儿童英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十册 Ghost Town at Sundown 10

10 Echo from the Past

Jack and Annie looked outside.

The sun had slipped behind the trees of the Frog Creek woods.

Annie still held the ancient scroll.She put it in the corner， next to the scroll from their ocean trip.

“Just two more to go，” she whispered.

“Yup，” said Jack.He unzipped his pack.He pulled out Days of the Wild West.He put it on top of a stack of books.

“Ready?” he said.

Annie was staring at the books.Her mouth dropped open.

“What’s wrong?” asked Jack.

Annie just kept staring.

“Have you gone nuts?” said Jack.

Annie pointed at the Wild West book.

“Read the cover，” she said.

Jack picked the book up. He read the title aloud：“Days of the Wild West.” He looked at Annie.“So?”

“Keep reading，” said Annie.

The author’s name was below the title. It was in smaller letters. Jack read：“Slim Cooley.”

Jack gasped. His mouth dropped open. He and Annie stared at the words for a long moment.

“Oh， man，” whispered Jack. “We were using Slim’s book. The book he wrote after he left us!”

Jack and Annie shook their heads with wonder.

Jack opened Slim’s book. He looked at the title page. At the bottom of the page， he read：Texas Press， Dallas， 1895.

Jack turned the page. He read the dedication：

WITH THANKS TO SMILEY AND SHORTY，

TWO STRANGERS WHO CHANGED MY LIFE

Jack looked at Annie.“Slim dedicated his book to us，” he said.

“Yup，” said Annie. She smiled.

Jack placed Slim’s book back on the stack of books.

Then he and Annie left the tree house and climbed down the ladder.

As they started through the woods， the trees were alive with bird sounds.The air felt soft and moist.

“Frog Creek seems so peaceful，” said Jack.“No rattlers， no rustlers， no ghosts.”

“Yeah， but no Slim Cooley either，” said Annie sadly.

“I know，” said Jack.“But when we read his book， it’s like he’s still talking to us.”

“Oh， right，” said Annie. “You mean it’s like an echo from the past?”

“Yeah，” said Jack softly. “Wow.”

Just then， out of the blue， a voice called， “Jack!Annie!”

“It’s Dad!” said Annie.

“Coming!” she and Jack shouted.

Then they ran all the way home， through the long shadows of the setting sun.

Here are the words to

RED RIVER VALLEY， the traditional cowboy song that

Lonesome Luke played on the piano.

qFrom this valley they say you are going.

I shall miss your sweet face and bright smile.

For they say you are taking the sunshine

That has brightened my pathway awhile.

Refrain (after each verse)：

Come and sit by my side if you love me.

Do not hasten to bid me adieu.

For remember the Red River Valley

And the cowboy who loved you so true.

There never could be such a longing

In the heart of a poor cowboy’s breast.

As dwells in this heart you are breaking

While I wait in my home in the West.

Do you think of this valley you’re leaving，

Oh，how lonely and dreary it will be?

Do you think of the kind hearts you’re grieving，

And the pain you are causing to me?

From this valley they say you are going.

I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile.

For they say you are weary and tired

And must find a new range for a while.

10来自过去的回声

杰克和安妮向外张望着。

太阳已经滑到了蛙溪树林的大树背后。

安妮还拿着那个卷轴。她把古卷轴放在角落里，就摆在他们的海洋之旅卷轴的旁边。

“还有两个。”她小声说。

“是啊，”杰克说。他打开背包，拿出《狂野西部的日子》，把它摆在了一摞书的最上面。

“准备好了吗?”杰克问。

安妮眼睛盯着那一摞书，嘴张着。

“出了什么事了?”杰克问。

安妮仍然盯着那些书。

“你傻了吗?”杰克说。

安妮指着那本狂野西部的书。

“你读读封面。”她说。

杰克拿起那本书，大声地读出了标题：狂野西部的日子。他看着安妮说：“怎么了?”

“接着读。”安妮说。

作者的名字就在标题下面，字体要小一些。杰克读道：瘦子库里。

杰克大吃一惊，他的嘴惊讶得张开了。他和安妮长久地瞪着那些字。

“哦，天啊。”杰克小声说，“我们用的是瘦子写的书，他在我们离开之后写的书。”

杰克和安妮惊讶地摇着头。

杰克打开瘦子的书。他打开标题页。在这一页的底下，他读道：得克萨斯出版社，达拉斯，1895年。

杰克翻着书页，在致谢部分写着：

感谢爱笑的丫头和小矮子，这两位陌生人改变了我的生活。

杰克看着安妮，说：“瘦子把这本书献给了我们。”

“是啊。”安妮说，一面微笑着。

杰克把瘦子的书放回了那摞书的最上面。

然后他和安妮离开树屋，爬下了绳梯。

他们穿过树林，树木生气勃勃，小鸟也在树间鸣叫着。空气轻柔而潮湿。

“蛙溪树林看起来真是宁静啊。”杰克说，“没有响尾蛇，没有盗马贼，也没有幽灵。”

“是啊，不过也没有瘦子库里。”安妮忧伤地说。

“我知道。”杰克说。“不过我们读他的书的时候，就仿佛他还在和我们说话呢。”

“哦，是啊。”安妮说，“你的意思是那就像来自过去的回声，是吧?”

“是啊。”杰克轻声说，“哇!”

就在这时，从蓝色中传来一个声音：“杰克!安妮!”

“是爸爸!”安妮说。

“来了!”她和杰克喊道。

随后，他们一路穿过落日撒下的长长的影子跑回家去了。

下面是《红河谷》的歌词。就是孤独卢克在钢琴上弹奏的那首传统的牛仔歌曲。[注]

人们说你就要离开村庄，　　我们将怀念你的微笑;

你的眼睛比太阳更明亮，　　照耀在我们的心上。

走过来坐在我的身旁，　　不要离别得这样匆忙;

要记住红河谷你的故乡，　　还有那热爱你的姑娘。

人们说你就要离开村庄，　　我们将怀念你的微笑;

你的眼睛比太阳更明亮，　　照耀在我们的心上。

你可会想到你的故乡，　　多么寂寞多么凄凉。

想一想你走后我的痛苦，　　想一想留给我的悲伤。

走过来坐在我的身旁，　　不要离别得这样匆忙;

要记住红河谷你的故乡，　　还有那热爱你的姑娘。