A Dark Brown Dog
A child was standing on a street-corner. He leaned with one shoulder against a high board-fence and swayed the other to and fro, the while kicking carelessly at the gravel.
Sunshine beat upon the cobbles, and a lazy summer wind raised yellow dust which trailed in clouds down the avenue. Clattering trucks moved with indistinctness through it. The child stood dreamily gazing.
After a time, a little dark-brown dog came trotting with an intent air down the sidewalk. A short rope was dragging from his neck. Occasionally he trod upon the end of it and stumbled.
He stopped opposite the child, and the two regarded each other. The dog hesitated for a moment, but presently he made some little advances with his tail. The child put out his hand and called him. In an apologetic manner the dog came close, and the two had an interchange of friendly pattings and waggles. The dog became more enthusiastic with each moment of the interview, until with his gleeful caperings he threatened to overturn the child. Whereupon the child lifted his hand and struck the dog a blow upon the head.
This thing seemed to overpower and astonish the little dark-brown dog, and wounded him to the heart. He sank down in despair at the child's feet. When the blow was repeated, together with an admonition in childish sentences, he turned over upon his back, and held his paws in a peculiar manner. At the same time with his ears and his eyes he offered a small prayer to the child.
He looked so comical on his back, and holding his paws peculiarly, that the child was greatly amused and gave him little taps repeatedly, to keep him so. But the little dark-brown dog took this chastisement in the most serious way, and no doubt considered that he had committed some grave crime, for he wriggled contritely and showed his repentance in every way that was in his power. He pleaded with the child and petitioned him, and offered more prayers.
At last the child grew weary of this amusement and turned toward home. The dog was praying at the time. He lay on his back and turned his eyes upon the retreating form.
Presently he struggled to his feet and started after the child. The latter wandered in a perfunctory way toward his home, stopping at times to investigate various matters. During one of these pauses he discovered the little dark-brown dog who was following him with the air of a footpad.
The child beat his pursuer with a small stick he had found. The dog lay down and prayed until the child had finished, and resumed his journey. Then he scrambled erect and took up the pursuit again.
On the way to his home the child turned many times and beat the dog, proclaiming with childish gestures that he held him in contempt as an unimportant dog, with no value save for a moment. For being this quality of animal the dog apologized and eloquently expressed regret, but he continued stealthily to follow the child. His manner grew so very guilty that he slunk like an assassin.
When the child reached his door-step, the dog was industriously ambling a few yards in the rear. He became so agitated with shame when he again confronted the child that he forgot the dragging rope. He tripped upon it and fell forward.
The child sat down on the step and the two had another interview. During it the dog greatly exerted himself to please the child. He performed a few gambols with such abandon that the child suddenly saw him to be a valuable thing. He made a swift, avaricious charge and seized the rope.
He dragged his captive into a hall and up many long stairways in a dark tenement. The dog made willing efforts, but he could not hobble very skilfully up the stairs because he was very small and soft, and at last the pace of the engrossed child grew so energetic that the dog became panic-stricken. In his mind he was being dragged toward a grim unknown. His eyes grew wild with the terror of it. He began to wiggle his head frantically and to brace his legs.
The child redoubled his exertions. They had a battle on the stairs. The child was victorious because he was completely absorbed in his purpose, and because the dog was very small. He dragged his acquirement to the door of his home, and finally with triumph across the threshold.
No one was in. The child sat down on the floor and made overtures to the dog. These the dog instantly accepted. He beamed with affection upon his new friend. In a short time they were firm and abiding comrades.
When the child's family appeared, they made a great row. The dog was examined and commented upon and called names. Scorn was leveled at him from all eyes, so that he became much embarrassed and drooped like a scorched plant. But the child went sturdily to the center of the floor, and, at the top of his voice, championed the dog. It happened that he was roaring protestations, with his arms clasped about the dog's neck, when the father of the family came in from work.
The parent demanded to know what the blazes they were making t
深棕色的狗一個小孩站在街角。他靠著一隻肩膀靠著高的木柵欄,動搖另走去,一會兒踢不小心在礫石。陽光曬在卵石和慵懶的夏日風提出黃塵,灑落的大道。呱卡車移動與通過它的模糊。孩子站在出神地凝視著。後一段時間,有點深棕色狗跑著,沿著人行道意圖的空氣。短的繩子拖著他的脖子。偶爾他踩到它的結束而跌倒了。他停下來對面的孩子,和這兩個視彼此。那條狗猶豫了一會兒,但目前他與他的尾巴取得了一些小的進展。那孩子伸出他的手,叫他。那條狗進來道歉的方式關閉,和這兩位友好的 pattings 和扭來扭去的交匯處。狗成為了更熱情的採訪中,每一個時刻,直到與他對視,他威脅要推翻這個孩子。於是孩子舉起手,頭上的一拳打狗。這件事似乎壓倒,使吃驚暗棕色的小狗,並打傷了他的心。他沉沒在絕望在孩子的雙腳。當重複了這一擊,訓誡幼稚的句子,與他在他的背,轉過身舉行他的爪子以特有的方式。在他的耳朵和眼睛同時他向兒童提供小祈禱。他看上去太滑稽了對他的背部,和奇怪的是,拿著他的爪子,孩子被逗樂,給了他小小的水龍頭反復,讓他這樣。深棕色的小狗這懲罰參加的最嚴重的方式,而且無疑認為他沒有犯一些嚴重的犯罪,因為他之扭來扭去,每一個在他的權力的方式表明他的懺悔。他承認與孩子和請求他,並提供更多的祈禱。最後孩子漸漸地厭倦這娛樂轉身朝家的方向。那條狗在時間禱告。他躺在他的背上,把目光盯在撤退的形式。目前,他掙扎著站起來,在孩子走後。後者來蕩去敷衍的方式向他的家,有時停下來調查各項事宜。在某一次停頓,他發現棕黑色的小狗跟著他于一個攔路賊的空氣。孩子打用他找到了一個小木棍追他的人。小狗躺下來祈禱直到孩子已經完成,並恢復他的旅程。然後,他翻身爬直立,又拿起追求。孩子在很多時候轉身打他回家路上小狗,幼稚的手勢他舉行他蔑視作為重要的狗,沒有價值保存了一會兒。因為這種品質的動物狗道歉和雄辯地表示遺憾,但他依然鬼鬼祟祟地跟著孩子。他的態度變得很內疚,他偷偷像刺客。當兒童到達他門一步時,狗辛勤漫步在後方幾碼遠。當他再次面對孩子他忘了扯拽的繩索,他成為了羞愧。他它絆向前倒。坐在上一步和兩個孩子有另一次面試。在這期間狗大大施加自己來取悅孩子。他執行幾個幼獸這樣的放棄,孩子突然發現他是有價值的東西。他迅速、 貪得無厭的電荷,抓住繩子。他把他的俘虜拖進大廳的樓梯在黑暗的公寓樓。狗作出願意努力,但他可以不,蹣跚地非常巧妙地,樓梯上因為他很小,軟的而最後的步伐全神貫注的孩子變得這麼有活力的狗變得驚慌失措。在他心裡,他正在被拖向一個陰森森的未知中。他的眼睛充滿了恐懼的它。他開始擺動他的頭瘋狂地來支撐他的雙腿。小孩加倍的勞頓,他。他們在樓梯上了一場戰鬥。這孩子是勝利的因為他是完全專注于他的目的,,因為狗是非常小。他拖著他獲取到他的門的家裡,和最後與勝利跨過門檻。沒有一個人在。孩子在地板上坐了下來,主動向那條狗。這些狗立刻接受。他高興得眉開眼笑的感情在他的新朋友。在短時間內他們是堅定和持久的同志。When the child's family appeared, they made a great row. The dog was examined and commented upon and called names. Scorn was leveled at him from all eyes, so that he became much embarrassed and drooped like a scorched plant. But the child went sturdily to the center of the floor, and, at the top of his voice, championed the dog. It happened that he was roaring protestations, with his arms clasped about the dog's neck, when the father of the family came in from work.The parent demanded to know what the blazes they were making t
正在翻譯中..