本書從19世紀中期至20世紀中葉，一直被廣泛用作美國學校的語文教材，據稱有10000多所美國學校拿它當作教材。到了21世紀，西方一些私立學校（PrivateSchool)和家庭學校（Homeschool）仍用它作為教材，足見這套書的價值與影響力。據估計，這套書從問世至1960年，至少發行了1.22億冊；1961年后，在西方每年銷量仍達30000冊以上。應該說，沒有哪一套個人主編的教材能超過此發行量了！此套讀本的英文原版共分七級，包括啟蒙讀本和第1-6級?？紤]到啟蒙讀本與第一級篇幅都較少，難易程度也很接近，于是我們將之合并為第1冊，其余2-6級與英文原版相同。這樣國內出版的這套讀本共包括6冊。第1冊從字母表開始，主要側重于字母的發音與書寫、簡單的單詞與句型，同時強調英文書寫，課文后面附有不少書法練習，讓孩子們不僅將英語說得像外國人，而且寫得也跟外文書法一樣，這是國內英語教學所缺少的一個環節。從第2冊開始，均是比較正式的課文，每一課包括詞匯和課文，對一些生詞有英文解釋，讓學生學會通過簡單英文理解生詞，養成用英語理解和思維的習慣。第5冊和第6冊的課文前增加了作者簡介與相關背景知識，內容豐富而有一定深度。此套書為在原版本基礎上重新修訂精裝版，后兩冊字號較之前有所放大，并且修正了原有的錯誤之處，以方便學生閱讀。

這套書不僅影響了美國的教育事業，也影響了美國的倫理道德。誠如歷史學家孔瑪格所言：“它們為美國兒童提供了當今明顯缺乏的東西，即普遍的引喻知識、普遍的經驗和自制意識。”
　　―― 選自《大美百科全書》

LESSON 1 THE GOOD READER
　　朗讀者
　　1.It is told of Frederick the Great，King of Prussia，that，as hewas seated one day in his private room，a written petition1 wasbrought to him with the request that it should be immediatelyread.The King had just returned from hunting，and the glare of thesun，or some other cause，had so dazzled his eyes that he found itdiffi cult to make out a single word of the writing.
　　2.His private secretary happened to be absent； and the soldierwho brought the petition could not read.There was a page，orfavorite boy servant，waiting in the hall，and upon him the Kingcalled.The page was a son of one of the noblemen of the court，butproved to be a very poor reader.
　　3.In the fi rst place，he did not articulate2 distinctly.Hehuddled his words together in the utterance，as if they weresyllables of one long word，which he must get through with asspeedily as possible.His pronunciation was bad，and he did notmodulate3 his voice so as to bring out the meaning of what heread.Every sentence was uttered with a dismal monotony4 of voice，asif it did not differ in any respect from that which precededit.
　　4.“Stop！”said the King，impatiently.“Is it an auctioneer's list ofgoods to be sold that you are hurrying over？ Send your companion tome.”Another page who stood at the door now entered，and to him theKing gave the petition.The second page began by hemming andclearing his throat in such an affected5 manner that the Kingjokingly asked him whether he had not slept in the publicgarden，with the gate open，the night before.
　　5.The second page had a good share of self-conceit，however，and sowas not greatly confused by the King's jest.He determined that hewould avoid the mistake which his comrade had made.So he commencedreading the petition slowly and with great formality，emphasizingevery word，and prolonging the articulation of every syllable.Buthis manner was so tedious that the King cried out，“Stop！ are youreciting a lesson in the elementary sounds？ Out of the room！ Butno： stay！ Send me that little girl who is sitting there by thefountain.”
　　6.The girl thus pointed out by the King was a daughter of one ofthe laborers employed by the royal gardener； and she had come tohelp her father weed the fl ower beds.It chanced that，like many ofthe poor people in Prussia，she had received a good education.Shewas somewhat alarmed when she found herself in the King'spresence，but took courage when the King told her that he onlywanted her to read for him，as his eyes were weak.
　　7.Now，Ernestine (for this was the name of the little girl) wasfond of reading aloud，and often many of the neighbors wouldassemble at her father's house to hear her； those who could notread themselves would come to her，also，with their letters fromdistant friends or children，and she thus formed the habit ofreading various sorts of handwriting promptly and well.
　　8.The King gave her the petition，and she rapidly glanced throughthe opening lines to get some idea of what it was about.As sheread，her eyes began to glisten，and her breast to heave.“What is thematter？”asked the King；“don't you know how to read？”“Oh，yes！sire，”she replied，addressing him with the title usually applied tohim：“I will now read it，if you please.”
　　9.The two pages wore about to leave the room.“Remain，”said theKing.The little girl began to read the petition.It was from a poorwidow，whose only son had been drafted1 to serve in thearmy，although his health was delicate and his pursuits had beensuch as to unfi t him for military life.His father had been killedin battle，and the son hada strong desire to become a portraitpainter.
　　10.The writer told her story in a simple，concise1 manner，thatcarried to the heart a belief of its truth； and Ernestine read itwith so much feeling，and with an articulation so just，in tones sopure and distinct，that when she had fi nished，the King，into whoseeyes the tears had started，exclaimed，“Oh！ now I understand what itis all about； but I might never have known，certainly I never shouldhave felt，its meaning had I trusted to these young gentlemen，whom Inow dismiss from my service for one year，advising them to occupytheir time in learning to read.”
　　11.“As for you，my young lady，”continued the King，“I know you willask no better reward for your trouble than the pleasure of carryingto this poor widow my order for her son's immediate discharge2.Letme see whether you can write as well as you can read.Take thispen，and write as I dictate3.”He then dictated an order，whichErnestine wrote，and he signed.Calling one of his guards，he bade himgo with the girl and see that the order was obeyed.
　　12.How much happiness was Ernestine the means of bestowingthrough her good elocution，united to the happy circumstance thatbrought it to the knowledge of the King！ First，there were her poorneighbors，to whom she could give instruction andentertainment.Then，there was the poor widow who sent thepetition，and who not only regained her son，but received throughErnestine an order for him to paint the King's likeness； so thatthe poor boy soon rose to great distinction4，and had more ordersthan he could attend to.Words could not express5 his gratitude，andthat of his mother，to the little girl.
　　13.And Ernestine had，moreover，the satisfaction of aiding herfather to rise in the world，so that he became the King's chiefgardener.The King did not forget her，but had her well educated athis own expense.As for the two pages，she was indirectly the meansof doing them good，also； for，ashamed of their bad reading，theycommenced studying in earnest，till they overcame the faults thathad offended the King.Both fi nally rose to distinction，one as alawyer，and the other as a statesman； and they owed theiradvancement in life chiefl y to their good elocution.
　　
　　【中文閱讀】
　　1．傳說，一天，普魯士國王弗里德里希大帝坐在屋里，他的衛兵給他送來一份書面請愿書。書中注明，請求國王即刻閱讀。當時，國王剛剛結束打獵回宮，因為陽光刺眼，或某些其他原因，他頭昏眼花，一個字也很難看清。
　　2．國王的私人秘書碰巧不在宮內，送來請愿書的衛兵也不識字。當時有位男侍，或者不如說一位乖巧侍童正在大廳當班伺候，國王吩咐他過來。那位侍童是宮廷某位貴族的兒子，可隨后證實，他的閱讀能力相當糟糕。
　　3．一上來，那位侍童發音就不夠清晰，那些詞語在他嘴里居然咕囔成串，雜亂無章地快速蹦出。聽起來，有的詞語音節應該很長，可他似乎總是急不可耐地含糊讀完。他的發音很糟，無法表現文字的準確含義。與此同時，他所表述的所有話語無不沉悶呆板，毫無抑揚頓挫之感或音調變化，似乎詞語間不存在任何差異。
　　4．“停下！”國王不耐心地說，“莫非你是公開清單、急于拍賣物品的拍賣師，那么草草念完？把你的同伴叫來！”很快，大廳門口守候的另一位侍童來到國王身邊，國王將請愿書交給了他。那侍童裝模作樣地清了清嗓子，國王詼諧地問他，是不是他昨晚沒在公園里過夜，但睡覺時門卻整晚沒關。
　　5．第二位侍童頗為自負，對國王的俏皮話，似乎不太在意。他有心避免前面那位同伴的類似失誤，開始朗讀起來。他的語速遲緩，太過一本正經，所有詞語無不輔以重音，逐個音節拉長拼讀，他的朗讀那么乏味造作，國王不禁大聲呵斥，“停下！你難道是小學生背誦課文？滾出去！不，站好！先把坐在噴泉那邊的小姑娘給我叫過來！”
　　6．國王點名的那位姑娘是宮廷花師所雇傭人的女兒，那天，她過來幫著父親給宮廷花圃除草。像普魯士不少窮人那樣，她碰巧接受過良好的教育。聽到國王召見自己，她多少有點心存警覺。國王告訴她，由于他眼睛無法閱讀，只是讓她代勞，她才稍稍鼓起了勇氣。
　　7．歐內斯廷（小姑娘名字）喜歡高聲朗讀，不少鄰居經常聚集在她家門口聽她讀書。那些不識字的人亦總樂意找她，他們帶來遠方朋友或孩子的來信。因此，她便具有閱讀不同手寫文體、并能迅速準確朗讀的能力。
　　8．國王將請愿書遞給她，她快速地瀏覽了開篇數行，從而獲悉文章的大體印象。她讀了不一會兒，眼神炯炯有光，呼吸急速?！霸趺椿厥?？”國王問道，“難道你不會讀？”“不！陛下，”她以國王的尊稱回答，“如果你樂意的話，我會繼續?！?br>　　9．兩位侍童正準備離開，“站著，別動！”國王下令，姑娘又接著往下讀。這份請愿書說的是一位貧苦寡婦的遭遇，她唯一的兒子被抓到軍隊服兵役，雖然他身虛體弱，志向亦不在行伍。男孩父親已在一次戰役中身亡，那少年還有個夢寐以求的愿望，想成為一名肖像畫家。
　　10．請愿書作者以質樸簡潔的語言，敘述那位寡婦的悲慘遭遇，文章的真情實感讓人動容。歐內斯廷滿懷深情地讀著，她的語言清晰，音調純正，抑揚頓挫。讀完后，國王眼里充滿了淚水，他高聲叫道：“天呀！我現在才知道怎么回事，假如聽信那些年輕貴族的話，我將壓根無從了解，準確地說，從來不會感受到這種請愿書的深刻涵義?，F在，我要將那些家伙解職一年，讓他們好好學習一下如何閱讀?！?br>　　11．“至于你，我的孩子，”國王接著說，“相信你會高興地帶上我的手令，立刻解除那可憐寡婦孩子的兵役，我想，假若給你其他任何報酬，亦不會比這更開心吧。我要看看，你是否也能準確書寫，像你的閱讀那樣棒。拿這支筆，寫下我口授的話?！彼又谑诹艘环菝睿瑲W內斯廷記錄完畢，國王隨后簽上自己名字。然后他又吩咐一個衛兵過來，安排他與姑娘一同前去執行他的命令。
　　12．通過感情真摯的閱讀，獲取這種特殊贈與，歐內斯廷簡直快樂極了！國王獲悉了民情，內心產生共鳴，并最終授于樹內。起初，那些貧困鄰居們從姑娘那里找到安慰，隨后，送出請愿書的那位寡婦不僅能與兒子重新一起生活，還接受了歐內斯廷帶來的國王旨意，安排她的兒子前去宮廷為國王畫像。不久，那位貧苦人家孩子便迅速得以擢升，并獲得更多的發展機會。千言萬語無法表達那位少年還有他的寡母對小姑娘歐內斯廷的深深感激之情。
　　13．不僅如此，歐內斯廷的父親后來成為國王的首席園藝師，在世界園林界贏得了聲譽，這一點，讓歐內斯廷非常自豪。國王并沒有忘記這個小姑娘，花錢讓她受到最好的教育。至于那兩位侍童，她亦間接幫助了他們。由于對自己閱讀能力深感羞愧，他們急切想重新獲得學習機會。兩人通過讀書最終彌補了閱讀能力的不足，隨后皆獲取了提升機會，一位做了律師，還有一位成了政治家，他們把生命升華歸功于極有裨益的開卷閱讀。
　　
　　LESSON 3 THE GENTLE HAND
　　溫柔的手
　　Timothy S.Arthur (b.1809，d.1885) was born near Newburgh，N.Y.，butpassed most of his life at Baltimore and Philadelphia.Hisopportunities for good schooling were quite limited，and he may beconsidered a self-educated man.He was the author of more than ahundred volumes，principally novels of a domestic and moral tone，andof many shorter tales-magazine articles，etc.“Ten Nights in aBarroom，”and“Three Years in a Mantrap，”are among his best knownworks.
　　1.When and where it matters not now to relate-but once upon atime，as I was passing through a thinly peopled district ofcountry，night came down upon me almost unawares.Being on foot，Icould not hope to gain the village toward which my steps weredirected，until a late hour； and I therefore preferred seekingshelter and a night's lodging at the fi rst humble dwelling thatpresented itself.
　　2.Dusky twilight was giving place to deeper shadows，when I foundmyself in the vicinity1 of a dwelling，from the small uncurtainedwindows of which the light shone with a pleasant promise of goodcheer and comfort.The house stood within an inclosure，and a shortdistance from the road along which I was moving with weariedfeet.
　　3.Turning aside，and passing through the ill-hung gate，Iapproached the dwelling.Slowly the gate swung on its woodenhinges，and the rattle of its latch，in closing，did not disturb theair until I had nearly reached the porch in front of the house，inwhich a slender girl，who had noticed my entrance，stood awaiting myarrival.
　　4.A deep，quick bark answered，almost like an echo，the sound of theshutting gate，and，sudden as an apparition，the form of an immensedog loomed in the doorway.At the instant when he was about tospring，a light hand was laid upon his shaggy neck，and a low wordspoken.
　　5.“Go in，Tiger，”said the girl，not in a voice of authority，yet inher gentle tones was the consciousness that she would be obeyed；and，as she spoke，she lightly bore upon the animal with her hand，andhe turned away and disappeared within the dwelling.
　　6.“Who's that？”A rough voice asked the question； and now aheavy-looking man took the dog's place in the door.
　　7.“How far is it to G-？”I asked，not deeming it best to say，in thebeginning，that I sought a resting place for the night.
　　8.“To G-！”growled the man，but not so harshly as at fi rst.“It'sgood six miles from here.”
　　9.“A long distance； and I'm a stranger and on foot，”said I.“Ifyou can make room for me until morning，I will be verythankful.”
　　0.I saw the girl's hand move quickly up his arm，until it restedon his shoulder，andnow she leaned to him still closer.
　　11.“Come in.We'll try what can be done for you.”There was achange in the man's voice that made me wonder.I entered a largeroom，in which blazed a brisk fi re.Before the fi re sat two stoutlads，who turned upon me their heavy eyes，with no very welcomegreeting.A middle-aged woman was standing at a table，and twochildren were amusing themselves with a kitten on the fl oor.
　　12.“A stranger，mother，”said the man who had given me so rude agreeting at the door；“and he wants us to let him stay allnight.”
　　13.The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments，and thenreplied coldly，“We don't keep a public house.”
　　14.“I'm aware of that，ma'am，”said I；“but night has overtakenme，and it's a long way yet to G-.”
　　15.“Too far for a tired man to go on foot，”said the master of thehouse，kindly，“so it's no use talking about it，mother； we must givehim a bed.”
　　16.So unobtrusively1 that I scarce noticed the movement，the girlhad drawn to her mother's side.What she said to her I did nothear，for the brief words were uttered in a low voice； but Inoticed，as she spoke，one small，fair hand rested on the woman'shand.
　　17.Was there magic in that touch？ The woman's repulsive2 aspectchanged into one of kindly welcome，and she said，“Yes，it's a longway to G-.I guess we can fi nd a place for him.”
　　18.Many times more during that evening，did I observe the magicpower of that hand and voice-the one gentle yet potent3 as theother.On the next morning，breakfast being over，I was preparing totake my departure when my host4 informed me that if I would waitfor half an hour he would give me a ride in his wagon to G-，asbusiness required him to go there.I was very well pleased to acceptof the invitation.
　　19.In due time，the farmer's wagon was driven into the road beforethe house，and I was invited to get in.I noticed the horse as arough-looking Canadian pony，with a certain air of stubbornendurance.As the farmer took his seat by my side，the family came tothe door to see us off.
　　20.“Dick！”said the farmer in a peremptory5 voice，giving the reina quick jerk as he spoke.But Dick moved not a step.“Dick！ youvagabond！ get up.”And the farmer's whip cracked sharply by thepony's ear.
　　21.It availed6 not，however，this second appeal.Dick stood fi rmlydisobedient.Next the whip was brought down upon him with animpatient hand； but the pony only reared up a little.Fast and sharpthe strokes were next dealt to the number of half a dozen.The manmight as well have beaten the wagon，for all his end wasgained.
　　22.A stout lad now came out into the road，and，catching Dick bythe bridle，jerked him forward，using，at the same time，the customarylanguage on such occasions，but Dick met this new ally7 withincreased stubbornness，planting his fore feet more fi rmly and at asharper angle with the ground.
　　23.The impatient boy now struck the pony on the side of the headwith his clinchedhand，and jerked cruelly at his bridle.It availednothing，however； Dick was not to be wrought upon by any sucharguments.
　　24.“Don't do so，John！”I turned my head as the maiden's sweetvoice reached my ear.She was passing through the gate into theroad，and in the next moment had taken hold of the lad and drawn himaway from the animal.No strength was exerted in this； she took holdof his arm，and he obeyed her wish as readily as if he had nothought beyond her gratifi cation.
　　25.And now that soft hand was laid gently on the pony's neck，anda single low word spoken.How instantly were the tense1 musclesrelaxed2-how quickly the stubborn air vanished！
　　26.“Poor Dick！”said the maiden，as she stroked his neck lightly，orsoftly patted it with a childlike hand.“Now，go along，you provokingfellow！”she added，in a half- chiding3，yet affectionate voice，as shedrew up the bridle.
　　27.The pony turned toward her，and rubbed his head against her armfor an instant or two； then，pricking up his ears，he started off ata light，cheerful trot，and went on his way as freely as if no sillycrotchet4 had ever entered his stubborn brain.
　　28.“What a wonderful power that hand possesses！”said I，speakingto my companion，as we rode away.
　　29.He looked at me for a moment，as if my remark had occasionedsurprise.Then a light came into his countenance，and he saidbriefly，“She's good！ Everybody and everything loves her.”
　　30.Was that，indeed，the secret of her power？ Was the quality ofher soul perceived in the impression of her hand，even by brutebeasts！ The father's explanation was doubtless the true one.Yethave I ever since wondered，and still do wonder，at the potency whichlay in that maiden's magic touch.I have seen something of the samepower，showing itself in the loving and the good，but never to theextent as instanced5 in her，whom，for want of a better name，I muststill call“Gentle Hand.”
　　【中文閱讀】
　　提摩太 ? 斯 ?亞瑟(1809～1885)出生于紐約州紐博市附近，他在巴爾的摩和費城度過生命中的大量時光。他接受正規教育機會相當有限，屬于自學成才的類型。他的著述多達一百多部，主要有涉及家庭倫理方面的小說，以及為雜志撰寫的大量篇幅更短的文章等?！毒瓢砷g的十個夜晚》和《捕人陷阱中的三年》皆為他的名篇。
　　1．究竟什么時間、地點，現在看來似乎無關緊要--姑且算是從前吧，當我走過一處人煙稀少的地區，不知不覺間，夜幕降臨了。由于步行，我不可能指望找到一處鄉鎮或村莊。又過了一個時辰，我急切地想找處地方過夜，沒別的，最先撞見的地方，無論怎樣粗鄙簡陋，對付一晚足矣。
　　2．昏暗燈火來自深不可測的黑暗，我突然發現附近有戶人家，從那扇光禿禿的窗口里，似乎感覺到燈火里透出喜悅的安詳。屋子四周有柵欄，離我走的路很近，那時，我可真是走得太累了。3．走下路，跨過那扇歪扭的大門，我走向那處屋子。大門在木質鉸鏈上慢慢晃動，門閂的吱呀聲悄無聲息，直到最后關門才發出輕微聲響。待我走到房前走廊時，才看到一位身材修長的姑娘站在那里，顯然，剛才她聽到了我的腳步。
　　4．門甫關上，旋即響起一聲低沉的狗吠，一條體型碩大的狗幽靈般出現在我的身邊。就在它立馬撲過來的剎那，一只手輕輕搭在那只狗毛發蓬松的脖頸。
　　5．“虎子，進去，”姑娘低聲說道，聲音并不威嚴，但溫柔中含有不得不服從的暗示，與此同時，她輕輕地拍打那狗幾下，于是那狗轉身閃進屋內。
　　6．“你是誰？”一個粗厲聲音響起，一位臉色陰沉的男人在狗的身后閃出。
　　7．“請問，這里離 G 地還有多遠？”我問道，乍開口，才覺得并不合適，那時的我不過想找個過夜的地方。
　　8．“到 G 地去，”那男人大聲地說，言語間卻少了最初的苛厲，“從這到那還有不近的六英里路呢?！?br>　　9．“路真夠遠的，我是步行來的，一個過路客，”我說，“如果你們讓我在這歇上一晚，我真是感激不盡。”
　　10．我看見那姑娘的手迅速上移，最后搭在那男人肩膀上，現在她貼那男人更近了點。
　　11．“進來吧，看看我們能給你幫上什么忙。”那男人語氣的變化讓我有點喜出望外。我走進房間，房間很寬敞，火苗輕快地跳躍著?；鸲堰呑鴥晌淮执T身材的人，滿臉陰沉地打量著我，明顯帶著不快的神情。一位中年婦女站在桌子旁邊，兩個孩子在地上逗著小貓玩。
　　12．“媽媽，這位過路客，”剛才在門口粗魯地與我打招呼的那位男人說道，“他想在這里過上一夜。”
　　13．那婦人狐疑地打量我片刻，冷淡地說，“我們這沒有客房?！?br>　　14．“我，我知道，夫人，”我說，“不過，天太晚了，去G地路實在太遠了?！?br>　　15．“他走得太累了，前面的路那么遠，”那好心的姑娘接著說，“別說了，媽媽，我們得給他準備個睡覺的地方?！?br>　　16．起初，我還真沒注意到，悄無聲息地，那姑娘仄到她媽媽身邊，那些話語很輕，我聽不見她對母親說了什么，不過，我留意到，那姑娘說話的當口，她那小巧美麗的手已搭在那婦人的手上。
　　17．這就是觸摸的神奇？那婦人反感冷淡的口吻轉瞬變得柔和親近，“是的，去 G地的路還遠著呢，我想，我們是得給他安排住下。”
　　18．就在那個晚上，我確實留心到那雙手、那個聲音的神奇--溫柔中透出強勢力量。次日清早，早飯后，我打算告辭，男主人突然告訴我，如果我可以等半個時辰的話，他可以捎帶我去G地，他要趕著馬車去G地辦事。我自然非常高興地接受了他的好意。
　　19．約定的時間到了，那農夫的馬車來到屋前路上，我受邀上車后，這才看見那匹駕轅的馬駒，那馬駒面部粗糙，屬于加拿大品種，具有頑強忍耐的優良品性。農夫上了車，坐在我身邊，全家人走出門來給我們送行。
　　20、“狄克！”那農夫嚴厲地呵斥，一邊猛地拉動韁繩，狄克竟然沒有挪步，“狄克！你這個懶鬼！快走呀?！鞭r夫鞭子在小馬耳邊尖銳地乍響。
　　21．依然毫不奏效。接下來，農夫語氣變得委婉甚至懇求，小馬駒還是無動于衷。然后，主人急躁的鞭子甩在了狄克身上，那馬駒只是稍稍后退，接著又來了六七下快速猛烈的鞭笞，那農夫如果早知道他最終束手無策，還不如起先就鞭打那馬車罷。
　　22．一位身材粗碩的婦人走過來，她抓住馬籠頭猛地往前拉，嘴里不停叨嘮類似場合那些粗鄙的話，但狄克愈發倔犟，死活不走，甚至還將它的前蹄翹起，死死地抵住地面。
　　23．這會兒，那位不耐煩的男孩用鉗子般手掌猛力撞擊狄克頭部，然后死命猛拽馬的籠頭，毫不奏效，狄克不會在這樣暴力下尥開蹄子。
　　24．“約翰，別這樣！”我一轉頭，那位姑娘的溫柔聲音傳了過來。她正邁過大門，來到路上。姑娘一把抓住那莽撞的家伙，將他從狄克身邊甩開。她毫不費力地抓住了他的一只胳膊，他好像也相當樂意地與其配合，好像壓根沒有忤逆她的意思。
　　25．眼前，那只溫柔的手輕輕放在小馬駒的脖頸上，姑娘輕聲慢語地對它說話。不過轉眼間，狄克緊張的肌肉已經松弛，僵持的堅冰終于打破。
　　26．“可憐的狄克，”那姑娘一邊說，一邊輕輕拍著小馬駒的脖頸，或者不如說，用那滿懷柔情的孩子般手拍打狄克，“該走了，你這讓人生氣的孩子！”她的話語中夾雜責備，亦不乏溫情脈脈，說話間，她還提了提籠頭。
　　27．狄克朝她轉過身來，用頭朝她胳膊蹭動片刻，然后豎立耳朵，輕快地跑起碎步，接著，尥開蹄子跑開了，好像剛才不曾有任何怪異的念頭盤踞在它那固執的小腦瓜里。
　　28．馬車跑起來了，“手，該有多么神奇！”我對身邊的人說道。
　　29．農夫注視了我片刻，好像我的話使他偶發驚奇，他的臉上閃過一絲喜悅，卻只說了句，“她心地仁慈，這里的人和那些牲口都喜歡她?！?br>　　30．的確，難道她有神奇力量的秘密？抑或她的靈魂高貴？這位父親的話無疑道出了真相，從那以后，我確實想知道，甚至今天，似乎更想弄明白，那姑娘輕撫的手里究竟存在什么樣的神奇魔力。我見過同樣的力量訴求，從容地表達愛戀與善行，但從未見過類似這位姑娘手里升起的奇跡，她給我內心帶來了驚悚震撼。如果讓我用貼切的詞語形容，我寧愿稱呼她為“溫柔的手”。