【儿童英文读物】The Adventures of Bobby Coon.docx

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1、【儿童英文读物】The Adventures of Bobby CoonI A TERRIBLE PERSON The rats and the mice thought that Miss Kitty Cat was a terrible person. She was altogether too fond of hunting them. They agreed, however, that in one way it was pleasant to have her about the farmhouse. When she washed her face, while sitting

2、 on the doorsteps, they knewso they said!that it was going to rain. And then Mrs. Rat never would let her husband leave home without taking his umbrella. As a rule Miss Kitty Cat didnt look at all frightful. Almost always she appeared quite unruffled, going about her business in a quiet way and maki

3、ng no fuss over anything. Of course when old dog Spot chasedand corneredher, she was quite a different sort of creature. Then she arched her back, puffed her tail out to twice its usual size, and spat fiercely at Spot. He learned not to get within reach of her sharp claws, when she behaved in that f

4、ashion. For old Spot had a tender nose. And no one knew it better than Miss Kitty Cat. Around the farmhouse she was politeness itselfwhen there was anybody to observe her. If her meals were late she never clamored, as Johnnie Green sometimes did. To be sure, she might remind Mrs. Green gently, by pl

5、aintive mewing, that she had not had her saucer of milk. But she was always careful not to be rude about it. And though Miss Kitty liked a warm place in winter, she never crowded anybody else away from the fire. She crept under the kitchen range, where no one else cared to sit. And there she would d

6、oze by the hourespecially after she had enjoyed a hearty meal. On summer nights, however, when she loved to hunt out of doors, Miss Kitty Cat was far from appearing sleepy. She roamed about the fields, or crept through the tree-tops with a stealthy tread and a tigerish working of her tail. Folk smal

7、ler than Miss Kitty never cared to meet her at such times. They knew that she would spring upon them if she had a chance. So they took good care to keep out of her way. And if they caught sight of her when she had her hunting manner they always gave the alarm in their own fashion, warning their frie

8、nds to beware of the monster Miss Kitty Cat, because she was abroad and in a dangerous mood. Johnnie Green liked Miss Kitty. Often she would come to him and rub against him and purr, fairly begging him to stroke her back. Unless he pulled her tail at such times she kept her claws carefully out of si

9、ght and basked under Johnnies petting. If he had been her size and she had been his, Miss Kitty Cat might not have been so harmless. She might have played with Johnnie, as she sometimes played with a mouse. But Johnnie Green never stopped to think of anything like that. And if he had, he would have

10、thought it a great joke. He would have laughed at the idea of Miss Kitty Cat holding him beneath her paw.II DOG SPOTS PLANS Somehow old dog Spot and Miss Kitty Cat never became good friends. By the time Miss Kitty Cat arrived on the farm in Pleasant Valley Spot had lived there several years. From th

11、e first day he met Miss Kitty in the kitchen Spot hadnt liked her. Yet he claimed at the time that he was glad to see her. He said that he could tell at once that he was going to have great sport with her. He knew it would be fun to chase her! Inside the farmhouse old Spot was careful how he behaved

12、. The moment Miss Kitty first set eyes on him she scurried under the table, where she crouched and glared at him. That was scarcely what you might call a friendly greeting. And Spot would have barked at her had he dared. Since he didnt, he only whined a bit through his nose. You couldnt have told wh

13、at he meant by the sound. Miss Kitty Cat didnt like his whining. She even opened her mouth wide and said as much. She made an odd hissing noise, which amused old Spot greatly. And he told Miss Kitty, in what was almost a growl (except that it wasnt loud enough for one), Wait till I catch you out of

14、doors, my lady! Ill have some fun with you. Then Farmer Greens wife opened the door and told Spot to be gone. You ought to be ashamed of your self she scoldedteasing a poor little cat! Old dog Spot tucked his tail between his legs and crept through the doorway, keeping one eye on the broom that Mrs.

15、 Green held in her hand. And as soon as he was safely outside he gave two or three sharp yelps, telling Miss Kitty Cat that he would watch for her the very first time she set foot in the yard. Somehow Miss Kitty Cat wasnt specially worried. She knew a thing or two about dogs; and she didnt intend to

16、 let old Spot bully her. It took her a few minutes to get over her anger. And then she came out from beneath the table and lapped up the milk that Mrs. Green had set temptingly on the floor, in a saucer. When Miss Kitty had finished her meal she washed her facea duty that she performed with great ca

17、re, for she prided herself on always looking neat. Watching her, no one would ever have guessed what was in her mind. Id like to wash that dogs face for him! Miss Kitty was saying to herself. Hed have some reason then for yelping and whining. Having completed her toilet Miss Kitty jumped into a chai

18、r that stood in the sunshine, near a window. And there she composed herself for a nap. When she was well fed and well warmed she liked nothing better than to curl herself up and doze and dream. Meanwhile old dog Spot was telling everybody in the farmyard about the new cat and the fun he intended to

19、have with her. Therell be lively times around here when she comes outside the house, he chuckled. III CHASING MISS KITTY When Miss Kitty Cat awoke from her nap she got up and stretched herself. In her opinion, a nap was no nap at all if one didnt stretch after taking it. Theres nothing like a good s

20、tretch to make a person limber, she often remarked. Of course, in order to climb trees, or spring successfully at a rat or a mouse, Miss Kitty had to keep her muscles supple. And since it happened, now and then, that others jumped unexpectedly at her, she believed in always being ready either to cha

21、se or to be chased. After she had smoothed her fur to suit her, Miss Kitty went to the door and mewed patiently until Farmer Greens wife opened it. Then Miss Kitty Cat slipped out of the kitchen and found herself in the woodshed. A highly interesting place, it seemed to her, with any number of crann

22、ies to offer lurking-places for mice. She decided at once that the woodshed would be a fine spot in which to hunt in stormy weather. Feeling much pleased with her new home, Miss Kitty hopped down upon the great flat stone that served as a step from the woodshed to the ground. She couldnt help thinki

23、ng, as she sat there, what a pleasant yard Farmer Green had. She noticed that there were trees enough about the farmhouse to furnish homes for plenty of birds. And if there was one thing that Missp. 11 Kitty Cat liked it was to visit birds right where they lived. Seeing a faint stir in the grass not

24、 far away, she began to creep towards it. Miss Kitty had found that it paid to look into such things. Often she had surprised a meadow mouse in just that way. This time, however, it was Miss Kitty Cat herself that was surprised. She was so intent on her own important business that she never took her

25、 eyes off that spot where the grass had moved. And that was why she didnt see old dog Spot when he stuck his nose around a corner of the farmhouse. Now, Spots ways were quite different from Miss Kittys. Whenever he set out on a hunt he never could keep still. So the moment he caught sight of Miss Ki

26、tty Cat he gave a joyful bark. At the same time he bounded towards her.Of course Spots yelps warned her to run. The moment she heard his first bark she forgot all about her own hunt, being herself the hunted. She scurried off across the farmyard, with Spot tearing after her. If she had had time enou

27、gh Miss Kitty would have climbed a tree. But Spot was altogether too near her for that. And being a stranger about the farmyard, she hadnt learned all the fine hiding places. Since Spot was between her and the house, she made for the barn and sprang through the open door. Inside Spot quickly cornere

28、d her. With her back arched and her tail almost as big as Tommy Foxs brush, Miss Kitty Cat turned and faced her pursuer. IV A TENDER NOSE Hurrah! old dog Spot barked. At least, what he said sounded a good deal like that. He had cornered Miss Kitty Cat in the barn. And there was nothing he liked more

29、 than teasing anybody that was short-tempered as she was. Tchah! Miss Kitty hissed. Now, that ought to have been warning enough to Spot to keep a good, safe distance from her. But he was one of the sort that never knows enough to take a warning for what it is worth. Wow! he chuckled. You neednt thin

30、k Im afraid of you. If you ran from me once, youll run again. He didnt intend to hurt Miss Kitty. All he wanted was to get her to run across the yard again, so that he might have the sport of chasing her. So he edged nearer and nearer her, thinking that she would dodge past him and run out of the ba

31、rn. But Miss Kitty Cat had no relish for that sport. Keep your distance, sir! she cried. And though she spoke plainly enough, old Spot paid no heed to her words. Instead, he gave a quick spring at her, just to worry her a bit more. To his great surprise, almost at that same instant Miss Kitty Cat sp

32、rang at him. And as she jumped, she flashed one of her paws out and struck Spot on one side of his long nose. It was not just a gentle tap with a soft, well-padded paw. She thrust her claws well out from between her toes. And jabbing them deep into Spots tender nose, she gave a sharp downward pull.

33、All at once old dog Spot thought of the time when, as a puppy, he stuck his nose into a hornets nest. His joyful bark changed suddenly to a shrill ki-yi of pain. And at the same time he became angry. You dont know how to have fun, he growled at Miss Kitty Cat. Just to teach you better manners Im goi

34、ng to take you by the back of your neck and shake you. It appeared that Miss Kitty herself had quite a different notion. At least, she went through an entirely different motion, which was not at all like offering the back of her neck for old Spot to seize. When Spot reached for her she clawed him fu

35、riously, with one paw after another, whilep. 16 she told him what she thought of him. He did not wait to hear everything that Miss Kitty had to say to him. Spot thought too much of his nose to linger in the barn any longer, but turned tail and hurried into the yard. Miss Kitty Cat chased him as far

36、as the door. Taking one quick backward glance at her as he went, Spot noticed how fiercely her eyes glared. It was a terrible sight. And it made him hasten all the faster. My goodness! What a temper! he said under his breath. Loping across the farmyard, he looked about him uneasily. He hoped nobody

37、had seen Miss Kitty Cat driving him out of the barn. He knew it would be a hard matter to explain to any one. All his farmyard friends would be sure to think it a great joke. Luckily there was no one in sight except Henrietta Hen. She wont notice anything, Spot assured himself. Shes the stupidest pe

38、rson on the farm. Having nothing more to worry about except his scratched nose, old Spot crawled under the woodshed and nursed his wounds during the rest of the morning. As for Miss Kitty Cat, she stayed in the barn a long time. What a worthless fellow that old dog is! she thought. This barn is full

39、 of mice! I dont believe he has caught one in all the years he has lived on the farm.V SPOTS AND SPECKLES When she first met Miss Kitty Cat face to face Henrietta Hen exclaimed, What a pity! Miss Kitty Cat hadnt intended to speak to Henrietta Hen at all. She didnt care, as a rule, to have anything t

40、o do with hens. She often remarked that she liked eggs and she liked chickens; but she never could see what hens were good for. Well, when Henrietta Hen spoke to her like that Miss Kitty Cat paused and stared at her coolly for a moment or two. Then she asked in rather a distant tone, Whats a pity? N

41、ow, Henrietta Hen seldom knew when she was snubbed. And goodness knows people snubbed her often enough, too. For she was forever making remarks about their looks. And now she said to Miss Kitty Cat, Its a pity your speckles are so big. Miss Kitty Cat saw at once that Henrietta Hen was a vain creatur

42、e. She had half a mind to walk on and leave her, without saying another word to her. Indeed, Miss Kitty had turned aside to continue her stroll towards the meadow when Henrietta Hen spoke to her again. Dont you think, Henrietta demanded, that speckles should be worn very small, like mine? Dont you t

43、hink yours are too big? Id rather not talk with you, said Miss Kitty Cat. I can see plainly that wed never agree. Oh, do stop for a while! Henrietta Hen besought her. I love a chat with a cat, she added with a silly giggle. Miss Kitty Cat was vexed. She thought that Henrietta Hen was a tiresome pers

44、on. Ill stop and have a chat with you, Miss Kitty relented, for its not often that I meet a spotted hen. If my speckles are too big, she went on in an icy tone, it is just as true that your spots are altogether too small. Spots! Henrietta cackled. Like all empty-headed people, she was quick to lose

45、her temper. Spots indeed! Id have you know that I havent any spots. Im a speckled beautythats what I am. And if you dont believe it you can ask the Rooster. Perhaps I was mistaken, Miss Kitty Cat purred. Anyhow, Ill take your word about the Specks. I wont bother to ask the Rooster. Ah! Henrietta Hen

46、 exclaimed. Youre afraid of him! Youre afraid he might want to fight you. And I wish he would, she screamed at Miss Kitty, for its plain that youre no gentleman. WellI should hope not! Miss Kitty Cat gasped. I thought you were a gentleman, or I should never have spoken to you, Henrietta Hen declared

47、. When I first saw you I said to myself, Heres a quiet, polite gentleman! It will be pleasant to have him living at the farmhouse. But I see that I was mistaken. You were! cried Miss Kitty, who wasto say the leastgreatly astonished by Henriettas odd remarks. My name is Miss Kitty Cat. And what made

48、you think I was a gentleman is more than I can guess. Miss! cried Henrietta. Miss! Then why, pray tell me, do you wear those whiskers? Try as she would, Miss Kitty could give no reason that satisfied Henrietta Hen. And Henrietta always declared that Miss Kitty Cat was a strange, strange person. VI BEECHNUT SHUCKS Once in a while Frisky Squirrel paid a visit to Farmer Greens place. Although he had learned that the farmyard was not wit