枯燥的差事

字幕原文

Saturday morning came, bright and fresh. 星期六的早晨来了，阳光灿烂，空气清新。

There was a song in every heart. 每个人心中都充满歌声。

Flowers smelled sweet in the summer air. 夏日的空气里，花儿散发着甜美的芬芳。

But then Tom came out to the sidewalk. 然而，就在这时，汤姆走到了人行道上。

He carried a bucket of whitewash and a long brush, and all his joy went away. 他提着一桶石灰水和一把长刷子，所有的快乐都烟消云散了。

He looked at the fence. 他看着那道篱笆。

It was 30 yards long and 9 feet high. 篱笆有三十码长，九英尺高。

Life felt empty and heavy. 他感到生活空虚而沉重。

He dipped his brush and painted one board along the top. 他蘸了蘸刷子，沿着篱笆顶端刷了一块木板。

He did it again, 他又刷了一遍，

then looked at the tiny white stripe 然后看着那道细小的白条纹

and the huge fence still to go. 以及那道还有一大截没刷的巨大篱笆。

Feeling low, he sat down on a box. 他心情沮丧，坐到一个箱子上。

just then jim the young helper came skipping out of the gate 就在这时，小帮手吉姆蹦蹦跳跳地从大门里跑了出来。

he had a tin pail and was singing a happy song 他提着一个锡桶，唱着欢快的歌。

bringing water from the town pump used to be hateful work for tom 从镇上的水泵打水，对汤姆来说曾经是件讨厌的差事。

but now next to painting it looked wonderful 但现在和刷墙相比，这差事简直太美妙了。

he remembered the crowd of boys and girls at the pump playing and resting 他想起了水泵旁玩耍嬉闹、休息的男孩女孩们。

"'Say, Jim,' said Tom, "'I'll get the water if you paint a little.'" “喂，吉姆，”汤姆说，“如果你帮我刷一点，我就去打水。”

Jim shook his head. 吉姆摇了摇头。

Aunt Polly had told him not to stop and talk to anyone. 波莉姨妈吩咐过他，不许停下来和任何人说话。

Tom tried to tempt him with a white marble. 汤姆试图用一颗白色的弹珠来引诱他。

He even offered to show Jim his sore toe. 他甚至提出给吉姆看他那受伤的脚趾。

Jim was only human. 吉姆毕竟是凡人。

The marble was too much for him. 那颗弹珠的诱惑力太大了。

He bent over the toe with great interest. 他饶有兴致地弯下腰，仔细查看那个脚趾。

But a moment later, Jim was flying down the street with his pail. 但片刻之后，吉姆就提着他的桶飞快地跑下街去了。

Tom was painting fast. 汤姆刷墙刷得飞快。

Aunt Polly stood behind him, a slipper in her hand 波莉姨妈站在他身后，手里拿着一只拖鞋，

and a proud look in her eye. 眼中带着一丝骄傲。