Just So Stories 精彩片段：
HOW THE FIRST LETTER WAS WRITTEN
ONCE upon a most early time was a Neolithic man. He was not a Jute or an Angle, or even a Dravidian, which he might well have been, Best Beloved, but never mind why. He was a Primitive, and he lived cavily in a Cave, and he wore very few clothes, and he couldnt read and he couldnt write and he didnt want to, and except when he was hungry he was quite happy. His name was Tegumai Bopsulai, and that means, Man-who-does-not-put-his-foot- forward-in-a-hurry; but we, O Best Beloved, will call him Tegumai, for short. And his wifes name was Teshumai Tewindrow, and that means, Lady-who-asks-a-very-many-questions; but we, O Best Beloved, will call her Teshumai, for short. And his little girl-daughters name was Taffimai Metallumai, and that means, Small-person-without-any-manners-who-ought-to-be-spanked; but Im going to call her Taffy. And she was Tegumai Bopsulais Best Beloved and her own Mummys Best Beloved, and she was not spanked half as much as was good for her; and they were all three very happy. As soon as Taffy could run about she went everywhere with her Daddy Tegumai, and sometimes they would not come home to the Cave till they were hungry, and then Teshumai Tewindrow would say, Where in the world have you two been to, to get so shocking dirty? Really, my Tegumai, youre no better than my Taffy.
Now attend and listen!
One day Tegumai Bopsulai went down through the beaver-swamp to the Wagai river to spear carp-fish for dinner, and Taffy went too. Tegumais spear was made of wood with sharks teeth at the end, and before he had caught any fish at all he accidentally broke it clean across by jabbing it down too hard on the bottom of the river. They were miles and miles from home (of course they had their lunch with them in a little bag), and Tegumai had forgotten to bring any extra spears.
Heres a pretty kettle of fish! said Tegumai. It will take me half the day to mend this.
Theres your big black spear at home, said Taffy. Let me run back to the Cave and ask Mummy to give it me.
Its too far for your little fat legs, said Tegumai. Besides, you might fall into the beaver-swamp and be drowned. We must make the best of a bad job. He sat down and took out a little leather mendy-bag, full of reindeer-sinews and strips of leather, and lumps of bees-wax and resin, and began to mend the spear.
Taffy sat down too, with her toes in the water and her chin in her hand, and thought very hard. Then she said--I say, Daddy, its an awful nuisance that you and I dont know how to write, isnt it? If we did we could send a message for the new spear.
Taffy, said Tegumai, how often have I told you not to use slang? "Awful" isnt a pretty word, but it could be a convenience, now you mention it, if we could write home.
Just then a Stranger-man came along the river, but he belonged to a far tribe, the Tewaras, and he did not understand one word of Tegumais language. He stood on the bank and smiled at Taffy, because he had a little girl-daughter Of his own at home. Tegumai drew a hank of deer-sinews from his mendy-bag and began to mend his spear.
Come here, said Taffy. Do you know where my Mummy lives? And the Stranger-man said Um! being, as you know, a Tewara.
Silly! said Taffy, and she stamped her foot, because she saw a shoal of very big carp going up the river just when her Daddy couldnt use his spear.
Dont bother grown-ups, said Tegumai, so busy with his spear-mending that he did not turn round.
I arent, said Taffy. I only want him to do what I want him to do, and he wont understand.
Then dont bother me, said Tegumai, and he went on pulling and straining at the deer-sinews with his mouth full of loose ends.