文档介绍：Little Men
by Louisa May Alcott
作者简介
阿尔科特路易莎( ),作
家,生于宾夕法尼亚州日尔曼敦。布朗森·阿尔科特之女。
年,她根据自己家庭生活的亲身经历写成《小女人》(
),获得巨大的成功,该书成为经典儿童读物。紧接着,
《好妻子》()于年面世。以后又相继出版了《墨
守陈规的姑娘》( )、《小男人》
( )和《乔的男孩们》(’)。
Little Men 1
CHAPTER I
NAT
“Please, sir, is this Plumfield?” asked a ragged boy of the man who opened
the great gate at which the omnibus left him.
“Yes. Who sent you?”
“Mr. Laurence. I have got a letter for the lady.”
“All right; go up to the house, and give it to her; she’ll see to you, little
chap.”
The man spoke pleasantly, and the boy went on, feeling much cheered
by the words. Through the soft spring rain that fell on sprouting grass and
budding trees, Nat saw a large square house before hima hospitable-look-
ing house, with an old-fashioned porch, wide steps, and lights shining in
many windows. Neither curtains nor shutters hid the cheerful glimmer; and,
pausing a moment before he rang, Nat saw many little shadows dancing on
the walls, heard the pleasant hum of young voices, and felt that it was hardly
possible that the light and warmth fort within could be for a home-
less “little chap” like him.
“I hope the lady will see to me,” he thought, and gave a timid rap with
the great bronze knocker, which was a jovial griffin’s head.
A rosy-faced servant-maid opened the door, and smiled as she took the
letter which he silently offered. She seemed used to receiving strange boys,
for she pointed to a seat in the hall, and said, with a nod:
“Sit there and drip on the mat a bit, while I take this in to missis.”
Nat found plenty to amuse him while he waited, and stared about him
curiously, enjoying the view, yet glad to do so unobserved in the dusky
recess by the door.
The house seemed swarming with boys, who were beguiling the rainy
twilight with all sorts of amusements. There were boys everywhere, “up-
stairs and down-stairs and in the lady’s chamber,” apparently, for various
open doors showed pleasant groups of big boys, little boys,