真正的男子汉

　　判断男子汉的标准，并不取决于他是否有强壮的肌肉，也不取决于他是否做了那些好像只有女人才会去做的家务。真正的男子汉拥有一颗勇敢的心，能够在关键时刻挺身而出。真正的男子汉是和爱心、责任还有自我牺牲联系在一起的。

　　“妈妈，别动，快坐下，让我来。”弗雷德·里斯克姆，一个开朗活泼的十二岁男孩这样说着。里斯克姆夫人看起来脸色苍白、十分憔悴，她正试着慢慢把她都没怎么动过的早餐拿开。

　　她笑了一下，说道：“你来洗碗吗，弗雷德？”

　　“是的，妈妈，”弗雷德说，“我已经看您洗过太多次了，如果我还不会的话，我就是一个太差的学生了，就看我的吧。”

　　里斯克姆夫人欣慰地笑了一下，坐在了她的矮手扶椅上。弗雷德洗干净了盘子，将它们放进了碗橱。他打扫了厨房，又从地窖里取出了晚饭要用的马铃薯，把它们洗干净，之后才去上学。

　　弗雷德的父亲出门在外，好在储藏室里有一些冻肉，里斯克姆夫人准备晚餐还不很困难。放学后弗雷德很快就赶回了家，他摆好餐桌，吃完饭后又洗了碗。在以后的两三天他一直都在帮他妈妈做这些事，直到她的妈妈康复。

　　一天，医生不经意地说道：“夫人，在我看来，如果您不是保持静养的话，你可能会病得很重。”弗雷德觉得自己的付出得到了最大的回报。医生并不知道静养背后的故事，他也无法知道，听到他的话时男孩的心曾怎样地跳动。

　　弗雷德为了帮助他的母亲，放弃了许多男孩子的乐趣——这个时候正是滑雪、滑冰的最好季节。另外他的自制力和耐心也经受了很大的考验。原先他总是习惯很早就去学校，放学后也还要在学校多玩一会儿。

　　男孩子们都很想念他。而他总不肯说出为什么不能早到学校或是放学后再多玩一会儿的原因，他只是说他想待在家里。所以，孩子们的好奇心也被勾了起来。

　　“我会告诉你们的，”汤姆·巴顿宣称，“我会查出来真相的，伙计们，看我的吧！”

　　一天早晨，在上学的路上，汤姆去找弗雷德。他悄悄绕到弗雷德家的边门，紧贴着靠近厨房的窗户向里看。他看见弗雷德正站在桌子旁边，手里拿着一块抹布。

　　他一五一十地把这一切报告给了学校的其他男孩。于是在课间休息的时候，迎接弗雷德的是各种各样的“问候”。

　　“嗨，你可真行啊，在家洗盘子！”

　　“娘娘腔。”

　　“你的围裙呢，波莉？”

　　弗雷德既不缺乏勇气也不缺乏斗志，他极想回击这些侮辱他的人，并与他们打一架，但是，他的是非观和他对母亲的爱阻止了他。

　　正当他努力控制自己的时候，他的老师出现在了门口。他看着弗雷德，好像是在说，“不要泄气！要做到真正的勇敢！”他知道老师已经听到了他那些没心的同学的嘲笑与奚落。

　　那天那些男孩子收到警告，不许他们以任何方式嘲笑、耍弄弗雷德。他们知道老师言出必行，就再也没找弗雷德的麻烦。

　　“着火了！着火了！”惊惶的声音打破了夜的寂静，火警警报也立刻响了起来。弗雷德被警报声惊醒，红色的警灯照进了他的屋子。他迅速地穿上衣服，轻轻地敲着母亲的卧室门。

　　“是巴顿先生家的房子着火了，妈妈，让我去看一看吧，”他急切地说。里斯克姆夫人犹豫了一会儿，她想，弗雷德还太年轻，但是她相信他会照顾好自己，而且她知道他是多么迫切地想去帮助他们。

　　“好吧，你可以去，”母亲回答说，“但是要当心，我的孩子，如果你能帮得上忙的话，尽量帮忙，但不要莽撞。”弗雷德承诺会遵从母亲的叮嘱，然后急匆匆地赶往着火地点。

　　巴顿先生和太太都不在家，房子留给仆人在照管。火势以可怕的速度蔓延着，因为风非常大，挽救房子是不可能的了。仆人们四处乱跑、哭叫，但却什么事也没做。

　　弗雷德在外面发现了汤姆，“凯特在哪儿？”他问汤姆。汤姆吓得浑身发抖，他除了知道自己逃跑什么也想不到了。

　　“她还在房间里。”

　　“哪个房间？”弗雷德问。

　　“那个。”汤姆说着，用手指着二层的一个窗户。

　　没时间说别的了，重要的是行动，立刻、迅速的行动。楼梯已经着火了，只有一个办法可以接近凯特，但那也太危险了。第二层的楼板随时可能倒塌，弗雷德清楚这一点，不过他相信上帝一定会帮助指引他的。

　　人们很快架起了一架梯子，弗雷德爬上了梯子，一个消防员也跟了上去，他猛撞窗户上的窗格，终于冲进了屋子。屋里可怜的孩子已经快被烟熏得窒息了。

　　弗雷德费了好大的劲才把凯特叫醒，他把她架到窗口，放到窗台上，她立刻就被一双强有力的手接住，送下了梯子。弗雷德也飞速跟下。他们刚刚到达地面就听见一声轰响，他们知道他们差一点就无法逃生了。

　　汤姆·巴顿永远也忘不了那个晚上，他意识到真正的男子汉是和高贵、爱心和自我牺牲联系在一起的。从那之后，他一直以此作为自己行动的准则。

　　True Manliness

　　"Please, mother, do sit down and let me try my hand," said Fred Liscom, a bright, active boy, twelve years old. Mrs. Liscom, looking pale and worn, was moving languidly about, trying to clear away the breakfast she had scarcely tasted。

　　She smiled, and said, "You, Fred, you wash dishes?" "Yes, indeed, mother," replied Fred, "I should be a poor scholar if I couldn't, when I've seen you do it so many times. Just try me."

　　A look of relief came over his mother's face as she seated herself in her low rocking-chair. Fred washed the dishes, and put them in the closet. He then swept the kitchen, brought up the potatoes from the cellar for the dinner and washed them, and then set out for school。

　　Fred's father was away from home, and as there was some cold meat in the pantry, Mrs. Liscom found it an easy task to prepare dinner. Fred hurried home from school, set the table, and again washed the dishes。

　　He kept on in this way for two or three days, till his mother was able to resume her usual work, and he felt amply rewarded when the doctor, who happened in one day, said, "Well, madam, it's my opinion that you would have been very sick if you had not kept quiet."

　　The doctor did not know how the "quiet" had been secured, nor how the boy's heart bounded at his words。

　　Fred had given up a great deal of what boys hold dear, for the purpose of helping his mother, coasting and skating being just at this time in perfection。

　　Besides this, his temper and his patience had been severely tried. He had been in the habit of going early to school, and staying to play after it was dismissed。

　　The boys missed him, and their curiosity was excited when he would give no other reason for not coming to school earlier, or staying after school, than that he was a "wanted at home." "I'll tell you," said Tom Barton, "I'll find him out, boys — see if I don't!"

　　So he called for Fred to go to school, and on his way to the side door walked lightly and somewhat nearer the kitchen window than was absolutely needful. Looking in, he saw Fred standing at the table with a dishcloth in his hand。

　　Of course he reported this at school, and various were the greetings poor Fred received at recess. "Well, you're a brave one to stay at home washing dishes." "Girl boy!" "Lost your apron, have n't you, Polly!"

　　Fred was not wanting either in spirit or courage, and he was strongly tempted to resent these insults and to fight some of his tormentors. But his consciousness of right and his love for his mother helped him。

　　While he was struggling for self mastery, his teacher appeared at the door of the schoolhouse. Fred caught his eye, and it seemed to look, if it did not say, "Don't give up! Be really brave!" He knew the teacher had heard the insulting taunts of his thoughtless schoolmates。

　　The boys received notice during the day that Fred must not be taunted or teased in any manner. They knew that the teacher meant what he said; and so the brave little boy had no farther trouble。

　　"Fire! fire!" The cry crept out on the still night air, and the fire bells began to ring. Fred was wakened by the alarm and the red light streaming into his room. He dressed himself in a moment, almost, and tapped at the door of his mother's bedroom。

　　"It is Mr. Barton's house, mother. Do let me go," he said in eager, excited tones. Mrs. Liscom thought a moment. He was young, but she could trust him, and she knew how much his heart was in the request。

　　"Yes, you may go," she answered; "but be careful, my boy. If you can help, do so; but do nothing rashly." Fred promised to follow her advice, and hurried to the fire。

　　Mr. and Mrs. Barton were not at home. The house had been left in charge of the servants. The fire spread with fearful speed, for there was a high wind, and it was found impossible to save the house. The servants ran about, screaming and lamenting, but doing nothing to any purpose。

　　Fred found Tom outside, in safety. "Where is Katy?" he asked. Tom, trembling with terror, seemed to have had no thought but of his own escape. He said, "Katy is in the house!" "In what room?" asked Fred. "In that one," pointing to a window in the upper story。

　　It was no time for words, but for instant, vigorous action. The staircase was already on fire; there was but one way to reach Katy, and that full of danger. The second floor might fall at any moment, and Fred knew it. But he trusted in an arm stronger than his own, and silently sought help and guidance。

　　A ladder was quickly brought, and placed against the house. Fred mounted it, followed by the hired man, dashed in the sash of the window, and pushed his way into the room where the poor child lay nearly suffocated with smoke。

　　He roused her with some difficulty, carried her to the window, and placed her upon the sill. She was instantly grasped by strong arms, and carried down the ladder, Fred following as fast as possible. They had scarcely reached the ground before a crash of falling timbers told them that they had barely escaped with their lives。

　　Tom Barton never forgot the lesson of that night; and he came to believe, and to act upon the belief, in after years, that true manliness is in harmony with gentleness, kindness, and self-denial。