But they accepted him calmly and he fetched some hay for each cow and then got the milking pail and the big milk cans.
但是它们平静地接受了他。他给每头牛都拿来干草,然后拿来奶桶和大奶罐。
He had never milked all alone before, but it seemed almost easy. He smiled and milked steadily, two strong streams rushing into the pail, frothing and fragrant. The cows were behaving well, as though they knew it was Christmas.
他以前从未独自挤过奶,但是似乎这也相当容易。他笑了,不停地挤着奶,两股强劲的奶汁冲入奶桶,溅起了泡沫,散发出芳香。奶牛表现得也不错,好像它们知道那天是圣诞节。
The task went more easily than he had ever known it to before. Milking for once was not a chore. It was a gift to his father. When he finished, the two milk cans were full, and he covered them and closed the milk-house door carefully, making sure of the latch. He put the stool in its place by the door and hung up the cleaned milk pail. Then he went out of the barn and barred the door behind him.
这活儿干起来比他以前所知道的要更容易。挤奶第一次对他而言不再是繁重杂工。 这是他给父亲的礼物。他把活儿干完了,两只奶罐全满了,他把它们盖好,小心翼翼地关上奶房的门,并确认是否闩好。他把凳子放在门边的原处,又把干净的奶桶挂好。然后他走出牲口棚,闩上门。
Back in his room he had only a minute to pull off his clothes and jump into bed, before he heard his father get up. He put the covers over his head to silence his quick breathing. The door opened.
回到他的房间,他立刻脱下衣服跳上床,因为他听到父亲起床了。他用被子蒙上头以掩盖他急促的喘息声。门开了。