【儿童英文读物】Happy Jack.docx

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1、【儿童英文读物】Happy JackCHAPTER I HAPPY JACK DROPS A NUT Save a little every day,And for the future put away. Happy Jack. Happy Jack Squirrel sat on the tip of one of the highest branches of a big hickory tree. Happy Jack was up very early that morning. In fact, jolly, round, red Mr. Sun was still in his

2、bed behind the Purple Hills when Happy Jack hopped briskly out of bed. He washed himself thoroughly and was ready for business by the time Mr. Sun began his climb up in the blue, blue sky. You see, Happy Jack had found that big hickory tree just loaded with nuts all ripe and ready to gather. He was

3、quite sure that no one else had found that special tree, and he wanted to get all the nuts before any one else found out about them. So he was all ready and off he raced to the big tree just as soon as it was light enough to see. The nuts that grow in the hickory treeTheyre all for me! Theyre all fo

4、r me!Happy Jack was humming that little song as he rested for a few minutes way up in the top of the tree and wondered if his storehouse would hold all these big, fat nuts. Just then he heard a great scolding a little way over in the Green Forest. Happy Jack stopped humming and listened. He knew tha

5、t voice. It was his cousins voicethe voice of Chatterer the Red Squirrel. Happy Jack frowned. I hope he wont come over this way, muttered Happy Jack. He does not love his cousin Chatterer anyway, and then there was the big tree full of hickory nuts! He didnt want Chatterer to find that. I am afraid

6、that Happy Jack was selfish. There were more nuts than he could possibly eat in one winter, and yet he wasnt willing that his cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, should have a single one. Now Chatterer is short-tempered and a great scold. Some one or something had upset him this morning, and he was

7、scolding as fast as his tongue could go, as he came running right towards the tree in which Happy Jack was sitting. Happy Jack sat perfectly still and watched. He didnt move so much as the tip of his big gray tail. Would Chatterer go past and not see that big tree full of nuts? It looked very much a

8、s if he would, for he was so busy scolding that he wasnt paying much attention to other things. Happy Jack smiled as Chatterer came running under the tree without once looking up. He was so tickled that he started to hug himself and didnt remember that he was holding a big, fat nut in his hands. Of

9、course he dropped it. Where do you think it went? Well, Sir, it fell straight down, from the top of that tall tree, and it landed right on the head of Chatterer the Red Squirrel! My stars! cried Chatterer, stopping his scolding and his running together, and rubbing his head where the nut had hit him

10、. Then he looked up to see where it had come from. Of course, he looked straight up at Happy Jack. You did that purposely! screamed Chatterer, his short temper flaring up. I didnt! snapped Happy Jack. You did! I didnt! Oh, dear, oh, dear, such a sight! two little Squirrels, one in a gray suit and on

11、e in a red suit, contradicting each other and calling names! It was such a sad, sad sight, for you know they were cousins.CHAPTER II THE QUARREL Its up to you and up to meTo see how thrifty we can be.To do our bit like soldiers trueIts up to me and up to you. Happy Jack. Two angry little people were

12、 making a dreadful noise in the Green Forest. It was a beautiful morning, a very beautiful fall morning, but all the beauty of it was being spoiled by the dreadful noise these two little people. You see they were quarreling. Yes, Sir, they were quarreling, and it wasnt at all nice to see or nice to

13、hear. You know who they were. One was Happy Jack Squirrel, who wears a coat of gray, and the other was Chatterer the Red Squirrel, who always wears a red coat with vest of white. When Happy Jack had dropped that nut from the tiptop of the tall hickory tree and it had landed right on top of Chatterer

14、s head it really had been an accident. All the time Happy Jack had been sitting as still as still could be, hoping that his cousin Chatterer would pass by without looking up and so seeing the big fat nuts in the top of that tree. You see Happy Jack was greedy and wanted all of them himself. Now Chat

15、terer the Red Squirrel has a sharp temper, and also he has sharp eyes. All the time he was scolding Happy Jack and calling him names Chatterers bright eyes were taking note of all those big, fat hickory-nuts and his mouth began to water. Without wasting any more time he started up the tree to get so

16、me. Happy Jack grew very angry, very angry indeed. He hurried down to meet Chatterer the Red Squirrel and to prevent him climbing the tree. You keep out of this tree; its mine! he shrieked. No such thing! You dont own the tree and Ive got just as much right here as you have! screamed Chatterer, dodg

17、ing around to the other side of the tree. Tis, too, mine! I found it first! shouted Happy Jack. Youre a thief, so there! Im not! You are! Youre a pig, Happy Jack! Youre just a great big pig! Im not a pig! I found these nuts first and I tell you theyre mine! shrieked Happy Jack, so angry that every t

18、ime he spoke he jerked his tail. And all the time he was chasing round and round the trunk of the tree trying to prevent Chatterer getting up. Now Happy Jack is ever so much bigger than his cousin Chatterer but he isnt as spry. So in spite of him Chatterer got past, and like a little red flash was u

19、p in the top of the tree where the big, fat nuts were. But he didnt have time to pick even one, for after him came Happy Jack so angry that Chatterer knew that he would fare badly if Happy Jack should catch him. Round and round, over and across, this way and that way, in the top of the tall hickory

20、tree raced Chatterer the Red Squirrel with his cousin, Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel, right at his heels, and calling him everything bad to be thought of. Yes, indeed it was truly dreadful, and Peter Rabbit, who happened along just then, put his hands over his ears so as not to hear such a dreadful q

21、uarrel. PETER RABBIT, WHO HAPPENED ALONG JUST THEN, PUT HIS HANDSOVER HIS EARS.PETER RABBIT, WHO HAPPENED ALONG JUST THEN, PUT HIS HANDS OVER HIS EARS.CHAPTER III STRIPED CHIPMUNK IS KEPT VERY BUSY I prefer big acorns but I never refuse little ones.They fit in between. Happy Jack. Striped Chipmunk w

22、as sitting just inside a hollow log, studying about how he could fill up his new storehouse for the winter. Striped Chipmunk is very thrifty. He likes to play, and he is one of the merriest of all the little people who live on the Green Meadows or in the Green Forest. He lives right on the edge of b

23、oth and knows everybody, and everybody knows him. Almost every morning the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind hurry over to have a frolic with him the very first thing. But though he dearly loves to play, he never lets play interfere with work. Whatever he does, be it play or work, he does

24、 with all his might. I love the sun; I love the rain;I love to work; I love to play.Whatever it may bring to meI love each minute of each day.So said Striped Chipmunk, as he sat in the hollow log and studied how he could fill that splendid big new storehouse. Pretty soon he pricked up his funny litt

25、le ears. What was all that noise over in the Green Forest? Striped Chipmunk peeped out of the hollow log. Over in the top of a tall hickory tree a terrible fuss was going on. Striped Chipmunk listened. He heard angry voices, such angry voices! They were the voices of his big cousins, Happy Jack the

26、Gray Squirrel and Chatterer the Red Squirrel. Dear me! Dear me! How those two do quarrel! I must go over and see what it is all about, thought Striped Chipmunk. So, with a flirt of his funny, little tail, he scampered out of the hollow log and over to the tall hickory tree. He knew all about that tr

27、ee. Many, many times he had looked up at the big fat nuts in the top of it, watching them grow bigger and fatter, and hoping that when they grew ripe, Old Mother West Wind would find time to shake them down to him. You know Striped Chipmunk is not much of a climber, and so he cannot go up and pick t

28、he nuts as do his big cousins, Happy Jack and Chatterer. When he reached the tall hickory tree, what do you think was happening? Why, those big, fat nuts were rattling down to the ground on every side, just as if Old Mother West Wind was shaking the tree as hard as she could. But Old Mother West Win

29、d wasnt there at all. No, Sir, there wasnt even one of the Merry Little Breezes up in the tree-tops. The big fat nuts were rattling down just on account of the dreadful quarrel of Striped Chipmunks two foolish cousins, Happy Jack and Chatterer. It was all because Happy Jack was greedy. Chatterer had

30、 climbed the tree, and now Happy Jack, who is bigger but not so spry, was chasing Chatterer round and round and over the tree-top, and both were so angry that they didnt once notice that they were knocking down the very nuts over which they were quarreling. Striped Chipmunk didnt stop to listen to t

31、he quarrel. No, Sir-ee! He stuffed a big fat nut in each pocket in his cheeks and scampered back to his splendid new storehouse as fast as his little legs would take him. Back and forth, back and forth, scampered Striped Chipmunk, and all the time he was laughing inside and hoping his big cousins wo

32、uld keep right on quarreling.CHAPTER IV HAPPY JACK AND CHATTERER FEEL FOOLISH If you get and spend a penny,Then of course you havent any.Be like mea Happy JackAnd put it where youll get it back. Happy Jack. Happy Jack and Chatterer were out of breath. Happy Jack was puffing and blowing, for he is bi

33、g and fat, and it is not so easy for him to race about in the tree-tops as it is for his smaller, slim, nimble cousin, Chatterer. So Happy Jack was the first to stop. He sat on a branch way up in the top of the tall hickory tree and glared across at Chatterer, who sat on a branch on the other side o

34、f the tall tree. Couldnt catch me, could you, smarty? taunted Chatterer. You just wait until I do! Ill make you sorry you ever came near my hickory tree, snapped Happy Jack. Im waiting. Besides, it isnt your tree any more than its mine, replied Chatterer, and made a face at Happy Jack. Happy Jack ho

35、pped up as if he meant to begin the chase again, but he had a pain in his side from running so hard and so long, and so he sat down again. Right down in his heart Happy Jack knew that Chatterer was right, that the tree didnt belong to him any more than to his cousin. But when he thought of all those

36、 big, fat nuts with which the tall hickory tree had been loaded, greedy thoughts chased out all thoughts of right and he said to himself again, as he had said when he first saw his cousin, that Chatterer shouldnt have one of them. He stopped scolding long enough to steal a look at them, and thenwhat

37、 do you think Happy Jack did? Why, he gave such a jump of surprise that he nearly lost his balance. Not a nut was to be seen! Happy Jack blinked. Then, he rubbed his eyes and looked again. He couldnt see a nut anywhere! There were the husks in which the nuts had grown big and fat until they were rip

38、e, but now every husk was empty. Chatterer saw the queer look on Happy Jacks face, and he looked too. Now Chatterer the Red Squirrel had very quick wits, and he guessed right away what had happened. He knew that while they had been quarreling and racing over the top of the tall hickory tree, they mu

39、st have knocked down all the nuts, which were just ready to fall anyway. Like a little red flash, Chatterer started down the tree. Then Happy Jack guessed too, and down he started as fast as he could go, crying, Stop, thief! all the way. When he reached the ground, there was Chatterer scurrying arou

40、nd and poking under the fallen leaves, but he hadnt found a single nut. Happy Jack couldnt stop to quarrel any more, because you see he was afraid that Chatterer would find the biggest and fattest nuts, so he began to scurry around and hunt too. It was queer, very queer, how those nuts could have hi

41、dden so! They hunted and hunted, but no nuts were to be found. Then they stopped and stared up at the top of the tall hickory tree. Not a nut could they see. Then they stared at each other, and gradually a foolish, a very foolish look crept over each face. Wherewhere do you suppose they have gone? a

42、sked Happy Jack in a queer-sounding voice. Just then they heard some one laughing fit to kill himself. It was Peter Rabbit. Did you take our hickory nuts? they both shouted angrily. No, replied Peter, no, I didnt take them, though they were not yours, anyway! And then he went off into another fit of

43、 laughter, for Peter had seen Striped Chipmunk very hard at work taking away those very nuts while his two big cousins had been quarreling in the tree-top.CHAPTER V HAPPY JACK SUSPECTS STRIPED CHIPMUNK Thrift is one test of true loyalty to your country. Happy Jack. Happy Jack didnt look happy a bit.

44、 Indeed, Happy Jack looked very unhappy. You see, he looked just as he felt. He had set his heart on having all the big, fat nuts that he had found in the top of that tall hickory tree, and now, instead of having all of them, he hadnt any of them. Worse still, he knew right down in his heart that it

45、 was his own fault. He had been too greedy. But what had become of those nuts? Happy Jack was studying about this as he sat with his back against a big chestnut tree. He remembered how hard Peter Rabbit had laughed when Happy Jack and his cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, had been so surprised bec

46、ause they could not find the nuts they had knocked down. Peter hadnt taken them, for Peter has no use for them, but he must know what had become of them, for he was still laughing as he had gone off down the Lone Little Path. While he was thinking of all this, Happy Jacks bright eyes had been wide o

47、pen, as they usually are, so that no danger should come near. Suddenly they saw something moving among the brown-and-yellow leaves on the ground. Happy Jack looked sharply, and then a sudden thought popped into his head. Hi, there, Cousin Chipmunk! he shouted. Hi, there, your own self! replied Strip

48、ed Chipmunk, for it was he. What are you doing down there? asked Happy Jack. Looking for hickory nuts, replied Striped Chipmunk, and his eyes twinkled as he said it, for there wasnt a hickory tree near. Happy Jack looked hard at Striped Chipmunk, for that sudden thought which had popped into his head when he first saw Striped Chipmunk was growing into a strong, a very strong, suspicion that Striped Chipmunk knew something about those lost hickory nuts. But Striped Chipmunk looked back at him