吉姆，你要是刷点墙，我就去打水。”

Jim shook his head, 吉姆摇了摇头，

explaining that Aunt Polly had strictly ordered him not to stop 解释说波莉姨妈严令他不许停下来

and talk with anyone. 和任何人聊天。

Tom tried to tempt him with a white marble, 汤姆想用一颗白色的弹珠引诱他，

a white alley, and even offered to show him his sore toe. 一颗白色的玻璃球，甚至提出给他看他受伤的脚趾头。

Jim was only human. The attraction was too much for him. 吉姆也是凡人。这种诱惑对他来说太大了。

He took the marble and bent over the toe with interest. 他收下了弹珠，饶有兴趣地弯下腰看脚趾头。

But a moment later, Jim was flying down the street with his pail, 但过了一会儿，吉姆就提着桶飞奔下街，

while Tom painted with vigor. 而汤姆则精神抖擞地刷着。

Aunt Polly had appeared suddenly with a slipper in her hand and triumph in her eye. 波莉姨妈突然出现了，手里拿着一只拖鞋，眼神中带着胜利。