铁路少年津津有味.docx

铁路少年津津有味.docx

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铁路少年津津有味

Chapter1

HowitAllBegan

PreviewQuestions

1.Wheredoyouthinkthechildrenlivedatfirst?

2.Whydoyouthinkthemenwilltakethechildren’sfatheraway?

3.Whydoyouthinkthechildrenandtheirmotherwillmovetoasmallerhouse?

Roberta,Peter,andPhylliswerenotrailwaychildrenatfirst.Theywereordinarychildren.Theylivedwiththeirmotherandfatherinalargehouseinthecity.Theirmotherstayedathomeandlookedafterthem.Shereadthemstoriesandplayedgameswiththem.Theirfatherworkedinagovernmentofficeandcamehomeonlyonweekends.

Robertawastheeldest.andthencamePeter,andthenPhyllis.Whenthisstorybegan,theywereahappyfamily.Theyhadnothingtoworryabout.Theirfatherwasabletopayforacookandamaid,sotheirmotherdidnothavetodoalotofhousework.

OnPeter’stenthbirthday,hereceivedamodelrailwayengineforapresent.Itmaderealsteam,andthesteammadeitmove.Buttherewassomethingwrongwithit.Itblewupandwouldn’tworkanymore.

Whenthechildren’sfathercamehomethatweekend,helookedattheengine.

“Icanmendit,”hesaid,“butIhaven’ttimenow.I’llmenditanotherday.”

Asthefamilysathappilyaroundthetableeatingtheirmeal,therewasaknockatthedoor.Themaidwenttoanswerit.

Shesooncamebackandsaidtothechildren’sfather,“Therearetwomentoseeyou,sir.Ihaveaskedthemintothefrontroom.”

Thechildren’sfatherthankedthemaidandwenttoseethetwomen.Hewasgonealongtime.Thechildrenheardtheirfather’svoice.Heseemedtobeshouting.

Whenhecamebackintothediningroom,hesaid,“Imustgoaway.Ihaveaproblemwiththegovernment.”

Heleftthehousewiththetwomen.Thechildrenaskedtheirmotherwhatwashappening.

“Don’tworry,”shesaid.“Everythingwillbeallright.”

Everydayforthenextweek,thechildren’smotherleftthehouseearlyinthemorninganddidnotreturnuntillateintheevening.Shelookedillandworriedallthetime.

“Thereissomethingwrong,”thechildrensaid.Theyaskedthecookandthemaidiftheyknewwhatitwas,buttheywouldnotsayanythingtothechildren.

Thenaboutaweekaftertheirfatherwentaway,theirmothersaid,“I’msorry,children,butwemustleavethishouse.Wearegoingtoliveinasmallerhouseinthecountry.”

Atfirst,thechildrenwereexcited.Theythoughtthiswasagoodidea.However,whentheygottothehouseinthecountry,theywerenothappy.Itwassmallanddirty,andRobertathoughtshesawrats.

Thechildren’smother.toldthemthattheyweren’trats.Theywerejustbigmice,Theydidnotreallybelieveher,buttheypretendedthattheydid.Onlysomeoftheirfurniturefromtheiroldhousewasinthecottage.Everythingelsewasinboxes.“I’mhungry,”Petersaidsoonaftertheyarrived.“Canwehavesomesupper?

”

“I’mafraidtheladyIpaidtocleanhereandbuysomefoodhasn’tdoneherworkverywell,”thechildren’smothersaid.“Thecottageisstillverydirty,andthereisn’tanyfreshfood.”

“Whatarewegoingtodo?

”Robertaasked.

“There’ssomecannedfoodinaboxinthecellar,”hermotherreplied.“Let’sgoandseewhatthereis.”

Theywentdownthestairstothecellar.Itwasverydarkunderthehouse.

“Therearesomecandlessomewhere,”thechildren’smothersaid.”Let’salllookforthem.”

Theysoonfoundthecandles.Thentheylookedaroundforsomethingtoopentheboxwith.Peterfoundaspade.Hepusheditunderthelidoftheboxandpulleduptoslowlyopenit.Inside,thereweretinsofsardinesandaboxofbiscuits.

“Itisn’tmuchofameal,”thechildren’smothersaid,“butitwillbeenoughuntilthemorning.Then,wecangototheshopinthevillageandbuywhatweneed.”

Thechildrenweredirtyanddusty.Therewasn’tanywaterinthecottage,sotheywentintotheyard,wheretherewasapump.Theyhadgreatfunwashingunderthepump.

Afterthemeal,theyallfelttired.

“It’sbeenalongandexcitingday,”theirmothersaid.”Solet’sgotobedearly.”

Shefoundsomesheetsandblanketsinanotherbox,sotheyallwenttobed,exceptfortheirmother.Shestayedupverylate,unpackingthemanyboxesandputtingthingsawayinthedrawersandcupboards.

Thenextmorning,thechildrenwokeupearly.

“Let’sgetupandexplore,”Robertasaid.“Wehaven’tlookedatthegardenyet.”

Thechildrenwashedquicklyunderthepump,gotdressed,andranoutofthecottageintothegarden.Thehousewasontopofahill,andthegardenleddowntoarailwaylineatthebottom.Therewasatunnel,too,butthechildrencouldnothearatrain.

Theweatherwasalreadywarm,andthechildrenlaydowninthesunandthoughtabouttheirnewlife.Thecottagewassmallbutcomfortable.

“We’llsoongetusedtoit,”Robertasaid.

Phyllissaid,“Wehaven’tanyservantshere.We’llhavetohelpmotherwiththecookingandhousework.”

“Ican’tcook,”Petersaid.

“Don’tworry,”Robertalaughed.“We’llsoonfindsomethingforyoutodo.”

Thechildrensoonfellasleepinthewarmsun.Theirmothercameoutsideandwokethemup.

“I’vegotasurpriseforyou,”shesaid.”There’sanotherroom.Ithoughtitwasakitchencupboard,butit’sasmallroom.Comeandsee.”

Sheledthewaytoadoorinthecottagethatopenedfromthekitchenintoasmallroom.Therewasatableintheroom.Onthetabletherewasroastbeef,cheese,andapplepie.

“Theladywhocleanedthecottage,Mrs.Viney,didleaveusfood,”shesaid.“Shejustforgottotelluswhereitwas.

Thechildrensatupatthetableandatethebiggestbreakfasttheyhadeverhad.

Mothersaid,”Whatareyougoingtodoafterbreakfast?

’

“Canwegoandlookattherailway?

”Petersaid.“Perhapsatrainwillcome,”

“I’msureitwillifyouwaitlongenough,”Mothersaid.“Offyougo,butdon’tstayouttoolong.”

ReviewQuestions

1.wheredidthechildren’sfatherwork?

2.Whywasthefamilypoornow

3.Whatdidthechildrenlivenear?

Chapter2

CoalMines!

PreviewQuestions

1.Whatkindoftrainsdoyouthinkthechildrenwillsee?

2.Whatdoyouthinktheenginesusetomakesteam?

3.Whodoyouthinkthechildrenwillmeetattherailwaystation?

Therailwaywasatthebottomofthegarden.Itwasseparatedfromthegardenbyafence.Therailsandtelephonelinesstretchedawayintothedistance.

Suddenly,theyheardaloudnoise.Secondslater,atrainrushedpast.Smokepouredoutofitsfunnel.Thechildrensawamanonthefootplateputtingcoalontothefire.

“It’slikeabigdragon,”Robertasaid.“Ifelttheheat.”

“It’sbetterthanatoytrain,”Petersaid.

“DoyouthinkthattrainisgoingtoLondon?

”Phyllisasked.”That’swhereDaddyis,isn’the?

”

ThechildrenthoughttheirfatherwasinLondon,buttheyweren’tsure.

“Let’swalkalongthesideoftherailwaylinetothestation,”Petersaid.“Wecanaskwherethetrainisgoingthere.”

Whentheyreachedthestation,theysawthatthereweremanydifferentrailwaylines.Someofthemhadtrucksonthem,justwaitingforanenginetocollectthem.Therewerepilesofcoalbetweentherails.Thepileshadwhitelinesonthem.

Aportercameoutofhisroom,andPeteraskedhimpolitely,“Whatarethewhitelinesforonthepilesofcoal?

”

“Theyaresoweknowhowmuchcoalshouldbethere,”theportersaid.“Sodon’tyoustealany.”

Thechildrenthoughttheporterwasjokingbecauseheseemedtobeafriendlyman.

Thechildrendidnotstayatthestationverylongonthisfirstvisit.Instead,theywentbackhome.

Althoughtheymissedtheirfather,theyweregettingusedtonothavinghimathome.Theywerealsogettingusedtonotseeingmuchoftheirmother.Shewouldbealoneinherroomalldayandwritemanydifferentstories.Shereadthestoriesattea-time,andtheylovedthem.

Oneevening,Robertasaid,“Canwelightafire,Mother?

”

“No,dear,”Motherreplied.“It’ssummer,andcoalisexpensive.Wecan’taffordtohavefiresinsummereventhoughtheeveningsarecold,”

Atteatimethatsameday,Phylliswantedtoputbutterandjamonherbread,butMotherwouldn’tlether.

“Youcanhavejamorbutter,”shesaid.“Youcan’thaveboth.Wecan’taffordit.”

Aftertea,thechildrenwenttotheattic,wheretheywereallowedtoplay.

“I’mgoingtoplayanewgame,”Petersaid,“butyoumustn’ttellMother.”

“Whatkindofgame?

”Phylliswantedtoknow.

“Coalmines!

”Petersaid.

Hissistersdidnotunderstand.

“Youwait,”Petersaid.”You’llsoonknowallaboutlit.ButnotawordtoMother.”

Twodayslaterintheeveningwhenitwasdark,Petersaid,“Iwantyoutofollowme.”

Therewasanoldpraminthegarden,andPeterpusheditalongthesideoftherailwaylinetothestation.

“ThisisPeter’sMine,”hesaid.”Now,let’sillthepramwithcoal.”

Thechildrenfilledthepramwithcoalandpushedithome.TheyemptiedthecoalintotheplacewhereMotherkepthercoal.Theydidthistwiceandweredoingitthethirdtimewhenthestationmasterjumpedoutfrombehindatruck.

“Caughtyou!

”heshouted.“Youyoungthief!

”

“I’mnotathief,”Petersaid.”I’macoalminer.”

“You’reathief,andI’mtakingyoutothepolice,“thestationmastersaid.

“Oh,no!

Nottothepolice,”twodifferentvoicescried.AndRobertaandPhylliscameoutofthedarkness.

“So,therearethreeofyou!

”thestationmasterexclaimed.“Agangofthieves.”

“Pleasedon’ttakeustothepolice,”Robertasaid.“Wedidn’tmeananyharm.”

“You’rethechildrenfromthecottageuptheline,aren’tyou?

”thestationmastersaid.

“Yes,andwedidn’tmeantosteal.It’sjustthatweareverycold,andMothercan’taffordtobuyanycoal.”

“Doesyourmotherknowwhatyou’redoinghere?

”thestationmasterdemanded.

“Oh,no,”Robertasaid.”She’llbeveryangryifshefindsout.Pleasedon’ttake