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VOA Short Stories., The Luck of Roaring Camp

The Luck of Roaring Camp

Now, the Special English program, AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Our story today is called, "The Luck of Roaring Camp. " It was written by Bret Harte. Here is Harry Monroe with our story.

(MUSIC)

STORYTELLER:

Roaring Camp was the noisiest gold mining town in California. More than one-hundred men from every part of the United States had come to that little camp – stopping there for a short time on their way to getting rich.

Many of these gold miners were criminals. All of them were violent. They filled the peaceful mountain air with shouting and gun shots. The noise of their continual fighting finally gave the camp its strange name.

On a sunny morning in eighteen fifty, however, the men of Roaring Camp were quiet. A crowd was gathered in front of a small wooden house by the river. Inside that cabin was "Cherokee Sal," the only woman in camp. She was all alone and in terrible pain. Cherokee Sal was having a baby.

Deaths were not unusual in Roaring Camp. But a birth was big news.

One of the men turned to another and ordered: "Go in there, Stumpy, and see what you can do. " Stumpy opened the cabin door, and disappeared inside. The rest of the men built a campfire outside and gathered around it to wait.

Suddenly, a sharp cry broke the air…the cry of a new-born baby. All the men jumped to their feet as Stumpy appeared at the cabin door. Cherokee Sal was dead. But her baby, a boy, was alive.

The men formed a long line. One by one they entered the tiny cabin. On the bed, under a blanket, they could see the body of the unlucky mother. On a pine table, near that bed, was a small wooden box. Inside lay Roaring Camp's newest citizen, wrapped in a piece of bright red cloth. Someone had put a large hat near the baby's box. And as the men slowly marched past, they dropped gifts into the hat. A gold tobacco box. A silver gun. A diamond ring. A lace handkerchief. And about two hundred dollars in gold and silver.

Only one incident broke the flow of the men through the cabin. As a gambler named Kentucky leaned over the box, the baby reached up and held one of the man's fingers. Kentucky looked embarrassed.

"That funny little fellow," he said, as he gently pulled his hand out of the box. He held up his finger and stared at it. "He grabbed my finger," he told the men. "That funny little fellow." The next morning, the men of Roaring Camp buried Cherokee Sal. Afterwards, they held a formal meeting to discuss what to do with the baby. Everyone in the camp voted to keep the child. But nobody could agree on the best way to take care of it.

Tom Ryder suggested bringing a woman into the camp to care for the baby. But the men believed no good woman would accept Roaring Camp as her home. And they decided that they didn't want any more of the other kind. Stumpy didn't say a word during these long discussions. But when the others finally asked his opinion, he admitted that he wanted to continue taking care of the baby himself. He had been feeding it milk from a donkey, and he believed he could raise the baby just fine.

There was something original, independent, even heroic about Stumpy's plan that pleased the men of Roaring Camp. Stumpy was hired.

All the men gave him some gold to send for baby things from the city of Sacramento. They wanted the best that money could buy.

By the time the baby was a month old, the men decided he needed a name. All of them had noticed that since the baby's birth, they were finding more gold than ever before. One day Oakhurst declared that the baby had brought "The Luck" to Roaring Camp. So "Luck" was the name they chose for him, adding before it, the first name "Tommy." A name day was set for him. The ceremony was held under the pine trees with Stumpy saying the simple works: "I proclaim you Thomas Luck, according to the laws of the United States and the state of California, so help me God." Soon after the ceremony, Roaring Camp began to change. The first improvements were made in the cabin of Tommy or "The Luck" as he was usually called. The men painted it white, planted flowers around it and kept it clean.

Tuttle's store, where the men used to meet to talk and play cards, also changed. The owner imported a carpet and some mirrors. The men – seeing themselves in Tuttle's mirrors – began to take more care about their hair, beards and clothing. Stumpy made a new law for the camp. Anyone who wanted the honor of holding The Luck would have to wash daily. Kentuck appeared at the cabin every afternoon in a clean shirt, his face still shining from the washing he'd given it. The shouting and yelling that had given the camp its name also stopped. Tommy needed his sleep, and the men walked around speaking in whispers. Instead of angry shouts, the music of gentle songs filled the air. Strange new feelings of peace and happiness came into the hearts of the miners of Roaring Camp.

During those long summer days, The Luck was carried up the mountain to the place where the men were digging for gold. He would lie on a soft blanket decorated with wild flowers the men would bring.

Nature was his nurse and playmate. Birds flew around his blanket. And little animals would play nearby. Golden sunshine and soft breezes would stroke him to sleep.

During that golden summer The Luck was with them, the men of Roaring Camp all became rich. With the gold they found in the mountains came a desire for further improvement. The men voted to build a hotel the following spring. They hoped some good families with children would come to live in Roaring Camp.

But some of the men were against this plan. They hoped something would happen to prevent it. And something did.

The following winter, the winter of eighteen fifty-one, is still remembered for the heavy snows in the mountains. When the snow melted that spring, every stream became an angry river that raced down the mountains tearing up trees and bringing destruction.

One of those terrible streams was the North Fork River. Late one night, it leaped over its banks and raced into the valley of Roaring Camp.

The sleeping men had no chance to escape the rushing water, the crashing trees and the darkness. When morning came, Stumpy's cabin near the river was gone. Further down in the valley they found the body of its unlucky owner.

But the pride, the hope, the joy, The Luck of Roaring Camp had disappeared.

Suddenly, a boat appeared from around a bend in the river. The men in it said they had picked up a man and a baby. Did anyone know them? Did they belong here?

Lying on the bottom of the rescue boat was Kentuck. He was seriously injured, but still holding The Luck of Roaring Camp in his arms. As they bent over the two, the men saw the child was pale and cold.

"He's dead," said one of them. Kentuck opened his eyes. "Dead?" he whispered. "Yes, Kentuck. And you are dying, too." Kentuck smiled. "Dying!" he repeated. "He is taking me with him. Tell the boys I've got The Luck with me." And the strong man, still holding the small child, drifted away on the shadowy river that flows forever to the unknown sea.

(MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER:

You have just heard "The Luck of Roaring Camp," a story by Bret Harte. It was adapted for Special English by Dona De Sanctis. Your storyteller was Harry Monroe.

Listen again next week for another American story told in Special English. This is Shirley Griffith.

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The Luck of Roaring Camp The definite article|Fortune|||settlement La suerte del Campo Rugiente 轟音キャンプの幸運 Riaumojančios stovyklos sėkmė Удача ревущего лагеря Kükreyen Kampın Şansı Удача ревучого табору 咆哮营的幸运

Now, the Special English program, AMERICAN STORIES. ||Special|||| А теперь специальная английская программа «АМЕРИКАНСКИЕ ИСТОРИИ.

(MUSIC)

Our story today is called, "The Luck of Roaring Camp. Nossa história hoje se chama "A Sorte do Rugido". Наша сегодняшняя история называется «Лагерь удачи ревущего». "  It was written by Bret Harte. "Это написал Брет Харт. Here is Harry Monroe with our story. Вот Гарри Монро с нашей историей.

(MUSIC)

STORYTELLER:

Roaring Camp was the noisiest gold mining town in California. Roaring Camp era a mais ruidosa cidade de mineração de ouro da Califórnia. Ревущий Кэмп был самым шумным золотодобывающим городком в Калифорнии. More than one-hundred men from every part of the United States had come to that little camp – stopping there for a short time on their way to getting rich. Более ста человек со всех концов Соединенных Штатов приехали в этот маленький лагерь, ненадолго остановившись там, чтобы разбогатеть.

Many of these gold miners were criminals. |||금||| Многие из этих золотодобытчиков были преступниками. All of them were violent. Все они были жестокими. They filled the peaceful mountain air with shouting and gun shots. Eles encheram o ar pacífico da montanha com gritos e tiros. Они наполнили мирный горный воздух криками и выстрелами. The noise of their continual fighting finally gave the camp its strange name. Шум их непрерывных боев наконец дал лагерю свое странное название.

On a sunny morning in eighteen fifty, however, the men of Roaring Camp were quiet. Em uma manhã ensolarada em dezoito e cinquenta, no entanto, os homens do Roaring Camp estavam calados. Однако солнечным утром восемнадцатого пятидесяти года люди Ревущего лагеря притихли. A crowd was gathered in front of a small wooden house by the river. Перед небольшим деревянным домиком у реки собралась толпа. Inside that cabin was "Cherokee Sal," the only woman in camp. Внутри хижины находилась «Чероки Сал», единственная женщина в лагере. She was all alone and in terrible pain. Ela estava sozinha e com dores terríveis. Она была совсем одна и испытывала ужасную боль. Cherokee Sal was having a baby. У Чероки Сал был ребенок.

Deaths were not unusual in Roaring Camp. В Ревущем лагере не было ничего необычного. But a birth was big news. Но рождение ребенка было большой новостью.

One of the men turned to another and ordered: "Go in there, Stumpy, and see what you can do. Один из мужчин повернулся к другому и приказал: «Иди туда, Коренастый, и посмотри, что ты можешь сделать. "  Stumpy opened the cabin door, and disappeared inside. "Стампи открыл дверь кабины и исчез внутри. The rest of the men built a campfire outside and gathered around it to wait. Остальные мужчины развели костер на улице и собрались вокруг него, чтобы ждать.

Suddenly, a sharp cry broke the air…the cry of a new-born baby. Внезапно воздух разнес резкий крик… плач новорожденного. All the men jumped to their feet as Stumpy appeared at the cabin door. Все мужчины вскочили на ноги, когда в дверях хижины появился Стампи. Cherokee Sal was dead. Чероки Сал был мертв. But her baby, a boy, was alive.

The men formed a long line. Мужчины выстроились в длинную очередь. One by one they entered the tiny cabin. Один за другим они вошли в крошечную хижину. On the bed, under a blanket, they could see the body of the unlucky mother. На кровати, под одеялом, они увидели тело несчастной матери. On a pine table, near that bed, was a small wooden box. Inside lay Roaring Camp's newest citizen, wrapped in a piece of bright red cloth. Внутри лежал новый гражданин Ревущего Лагеря, завернутый в кусок ярко-красной ткани. Someone had put a large hat near the baby's box. Кто-то поставил возле детской коробки большую шляпу. And as the men slowly marched past, they dropped gifts into the hat. И пока мужчины медленно проходили мимо, они бросали подарки в шляпу. A gold tobacco box. Золотая табачная коробка. A silver gun. Серебряный пистолет. A diamond ring. Бриллиантовое кольцо. A lace handkerchief. Кружевной платок. And about two hundred dollars in gold and silver. И около двухсот долларов золотом и серебром.

Only one incident broke the flow of the men through the cabin. Только один инцидент прервал поток мужчин через кабину. As a gambler named Kentucky leaned over the box, the baby reached up and held one of the man's fingers. Когда игрок по имени Кентукки склонился над коробкой, ребенок протянул руку и взял один из пальцев мужчины. Kentucky looked embarrassed. Кентукки выглядел смущенным.

"That funny little fellow," he said, as he gently pulled his hand out of the box. «Этот забавный малыш», - сказал он, осторожно вытаскивая руку из коробки. He held up his finger and stared at it. Он поднял палец и уставился на него. "He grabbed my finger," he told the men. "Ele agarrou meu dedo", disse ele aos homens. «Он схватил меня за палец», - сказал он мужчинам. "That funny little fellow." "Этот забавный малыш". The next morning, the men of Roaring Camp buried Cherokee Sal. На следующее утро люди из Ревущего лагеря похоронили Чероки Сала. Afterwards, they held a formal meeting to discuss what to do with the baby. После этого они провели официальную встречу, чтобы обсудить, что делать с малышом. Everyone in the camp voted to keep the child. Все в лагере проголосовали за сохранение ребенка. But nobody could agree on the best way to take care of it. Но никто не мог прийти к единому мнению, как лучше с этим справиться.

Tom Ryder suggested bringing a woman into the camp to care for the baby. Том Райдер предложил привезти в лагерь женщину, которая позаботится о ребенке. But the men believed no good woman would accept Roaring Camp as her home. Но мужчины считали, что ни одна хорошая женщина не примет Ревущий лагерь своим домом. And they decided that they didn't want any more of the other kind. E eles decidiram que não queriam mais do outro tipo. И они решили, что не хотят ничего другого. Stumpy didn't say a word during these long discussions. Во время этих долгих разговоров Коренастый не сказал ни слова. But when the others finally asked his opinion, he admitted that he wanted to continue taking care of the baby himself. Но когда другие, наконец, спросили его мнение, он признался, что хочет и дальше сам заботиться о ребенке. He had been feeding it milk from a donkey, and he believed he could raise the baby just fine. Он кормил его молоком осла и считал, что сможет нормально воспитать ребенка.

There was something original, independent, even heroic about Stumpy's plan that pleased the men of Roaring Camp. В плане Стампи было что-то оригинальное, независимое и даже героическое, что понравилось бойцам Ревущего лагеря. Stumpy was hired. Был нанят Стампи.

All the men gave him some gold to send for baby things from the city of Sacramento. Все мужчины дали ему немного золота, чтобы он послал за детскими вещами из города Сакраменто. They wanted the best that money could buy. Они хотели лучшего, что можно было купить за деньги.

By the time the baby was a month old, the men decided he needed a name. Когда ребенку исполнился месяц, мужчины решили, что ему нужно имя. All of them had noticed that since the baby's birth, they were finding more gold than ever before. Все они заметили, что с момента рождения ребенка они находили больше золота, чем когда-либо прежде. One day Oakhurst declared that the baby had brought "The Luck" to Roaring Camp. Однажды Окхерст заявил, что ребенок принес «Удачу» в Ревущий лагерь. So "Luck" was the name they chose for him, adding before it, the first name "Tommy." Итак, они выбрали для него имя «Удача», добавив перед ним имя «Томми». A name day was set for him. Um dia marcado foi marcado para ele. Ему назначили именины. The ceremony was held under the pine trees with Stumpy saying the simple works: "I proclaim you Thomas Luck, according to the laws of the United States and the state of California, so help me God." Церемония прошла под соснами, и Стампи произнес простые слова: «Я провозглашаю тебя, Томас Лак, согласно законам Соединенных Штатов и штата Калифорния, да поможет мне Бог». Soon after the ceremony, Roaring Camp began to change. Вскоре после церемонии Ревущий Лагерь начал меняться. The first improvements were made in the cabin of Tommy or "The Luck" as he was usually called. Первые улучшения были сделаны в салоне Томми или «Удачи», как его обычно называли. The men painted it white, planted flowers around it and kept it clean. Мужчины выкрасили его в белый цвет, посадили вокруг цветов и содержали в чистоте.

Tuttle's store, where the men used to meet to talk and play cards, also changed. Магазин Таттла, где мужчины обычно собирались, чтобы поговорить и поиграть в карты, также изменился. The owner imported a carpet and some mirrors. Хозяин привез ковер и несколько зеркал. The men – seeing themselves in Tuttle's mirrors – began to take more care about their hair, beards and clothing. Мужчины, увидев себя в зеркалах Таттла, стали больше заботиться о своих волосах, бороде и одежде. Stumpy made a new law for the camp. Стампи ввел в лагерь новый закон. Anyone who wanted the honor of holding The Luck would have to wash daily. Любой, кто хотел иметь честь держать «Удачу», должен был мыться ежедневно. Kentuck appeared at the cabin every afternoon in a clean shirt, his face still shining from the washing he'd given it. Kentuck aparecia na cabana todas as tardes com uma camisa limpa, o rosto ainda brilhando com a roupa que ele lhe dera. Кентук появлялся в хижине каждый день в чистой рубашке, его лицо все еще сияло после стирки, которую он ей дал. The shouting and yelling that had given the camp its name also stopped. Крики и вопли, давшие название лагерю, также прекратились. Tommy needed his sleep, and the men walked around speaking in whispers. Томми нужно было выспаться, и мужчины ходили вокруг, разговаривая шепотом. Instead of angry shouts, the music of gentle songs filled the air. Вместо гневных криков воздух наполнила музыка нежных песен. Strange new feelings of peace and happiness came into the hearts of the miners of Roaring Camp. Странные новые ощущения покоя и счастья проникли в сердца шахтеров Ревущего лагеря.

During those long summer days, The Luck was carried up the mountain to the place where the men were digging for gold. В те долгие летние дни Удачу несли на гору к тому месту, где люди копали золото. He would lie on a soft blanket decorated with wild flowers the men would bring. Ele deitava em um cobertor macio decorado com flores silvestres que os homens traziam. Он лежал на мягком одеяле, украшенном полевыми цветами, которые приносили мужчины.

Nature was his nurse and playmate. Природа была его няней и товарищем по играм. Birds flew around his blanket. And little animals would play nearby. А рядом играли зверушки. Golden sunshine and soft breezes would stroke him to sleep. O sol dourado e a brisa suave o acariciavam. Золотое солнце и мягкий ветерок убаюкивали его.

During that golden summer The Luck was with them, the men of Roaring Camp all became rich. В течение того золотого лета Удача была с ними, и все люди Ревущего Лагеря разбогатели. With the gold they found in the mountains came a desire for further improvement. С золотом, найденным в горах, возникла потребность в дальнейшем улучшении. The men voted to build a hotel the following spring. Весной следующего года мужчины проголосовали за строительство отеля. They hoped some good families with children would come to live in Roaring Camp. Они надеялись, что в Ревущий лагерь переедут хорошие семьи с детьми.

But some of the men were against this plan. Но некоторые из мужчин были против этого плана. They hoped something would happen to prevent it. Они надеялись, что что-то произойдет, чтобы предотвратить это. And something did. И что-то произошло.

The following winter, the winter of eighteen fifty-one, is still remembered for the heavy snows in the mountains. Следующая зима, зима восемнадцатого пятьдесят первого года, все еще запоминается сильными снегопадами в горах. When the snow melted that spring, every stream became an angry river that raced down the mountains tearing up trees and bringing destruction. Quando a neve derreteu naquela primavera, todos os riachos se tornaram um rio raivoso que descia as montanhas derrubando árvores e trazendo destruição. Когда той весной таял снег, каждый ручей превратился в ярую реку, которая неслась по горам, срывая деревья и неся разрушения.

One of those terrible streams was the North Fork River. Um desses córregos terríveis era o rio North Fork. Одним из таких ужасных потоков была река Норт-Форк. Late one night, it leaped over its banks and raced into the valley of Roaring Camp. Однажды поздно ночью он перепрыгнул через берег и устремился в долину Ревущего Лагеря.

The sleeping men had no chance to escape the rushing water, the crashing trees and the darkness. У спящих не было шанса спастись от бурлящей воды, падающих деревьев и тьмы. When morning came, Stumpy's cabin near the river was gone. Когда наступило утро, хижины Стампи у реки уже не было. Further down in the valley they found the body of its unlucky owner. Дальше в долине нашли тело его несчастного хозяина.

But the pride, the hope, the joy, The Luck of Roaring Camp had disappeared. Но гордость, надежда, радость, «Удача ревущего лагеря» исчезли.

Suddenly, a boat appeared from around a bend in the river. De repente, um barco apareceu em uma curva do rio. Внезапно из-за поворота реки появилась лодка. The men in it said they had picked up a man and a baby. Os homens contaram ter pegado um homem e um bebê. Did anyone know them? Alguém os conheceu? Кто-нибудь их знал? Did they belong here? Они были здесь?

Lying on the bottom of the rescue boat was Kentuck. На дне спасательной лодки лежал Кентук. He was seriously injured, but still holding The Luck of Roaring Camp in his arms. Он был серьезно ранен, но все еще держал в руках «Удачу ревущего лагеря». As they bent over the two, the men saw the child was pale and cold. Когда они склонились над ними, мужчины увидели, что ребенок был бледным и холодным.

"He's dead," said one of them. Kentuck opened his eyes. "Dead?" he whispered. "Yes, Kentuck. And you are dying, too." И вы тоже умираете ». Kentuck smiled. Кентук улыбнулся. "Dying!" he repeated. "He is taking me with him. "Ele está me levando com ele. "Он берет меня с собой. Tell the boys I've got The Luck with me." Diga aos garotos que tenho The Luck comigo. " Скажите мальчикам, что у меня есть Удача ». And the strong man, still holding the small child, drifted away on the shadowy river that flows forever to the unknown sea. E o homem forte, ainda segurando a criança pequena, se afastou no rio sombrio que corre eternamente para o mar desconhecido. И сильный мужчина, все еще держа на руках маленького ребенка, уплыл по темной реке, которая вечно течет в неизведанное море.

(MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER:

You have just heard "The Luck of Roaring Camp," a story by Bret Harte. It was adapted for Special English by Dona De Sanctis. Your storyteller was Harry Monroe.

Listen again next week for another American story told in Special English. This is Shirley Griffith.