Lesson 5 A Dog of Flanders (1)

Ouida ( 著)

David Desmond O’Flaherty ( 改写)

Although Nello was a boy and Patrasche was a dog, they had a special friendship, closer to brotherhood. They were both the same age. Yet, one seemed old and the other was young. They spent all of their time together. Their home was a little hut[1]on the edge[2]of a small village.

The village was near Antwerp. It was surrounded by cornfields and pastures[3]. In the center of the village was a big windmill[4]. A gray church stood across from the windmill. At the top of the church, there was an old clock. The clock rang every hour on the hour. It made a strange, empty sound. To the villagers, it seemed like the saddest sound in the world.

Nello and Patrasche lived with a very old man. This man, Jehan Daas, was Nello’s grandfather. He had once been a soldier. Sadly, he was wounded in a war and was now crippled[5]. When Jehan Daas was eighty years old, his only daughter died. The old man had no choice but to take care of his daughter’s son. The old man and the little boy lived happily together. They were very poor, but they had each other. That was enough. As for Patrasche, he made the old man and little Nello happier.

Patrasche, a dog of Flanders, was a slave[6] once. His owner forced him to pull a cart full of iron. One summer day, Patrasche was very thirsty when he was working.But he wasn’t allowed to stop and drink. After some walking, he became dizzy andfell down. His owner ran up to him and beat him. Patrasche couldn’t move. His owner kicked him into a ditch[7] and went away. After some time, an old man and a little boy saw Patrasche. “We can’t let such a beautiful dog die,” said the old man. He dragged[8]the big dog back to his hut. This was how old Jehan Daas, little Nello and Patrasche first met.

The old man and little Nello took great care of Patrasche. More than this, they loved him. They patted him softly on the head. They made a bed for him to sleep in. This was the first time for Patrasche to feel love. It seemed strange to him yet wonderful. He was determined to get well soon and repay them for their kindness. He wanted to take care of them. When he finally stood up, he barked and stretched his legs. Nello and the old man danced for joy and hugged the dog.

Patrasche walked over the cart. He knew that the old man used that cart to make money. Old Jehan Daas carried farmers’ milk cans to the market in Antwerp. He sold the milk for the farmers and brought the empty cans back. The farmers then gave him some of their profits[9]. Patrasche decided that the old man would never again pull such a heavy cart. Patrasche stood by that cart for days. Finally, he started to pull the cart with his teeth. “Alright, alright!” called old Jehan Daas. “I see that I can’t persuade you not to pull the cart.” The old man put a harness[10] around Patrasche’s shoulders. Patrasche was glad to do the work. This was easy work compared to what he used to do.

A few years later, old Jehan Daas became very weak. It was impossible for him to go out with the cart anymore. So little Nello collected money at the markets. He worked hard and honestly. The farmers were happy to do business with such a fine,hardworking boy.

In the afternoon, the two came back home. Patrasche would shake off his harness and bark with delight. Nello would talk to his grandfather about the day’s business.They would all eat their simple meals together. Old Jehan Daas would tell funny stories about the days when he was a soldier. They would all laugh and have fun.

Many years passed and they were still happy. Flanders is not a beautiful place.There is not much to see besides cornfields and farms. However, its simple beauty is enough to be enjoyed by a boy and his dog. These two couldn’t imagine a more beautiful place in the world.

It’s true that life was harder in the wintertime. But they never complained about being cold. Their simple hut was warm enough. They didn’t mind that they were poor.They had each other and that was enough. There was only one thing that Patrasche didn’t like. Antwerp is a city full of old churches. Everywhere you looked in Antwerp,you could see a church. Inside the churches, you could find the masterpieces[11] of Rubens was a great artist, a great master. He was the only person whom the local people worshipped[12].

Now, the trouble with Patrasche was this: Nello worshipped Rubens as well. The little boy would often disappear into the churches. The poor dog had to wait outside in the cold. When the little boy came back, he always seemed very sad. “If only I could see them, Patrasche!” he would say. What were “they”? Patrasche had no idea.

There were two large covered paintings at a church. The little boy was crying.“It is so terrible that I can’t see those paintings. Just because I’m poor and I can’t pay!Rubens painted those for everyone to see. Not just for the rich.” He couldn’t see them and Patrasche couldn’t help him. People had to pay a silver coin in order to see them.That was more money than Nello could save in a month.

(950 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [Give the reason] Why did Patrasche live with Jehan Daas and Nello?

A. Because Jehan Daas bought the dog.

B. Because Patrasche liked them better than Flanders.

C. Because Jehan Daas and Nello saved the dog after it had been thrown over by his owner.

2. [Give the reason] The farmers were happy to do business with Nello because________ .

A. he worked hard B. he was honest C. both A and B

3. [Check the details] Patrasche helped the family make a living by________ .

A. selling milk B. pulling the cart C. collecting money

Ⅱ. Read for words

1. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined words.

(1) After some walking, he became dizzy and fell down. (Para. 4)

A. lightheaded B. thirsty C. hungry

(2) He was determined to get well soon and repay them for their kindness. (Para. 5)

A. pay…again

B. do something to thank

C. ask for help

(3) What were “they”? Patrasche had no idea. (Para. 11)

A. the churches B. Rubens’ paintings C. the silver coin

2. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined expressions.

(1) But they never complained about being cold. (Para. 10)

A. said something bad about

B. noticed that

C. felt

(2) Now, the trouble with Patrasche was this: Nello worshipped Rubens as well.(Para. 11)

A. too B. also C. either

(3) “If only I could see them, Patrasche!” he would say. (Para. 11)

A. 如果 B. 但愿 C. 只要

Ⅲ. Writing practice

1. What adjectives can we use to describe Patrasche?

2. What made Nello and Patrasche happy although they were poor?

3. There was only one thing that Patrasche didn’t like. What was it?

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