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1、Two Maidens 两个姑娘Haveyoueverseen"amaiden"?Iamreferringtowhatroadpaverscalla"maiden,"athingusedforrammingdownthepavingstones."She"ismadeentirelyofwood,broadatthebottom,withironhoopsaroundit,andastickrunthroughitattheupper,narrowerend,whichgivesthemaidenarms.Twomaidenslikethiswe
2、reoncestandingintheyardshed,amongshovels,measuringtapes,andwheelbarrows.Now,therewasarumorgoingaroundthattheywerenolongertobecalled"maidens,"but"stamps"or"handrammers";andthisisthenewestandonlycorrectterminroadpavers'languageforwhatweallinoldentimescalled"amaiden."Thereareamo
3、ngushumanbeingscertainindividualswecall"emancipatedwomen,"suchasinstitutionsuperintendents,midwives,balletdancers,milliners,andnurses;andwiththisgroupof"emancipated,"thetwo"maidens"intheyardshedassociatedthemselves.Theywereknownas"maidens"amongtheroadpaversandwouldundernocirc
4、umstancesgiveuptheirgoodoldnameandletthemselvesbecalled"stamps"or"handrammers."Maidenisahumanname,"theysaid,"buta'stamp'ora'handrammer'isathing,andwecertainlydonotwanttobecalledthings;that'sinsultingus!""Mybetrothedisliabletobreakoffourengagement,"saidtheyoungerofthetwo,whowa
5、sengagedtoarammingblock,alargemachineusedtodrivestakesintotheground.Infact,hedidonalargerscalethesamesortofworkthatshedidonasmaller."He'lltakemeasa'maiden,'butI'msurehewon'thavemeasa'stamp'or'handrammer,'andsoI'llnotpermitthemtochangemyname.""Asforme,I'djustassoonhavebothmyar
6、msbrokenoff!"saidtheelder.Butthewheelbarrowhadadifferentidea,andthewheelbarrowwasreallysomebody!Heconsideredhimselfaquarterofacarriagebecausehewentaboutononewheel."Imust,however,tellyouthatit'scommonenoughtobecalled'maidens';thatisn'tnearlysodistinctiveanameas'stamp,'becauset
7、hatbelongsunderthecategoryof'seals.'Justthinkofthe'royalsignet,'andthe'sealofthestate.'IfIwereyouIwouldgiveupthename'maiden.'""Never!"saidtheelder."I'mmuchtoooldforthat!""Youdon'tseemtounderstandwhatiscalledtheEuropeannecessity,"saidthehonestoldmeasuringtape."Peoplehavetoadap
8、tthemselvestocircumstances,limitthemselves,giveintotheneedsofthetime