小学英语 英语故事（童话故事）Two Maidens 两个姑娘

Two Maidens 两个姑娘Haveyoueverseen"amaiden"?Iamreferringtowhatroadpaverscalla"maiden,"athingusedforrammingdownthepavingstones."She"ismadeentirelyofwood,broadatthebottom,withironhoopsaroundit,andastickrunthroughitattheupper,narrowerend,whichgivesthemaidenarms.Twomaidenslikethiswereoncestandingintheyardshed,amongshovels,measuringtapes,andwheelbarrows.Now,therewasarumorgoingaroundthattheywerenolongertobecalled"maidens,"but"stamps"or"handrammers";andthisisthenewestandonlycorrectterminroadpavers'languageforwhatweallinoldentimescalled"amaiden."Thereareamongushumanbeingscertainindividualswecall"emancipatedwomen,"suchasinstitutionsuperintendents,midwives,balletdancers,milliners,andnurses;andwiththisgroupof"emancipated,"thetwo"maidens"intheyardshedassociatedthemselves.Theywereknownas"maidens"amongtheroadpaversandwouldundernocircumstancesgiveuptheirgoodoldnameandletthemselvesbecalled"stamps"or"handrammers."Maidenisahumanname,"theysaid,"buta'stamp'ora'handrammer'isathing,andwecertainlydonotwanttobecalledthings;that'sinsultingus!""Mybetrothedisliabletobreakoffourengagement,"saidtheyoungerofthetwo,whowasengagedtoarammingblock,alargemachineusedtodrivestakesintotheground.Infact,hedidonalargerscalethesamesortofworkthatshedidonasmaller."He'lltakemeasa'maiden,'butI'msurehewon'thavemeasa'stamp'or'handrammer,'andsoI'llnotpermitthemtochangemyname.""Asforme,I'djustassoonhavebothmyarmsbrokenoff!"saidtheelder.Butthewheelbarrowhadadifferentidea,andthewheelbarrowwasreallysomebody!Heconsideredhimselfaquarterofacarriagebecausehewentaboutononewheel."Imust,however,tellyouthatit'scommonenoughtobecalled'maidens';thatisn'tnearlysodistinctiveanameas'stamp,'becausethatbelongsunderthecategoryof'seals.'Justthinkofthe'royalsignet,'andthe'sealofthestate.'IfIwereyouIwouldgiveupthename'maiden.'""Never!"saidtheelder."I'mmuchtoooldforthat!""Youdon'tseemtounderstandwhatiscalledtheEuropeannecessity,"saidthehonestoldmeasuringtape."Peoplehavetoadaptthemselvestocircumstances,limitthemselves,giveintotheneedsofthetimes.Andifthereisalawthatthe'maidens'aretobecalled'stamps'or'handrammers,'thenbythatnewnameshemustbecalled.Thereisameasuringtapeforeverything.""Well,iftheremustbeachange,"saidtheyounger,"I'dratherbecalled'miss,'for'miss'remindsonealittleof'maiden.'""ButI'dratherbechoppedupforfirewoodthanchangeatall,"saidtheold"maiden."Nowitwastimeforwork.The"maidens"rode;theywereputinthewheelbarrow,whichwasrespectfultreatment,buttheywerenowcalled"stamps.""Maid--!"theycriedastheystampedonthepavingstones."Maid--!"Theyalmostsaidthewholeword"maiden,"buttheydidn'tfinish;theyhaddecidednottosayanymoreaboutit.Butamongthemselvestheyalwaysspokeofeachotheras"maidens,"andpraisedthegoodolddayswhenthingswerecalledbytheirpropernamesandthosewhowere"maidens"werecalled"maidens."And"maidens"theybothremained,fortherammingblock,thebigmachineItoldyouabout,didbreakoffhisengagementwiththeyounger;hewouldhavenothingtodowitha"stamp"or"handrammer"!