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LITTLE WOMEN 若草物語 4-2

CHAPTER FOUR Burdens 重い荷をかついで 2

Alcott, Louisa May オルコットルイーザ・メイ
AOZORA BUNKO 青空文庫

When Mr. March lost his property in trying to help an unfortunate friend, the two oldest girls begged to be allowed to do something toward their own support, at least.

　おとうさんが、不幸な友人を救おうとして財産を失くしたとき、二人はすこしでも家のためになりたくてはたらき、それからずっとはたらいているのです。

Believing that they could not begin too early to cultivate energy, industry, and independence, their parents consented, and both fell to work with the hearty good will which in spite of all obstacles is sure to succeed at last.

Margaret found a place as nursery governess and felt rich with her small salary.

As she said, she was 'fond of luxury', and her chief trouble was poverty.

She found it harder to bear than the others because she could remember a time when home was beautiful, life full of ease and pleasure, and want of any kind unknown.

She tried not to be envious or discontented, but it was very natural that the young girl should long for pretty things, gay friends, accomplishments, and a happy life.

At the Kings' she daily saw all she wanted, for the children's older sisters were just out, and Meg caught frequent glimpses of dainty ball dresses and bouquets, heard lively gossip about theaters, concerts, sleighing parties, and merrymakings of all kinds, and saw money lavished on trifles which would have been so precious to her.

メグの給料はわずかで、しかもまい日キング家で、年上の姉妹たちが、ぜいたくをしているのを見るので、

Poor Meg seldom complained, but a sense of injustice made her feel bitter toward everyone sometimes, for she had not yet learned to know how rich she was in the blessings which alone can make life happy.

だれよりも貧乏をつらがっていました。

Jo happened to suit Aunt March, who was lame and needed an active person to wait upon her.

ジョウはびっこのマーチおばさんの世話をしますが、気みじかのおばさんと、よく気が合いました。

The childless old lady had offered to adopt one of the girls when the troubles came, and was much offended because her offer was declined.

Other friends told the Marches that they had lost all chance of being remembered in the rich old lady's will, but the unworldly Marches only said...

"We can't give up our girls for a dozen fortunes.

Rich or poor, we will keep together and be happy in one another."

The old lady wouldn't speak to them for a time, but happening to meet Jo at a friend's, something in her comical face and blunt manners struck the old lady's fancy, and she proposed to take her for a companion.

This did not suit Jo at all, but she accepted the place since nothing better appeared and, to every one's surprise, got on remarkably well with her irascible relative.

There was an occasional tempest, and once Jo marched home, declaring she couldn't bear it longer, but Aunt March always cleared up quickly, and sent for her to come back again with such urgency that she could not refuse, for in her heart she rather liked the peppery old lady.

I suspect that the real attraction was a large library of fine books, which was left to dust and spiders since Uncle March died.

Jo remembered the kind old gentleman, who used to let her build railroads and bridges with his big dictionaries, tell her stories about queer pictures in his Latin books, and buy her cards of gingerbread whenever he met her in the street.

The dim, dusty room, with the busts staring down from the tall bookcases, the cozy chairs, the globes, and best of all, the wilderness of books in which she could wander where she liked, made the library a region of bliss to her.

The moment Aunt March took her nap, or was busy with company, Jo hurried to this quiet place, and curling herself up in the easy chair, devoured poetry, romance, history, travels, and pictures like a regular bookworm.

それに、死んだおじさんの文庫がすばらしく、おばさんが昼寝をしたり、来客でいそがしいときさっそく文庫にはいりこんで、詩、歴史、旅行記だのに読みふけりました。

But, like all happiness, it did not last long, for as sure as she had just reached the heart of the story, the sweetest verse of a song, or the most perilous adventure of her traveler, a shrill voice called, "Josy-phine! Josy-phine!" and she had to leave her paradise to wind yarn, wash the poodle, or read Belsham's Essays by the hour together.

Jo's ambition was to do something very splendid.

What it was, she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell her, and meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn't read, run, and ride as much as she liked.

それはいいとしても、思うさまかけまわったり、馬にのったりできないのは、なやみの種でした。

A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic.

But the training she received at Aunt March's was just what she needed, and the thought that she was doing something to support herself made her happy in spite of the perpetual "Josy-phine!"

Beth was too bashful to go to school.

　ベスは、はにかみ屋で、学校へもいけないほどでした。

It had been tried, but she suffered so much that it was given up, and she did her lessons at home with her father.

それでおとうさんが勉強を見ていましたが

Even when he went away, and her mother was called to devote her skill and energy to Soldiers' Aid Societies, Beth went faithfully on by herself and did the best she could.

出征しなすってからはおかあさん、かあさんが軍人後援会へいくようになってからは、ひとりで勉強します。

She was a housewifely little creature, and helped Hannah keep home neat and comfortable for the workers, never thinking of any reward but to be loved.

性質は勤勉で家事が好きで、ハンナを助けて家をきれいにしますが、

Long, quiet days she spent, not lonely nor idle, for her little world was peopled with imaginary friends, and she was by nature a busy bee.

There were six dolls to be taken up and dressed every morning, for Beth was a child still and loved her pets as well as ever.

まだ子供で、人形と遊ぶことが、なによりのたのしみでした。

Not one whole or handsome one among them, all were outcasts till Beth took them in, for when her sisters outgrew these idols, they passed to her because Amy would have nothing old or ugly.

Beth cherished them all the more tenderly for that very reason, and set up a hospital for infirm dolls.

No pins were ever stuck into their cotton vitals, no harsh words or blows were ever given them, no neglect ever saddened the heart of the most repulsive, but all were fed and clothed, nursed and caressed with an affection which never failed.

One forlorn fragment of dollanity had belonged to Jo and, having led a tempestuous life, was left a wreck in the rag bag, from which dreary poorhouse it was rescued by Beth and taken to her refuge.

Having no top to its head, she tied on a neat little cap, and as both arms and legs were gone, she hid these deficiencies by folding it in a blanket and devoting her best bed to this chronic invalid.

If anyone had known the care lavished on that dolly, I think it would have touched their hearts, even while they laughed.

She brought it bits of bouquets, she read to it, took it out to breathe fresh air, hidden under her coat, she sang it lullabies and never went to bed without kissing its dirty face and whispering tenderly, "I hope you'll have a good night, my poor dear."

Beth had her troubles as well as the others, and not being an angel but a very human little girl, she often 'wept a little weep' as Jo said, because she couldn't take music lessons and have a fine piano.

けれど、このベスにも、苦になることがありました。それは、音楽好きなのに、よいピアノもないし、音譜もないことで、音楽の勉強が思うようにできないので、

She loved music so dearly, tried so hard to learn, and practiced away so patiently at the jingling old instrument, that it did seem as if someone (not to hint Aunt March) ought to help her.

Nobody did, however, and nobody saw Beth wipe the tears off the yellow keys, that wouldn't keep in tune, when she was all alone.

涙をながすことがときどきありました。

She sang like a little lark about her work, never was too tired for Marmee and the girls, and day after day said hopefully to herself, "I know I'll get my music some time, if I'm good."　

There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.

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英語のリスニングの勉強に最適。日本語対訳つき VOA Learning English 青空文庫 AOZORA BUNKO などクリックだけですぐ聴ける！！ タップだけですぐ聴ける！！

HOMEAOZORA BUNKOLITTLE WOMEN

ホーム青空文庫若草物語

LITTLE WOMEN 若草物語 4-2

CHAPTER FOUR Burdens 重い荷をかついで 2

英語の若草物語第四章重い荷をかついで 2 英語リスニング

若草物語第四章重い荷をかついで 2
VOA Everyday

英語のリスニングの勉強に最適。日本語対訳つき
VOA Learning English 青空文庫 AOZORA BUNKO など
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