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"我想当个水手，”乔治•华盛顿说，"那样我就可以去很多地方看很多好东西。过不了多久，我也许会当上船长。" 他那时只有14岁。 他的哥哥们非常乐意他去当水手。他们说像乔治这样聪明的男孩不可能长时间做一名普通的水手。他很快就会当上船长，也许还会成为一位了不起的海军大将。 最后这件事就这样定了下来。乔治的兄弟认识一个船主，他的船要去英国做生意。他同意带乔治出海，教他如何当一名好水手。 乔治的母亲非常难过。他的叔叔已经给她写了一封信说：“不要让他出海。如果他开始就当一名普通的水手，那么他永远也干不成其他事。” 但是乔治去意已定。无论谁劝他留在家里，他都听不进去。 最后，轮船扬帆远航的曰子到了。船停泊在河中等候着。一艘小船靠在码头那儿，等着载他上大船。装衣服的小箱子已经运到了岸边。乔治想到就要出海了，满心欢喜。 "再见了，母亲。他说。 他站在门前的台阶上，回头朝屋里望着。他看到深爱着自己的亲人们的一张张脸，心里觉得十分难过。 “再见，亲爱的孩子！” 乔治看到母亲的眼中闪着泪花，随后泪水顺着她的面颊扑簌簌地流了下来。他知道母亲不愿他去，他也不忍心看见母亲伤心。 他站在那儿一动不动，思考着。然后，他很快地转过身，说道："母亲，我改主意了。我要按您的意思留在家里。" 然后他对在门口等候的那个黑人男孩喊道：“汤姆，跑到岸边告诉他们不要把箱子搬上船了，告诉船长不要等我，我已经改变主意,不打算跟他出海了。" 谁没有听说过乔治•华盛顿？据说他"战斗时是第一，和平时是第一，在同胞心里也是第一”。他是美国最著名的总统，人们尊称他为“国父”。 Washington Going to Sea "I should like to be a sailor," said George Washington. "Then I could go to many lands and see many wonderful things. And, by and by, I might become the captain of a ship." He was then only fourteen years old. His older brothers were quite willing that he should go to sea. They said that a bright boy like George would not long be a common sailor. He would soon become a captain and then perhaps a great admiral. And so the matter was at last settled. George，s brothers knew the master of a trading ship which was getting ready to sail to England. He agreed to take the boy with him and teach him how to be a good sailor. George’s mother was very sad. His uncle had written her a letter saying： “Do not let him go to sea. If he begins as a common sailor, he will never be anything else. But George had made up his mind to go. He would not listen to any one who tried to persuade him to stay at home. At last the day came for the ship to sail. It was waiting in the river. A boat was at the landing, ready to take him on board. The little chest that held his clothing had been carried down to the bank. George was in high glee at the thought of going. "Good-bye, mother," he said. He stood on the doorstep and looked back into the house. He saw the kind faces of those whom he loved. He began to feel very sad. “Good-bye, my dear boy!" George saw the tears in his mother，s eyes. He saw them rolling down her cheeks. He knew that she did not wish him to go. He could not bear to see her grief. He stood still for a moment, thinking. Then he turned quickly and said, "Mother, I have changed my mind. I will stay at home and do as you wish." Then he called to the black boy, who was waiting at the door, and said, "Tom, run down to the shore and tell them not to put the chest in the boat. Send word to the captain not to wait for me, for I have changed my mind. I am not going to sea." Who has not heard of George Washington? It has been said of him that he was the "first in war, the first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen". He was the most famous American president. He has been called the Father of his Country. |
