Sample of The Boxcar Children
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Child (5-12)Accents
North American (US General American - GenAM)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
the next morning Jess was up before the others as was fitting for a little housekeeper. That is, she was the first if we accept the dog who had opened one eye instantly every time his little mistress stirred in her sleep he sat watching gravely in the door of the car as just descended to get breakfast. She walked from the little waterfall quite a distance down the brook, looking at it with critical eyes. This will be the well, she said to herself, regarding a small but deep and quiet basin just below the falls. Below that she found a larger basin lined with gravel with flat stones surrounding it. This will be the washtub, she decided, and now I must go back to the refrigerator. This was the strangest spot of all, for behind the little waterfall was a small quiet pool in which jess had set the milk bottles the night before. Not a drop of water could get in, but all night long the cool running water had surrounded the bottles. They were now fairly icy to the touch. Just smiled as she drew them out. Is it good? Asked Benny's voice There. He sat in the door of the car, swinging his legs, his arm around the shaggy dog. It's delicious, declared Jess, cold as ice. She climbed up beside him as she spoke, bringing the breakfast with her. The other two Children sat up and looked at it. Today jess, began Henry. I will go back to town and try to get a job of mowing lawns or something. Then we can afford to have something besides milk for breakfast. Milk suited Benny very well, however, so the other Children allowed him to drink rather more than his share. Henry did not waste any time talking. He brushed his hair as well as he could, without a brush, rolled down his sleeves, and started for town with the second dollar. Glad you've got a dog, jess! He called back as he waved his straw hat. The Children watched him disappear around the curve, and then turned to jess expectantly. They were not mistaken, jess had a plan. We'll explore, she began mysteriously. We'll begin here at the car and hunt all over these woods until we find a dump. What's a dump? Inquired Benny. Oh, Benny answered, violent. You know what a dump is. All Old bottles and papers and broken dishes and wheels? Asked Benny, interested lee. Will there be any old wheels? Yes, maybe a scented violet? But cups Penny think of drinking milk out of a cup again. Oh, yes, said Benny politely, but it was clear that his mind was centered on wheels rather than cups. The exploring party started slowly down the rusty track, with the dog hopping happily on three legs. The fourth paw nicely bandaged with jesse's handkerchief he held up out of Harm's way. I think this is a spur track, said jess. They built it in here, so they could load wood on the cars, and then when they had cut all the wood they didn't need the track anymore. This explanation seemed very likely, for here and there were stumps of trees and decaying chips! Violet took note of these chips, and remembered them some days later. In fact, both girls kept their eyes open and pointed out things of interest to each other. Remember these logs, Violet, if we should ever need any. Said Yes, pointing. Blackberry blossoms, returned Violet briefly, turning one over gently with her foot. Big flat stones, remarked jess Later on, as they came upon a great heap of them. Here the track came out into the open sunshine, and the broken pieces of rail showed clearly where it had joined the main track at some time in the past and here from the top of the wooded hill the Children could plainly see the city in the valley. They walked along the track, picking out a church steeple here, and they're forgetting for a moment. The object of their search. There's a wheel, Benny cried triumphantly. From behind the girls looked down, and with a glad cry of surprise, just recognized a dump at the foot of the hill. They found it not composed entirely of ashes and tin cans either, although both of these were in the great profusion. It was a royal dump containing both cups and wheels. Oh, Benny cried jess, if it hadn't been for you! She hugged him wheel and all, and began turning over the rubbish with great delight. Here's a white pitcher, jess, Violet called, holding up a perfect specimen, with a tiny chip in its nose. Here's a big white cup, said jess, delighted lee, laying it aside. Want a teapot, jesse? Inquired Benny, offering her an enormous blue enameled affair without a handle. Yes, indeed! Cried jess. We could use that for water. I found two cups in a bowl already, and Violet. We ought to be looking for spoons too. Violet pointed without speaking to her little pile of treasures. There were five iron spoons covered with rust, wonderful pronounced jess with rapture. Indeed, it is doubtful if collectors of rare and beautiful bits of porcelain ever enjoyed a search as much as did these adventurers in dump heap. Benny actually found four wheels exactly alike, probably from the same cart, and insisted upon carrying them back to please him. Just allowed him to add them to the growing pile. Here's the big iron kettle, observed Violet, but we won't really cook with a fire, will we, jess? We'll take it back, though, replied jess, with a knowing look. We can pile lots of dishes in it. They could, and did. But not until after Benny had discovered his beloved pink cup. It was a tea party cup of bright rose color, with a wreath of gorgeous roses on it, and a little shepherdess giving her lamb a drink from the pale blue brook. It had a perfectly good handle, gold into the bargain. It's only flaw was a dangerous crack through the lambs, nose and front feet.