College English Intensive Reading, Book 3, Lesson 2

Introduction: College English Intensive Reading is an English textbook selected by many universities. The following is an English text in college English intensive reading. Welcome to study.

Aunt Betty is faced with a difficult decision. An injured Union soldier was found hiding in a farmhouse near her home. She must decide whether to help him or let him be caught. What would she choose to do?

A woman who doesn't want to tell anyone

Dzhanis Caesar Lester

"I never hated the Yankees. I hate only war. ……"

That's how my great-aunt Betty started her story. When I was a child, I heard this sentence many times when my family visited Aunt Betty who lived in the old house in Bergvill, Virginia. Aunt Betty was almost 80 years old. But I can imagine her in the story she told me-less than 20 years old, very beautiful, with bright blue eyes.

Betty van mitter has every reason to hate the civil war. One of her brothers was killed in Gettysburg and the other was captured. Then her young husband, James, a Confederate officer, was captured and sent to an unknown prison camp somewhere.

On a hot day in late September, Dick Lanner, a former slave, came to Betty with a strange report. He has been checking a farmhouse half a mile away from Van Mitt's house. He thinks the farmhouse is empty. But inside, he heard a low groan. He followed them to the attic and found a wounded Union soldier with a rifle beside him.

When Aunt Betty told me that she first saw the bearded man in a dirty blue uniform, she always used the same words. "It's like walking into a nightmare: those terrible bandages, that terrible smell. Son, this is what war really looks like: there are no horns and flags. Only pain and filth, futility and death. "

For Betty Van Mitt, this person is not an enemy, but a suffering person. She gave him water to drink and tried to clean his terrible wound. Then she went out into the cool air and leaned against the house, trying not to feel sick when she thought of what she saw-the smashed right hand and the lost left leg.

The documents Betty found in the attic confirmed his identity: Lieutenant Henry Bedell, Company D, 1 1 Vermont volunteer, 30 years old. She knew that she should report the existence of this federal officer to the Confederate army. But she also knew she wouldn't do it. She explained to me this way: "I have been wondering if he has a wife somewhere, waiting and hoping, but I don't know-just like me." In my opinion, the only important thing is to get her husband back to her. "

Slowly, patiently and skillfully, James Van Mitter's wife lit the flickering fire of life on Henry Bedell. She has little medicine. She doesn't want to take anything from the small supplies of Union Hospital. But she did her best.

When he recovered, Bedell told Betty about his wife and children in westerfield, Vermont. Biddle listened as she told her story about her brother and James. "I know his wife must be praying for him," Aunt Betty would tell me, "just like I prayed for James. It's strange how close I feel to her. "

October nights in the valley become cold. The infection in Bedell's wound suddenly intensified. With the help of Dick and his wife Jenny, she moved the federal officer to a bed in a hidden attic above her warm kitchen at night.

But the next day, Bedell had a high fever. Knowing that she had to get help or he would die, she went to her old friend and family doctor. Graham Osborne.

Dr Osborne examined Bedell and shook his head. He said that unless the right medicine can be found, there is little hope.

"All right, then," said Betty. "I'll get it from the Yankees at Harpers Ferry."

The doctor told her that she was crazy. Alliance headquarters is almost 20 miles away. Even if she found them, the Yankees wouldn't believe her story.

"I want proof," Betty said. She went to the attic and came back with a bloody paper with the official seal of the War Department. "This is the record of his last publicity," she said. "When I show it, they have to believe me."

She asked the doctor to make a list of medical supplies he needed. Early the next morning, she set off.

She drove for five hours and just stopped to give the horse a rest. When she finally stood in front of the commander of Harpers Town, the sun was going down.

General john D Stevenson listened, but didn't believe her. "Madam," he said, "we were informed of Bedell's death."

"He is still alive," Betty insisted. "But he won't be long unless he has the medicine on the list."

"Well," the general finally said, "I won't risk the life of a patrol, just to find out." He turned to a junior officer. "Please make sure that Mrs. Van Mitt gets these supplies." He ignored Betty's thanks. "You are a brave woman," he said, "whether you are telling the truth or not."

With the medicine Betty brought to Bergvill, Dr. Osborne helped Bedell through the critical period. Ten days later, Bedell hobbled along with a crutch made for him by Dick. "I can't keep putting you in danger," Bedell said to Betty. "I am strong enough to travel now. I will lie and say that I want to go back as soon as possible. "

Therefore, Betty's neighbor and friend, Mr. Sam, was arranged to help Betty take Biddle to the federal headquarters in Harpers Town in his carriage.

They hitched Betty's mare to Mr. Sam's mule. Bedell was lying in an old box full of hay, with his rifle and crutches beside him.

It was a long and slow journey, which almost ended in disaster. Only an hour away from the union line, two cavalry suddenly appeared. One man asked for money with a pistol, and the other man pulled Mr. Sam out of the carriage. Betty was shocked and sat motionless. Then, a gunshot, the man with a pistol fell to the ground and died. The second shot, the man fell to the ground. This is Bedell shooting! Betty watched him put down his rifle and brush the hay from his hair. "Come on, Mr. Sam," he said. "Let's move on."

In Harpers town, the soldiers stared at the old farmer and the girl in surprise. They were even more surprised when a federal officer with a missing leg stood up from a box full of hay.

Biddle was sent to Washington. There, he told his experience to Edwin m Stanton, the secretary of war. Stanton wrote a thank-you letter to Betty and signed an order to release James Van Mitt from prison. But first we have to find James. Bedell was arranged to go with Betty to find her husband.

Records show that a man named James Van Mitt was sent to a prison camp in Ohio. But when the ragged prisoner was brought to Betty, James was not there. The second prison was inspected and the result was the same. Betty Van Mitt fought back the fear that her husband was dead.

Then in Fort Delaware, a tall man came out and stumbled into Betty's arms. Betty hugged him, tears streaming down her face. Henry Bedell, who stood on crutches, also cried.

New words tell

Verb (short for verb) acts as an informer.

new englander

Noun (short for noun) (in the civil war) a native of the northern States; A citizen of the Yankees; new englander

mother's paternal aunt

Noun (abbreviation for noun) is the aunt of one's father or mother; Grandfather's or grandmother's sister

civil

A. domestically; folk

Allied

A. belonging to or believing in the confederacy

catch

Transitive verbs make you a prisoner of; Catch the prisoner; take

unknown

A. Its name, nature or source is unknown

late

Before an earlier period

farmhouse

Noun (abbreviation for noun) The main house on a farm, where farmers live.

groan

A low voice expressing suffocation, sadness, or disapproval.

loft

Noun (abbreviation for noun) the space under the roof, especially. The attic was made into a low little room.

Union newspaper

Noun (abbreviation for noun) a state that supported the federal government of the United States during the Civil War; The United States federal government (during the American Civil War); United States of America

A. of or relating to a trade union

rifle

horrible

A. terrible; Very bad

bandage

A long and narrow piece of material, especially cloth, used for dressing a wound or wound bandage.

horrible

A. very unpleasant or shocking; horrible

Ajuga plants

A wind instrument made of brass, mainly used for military signals-horns.

dirt

Disgusting dirt

useless

Noun (short for noun) is useless.

In vain.

slanting

Support or rest in a bent posture.

build

To find out or clarify (facts, answers, etc) with transitive verbs. ), proved to be established, confirmed.

identity

Who or what kind of person or thing is identity?

same

A. the same; Exactly the same polyester

Lt。

Captain is abbreviated as lieutenant.

company

volunteer

A person who voluntarily joins the army, navy or air force.

attend

Noun (short for noun) appears in one place.

masterly

Advertising. Skillfully and skillfully in a skilled manner.

Skilled

A. possessing or displaying skills

fan

Fan; Fan; give rise to

launch

spark

glimmer

The burning of intransitive verbs is unstable; Irradiate with unstable light

medicine

Noun (abbreviation for noun) A drug or substance used for medical purposes.

supply

(pl。 ) food, equipment, etc. Troops, expenses or similar necessities.

pray

mountain valley

Noun (abbreviation for noun) a piece of land between hills or mountains; Land through which a specified river or river system flows; drainage basin

affect

Infection; infect

Infection; Infection.

glitter

An intransitive verb has a bright and unstable flame when it burns.

loft

Attic, attic

ferry

Ferry; ferry

general headquarters

(used with sing. A place where police chiefs or military commanders give orders.

certificate

Evidence showing something. It's real evidence

bear

Display of transitive verbs; have

seal

Seal; stamp

project

One thing in a set, especially. Included in the list; project

directive

A. having command; be responsible for

commander

order

Gen。

General abbreviation general

lady

Used as a courtesy title for a woman (married or unmarried) Mrs., Mrs., Ms. and Miss.

danger

Transitive verbs endanger; grasp the opportunity

go on patrol

Noun (short for noun) A small group of soldiers, vehicles, etc. Send out to search for enemies, or protect a place from enemy patrols.

puisne

A. being younger or lower in rank than another person

staggering

Intransitive verbs walk clumsily; Limping; staggering

walking stick

A support used under the arm to help the lame walk.

truck

Four-wheeled freight vehicle, pulled by horses or cows.

breakdown

Transitive verbs are fixed with hooks, rings and ropes. Hooks, ties, traps

female horse

Noun (abbreviation for noun) mare or donkey

Beside ...

Prepositions are close; Along the edge of ...

mule

Animals with donkeys and horses as female mules

disaster

Noun (abbreviation for noun) is a great or sudden misfortune; A terrible accident.

line

A row of fortifications, especially. The closest line of defense to the enemy front.

equestrian

Noun (short for noun) a person who rides a horse, especially. Skilled person

pistol

crack

The verb (the abbreviation of verb) (causes) to make a sudden popping sound.

spread

An intransitive verb lying or sitting with hands and feet spread out, especially. Indecently

reduce

Transitive verbs move or decrease in height; avale

secretary

An official in charge of a government department; An employee in an office who is responsible for correlation, recording, making appointments, etc. Minister, minister; secretary

shabby

A. (of a person) wearing shabby clothes; (of clothes) in rags; shabby

parade

Transitive verbs walk in informal teams in order to be watched; March in procession.

March; check

cold

Verb (abbreviation for verb) feels cold (because of fear); (cause) to become cold, especially. Not frozen (make) feel cold; (make) cold

fort

Fortress; fort

staggering

Intransitive verbs walk or move unsteadily; Touch sth with one's foot. Almost fell

rivulet