原文
"'I have kept the best for the last. You laugh at me because I think Paul
is a genius but I am sure his letter will convince you that he is a very
uncommon child. Paul lives away down near the shore with his grandmother
and he has no playmates . . . no real playmates. You remember our School
Management professor told us that we must not have 'favorites' among
our pupils, but I can't help loving Paul Irving the best of all mine.
I don't think it does any harm, though, for everybody loves Paul, even
Mrs. Lynde, who says she could never have believed she'd get so fond of
a Yankee. The other boys in school like him too. There is nothing weak
or girlish about him in spite of his dreams and fancies. He is very
manly and can hold his own in all games. He fought St. Clair Donnell
recently because St. Clair said the Union Jack was away ahead of the
Stars and Stripes as a flag. The result was a drawn battle and a mutual
agreement to respect each other's patriotism henceforth. St. Clair says
he can hit the HARDEST but Paul can hit the OFTENEST.'"
語彙など
- genius:天才
- uncommon:非凡な
- shore:岸,海岸
- playmate:遊び友達
- favorite:お気に入り
- do harm:害を及ぼす
- Yankee:アメリカ人
- girlish:めめしい
- in spite of:〜にもかかわらず
- fancy:空想,夢
- manly:男らしい
- hold one's own:屈しない
- Union Jack:英国国旗,連邦旗
- ahead of:〜にまさって
- Stars and Stripes:星条旗
- drawn battle:勝負なしの戦い
- mutual agreement:双方の合意
- respect:尊重する
- patriotism:愛国心
- henceforth:これからは
- be hit the hardest:最もひどい打撃を受ける