久久久无码人妻精品无码_6080YYY午夜理论片中无码_性无码专区_无码人妻品一区二区三区精99

您現在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Special Speed News  
   
 





 
Short story: 'A Pair of Silk Stockings' by Kate Chopin
[ 2009-09-24 17:14 ]

 

For a day, a poor mother has a taste of the good life.

Now, the VOA Special English program AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Our story today is called "A Pair of Silk Stockings." It was written by Kate Chopin. Here is Barbara Klein with the story.

(MUSIC)

STORYTELLER:

Little Mrs. Sommers one day found herself the unexpected owner of 15 dollars. It seemed to her a very large amount of money. The way it filled up her worn money holder gave her a feeling of importance that she had not enjoyed for years.

The question of investment was one she considered carefully. For a day or two she walked around in a dreamy state as she thought about her choices. She did not wish to act quickly and do anything she might regret. During the quiet hours of the night she lay awake considering ideas.

A dollar or two could be added to the price she usually paid for her daughter Janie's shoes. This would guarantee they would last a great deal longer than usual. She would buy cloth for new shirts for the boys. Her daughter Mag should have another dress. And still there would be enough left for new stockings — two pairs per child. What time that would save her in always repairing old stockings! The idea of her little family looking fresh and new for once in their lives made her restless with excitement.

The neighbors sometimes talked of the "better days" that little Miss Sommers had known before she had ever thought of being Mrs. Sommers. She herself never looked back to her younger days. She had no time to think about the past. The needs of the present took all her energy.

(MUSIC)

Mrs. Sommers knew the value of finding things for sale at reduced prices. She could stand for hours making her way little by little toward the desired object that was selling below cost. She could push her way if need be.

But that day she was tired and a little bit weak. She had eaten a light meal—no! She thought about her day. Between getting the children fed and the house cleaned, and preparing herself to go shopping, she had forgotten to eat at all!

When she arrived at the large department store, she sat in front of an empty counter. She was trying to gather strength and courage to push through a mass of busy shoppers. She rested her hand upon the counter.

She wore no gloves. She slowly grew aware that her hand had felt something very pleasant to touch. She looked down to see that her hand lay upon a pile of silk stockings. A sign nearby announced that they had been reduced in price. A young girl who stood behind the counter asked her if she wished to examine the silky leg coverings.

She smiled as if she had been asked to inspect diamond jewelry with the aim of purchasing it. But she went on feeling the soft, costly items. Now she used both hands, holding the stockings up to see the light shine through them.

Two red marks suddenly showed on her pale face. She looked up at the shop girl.

"Do you think there are any size eights-and-a-half among these?"

There were a great number of stockings in her size. Mrs. Sommers chose a black pair and looked at them closely.

"A dollar and 98 cents," she said aloud. "Well, I will buy this pair."

She handed the girl a five dollar bill and waited for her change and the wrapped box with the stockings. What a very small box it was! It seemed lost in her worn old shopping bag.

Mrs. Sommers then took the elevator which carried her to an upper floor into the ladies' rest area. In an empty corner, she replaced her cotton stockings for the new silk ones.

For the first time she seemed to be taking a rest from the tiring act of thought. She had let herself be controlled by some machine-like force that directed her actions and freed her of responsibility.

How good was the touch of the silk on her skin! She felt like lying back in the soft chair and enjoying the richness of it. She did for a little while. Then she put her shoes back on and put her old stockings into her bag. Next, she went to the shoe department, sat down and waited to be fitted.

The young shoe salesman was unable to guess about her background. He could not resolve her worn, old shoes with her beautiful, new stockings. She tried on a pair of new boots.

She held back her skirts and turned her feet one way and her head another way as she looked down at the shiny, pointed boots. Her foot and ankle looked very lovely. She could not believe that they were a part of herself. She told the young salesman that she wanted an excellent and stylish fit. She said she did not mind paying extra as long as she got what she desired.

After buying the new boots, she went to the glove department. It was a long time since Mrs. Sommers had been fitted with gloves. When she had bought a pair they were always "bargains," so cheap that it would have been unreasonable to have expected them to be fitted to her hand.

Now she rested her arm on the counter where gloves were for sale. A young shop girl drew a soft, leather glove over Mrs. Sommers's hand. She smoothed it down over the wrist and buttoned it neatly. Both women lost themselves for a second or two as they quietly praised the little gloved hand.

(MUSIC)

There were other places where money might be spent. A store down the street sold books and magazines. Mrs. Sommers bought two costly magazines that she used to read back when she had been able to enjoy other pleasant things.

She lifted her skirts as she crossed the street. Her new stockings and boots and gloves had worked wonders for her appearance. They had given her a feeling of satisfaction, a sense of belonging to the well-dressed crowds.

She was very hungry. Another time she would have ignored the desire for food until reaching her own home. But the force that was guiding her would not permit her to act on such a thought.

There was a restaurant at the corner. She had never entered its doors. She had sometimes looked through the windows. She had noted the white table cloths, shining glasses and waiters serving wealthy people.

When she entered, her appearance created no surprise or concern, as she had half feared it might.

She seated herself at a small table. A waiter came at once to take her order. She ordered six oysters, a chop, something sweet, a glass of wine and a cup of coffee. While waiting to be served she removed her gloves very slowly and set them beside her. Then she picked up her magazine and looked through it.

It was all very agreeable. The table cloths were even more clean and white than they had seemed through the window. And the crystal drinking glasses shined even more brightly. There were ladies and gentlemen, who did not notice her, lunching at the small tables like her own.

A pleasing piece of music could be heard, and a gentle wind was blowing through the window. She tasted a bite, and she read a word or two and she slowly drank the wine. She moved her toes around in the silk stockings. The price of it all made no difference.

When she was finished, she counted the money out to the waiter and left an extra coin on his tray. He bowed to her as if she were a princess of royal blood.

(MUSIC)

There was still money in her purse, and her next gift to herself presented itself as a theater advertisement. When she entered the theater, the play had already begun. She sat between richly dressed women who were there to spend the day eating sweets and showing off their costly clothing. There were many others who were there only to watch the play.

It is safe to say there was no one there who had the same respect that Mrs. Sommers did for her surroundings. She gathered in everything —stage and players and people -- in one wide sensation. She laughed and cried at the play. She even talked a little with the women. One woman wiped her eyes with a small square of lace and passed Mrs. Sommers her box of candy.

The play was over, the music stopped, the crowd flowed outside. It was like a dream ended. Mrs. Sommers went to wait for the cable car.

A man with sharp eyes sat opposite her. It was hard for him to fully understand what he saw in her expression. In truth, he saw nothing -- unless he was a magician. Then he would sense her heartbreaking wish that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever.

(MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER:

You have heard the story "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin. Your storyteller was Barbara Klein. This story was adapted and produced by Dana Demange. I'm Jim Tedder. Listen again next week for another American Story in VOA Special English.

cable car: a car designed to operate on a cableway or cable railway 電纜車

Related stories:

American stories: Feathertop

A traditional American tall tale

“諾貝爾文學獎”花落土耳其

A Tale of Love and Darkness

The Lighthouse

(Source: VOA 英語點津編輯)

英語點津版權說明:凡注明來源為“英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創作品,除與中國日報網簽署英語點津內容授權協議的網站外,其他任何網站或單位未經允許不得非法盜鏈、轉載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯系;凡本網注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉載,請與稿件來源方聯系,如產生任何問題與本網無關;本網所發布的歌曲、電影片段,版權歸原作者所有,僅供學習與研究,如果侵權,請提供版權證明,以便盡快刪除。
相關文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本頻道最新推薦
 
Swans 天鵝
獨立展館 stand-alone pavilion
Tips one's hand 露底牌
印尼婦女產下16斤超大男嬰
什么是cosplay
翻吧推薦
 
論壇熱貼
 
翻譯達人評選,快來投票!
經典英語口語,不得不看(推薦)
I chocolate you!怎么翻譯?
請教obama演講里的一句話
 
曬曬小D機器人暴強的翻譯

 

久久久无码人妻精品无码_6080YYY午夜理论片中无码_性无码专区_无码人妻品一区二区三区精99

    久国产精品视频| 日韩av综合在线观看| 免费 成 人 黄 色| 最新天堂在线视频| 免费特级黄色片| 久热精品在线播放| 久久亚洲中文字幕无码| 热久久久久久久久| 成人在线免费播放视频| 97超碰在线视| 在线观看免费av网址| 男人天堂999| wwwjizzjizzcom| 天天干天天av| 亚洲精品乱码久久久久久自慰| 国产91沈先生在线播放| 亚洲日本黄色片| 成人在线看视频| 凹凸日日摸日日碰夜夜爽1| 国产a级黄色大片| 九一精品久久久| 在线视频日韩一区| 99精品人妻少妇一区二区| 精品国产三级a∨在线| 第四色婷婷基地| 蜜臀av午夜一区二区三区| av网站大全免费| 亚洲美女自拍偷拍| 中文字幕资源在线观看| 国产一区二区在线免费播放| 男女高潮又爽又黄又无遮挡| www.亚洲成人网| 久久久久久久久久毛片| 日韩欧美国产片| 欧美性猛交xxx乱久交| 日本黄色三级大片| 国产裸体舞一区二区三区| 成年人午夜视频在线观看| 成年人深夜视频| 日本老太婆做爰视频| 中文字幕超清在线免费观看| 不卡中文字幕在线| 捷克做爰xxxⅹ性视频| 欧美一级小视频| 一二三级黄色片| 午夜天堂在线视频| 日韩av加勒比| 亚欧美一区二区三区| 51自拍视频在线观看| 无套内谢丰满少妇中文字幕| 四虎永久免费网站| 日韩精品第1页| 欧美一区二区三区综合| 欧洲精品在线播放| www插插插无码视频网站| 日本a视频在线观看| av免费观看网| 久久久久久久久久久福利| 欧美成人xxxxx| 男女无套免费视频网站动漫| 天天视频天天爽| 天堂在线中文在线| 丰满女人性猛交| 国产一区 在线播放| 国产中文字幕二区| 日韩精品一区二区三区不卡| 亚洲77777| 国产精品av免费| www国产无套内射com| 精品久久一二三| chinese少妇国语对白| 婷婷免费在线观看| 久久视频免费在线| 国产高清av在线播放| 久章草在线视频| 性欧美在线视频| 久久九九国产视频| 高清一区在线观看| 97超碰人人看| 久艹在线免费观看| 精品久久久噜噜噜噜久久图片 | 影音先锋男人的网站| 黄色网zhan| 免费看国产一级片| 在线观看高清免费视频| ijzzijzzij亚洲大全| 99视频在线免费播放| 三上悠亚av一区二区三区| 波多野结衣三级在线| 欧美日韩性生活片| 一区二区三区四区毛片| 亚洲乱码日产精品bd在线观看| 日韩av在线第一页| 狠狠干狠狠操视频| av在线播放天堂| wwww.国产| 91亚洲精品国产| 福利在线一区二区三区| 蜜臀av性久久久久蜜臀av| 北条麻妃69av| 香蕉视频xxxx| 国产中文字幕免费观看| 日本高清免费在线视频| 大j8黑人w巨大888a片| 不用播放器的免费av| 国产黄页在线观看| 亚洲热在线视频| 欧美日韩在线不卡视频| 男人的天堂成人| 国产成人无码一二三区视频| 8x8x华人在线| 污污网站免费看| 99精品在线免费视频| 超碰在线超碰在线| caoporn超碰97| 久久亚洲精品无码va白人极品| 日韩大片一区二区| 自拍日韩亚洲一区在线| 天天爱天天做天天操| 亚洲天堂网一区| 国产免费黄色av| 激情六月天婷婷| 人人爽人人爽av| 国产三级三级三级看三级| 婷婷五月综合缴情在线视频| 波多野结衣激情| 第四色婷婷基地| 一本久道综合色婷婷五月| 成人在线观看你懂的| 黄色一级片av| 毛片毛片毛片毛片毛| 久久撸在线视频| 欧美精品无码一区二区三区| 777av视频| 国产精品自拍合集| 一本—道久久a久久精品蜜桃| 污片在线免费看| 免费男同深夜夜行网站| 国产成人无码a区在线观看视频| 波多野结衣网页| 免费av不卡在线| 日本久久久久久久久久久久| 欧美 日韩 国产一区| 日本免费不卡一区二区| 久艹在线免费观看| 日本wwwcom| 黄色一级片黄色| 亚洲中文字幕无码一区二区三区| 久久99国产精品一区| 久久天天东北熟女毛茸茸| 性久久久久久久久久久久久久| 欧美特级aaa| 中日韩av在线播放| 182午夜视频| 手机精品视频在线| 一本之道在线视频| 欧洲金发美女大战黑人| 今天免费高清在线观看国语| 日本黄xxxxxxxxx100| 青青青在线观看视频| 欧美午夜小视频| 免费不卡av在线| 北条麻妃在线视频观看| 欧美 国产 小说 另类| 男人天堂成人在线| 91最新在线观看| 日本xxxx黄色| 亚洲免费在线播放视频| 国产树林野战在线播放| 国产乱子伦精品无码专区| 日韩五码在线观看| 国产精品免费观看久久| 国产三级日本三级在线播放| 日韩大片一区二区| 国产精品久久久久久久av福利| 国产黑丝在线视频| 国产传媒久久久| 黑人糟蹋人妻hd中文字幕| 欧美精品无码一区二区三区| 成人黄色一区二区| 伊人网在线综合| 公共露出暴露狂另类av| 国产av熟女一区二区三区 | 少妇高清精品毛片在线视频 | 老汉色影院首页| 男人添女人荫蒂免费视频| www黄色av| 日本高清久久久| 日韩精品手机在线观看| 黄色片视频在线免费观看| 高清一区二区视频| 天天干天天色天天爽| 99久久国产综合精品五月天喷水| 国内外免费激情视频| 国产一级免费大片| cao在线观看| the porn av| 97碰在线视频| 色多多视频在线播放| 米仓穗香在线观看|