THE DOGS OF SAINT BERNARD
圣o伯纳德修道院的狗
1.Near the top of one of the highest points of the Alps，which，as many of our readers know，are very lofty mountains which separate France and Switzerland from Italy，stands the famous convent of St.Bernard.
2.It is a large house，of dull gray stone，built in the strongest possible manner，so that it may not be injured by the terrible storms which are so frequent among the mountains.
3.It is so large that it will give shelter to three hundred persons at once.The people who live in this convent are called monks；they all dress alike，in long，close robes，buttoned from the top to the bottom，with white belts which pass over the shoulder；and upon their heads they wear round black caps，which run up to a point，and end with a tuft or tassel.
4.Why do you suppose these men live so far up among the mountains，which are covered with snow throughout the whole year，exposed to such severe cold，and to so many hardships of different kinds？I will tell you.
5.High as these mountains are，and dangerous as it is to pass over them，in order to reach the country beyond，many persons every year make the fearful journey，or perish in theundertaking.
6.Many dangers beset the poor traveler on his way over these mountains.If he steps out of his path，he is liable to become so much bewildered that he never finds it again.Suddenly，and when he least thinks of it，a great avalanche，or snow-slide，may come furiously down the sides of the mountain，and overwhelm him.
7.One misstep may cause him to plunge down a frightful precipice，or a terrible snowstorm may come，drifting and sweeping around him，until，overcome with cold，blinded with the snow，and completely bewildered，he sinks down to die.
8.For many years monks have lived in the convent of Saint Bernard，for the purpose of rescuing from danger travelers who may be passing over the mountains，and to give rest and refreshment to any who may be able to reach their door.
9.The monks of Saint Bernard have trained large and strong dogs to go out in storms in search of travelers who may need help.
10.Each dog has，when he goes out for this purpose，a warm cloak strapped around his body，and a flask of brandy under his throat.
11.These dogs show a wonderful faculty of tracing out the path in the severest storm，and of finding travelers，even when buried under snow，or at the bottom of the steepest precipices.
12.If they find any one they will carry him upon their backs to the convent，or if the poor man is unable to do anything for himself they will hasten to the monks，and by signs which these good people well understand，they will let them know thattheir help is needed，and guide them to the spot where the poortraveler lies.
13.One of the dogs of St.Bernard was the means of saving so many lives that，when at last he died，his skin was stuffed，and sent to the Royal Museum in England，where he may now be seen，looking so much like life that one would hardly be surprised to see him leap from his place with the loud，deep bark for which these dogs are famous.
【中文阅读】
1.正如我们许多读者所知，阿尔卑斯山脉是法国、瑞士和意大利的分界线，阿尔卑斯山脉中最高的一座山峰附近矗立着著名的圣o 伯纳德修道院。
2.这是一座很大很大的院落，全部由灰色石头筑成，结构非常坚固，不会被山中频繁刮起的暴风雪摧毁。
3.院落很大，一次可以容纳三百人居住。居住在修道院中的人被称为修道士，他们所有人穿戴都相同，一身长袍从上到下把身体整个包裹起来，用肩上的带子牢牢系住，头上戴着黑色的帽子，帽子用带子或流苏系紧。
4.请问：为什么这些人愿意住在这高高的、而且周围常年被冰雪覆盖、每天都这么冷的群山之中？为什么愿意经受如此多的各种磨难？让我来告诉你们。
5.山越高，危险也会越多。每年都会有很多人为了到达遥远的国度，长途跋涉，其中许多人会死在途中。
6.因为那些旅行者走在翻越山脉的路上，会遇到重重的艰难险阻，如果失足滑落，恐怕就再也消失不见了。也有可能会突然遇到雪崩，他们就很有可能会遇难。
7.一步迈错就可能使他跌入万丈深渊，也可能是因为一场暴风雪，寒冷、看不到前方的路途、完全迷失方向，使他们最终走向死亡。
8.多年以来，修道士们生活在修道院里，目的就是拯救过路者的生命，给所有来修道院的行人以休息和给养。
9.修道院的修道士们为此驯养了许多大型犬，这些壮实的狗可以在暴风雪中搜寻需要帮助的过路人。
10.每当有一条狗要出去搜救，修道士们都会把厚实的衣服牢牢地裹在它身上，还在它的脖子上挂一瓶白兰地酒。
11.在凶猛的暴风雪中，这些狗也能显示出异常出色的探路本领和搜救本领，即使遇难者被埋在雪下或是在悬崖的最下面。
12.如果它们找到遇难者，就会把他们背回修道院。如果那个可怜的人自己什么也做不了，它们就会迅速跑回修道院，用一种那些修道士都明白的举动，让修道士们明白有个人需要立即救治，再带着他们去那个人躺着的地方。
13.圣o 伯纳德修道院中的众多狗之中，有一条狗救了无数条人的命，因此它死后，人们用它的皮做成仿真狗，然后送到英格兰皇家博物馆进行展览，它活生生地站在那里，仿佛不知道在什么时候就会突然跃起，为这些搜救犬大声深长地鸣叫。
